Product Description
Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites--Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile--Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation--Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed--To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof--Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile--The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
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Customer Reviews (1)

the best book ever
This book has changed my life for the better. It has strengthend my belief in the Bible and in Jesus Christ. After reading the whole book with an open mind and heart I cannot deny its truth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

revealing
This will be a short review but all my reviews are short.Basically, I was raised Mormon but as I got older I really stopped believing in the religion of my parents.However, a question still remained: If Mormonism was false where did the Book of Mormon come from?This book answered my question about the true origin of the Mormon religion and I highly recommend this book to everybody.Yes, I do mean everybody.Mormonism must be stopped and the only way is for people to get educated.Do your part.

A Must Read in Mormon Studies
This book sets out to show that Joseph Smith, far from translating the Book of Mormon from mysterious golden plates revealed to him by the angel Moroni, actually plagiarized the book from a stolen manuscript. This has been a suspicion surrounding the Book of Mormon for almost as long as the Book of Mormon has come off the press. Yet it has never been shown how it was possible for Joseph Smith would have had access to Solomon Spalding's manuscript for "A Manuscript Found." Though, it has generally been accepted that the writing of the Book of Mormon, would have been miraculous in itself if Joseph Smith, whose education level was lacking, were to have written it himself.
The theory that the book proposes is that Sidney Rigdon stole this manuscript from Patterson's Printing Office in Pittsburg Pennsylvania, where Solomon Spalding had tried to have it published as "A Manuscript Found." Later Sidney Rigdon gave the manuscript to Joseph Smith who plagiarized it, possibly changing some sections of it, and rewriting the first 116 pages of it after Mrs. Harris stole them after having devised a nice test to see if Joseph Smith really was translating golden plates. Her object was to have Joseph retranslate them, at which point she would compare the two copies. Joseph declined to retranslate, saying that God would not let him do it for anger that he had lost the original translation!
The book shows that there was indeed a manuscript by Spalding entitled "Manuscript Found", whose story was well known to the inhabitants of Conneaut, and was remarkably similar to the story of the "Book of Mormon." Solomon Spalding was an ex Congregationalist minister, who had attended Dartmouth College. In other words he was a well educated man capable of writing. Evidently he wrote a lot, but spent most of his life in poverty and was never able to get anything published. He lived for a while in Pittsburg where he tried to get the book published but never succeeded. Patterson's Printing Office in Pittsburg, though, kept a copy of the manuscript awaiting a preface, and title page.
The book then shows that Sidney Rigdon, though he didn't live in Pittsburg at this time, often frequented the city to obtain books, and befriended a kid by the name of Lambdin that worked for Patterson's Printing Office. Thereby, the book establishes the great possibility that Rigdon had opportunity to steal said manuscript from that office.
But if the theory is to hold water, Sidney Rigdon had to have known Joseph Smith prior to the publication of the Book of Mormon. The book shows by citing signed affidavits and letters from the people of Palmyra, that Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon did indeed know each other prior to the publication. They had become acquainted with each other during dubious treasure digging adventures years before, and were seen together at the Smith house in Palmyra by numerous people.
All said, the book makes the case. And when all said is done, it is easier to believe that Joseph Smith plagiarized the book from Solomon Spalding's manuscript, than that he translated it from mysterious Golden Plates for which there is no evidence. The evidence for the "Spalding Enigma" far outweighs the evidence for golden plates. In fact the only "evidence" for the golden plates, is the dubious word of Joseph Smith, and some treasure digging friends with imaginations poised to con.
That said, though the book has done the world a favor in compiling the evidence, it may have done better using footnotes rather than end notes. The notes are almost a book in themselves and filled with much amusing and insightful material, however trying to find them in the back of the book and follow along required the use of two bookmarks. It was very tedious. It also had the effect of obscuring the outline of the book. This book would be made better if its outline was made more prominent at the beginning. Often the details and evidence presented would weigh so much on the mind that a person would forget or get confused as to the point that was trying to be made. A chapter summarizing the basic argument of the book, and a preface to each chapter of the book summarizing the particular point of that chapter, or the objection being answered would have been immensely helpful.

aside from differing reader styles - preferences...
this book is exceptionally well-researched & documented.
Unfortunately, the LDS church has a PROVEN HISTORY of white-washing & revising their telling of history (even including internal events) to suit their preferred appearances. Also unfortunately, LDS leaders Don't think that the concept - principle of CREDIBILITY applies to themselves, but rather only to the LDS rank-and-file.
WRWTBOM is an excellent source of well-documents TRUTH(s), something that LDS leaders strain to define & present ONLY as favorable to their PR oriented 'gospel'.

Yes, I agree, this book can be seen as tedious at times, but: This Isn't a Novel!
The story of the 'coming forth' of the BOM is NOT straight-forward, linear series of events, and the LDS church has NOT always been truthful about the details!

the Biggest Shame is to the LDS church for putting PR - appearances FIRST (as in their refusal to disclose finances, Hinckley's obfuscating statements , etc).The Facts regarding the BoM that the LDS church has hidden and/or white-washed receive attention in this book, I say: It's about time.

Me to the LDS church: Your credibility is GONE, and I doubt you'll EVER get it back.

Excellent research
I must say that it is the best researched book I have ever read. The authors' depth of research has given them a real feel for their subject and, more importantly, for the many very colorful personalities who were actually involved. The book is fair and honest in the points it makes, and pleasantly dispassionate, when it might easily have castigated the more roguish exploits it sometimes uncovered and reported.

As I read, I kept thinking of the movie that could one day come from this research, to be centered, not on Joseph Smith but on the true mover of events, Mr. Sidney Rigdon. Doubtless if such a project were undertaken, this book would provide the basis for its historical content. I recommend this book for every serious student of Mormonism, whether pro or con.

Recommended -- with Qualification
Recommended with Qualification

I am not an expert in Mormon studies, but have an active "hobby interest" in the topic and over the last 2 years have probably read some 30 books on the subject--most of them exemplars of the "New Mormon History" which attempts to approach Mormon origins with the kind of rigorous historical scrutiny frequently absent from books of the "Faithful History" genre.I found this book to be a study definitely worth reading, but not always easy or enjoyable to read.

The reader is forewarned:This book runs 558 pages, including 130 pages of footnotes in small type.

The major flaw of this book is that it is attempting to do two things at once that are not fully compatible: (1) to narrate a sort of "detective story" in which multiple lines of evidence gradually converge in a provocative, almost compelling conclusion; and (2) to exhaustively document its assertions, justify its speculations, and provide additional "back story" for the narrative it weaves.The latter is done so exhaustively that it frequently interferes with the former, loading down the fundamental argument with details that will tax the good will of all but the most patient readers (or those who are already experts on the topic).

In particular, readers can expect to be regaled with an overwhelming amount of detail regarding various branches of the Cowdery family tree--names, dates of birth, family migrations (both known and hypothesized)-- all with the frequent and necessary qualifications about the relative certainty or uncertainty of the data.This weighs down the narrative goal of the book considerably, and will likely tax the patience even of well-disposed readers.The authors would have done both scholarly and general readers a favor by narrating less and presenting more of the raw data in the form of charts, genealogies, and maps.There are a few timelines summarized in this fashion, but given the density of the data in this book, the general absence of such graphic reinforcements is unfortunate.

With this significant criticism registered, the book does make an important contribution to the topic of the Spalding Enigma and will thus repay the efforts of readers sufficiently interested in the topic and sufficiently patient to read the whole book.Its major contributions can be summarized as follows:

(1) Demonstrating, beyond reasonable doubt, that Solomon Spalding wrote multiple works of historical fiction, and that any honest discussion of the topic must deal with the evidence for the (non-extant) story Spalding titled "Manuscript Found"--not the earlier (extant) prototype titled "Manuscript Story--Conneaut Creek."

(2) Demonstrating, beyond reasonable doubt, that Sidney Rigdon can be placed in Pittsburgh and/or Amity, PA at the same time as Solomon Spalding, was, in fact, acquainted with him, and had opportunity to obtain the manuscript in question.

(3) Documenting the presence of Oliver Cowdery in New York, and in occasional proximity to the Smith family, as early as 1822.

(4) Documenting the presence in Ohio of a significant number of Oliver Cowdery's extended family, in proximity to the known movements and/or residence of Sidney Rigdon.

(5) By extension, demonstrating the inherent plausibility of Oliver Cowdery's own periodic presence among relatives in Ohio.

(6)Documenting the significant extent of eyewitness testimony placing Sidney Rigdon not only in Palmyra NY, but in contact with the Smith family, prior to 1830.

In short, the book weaves a speculative but plausible tale of conspiracy between Rigdon, Cowdery, and Smith--who were originally brought together by a combination of fortuitous crossing of paths (Rigdon and Cowdery) and common interests (money-digging, American Indian lore, and the popular religious ferment of the time).

What I found most thought provoking about the book was the argument that the lack of detail in early LDS history and biography about the early lives of Cowdery, Rigdon, and (to a lesser extent) Smith amount to a "deafening silence" suggestive of an attempt to suppress any evidence that would "connect the dots" between these three men prior to Smith's supposed first acquaintance with Cowdery (in 1829) and later, Rigdon (1830). Though I am not an expert, the authors persuaded me that Smith's prior acquaintance with Cowdery is demonstrable, Smith's prior acquaintance with Rigdon is probable, and Cowdery's acquaintance with Rigdon--the plausible (if speculative) catalyst.

