Category Archives: Mormon Leaders

Do We Need to Become Children of God?

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood … Continue reading

Posted in Brigham Young | Tagged , | 136 Comments

Joseph Smith’s Genesis 50 Additions

I’ve recently completed a 2-year study of the Old Testament book of Genesis. What a rich, sacred history God has given us in the opening pages of His Word. Though the book is a mere 50 chapters, it’s so packed … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Joseph Smith | Tagged | 26 Comments

Testimony Against Joseph Smith

Yesterday the Joseph Smith Web Site’s daily history column, “On This Day…” noted: November 13, 1838 Richmond, Missouri. Over 40 witnesses appeared at court and bore false witness against the Prophet. Just before I saw that LDS history note, I … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, Mormon History | Tagged | 49 Comments

Joseph Smith and the Magical Autumnal Equinox

Anyone who regularly interacts with Mormons over Mormon history knows that “most members of [The LDS Church] in the twenty-first century know nothing of Joseph’s magical practices” (>>). I have been studying Mormonism for about ten years, and the depth … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, Mormon History | Tagged , , | 64 Comments

The Book of Mormon in Context

“The possibility of finding buried treasure fascinated many in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century America. Reports of searching for such riches were widespread in the Palmyra [New York] area, and extant accounts show that treasure was generally sought through supernatural … Continue reading

Posted in Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, Mormon History | 142 Comments

Joseph Smith’s 1832 Handwritten History

One hundred and seventy-six years ago yesterday (that is, on July 20, 1832) Joseph Smith began writing a history of his life. This was his first attempt at recording his history. He worked on it for several months while living … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith | Tagged | 15 Comments

A Latter-day Look at Your Eternal Kingdom

From Family Exaltation by Archibald F. Bennett, Course 20, Genealogical Training Department for the Sunday Schools of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, published by the Deseret Sunday School Union Board, 1957: THE BEGINNING OF YOUR ETERNAL KINGDOM. … Continue reading

Posted in Afterlife, Brigham Young, Family | 24 Comments

Self-Righteousness Boasting

Kris Frederickson, a MormonTimes.com columnist, recently wrote about Learning from others outside Mormonism. She wrote, “My understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been greatly improved by the teachings of religious men and women over the ages, many of … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith | 60 Comments

Expounding the Prophets

On March 4th 1843 the LDS Prophet Joseph Smith told the Nauvoo City Council: “I was opposed to hanging, even if a man kill another, I will shoot him, or cut off his head, spill his blood on the ground, … Continue reading

Posted in Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, Mormon History | 66 Comments

Sludge from a Dark Well

The Salt Lake Tribune ran an interesting opinion piece last week (22 January 2008) written by Eric Dursteler, an associate professor at BYU. Describing himself as “a Mormon and a historian,” in “Attacks on Islam, Mormonism spring from the same … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith | 6 Comments