Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-Day Saints

I became very interested in studying Mormonism after I took some "missionary lessons" from Mormon missionaries who came to my door. They were nice young men but they were truly unable to answer many questions that I had. The difference between the content of their lessons and the content of the research I did is indescribable. I've read several books now, including the controversial, The God Makers. I prefer Mormonism 101 to any book I've read because this book documents and references everything very well. Not one thing is claimed without very accurate proof. However one thing I have noticed to be consistently true is that believing Mormons are very difficult to talk religion with. Overall they are programmed to deny anything that the church has successfully kept from them their whole lives. In the beginning I was really shocked at how few Mormons know anything about their religion. And who can blame them? At their church and on their official website not one word of anything the Mormon church wants to keep from them is mentioned. The most truthful accusation I've ever heard about the Mormon church is how much they sanitize their history and teachings. IT IS SO TRUE. Even the Mormon bishop that I got to know over time denied to me that Joseph Smith was ever a polygamist. He was a very kind man but obviously like most Mormons, very ignorant to the truths of Mormon history. He even joked with me and said that if the Mormon church had to do it over again they definately would not have named their big university after Brigham Young because now there is so many things about Brigham Young that is exposed on the internet that is causing deep problems and embarrassments to the Mormon church. This world is full of history of false organizations that have a following of devout believers. The Mormon church is no different. Joseph Smith is one of the most successful con men ever to live in America. It is so rediculously obvious but believing Mormons will always refuse to research it. And from an archaelogist's point of view, the Book of Mormon couldn't be any more rediculous. There is so much evidence that disproves the Book of Mormon, but again, believing Mormons are just too innocently narrow-minded. At my new church that I've just started to attend, there is an ex-Mormon support group which is really growing. One may wonder why someone who has left this religion may need to join a support group. Well study the Mormon religion for yourself and you will see why.

The book merely outlines Mormon belief and responds with orthodox Judao-Christian theology. Why does this mean the authors are their enemies? I grew up in this church and know what I was taught and the authors do not misrepresent anything. I'm also rather amazed at the claims of some of the reviewers regarding the early Christian church and the Bible being translated over and over again by priest after priest. The Bible, whatever version, was translated from the original into English, and the New Testament is, in fact, the record of Christ and His church after His death. Other records also exist. There are, of course, different interpretations and different creeds, but there is no evidence that God reached down from on high and "removed" His church from the Earth and that "truth" depends on arcane organization or hand-shakes or obscene hugs and annointings or that a priest, or a bishop or even a pope has some sort of special powers, like a magician's license. And since I spent so much of my first twenty years attending classes and seminary and sunday school and fast and testimony meeting and the dreaded stake conference, I can speak (for you Mormons, make that "spake") or testify in court if you'd like that Mormon's regularly misrepresent the theology of Christian churches, and in fact, say that the Roman Catholic Church and by association all other apostastolic churches are the "Church of the Devil". Pretty ugly stuff that! This book, by contrast, is at all times respectful, while challenging the Mormon's theology. I notice that those who give the book one star, advance the odd idea that challenging someone's ideas and scholarship constitutes "persecution". Good grief. Talking openly about ideas, religion, politics, history, etc. etc. is called freedom, and the absurd notion that disagreeing with a church's tenents constitutes enemy status is frankly scary. That, dear hearts, is the reasoning the Kremlin used to put people in Gulags and the German's used to put everyone but Arians into death camps. Mormon's are the ones inviting investigation and publication of their beliefs because they are sending their missionaries out two-by-two to gain converts without telling them the whole story. Looking into those beliefs is called "fact finding". As a supporter of free exchange of ideas and views (that freedom thing again), I also have an interest since as a taxpayer, the rest of us get to take up the slack for the 10% being given to a church which does no good works outside their own flock. Not only don't they have an equivalent to Mother Theresa, there's also no efforts similar to the Salvation Army. This book is a must if you're considering conversion, and for Mormons, I would think they'd WANT to know the arguments against their beliefs, if for nothing else, so they'd have a better concept of why Christians consider them a cult and Catholics and Methodists require rebaptism if a Mormon joins those churches. How can Mormons insi

As a Lutheran pastor who has studied the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Church off and on for over twenty years, and who has worked with Christians who are curious about their teachings for almost as long, I highly recommend this book. It is both accessible to the lay person just beginning to explore as well as a helpful resource to pastors and teachers.The layout of the book is very "user-friendly" and highlights six key concepts of LDS teaching, comparing them with historic Christianity. Each examination is done with an even-handed approach, avoiding the rancor, sarcasm, or disrespect to which many such publications often fall. There are many first source (LDS) works cited and that, combined with an extensive foot-notation and bibliography make this a scholarly as well as readable book.There are plenty of other works that treat this subject in greater depth, but in my opinion, no work that I have found does a better job of layout the essential differences between biblical Christian and Latter Day Saint theology and practice. Our congregation will soon be holding a class on Mormonism, and this book will be my recommendation as the textbook. Buy it now and read it. Better yet, read it with a LDS friend or family member who is truly committed to finding the truth.

As someone who was raised as a Mormon, I have been surprised at how little serious theology is done inside the Mormon church. The current president of the church admitted on a national televison interview that he didn't know much about theology. I have always suspected that the church was unprepared to come to grips with changes in theological positions over the years, and hence, chose to ignore it. Outside analysis has been strident, and frequently generated more heat than light over these issues, leaving the reader to wonder about the fairness of the analysis.Mormonism 101 avoids the combative tone and for the most part, gives accurate positions for Mormon theology. They expose many of the flaws and inconsistencies in Mormon doctrine. Recognize that their analysis is designed to show that Mormonism is not a Christian religion and to sell the reader on the alternative belief system, Christianity, and that the authors' analysis showing that alternative Christian beliefs are somehow better may leave the skeptical reader cold. Those caveats notwithstanding, this is a good introduction to the problems that infest Mormon theological underpinnings. This book is highly recommended, but is less useful as a general introduction to Mormonism than Mormon America by Richard and Joan Ostling, which is the best general introduction to Mormon history, theology and power structure. Nevertheless, well worth reading!

I've read some of the reviews here that continually blast this work. It's sad because most of these bad reviews are from Mormons who disagree with the authors for fear that the authors may be correct. The authors were extremely fair in presenting their well-documented evidence; unfortunately the evidence conflicts with Mormon beliefs, ergo reviews of cynicism followed. Those few Mormons who can read this book and not have the automatic reflex of dismissing it as "anti-Mormon" might actually glean some relevant information about the LDS Church. I've studied the LDS Church and each time I come across a work by non-LDS authors dealing with the LDS Church, the Mormons seemingly always display an "us verses them" mentality (the reviews here are case-in-point). This work provides great information and should be read by all interested in or a member of the LDS Church. Hopefully one day, books that speak fairly of the Mormon Church will not fall on the deaf ears of its members.