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Doctrine

FAIR Issues 13: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 13

June 25, 2011 by SteveDensleyJr

https://media.blubrry.com/mormonfaircast/www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Challenging-Issues-and-Keeping-the-Faith-Pt-13.mp3

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A prophet speaks the words of the Lord. But if a prophet is not always acting as a prophet, how are we supposed to know when the President of the Church or another Church leader is speaking as the mouthpiece of the Lord? Listen to this episode for a discussion of these issues. The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore. Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Click the “like” buttton below to share a link on your Facebook page. Help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast by subscribing, writing a review and rating this podcast in iTunes.

Filed Under: Doctrine, Podcast

FAIR Issues 12: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 12

June 18, 2011 by SteveDensleyJr

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What constitutes “official” Mormon doctrine? Clearly, the scriptures contain official doctrine. But what counts as “scripture?” Are statements of the First Presidency official “doctrine?” What about statements of Joseph Smith, the Journal of Discourses or general conference addresses? Listen to this episode for a discussion of these issues. The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore. Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast
by rating it in iTunes.

Filed Under: Doctrine, Podcast

FAIR Issues 11: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 11

June 15, 2011 by SteveDensleyJr

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Why would God allow prophets to make mistakes? Aren’t general authorities supposed to be perfect? Are there exceptions to the rules given by the prophets and apostles? How can we know if our personal circumstances justify an exception? These issues, and others are explored in this episode. The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast by rating it in iTunes.

Filed Under: Doctrine, Podcast

FAIR Issues, 10: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 10

June 11, 2011 by SteveDensleyJr

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Can prophets make mistakes? If so, then what does it mean that they won’t “lead the people of the church astray?” Do members of the Church have the power themselves to keep from being led astray? The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times. Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast by rating it in iTunes.

Filed Under: Doctrine, Podcast

The death of “blood atonement?”

February 8, 2011 by McKay Jones

My “blood atonement” article (“Dead Men Tell No Tales: The Blood Atonement Balance Sheet”) is up on the main web site:

/Misc/Dead_Men_Tell_No_Tales.html

It’s a long one (109 footnotes), but well worth the read, in my opinion. I think much of the material will be new for even those who are well-read in things Mormon. Much more so (in spades) for those who happily parade the standard “blood atonement” proof-texts from Journal of Discourses as devastating to Mormon claims that their prophets and apostles were divinely called and sanctioned.

This material is a very small part of some books I’m working on focusing on topics in Journal of Discourses. I have made my own detailed index on over a hundred topics (apologetic, Church-related, background, humor, etc.), which is much more detailed than the standard one published by BYU in 1959 (which listed only seven references for “blood atonement”).

Feedback is more than welcome . . .

Filed Under: Anti-Mormon critics, Doctrine, Temples

Review: The Joseph Smith Papers: Television Documentary Series, Season 2 (DVD Set)

January 17, 2011 by Trevor Holyoak

Season 2 of The Joseph Smith Papers Television Documentary Series contains 42 episodes on 6 DVDs. It takes a closer look at some of the areas covered in Season 1, such as the First Vision. It contains episodes devoted to things like the production of modern scripture, a tour of church history sites, a look at Joseph’s family, the early music of Mormonism, and brief biographies of other early members, such as Hyrum Smith, the Pratt brothers, the Snows, and others. There are also some episodes devoted to the books published so far as part of the Project. The final episode is a tribute to Larry H. Miller, who provided financial support for the Joseph Smith Papers Project.

Viewers who use closed captioning will be happy to learn that it’s been employed for Season 2 (although it’s a little rough in places). And I’m very happy to see that the list of episodes also says which disc they’re on this time. (Both of these things were missing for Season 1.)

There are 2 episodes about the manual containing the teachings of Joseph Smith that was used recently in priesthood and Relief Society. It begins by recounting a history of publications of his teachings, and then spends the rest of the time talking about the preparation of the new manual. It was intended not to be a comprehensive source of known teachings, but rather to be selected teachings that apply to our day. They were very careful in what was included, and the standards for determining such, which depended on the sources, were explained.

The Word of Wisdom episode was particularly interesting to me, since this topic can often be a stumbling block for people who assume that it has always been followed and enforced the way it is today. It is pointed out that the first 3 verses of D&C Section 89 were not actually part of the revelation, but were originally a preface. It is explained what the restrictions on hot drinks, alcohol, and meat meant at the time it was given. A history of the Word of Wisdom from moderation to abstinence is recounted. Unfortunately, here I feel the episode falls short. The groundwork is laid to mention that not just church members but also church leaders had difficulty with it at first, but then it doesn’t quite go that far. It can be confusing for someone that was taught that Joseph refused alcohol for his leg operation to learn that he did not always abstain (see, for instance, History of the Church, vol. 7, page 101), and I thought this episode could have done a little better towards inoculating against that.

