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Additional Sources of Balanced, Accurate, Intelligence on
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(LDS)
(Below is information on Mormon beliefs from evangelical sources as well
as LDS sources.)
From the Most Accurate Source: The Mormon Church Itself
Some non-Mormons seem to presume to be the final authorities on what
Mormons believe. Nicodemus knew better than that. Nicodemus, you’ll
remember, was the man who asked Jesus about being born again in John
chapter three. He also helped bury Jesus’ body in John chapter nineteen.
John also records a time that Nicodemus defended Jesus by asking the
Pharisees, who were accusing Jesus, a question:
Good advice! Nicodemus was saying, “Let’s not condemn Jesus until
he has a fair chance to defend himself.” Likewise, before we condemn
the Mormon Church, let’s give them a fair chance to defend
themselves.
Here are a few of their websites and books:
- Jesuschrist.lds.org may provide the quickest way to learn what their
most basic beliefs are.
- At mormon.org you can order a free copy of the Book of Mormon,
their most well-known “scriptural” book. An honest reading reveals
remarkable agreement with the Bible. In fact, it actually makes their
doctrine overall look better than it actually is because virtually none of
their false teachings can be found in it!
- LDS.org has loads of intelligence, as does BYURadio.org.
- Fairlds.org is a pro-Mormon foundation created to counter
misrepresentation and criticism of the LDS.
 One LDS book I particularly recommend for the researcher is Gospel
Principles (available for download at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website). Gospel Principles is used in Sunday school classes in local
Mormon congregations across the country. It is a well-balanced survey
of their major teachings, both false and true--it doesn’t make them
look better or worse than they really are. Researching the LDS with
Gospel Principles is definitely more responsible and Christlike than
trusting a misguided con-Mormon non-Mormon!- Aside from getting to know Mormon Christians and seeing for
yourself the fruit of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the next best
tool may be to read real stories from their lives. One Mormon mom tells
about a non-Mormon named Darren who didn’t know there was a
bullet in the chamber of his revolver until . . .
[read entire story].
- Mormon Stephen E. Robinson doesn’t claim to speak officially for the
LDS in his book, Are Mormons Christians? But he seeks to equip his
own Latter-day Saints to refute the charge that many of them find
puzzling--that LDS folks aren’t Christians.
From Evangelical Sources
- In November of 2004, a leading evangelical spoke to LDS people at the
historic Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City and said evangelicals have
spread lies about LDS beliefs. Dr. Richard Mouw, president of Fuller
Theological Seminary in California, one of the largest multi-denominational
seminaries in the world, confessed, “We have sinned against you.”
Functioning as a wise, tactful, gracious, bridge-building reformer, Mr.
Mouw then uttered something even more significant. He said he took
encouragement from what Mormon founder Joseph Smith proclaimed at
the occasion of the founding of the Mormon Church in 1830. Get ready,
my friends, to feel the presence of God as you read Joseph Smith’s words
as quoted by Mr. Mouw: “We know that all men must repent and believe
on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and
endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the
kingdom of God.” Read the whole story on Beliefnet.
- If Mr. Mouw, seminary president, is too theological to fit your
preference, God has a witness from the other side of the spectrum--
someone who attracts criticism that he is not theological enough.
Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston was asked by Fox News
during the 2007 Presidential Primary campaign of Mormon Mitt Romney
if he believes a Mormon is a true Christian. He said, “Well, in my mind
they are.”
To read the entire transcript of the Osteen interview click here. (Note
carefully: He certainly wasn’t approving of Mormon false teachings.)
Osteen is the beloved pastor of the largest church in the U.S. He is
also the charismatic (pun intended) minister of a worldwide broadcast
media ministry.
- Although I haven’t read it, I’m excited about Robert L. Millet’s
controversial book A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-day Saints.
It’s an evangelical source even though it’s written by a Mormon because
it’s issued by an evangelical publisher!
 The Millennial Star says A Different Jesus? apparently has the evangelical
community in a tizzy. Containing a foreword by a respected evangelical,
this book was written by a Mormon who, according to Deseret Book Co.,
has “spent much of his career in conversation with traditional Christians
and their writings.” Without trying to persuade, Millet discusses how the
Latter-day Saints fit or do not fit within mainstream Christianity. One
section valuable for researchers (like you!) answers frequently asked
questions about Mormonism.
A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-day Saints is available
inexpensively at Amazon, as is Millet’s more recent Claiming Christ: A
Mormon-Evangelical Debate, which is an in-depth doctrinal comparison of
Mormonism and evangelical Christianity.
 Another such comparison comes from How Wide the Divide? A
Mormon & an Evangelical in Conversation by Blomberg and Robinson.
The back cover states, “Unfortunately, much of what [Mormons and
evangelicals] say about one another simply isn’t true. False
stereotypes on both sides prevent genuine communication.” According
to Amazon, this 1997 pioneering book How Wide the Divide was voted
one of Christianity Today's 1998 Books of the Year.- Non-Mormon Paul Conkin wrote American Originals: Homemade Varieties
of Christianity (1997). A long chapter on the LDS focuses on their history,
as well as their unique beliefs. Extensively researched, it is remarkably
unbiased.
- Jan Shipps wrote Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition
(1985). I have not read this book, but according to Paul Conkin, “Shipps
was the first non-Mormon historian to assume a fully sympathetic
approach.”
Statistics
- The Barna Research Group has statistics indicating the percentage of
Mormons who are born-again Christians. See their 2001 articles
“Religious Beliefs Vary Widely By Denomination,” and “Protestants,
Catholics and Mormons Reflect Diverse Levels of Religious Activity.”
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