FAIR

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Mormon Voices

Mormon Fair-Cast 203: Odds are you are Going to be Exalted

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Odds_Are___Exalted_detailAlonzo GaskillMany Latter-day Saints worry whether they’re capable of reaching the celestial kingdom. Are these anxieties born of a sense of unworthiness, or is it that we just don’t think we can “do it all?” Author Alonzo L. Gaskill believes that such pessimism results from misunderstanding God’s great plan of happiness and what it is that the Lord actually requires of us. In this hope-filled book, he reviews the teachings of the scriptures and modern prophets to instill in readers a greater sense of God’s unfailing love and mercy and of His power and desire to exalt His children. Exaltation may be not only possible but probable!

Dr. Alonzo L. Gaskill was reared near Indepence, Missouri, and joined the Church in the fall of 1984. One year later, he served a mission to England. He has attended several schools and universities, earning a master’s degree in theology and a Ph.D. in biblical studies.

He has taught graduate and undergraduate religious education courses at the University of California (at both Berkeley and Santa Cruz) and Idaho State University. He was the director of the LDS institute of religion adjacent to Stanford University, and is an assistant professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University. He is a frequent presenter at BYU’s Campus Education Week and Know Your Religion seminars.

Dr. Gaskill and his wife, Lori, are the parents of four children and reside in Payson, Utah.

This book is available through the FairMormon Bookstore here.

You may also be interested in his blog here.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast may not reflect those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or that of FairMormon.

4th Watch 12: Too Serious or not Serious Enough

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4thWatch SmallHow serious do we take the gospel of Jesus Christ?  How serious do we take ourselves in relation to the gospel of our Savior?  Sometimes we can get caught up in the thick of thin things and overlook the weightier matters.

In this podcast brother Scarisbrick reviews a article done by Robert Kirby, a columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper.  The article is entitled “Is it worse to be too serious or not serious enough?”  Brother Kirby was also a speaker at the FairMormon conference this past August 2013.  You may read his article from the Salt Lake Tribune  here.

The “Kirb” is somewhat of a colorful character compared to your standard and average Mormon.  His rating for “light-minded” refers to lack of seriousness regarding sacred things.  It’s a class C Church misdemeanor in modern Mormonism.  Light-mindedness was probably a felony during Brigham’s Young’s day.  Brother Ned explores how we see this gospel principle from several perspectives

Fair Issues 39: Countering subversive attacks

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Ash (newer) PictureIn this article, brother Michael R. Ash counters subversive attacks on Mormon scholarship.  Critics frequently state, or imply that 1.  LDS scholars are not real scholars; 2.  “Real” scholars (by which they mean, “non-LDS” scholars) reject LDS scholarship; and 3.  LDS scholarship is biased.  By casting doubt on Mormon scholarship from the start, critics hope to dissuade people from listening to LDS scholars or giving credence to their arguments  This appears to be effective among critics themselves , many of whom totally dismiss LDS scholarship without giving it a fair hearing.

The full text of this article can be found at Deseret News online.

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 FairMormon Bookstore.

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Mormon FAIR-Cast 60: Mormon Voices

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In this KSL Radio broadcast of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner interviews John Lynch about the announcement of Mormon Voices. To better reflect its organizational focus and methods, The Mormon Defense League (MDL) announced today that it has changed its name to “MormonVoices.”

The new web site is MormonVoices.org. Scott Gordon, president of FAIR and Managing Director of Mormon Voices has commented: “This new name better reflects our helping Mormons become involved in online discussions where positive representation of the Church is needed to offset offensive stereotypes and misinformation. In the current politically charged environment where issues of Mormon beliefs are frequently discussed, Mormons increasingly want to properly represent themselves and not let stereotypes and caricatures remain,” Gordon explained. “We want to empower members of The Church to respond to the articles that are appearing in the press. As Elder Perry said in General conference,

‘The growing visibility and reputation of the Church presents some remarkable opportunities to us as its members. We can help “disabuse the public mind” and correct misinformation when we are portrayed as something we are not. More important, though, we can share who we are.’”

“As an organization we will continue to publicly stand up for the LDS Church and correct misinformation spread by public figures, but our new name more clearly reflects our approach and fits well with the admonition by our leaders to get involved online,” stated John Lynch, Chairman of FAIR and a Managing Director of the newly named MormonVoices.

The general public can go to MormonVoices.org to find accurate information about issues regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Corrections regarding common misconceptions are provided, along with willingness to help writers and others who want to verify the accuracy of information regarding the Church, its doctrines, teachings, or history. MormonVoices serves as an organizing force to help Church members become involved, and to share online resources to be more effective in their discourse. It is a non-profit wholly owned subsidiary of FAIR and is operated by self-motivated Mormons who seek to improve the public understanding about the Church.  MormonVoices is dedicated to providing reliable, independent information about the doctrine, beliefs, and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. MormonVoices is not owned by, controlled by, or affiliated with the Church.

This broadcast is posted here by permission of KSL Radio.