FAIR

Trevor Holyoak

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 89 – Mike Parker

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The Word of Wisdom (D&C section 89)

by Mike Parker

(Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don’t conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best.)

Class Notes [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 89 – Mike Parker

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 89-92 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

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For the Weakest Saint

by Autumn Dickson

The Word of Wisdom is a gift. Some view this advice as ridiculous and unnecessary. Honestly, it reminds me of when my son thinks it’s ridiculous and unnecessary for him to wear shoes and a helmet when he rides his dirt bike. Sure, he may ride his dirt bike and never get seriously injured. Maybe it even feels better to ride his dirt bike without a helmet, but it is worth protecting yourself.

As I read the Word of Wisdom this week, this verse stuck out to me. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 89-92 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 88 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

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Accepting Christ’s Gift

by Autumn Dickson

I love when the scriptures give us more insights into how the relationship between the atonement of Jesus Christ and our works come together. I think it’s a relationship that needs to be studied thoroughly if we are to understand how to enjoy Celestial Glory. For while we believe in worthiness and the necessity of following after Christ, we also believe that we were given a gift. Here is a verse that can add another layer to our understanding of the relationship between grace and works. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 88 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

Classic FAIR – I Don’t Have a Testimony of the History of the Church – Davis Bitton, 2004

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“I Don’t Have a Testimony of the History of the Church” by Davis Bitton at the 2004 FAIR Conference

I don’t have a testimony of the history of the Church. That is why I can be a historian and also a believing Latter-day Saint. I will expand on this idea, but first let me address some related questions.

Do all well-informed historians become anti-Mormons?

The critics would have you believe that they are disinterested pursuers of the truth. There they were, minding their own business, going about their conscientious study of Church history and–shock and dismay!–they came across this, whatever this is, that blew them away. As hurtful as it is for them, they can no longer believe in the Church and, out of love for you, they now want to help you see the light of day.

Let’s get one thing clear: There is nothing in Church history that leads inevitably to the conclusion that the Church is false. There is nothing that requires the conclusion that Joseph Smith was a fraud. How can I say this with such confidence? For the simple reason that the historians who know most about our Church history have been and are faithful, committed members of the Church. Or, to restate the situation more precisely, there are faithful Latter-day Saint historians who know as much about this subject as any anti-Mormon or as anyone who writes on the subject from an outside perspective. With few exceptions, they know much, much more. They have not been blown away. They have not gnashed their teeth and abandoned their faith. To repeat, they have found nothing that forces the extreme conclusion our enemies like to promote.

CONTINUED HERE

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants sections 88, 93 – Mike Parker

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“The Olive Leaf”; the divine natures of God and man (D&C sections 88, 93)

by Mike Parker

(Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don’t conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best.)

Class Notes [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants sections 88, 93 – Mike Parker

FAIR’s history and impact

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by Scott Gordon at the 2025 FAIR Conference

History of FAIR

In 1997, I logged in to America Online Mormonism message board 1 expecting to find friends. Instead, I found critics. I was quickly surprised by the sheer volume of vitriol and criticism of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Common claims included:

  • You can’t add to the Bible (referencing, of course, the Book of Revelation)
  • You preach a different gospel (quoting from Galatians),
  • You believe Jesus is the brother of Satan (I’m not sure where that comes from in the scriptures, but it was there)
  • You’re getting your own planets; and
  • Mormon women will be eternally pregnant.

Even baptism was weaponized, declaring that it was a work that can’t save you.

These arguments, of course, were unfair, misrepresentative, or flat out wrong. And yet, this year, some seminary students in my ward in Redding, California, reported hearing these same arguments at school.

CONTINUED HERE

 

Scott Gordon
August 2019

Scott Gordon serves as President of FAIR (Faithful Answers, Informed Response) which can be found online at www.fairlatterdaysaints.org. FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping members deal with issues raised by critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has an MBA and a BA from Brigham Young University. He is currently an instructor of business at Shasta College in Redding, California and teaches business classes online at BYUI. Scott has held many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including serving as a bishop, ward mission leader, seminary teacher, and member of the elder’s quorum presidency. He is married, has five children and 14 grandchildren.

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 88 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

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Receiving Joy

by Autumn Dickson

There are eternal truths in this world that spill over in the world to come. Whether we fight against those truths determines what we’re going to enjoy. The Lord said this: [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 88 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 87, 90, 100–101, 103, 105 – Mike Parker

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Prophecy of war; expulsion from Independence; Zion’s Camp (D&C sections 87, 90, 100–101, 103, 105)

by Mike Parker

(Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don’t conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best.)

Class Notes [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 87, 90, 100–101, 103, 105 – Mike Parker

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 85-87 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

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Holy Places and Tares

by Autumn Dickson

I want to talk about two different themes from the sections assigned this week, standing in holy places and the parable of the wheat and tares. I’m not sure whether the Lord purposefully put these two themes right next to each other, but now it’s caught my attention and won’t leave me alone. Here are just a couple of excerpts from the Lord regarding these themes. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 85-87 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 85-87 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson

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Steadying the Ark

by Autumn Dickson

There is a reference to an Old Testament story found in the sections for this week. Let’s talk about the background and then read the verse. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 85-87 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson