Category: Mormon Theology
-
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…
-
Is Jesus Worshiped in Mormonism?
Note: The following was originally printed in the July/August 2023 edition of Mormonism Researched, sent bimonthly to financial supporters of MRM. To request a free subscription to Mormonism Researched, please visit here. Over the years, many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have pled with Evangelical Christians to accept them as fellow Christ-followers.…
-
Jeffrey R. Holland’s Mischaracterization of Christianity’s Sacred Symbol
Jeffrey R. Holland, the fourth highest ranking LDS Church leader based on seniority, gave a talk at the October 2022 general conference titled “Lifted Up Upon the Cross” (Liahona, November 2022, 77-80). In his 13-minute address, Holland diminished those who believe the cross should be a cherished Christian symbol. As we approach Holy Week during…
-
Rendezvousing With Spirits of the Dead
Note: The following was originally printed in the November/December 2022 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. Most of the work done in the 170+ temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located around the world is performed by faithful Mormons on behalf of those who are no longer…
-
How Jesus and Lucifer Are Related to Humans
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormon) teaches unique doctrines contrary to biblical Christianity. One such belief is that Jesus, Lucifer, and all humans are literally spirit brothers and sisters from a previous existence. To understand the teaching, we must consider what a variety of LDS teachers have said throughout the years. The…
-
Did Jesus forgive the adulterous woman?
Note: The following was originally printed in the September/October 2022 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. The story of Jesus and the adulterous woman recorded in John 7:53-8:11 is well-known by many Bible readers because it exemplifies the essence of the Savior. If you remember, a woman who had been caught…
-
President Nelson speaks on “The Everlasting Covenant”: A Review of Liahona 10/2022
For a 5-part Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast series on “Russell M. Nelson and the Everlasting Gospel” that aired October 3-7, 2022, click Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Posted 9/30/22 In the October 2022 Liahona–the official magazine for English-speaking adults of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–an article from President Russell M. Nelson…
-
“The Covenant Path: The Way to Eternal Life” (Adeyinka A. Ojediran, April 2022)
Posted June 9, 2022 For a series of Viewpoint on Mormonism podcasts that aired June 20-25, 2022, click the following links: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Seventy Adeyinka A. Ojediran (pronounced “oh-head-er-an”) gave a Sunday afternoon talk in general conference titled “The Covenant Path: The Way to Eternal Life”; it was recorded…
-
“Covenants with God” (Jean B. Bingham, April 2022): Review
Posted June 6, 2022 Listen to Viewpoint on Mormonism form June 9-10, 2022 on this review: Part 1 Part 2 In the Saturday evening “women’s session,” Jean B. Bingham, the Relief Society General President, gave a talk titled “Covenants with God Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare Us for Eternal Glory.” The talk, printed in the May 2022 Liahona…
-
The “Covenant Path”–The Same Old Same Old
Posted May 24, 2022 Many have argued that the views of Mormonism’s leaders are inching closer to an Evangelical perspective that teaches how salvation comes by grace and not by works. Sometimes general conference talks given by leaders have seemed to encourage individual Latter-day Saints to think this way, including: However, in the past few…
-
Heavenly Mother: Apostle Renlund Wishes He “Knew More” About This Basic LDS Tenet
In a general conference address given at the women’s session on Saturday evening April 2, 2022, Apostle Dale Renlund discussed the doctrine of Heavenly Mother, one that is rarely ever addressed by the all-male general authority members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Renlund pointed to the church’s short 627-word Gospel Topics…
-
Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? In Mormonism, It Depends.
In the April 2022 issue of the LDS magazine For the Strength of Youth, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, commented, “Jesus Christ’s Atonement was infinite. He saved all humankind from never-ending death. He suffered intensely, beyond what any mortal could suffer. His suffering was for all people…
-
The “Gift” of Salvation is Not Free
Note: The following was originally printed in the January/February 2022 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. Discussing the topic of salvation with a Latter-day Saint can sometimes be confusing since the word salvation is given two distinct definitions in Mormonism. General salvation, or resurrection from the dead, is something all humans will…
-
Worthiness and Flawlessness: A Look at Bradley Wilcox’s October 2021 GC Message
Bradley R. Wilcox is a popular speaker with Latter-day Saints. According to the counter on YouTube, his June 12, 2011 devotional talk titled “His Grace is Sufficient” at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University has topped 1 million views. Although Wilcox is not a general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he…
-
Baptism After the Age of 8 Makes the Individual a “Convert”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints keeps careful track of coverts to the church. Whereas the church was growing by more than 4% in the late 1980s, the rate has dropped to less than 1.5% from 2015-2019. In 2020, that figure dropped to under 1%. Church leaders announce general membership numbers every April…
-
Was Brigham Young a “Jerk”?
Brad R. Wilcox, a BYU professor and the second counselor in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Young Men general presidency, gave a fireside talk on Sunday, February 6, 2022 to church congregations in Alpine, UT. He claims that members have complained to him about how Mormonism’s authoritative priesthood was not given to…
-
10 Reasons to Reject the God of Mormonism
Grasping the concept of the true God of the universe is crucial for every seeker after truth. This is certainly the message communicated in the Bible. If the Bible ought to be considered the Word of God–and it should–here are 10 reasons why the God of Mormonism ought to be rejected. 1. The God of…
-
Word of Wisdom-Compliant Coffee Shop Opens in Utah
I’m rather fond of coffee. And coffee shops. In fact, the idea for Mormonism Research Ministry’s former blog, Mormon Coffee (“It’s forbidden, but it’s good!”), was born in a coffee shop over a decaf latte. So I was pretty interested in an article that came out recently about a new coffee shop in Provo, Utah;…
-
Apostle Provides the Old “Bait and Switch”
Posted October 7, 2021 Note: The following was originally printed in the September/October 2021 edition of the Mormonism Researched, a bimonthly periodical of MRM that is free upon request. To request a free subscription to Mormonism Researched, please visit here. For many years, the bait and switch scam—advertising a product at an incredible bargain price but…
-
Dilemmas of Mormon Exaltation
Consider the following in light of both halves of the Lorenzo Snow couplet: “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” 1. Subordination vs. independence between gods (a) If we will forever be dependent on and subordinate to our God, then it stands to reason that God himself remains…