By reason of its original research and substantial recourse to primary sources (census, newspaper, and cemetery records, signed affadavits, etc), this book makes a substantial contribution to the topic and deserves a place in college and university libraries.As other reviewers have observed, its overall usefulness is somewhat diminished by the lack of a comprehensive bibliography and indexes.

As a college professor, however, I would have difficulty recommending this book to any but the most gifted and ardent of undergraduate readers due to readability issues.Even then, I suspect that the book would be met with some frustration, as it is too easy to get lost in some of the massive background data and background narrative, not all of which seemed fully necessary.In my opinion, there are almost two books here: (1) A carefully researched and reconstructed biography of the early years of Oliver Cowdery; and (2) A more focused treatment of the Spalding Enigma.It is perhaps unfortunate that these were not conceived and executed as separate works, since the first would have been a worthy contribution in its own right, and the second would have been relieved of some of the excessive narrative weight that burdens the text in its current form.

Though the authors clearly have a point of view that will not ingratiate them to faithful Latter-day Saints, for the most part I found the book to be governed by proper historical goals and not merely an anti-Mormon diatribe of the "cult-research" variety.However, I did, on occasion feel that some of the "reading between the lines" stretched the evidence beyond what I, as a non-expert, regarded as obvious or necessary.

Two additional observations leave me with some lingering doubts.First, the Foreword written by Rev. George Mather is a theological piece with a clear anti-Mormon perspective.Its presence struck this reviewer as somewhat out of character with the rest of the volume.Second, the book is dedicated in part to the memory of the famed anti-cult researcher Walter Martin, "whose work has been painstakingly continued in this volume." This also struck the reviewer as somewhat out of character with the supposedly more objective historiographical goals of the volume.

I do not doubt the sincerity of the authors and I was, in the main, impressed with the quantity of documentary evidence they were able to provide.Nevertheless, in the end, the observations noted above left me with the suspicion that, on some level, the project was also motivated by a need to exorcise some of the Cowdrey / Cowdery family demons.

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Product Description
With over 100 million copies in print, the Book of Mormon has spawned a vast religious movement, but it remains little discussed outside Mormon circles. Now Terryl Givens offers a full-length treatment of this influential work, illuminating the varied meanings and tempestuous impact of this uniquely American scripture. Givens examines the text's role as a divine testament of the Last Days and as a sacred sign of Joseph Smith's status as a modern-day prophet. He assesses its claim to be a history of the pre-Columbian peopling of the Western Hemisphere, and later explores how the Book has been defined as a cultural product--the imaginative ravings of a rustic religion-maker. Givens further investigates its status as a new American Bible or Fifth Gospel, one that displaces, supports, or, in some views, perverts the canonical Word of God. Finally, Givens highlights the Book's role as the engine behind what may become the next world religion. The most wide-ranging study on the subject outside Mormon presses, By the Hand of Mormon will fascinate anyone curious about a religious people who, despite their numbers, remain strangers in our midst. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Highly recommend!
Givens is an "outside of the box" thinker that who sheds new light on any subject he tackles.

Confirmed My Testimony
I left the Church for twenty-five years after returning from my mission -- and I worked diligently to eradicate my testimony; yet, some kernel of LDS DNA must have been too fortified against denial and doubt.When I eventually returned to the Church and was re-baptized, it was the Book of Mormon, more than any other aspect of the Gospel, that formed my roots to the Restored Gospel.Thus I was exceptionally happy to see this magnificent book by Professor Givens, published by Oxford University Press and with a quote on the back from that glorious freak of literature, Harold Bloom!
The Contents of the Book:
Introduction
One--"A Seer Shall the Lord My God Raise Up":The Prophet and the Plates
Two--"Out of the Dust": The Book of Mormon Comes Forth
Three--"A Marvelous Work and a Wonder": The Book of Mormon as Sacred Sign
Four--"I, Nephi, Wrote This Record": The Book of Mormon as Ancient History,
Part 1--The Search for a Mesoamerican Troy
Five--"I, Nephi, Wrote This Record': The Book of Mormon as Ancient History,
Part 2--The Search for a Rational Belief
Six--"Devices of the Devil": The Book of Mormon as Cultural Product or Sacred Fiction
Seven--"Plains and Precious Truths": The Book of Mormon as New Theology,
Part 1--The Encounter with Biblical Christianity
Eight--"Plain and Precious Truths": The Book of Mormon as New Theology,
Part 2--Dialogic Revelation
Nine--"A Standard Unto My People": The Book of Mormon as Cultural Touchstone
Notes
Index

Thus we have a discussion of this mysterious and amazing book from aspects of literary and theological and cultural study.It is all intensely fascinating, extremely learned, and not dogmatic.Terry L. Givens prose is a smooth narrative that is easy to read and understand.This is a book for everyone, those who doubt and we who believe.People sometimes ask for "signs" or "proof" of God, as if to encounter an angel of light would actually alter anyone's point of view.The Book of Mormon is my proof of God, a solid chunk of reality that I can hold in my hand.Testimony is a spiritual thing, but how cool to have this fabulous physical proof of a just and loving and terrible god.

NO BIAS EVIDENT
Terryl Givens gives an articulate, well-researched analysis of the beginnings of the Book of Mormon, covering material both positive and negative to its origins.One has to read the entire book to determine on which side he comes down.The premise of his writing is that no matter what one thinks of the origins, it still constitutes the second most read book in Northern America.Its place of importance in the religious history on the United States is only surpassed by the Bible.Therefore, a close examination of its origins is enlightening, both as to the doctrine if professes, and as to the legitimacy of its claim.

Best book out there to give you an introduction into the studies into the Book of Mormon history.
I bought this book at the recommendation of a LDS apologist saying that this was, "A wonderful introduction for any who wants to know where the controversy and evidence for the Book of Mormon lie." After reading this book, I would have to agree. I never knew that the University of California, Berkley, conducted a word print analysis on the Book of Mormon to confirm multiple authorship of the text and none of whom were the writings of Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdrey, and Solomon Spaulding. Also, I was amazed by how the grammar of the text fits with Hebrew grammar and writing styles. Terryl Givens also was willing to talk openly about problems that face the text as well as the critical arguments against the Book of Mormon. Overall, I thought the book was balanced with both pros and cons and anyone interested in LDS apologetics will find this is a good introduction into Mormonisms "keystone" cannon of scripture.

By the Hand of Mormon a worthwhile investment
Terryl Givens provides a fascinating and worthy resource in his book "By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion."This is not a propaganda piece, but a well-researched, well-supported examination of "The Book of Mormon."It points out the weaknesses and flat-out fallacies of so-called anti-Mormon arguments. "By the Hand of Mormon" is not an easy read for those used to novels or newspaper-level writing, but it is powerful and unimpeachable.Givens backs up his material with numerous endnotes (which are fascinating and valuable themselves!)I highly recommend this book to those who are strictly interested in secular examination, rather than spiritual. The objective reader may very well wonder why, in the light of evidence, "The Book of Mormon" is not embraced and lauded in America and in the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into Mormon origins--Joseph Smith's early life, the Book of Mormon, the prophet's visions, and the restoration of priesthood authority. Longtime LDS educator Grant H. Palmer suggests that most Latter-day Saints remain unaware of the significance of these discoveries. He therefore gives a brief survey of the literature for all who have ever wanted to know more about the New Mormon History.

He finds that what we take for granted as literal history has been tailored over the years for missionary purposes--slightly modified, added to, one aspect emphasized over another--to the point that the original narratives have been nearly lost. What was experienced as a spiritual event, something from an entirely different dimension, has been often refashioned as if it had been a physical, objective occurrence. This is not how the first Saints interpreted these events. Historians have reevaluated basic concepts surrounding these foundational stories and restored elements, including a nineteenth-century world view, that have been misunderstood, if not forgotten. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

Pretty good read from an honest Mormon
Grant Palmer attempts to tell an honest point-of-view of Joseph Smith. He worked for the church for over 30 years and is one of the eminent scholars on Latter-day Saint studies. As a Mormon myself, I think he did a pretty good job. This isn't the type of book I'd start with for my fellow Mormons with an introduction to church history (I'd recommend Richard Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling).

Anyway, the book's a pretty fast read (it took me only like three nights). I found it fascinating. I'm still in high school, but I really love to study theology, so this kind of stuff sort of tickles my fancy. As a Mormon, church history really is quite amusing once you get past the whole "WTF phase."

Nothing But The Truth
Thanks again Grant for this amazing book. I enjoyed every part of it. I was most shocked to learn more detail in regards to the Book of Abraham. I think every LDS member should take the time to read this book. Why not accept the true historicity of your religion? I did.

