FAIR

Apologetics

Straining Against the Wind

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Choosing Christ in a World of Opposition

Have you ever felt disoriented by how much resistance seems to follow faithful living? Whether in a classroom, a family gathering, or scrolling through your feed, you may have encountered voices that belittle your beliefs, question your values, or mock your faith in prophets and scripture.

In his message Divine Helps for Mortality, President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency affirms a profound and empowering truth: opposition is not a sign that something is wrong—it’s a sign that something eternal is at stake. God’s plan doesn’t shield us from difficulty; it places us in it—so we can choose Christ, grow in spiritual strength, and become something more than we were. [Read more…] about Straining Against the Wind

Classic FAIR – Defending the Faith – David L. Paulsen, 2004

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“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph Smith: Defending the Faith” by David L. Paulsen at the 2004 FAIR Conference

Scott asked me if I would share with you some of my work defending our LDS understanding of God and to that end I have prepared a bibliography. There’s two sets of materials being passed out, one is a packet. There is a copy of the bibliography in that packet and then there’s two individual sheets and you should either get the packet or the pair of two separate sheets and you’ll find the bibliography in one of them. I’ve also copied a few reprints of articles.

As time permits, I want to look at two or three of these articles but before I launch into a consideration of those, I’d like to provide just a little personal background if you will indulge me that will perhaps explain how I developed a passion for apologetics and also put apologetics in a proper perspective.

Growing up in Ephraim in Sanpete County I was acquainted, and then only casually, with four non-Mormons–two of whom subsequently converted. There must’ve been some in my community who openly challenged Mormon beliefs, but somehow I never encountered them. My first exposure to such challenges occurred after my sophomore year of college when I began my tour of active duty with the United States Army Reserve.

CONTINUED HERE

Beauty for Ashes

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Receiving Eternity’s Gifts Through Christ

Have you ever felt that no matter how much you believe in Christ, His promises feel just out of reach—like peace, healing, or wholeness belong to someone holier, stronger, or more deserving?

In his Easter message Eternity’s Great Gifts: Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Resurrection, Restoration, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offers a sweeping and tender reminder: God’s eternal gifts are not reserved for the perfect—they are extended to all. What matters most is not whether the gift is offered (it is!) but whether we are willing to receive. [Read more…] about Beauty for Ashes

And We Talk of Christ: Forgiving Through His Light

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Receiving the Light of Christ—and Letting Go of What We Cannot Carry

Have you ever wondered what it actually means to forgive someone—especially when the pain they caused hasn’t gone away?

In his tender and Christ-centered address, And We Talk of Christ, Elder Gary E. Stevenson reminds us that Jesus Christ is the Light we receive—and the Light we share. His Atonement is not just about removing our sins, but about transforming our sorrows into peace and our suffering into joy. [Read more…] about And We Talk of Christ: Forgiving Through His Light

Prepared to Meet Him

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Overcoming Fear, Comparison, and Inaction in the Light of Christ

What does it really mean to be ready to meet the Savior—at His Second Coming or at the end of our mortal journey?

In his message Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior, Elder Dale G. Renlund teaches that Christ’s return should not fill us with fear, but with hope. Using three parables from Matthew 25, Elder Renlund outlines a pattern of preparation not based on dramatic change or public deeds, but on quiet, faithful consistency. [Read more…] about Prepared to Meet Him

The Times of Restitution Are Now

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From Passive Observers to Active Participants in God’s Prophetic Work

Have you ever assumed that the Restoration was something that happened once—and now we’re just meant to follow along?

In his deeply doctrinal message, “The Times of Restitution of All Things,” Elder David A. Bednar challenges that assumption. Quoting Acts 3:21, he draws our attention not just to what God has restored, but what He continues to restitute—through us. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized in 1830, yes—but that event was part of a prophesied restitution of all things foretold by prophets throughout time. And we are not merely witnesses to it—we are meant to be agents in it.

Elder Bednar’s invitation is clear: learn the message, prove it for yourself, and act on it. The Restoration isn’t only about what God did through Joseph Smith—it’s about what He is now doing through each of us. So the question is: Are we content to be acted upon? Or will we choose to act in faith as disciples in the final dispensation? [Read more…] about The Times of Restitution Are Now

New ‘Gospel Topics’ published today

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The following new items, which all relate to apologetics, have been published on the Church’s website today:

Church Financial Administration
Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Religion vs. Violence

It also appears that the “Gospel Topics Essays” and “Church and Gospel Questions” have been consolidated into a new “Topics and Questions” section, which you will find if the links above redirect you to the contents page instead of the individual articles. In that case, you can navigate to the articles from the index on the left of the page. (As of 5/23, it appears that the redirection has been fixed.)

Right Before Our Eyes

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Recognizing Prophetic Fulfillment and Rejecting False Traditions

Have you ever paused to consider what spiritual miracles are unfolding right before our eyes—and whether we might be missing them?

In his General Conference message, Right Before Our Eyes, Elder Ronald A. Rasband invites us to recognize the majesty of this moment in the Restoration. The growth of the Church in temples, missionaries, and faithful disciples isn’t just impressive—it’s the literal fulfillment of prophecy. Yet alongside that divine acceleration, Elder Rasband warns of ongoing opposition, distractions, and “naysayers” who seek to obscure or diminish the Lord’s work. [Read more…] about Right Before Our Eyes

By This All Will Know That You Are My Disciples

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Welcoming the Spirit, Discerning the Gifts, and Embracing Every Seeker

Have you ever wondered what truly draws people to the restored Church of Jesus Christ—not just doctrinally, but spiritually?

In his Christ-centered address, By This All Will Know That You Are My Disciples, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds us that the most powerful witness we offer the world is how we treat each other. As he shares a personal story of a nonmember friend discerning the Spirit in a humble sacrament meeting, he bears testimony that spiritual gifts are real, that discernment matters, and that the Lord’s Church must be a place of belonging for all who seek Him. [Read more…] about By This All Will Know That You Are My Disciples

As a Little Child

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Reclaiming Grace, Advocacy, and the Humble Path to Salvation

Have you ever wrestled with the accusation that Latter-day Saints believe we must “earn” our salvation? Or wondered how we reconcile commandments with the doctrine of grace?

In his tender and deeply symbolic message, As a Little Child, President Jeffrey R. Holland invites us to return to a place of purity, trust, and humility—where divine grace flows freely and Christ’s role as our Advocate with the Father becomes central to our hope and healing. Through sacred stories and scriptural insight, President Holland shows that it is not achievement that saves us, but our willingness to come to Christ “as a little child.” [Read more…] about As a Little Child