Author: Sharon Lindbloom
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For Mormons, Christmastime Is for Honoring Jesus – and Joseph Smith
17 December 2020 ‘Tis the season. Christmastime is here, the holiday celebrated all around the world by Christians and non-Christians alike. The December issue of Ensign, the official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrates the Christmas season with a few holiday-related items. One is a reproduction of the oil painting,…
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The Torment of Mormonism’s Uncertainties
The November (2020) issue of Ensign, an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contains the church’s October General Conference addresses. One address, given by LDS apostle Dale Renlund, caught my attention. In “Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God,” Mr. Renlund explains what it is to be Christlike,…
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Book of Mormon Translation: Though Questions Persist, One Thing is Clear
How was the Book of Mormon translated from the Reformed Egyptian found on the gold plates into English? Despite available eyewitness accounts and an official position stated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints itself, Mormons don’t seem to know the answer. The process Joseph Smith used to produce the Book of Mormon…
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Mormon Rejection of an Important Aspect of the New Testament Church
LDS scholar Dan Peterson noted in his August 31st (2020) blog, “Attacking Other Faiths,” that his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, differs from evangelical Christian churches in the way it approaches non-LDS faiths. While Dr. Peterson does not define what he believes constitutes the “attacking” of other faiths, he does point…
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Latter-day Saint Visionaries and Would-Be Prophets
LDS columnist and author Jana Riess recently interviewed Christopher Blythe, the author of a new book that examines The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ evolving doctrines regarding the end of the world (Terrible Revolution: Latter-day Saints and the American Apocalypse). In part two of this interview, Dr. Riess and Dr. Blythe discuss the…
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The Unbiblical Heart of Mormonism is Alive and Well
31 July 2020 The August 2020 issue of Ensign magazine includes two back-to-back articles that reference the LDS doctrine of human beings becoming like God. An apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is quoted in “Seeing Yourself in the Great Plan of Happiness” by Seventy Brian K. Taylor: “Our entire perspective…
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Ex-Mormonism’s Five Doctrines: An Alternate List
Mette Harrison, an ex-member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently posted an article on Religion News Service titled, “The five doctrines of ex-Mormonism.” Mette writes about ex-Mormon get-togethers she has attended and how she has noticed that, in her opinion, ex-Mormons have traded one set of dogma for another. They still…
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Does Truth Matter When Recounting Mormon History?
30 June 2020 The July (2020) issue of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Ensign magazine includes an article titled, “Church History: A Source of Strength and Inspiration.” It consists of selected portions from the September 9, 2018 “Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults: A Face to Face Event with Elder Cook.” For the…
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Brigham Young’s Eternal Predicament
On June 1st (2020) the prophet/president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, posted remarks on his social media page(s) that addressed racism and its atrocities. Many Latter-day Saints noted that President Nelson’s words calmed them, brought them comfort, and gave them feelings of peace. I’m fairly certain that the…
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Honoring the Bible, Mormon Style
11 May 2020 Last month Meridian Magazine (for Latter-day Saints) published an article online titled, “Putting the Bible in its Honored and Rightful Place.” Author Wallace Goddard notes that evangelical Christians hold the Bible in high regard and goes on to explain that Mormons do, too, but: “we don’t believe that it does the work…
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April General Conference Reaffirms Mormonism’s Love/Hate Relationship with Christianity
Throughout its history, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a sort of love/hate relationship with historic Christianity. That this attitude continues today was reaffirmed during the church’s General Conference earlier this month. Mormonism’s negative stance toward Christianity began, as did Mormonism itself (it is claimed), with Joseph Smith’s 1820 First Vision.…
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“#Hear Him.” Mormon Prophet Invites Members to Listen to the Lord.
16 March 2020 Russel M. Nelson, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently released a video invitation to his friends. Leading up to Easter and in accordance with the church’s 2020 focus on Joseph Smith’s First Vision, President Nelson said, “My dear friends, today I wish to share with you…
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Following the Prophet’s “First Vision” Example
The February 2020 issue of Ensign magazine, an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, includes an article written by Henry B. Eyring of the church’s First Presidency. In keeping with the church’s 2020 emphasis on Joseph Smith’s First Vision (due to the traditionally-accepted 200th anniversary of the event), President Eyring…
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A “Victory for the Book of Mormon”? Think About It.
According to Mormon apologist Dan Peterson, an article in the January/February 2020 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review presents a “victory for the Book of Mormon.” The gist of his argument is this. He writes, “One of the criticisms often leveled against the Book of Mormon is that no Jew would have built a temple outside…
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10 Verses from the Standard Works Why I am Not a Mormon
“…king Mosiah had a gift from God…” (current edition); “…king Benjamin had a gift from God…” (1830 edition). This illustrates just one of many substantial changes made to the original Book of Mormon (the original was said to have been revealed and translated by the power of God, see History of the Church 1:54-55). A few additional examples of changes:…
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The Book of Mormon Is Not Fully Understood by LDS Leaders
On January 18, 2020, Peggy Fletcher Stack and the Salt Lake Tribune published an article titled, “Error in printed LDS Church manual could revive racial criticisms.” It seems that the print edition of the LDS church’s 2020 Sunday school manual, Come Follow Me, includes an outdated teaching on a racist passage found in the Book…
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The Four Fundamental Cornerstones of Mormonism
The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, is currently on a four-nation tour of Southeast Asia. Reporting on President Nelson’s visit to Cambodia, the church’s newsroom website recounted, “The 95-year-old prophet also noted the coming bicentennial of Joseph Smith’s vision of the Father and the Son, known by…
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Progressing Toward Exaltation
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, recently spoke to a worldwide audience of young adult Latter-day Saints. His topic was, “The Love and Laws of God,” focused on helping Mormons understand that all the rules that make up Mormonism have been given by God for their own protection,…
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Mormonism’s Prophet Offers Simple Counsel
The current president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, has been touring Latin America. According to an article published in the Salt Lake Tribune, President Nelson spoke in Guatemala last weekend, counseling church members there to “Keep it simple.” He said, “My counsel today is very simple: Please keep…