Tag: mormon
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Joseph Smith and the Seer Stone: The Art of the Book of Mormon Translation Process
This article was revised on 9/25/24 Art can be very powerful. It tells a story. For instance, what is your idea when you see this photograph from June 1989 regarding the issue of China and democracy? This image had a powerful effect on many who knew little about the details of the June 1989 student…
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Book Review: Changed Through His Grace
Book written by Brad Wilcox Reviewed by Bill McKeever Check out the two-week Viewpoint on Mormonism series that originally aired June 19-30, 2017 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 When Brigham Young University professor, Brad Wilcox, gave his “His Grace is Sufficient” talk at…
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Book Review: “This is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology
Review of “This is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology (Greg Kofford Books, 2011) By Charles R. Harrell Check out the 25-part Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast series of this book that plays through the month of March and early April of 2018 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part…
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Why Are Mormons Not Allowed To Drink Coffee?
Mormons are not allowed to drink coffee because of the Word of Wisdom, which is a health law found in the unique LDS scripture Doctrine & Covenants 89 whereby God supposedly commanded His people to abstain from hot drinks (interpreted as coffee and tea) as well as tobacco, excessive amounts of meat, and alcoholic beverages.…
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La Doctrina Biblica de la Trinadad
Por Eric Johnson La doctrina biblical de la Trinidad ha sido excesivamente criticado por muchos años. Las objeciones por los Mormones, Los Testigos Jehová, y los Muslims pueden venir en declaraciones como estas: “No entiendo eso!” “La palabra “Trinidad” no se encuentra en la Biblia!” “No es esto algo que los paganos y herejes inventaron?” Sin…
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Should Pastors Be Paid?
Some people may wonder if Christian pastors should get paid. The answer is clearly given in the Bible. There are several passages that speak specifically to this topic. First Timothy 5:17-18 says, The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says,…
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Was Polygamy Necessary Because the LDS Church Needed To Have Its Growth “Jump-Started”?
According to some Mormon apologists, polygamy instituted by the LDS Church in the 19th century was necessary in order for the church membership to grow. According to LDS pollster Gary Lawrence in his book Mormons Believe…What? Because original Christianity needed to be re-established to be the forerunner for the Second Coming of the Savior in…
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Was Polygamy Necessary in the 19th Century Because There Were More Women Than Men?
If you speak to some Latter-day Saints regarding the issue of polygamy (the marriage on one man to multiple women), one of the most common arguments still used is pointing out how there were more women than men in the 19th century Utah. If that’s the case, single women needed to have a husband too. Right? Polygamy to…
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Mormon Apostle Offers Solutions To Counter Information on the Web
Note: The following was originally printed in the February 2017 edition of the MRM Update, offered to financial supporters of Mormonism Research Ministry. To request to a free subscription of our other periodical, Mormonism Researched, please visit here. The December 2016 issue of Ensign magazine carried an article by Mormon Apostle M. Russell Ballard that expressed a concern…
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Grace unto Works
When speaking to individuals who place a strong emphasis on personal performance when it comes to being justified before God, one can unwittingly fail to emphasize that the New Testament has much to say about how we should live our lives as Christians. When we focus solely on what it takes to justify (make right)…
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Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?
Note: The following was originally printed in the January/February 2017 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. To listen to a 5-part Viewpoint on Mormonism series that originally aired January 2-6, 2017, click the following: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 By Eric Johnson The title for this article is the actual title for…
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Joseph Smith’s Alleged Ignorance of the Bible
On the FAIR-LDS.org website, an article responds to the question, “Did Joseph know what the italics in the Bible meant?” FAIR stands for the Foundation for Apologetics and Information Research, an organization made up of LDS apologists who attempt to defend Mormon positions. The article doesn’t explain why such a question is being asked, but…
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What Is So Amazing About the Mormon Version of Grace?
Note: The following was originally printed in the September/October 2016 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. John Newton (1725-1807), the slave trader turned Anglican pastor, wrote many hymns during his lifetime, but none have enjoyed as much fame as “Amazing Grace.” According to Newton biographer, Jonathan Aitken, “Amazing Grace” is the “most sung,…
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Unexplaining the Mormon Priesthood Ban on Blacks
February 2015 Synopsis For much of its history, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a fairly standard explanation as to why those of African heritage were prohibited from holding any priesthood office in the church. The ban was officially lifted in June 1978 by the First Presidency, the top leaders…
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Commentary on Galatians 6
Highlighted parts are key quotes that may have been used on the radio shows 5 questions for chapter 5 (to answer before you study chapter 5) 6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.…
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Commentary on Galatians 5
Highlighted parts are key quotes that may have been used on the radio shows 5 questions for chapter 5 (to answer before you study chapter 5) Christ Has Set Us Free 5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Eric’s Commentary: Freedom…
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Commentary on Galatians chapter 4
Highlighted parts are key quotes that may have been used on the radio shows 5 questions for chapter 4 (to answer before you study chapter 4) Galatians 4 Sons and Heirs I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,…
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Commentary on Galatians chapter 2
5 questions for chapter 1 (to answer before you study chapter 2) Commentary on chapter 2 Highlighted parts are key quotes that may have been used on the radio shows Galatians 2 Paul Accepted by the Apostles 2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. The…
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Introduction to the Book of Galatians
Reading the Bible and interpreting its words in the way they were meant to be conveyed is the goal of the serious Bible student. While many–including some well-meaning Christians–would like to make the reader the primary focus on how to forge an interpretation, this “reading into the text” (also known as eisegesis) is the best…
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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…