Category: Book Reviews
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Book Review: Gethsemane
Reviewed by Aaron Shafovaloff According to BYU professor Andrew Skinner, the centerpiece of Heavenly Father’s plan was a “singular moment in a specific time and place on this earth in a garden called Gethsemane… The events that occurred in Gethsemane were part of the atonement of Jesus Christ—not preparatory to it, nor secondary to it,…
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Book Review: What Every Mormon (and Non-Mormon) Should Know: Examining Mormon History, Doctrines and Claims
Reviewed by Eric Johnson Former Mormonism Research Ministry associate Lane Thuett has teamed with Edmond Gross to put together a well-documented 500+-page book on the subject of Mormonism. The authors have pitched a winner as they utilize a great number of authoritative sources to show that Mormonism is truly much different than historical Christianity. The…
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Book Review: What Happened to the Cross? Distinctive LDS Teachings
By Eric Johnson Mormon apologist Robert Millet, a professor of ancient scripture and a former dean of Religious Education at Mormon-owned Brigham Young University, has authored dozens of books on the LDS religion. Hence, he wrote the 2007 book What Happened to the Cross? to help Mormons share their faith about the atonement of Christ,…
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Book Review: Mere Mormonism
Reviewed by Eric Johnson If you thought of C.S. Lewis and Mere Christianity when you saw the title of the book being reviewed, you were supposed to. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the author of Mere Mormonism—Ronald R. Zollinger—would have been worthy to tie the proverbial shoestrings of the late philosopher from England. Mere Mormonism will…
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Beloved Rescue Story Is a Myth. Say It Ain’t So.
One feature of the 2008 book Devil’s Gate: Brigham Young and the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy by David Roberts is the debunking of popular myths connected to the “handcart experiment.” There are many, and they are continually believed and repeated within Mormon circles. Some of these stories are held very dear and beloved by Latter-day…
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Book Review: I’m Not Perfect. Can I Still Go to Heaven?
In 2009 author and religious educator Anthony Sweat conducted an informal study of LDS teenagers. He asked 701 Mormon kids which kingdom of glory they thought they would end up in if they were to die and be judged that very day. Mr. Sweat was dismayed to find that almost half of the active LDS…
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Authorized and Official Biography
A new book about Joseph Smith is about to hit the market. A recent online press release divulged, “Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, could be the most controversial and mysterious religious figure of the past two hundred years. While volumes have been written about him— both in praise and contempt— the reality is that very…
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Jesus Resurrects; Works Exalt
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.…
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The Mormon Doctrine of Materiality
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,…
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Book Review: Bridging the Divide: The Continuing Conversation between a Mormon and an Evangelical
By Dr. Robert L. Millet and Rev. Gregory C.V. Johnson Monkfish, 2007
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Book Review: A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney
By Hugh Hewitt Review by Eric Johnson
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Book Review: Within Reach
A Review by Bill McKeever Several books by LDS authors have been written in recent years to alleviate what is apparently an epidemic of frustration and despair among many LDS members regarding the assurance of salvation, or lack thereof.
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Book Review: How Wide the Divide
A Review by Bill McKeever & Eric Johnson
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Book Review: Joseph Smith and the Origins of The Book of Mormon
A Review by Eric Johnson David Persuitte, a technical writer from Virginia, wrote the first edition of this book in 1985. Now, a decade and a half later, Persuitte has added many more facts in this, the 325-page second edition. This is extremely worthwhile reading for any serious student of Joseph Smith and the religion…
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Book Review: Mormon America: The Power and the Promise
Reviewed by Eric Johnson The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has received plenty of publicity during the 1990s, most of which was positive. From the affable President Gordon B. Hinckley to the many positive media reports generated by the media, there has probably never been a time in history where Mormonism has…
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Book Review: Early Mormonism and the Magic World View
Author: D. Michael Quinn Signature Books, 1998 Reviewer: Eric Johnson Introduction
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Book Review: One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church
Reviewed by Eric Johnson
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Book Review: The New Mormon Challenge: Responding to the Latest Defenses of a Fast-Growing Movement
Edited by Francis Beckwith, Carl Mosser, and Paul Owen. By Eric Johnson