Category Archives: Mormon Leaders

“Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests…”

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Sharon Lindbloom

Mormonism’s founding prophet Joseph Smith taught that “Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” altered the ancient biblical text (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 327). Daniel B. Wallace, professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Joseph Smith | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

The Book of Abraham: A Mormon Conundrum

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Sharon Lindbloom

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

A History Tour of Brigham Young’s Beehive House

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Sharon Lindbloom

On June 19, 2014 I visited Utah and took a tour of the Beehive House, Brigham Young’s principal residence in Salt Lake City. Guided through the 1854 home by two young sister missionaries, I learned a lot about the comfortable … Continue reading →

Posted in Brigham Young, LDS Church, Mormon History, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

John Walker’s Key Opens Book of Mormon Names

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Sharon Lindbloom

The wise biblical King Solomon wrote, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Researcher Rick Grunder has provided a great latter-day example of “What has been is what will be.” In his massive work, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, Mormon Scripture | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Citizen Smith

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Sharon Lindbloom

In the late afternoon of that sticky June day, Joseph Smith lay broken and bleeding beside the foundation of the Carthage Jail. Though few people knew he held the secret, self-imposed scepter of king, the fact that he had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Nauvoo | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Follow the Prophet?

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Eric Johnson

It wasn’t long ago when an advertising campaign for basketball superstar Michael Jordan emphasized just three words: “Be like Mike.” The slogan became very popular and sold plenty of shoes. This came to my mind as I read an article … Continue reading →

Posted in Mormon Leaders | Tagged , , , , | 57 Comments

A doctrine God revealed to Brigham Young

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Sharon Lindbloom

Charles Harrell is an Associate Professor at Brigham Young University. In his 2011 book, This Is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology, he discusses many issues not normally found in a typical LDS-authored book. One such issue is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brigham Young, Early Mormonism, Fundamentalist Mormonism, God the Father, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

“What Many People Called Sin Is Not Sin” Part II

Posted on May 22, 2014 by grindael

During a Church Court in 1850, Joseph E. Johnson claimed that he was aware of what he called “the first frigging” of Joseph Smith and Johnson’s mother-in-law, Mary Heron Snider. For details about this incident, see Part I. The reason … Continue reading →

Posted in D&C and Pearl of Great Price, Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“What Many People Called Sin Was Not Sin” Part I

Posted on May 19, 2014 by grindael

A Church Court is convened. A man is accused of committing adultery and fathering a child with another man’s wife.  One of the presiding elders speaks to those assembled about the offender and says that, “This matter was bro[ugh]t before … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Mormon History, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Joseph Smith and Romans 4:5

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Sharon Lindbloom

Joseph Smith revised the Bible. Some say he “corrected” it. The resulting volume is known as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) or the Inspired Version. My Mormon edition of the King James Version of the Bible (1989) includes seventeen pages … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, God the Father, Joseph Smith, Mormon Scripture, Nature of God, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 44 Comments