THE PLAIN TRUTH BY AN INFORMED INSIDER - BRAVO!!
I am a born and raised Mormon and have served a full time 2 year mission, qualified with a couple of masters degrees etc. I know the church doctrines and life very well. And have recently discovered the REAL facts about church history which the Profits keep well hidden from the general membership.
Thanks to Grant Palmer for exposing the utter nonsense of Joe Smith and his conman buddies who built a church by propaganda and lies. This excellent book is extremely well documented and easy to read. It examines the historical records/evidence relating to all the founding claims (eg First Vision; Book of Mormon; Angelo Moroni; Restoration of PH; translation of BOM etc) and utterly and conclusively refutes these myths based on indisputable evidence. The only possible tactic of the Church is to mislead and obfuscate. For example see the Feb 1986 Ensign which has an article about the First Vision and admits 4 inconsistent stories/accounts, but the article is so cunningly crafted it fails to lay bare the simple chronology and facts about these accounts and the context and reason for each evolving account.
The clergy are self-serving conmen who continue in the tradition of the convicted conman Joe Smith (convicted in 1826 for cheating people out of money by pretending he could find buried treasure with his peep stone).
The Church will have a very tough time recruiting new tithe payers or retaining existing tithe payers in light of all the damning evidence being revealed by Google; book publishers ETC.
Joe Smith could destroy the Nauvoo Expositor (printing press revealing his many affairs and tricks to bed women) but how can the current clergy destroy the internet and various book publishers?? They cannot. The stubborn believers will not let facts get in the way of their religion/family tradition, but any truth-seeker will find these facts very useful in determining that the so-called Church (Corporation) is based on lies lies lies.
I highly recommend this book to all mormons and non-mormons.
It is high time that the facts become known.
"When the unknown becomes known, the mysticism disappears"
Joe Smith was a convicted conman, pedophile (affairs with teenage housemaids), religious fraud, false prophet, over-ambitious impostor who duped the gullible into supporting him with their money and labor. The Church has completely rewritten its history and a false romantic history is now taught as truth.
READ THIS BOOK!!! SEE IF THE CLERGY CAN ANSWER THESE FACTS....THE APOLOGISTS ADMIT THE FACTS BUT TRY TO PUT A POSITIVE SPIN ON THE FACTS - REINTERPRET THEM DIFFERENTLY....PLEASE....THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES...
The members are taught to ignore and shun critics because they are all labeled as liars and "apostates"
I wish i read books like this sooner - I could have saved thousands in "tithing" and had a 2 day weekend!
The Church uses the same propaganda model used by Lenin and other dictators who enforce political correctness and place orthodoxy over truth.
The Church is like a communist society. Members are like voluntary North Koreans. It takes courage to defect to reality.
Thanks Grant - you have exposed Joe Smith and this might just help Mormons to refocus their worship instead of the ignorant love-fest with Joe Smith "Praise to the Man" (one of their favorite hymns)

A great book for Mormon religious study
This book definately changed my life.I highly reccomend it, especially if you have experience with the Latter-day-Saint religion.

Hits the nail on the head with every stroke
As I was researching my core Mormon beliefs at age 47, I had several lingering questions.After the first few pages, I literally could not put this book down.It truly seemed that Grant Palmer knew what I was longing to know about, what I would ask, and how to best answer my questions.This is the book I recommend FIRST to anyone wanting to obtain an unbiased and honest review of Mormon origins.It is a landmark work, is impeccably researched, and easy to read.It is an eye-opener, a book that every member of the LDS Church, or anyone considering joining the church, really should read to get in touch with the realities surrounding how the church came into being.Palmer is refreshingly honest and straightforward in his writing.

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Product Description
The Essential Mormon Cookbook is a time-honored collection of recipes not found in standard cookbooks- family favorites passed down from generation to generation, traditional potluck dishes served at Church gatherings, and other gifts from the kitchen shared by neighbors and friends. This is the perfect source for these hard-to-find recipes you remember from your childhood, such as Christmas Morning Casserole, Pot Roast with Gravy, and Fresh Peach Cobbler. Also included are recipes to feed a crowd, compassionate service casseroles, and a conference-weekend brunch. More than 200 recipes, gathered from four generations of family cooks, are divided by seasons and event in this unique collection of Mormon comfort food. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Good recommendation
My aunt recommended this book.Hers is very well used.I especially like how it has a traditional Thanksgiving menu.It is easy to assign dishes out because of this feature.

The Only Cookbook You'll Ever Need
I received this cookbook as a wedding gift four years ago, and it's still my main source of great recipes.I always tell people that there is not a bad recipe in it!I would also highly recommend the "sequel" to this cookbook, The Essential Mormon Celebrations.It is equally wonderful.

Completely WONDERFUL!!!
Each recipe in this book is WONDERFUL! These are TRUE recipes, that actually taste good and that you don't have to alter. Thank you Julie Badger Jensen! My only request is to create MORE books...perhaps one with international dishes...? The other cookbook, "Essential Mormon Celebrations," is great too!

A lot of fat in it...
Our city library has this book, so I decided to check it out before buying it. The appearance of book is funny - it looks good on a shelf, but trying recipes from there? no way! Too much fat, oil, mayonnaise, sugar.

I liked the Broccoli Salad recipe though :)

Awesome Recipes
I just won 1st place at our office chili cookoff using the Taco Soup recipe.I've also made the chicken enchilladas (another big hit)!I've given this book as a gift to my daughters and to other girlfriends.You don't have to be LDS to enjoy this great cookbook. ... Read more

Product Description
Cult experts Ron Rhodes and Marian Bodine will help you understand the main points of Mormonism and discover where it falls short of God's truth. They then equip you to ask strategic questions that challenge Mormonism's central tenets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

a useful guide on how to defend real Christianity from counterfeits
First of all, I would like to say that I am not a fan of "how to witness" handbooks, because, during many years of witnessing to cultists, I have seen quite a few people relying totally on this kind of guides and completely neglecting the most important weapons in the arsenal of a Christian witness: prayer and the power of the Holy spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can free cultists from the power of Satan and lead them to the real Jesus.
Having said that, I feel that it is essential for Christians to get as much information as possible before witnessing, and this book could just be what you need.
The book opens with a brief overview of the Mormon church today, followed by the history of the movement and a series of helpful suggestions on how to handle your witnessing encounters.
In the following chapters, Ron Rhodes examines the most important teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (including the restoration, LDS prophets, the Book of Mormon, the alleged migration to America, the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, LDS God, plurality of gods, LDS Jesus, premortality and salvation) and answers with passages of the Word of God and with logic.
The book also contains chapters on the inspiration, inerrancy and authority of the Bible, and the manuscripts supporting the Bible reliability, compared to the non-existent proofs of authenticity associated with the Book of Mormon.
The book ends with a few hints on how to make your witness experience a successful one, a practical list of do's and don'ts about dialoguing with cultists.
The highlight of the book certainly are the many thought-provoking questions present in every chapter, which will leave your LDS acquaintance glancing at you puzzled, and overtime will make a crack in their spiritual armor, forcing him or her to reconsider their religious position.
Overall, a useful resource on how to share your faith with Mormons, based primarily on the Bible, but also exposing many embarrassing aspects of the LDS history and beliefs that Mormons missionaries desperately try to hide when they knock at your door.
REMEMBER, THESE KIND OF BOOKS MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO GATHER INFORMATION, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WITNESSING, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE YOUR GUIDE. JESUS WILL GIVE YOU WORDS AND WISDOM IF YOU ASK HIM.

This book Sucked, but made good for burning.
I received this book as a gift and couldn't make it past a few pages because there were no pictures!!! How in the hell am i suppose to find interest in a book if it has no pictures in it?!?! Long story short i was really cold the other night so I used this book to start a fire to heat up my room and it worked like a charm.

Very Disappointed
I bought this book hoping that it would reveal some of the nonsense that Mormons believe and their practices. What it actually does is to compare Mormonism with your basic Christianity, ie. Baptists, what-have-you. It tries to show how non-Morman Christianity is better. To my mind and, I would argue, the minds of any thinking person, both Mormonism and basic Christianity are bogus concepts made up of lies, myths and fairytales. (I feel the same way about all religions.) This book proved useless to me since I want the truth and it is not in this book, not in the Book of Mormon and not in the New Testament. Just what silly practices might Romney practice if he becomes president? This book was a complete waste of my money.

Very Enlightening Stuff
I found this to be a very interesting book. Without question, there is lots of food for thought here. For me, Mormonism is a fascinating topic, and anyone interested in learning about it will want to read this volume.

Troy Parfitt, author

The truth will set you free
We need more books just like this.
New Testament scripture warns about false prophets, false religions.
Scripture says " even if an angel appears before you proclaiming another gospel, let them be called accursed.................
People, read your New Testament in MODERN english.Then maybe you can begin to know what ancient scripture reveals. Understand that Mormons have been lied to.
They themselves do not know scripture only The Book of Mormon.
Books like this are meant to help set others free. ... Read more

Product Description
Eric and his wife Marilyn were happy with their Catholic faith. Both rooted deep in their beloved religion, neither one dreamed that they would ever leave it. But when they moved next door to a Mormon family, their lives changed forever. This is the story of their conversion, as told by Eric, along with a respectful and enlightening comparison of 40 key doctrines between Catholicism and Mormonism that testified to them of the restoration of the gospel. Find yourself touched, challenged, and educated as you share Eric and Marilyn s journey from Catholic roots to Mormon harvest. *This Book Contains:* CHAPTER 1 - OUR CONVERSION STORY: Eric s Background, Marilyn s Background, Our Conversion; CHAPTER 2 - DOCTRINAL PREPARATION: The Restored Gospel, Understanding and Reconciling Doctrinal Differences; CHAPTER 3 - PREMORTAL EXISTENCE; CHAPTER 4 - CREATION AND THE FALL: Creation, The Fall of Adam and Eve Original Sin;CHAPTER 5 - COMMUNICATION TO AND FROM GOD: Revelation, Scriptures , Prayer; CHAPTER 6 - THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT: God the Father, Jesus Christ Our Savior, The Holy Spirit, The Trinity; CHAPTER 7 - ANGELS AND SATAN; Angels, Satan and His Followers; CHAPTER 8 - THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST: The Crucifixion or Atonement , The Resurrection; CHAPTER 9 - PRIESTHOOD: Structure and Authority, Priesthood Power Healings and Blessings, Priesthood Marriage and Celibacy, Paid Ministry; CHAPTER 10 - ORGANIZATION: Structure of the Church of Jesus Christ , Church Name; CHAPTER 11 - POPES AND PROPHETS; CHAPTER 12 - MARY; CHAPTER 13 - THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS: Baptism, Penance, Reconciliation, & Repentance, Eucharist or the Sacrament , Confirmation and Gifts of the Spirit, Matrimony & Marriage , Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick; CHAPTER 14 - LIFE AFTER DEATH: Particular or Partial Judgment, Purgatory, Limbo, and the Spirit World, The Second Coming, The Resurrection, Final Judgment, Hell, Heaven; CHAPTER 15 - EARTHLY AND ETERNAL FAMILIES: The Earthly Family, Temples, Eternal Families, Redeeming the Dead; CHAPTER 16 - BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM: Comparison of Youth Fruits, Comparison of Adult Fruits; CHAPTER 17 - WHAT S REALLY IMPORTANT? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A must read for any who seek clarification between Catholicism and Mormonism
What makes someone leave Catholicism for Mormonism? "Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest: A Story of Conversion and 40 Comparative Doctrines" tells the story of how one family left their roots of Catholicism to embrace the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Telling their tale and comparing the major differences between the two religions, "Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest" is a must read for any who seek clarification between Catholicism and Mormonism.

"A Comparison of the Two Religions"
Catholic Roots Mormon Harvest shows the similarities between the two denominations. This book looks closely at forty key doctrines.Eric and Marily Shuster's faith ran deep in the Catholic Church.A neighbor introduced them to the Mormon Church.Eric shares their conversion story.He continues by discussing life before birth, creation and the fall, the Trinity,the crucifixion and resurrection, and the priesthood.I was particularly interested in the priesthood and the organization.

I found this book very interesting.I have always been fascinated by both denominations.Catholic Roots Mormon Harvest is well written.Both Catholic and Mormon's will find this book informative.

A Must Read for Any Seeker of Truth
I'm always intrigued at the conversion stories of others.This book is more than just a conversion story.It is an in-depth comparison between Catholicism and Mormonism by an author that has been directly involved in both.

Eric shares his remarkable conversion story in an easy conversational flow with bits of humor here and there.I was filled with joy as a read of the spiritual experiences that Eric shares with us all.Eric puts forth the most complete comparison of Catholicism and Mormonism that I have ever seen, providing ample references as well as his thoughts and commentary on 40 doctrines and practices.

This book is an excellent resource for all honest truth seekers.

--- John Webster, author of the LDS Resources Website ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Additional Writing by the Author of the Great Brain Books
I read all of the Great Brain books as a child, and reread them as an adult.I really enjoyed the stories and was looking for more work from the author.I was pleasantly surprised to find this book available as a new book.I really enjoyed getting more information on how J.D. and his family lived in Utah.This book gave insight into how his family arrived in Utah, and how his parents met.For more exciting stories, like the ones in the Great Brain series, I highly recommend this book.

A wonderful book for those who grew up with The Great Brain
After my husband finished reading the Great Brain books to my stepson, I decided to find out more about John D. Fitzgerald, and to my surprise, I found that he had published this memoir that was aimed at adults (actually the Great Brain books weren't really intended for kids specifically). This books includes a lot of details of his growing up that are left out of the Great Brain books - like the fact that he has a sister, and the fact that Mamma is a Mormon, and that they let their kids decide which faith to follow.Sweyn, John, and their sister become Catholics, but Tom, became a Mormon.It includes the courtship between Papa and Mamma, and it takes you through until their old age. I highly recommend reading this book - it's got lots of laughs, joy, and even tears.

Backstory for the Great Brain

This romance is a great stand alone story! The characters are well-rounded and the turns of phrase are amazing!

It also introduces you to all of the people who arein the Grea Brain series as well.

Excellent book I will read to my children.

Little House on the Prarie ... in Mormon Country
This wonderful book is a perfect mix of the Little House on the Prarie and Great Brain books. What I found the most interesting was the equal treatment of Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, and even Agnostics in frontier Utah. In fact, there are both good and bad examples of each. The overall religious message of the book is that "all religions are but windows in the same church letting in the light of God," which stresses the ideas of tolerance, love, and respect for all people irregardless of their religious beliefs. I highly recommend this book for all people who are fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and John D. Fitzgerald or even pioneer life and Utah history. Although it's out of print, you can probably find a copy in your local library. For 300 pages, it's a quick read. I have to warn you, though, it'll make you cry in the end. Even I teared up a bit, and I very rarely get emotionally involved in books. I also laughed out loud a few times, too. This book is really special.

Well Written, Little Disappointed
I read the Great Brain series as a kid, and continue to re-read them as an adult. Recently I discovered "Papa Married a Momon" and was not disappointed by Fitzgerald's story telling. But after doing a little online research I was disappointed to find that it is only very loosley based on his life in Utah (i.e. Fitzgerald was born in 1906 and the stories take place in the 1880s-1890s and papa lived until 1937). But I would highly recommend the book, especially if you enjoyed the adventures as told in the great brain series. ... Read more

Product Description

Who Are the Mormons?

For statistical reasons alone, theMormon Church demands a reader's attention: in just 170 years, theChurch has grown from six members to more than 10 million; if currentrates of growth continue, membership could hit 265 million by 2080,which would make it the most important world religion to emerge sincethe rise of Islam. Mormon America clarifies the reasons for thereligion's rapid growth: "It was from the beginning optimistic andupbeat, a reaction against the establishment New EnglandCalvinism.... It was a religious version of the American dream:Everyman presented with unlimited potential." The book alsoinvestigates the Mormons' immense wealth (relative to size, this is"America's richest church, with an estimated $30 billion in assets andsomething like $6 billion in annual income, mostly from members'tithes.") It anatomizes the minutiae of Church governance (Mormonismis ruled by a self-perpetuating, all-male hierarchy, headed by a"President, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator"), details the many rulesthat govern the Mormon lifestyle (famously, they avoid caffeine andalcohol; the Church's mandates extend even to the proper technique for"dispos[ing] of worn-out holy underwear"), and summarizes the Mormonscriptures. Mormon America is a compulsively readable book, notonly for its insightful analysis and wealth of factual information,but also, and most importantly, because it respects its subjectrigorously. "This is a real faith," the Ostlings write, "and must beunderstood in those terms, without caricature." --Michael JosephGross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

A Solid, Fair Introduction to Mormonism
Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is a fast-growing religion in America and throughout the world and one that is also gaining in influence.Perhaps especially now because of the prominence of Glenn Beck, it's important for Americans to be better informed about whom the Mormons are and what they believe.I was pleasantly surprised to discover that "Mormon America" appears to be a well-researched and balanced presentation of who Mormons are.If you're looking for a place to start learning more about Mormons, this is a very good place to start.

The authors, who are both professional journalists, present the origin of Mormonism and its ensuing history.They also cover topics such as polygamy, rituals, the golden tablets of Joseph Smith, Mormon families, what Mormons believe about God, and Mormon power.Throughout the book, the Ostlings do a good job of being objective and fair.I found the book very informative and useful and recommend it to others.

The book is not without its faults.In places, the authors have divided up the history, particularly concerning Joseph Smith: I felt their presentation here could have been stronger.Regarding Mormon teaching and doctrine, I was pleased that they didn't shy away from dealing with controversial topics such as Mormon beliefs about Jesus, God, and human divinity.However, I was hoping that this book would provide a more in-depth discussion of these doctrines so that I wasn't compelled to look elsewhere for this material.Also, in the chapter that deals with the historical inaccuracies of Mormon writings the Ostlings should have provided more detailed information.Mormon doctrine and history and are extremely important to understand and on these 2 points I found the book somewhat weak.

For someone who wants to understand Mormonism, this is a good but perhaps inadequate place to start.At least the reader will come away with the following clear points which should help the reader determine the truth or falsity of the Mormon religion:

1.Joseph Smith dabbled in the occult as a young man, close to the time he had his vision and was transcribing the Golden Tablets
2.God did not create out of nothing but instead matter has always existed.
3.God the Father has a body just like we do.He is also not the unchanging creator of Christian theology but is in process.
4.Humans are destined to evolve to be God in the same sense as God the Father: we're just not there yet.God and humans are the same species of being.
5.Jesus Christ is not the same as the Father but is also on his way to becoming God like other humans are.
6.Mormons don't believe in original sin.
7.Polygamy was an official teaching of Mormonism but because Mormons believe in ongoing revelation this authoritative teaching was later removed.Joseph Smith threatened some of his many would be wives with damnation if they didn't marry him.
8.Blacks could not be Mormon priests until a recent new teaching changed the official teaching of Joseph Smith and others.The Mormon teaching was that Blacks are cursed because they come from Cain.
9. The Pearl of Great Price is another authoritative Mormon text written by Joseph Smith.Part of it is based upon three Egyptian papyri that Joseph Smith said presented the real history of the Bible, particularly dealing with Abraham.These papyri have conclusively been proven to be rather ordinary Egyptian documents and to have nothing to do with Abraham or the Bible.
10."Not a single person, place, or event unique to Joseph Smith's `gold Bible' has ever been proven to exist.
11.Joseph Smith translated his own version of the Bible to make it consistent with the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price.
12.Smith's version of the Bible replicates the errors of the 1769 King James Bible available to him: in other words, he got his portions of the Bible in the Book of Mormon from the real Bible and not as a separate revelation.

