Mormonism Research Ministry

Category: Rebuttals and Rejoinders

  • Text in Context

    Sharon Lindbloom

    During the Priesthood meeting at the last General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson addressed the congregation. His talk was titled, To Learn, To Do, To Be. President Monson spoke of the size of the large assembly of LDS priesthood holders, their admirable desire to learn their duty, and their capacity to share the LDS gospel…

  • Movie Review: Twilight

    Bill McKeever

    Reviewed by Bill McKeever Let me begin this review by making two confessions. 1) I haven’t read any of the books by Stephenie Meyer, and 2) had Meyer not been LDS, I doubt if I would have ever had any desire to see Twilight, a film based on the first of her four novels (The others…

  • Jesus Resurrects; Works Exalt

    Sharon Lindbloom

    LDS author Alonzo L. Gaskill authored the 2008 book, Odds Are, You’re Going to be Exalted. On page 4 of that book Dr. Gaskill explains, “…it is a fallacy to say that Jesus saves us, but then our works exalt us—an idea I have heard expressed not a few times by members of the Church.…

  • Movie Review: Emma Smith: My Story

    Bill McKeever

    Reviewed by Bill McKeever When I first saw the billboards along Interstate 15 advertising Emma Smith: My Story, I wondered how much of “Emma’s story” was going to actually be told. When the trailers for the film started airing on local Salt Lake television stations and I saw that much of the film appeared to…

  • The Mormon Doctrine of Materiality

    Sharon Lindbloom

    On May 21, 1845 an article on the nature of God, man, and angels appeared in the LDS publication the “Prophet.” Understood to have been written by the editor, LDS Apostle Parley P. Pratt, the article was reprinted in the 1903 book Mormon Doctrine of Deity by B. H. Roberts. Mr. Roberts identified this article,…

  • Book Review: Bridging the Divide: The Continuing Conversation between a Mormon and an Evangelical

    Eric Johnson

    By Dr. Robert L. Millet and Rev. Gregory C.V. Johnson Monkfish, 2007

  • Book Reviews: Trouble in Palmyra, Rescue the Prophet, and Time Travelers in Church History

    Sharon Lindbloom

    Trouble in Palmyra,

  • The Latter-day Mystery of John the Beloved

    Sharon Lindbloom

    In an article describing the way leadership vacancies are filled within the LDS Church, a recent issue of Church News explained, “On the Mount of Transfiguration in the incident recounted in Matthew 17:1-11, Peter, James and John received those keys, defined as “the rights of presidency, or the power given to man by God to…

  • Movie Review: September Dawn

    Bill McKeever

    Reviewed by Bill McKeever and Aaron Shafovaloff

  • The Mormon Church vs. Hollywood

    Sharon Lindbloom

    Today the Hollywood movie September Dawn opens in 1000 theaters nationwide. The dramatized portrayal of the Mountain Meadows Massacre–wherein Mormon men massacred 120 emigrants as they peacefully passed through southern Utah in 1857–is unwelcome among Latter-day Saints. The film has been called “controversial” by the news media, but has received stronger condemnation from Latter-day Saints.…

  • Obeying Orders at Mountain Meadows: Would You?

    Bill McKeever

    Michael Medved’s criticism of the film September Dawn has garnered support from the LDS community, but many argue it overlooks historical complexities of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, questioning the motivations behind its portrayal.

  • Mormonism 201: Chapter 18 – The Church and Its Leadership

    Eric Johnson

    Response to J. Cooper Johnson Rejoinder by Eric Johnson (Editor’s Note: In order to make this review easier to read, all original quotes used from the Mormonism 201 rebuttal are boldfaced and italicized to separate these from the rest of the rejoinder.)

  • Just Who Makes Up LDS Doctrine?

    Eric Johnson

    One of the things most puzzling to me as an associate in this ministry is when I am told that I cannot truly understand the teachings of the LDS religion. Dozens of times Mormons have told me, “What you’re saying is not what we (Mormons) believe,” even though the doctrine I am describing normally comes…

  • Movie Review: The Mormons on PBS

    Bill McKeever

    Part 1 Reviewed by Bill McKeever Amidst a lot of anticipation from Mormons and non-Mormons alike, Helen Whitney’s two-part, four-hour documentary on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was met with mixed reaction by a larger than normal audience.

  • Book Review: A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney

    Eric Johnson

    By Hugh Hewitt Review by Eric Johnson

  • Searching for Answers or Seeking Confirmation?

    Sharon Lindbloom

    LDS Professor Robert L. Millet was asked to explain the main reason for the remarkable growth of the LDS Church. He replied, “The Church offers answers to some of life’s oldest questions: Where do I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going after death?” (Source) These three questions have traditionally held a…

  • FARMS’ Critique of "Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend" (D. Charles Pyle)

    Eric Johnson

    By Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson Authors, Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend

  • FARMS’ Critique of "Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend" (LeIsle Jacobson)

    Eric Johnson

    By Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson Authors, Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend

  • Examining the "17 Points of the True Church"

    Bill McKeever

    By Bill McKeever

  • Bill McKeever Responds to the Book of Mormon Answer Man Web Site

    Bill McKeever

    On July 22, 1998, I received an e-mail from one of our readers that said he had read a letter posted on The Book of Mormon Answer Man web site bearing my name. Not recalling ever writing such a letter, I logged on to read the following post from “Bill McKeever, Protestant Christian, Age: 35-49,…