Tag Archives: Gospel Topics

Yahweh needs no Asherah

Yahweh needs no Asherah. He says to none, “You complete me.” He needs no partner. He needs no permission. He needs no counsel. He needs no counterpart. He needs no complement. He creates, not by sexual union or cooperation, but … Continue reading

Posted in God the Father, Marriage and Singlehood, Nature of God | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Mormon Church Essay on Priesthood Ban Banned From Church Classroom

An interesting thing happened to Mormon Sunday school teacher Brian Dawson. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that a student in Mr. Dawson’s youth Sunday school class asked him why his Nigerian wife joined a church that had at one time … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, LDS Church, Mormon History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

How “official” is the Mormon First Presidency?

In 1973, five years before the Mormon Church lifted its ban on Blacks holding the LDS priesthood and participating in Mormon temple ordinances, Wendell J. Ashton, the Mormon Church’s director of Public Affairs, appeared on “1973 Special News Report: When … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, LDS Church, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders, Mormon Scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

What About Those Essays?

When asked by the New York Times why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decided to post several “Gospel Topics” essays on its official web site, church historian Steven E. Snow said, “There is so much out there … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon History, Nauvoo, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

“The sweet dream of a pure minded boy”

In the spring of 1820 Joseph Smith went into the woods to pray. “Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing–‘Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer” says the Mormon hymn (“Joseph Smith’s First Prayer”). Joseph sought to know “Who of all these parties [Presbyterians, … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon History, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

The Book of Abraham: A Mormon Conundrum

In early July (2014) the Mormon Church released a Gospel Topics essay on the translation and historicity of its controversial book of scripture known as the Book of Abraham. The essay has done nothing to quiet the controversy. At issue … Continue reading

Posted in Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon History, Pearl of Great Price | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

We Thank Thee, O God, for…

Once-official LDS history and doctrine is undergoing some hefty rewrites via the new Gospel Topics essays at LDS.org. As previously little-known information about Mormon history and doctrine has become available online, many Latter-day Saints are experiencing crises of faith when … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Mormon Culture, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders, Prophets | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 97 Comments