By Jerald and Sandra Tanner

We are very happy to announce that a new video regarding Mormonism is now available. This video was prepared by the Southern Baptist Church, an organization that has over 15 million members.

Although those involved in the production of this video do not agree with Mormonism, they have been very tactful in their approach to the subject. Moreover, Brigham Young University professors and other members of the Mormon Church were given an opportunity to give their side of the story.

Southern Baptists are taking this matter very seriously. We have recently learned that 40,000 copies of the video will be distributed to their pastors. This video will also be distributed to many different parts of the world. We have been informed that it will be translated into six or eight different languages. While the video was produced by the Interfaith Witness Division of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, it does not stress the Southern Baptist faith. It is, in fact, a video that can be profitably used by almost all evangelical Christians who wish to know the truth about Mormonism.

Video available online

A First Class Production 

Although she is not a Southern Baptist, Sandra Tanner, one of the editors of this newsletter, was asked to help with the project. Sandra spent a great deal of time assisting those involved in the production. Some of the scenes, in fact, were filmed at Utah Lighthouse Ministry.

Interestingly, Peter Scarlet, a reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune, made a thorough review of the video. We quote the following from his article:

Are Mormons Christians? That is the central question of a 70-minute video prepared for the Southern Baptist Convention, which will hold its 1998 annual meeting in Salt Lake City.

The question is answered, although not neatly. It could do no more. Any answer depends on how “Christian” is defined.

Southern Baptists and evangelical Christians conclude that Mormons are not because their theology about God, Jesus Christ and salvation differs from that of historical, biblical Christianity with its monotheistic deity

Conversely, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints portrayed in the video conclude that they are Christians because they believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the church that bears his name. . . .

Some recent videos about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . . . have used sensationalism to paint a vituperative picture of the church.

“The Mormon Puzzle” is quite different . . . Southern Baptists and evangelical Christians explain how Mormon views differ from historical Christianity. . . . The video message is that Mormons, like the unchurched or others need to hear the gospel and gain the personal relationship with Jesus Christ that most evangelical Christians believe is necessary for salvation.

The LDS Church clearly cooperated in the making of the video. Southern Baptist film crews were given access to Temple Square, where they shot footage of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir . . . they interviewed Brigham Young University faculty, missionaries and the mission president in the church’s Georgia Atlanta Mission. . . .

LDS Church spokesman Don LeFevre declined to comment about the church’s role in the video. But others were less reticent. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 5, 1997)

Some members of the Mormon Church have become concerned that so many Southern Baptists will be coming to Utah in 1998. In a recent call-in show on the Mormon Church’s radio station (KSL) a devout Mormon, who previously lived in the South was very concerned that some members of the Mormon Church would be unable to cope with the arguments used by the Baptists.

In the same issue of the Tribune cited above, Peter Scarlet reported:

When it comes to witnessing one’s faith to others, turnabout is fair play. . . .

For generations The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sent proselytizing missionaries throughout the world to win converts to the faith.

The Rev. Mike Gray, pastor of Salt Lake City’s 1,200-member Southeast Baptist Church, is quick to point out the distinction between proselytizing and evangelism.

“Our objective is not to take people from one church and into another, but to share Jesus and urge people to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” he said. “You don’t have to be Southern Baptist to come into Jesus.”. . .

From Gray’s perspective, it was LDS Church founder Joseph Smith who spurned the Christian label during his account of what Mormons call the First Vision.

In it, God and Jesus Christ are said to have appeared to the 14-year-old Smith and told him not to join any church because they all were wrong; that their creeds were an abomination; and that their people were corrupt.

“What the LDS doctrine system has done is criticize all other evangelical churches and put us on the outside,” Gray said. “His first vision was a personal attack on all of the Christians of his day. It’s an affront to all of us who are Christian.”

Nonetheless, he said next year’s convention will not be a forum for Mormon bashing.

“The whole spirit of what we’re trying to do will be very positive,” Gray said. “This is not a Mormon thing, but Southern Baptists coming in for a meeting and to share Jesus with the people while we’re here.” (Salt Lake Tribune, July 5, 1997)

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