Category Archives: Mormon History

A Mormon “Detective Story”

[The following is a guest post written by a friend of Mormonism Research Ministry – a former Mormon who wishes to remain anonymous to keep family peace.] I’m submitting for your consideration a “detective story” from my family history that raises … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Saving Mormonism: Divorcing Faith from Fact

The Salt Lake Tribune published an article earlier this month: “New Mormon mission: How to teach members the messy part of LDS history, theology.” Written by Peggy Fletcher Stack, the article looks at the need for the Mormon Church to … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, LDS Church, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders, Mormon Scripture | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 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

Joseph Smith’s Grandiloquent Assertion

In 1844, while the Mormon Church was in the middle of a crisis involving dissention in the Church, The Prophet Joseph Smith preached a Sunday morning sermon in which he exclaimed, “In all these affidavits, indictments, it is all of … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Nauvoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

The Continuing Call to Follow the Prophet

It was 35 years ago today that then-LDS apostle Ezra Taft Benson (President of the Quorum of the Twelve) delivered his now-famous speech, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet,” to a devotional assembly at Brigham Young University. According to historian … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, General Conference, LDS Church, Mormon Culture, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders, Prophets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 25 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

How do you like your Mormon temple garments?

The Mormon Church is asking its members to answer an online questionnaire about temple garments in order to assist the Church in “providing for the needs of members worldwide.” The questions focus on things like garment fit, style, and fabric. … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon History, Mormon Temple | Tagged , , , , , , , | 44 Comments

Mormon Church does not apologize.

Mormon apostle Dallin Oaks caused quite a stir in late January. In an interview related to the Church’s news conference on LGBT issues and religious discrimination, Mr. Oaks expressed his view that apologizing for the Church’s “harsh rhetoric of the … Continue reading

Posted in Brigham Young, Gordon B. Hinckley, Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 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

Faithful Mormons Respond to News of Joseph Smith’s Polygamy

Shock waves continue to move across the globe as Mormons discover their Church’s recent admissions regarding Joseph Smith’s polygamy. There is much distress evident among Mormons who have always believed (been told) that the kinds of things now disclosed in … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, LDS Church, Mormon Culture, Mormon History, Polygamy, Truth, Honesty, Prayer, and Inquiry | Tagged , , , , | 51 Comments