Category: Mormon Coffee Blog (2007-2019)
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Joseph Smith and Honesty
In the July 2013 issue of Ensign magazine, young Mormons are taught about the importance of “Honesty and Integrity.” One suggestion given for use in teaching the youth the principles of honesty and integrity is a 2005 General Conference address given by the current Mormon President, Thomas Monson. The talk is titled, “The Prophet Joseph…
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There is a Difference Between Truth and Error
From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “Taking Hold of God,” delivered October 7, 1877: In the present age, if any man can talk well, he will get a following whatever he may teach. I am astounded at some professors who can hear this man, today, and that man the next, though the two are…
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Teaching My Six and Four-Year-Old To Discern Language About God
“John Caleb and Lydia, do you know how you say sometimes, ‘Daddy is the best’?” “Yeah. It’s just something we say for fun because we love you.” “And do you think Daddy is *actually* the best Dad in the world?” “No.” “Well, when some people say that ‘God is the best’, they say it but…
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Confrontational or Grace-Filled Apologetics?
One of the most frustrating things for those of us who work in the field of apologetics to the LDS people is having our motives and tactics be misunderstood. For example, many Mormons believe that anyone who tries to share the Christian faith with them must somehow be motivated by hate. The term “anti-Mormon” is…
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Mormon Doctrines Are “Just the Same”?
Previously Aaron wrote about the current trend in Mormonism wherein Mormons tell Christians that Mormon beliefs are just the same as theirs – Mormon doctrines are the same as [fill-in-the-Christian-denomination] doctrines. I want to expand on a bit of what Aaron wrote, and add to it. Mormonism claims that in 1820 all Christian denominations were…
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“We believe the same thing.”
“We believe the same thing.” They why the need for a restoration? “We believe the same thing.” Then why did you just tell me you believed the exact opposite thing? “We believe the same thing.” How you can be sure, if you haven’t even asked me about what I believe? “We believe the same thing.”…
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Cracks in the Mormon Dam
(Starts at about 8m45s) Cracks in the Mormon Dam. Some water already beginning to gush. Atheist LDS current mission presidents. Unbelieving return-MP’s. Doubting General Authorities. A General Authority that stops BYU’s NAMIR/FARMS from publishing a piece against the agnostic-in-longtime-LDS-sheeps-clothing John Dehlin. Daniel Peterson fired and FARMS abandoning unabashed apologetics. Mormonism’s greatest expert on the Book…
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The Robust Growth of Mormonism
After the Mormon Church released its membership statistics in April (2013), Mike at RoundelMike.com, a self-proclaimed “stats geek,” analyzed the church’s self-reported membership data from 1970 to the present. Replete with charts and graphs, it is a fascinating look at Mormon Church growth over these 40-plus years. Please take the time to read Mike’s report…
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EMPP – Evidence, Not Merit; Purpose, Not Prerequisite
Having a tough time discussing grace with Mormons? EMPP is my imaginary energy drink, as well as my corny acronym for making some helpful distinctions: Evidence. Are works necessary to show the evidence of faith? Yes. James 2:14-26, Matthew 7:21-23? Merit. Are works necessary to earn or merit eternal life or forgiveness? No. Romans 4:1-8,…
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Mormons Speaking of Catholicism: Surely They Jest…?
The Mormon President of Ohio State University announced his retirement last week amidst controversy over his anti-Catholic remarks. Gordon Gee has a long history of “verbal gaffes,” but his recent comments about “those damn Catholics” apparently crossed the line. According to news reports, “’The fathers are holy on Sunday, and they’re holy hell on the…
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Mormonism and the heresy of the Anthropomorphites
Back in 2007 Mormon Apostle Jeffrey Holland gave a talk at General Conference titled, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent.” In this address, Mr. Holland denounced the Christian doctrine of the Trinity in what some have called a “demeaning and misleading” way. Because the new Mormon Church curriculum for youth,…
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The Delicate Balance of Mormon Church History
The June 2013 issue of New Era magazine (for Mormon youth) includes an article by LDS Seventy Steven E. Snow, “Balancing Church History.” The focus of the article is on warning Mormon young people about faith-challenging historical information they may encounter on the Internet, and encouraging them to be prepared for these encounters. Mr. Snow…
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The Distinctive Restoration Plan of Salvation
On May 16, 2013 Meridian Magazine (online) published an article by Mormon author Wallace Goddard titled, “The Restoration Plan of Salvation: ‘It Came From God!’” Dr. Goddard’s article is aimed at proving the superior beauty and cohesiveness of the Mormon gospel as compared to any others. He writes, “It is my intent to help us…
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In Mormonism God is a Saved Soul
In the 1974 October General Conference of the Mormon Church Marion G. Romney (Second Counselor in the First Presidency) said, “I am going to talk about some of the very fundamentals of the gospel of Jesus Christ of great importance… “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms as its Third Article of Faith:…
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Elizabeth Smart’s Courage Within the Tragedy of Mormonism
Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped when she was 14-years-old. She was held captive for nine months by Brian David Mitchell, a man who believed 1) that he was a true prophet of God, and 2) that Elizabeth was to become his (plural) wife. In March of 2003 the police rescued Elizabeth in Sandy, Utah. On May…
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Sin Entered, Blood Formed
The Mormon Church recently released an updated edition of its scriptures. One of the resources that underwent some change is the Bible Dictionary, found in the back of the LDS edition of the KJV Bible (print editions). In reviewing some of the changes made to the new digital edition I found one of particular interest…
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Finding Emma
Last week Jana Riess (Flunking Sainthood) wrote about “The Mormon Reinvention of Emma Smith.” Recapping a recent lecture by Emma Smith’s biographer Linda King Newell (co-author with Valeen Tippets Avery, Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, 1984), Ms. Riess noted that before the publication of Ms. Newell’s book, “Emma had been largely written out of official…