Category: Mormon Theology
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With a Sincere Heart
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you,…
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Quotes on Merit, Earning, Worthiness, and Qualification
2000 – present “Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father… How might we merit this promise [spoken of in Ezekiel 36]? What will qualify us to receive this blessing?” – Thomas S Monson, “To…
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The Relationship Between Jesus and Lucifer in a Mormon Context
In a December 11, 2007 Associated Press article written by Libby Quaid, the question of whether or not Mormonism teaches that “Jesus and the devil are brothers” was addressed. In response to this inquiry, Quaid noted that a spokesperson for the LDS Church said such a “question is usually raised by those who wish to…
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The Law of God: Designed to Reveal You as Sinful and God as Righteous
The apostle Paul reasons in Romans that people don’t keep the Law, neither the one written in the Torah nor the one written on our hearts. We need to find our righteousness elsewhere, even in another person. The harshest part of the law is that it demands perfection of our hearts, not just our external…
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Why No Crosses?
By Bill McKeever You may have noticed that Mormon temples are normally adorned with a golden angel rather than a cross. The fact is, crosses are never used on any Mormon buildings. Strangely enough, Mormon leaders have often pointed to the Garden of Gethsemane as the place where Christ’s atonement took place.
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How Has 2 Nephi 25:23 Been Interpreted?
By Aaron Shafovaloff 2 Nephi 25:23 is a key text by which Mormons identify and distinguish their view of grace, repentance, works, and merit. It has consistently functioned in Mormonism as a text speaking of the prerequisite conditions for receiving forgiveness, eternal life, and exaltation, although some neo-orthodox Mormon revisionists are attempting to recast it…
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Exaltation Speculation
On November 9th (2007) an article by Mathew N. Schmalz appeared in Commonweal Magazine. The article, titled “Meet the Mormons: From Margin to Mainstream,” discussed some interesting aspects of Mormonism, from Kolob to BYU. But one comment really caught my attention: “Smith’s vision of the afterlife was also distinctive. It foresaw a place divided into…
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Two Views of the Fall
Mormonism and traditional Christianity view the acts of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden very differently. According to Mormonism: To the first man and woman on earth, the Lord said, “Be fruitful, and multiply” (Moses 2:28; see also Gen. 1:28; Abr. 4:28). This commandment was first in sequence and first in importance. It…
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Authoritative LDS Teachings on Blacks and the Priesthood Designated “Folklore”
Last week Deseret News reported on a new film in the works: “Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons.” Three Latter-day Saints have teamed up to produce this documentary. They hope to present a theatrical release next June to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the LDS Church’s announcement lifting the ban on blacks…
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Priesthood Restored or Retrofit?
By Lane Thuet Listen
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Equally Unworthy
While we’re on the subject of Mormon temples (see Mormon Coffee’s last article), the February issue of Ensign magazine includes an article about the symbolism found in Mormon temples. Quoting LDS Apostle John A. Widtsoe, the article states: “In the temples all are dressed alike in white. White is the symbol of purity. No unclean…
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Mormonism and Evolution
By Bill McKeever On May 22, 2000, a reader in the Salt Lake Tribune took BYU assistant professor Randy Bennett to task for insisting that all modern creatures had a common ancestor. The reader claimed that this was inconsistent since the LDS Church, with its doctrine of the pre-existence, has traditionally taught that man was…
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Angels and Humans
By Bill McKeever The concept of heavenly beings known as angels is contained within the theology in both Mormonism and historic Christianity. To question the existence of such beings is to question the integrity of Christ Himself, who confirmed the existence of angels when He mentioned “angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30) as well as “the…
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An American Garden of Eden?
The passage of time has probably made it impossible to know exactly where the Garden of Eden was located. While admitting that no theory comes without difficulties, Dr. Roland K. Harrison, professor of Old Testament at Wycliffe College, Toronto, writes, “On the basis of currently available information it would appear that the one that locates…
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Bruce McConkie: Respected General Authority or Theological Hack?
By Bill McKeever
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Who Are the Sons of Perdition?
By Lane Thuet
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Book Review: Grace Works: After All We Can Do
By Dr. Robert Millet Reviewed by Bill McKeever The front jacket reads, “As Latter-day Saints we sing and speak of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ, but do we take those words of praise and worship to heart? In whom do we really trust? Upon whom do we really rely? What does it mean to…
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Doctrine and Covenants 137:7 – Is It Better To Have Never Known?
By Bill McKeever
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White and Delightsome or Pure and Delightsome? – A Look at 2 Nephi 30:6
By Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson For much of its history, the Salt Lake City-based LDS Church edition of the Book of Mormon taught that dark-skinned Lamanites (Indians) would eventually experience a change in the color of their skin should they embrace the Book of Mormon. Except for a single edition (1840), 2 Nephi 30:6…