Another interesting episode is about D&C section 76, which outlines the different degrees of glory available after this life. It was referred to originally as “The Vision,” since it was the first vision to be published (accounts of the “First Vision” were not published until later). It was one of just a few visions that had a witness – Sidney Rigdon participated in it along with Joseph Smith. Until then, the understanding of the afterlife was black and white. Those who didn’t like it considered it to be universalist. It was written down immediately by Smith and Rigdon, and because they were commanded to write it down, copies were allowed to be made freely. Joseph was probably tarred and feathered for it.

This DVD series should be of interest to anyone that enjoys church history or is interested in learning about it. There is some that is glossed over – such is the nature of the medium – but this is the most in-depth and accurate treatment of Joseph Smith and the early history of the church that has been made available for viewing, and it could even lead those that don’t particularly like non-fiction reading to do further research.

Filed Under: Book of Mormon, Book reviews, Doctrine, LDS History, LDS Scriptures

“Well nigh as dangerous:” Revelation and infallibility

November 8, 2010 by McKay Jones

In my opinion, one of critics’ most harped-on “weaknesses” of the Church is actually its greatest strength: the lack of absolute certainty and infallibility, and the possibility that Church leaders could potentially lead astray. How could that be a good thing? Because of our purpose for being here, and the great blessing of learning through experience to seek, receive, discern, process, and apply personal revelation. That this is not a guaranteed error-free process for anyone, regardless of past success, is what makes this crucial, and what ultimately preserves and protects the Church from being led astray.

There are numerous statements from Church leaders, unknown to many, that expound on this seeming paradox. Comments on my recent paper for FAIR are welcome!

/Misc/Latter-day_Prophecy_and_Revelation.html

Filed Under: Anti-Mormon critics, Doctrine, General, Interfaith Dialogue, LDS Scriptures

Gospel Principles Chapter 16: The Church of Jesus Christ in Former Times

August 15, 2010 by Trevor Holyoak

Chapter 16 discusses the church set up by Jesus both in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, and the apostasy that followed. Here are some related resources:

17 Points of the True Church

How does one respond to the statement: “Churches don’t save; Jesus saves”?

What does the Bible teach about priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ?

Christians don’t need a mediating priesthood?

Is there a “Priesthood of All Believers”?

When the Bible talks about being “born again,” what does this mean? How did the first Christians understand this concept?

Baptism for the dead

The Bible predicts an apostasy from the church founded by Jesus Christ. Is there any Biblical evidence that this apostasy began?

Since members of the Church believe that divine authority was lost during the apostasy, wouldn’t some Christian author or members have noted this problem?

Biblical Evidences of an Apostasy

Filed Under: Doctrine, Early Christianity, LDS Scriptures, Lesson Aids

2010 FAIR Conference Review

August 10, 2010 by Trevor Holyoak


We had another great conference this year, with 350 people attending in person, and about 50 listening online. We were treated to 15 presentations and also had the opportunity to socialize, browse the bookstore, and bid in a silent auction. Tanya Spackman received the John Taylor Defender of the Faith award for her work on Mormon Scholars Testify. You can view photos of the conference at the FAIR Facebook page.

William Schryver’s presentation on the Kirtland Egyptian Papers received some press before the conference, and did not disappoint. You can view it here. (A browser plug-in may be required.)

There have been articles about many of the presentations published in Mormon Times, Deseret News, and LDS Church News:

  • FAIR conference: Same-sex marriage and the role of religion
  • FAIR conference: Secret Mormon codes and Egyptian papers
  • FAIR conference: LDS doctrine clear on divinity of one God
  • FAIR conference: ‘Gender equality is the brick of Zion,’ speaker says
  • FAIR conference: What if the U.S. president were a Mormon?
  • FAIR conference: Joseph Smith’s discovery of ancient patterns
  • FAIR Conference: Roper’s take on Book of Mormon geography
  • Mormons need to work to increase favor
  • FAIR conference: Defend the Book of Mormon by studying names, origins
  • Nibley editor says scholar was bolstered by research
  • ‘Be Ready’ to Defend Faith

Transcripts will be posted at http://www.fairlds.org when they are ready. MP3s and DVDs will be made available for purchase at the FAIR bookstore.

Filed Under: Book of Mormon, Doctrine, FAIR Conference, LDS History, LDS Scriptures, News stories, Politics, Polygamy, Women

Gospel Principles Chapter 14: Priesthood Organization

July 17, 2010 by Trevor Holyoak

Once again, this week’s lesson on Priesthood Organization is basically another look at last week’s topic in more detail. Since links have already been given to the resources FAIR has on the priesthood, I thought it might be helpful to provide links to a couple of items from sources other than FAIR.

At the priesthood session of the most recent General Conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a very practical talk on Healing the Sick that I believe is worth reading by everyone.

And in 1996, the Journal of Mormon History published an interesting article by William G. Hartley about the historical development of the duties of the Aaronic priesthood: From Men to Boys: LDS Aaronic Priesthood Offices, 1829-1996.

Filed Under: Doctrine, LDS History, Lesson Aids

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