Category: Mormon Coffee Blog (2007-2019)
-
Mormonism, Fraud, and Feelings
1 May 2019 Deseret News posted an article this week addressing the magnitude of investment fraud in Utah. Asking, “Does Utah deserve the title ‘fraud capital of the United States’?” journalist Dennis Romboy says the answer is yes: Everyone is vulnerable to being conned, but why do the folks in Utah seem more susceptible to falling…
-
Book Review: Insights from a Prophet’s Life (Russell M. Nelson)
15 April 2019 Last week the Truth & Transparency Foundation posted an article titled, “False Story Removed From Newest Book on the Life of Mormon President Russell M. Nelson.” The Foundation revealed that Insights from a Prophet’s Life: President Russell M. Nelson by Sheri Dew went to press while including “a faith promoting story with material…
-
The Photo of the Statue of the Apostle Peter and LDS President Russell M. Nelson
During the weekend of March 10, 2019, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints flew all fifteen of its general authorities to Rome, Italy–a nation where up to 85% of its residents are Roman Catholics–as the newest temple built by the 16-million member church was officially dedicated. Among other events that weekend, President Russell…
-
Anti-Mormons, Scribes, and Pharisees
Last month LDS blogger Adam Dreamer posted an article he titled, “9 Ways Anti-Mormons are like the Scribes and Pharisees.” His stated purpose for the article was to demonstrate “how closely the arguments of Christ’s critics match – in substance and style, if not specifics – the arguments of anti-Mormons today. The scribes and Pharisees…
-
Joseph Smith and Luke 10:22
The official History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka History of the Church or HOC) reproduces Joseph Smith’s journal where he stated: “This winter [1832-33] was spent in translating the Scriptures…I completed the translation and review of the New Testament, on the 2nd of February, 1833 and sealed it up, no more to be opened till…
-
An Imaginary Tour of the LDS Temple in Rome
18 March 2019 On March 7th (2019) the Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted what it called an “unprecedented video production within one of the Church’s most sacred spaces.” This video is a virtual tour of the church’s new temple in Rome, Italy. Led by two Mormon apostles, David Bednar and…
-
When the Mormon Church Skirts the Truth, Who’s To Blame?
In February, BYU professor Daniel Peterson posted on his blog what I think is an odd article. The title is a question: “Is the Church lying to us through its art?” Dr. Peterson admits that he understands the critics’ claim that “the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is misrepresenting its history by means…
-
Masonry and the Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony
Earlier this month The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted a new essay to the Church History Topics section of its website. In the church’s continuing effort to be more “transparent” about its past, the new essay, titled “Masonry,” examines the relationship between the LDS temple endowment ceremony and Masonic ritual. The essay…
-
Mormonism and Catholicism: “Friendly in Every Respect”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is currently hosting its public open house for those who would like to see the new Mormon temple in Rome, Italy (January 28-February 16, 2019). Leading up to the public open house event, the church provided special tours for specific groups of people like clergy and journalists.…
-
An LDS Apostle’s Attitude Toward Doubting Mormons
On January 13th(2019) Dale Renlund, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke at a church-sponsored worldwide devotional for young adults. Together with his wife, Ruth, the Renlund’s talk addressed faith and doubt. The overarching theme was centered on the evil nature of doubt, where the Renlunds treated those who have…
-
The Continuing Adjustments to Mormonism
7 January 2019 The media is reporting on a significant Mormon-related matter. On January 1st The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced changes to its temple endowment ceremony. While not unheard of, temple changes are somewhat uncommon, the last noteworthy changes having occurred in 2005. Most of the recent changes to the ceremony are,…
-
The Season for Safeguarding Joseph Smith’s Honor
19 December 2018 In approaching Christmas, Christians focus on Jesus Christ as we commemorate His birth. We celebrate God’s merciful Gift: “Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” (Luke 2:11). As summarized at GotQuestions.org, “We celebrate Christmas because… Jesus is the Savior who delivers us from sin…
-
Mormonism and the “True Church”
15 October 2018 The September Ensign magazine included an article meant to explain what it means when people say that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “is the true Church.” In discussing the purpose of the LDS Church (i.e., “for the perfecting of the Saints”), the article noted that past leaders “could grow toward…
-
Something Crucial is Missing from the Mormon Church’s Official Name
In August the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints alerted the world to a revelation he received regarding the name of his church. Commonly referred to as the Mormon Church or the LDS Church, President Nelson explained that the use of these nicknames was incorrect and in order to conform to…
-
Another Harmful Mormon Myth Refuses to Die
An interesting article appeared in the Springfield (Missouri) News-Leader this month. It seems that columnist Steve Pokin became intrigued after an LDS acquaintance told him “that it was once legal to kill a Mormon in Missouri.” Because this claim sounded implausible to Mr. Pokin, he decided to do some research. His article, “Was there ever…
-
Worthiness Interviews in the Mormon Church Lead to Trouble
In August the Mormon Mental Health Association (not officially affiliated with the Mormon Church) released a position statement regarding LDS worthiness interviews. In a nutshell, the MMHA’s professional opinion is that worthiness interviews are not a good idea. In the LDS Church, members are called to meet with their ecclesiastical leaders to determine if each…
-
The 6 Ideas That Led a Man to Mormonism
LDS Living, a popular independent faith-promoting magazine and website for Mormons, recently produced and published a video, “The 6 Questions That Led Me to Christianity.” In the fallaciously-titled video, an unnamed man explains why he joined the LDS Church. He begins, His questions (along with a summary of his comments) are these: 1. How do…
-
Mormon Youth: The Hope of Israel
I received my August 2018 edition of the LDS Church’s Ensign magazine last week. Bundled with the Ensign was a supplement: The text of a “Worldwide Youth Devotional” titled “Hope of Israel.” This devotional was presented to the youth of the Mormon Church in June by LDS President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Wendy. President Nelson…
-
Mormonism’s Exclusive Line of Divine Authority
Last month the LDS Church celebrated the anniversary of the 1978 lifting of the spiritual restrictions placed on black Mormons. Usually referred to as the Priesthood Ban, these restrictions not only disallowed black men from holding the Mormon priesthood, but also kept all black members from participating in LDS temples, denying them the church’s “saving…
-
Mormonism and the Blossoming Rose of Isaiah 35:1
9 July 2018 An article appeared online last month that took a critical look at water usage in the state of Utah. Journalist Nathalie Baptiste wrote, “Utah is one of the driest states in the country, but you couldn’t tell by how much water its residents are using. The average American uses between 80 and…