• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

FAIR

Faithful Study Resources for Come, Follow Me

  • Find Answers
  • Blog
  • Media & Apps
  • Conference
  • Bookstore
  • Archive
  • About
  • Get Involved
  • Search

Administrative notices

New Name and New Directions

March 20, 2021 by Scott Gordon

In 1997 a small group of Internet message board warriors started an organization named the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, or FAIR. FAIR was staffed by young, strident defenders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

However, our really cool name soon created problems.  People asked, “What does the word “Apologetic” mean?”[1]  “Why are you apologizing?” “What is it that you actually do?”

It was confusing. So that people weren’t always stumbling over our name, in 2013, we changed it to FairMormon. We thought of ourselves as Mormon, and we want the facts to be covered “FAIRly”. The name was perfect! As the then Vice President of FAIR, Steven Densley, exclaimed, “Hopefully this will be easier to remember and will allow us to spend more time doing apologetics rather than spending our time explaining what apologetics is.”[2] [Read more…] about New Name and New Directions

Filed Under: Administrative notices, News from FAIR

BYU New Testament Commentary Online Conference March 6, 2021

February 27, 2021 by Trevor Holyoak

The Epistle to the Hebrews: Radiating the Great Principles of the Restored Gospel

We are pleased to announce the release of the newest commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. It is authored by Richard D. Draper and Michael D. Rhodes, produced by the Brigham Young University New Testament Commentary, and published by BYU Studies, Provo, UT 84602. Available through https://byustudies.byu.edu. On Saturday, March 6, 2021, a free public video conference will be held on Hebrews and the Latter-day Saints, “Radiating the Great Principles of the Restored Gospel.”

A Live Opening Webinar
Saturday March 6, 2021
9:00 am–10:45 am
No pre-registration needed.

Join the program at https://zoom.us/j/95770639916 for the opening session with Eric Huntsman, John Welch, Michael Rhodes, and Richard Draper. For the full schedule of thirteen videos, visit https://www.byunewtestamentcommentary.com/online-conference-march-6-2021/.
For the playlist of all the video presentations on March 6, visit https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXbAVRWvW61YxGGxH2xqj1MulRbjefwqs. For Q&As, email your questions to [email protected].

A flyer may be downloaded here.

Filed Under: Administrative notices, New Testament

FairMormon Finances

December 24, 2020 by FAIR Staff

The mission of FairMormon is to “provide well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” [1]   As such, we support fully the leadership of the church, its teaching and practices. That said, FairMormon is an independent organization that is not funded, nor run, nor even directed, by church leadership.

The three main sources of income for FairMormon are contributions from individuals and groups, revenue from conferences, and book sales. FairMormon has never received donations from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Nor has it received funds through Deseret Trust or the Foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FairMormon has received two donations from the More Good Foundation. One was a $2,000 donation that was part of a fundraising effort that was matched. The other was in 2018 when a $125,000 donation was made, which we were very grateful for because FairMormon was in financial difficulties at the time. At no time has the More Good Foundation ever told Fairmormon what to do. They do, however, use some of our information in their videos.

The More Good Foundation is also an independent organization funded through contributions. According to their website, they  “operate several websites along with social media pages where persons of other faiths can learn about the Church, and where individual members of the Church can share their beliefs. We also provide training and support for members interested in sharing their beliefs online.” [2] Their website also states that they are “primarily funded by the generous donations of individuals. It may also receive funds from trusts, corporations, and foundations, including Deseret Trust Company (a donor-advised fund), and the Foundation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Foundation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes donations to many organizations and is funded by the revenues of wholly owned, for-profit companies” (emphasis added). [3] In addition, their website states “The More Good Foundation operates independently from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More Good Foundation is not managed or directed by the Church.” [4] [Read more…] about FairMormon Finances

Filed Under: Administrative notices

FairMormon Statement Regarding “This is The Show” Videos

December 8, 2020 by FAIR Staff

Recently FairMormon released a new set of videos titled “This is The Show” on our YouTube channel. These videos use comedy and caricature to address criticisms of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are intended for a youth and young adult audience as part of our efforts to provide accurate, well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice and history of the Church.

In response to these videos, some individuals have made incorrect claims and accusations we wish to address.

First, some have claimed that other groups collaborated with FairMormon on these videos. This is false.  FairMormon commissioned the production of “This is The Show” videos without prompting, input, suggestion or direction from any other entity or individual. No other group has contributed to the content, style, performance, production, or distribution of our videos. FairMormon alone is responsible for the content shared on the videos, and our websites.

Second, some have accused FairMormon of distributing a meme with intent to incite violence. This is also false. We did not create or distribute the meme in question, nor did we ask anyone (directly or indirectly) to create or distribute such a meme. We do not know the individual who created the meme. We have nothing whatever to do with the meme, and we do not condone it in any way. FairMormon abhors violence in all of its forms and condemns anything that would invite or incite violence towards anyone—including our critics. We regret that any personalities associated with FairMormon may have shared such content.  We will review our social media policy with our FairMormon associates and contractors.

FairMormon is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented, accurate, authoritative, and complete answers to criticisms of and questions on the doctrine, policies, practices, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The overwhelming bulk of our work is set forward in well-documented articles and lectures. “This is The Show” video series isn’t a change in our course; it’s our first attempt to support young people—using means, methods, and media commonly familiar to them—in their efforts to understand and defend sincere and insincere questions or attacks on their faith and beliefs. For further information, please visit our FAQ page.

Filed Under: Administrative notices

Interpreter Conference

September 5, 2020 by Trevor Holyoak

by Jeffrey Bradshaw

Beginning in the 1970s, a few scholars, most notably Hugh W. Nibley, began to point to evidence relating to the ancient context of the Book of Moses. However, over-enthusiastic scholars (admittedly, at times, including myself) have not always been careful in their research and sometimes have gone farther in their claims than the evidence warrants. As a result, some of the early enthusiasm for comparative studies has waned and, paralleling the course of biblical studies, the pendulum has swung to the other extreme where comparisons of scripture to the ancient world became less common.

Now the pendulum is swinging back the other way. We hope that the presentations at the conference will reflect the still increasing maturity of the field, relying on more well-defined methodologies designed to better assure the reliability of their results — avoiding the extremes of both parallelomania and parallelophobia. In addition to more well-defined methodologies, recent research has also benefitted from new discoveries and better understandings of the manuscripts and other material remains of the cultures and religious traditions of the ancient Near East.

The conference is based on the premise that significant patterns of resemblance to ancient manuscripts not available during the lifetime of Joseph Smith and of unexpected conformance to conditions imposed by an archaic setting are potential indicators of antiquity that are best explained when the essential element of divine revelation is acknowledged. [Read more…] about Interpreter Conference

Filed Under: Administrative notices, Book of Moses, Newsletter

Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses

May 5, 2020 by Trevor Holyoak

2020 Interpreter Foundation Conference

 

Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses

September 18-19, 2020
Brigham Young University, Tanner Building, Room 251
(If temporary COVID-19 restrictions preclude gathering on campus, we will hold the conference virtually. For late-breaking news, watch this website.)

Presented by
The Interpreter Foundation
Brigham Young University Department of Ancient Scripture
Book of Mormon Central
FairMormon

Because we believe that the Book of Moses includes authentic history, the possibility of evidence for that belief interests us as scholars. Although the primary intent of Joseph Smith’s translations is to meet the needs of modern readers, not to provide precise matches to texts from other times, we consider significant patterns of resemblance to ancient manuscripts that the Prophet could not have known and of unexpected conformance to conditions imposed by an archaic setting as potential indicators of antiquity that are best explained when the essential element of divine revelation is acknowledged. [Read more…] about Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses

Filed Under: Administrative notices, Bible, Book of Moses, Evidences, Joseph Smith, News from FAIR, Priesthood, Prophets

2020 Interpreter Foundation Conference

March 29, 2020 by Trevor Holyoak

This has now been postponed until September or October. Additional updates will be on the Interpreter, FairMormon, and Book of Mormon Central websites.

