Category: Mormon Theology
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Are Mormonism’s Three Heavenly Kingdoms Biblical?
Mormonism and Christianity teach vastly different things about the afterlife. Are there really three different degrees of glory?
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Does God Exaggerate About Himself in Isaiah?
Does God use hyperbole when talking about Himself—especially in Isaiah 40-48? Some Latter-day Saints have suggested that he has, especially because Babylon uses similar language about itself in Isaiah 47.
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Review: Second Class Saints
A book titled “Second Class Saints” recently came out and covers the issue of the history of Blacks on the LDS Church. It’s worthwhile and it is recommended for your reading, with many insider information that you may not have known.
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Mediator Between God and Man
Do Latter-day Saints and Bible-believing Christians agree on the essential issues of the faith? The answer, quite simply, is no. This story of the teaching of an LDS seminary teacher illustrates the point.
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Studies Insist That Cup of “Joe” in Moderation Is Healthy
A number of medical studies, including those in the last few years, show that coffee—when consumed in moderation—can be healthy for a person in the long term. Such an idea is contrary to the teachings of Mormonism. One recent study presented at the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) reported in The New York Times has…
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How Our Father Became God, by LDS Philosopher Nels Lars Nelson
Nels Lars Nelson, a Brigham Young University professor, was a significant figure in Mormon intellectual circles. He wrote, “God became God because He fulfilled the law of becoming perfect as His Father in heaven was perfect.”
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Intelligence(s) and Spirits: Competing LDS Views
Joseph Smith’s evolving views on pre-mortal existence shifted from a vague, conceptual intelligence to a later synonymy of intelligence, mind, soul, and spirit, sparking diverse interpretations among his followers.
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A Bibliography of Mormon Philosophy
Significant works on Mormon theology and philosophy, ranging from early writings by Orson Pratt and B. H. Roberts to modern explorations by Blake Ostler, Terryl Givens, and David Paulsen.
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Divine Begetting in Mormonism
We explore two LDS theological issues: the concept of pre-mortal spirit begetting and the origins of Adam’s body.
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D&C 76:24 Isn’t About “Literal” Spirit Children
LDS leaders often use D&C 76:24 to promote the notion that humans on this earth are “literal” spirit children of heavenly parents. Thomas Monson references the passage when saying, “The spirits of all men are literally His ‘begotten sons and daughters’.” (Monson) This 1832 revelation, whoever, is clearly referring to redemptive sonship, not pre-mortal “literal”…
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Mapping Mormon Theologies
Official doctrine Emeritus BYU Dean of Religious Education Robert Millet concedes: “I think most Latter-day Saints would be prone to answer this by pointing out the value and significance of living oracles, or continuing revelation, or ongoing divine direction through modern apostles and prophets, and thus to conclude that living prophets take precedence over canonized…
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Mormonism’s Twist on John Newton’s “Amazing Grace”
The LDS Church is revising its hymnbook, including “Amazing Grace,” a song deeply cherished in Christian worship, though it carries a different understanding of grace in Mormon theology. While Christians embrace grace as a gift, Mormonism ties grace to obedience and effort.
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Mormon Quotes on the Regress of Gods
Updated April 21, 2025. As of today there are at least five different positions in the Latter-day Saint tradition on divine ancestry and the regress of gods. Dominant view and modern dissonance “The notion maintained by many early Mormon leaders” Blake Ostler (2001): “The Lectures on Faith are inconsistent with the notion maintained by many…
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Christian Songs Being Incorporated Into New LDS Hymnal
Note: The following was originally printed in the September/October 2024 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. Published 9/26/2024 On May 30, 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the “first wave” of 13 songs to be included in its new global hymnbook. The songs are now available in…
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Jesus as Husband
In his 1854 General Conference address, Mormon Apostle Orson Hyde asserted that Jesus Christ was married, citing Mary’s affectionate response at the tomb and claiming He was the bridegroom at Cana, despite John 2:2 stating Jesus was merely invited.
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Mormonism’s Eternal Sealings: A Complex Story
3 June 2024 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints devotes considerable resources to seeking after its dead (as the faith’s founder Joseph Smith put it). This includes the genealogical research the church is somewhat famous for, used to first identify deceased people and then provide them with Mormonism’s “saving ordinances” done vicariously for…
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Does James Contradict Sola Fides (Salvation by Faith Alone)? A Closer Look at James 2:14–26
To listen to a Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast on this topic that aired May 6-10, 2024, go to the following: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 This article includes a verse-by-verse analysis of James 2:14-26. In doing this, we will compare the King James Version (the official version of The Church…
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A 3-Minute Explanation on Christianity’s Living Prophet
Note: The following was originally printed in the September/October 2023 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. If only I had that proverbial nickel for every time a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked, “So who’s your living prophet?” The question is certainly a tongue-in-cheek reference to…
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The LDS Church at Christmas: A Cautionary Tale
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented its 2023 First Presidency Christmas Devotional on December 3rd. This event featured The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) and comments by several LDS church leaders. Though church President Russell M. Nelson was present at the event, his address to…
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How Wide Is That Covenant Path?
Note: The following was originally printed in the July/August 2023 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription to Mormonism Researched, please visit here. Certina, a former Mormon and contributing author to the mormonscholar.org website (mormonscholar.org/the-covenant-path), wrote in 2018: Since its introduction into the Mormon vocabulary in 2005 and General Conference in 2007, the term “covenant…