Mormonism Research Ministry

Category: General Authorities

  • “Additional Perspectives and Insights” on Joseph Smith’s First Vision?

    Sharon Lindbloom

    The LDS Church released a new video of Joseph Smith’s First Vision a few weeks ago (an explanation of this Vision can be found here). “Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision” begins with the explanation that, as there are “at least nine accounts” of this visionary experience recorded by Joseph Smith and “some of…

  • An Alarming Misunderstanding of Joseph Smith’s Significance to Christianity

    Sharon Lindbloom

      An article appeared online this week with a title that grabbed my attention. In “The Alarming Truth Behind Anti-Mormonism,” LDS author Dustin Phelps tells his readers, “I intend to expose what anti-Mormonism is and what its objectives really are.” What follows is a lengthy argument against Atheism; it’s the way Mr. Phelps ties Atheism…

  • Robert D. Hales Obituary (1932-2017)

    Eric Johnson

    Robert D. Hales, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away at 85 on October 1, 2017, after a 40-year career as a church leader and general authority.

  • M. Russell Ballard Obituary (1928-2023)

    Eric Johnson

    M. Russell Ballard (10/8/1928-11/12/23, a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served as an apostle and the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,  died on November 12, 2023. Ballard was married to Barbara, with whom he had seven children. They had a total of 43 grandchildren, 105 great-grandchildren,…

  • Thomas S. Monson Obituary (1927-2018)

    Eric Johnson

    Thomas Spencer Monson (1927-2018), the sixteenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died of natural causes on January 2, 2018 at the age of 90. Except for a short stint in the military, Monson was employed for his entire life by the LDS Church. He will be replaced by senior-ranking Apostle…

  • “Because Joseph Smith was a prophet…”

    Sharon Lindbloom

      Mormonism was in the news a lot last weekend. Saturday and Sunday were the days of the LDS Church’s October General Conference. During the Church’s semiannual conferences, leaders of the Church are understood to encourage, challenge, and educate Mormons with inspired spiritual talks. Last Saturday morning the talk by Craig C. Christensen (of the…

  • Mormonism’s “Near Deification” of Joseph Smith

    Sharon Lindbloom

    Mormon blogger Mette Ivie Harrison posted an intriguing article on August 23rd at Huffington Post. She titled it, “Do Mormons Worship Joseph Smith?” In the article Ms. Harrison expressed her dismay that some non-Mormons might misunderstand the way modern Mormons feel about the faith’s first prophet and wrongly conclude that Mormons worship Joseph Smith. Latter-day…

  • The Transfiguration of Brigham Young: Mormon Folklore?

    Sharon Lindbloom

    For a two-part Viewpoint on Mormonism that aired July 21-22, 2016, click here  Part 1  Part 2   When Joseph Smith died in June of 1844, the Mormon Church faced a succession crisis. Mormon historian Richard S. Van Wagoner explained, “Despite frequent kidnapping and assassination attempts, Joseph Smith established no firm policies regarding presidential succession in the event…

  • Should Mormons Follow Their Living Prophets?

    Sharon Lindbloom

    In an article titled, “‘The prophet will never lead the LDS Church astray,’ and other Mormon heresies,” LDS blogger Jana Riess argues that Mormons misunderstand the prevalent LDS tenet quoted in her blog title; in fact, LDS prophets can and perhaps have made mistakes, and to think otherwise smacks of “idolatrous fantasies.” Dr. Riess quotes…

  • Follow the leaders, the LDS Church tells its members in April 2016

    Eric Johnson

    Over the past years, we have seen a concerted effort by the LDS leadership to remind its people on a regular basis that the President and other general authorities are responsible to teach the doctrine of Mormonism. While the members are encouraged to gain testimonies, their beliefs need to be in line with the leadership of the church.…

  • What Happens When the LDS Prophet Becomes Mentally Incapacitated?

    Eric Johnson

    A drawback to having the office of “prophet, seer, and revelator” be a lifetime position in the Mormon Church is when the leader’s poor health limits his effectiveness. For instance, Ezra Taft Benson, the thirteenth president who was born in 1899, had his duties designated to other general authorities in the early 1990s. Those who…

  • Our Relationship with the Lord, by Bruce McConkie

    Eric Johnson

    Speech given by Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie on March 2, 1982 at BYU. I shall speak of our relationship with the Lord and of the true fellowship all Saints should have with the Father. I shall set forth what we must believe relative to the Father and the Son in order to gain eternal…

  • This is a Test: Joseph Smith and Deuteronomy 13

    Sharon Lindbloom

    It had been a long forty years of wandering in the wilderness. God’s people Israel were finally nearing their Promised Land. Moses’ life was drawing to a close and the people were about to enter a new way of life under the untried leadership of Joshua. They needed to be prepared for what lay ahead.…

  • Graves of Mormon Apostles

    Eric Johnson

    Apostles in Alphabetical Order (alphabetical by last name) To see gravesites of Presidents of the LDS Church, click here. To see other gravesites of important members of the LDS Church, click here.

  • General Conference: Mormons Told To Get Past Joseph Smith’s History and Move Forward

    Sharon Lindbloom

    During last weekend’s General Conference of the LDS Church (3-4 October 2015), Mormon apostle Neil L. Andersen spoke on the topic of faith, and the importance of keeping it burning brightly. He said that faith does not come by chance, but by choice. Mr. Andersen talked about faith challenges that result from “honest questions,” emphasizing…

  • Sexual Morality in Old Mormon Nauvoo

    Sharon Lindbloom

    Sexual morality in early 1840s Nauvoo, Illinois, the City of Joseph [Smith], was enough to make most people blush. John C. Bennett, who had for 18 months been a member of Joseph Smith’s inner circle and close confidante, left the Mormon Church in May of 1842. He subsequently exposed “Joe Smith as the seducer of…

  • Richard G. Scott Obituary (1928-2015)

    Eric Johnson

    Richard G. Scott, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away on September 22, 2015, at 86.

  • Is It Wise to Place Blind Trust in Mere Mortal Men?

    Eric Johnson

    Mormon doctrine teaches that God reveals himself to the LDS prophet. This is integral to the claim that the LDS Church is the only true church. Mormonism’s founder, Joseph Smith, stated that he restored the office of prophet to the world and proclaimed, God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel,…

  • Do the First Vision Accounts Coincide?

    Eric Johnson

    Mormons are taught that, as a fourteen-year-old young man, Joseph Smith was visited by both God the Father and Jesus Christ during the spring of 1820. This visitation is known in Mormonism as the First Vision.  According to the official LDS version, Smith was perplexed by the behavior of certain Christians in the area where he…

  • Praise to the Man: Joseph Smith

    Sharon Lindbloom

    The September issue of the Ensign magazine includes an article celebrating the 30th “birthday” of the LDS hymnbook, Hymns (74-75). Even though the Ensign clearly states “there are no plans at this time for a new edition,” rumors are circulating to the contrary. Why the Mormon community would think a new edition is in the…