Author: Sharon Lindbloom
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Book Review: Mormons: An Open Book. What You Really Want to Know
The author of Mormons An Open Book did not put his name on the cover or title page of the book, choosing instead to identify himself merely as “a Mormon.” The author identifies himself in his “Author’s Note” as Anthony Sweat, “a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, …a Latter-day Saint religious…
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The Second Anointing of Modern-day Mormonism
Latter-day Saint Tom Phillips was an Area Executive Secretary for the Mormon Church in the United Kingdom when an LDS General Authority invited him to receive his Second Anointing in the Preston England Temple. On Sunday, 19 May 2002, Mr. Phillips and his wife received their “second endowment,” in the company of four additional worthy…
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Sobered by their demise — they went contrary to the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Delbert L. Stapley Early in 1964 Mormon Apostle Delbert L. Stapley wrote a letter to his friend, Michigan Governor George W. Romney. Mr. Stapley wrote the letter due to concerns he had after hearing a pro-Civil Rights talk given by Governor Romney. Mr. Stapley wrote that what he heard did not “altogether harmonize with my…
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A Mormon Prophet’s Gratitude at Christmas
Earlier this week Eric Johnson posted a poem here on Mormon Coffee titled “The Gift.” I venture to say that gifts of all kinds are on our minds this week. With the idea of gifts also (hopefully!) comes an attitude of gratitude. In December 1997 Ensign magazine printed a First Presidency Message by the (now…
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From the Mailbag (9/5/2012)
[Tess, quoting from “Redefining the Virgin Birth: Mormonism on the Natural Conception of Jesus” by McKeever and Shafovaloff]: “When one considers that Mormonism teaches that every human born on earth is a literal spirit child of God, the concept that Jesus was conceived in a natural manner becomes even more blasphemous. Why? Because it means…
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Mormonism and Behavior
The Heidelberg Catechism was first published in 1563. Described as “a comforting, practical summary of the [Christian] faith,” the catechism has been used for nearly 450 years to teach and summarize biblical doctrines. Ligonier Ministries’ daily devotional, Tabletalk, is basing its 2012 course of study on the Heidelberg Catechism’s questions and answers, looking specifically at…
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Mormonism and Polytheism
The September/October 2012 issue of Stand To Reason’s newsletter, Solid Ground, focuses on this question: Is Mormonism just another Christian denomination? In the author’s forward, Greg Koukl explains, “In this month’s Solid Ground, I do what the LDS is failing to do. My aim is ‘simply to educate’ on some of the foundational differences between…
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“Theological Cowards and Liars”
Mormon blogger Mark Paredes does not like the fact that Evangelical Christians educate one another on the doctrines of Mormonism. In an article published earlier this week at the Jewish Journal Mr. Paredes complimented the Evangelicals “in the pew” saying they are decent folk; however many of them, he wrote, “are led by pastors who…
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The Peculiar Splendors of Mormonism
Near the middle of September (2012) The New York Times posted an online commentary titled, “Why I Love Mormonism.” In it, author and professor Simon Critchley chronicled his experience with Mormonism (as a non-Mormon) that has spanned about 30 years (so far). Dr. Critchley said very nice things about the Mormon people and chastised what…
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The Gospel vs. Religion
“The Gospel Is Not ‘Old Time’ Religion” from Grace Church. Pastor Troy Dobbs explains some of the distinctions that differentiate religion from the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this sermon, using Matthew 9:14-17 as his text. According to Dr. Dobbs, Jesus confronted man-made religion, essentially telling His listeners, “Your system says you’re righteous. Mine says…
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Brigham Young’s Kings of Kings
In the spring of 1863 Mormonism’s prophet Brigham Young taught, “Though we are in the world, yet we should be as perfect as mortals are required to be. We are not required in our sphere to be as perfect as Gods and angels are in their spheres, yet man is the king of kings and…
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Legends of Joseph
Visiting the Nauvoo, Illinois area this week, I took a tour of Carthage Jail on Tuesday. Many thanks to Sister B. for accommodating my arrival after hours (new winter hours close the site at 4:00 p.m.). I did not get to see the film, but my friend and I were treated to an unhurried, private…
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Unwise Choices Lead Mormons to Disillusionment
Mormon apostle Quentin L. Cook spoke Saturday morning (6 October 2012) at General Conference using Alma 5:26 as his text. In this Book of Mormon passage Alma asks those people who have believed in Christ and pledged to follow Him whether they still believe. To those who “have felt to sing the song of redeeming…
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Gift of Love
This year’s General Relief Society Conference for Mormon women was held in Salt Lake City on September 29th (2012). Evidence Ministries conducted a Christian outreach outside of the event, handing out packages of tissues to the women as they headed into the building for the conference. Tucked inside of each package was a small card…
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What do Nancy Pelosi and the Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony have in common?
In March 2010 Nancy Pelosi infamously said, “But we have to pass the [health care] bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” Her statement brought swift and strong denunciation from people all across America. To pass a law binding on all Americans before actually…
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Mormonism’s Gospel of Jesus Christ An Open Book?
In the 2012 book Mormons An Open Book, Written by a Mormon, What You Really Want to Know, author Anthony Sweat gets right to the point: “The gospel of Jesus Christ is this: “1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, “2. Repentance, “3. Baptism by immersion by one holding the proper priesthood authority, “4. Reception…
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What’s Laughable about Mormonism?
On August 9, 2012 the Huffington Post posted a blog co-written by documentary filmmaker Helen Whitney and LDS author Gregory Prince. The Mormon Moment – Postponed suggests that Mormonism remains enigmatic despite the intense interest about the faith currently exhibited by the public and media alike. The authors believe presidential candidate Mitt Romney has a…
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Mormons are taught how to “keep the faith”
How do Mormons keep faith in Mormonism “in a world of confusion”? Mormon Bishop Gérald Caussé (First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric) counseled Latter-days Saints on this topic in the August 2012 Ensign magazine (26-29). His advice included: What I see in the above is this: Mormons can know the answers to their questions, but…
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Mormonism and Visitations from the Dead
People who have died are very important to members of the Mormon Church. The dead are a very important aspect of the Mormon gospel. The sixth President of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, taught, “We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending…
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