Anti-Mormon Book Masking As Literature
Richard and Joan Ostling's work on the Mormons has been revised, but it's still nothing more than an anti-Mormon book posing as religious and social history. Not only is the book filled with blistering allegations without even a shadow of balance, it's condescending and mean spirited. Don't get me wrong. I think anyone should be able to write such a book; but for someone wanting a balanced or objective book on the Latter-day Saints, their religion and history, this is not the book. To get the balance the authors should have provided, you would need to read this book and then find LDS reviews.

In their chapter on the Book of Mormon, entitled "The Gold Bible" (sans quotes), the authors note that "Book of Mormon apologists have a much tougher job than apologists for the Bible. Not a single person, place, or event unique to Joseph Smith's 'gold Bible' has ever been proved to exist." Although technically true, the Ostlings neglect to point out that the Book of Mormon fits quite well into the Mesoamerican region -- something that shouldn't happen if the book was mere fiction. In fact, the more that is learned about the Mesoamerican culture, the better the Book of Mormon fits. But there's not a word to suggest that there is another side of the debate. And when bringing up apologetics, the Ostlings explain that "Mormon writers consider the term 'apologist' to be pejorative, [however] this book uses it in its dictionary sense -- as one who provides a case for the defense; for example, Plato's Apology or Newman's *Apologia Pro Vta Sua*." In one sentence, the authors paint LDS scholars as numskulls who don't know the classic sense of the word, while they not only *are* familiar with its meaning, but are also intimately familiar with the overall field (going back even to ancient times). They also present Brigham D. Madsen, a "liberal Mormon and onetime history teacher at Brigham Young University," who believes Mormons ought to cherish the Book of Mormon, but "let its history go." A university teacher is one who has not reached professorial status, but he'll do since the BYU professors of merit don't share Madsen's opinion that the Book of Mormon is simply a pious novel. Why didn't they ask Truman Madsen (no relation as far as I know), a BYU professor of philosophy and guest professor at Northeastern University, Haifa, and Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California? Truman Madsen, recently deceased, has written and lectured far more extensively than the far less known Brigham Madsen and was far better equipped to speak on the Book of Mormon's historical merits. (BTW, Brigham D. Madsen has not published one book, to my knowledge, on the Book of Mormon or Mormon history.)

All this means is that you'll get a heavy dose of one side of the debate and remain clueless that there is another side.

The Ostlings' view of history also is determinably heavy-handed and many of those views are highly debatable. In short, if you're in search of an anti-Mormon book, this rates about as well as any of them, though at least you'll get a taste that there is another side if you read some of the others. This book is as rabid as any of the others; however, it pretends to be historical and social literature when it's clearly the equivalent of an intellectual roadside bomb.

Almost everything you want to know about Mormonism
This book discusses the history of the Mormons and their tortured travels to Utah.Their philosophy and beliefs are presented in a very objective manner and the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about some of the issues raised.This is a very good read and I really learned so much.I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the religion.

Perfectly Unbiased for the the Mormon and Non-Mormon Alike
I read this book and loved it.Having a thirst for knowledge on the subject I have read several books on the subject ranging from both spectrums of "Anti" and "church approved" material.

The authors of this book present the information in a very non biased, purely informational, manner.Yet they don't hold back anything.If you are mormon, this book will not cause you to forsake your religion like other "anti" books will. However, you will find yourself knowing more than 80% of mormons out there in terms of how the church is structured.

If you aren't mormon you will find this to be a very modern and up to date source of information concerning the subject.

Good look from the outside in
If you want to learn about Latter-Day Saints, without really learning about Latter-day Saints, this is a great book. The author tries to give both sides to the LDS story. I found the chapter on the Book of Abraham VERY lacking in facts, and the last chapter talks about a new convert that doesn't believe the Jesus Christ is a God (I am not sure how she got baptized) but these are the 2 biggest problems. Otherwise, it is just a look at the LDS Church from someone that is trying to get the story straight without really knowing the whole story. I really wish more books by non-Latter-Day Christians tried as hard to be accurate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

How many second and third person sources can they use?
This book is very well researched.It takes Emma and brings her into clearer view.However, as one reads they can stumble upon things that raise questions.Such as using a person who said that "someone told them that so and so said this about that"Everyone knows that second and third person sources are not the best when writing history and yet these women employeed those sources more than anything.They also had an axe to grind on the leadership of the church and therefore all of them are shown in a negative light.She paints the marriage of Emma and Joseph as one that is less than loving when they enjoyed a one.When polygamy came around they did have troubles, but these authors wish for us to assume that it was always like that.They even include sources stating that Joseph Smith fathered children through polygamy when (and you can find this on the official Joseph Smith and Emma Hale historical society website which isn't run the the LDS church) that there aren't any offspring from a polygamous relationship.DNA test have proven those claims false.The book does have merit because it tackles Emma head on, however, the authors had an agenda and that agenda was covered.I would read it, but one needs to have a sifter while doing so.

Seeking the right path to GOD... Was I wrong in my LDS conviction of 16 years?
I have been a faithful member of the LDS Faith for over 16 years..I can't say that learning more about polygamy and history on Joseph Smith has "strengthened my faith".

To the contrary... I have been looking for answers and have not found any logical acceptable explanation on the Church... I do NOT know whether it is or is not true... but if Celestial Kingdom is the one where horny men have polygamy relations with 30 women age 14 and on... I don't want to be in that Kingdom! Or Church =).

I keep seeking the TRUTH and looking for light and knowledge and believe that God is mindful of me. If anyone has insights... please post!God Bless.

P.S. For years I was told that POLYGAMY was an unwanted but NECESSARY solution to take care of all those single women in the Church with no chance of ever getting married... because there wasn't enough men... Guess what... facts are to the contrary. I did my own research - took two days - to dig up the original census data for 1850 and 1860 for UT territory...

And original data shows that there was LESS Females than Males in UT in both 1850 and 1860! Thus, if polygamy was based on the need (as I was told many times) It should have been POLYANDRY w multiple husbands to a woman... That's my kind of Faith =) 1850 6020 males 5310 females; 1860: 44121 males 42659 females

SOURCES http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1850a-32.pdf
http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870a-16.pdf

She deserves more than what LDS history has made of her
From reading the many biographies of Joseph Smith (hereafter "JS"), we are well acquainted with Emma and her father, Isaac Hale. My first thoughts from reading chapter 1 of this book - Emma had a mother, 5 brothers and 3 sisters...no other history I have read mentions this!

As a member of the Brighamite/LDS faction of the many sects after JS's death, my knowledge of Emma was this romanticized monogamous relationship with JS and her opposition to the principle of plural marriage. I had found very little in regards to her life prior to meeting Joseph, and certainly nothing about her after his death, and her separation from the Utah saints, the hostilities between her and Brigham Young and her fierce opposition and denial of the practice of polygamy.

While this book covers mostly her time with JS and hence reads as another "church history" book, it covers history from Emma's point of view and answers the things I was not so familiar with above.

Some highlights:

p.47 The Kirtland Temperance Society (founded 1830) opposed and condemned the use of alcohol, tobacco and eating of too much meat. The "School of Elders" smoked and chewed tobacco. Emma suggested that a revelation commanding tobacco a sin would be a good thing. The men joked/countered that another one also abstaining from tea and coffee (which the women drank) would also be in order. JS prays and receives a revelation condemning all the above ("The Word of Wisdom").

p.65 Mary Elizabeth Rollins claimed, in 1831 when she was 12, JS told her she was the "first woman God had commanded him to take as a plural wife". This eventually came to pass in 1842.

p.104 In 1841, Emma performed baptisms for the dead in behalf of her family members, including her father and uncle.

p.110,117 Sisters administered Priesthood blessings/healings sanctioned by JS. Later, they were given "keys".

p.113 "Spiritual Wifery" was a term used by JS and the Twelve. It only became a derogatory term AFTER Bennett's use of the term in his expose on polygamy.

p.128 The Church AGAIN denies publicly the practise of plural marriage and uses scriptures from both the Book of Mormon and the D&C (where it is expressly prohibited) to support its denials.

A large section of the book covers plural marriage - the many wives JS secretly married without Emma's knowledge, and the huge struggle he had trying to convince her of this principle. The revelation in 1843 was revealed well after the fact. JS had many wives by then and Emma was aware they existed. This became a deal breaker in their marriage (p.158). Emma live with constant questioning during their marriage "Is this woman he's with now, one of them?" (and all that entails).

p.152 The lengthy revelation on plural marriage was dictated by JS from memory, revealing his ability to memorise large passages of text, and recall them at a future date.

pp.166-167 This oft quoted statement put into context: JS telling a guest "...look as these Children. How Could I help loving thire mother, If Necessary I would go to Hell for Such a woman." The guest added "...altho at the time he had in the Mansion other wives younger & aparently more Brilliant-Yet Emma the wife of his youth-to me apeared the Queen of his heart & of his home." This account became the root of later anecdotes told by church leaders. After stating that Joseph said he would go to hell for Emma, the rejoiner unfortunately became, "Yes, and that's where he will find her."

p.174 The Relief Society organisation that Emma was president of, which contained many of JS's plural wives, was suspended (for more than a decade) after Emma's persistant stand and denounciation of polygamy.

p.175 Joseph Smith III is ordained as JS's successor.

p.179-185 Contain JS repeatedly denouncing plural marriage, noting that throughout his life, he PUBLICLY spoke against it while PRIVATELY practising it.

p.181 The destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor over its expose of the practise of polygamy in Nauvoo by the church leaders. This leads to JS's arrest and ultimately his death at Carthage jail.

The succession issues arise after JS's death, and the relationship between Emma and Brigham Young becomes more and more strained as they fight over which assets belong to JS and which to the Church.

p.219 Brigham Young acknowledges JS's sons as future leaders of the church.

The book continues with Emma's marriage to Lewis Bidamon and the raising of her sons.

The Utah saints lived in hope of JS III and his brothers joining them in Utah, but the practise of polygamy prevented JS sons from ever associating with the polygamous Utah "Brighamites".

p283-284 Brigham Young constantly states "Emma...is one of the damnest liars I know on this earth" and perpetuates the story that she had tried to poison JS over his involvement in polygamy.

The book ends with JS's sons constant missions to Utah and their quest to discover the truth behind the stories their father was involved in polygamy. Finally before she died, Emma was questioned by her sons, and til her death, denied JS practised polygamy.

A closing statement reads: Joseph Smith III believed his father had to be a good man since the revelation of 1833 had promised him that the "keys of the kingdom would never be taken from him." It then followed that his father would never be guilty of such a heinous sin as plural marriage, then he would indeed have been a fallen prophet. If Joseph had been a fallen prophet, then the blessing of his son was not valid. Without a valid blessing and ordination, Joseph III would have no legitimate authority to lead the Reorganized Church. This fear forced Joseph to ignore weighty evidence that not only had his father introduced plural marriage to the church, but that he had also practised it.


I walked away from this book with a profound respect for Emma Hale Smith. She was an intelligent, caring and compassionate woman. The many trials and hardships she suffered during her life with the premature deaths of her children and her husband, her estrangement from her friends and church leaders after JS's death, and the bane of her life: polygamy, has given me a deeper understanding and respect for this great woman.

An Authors Reflections
It has been 25 years since Valeen tippets Avery and I completed the manuscript of Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, published by Doublday, Inc. in 1984. University of Illinois Press released a revised second edition in 1994, which enabled us to make a number of correctons, mainly associated with documents that were forged by Mark Hoffman. Since its first release, Mormon Enigma has seen steady sales--about 1000 copies a year.Hopfully it will remain a mainstay in Mormon history in the forseeable future.

So after all these years, I decided to read, for the first time, the reviews of the book posted on Amazon.Com--twenty-three to date. Most of them were kind; a few had erroneous information which I wish to correct here.

A review by "A Customer" titled "Enlightening Scholarship," June 16, 2001, said that one of the authors is LDS and the other RLDS (now Community of Christ Church). I am LDS and so was Val (she died suddenly on April 7, 2006.)

Angele Dawn Bissonette in her August 21, 2006, review stated that one of the authors was ecommunicated.Neither of us were excommunicated. The powers that be in the LDS church, however, were not happy with the book, saying that "it is a non-traditional view of Joseph Smith."To discourage the sale of the book they banned us from speaking in any LDS Church meetings or even in any Church buildings on anything having to do with LDS Church history.When the press picked up the story, sales of the book tripled.The ban lasted about a year--from May 1985 to May 1986.At that time I received word that we were no longer under any restrictions.

The most startling misconception titled "amazon.com has it wrong," April 6, 1999, came from another person identified as "A Customer."The review stated that before the manuscript was finished "Linda King Newell developed personal problems and was unable to continue working on the book.Valeen Avery finished the book and completed all revisions to appease the publisher."This is just not true.I was the primary researcher for the book and the writing was divided equally.We worked together to rewrite each others narratives until the prose emerged as a seamless whole.Each one of us did have different "down" times. I had major surgery and Val broke her right(write)arm and some ribs in a car accident.Neither of us stopped working on the book during our recoveries. When our editor at Doubleday told us we had to cut the 1000 page manuscript by one third, we both went through the entire manuscript to accomplish that, trading sections back and forth.In the end a flip of a coin determined whose name went first.

I appreciate all the kind words that so many readers have contributed in these reviews.Thank you all.

Suffering Wife of Polygamist Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. Who Was Herself Founder of RLDS & LDS Mormon Hymnody
Great figures of religious history with musical aspects among their more secondarily known accomplishments are fascinating personages. Martin Luther's importance in music of the Reformation which he launched is at least fairly well documented and widely known. Another is Emma Hale Smith, a seminal figure in the so-called "Restoration" so beloved of Campbellites and of the two major brances of Mormonism, i.e. the polytheistically pagan, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S.) and the Trinitarian Christian, hence monotheistic, Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints (R.L.D.S., now known as the Community of Christ (as well as various splinter Mormon groups), but Emma Smith's musical contributions seldom have been probed so deeply as they deserve. Right from the outset, Emma Hale Smith set the precedent for Mormonism's uniquely women-dominated ranks of so many of its foremost names in the lore of hymnody. Jack Ergo (of the Community of Christ, one of its most expert and active musical leaders) would be an excellent candidate to write a "musical biography" of this fascinating lady, Emma Hale Smith!

Quite an extraordinary life, indeed, was that of Emma Hale Smith, the first (and only legal) wife of the polygamous Mormon "prophet", Joseph Smith Junior. The best biography of this strong, stalwart, and musical woman (after whom the dear departed mother, née Emma Frances Roach, of the author of this Amazon user's review, was named) is by co-authors Linda King Newall and Valeen Tippetts Avery, "Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith", 2nd (rev.) ed., University of Illinois Press, 1994. Seldom has a biography, after several feebler efforts already had been published by others, opened up so much astonishing new information about a figure. The reader is encouraged, even more than usual in the case of books having undergone revision, to use the 1994 rather than the earlier 1984 edition. The malevolent antics of Mark Hofmann, the infamous L.D.S. Mormon forger, some of whose falsified documents had influenced the writing of the 1984 edition, took a toll on the accuracy of the 1984 edition's accuracy; sorting things out aright after Hofmann's misleading forgeries had been revealed as such, the rewrite of this biography of Emma H. Smith has rectified a number of matters of fact in the 1994 revision; of course, the revision benefits from the more usual advantages of added research during the intervening decade. It is a pity that the opportunity to publish within a book yet more about Emma Smith's musical and hymnological talents and doings, than what finds its way between these paperback covers, went a-begging, the only factor that moves one to rate the book with four stars rather than with five.

For a musician (mostly an hymnist and singer), it simply is amazing how much musical activity Emma H. Smith undertook. One could wish, indeed, that this book would have dealt in further depth on that aspect of Emma Hale Smith's activities and talents. Emma is remembered, aside from putting up with her horny and unprincipled, good-looking, polygamous pseudo-prophet husband's philandering ways (and various other scams), for the very first published Mormon hymnal (words only, intended for use with pre-existant hymn tunes), as its title page acknowledges in the words "A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Selected by Emma Smith" (with aid, unmentioned on that t.p., of William Wines Phelps, another important early figure in Mormon hymnody whose contributions included writing hymns rather than having served mainly as a compiler of hymns, like Emma Smith), but how many know that Emma H. Smith was involved in countless efforts of hymnody, after that first famous Mormon hymnal (dated 1835 on its t.p.) of Emma's, which she produced before the split between the L.D.S. pagan and R.L.D.S. Christian Mormon groups was to occur? She went on to contribute to hymnody in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, for years after the exodus to the Gringo West of the "Utah Mormons" under J. Smith Jr.'s polygamous and polytheistic successor, Brigham Young. Emma's life was hard, tumultuous, and faithful to an heroic degree.

Due largely to Emma's influence, there was a monotheistic and Trinitarian variant of Mormonism (the R.L.D.S. Church or Community of Christ, as already mentioned), plus lots of fine hymns in the hymnody of the L.D.S. and R.L.D.S. groups alike that have come down through the years. Both the L.D.S. heathen Mormon cult and the R.L.D.S. Christian Mormon sect owe a much of their musical clout to Emma H. Smith. Hopefully a book-length study of Emma Smith activities in sacred music someday will appear. For now, at least, the life of this sterling figure of hymnody has been set down in greater depth and at greater length than any book prior (or subsequent) to it ever has done. There was quite some stir when this book appeared, since, from having taken Emma Smith's rather than Joseph Smith Junior's perspective, the image of the latter, the putative founding "prophet" of Mormonism, was tarnished (and justly so in the case of that philandering charlatan!). However, there was no overt attempt in either edition of this book to defame Joe Smith, whose hagiographic image in Mormon literature is belied by the truth of things; telling the facts about "The Prophet", Joseph Smith Junior, as well as about his wife, longsuffering Emma Hale Smith, simply laid the facts into public view in a manner that is (to say the least of it!) less than flattering. For all of that, readers whose interests embrace sacred music and hymnody, Mormonism of all stripes, and women's studies, will enjoy this well written biography of "the Elect Lady" of the Mormon "Restoration". ... Read more

Product Description
From the Mormon Church's public announcement of its sanction of polygamy in 1852 until its formal decision to abandon the practice in 1890, people on both sides of the "Mormon question" debated central questions of constitutional law. Did principles of religious freedom and local self-government protect Mormons' claim to a distinct, religiously based legal order? Or was polygamy, as its opponents claimed, a new form of slavery--this time for white women in Utah? And did constitutional principles dictate that democracy and true liberty were founded on separation of church and state?

As Sarah Barringer Gordon shows, the answers to these questions finally yielded an apparent victory for antipolygamists in the late nineteenth century, but only after decades of argument, litigation, and open conflict. Victory came at a price; as attention and national resources poured into Utah in the late 1870s and 1880s, antipolygamists turned more and more to coercion and punishment in the name of freedom. They also left a legacy in constitutional law and political theory that still governs our treatment of religious life: Americans are free to believe, but they may well not be free to act on their beliefs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great, scholarly
i got this book for a legal history research paper on the free exercise clause.it was easy to read, interesting, and well cited.i highly reccomend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Why are there so many wars in the Book of Mormon? Could it be that a book written "for our day" would have to prepare us to survive in a time of "wars and rumors of war," a time when Satan is at war with everything that is good?

