Tag Archives: Mormon Church

This is a Test: Joseph Smith and Deuteronomy 13

It had been a long forty years of wandering in the wilderness. God’s people Israel were finally nearing their Promised Land. Moses’ life was drawing to a close and the people were about to enter a new way of life … Continue reading

Posted in Authority and Doctrine, Early Mormonism, General Conference, God the Father, Joseph Smith, King Follett Discourse, LDS Church, Mormon History, Mormon Leaders, Nature of God, Nature of Man, Nauvoo, Prophets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

I looked out the window and what did I see?

Two months ago I had the amazing opportunity to visit Switzerland. What an inspiring display of God’s creativity! Deep blue water, soaring snow-topped peaks, brilliant green-carpeted valleys…and, of course, happy cows everywhere. One morning I watched out the window of … Continue reading

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

Mormonism’s View: The Bible we have today “is rather incomplete.”

Mormonism has always held to the position that the Bible we have today has been corrupted. In 1st Nephi 13 the Book of Mormon talks about the “many plain and precious things taken away from the book”; that is, the … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Early Christianity, Misconceptions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Yahweh needs no Asherah

Yahweh needs no Asherah. He says to none, “You complete me.” He needs no partner. He needs no permission. He needs no counsel. He needs no counterpart. He needs no complement. He creates, not by sexual union or cooperation, but … Continue reading

Posted in God the Father, Marriage and Singlehood, Nature of God | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Joseph Smith’s Powerful Influence

It’s Throwback Thursday! Last week (15 October 2015) Deseret News announced the recent discovery of Emma Smith’s 1841 Book of Mormon. Apparently, Joseph Smith gave the book to John Quincy Adams’s grandson, Charles Francis Adams, when Charles visited the Prophet in … Continue reading

Posted in Joseph Smith, Nauvoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Early Mormonism in Missouri

In 1838 the headquarters of the Mormon Church was located in western Missouri. Mormons began arriving in this state in the early 1830s settling in Jackson County, around the city of Independence. However, trouble erupted between the Mormons and the … Continue reading

Posted in Early Mormonism, Mormon History | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

What matters more to being in God’s “image”: appearance, or calling and capacity?

If God had created humans to look like sloths, yet with the same capacities as humans, and sloths to look like humans, yet with the same capacities as sloths, who would be more in His image? What, at core, does … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity, God the Father, Jesus Christ | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

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