Tag Archives: LDS Church

A Gift of Grace?

At general conference in April, 2015, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the LDS First Presidency, gave a message called “The Gift of Grace.” In it he said “salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience.” How is one … Continue reading

Posted in General Conference, Grace, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

General Conference: Mormons told to get past Joseph Smith’s history and move forward.

During last weekend’s General Conference of the LDS Church (3-4 October 2015), Mormon apostle Neil L. Andersen spoke on the topic of faith, and the importance of keeping it burning brightly. He said that faith does not come by chance, … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Nauvoo’s Bloody Autumn of 1845

Nauvoo, Illinois, the city the Mormons built, was thriving and growing in the 1840s. The population was such that Nauvoo rivaled Chicago for “biggest city in Illinois.” Most visitors to today’s restoration of historic Nauvoo will learn that fact, perhaps … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Mormon History, Nauvoo | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Sexual Morality in Old Mormon Nauvoo

Sexual morality in early 1840s Nauvoo, Illinois, the City of Joseph [Smith], was enough to make most people blush. John C. Bennett, who had for 18 months been a member of Joseph Smith’s inner circle and close confidante, left the … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Mormon History, Nauvoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The Holy Ghost, Scriptures…and LDS Church handbooks

Some Christians have a difficult time understanding just what is authentic (read: “official”) LDS doctrine. For instance, former Fuller Theological Seminary president Richard Mouw and others like him want to believe that Mormonism can be comprehended by talking to scholars … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, LDS Church | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Praise to the Man: Joseph Smith

The September issue of the Ensign magazine includes an article celebrating the 30th “birthday” of the LDS hymnbook, Hymns (74-75). Even though the Ensign clearly states “there are no plans at this time for a new edition,” rumors are circulating … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, LDS Church | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

When Moroni’s Promise is Broken

Most people who have experienced Mormon proselytizing are familiar with “Moroni’s Promise” found in the Book of Mormon: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name … Continue reading

Posted in Book of Mormon, Truth, Honesty, Prayer, and Inquiry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Mormonism:
Jesus is the literal “bodily offspring” of God the Father

I was just paging through an old book I found at a used bookstore. It’s titled Principles of the Gospel, published in 1961 by the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and contains … Continue reading

Posted in God the Father, Jesus Christ, Mormon Leaders, Virgin birth | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Mormons, Take Courage

In February 2015 a small Facebook group of former Mormons was asked, “What is the #1 or main reason you left the LDS Church? What started your journey out of Mormonism?” This is what they said: “Discovering that it was … Continue reading

Posted in Jesus Christ, LDS Church, Salvation, Truth, Honesty, Prayer, and Inquiry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Theosis: “The Mormon view is altogether different.”

This has been going on for far too long. BYU Professor Robert Millet, as part of his continuing apologetic for the Mormon doctrine of exaltation (i.e., faithful Mormons becoming Gods), perseveres in asserting that this doctrine did not originate with … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity, Early Christianity, Lorenzo Snow, Nature of Man, Truth, Honesty, Prayer, and Inquiry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments