Category: Rebuttals and Rejoinders
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Book Review: Massacre at Mountain Meadows
Written by Ronald W. Walker, Richard E. Turley Jr., and Glen M. Leonard The “Mountain Meadows Massacre,” as it has been called, has intrigued historians and laypeople alike for more than a century and a half. The story involves a group of southern emigrants to California on September 11th, 1857 (the original “September 11th”) who,…
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A Response to Greg Trimble’s Blog “51 Answers”
51 Answers that Might Lead You Away from Mormonism & Into True ChristianityA Reponse to Greg Trimble’s blog post titled “51 Questions That Might Lead You to Mormonism” By Cory Anderson
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The Virtue of Joseph Smith
Speaking at the general conference last October, Mormon Apostle Neil L. Andersen gave a talk simply titled “Joseph Smith.” Toward the end of his message, Andersen said, “I give you my witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He chose a holy man, a righteous man, to lead the Restoration of the…
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Book Review: Nauvoo Polygamy
Nauvoo Polygamy: “…But We Called It Celestial Marriage” By George D. Smith Polygamy (or plural marriage as it is also called) was a major issue for the LDS Church in 2014, as three different Gospel Topic essays on this topic were published. For many Latter-day Saints, the information disseminated by the church—including the fact that Joseph Smith…
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Book Review: Mormon Polygamy: A History (2nd Edition)
Mormon Polygamy: A History (2nd Edition) By Richard S. Van Wagoner Reviewed by Eric Johnson
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Mormonism’s President and the Role of the Angry Mob
In April 2014, at the Mormon Church’s General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson spoke of love being the essence of the gospel. Explaining that Jesus Christ is our great example of love, President Monson said, “The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved. At the end the angry mob took His…
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Book Review: Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record
Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record By H. Michael Marquardt & Wesley Walters Reviewed by Eric Johnson
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Mormons Don’t Believe In the Trinity
In an October (2014) blog, Latter-day Saint Greg Trimble sought to explain “Why Mormons Don’t Believe In the Trinity.” As Mr. Trimble pointed out, it is imperative that we “know who and what God is,” for Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom…
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Noah Essay from LDS.org
Noah Beginning in December 2013, the LDS Church began publishing a series of essays meant to explain hard teachings (for a list of other articles and podcasts from MRM, go here). The entire article on Noah is underlined here, with my commentary throughout.
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Book Review: The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri
Not everyone likes history, especially Mormon history. But if there is a particular year that ought to be understood for a better comprehension of Mormonism, the year would have to be 1838. For those who have heard of “Gov. Boggs,” the “Salt Sermon,” and the Hahn’s Mill massacre, this is the book that must be…
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Book Review: Mormon Christianity
According to Stephen Webb, a former Protestant-turned-Catholic, Mormonism fits quite nicely under the umbrella of Christianity. All well and good, as many have offered this opinion. So what does the author bring to the table? Very little research and plenty of personal opinion. This and $3.59 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
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A Closer Look at Spencer W. Kimball’s the Miracle of Forgiveness
MRM has produced a new website centered around President Spencer W. Kimball’s book The Miracle of Forgiveness. The url is www.themiracleofforgiveness.com. We have also produced a Kimball million dollar bill (tract) to be used in conjunction with this website. Check out the website and recommend Kimball’s book to every Mormon you know!
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The Definition of Doctrine
It’s only a short article located in the early pages of the July 2014 Ensign magazine, which is the official monthly organ of the LDS Church. But I believe this piece, titled “We Teach by the Power of the Holy Ghost” and found under the unattributed column “What We Believe,” is consistent with what is…
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Book Review: Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling
A book on Joseph Smith written by a Latter-day Saint that we would recommend. Yes, the author does accept more than he should, but overall I think this is an important read for everyone interested in the topic of Mormonism. Find out why.
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Monson’s Wishful Thinking?
In his First Presidency message in the June 2014 issue of Ensign magazine titled, “Hastening the Work,” Mormon President Thomas S. Monson spoke of the “accelerated rate” at which the Church of Jesus Christ is growing. Monson writes: “Do you realize that the restored Church was 98 years old before it had 100 stakes? But…
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In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith (Book Review)
Although many Mormons know that second LDS President Brigham Young was a practicing polygamist, some may not realize that Joseph Smith had many wives as well. When this issue is broached, I have heard it said more than once that we were connocting nothing more than an anti-Mormon lie. What LDS writer Todd Compton does…
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Book Review: The Rise of Mormonism: 1816-1844
Book Review: The Rise of Mormonism: 1816-1844 (Xulon, 1st edition, 2005)By H. Michael MarquardtReviewed by Eric JohnsonNote: Page references are from the 1st edition of this book. An expanded second edition was released in 2013.
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Book Review: Starting at the Finish Line: The Gospel of Grace for Mormons
In the world of Christian apologetics to the LDS community exists a number of books written from several different angles. For author John B. Wallace of Starting at the Finish Line, the target audience for Starting at the Finish Line is clearly marked throughout: those who are current believers in his former religion. Wallace, who is a…