Category: Book Reviews
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Review of Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley
During 2017 LDS members studied Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley. What follows is a chapter-by-chapter evangelical review. The manual Chapter reviews For a 5-part Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast that originally aired January 9-13, 2017, click Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5. To see reviews of each chapter of other…
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Book Review: Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess
By Richard S. Van Wagoner (Signature Books, 2007) Reviewed by Eric Johnson For years Sidney Rigdon was the right-hand man to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion. Much of what the Mormon religion is about is directly connected with Rigdon, a former Disciples of Christ minister. While most Mormons are probably not familiar with this…
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Book Review: From Baptist Preacher to Mormon Teacher
From Baptist Preacher to Mormon Teacher Springville: Cedar Fort (2015) By Wain Myers Former Christians who end up joining Mormonism are cherished in many Mormon circles. For those who once served as Christian leaders or pastors, this is doubly true. Intentional headhunting of Christian leaders by Latter-day Saints has been in vogue for many years.…
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Book Review: Talking Doctrine: Mormons and Evangelicals in Conversation
Review of Talking Doctrine: Mormons & Evangelicals In Conversation (IVP Academic, 2015, edited by Richard J. Mouw and Robert L. Millet) Listen to a 5-day Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast series airing in the late summer 2015: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 39, number 2 (2016). The…
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Book Review: Blacks and the Mormon Priesthood: Setting the Record Straight
By Marcus H. Martins, Ph.D. Note: The month of June 2015 marks the 38th anniversary of Spencer W. Kimball and the members of the First Presidency deciding to allow those with black skin to begin receiving the priesthood. Let’s take a look at a book written with the intention of “setting the record straight.” For a…
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Book Review: The Plan of Salvation: Understanding our Divine Origin and Destiny
By Matthew B. Brown Covenant Communications 2007 Reviewed by Eric Johnson The topic of the plan of salvation is a favorite with LDS missionaries all over the world. Where did we come from? Why are we here? And where are we going? Which Mormon missionary hasn’t asked these questions over and over again on a…
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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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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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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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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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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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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…
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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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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).