What we often call the "war chapters" in the Book of Mormon give us important insights into how to defeat Satan in our day.The pattern is clear: When the children of Lehi are successful, it’s because they make covenants first and swords later.Here are great lessons for how to live well now and eternally! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

"Why Are There So Many Wars?"
John Bytheway begins by asking why there are so many wars in The Book of Mormon.He reminds us that the content of this book was selected from a greater body of historical records by someone who had seen our time and was inspired to select what would help us.This is not an altogether encouraging thought!

Reminding us that earthly wars occur as parts of an ongoing war between good and evil, the author narrows our focus to Alma 43 to 62.Twenty chapters of Bytheway's book cover these twenty chapters of Alma in a straightforward manner.First presenting the chapter heading from the scriptures, the author then follows with quotes and commentary.He highlights interesting observations, "mini-lesson" insights and major lessons in each chapter.Chapters end with a list of these "lessons learned."By book's end, readers will have absorbed 53 such lessons, drawn from the experiences of Captain Moroni, Helaman and their contemporaries.

The book's many lessons are summarized in the final chapter.Spiritual lessons include:Repent first, prepare second; Prepare for attacks on your faith; Be wary of Satan's stratagems; and Be faithful, not fearful.Temporal lessons include:Remember that military strength without spiritual strength means weakness; Be sorry to take up arms; Elect and support righteous leaders; and When world events get you down, let Christ lift you up.I was particularly impressed by the author's analysis of Amalickiah as a type of Satan and practitioner of a recognizable pattern of deceit and betrayal in his quest for power.

I recommend this book to those with LDS beliefs and willingness to learn some hard truths.I respect John Bytheway's work, but must confess that I sometimes find his sense of humor challenging when I listen to his audiotapes.His lightness can clash with more serious reflection in a way it would not if I were part of a live audience.The humor in this book is of the same sort, but does not get in the way.The reader-controlled pace allowed me to "take it or leave it" as matches my mood.I think I may take more of my Bytheway in book form in the future.

best book on the subject
I've learned sooo much on this subject that I never would have picked up on my own....this book is a Godsend.The lessons very much apply to our own times.By the end of the book, you also learn more about how to apply any scripture to your own life.It's also entertaining...he knows how to reach teenagers (and older people like me).I'd purchase any book by this author...his videos are great too.Cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Great insight on BoM war chapters
As someone who wasn't previously interested in the physical strategies of Captain Moroni's war with the Lamanites, reading this bookby John Bytheway's helped me develop a great appreciation for the spiritual strategies, as well as the physical, in the war for the Nephites' continued freedom.I believe that all aspects focused on in "Righteous Warriors" are helpful to Book of Mormon enthusiasts and survivors of "the world" everywhere.

Surprisingly enlightening!
I loved this book! John Bytheway is great at incorporating humor with the spiritual to keep you interested all the way through.He looks deeper and helps you to see that the war chapters of The Book of Mormon are not just stories but that they are true and teach important helps for our day.I would recommend this book to anyone! ... Read more

Product Description
The Book of Mormon Reference Companion brings together, all under one cover, more than 900 entries addressing 1500 Book of Mormon topics, including people, places, words, phrases, doctrines, purposes, themes, historical background, Isaiah chapter reviews, books of the Book of Mormon, and general topics of interest. Never before has a reference work of this scope been created to help both the experienced reader and the investigator or new convert understand this important book of scripture. It is like having a teacher beside you as you read and study. Maps, illustrations, photographs, pictures, outlines, and charts combine with the informative articles to enhance understanding and help parents, teachers, and leaders share the message of the Book of Mormon with their families and students. A must-have reference book for every Latter-day Saint library! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a MUST for every Book of Mormon scholar
Here is a contemporary reference source for understanding the Book of Mormon. Every serious Book of Mormon student should have this volume in their library.

You'll be thanking God for this book
An Encyclopedia of the Book of Mormon and Doctrinal terms written by 100+ of the best scholars on the Book of Mormon.

Ezra Taft Benson (a prophet of the LDS church) has said, "There is a POWER which will begin to flow into our lives THE MOMENT you begin a serious study of the book" Ensign 16(Nov 1986) p.7

This book, in my opinion, is the most "serious study of the Book of Mormon" to date and it has some serious power.

--IF--You plan on studying the Book of Mormon for the rest of your life --THEN--Why would you not own this book?

... Read more

Product Description
In 1960, an upstart Pittsburgh Pirates team beat the highly favored New York Yankees in the World Series. Given the power of a Yankee roster that included Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and Yogi Berra, that improbable victory did more than give long-suffering Pirates fans something to cheer about; it put Pittsburgh on the map.

Though John Moody was only six years old during that magical baseball season, he was a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh team. The star pitcher for the Pirates and John's first hero was Vernon Law-- an unsophisticated Idaho country boy, widely known as The Deacon, a friendly nickname derived from his strict Mormon upbringing.

Law was a relatively young man at the time and should have enjoyed several more seasons of fame and success, yet his career went into decline following that phenomenal Series. In this insightful book, John Moody explores a compelling mystery that has persisted now for nearly fifty years, revealing at last why Vernon Law was unable to continue his dominance of Major League batters.

But the book is more than just another expose'. Recalling a distant time in American sports, Kiss It Good-bye contains a universal theme: a son's affection for his father and the bond that was forged between them because of their love of baseball. It is a book that will be welcomed by fathers, sons, and baseball fans of every age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Wow!!
I was skeptical at first, but when I read the foreword and the commentary, I was intrigued.What a great book!What a great story!I recommend it to anyone who wants to appreciate one of the best stories of what a true hero is all about.He wasn't about money, fame or ego.What brought Pittsburgh a championship was his unselfish commitment to his teammates, his family and his maker.I recommend this to anyone who wants to be a winner in life.

The Bucs and the Bible
Found the book disappointing.Really wasn't particularly interested in a treatise on the Morman religion, which took up a substantial portion of the book.

Also found several errors which are inexcusable.Dale Long did not hit pinch hit home runs in eight consecutive games, the center field wall was 457 feet from home plate, not 467 feet, Joe Adcock did not ruin Harvey Haddick's perfect game with a home run, but rather a double, and the claim that the Pirates were able to draft Roberto Clemente from the Dodger's Montreal farm team because the Dodgers were unaware of his talent is ridiculous.The Dodgers tried to hide Clemente in Montreal, going so far as to pinch hit for him in the first inning with the bases loaded.

Some people should keep the memories of their youth to themselves.

A wonderful Story about Baseball's Golden Days!!!!

When I heard that Deseret was publishing Kiss It Good-Bye, I had to read and review this book, as I've been a huge baseball fan since my Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 1958.

John Moody was a 6 year old in Pittsburgh when the Pirates won the World Series, especially winning against the usually unbeatable Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees, but 1960 was the year for the Bucks. They scrapped their way to their first Series win since 1927. and not last. The unlikely Pirate to help earn the Pirates their first World Series was pitcher Vernon Law, a very down to earth Mormon farm boy from Meridian, Idaho. Vernon had the nickname of The Deacon from his teammates for his strict Mormon upbringing.

In the early days of major league baseball, players were close to their fans, knew how to really play the game, unlike how they play today. There were no free agents, million dollar salaries, high performance enhancing drugs or egos.

Pittsburgh was the Steel City because of the steel mills that caused a gray cloud over the city for many years. It took some years to clean up Pittsburgh so that the citizens could breathe. They built skyscrapers, cleaned up the rivers. In the 40's, they were using electric lights, as the Steel City was in the dark during the day, and people had to cover their mouths and noses because of the contaminants around them. Some well known people couldn't wait to get out of Pittsburgh, like Gene Kelly and Edison. John Moody couldn't wait to move to Chicago.

The Bucks in 1952 had the worst ever record of any Major League Team with a record of 42-112. They finished 54 1/2 games out of first place. They were constantly the cellar kings.

In the 50's, segregation was rampant, so the black athletes couldn't be in the same restaurants with the other players, which was the norm in those days, but so unfair. The blacks would have separate restrooms, drinking fountains and have to sit at the back of the bus. This segregation was felt at the stadium. Vernon had been raised to treat everyone with respect and he did everywhere he went.

Vernon married his high school sweetheart VaNita, who gave him children with V names: Veldon, Varlin, Vaughn, Veryl and Vance, who also was a Major League player.

Vern won the Cy Young award and was the most valuable player in that momentous World Series, but he never regained his pitching arm after an injury to his ankle after they won the pennant. When all the team were on the bus celebrating with champagne, a member of the Pirate contingency got carried away and injured his ankle. Even while pitching his two games in the Series, he played with excruciating pain and in the next few seasons, because of that ankle injury, overcompensated and c aused his pitching arm to change. He never complained once. After retiring, he became a Baseball Coach at BYU.

One nice thing I enjoyed about this delightful book is that each chapter is called an inning and the last chapter is entitled Extra Innings. John Moody brings the last game of that Series to a very exciting climax. I think the 7th game of that 1960 World Series was one oof the most exciting series of all time. An unlikely team, if ever, beat those great Bronx Bombers that had the best Yankee players ever to play the game: Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron, Whitey Ford, and Roger Maris. The team that beat these guys were scrappy guys, such as: Vernon Law, Bill Mazeroski, Dick Groat, Bill Virdon, Joe Gibbon, Dick (Ducky) Schofield, Bob Friend, ElRoy Face, Bob Skinner, Joe Christopher, Hal Smith, Gino Cimoli, George Witt, Bob Oldis and the late great Roberto Clemente.

