Tag Archives: Joseph Fielding Smith

What Child Is This? The LDS Christmas Story

It was long ago, two thousand years, when sweet baby Jesus was born. Although every baby is cherished by his parents and grandparents and siblings and cousins, this little boy was precious to all the world. The story began in … Continue reading

Posted in Jesus Christ, Virgin birth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Mormonism’s Restoration Revokes Changes Wrought by Christ

Christian theologian John Piper wrote about “How Christ Fulfilled and Ended the Old Testament Regime.” Dr. Piper noted, “with the coming of Christ virtually everything has changed.” He listed five specific elements found in the Old Testament that the coming … Continue reading

Posted in Jesus Christ, LDS Church | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

“Utter Nonsense” Presented at the April 2015 Mormon General Conference

It’s like an April Fools joke, but nobody’s laughing. Instead, people are scratching their heads. During the April 2015 Sunday morning General Conference session, Mormon Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf (of the First Presidency) gave a talk that just a few … Continue reading

Posted in General Conference, Grace, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Mormon Church does not require “bloodletting”

Last week the Utah Senate voted to reinstate death by firing squad as one of the state’s options in carrying out a judiciously imposed penalty of capital punishment. The bill awaits the signature of Utah’s governor before it can become … Continue reading

Posted in LDS Church, Mormon Culture, Mormon History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Mormons and Evangelicals Talk of Christ

On November 15 (2013), evangelical author (and seminary president emeritus) Richard Mouw addressed 2,000 young Mormons at Utah Valley University. As reported in the Deseret News’ “Evangelical leader says commonality with Mormons deeper than differences,” Dr. Mouw emphasized his discovery … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Book of Mormon, Forgiveness, Jesus Christ, Repentance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 44 Comments

Is the “church” established on any man?

I have just finished reading through the entire gospel doctrine series called “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church” series, including the newest volume dedicated to Joseph Fielding Smith. Smith was known for being a church theologian, penning the massive … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon Leaders | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

But is it official?

I recently finished reading through the entire series of “Teachings of Presidents of the Church” gospel doctrine manuals, which have been regularly used in LDS Sunday School classes since the late 1990s. With the exception of the current prophet Thomas … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, LDS Church | Tagged , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Sin entered, blood formed.

The Mormon Church recently released an updated edition of its scriptures. One of the resources that underwent some change is the Bible Dictionary, found in the back of the LDS edition of the KJV Bible (print editions). In reviewing some … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, Bible, Mormon Scripture | Tagged , , , , , , | 108 Comments

Tithing Necessary for Mormon Spiritual Health and Welfare

On March 4th 2013 the U.S. Tax Court ruled that Mormon plaintiff George Thompson would not be allowed to consider his church tithe a “necessary expense” in regards to paying back taxes owed to the government. Mr. Thompson owes $883,000 … Continue reading

Posted in LDS Church, Worthiness | Tagged , , , , , , | 189 Comments

Mormon proselytizing can be tricky

Deseret News (online) published this cartoon by Arie Van De Graff on Jan 21, 2013. It might come as no surprise that there actually is A Book of Mormons. Written and compiled by Latter-day Saints Richard S. Van Wagoner and … Continue reading

Posted in Mormon History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments