Category: Rebuttals and Rejoinders
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Book Review: American Crucifixion: The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church
Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam’s new 2014 book may be very helpful to many readers who may not know very much about Mormonism, let alone the facts surrounding the death of Mormonism’s founder Joseph Smith at the hands of an angry mob at the Carthage Jail in 1844. See the review of American Crucifixion here.
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The Good News of Repentance?
In the December 2013 Ensign, Brian D. Garner of the Church Correlation Department wrote a five-page article titled “The Good News of Repentance” (pp. 40-44). As I was reading this piece—subtitled “There is great joy in heaven whenever we repent in sincerity of heart”—I was struck by what I believe is really the bad news…
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Book Review: Leap of Faith
Leap of Faith By Bob Bennett (Deseret Book, 2009) Reviewed by Eric JohnsonThis review first appeared in the Christian Research Journal (Vol. 33, No. 2, 2010)
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Book Review: On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision
This review first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 34, number 02 (2011).
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Book Review: In Their Own Words: A Collection of Mormon Quotations
I imagine that many people think that Bill McKeever (the founder of Mormonism Research Ministry) and I have photographic memories when we provide many quotations on our Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast at what may seem to be the drop of a hat. While Bill certainly has an incredible memory, we must admit that the vast majority…
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Book Review: Was Joseph Smith an Abusive Husband? A Review of Mormon Enigma
Was Joseph Smith an Abusive Husband? A review of Mormon Enigma By Bill McKeever The following was originally printed in the Sept-Oct 2009 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here.
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Book Review: Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate
While I don’t agree with everything McDermott writes, what makes the book worth reading is his articulate, thoughtful theology combined with a cordial attitude.
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Mormonism, the Bible, and God the Father
The January 2014 Ensign magazine includes an edited version of a General Conference talk given in 1986 by (now deceased) Gordon B. Hinckley of Mormonism’s First Presidency. The 2014 “Gospel Classic” is titled, “The Divine Godhead.” In it Mr. Hinckley explains what he believes about God the Father and relates an experience he had while…
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Review of Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple
In 2002, the LDS Church produced a booklet titled Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple. It was written for those who are preparing to go through one of the dozens of Mormons temples located around the world (141 at the time of this writing). What is the LDS leadership telling its people about temples? Does…
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Having it Our Way? (Jeffrey Holland’s 2011 talk at conference)
Having it Our Way? (Jeffrey Holland’s 2011 speech at conference)By Eric JohnsonIn a April 2011 general conference message, LDS Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland made it a point midway through his talk to explain how “the (LDS) Church is not a fast-food outlet; we can’t always have it ‘our way.’” (“An Ensign to the Nations,” Ensign, May…
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Covenants: The (Unkept) Promises
Covenants: The (Unkept) Promises By Eric Johnson An article (with no listed author) was the main attraction in the July 2012 Ensign magazine. Titled “Covenants: Our Most Important Promises,” it describes an ordinance as “a sacred, formal act performed by the authority of the priesthood. Some ordinances are essential to our salvation. As part of…
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Editorials on Mormonism in the Salt Lake Tribune Summer 2011
Editorials on Mormonism in the Salt Lake Tribune Summer 2011By Eric JohnsonOn Friday, August 19, 2011, an article appeared in the editorial section of the Salt Lake Tribune titled “Five Myths about Mormonism.” It was written by popular Mormon blogger Joanna Brooks and you can visit this initial article here.
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Book Review: The Book of Mormon: A Biography
The Book of Mormon: A BiographyAuthored by Paul C. Gutjahr Reviewed by Eric Johnson
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Gospel Topic Essays Index
In what appears to be an attempt to deal with several vital historical issues propogated by the LDS Church throughout the years, the Mormon Church has been producing essays since late 2013 under its “Gospel Topics” section of its lds.org website, attempting to reconcile the facts with what had been taught by earlier leaders and…
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Review, The Gospel of Jesus Christ
A 24-page pamphlet titled “The Gospel of Jesus Christ” was produced by the Mormon Church in 2008. It describes the LDS gospel by using words such as salvation, grace, mercy, and baptism. What exactly does Mormonism mean by these terms? We will take a look at the entire pamphlet (the words of which are underlined)…
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Book Review: Jesus Christ, Message to All Nations
Say the name “Warren Jeffs” out loud in a public place in Utah and you will get raised eyebrows. Latter-day Saints are very sensitive about having their religion tied to polygamous groups, which many ignorant bystanders have done over the years. Today, Jeffs—who is serving a life sentence behind federal prison bars in Texas—remains the…
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Book Review: Talking with Mormons: An Invitation to Evangelicals
Richard Mouw is the outgoing president of Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a keyevangelical figure in the realm of interfaith dialogue and has spent the better part of the last decade engaged in discussions with Latter-day Saint scholars and some LDS church officials. His role has afforded him some high profile encounters typified by his role…
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Bill McKeever responds to Scott Gordon, FAIR-LDS, 11/18/2013
Listen to MRM founder/president Bill McKeever respond to FAIR-LDS’s President Scott Gordon. A cogent, well-reasoned response to the arguments presented by the leader of a major LDS apologetic organization. Click here.
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Flying First-Class — Mormon Style
In reading the July 2013 Ensign, I came across a thoughtful story written by Bonnie Marshall in the Latter-day Saint Voices section of the magazine. Mrs. Marshall tells of a long flight she and her husband took when they returned to Utah from their mission at BYU-Hawaii. Because Mrs. Marshall’s husband was a large man,…
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Book Review: The Shack
Reviewed by Eric JohnsonVery similar to the Harry Potter phenomenon, The Shack (written by William Young) has taken the book publishing world by storm. First printed at Kinkos and handed out to Young’s friends and relatives, The Shack has been located at the top of the publishing charts for years.