Interpreter Conference - Book of Moses - May 1-2

 

Filed Under: Administrative notices, Book of Moses, News from FAIR

2019 FairMormon Lifetime Achievement Award

August 10, 2019 by Trevor Holyoak

Congratulations to Dr. Daniel C. Peterson, recipient of the 2019 FairMormon Lifetime Achievement Award!

Filed Under: Administrative notices, FAIR Conference

2019 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award

August 8, 2019 by Trevor Holyoak

Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award, Spencer Marsh!

Each year, FairMormon awards the John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award to a volunteer who made meritorious contributions to FairMormon’s mission and outstanding personal efforts in helping defend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Potential recipients are nominated by members of the FairMormon management team and recipients are selected by the board of directors.

Prior recipients include:

  • 2018 Michael W. Hickenbotham
  • 2017 Marion Allen
  • 2016 Julianne Hatton
  • 2015 Nick Galieti and Ben McGuire
  • 2014 Trevor Holyoak
  • 2013 Neal Rappleye and Hales Swift
  • 2012 Steve Densley and Cassandra Hedelius
  • 2011 Ken Kyle
  • 2010 Tanya Spackman
  • 2009 Roger Nicholson
  • 2008 Tyler Livingston
  • 2007 Greg Smith
  • 2006 Mike Parker
  • 2005 Mike Ash
  • 2004 Marc Schindler (posthumously)
  • 2003 Sharon Bunch
  • 2002 Allen Wyatt
  • 2001 Scott Gordon

Filed Under: Administrative notices, FAIR Conference

Donate to FairMormon on Facebook for #GivingTuesday on Nov. 27 and it will be matched!

November 27, 2018 by Trevor Holyoak

Thanks for all the donations! We couldn’t exist without you! We were able to raise a total of $5,233 (before matching)!

If you would still like to donate, you can do it here at any time. Thanks for your help!

 

Today is #GivingTuesday! Facebook and PayPal are matching a total of up to $7 million of donations made through Facebook. Help us today by donating at https://www.facebook.com/donate/262507577691633/

There are no fees on donations — 100% of the donations go to FairMormon!

 

Filed Under: Administrative notices, General, News from FAIR

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address:

Subscribe to Podcast

Podcast icon
Subscribe to podcast in iTunes
Subscribe to podcast elsewhere
Listen with FAIR app
Android app on Google Play Download on the App Store

Pages

  • Blog Guidelines

FAIR Latest

  • Letter For My Wife Rebuttal, Part 25: Prophecies
  • Have you tried our Faithful Answers app?
  • How One Woman’s Scholarship Helps Us Better Understand Church History
  • Letter For My Wife Rebuttal, Part 24: Blood Atonement
  • Come, Follow Me with FAIR: Faithful Answers to New Testament Questions – 1 and 2 Peter

Blog Categories

Recent Comments

  • Dennis Horne on Letter For My Wife Rebuttal, Part 24: Blood Atonement
  • Trevor Holyoak on FAIR Questions: What did President Nelson mean by “the kind of body with which you will be resurrected” in his General Conference talk?
  • CortC on FAIR Questions: What did President Nelson mean by “the kind of body with which you will be resurrected” in his General Conference talk?
  • Andrew Miller on A Mortal Davidic Servant?
  • Dennis Horne on A Mortal Davidic Servant?

Archives

Footer

FairMormon Logo

FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our Friends

  • BYU Religious Studies Center
  • BYU Studies
  • Book of Mormon Central
  • TheFamilyProclamation.org
  • Interpreter Foundation
  • Wilford Woodruff Papers Project

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • iTunes
  • YouTube
Android app on Google Play Download on the App Store

Donate to FAIR

We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.

Donate Now

Site Footer

Copyright © 1997-2023 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of FAIR, its officers, directors or supporters.

No portion of this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc.

Any opinions expressed, implied, or included in or with the goods and services offered by FAIR are solely those of FAIR and not those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR) Logo

FAIR is controlled and operated by the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR)