Category: Gospel Topics Essays
-
Mormonism’s History of Hiding Documents
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is more open about its history these days, but the past was very different. Sandra Tanner tells of difficulties in trying to access historical documents when she (and late husband, Jerald) began researching Mormon history in the 1960s, and how some amount of guardedness still persists in…
-
The First Vision: 200 Years Later
The Gospel Topics defense of the First Vision is examined, asking if the historical evidence really warrants such conclusions.
-
Is There a Mother God?
Although the LDS church has taught that we have heavenly parents, the idea of Heavenly Mother(s) is usually downplayed. How does she fit into Mormon theology and history?
-
Give Brother Joseph a Break?
Over two years, LDS essays addressed Joseph Smith’s controversies—stone in hat, polygamy, failed translations—sparking doubt.
-
“Upon This Rock”
Joseph Smith’s Seer Stone By Robert M. Bowman, Jr.Director of the Institute for Religious Research – www.irr.org On August 4, 2015, the LDS Church issued a press release that was picked up and reported on National Public Radio and Fox News, by the Associated Press, and by many other news outlets. The focus of the…
-
Problems in the LDS Essays on Plural Marriage
By Sandra Tanner The startling headline in the New York Times read “It’s Official: Mormon Founder Had Up to 40 Wives.” The article explained: Mormon leaders have acknowledged for the first time that the church’s founder and prophet, Joseph Smith, portrayed in church materials as a loyal partner to his loving spouse Emma, took as…
-
Book of Abraham — Translation or Invention?
By Sandra Tanner When Marlin K. Jensen, retired General Authority and historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was asked in November of 2011 if the LDS leaders were aware that people are leaving the Mormon Church in droves after learning of troubling aspects of church history, he responded: The fifteen men…
-
Gospel Topic Essays: Fixing History?
By Eric JohnsonMormonism Research Ministry – http://www.mrm.org In what appears to be an attempt to deal with several vital historical issues propagated by the LDS Church throughout the years, the Mormon Church has been producing essays since late 2013 under its “Gospel Topics” section of its lds.org website, attempting to reconcile the facts with what…
-
Grappling with the Past — LDS Church’s New Statements on Gospel Topics
By Sandra Tanner Since its founding in 1830 by Joseph Smith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (originally titled the Church of Christ) has struggled with its public image. Charges of fraud related to Smith’s money-digging and magic practices were a stumbling block to many from the very beginning. In subsequent years his…