Forever Friends Rating 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.

I received my review copy from Deseret.

Published by: Shadow Mountain
Date Published:
ISBN: 978-1-60641-149-0

Good summary of the 1960 Pirates but has a couple of shortcomings
The story is terrific.How could it be anything else, given that it's the first series-ending walk-off home run in the history of major league baseball?And although the author does a terrific job providing great insight from a variety of Pirates from the '60 team, I could have done without two things: all the history of the Mormon church and the boring coverage of what the author has been up to since 1960.Ugh.Then I got my hopes up when the book ended with thoughts from some of the other players on that memorable team, but that section was way too short.I would have loved to see the author drop all the Mormon background and his own personal history, replacing it with more interviews from Vern Law's teammates.In fact, what the heck has Vern Law been up to since 1960?There's hardly any coverage of that, including nothing more than a couple of passing mentions about how his son Vance also played for the Pirates.

Overall, I'm glad I read the book and I'd recommend it for any Pirates fan, but don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to skip through the sections noted above.

Enjoyable book
I liked it.Just right... some good information, easy to read.I learned a lot about Vernon Law.You might have to be a 60's Pirate fan to like it as much as I did. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great book great deal
what more can I say ,it is a bookof God ,, ... Read more

Product Description
Founded in 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was initially perceived as a movement of polygamous, radical zealots; now in parts of the U.S. it has become synonymous with the establishment. In reevaluating its preoccupation with issues of church and state, Abanes uncovers the political agenda at Mormonism’s core: the transformation of the world into a theocratic kingdom under Mormon authority. This illustrated edition has been revised and offers a new postscript by the author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (114)

Ex Faithful Mormon
As a 2nd generation member of the Mormon, L.D.S. church of 50 years, I am now exiting that evil cult for the lies and brainwashing it does to all of us and our precious children. This book which I am now reading, is opening my eyes even more to their evil beginnings. I believe it is the church of Satan rising up in these last days to take over the control of the world and peoples minds, and using emotional bondage and fear to keep us silenced. They teach you to only read what they approve of and brainwash little children into believing Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that we are only to obey top church leaders, no matter what they say! They teach you to prepare to be sent on a 2 year mission to gain more members, while you are sent far from home as a teen with almost no contact with your family. My family is currently being torn apart due mostly to this evil church. The local bishop in my New England area is from Utah, and personally lies to me himself and sold beer (which Mormons forbid) in his restaurant! Double standards? My own boys are "secretly counseled " behind my back and now that I've left the church, are encouraged to shun me! All you read about them in these kinds of books is true. I speak from experience when I say, the Mormons are a great group of deceived people, but if you try to leave, it's a whole different story, where they call you an apostate and gang up on you with such hate tactics, you wouldn't believe they were the same people. Even family members, because that's the brainwashing they do to you with Sunday lessons throughout your life. Watch the movie, "September Dawn" and read "American Massacre" .The Mormon church encourages divorce to a member whose spouse may question the truth about them and "apostatize". If you do not hold a recommend (approved by local church authorities, who judge you) you cannot enter their secret temple ceremonies of satanic oaths. But more importantly, you CANNOT ATTEND YOUR OWN CHILDS WEDDING there. The emotional hell that that "only true church on the earth" puts families through, is why I left for good and tell others to beware of. Even many of their own missionaries leave after being handed literature of the truth by nonmembers or ex members.

Learn the Truth and Be Set Free
So much talk about the Mormon church is centered around rumors, uninformed reporters who say they are just another Christian group, and TV commercials that make the group look out to be a church of Jesus Christ.In this extremely well documented, thorough piece, Abanes takes the reader step by step through all of the evidence about how the Mormon church was founded, their stated beliefs and practices, and lets the reader draw his or her own conclusions.Abanes shows that the picture that the Mormon church attempts to draw that they are just another kind of Christian is clearly at odds with their stated beliefs in the book they believe is divinely inspired.They also reject parts of the Bible that Christians accept as Truth (like Jesus being God, part of the trinity, not just "a God"). If you want to know the facts and evidence, this book is for you.

interesting read
The writing is good. It was extremely interesting and it read like a novel. I couldn't wait to read a little every day.

Yes, the book is biased and therefore should be read a little skeptically. However, this is one of the most impressively researched "agenda driven" books I've ever read. The scholarship is actually impressive. Regardless of the bias, the question you should be asking is, 'is any of this true?' Facts can be left out and analysis can be spun but what about the 142 pages of sources and citations? I hear no one adequately challenging the FACTS.


Mormonism is an interesting religion because you can actually study its claims through other historical sources. You can't do that with Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam and there isn't much extrabiblical source material for Judaism and Christianity. But with Mormonism, you actually can find out if it is true, to some extent, because there is so much non Mormon documentation.

If you are a Mormon, you should read at least one major piece of anti-mormon literature and this is a good one. If any of the stuff bothers you, seek out a good Mormon scholar or source and check the facts. Do you care about the truth or is that burning in your heart enough?

The same goes for Evangelicals; If you just want ammunition to prove that Mormons are stupid jerks or heretics or whatever, then make this the only book you ever read on the subject. But you should also read some Mormon literature with an open mind or, better yet, befriend some Mormons! I used to think Mormon theology was crackpot but some of it is actually quite beautiful. I plan to read another book on Mormon history that's supposedly a little less biased and then compare the two. Regardless, this was a fascinating book!

Shows Differences Between Mormon and Christian Doctrine
Richard Abanes has written the definitive account on the history of Mormonism from its founding in upstate New York in the 1820s through the turn of the twenty-first century."One Nation Under Gods" is written as history, but reads more like an action-packed novel.

The book reveals the devastating truth about Mormonism and Joseph Smith.Irrefutable evidence is presented that Smith engaged in the occult practice of money digging/glass looking, for which he was convicted of a misdemeanor in March 1826.The Book of Mormon as it was originally composed in 1830 contained numerous errors."One Nation Under Gods" describes in detail the trouble Mormons had living in harmony with other settlers in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois before finally moving to Utah.Also very well documented is the fact that in the nineteenth century, Mormonism was a very violent religion.Most stunning, perhaps, is a letter by Mormon scholar Thomas Stuart Ferguson that admits that Mormonism is not true.

Throughout this historical account, Abanes describes the numerous doctrinal differences between Mormonism and Christianity.Mormonism was founded because Smith believed that all denominations of Christianity were false, and in its beginning Mormonism was explicitly a non-Christian religion; today, however, Mormonism has been repackaged as Christian.This book is vital for those who wish to be well-versed concerning the American religious scene today.

Informative but slanted
An easy-to-read tome of information, but not the most balanced, and certainly not the most objective. Especially disappointing is a later chapter which "shows" how Mormonism is not Christian, by presenting a chart that compares "proper" (ie. Fundamentalist Protestant) Christian beliefs with Mormon ones. An unfortunately antagonistic addition to an otherwise scholarly and informative work. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for ages 2 and up, this delightful Book of Mormon reader is filled with colorful illustrations that seem to jump off the page. Each story segment concludes with a question that allows parent and child to interact and discuss the story.

Each Book of Mormon prophet is portrayed in a positive, uplifting way that children will desire to emulate in their own lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

FANTASTIC BOOK
Every Child should have a copy of this book.Adults will love it too.
Love the pictures.

Jr. Book of Mormon
Good to read as a family with young children.Can adapt segments to home evenings by subject matter rather than reading consecutively. ... Read more

Product Description
The best history of the Latter-Day Saints addressed to a general audience now includes a new preface, an epilogue, and a bibliographical afterword. "This is without a doubt the definitive Mormon history."--Library Journal. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

My son loves this book started reading it as soon as he opened it on Christmas.
Got this book for my son and his wife for Christmas.He started reading it as soon as he opened it.He really likes it.Thank you!

interesting historical review
this historical account of how the latter-day saints became an organized religion is easy to read because it is written in a progressive, non-lofty manner. i am a college educated woman, but didn't want't to be burdened with a college textbook type read. this book reads more like a story and thats what i was looking for.

History Amnesia
Yet another sanitized, truth-fearing, "just eat around the bad parts", documentary omitting the true extent of -
- "State of open rebellion". - 1857
- Removed Brigham Young from Office of Governor.
- Sedition
- Treason
- Arson
- Burglary
- "Apostate branding" ....punising sanctions.
- "Blood Oath of Vengeance"
- Blood Atonement
- Indian Massacres
(found guilty of "manslaughter"? ...eg."without malice?")
- Mountain Meadows Massacre
- Sexually perverse polyandry.
.....and assorted "crimes against persons" in the U.S.

They have repeatedly declared autonomy from, and renounced recognition of - the laws of the United States, beginning with Joseph Smith: "I am above the kingdoms of the world, for I have no laws." HC The History of the Church 5:526
"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. .......I boast that no man ever did such a work as I."J.S. History of the Church, vol.6, pp.408-409

Enjoy your journey into the "History Amnesia" of religious fanatacism.

An Excellent History by Mormon Historians
This book is scholarly and well documented, and Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton are to be praised for giving a fair hearing to Fawn Brodie's "No Man Knows My History."

Speaking of the Book of Mormon (p. 15), they write: "Fawn Brodie, Joseph Smith's eminent but unsympathetic biographer, has advanced the second principal countertheory of the book's orgins." They then go on to fully present Brodie's view of Joseph Smith.

Continuing, Arrington and Bitton present the Mormon view: "Mormons insist that Smith's limited education made it impossible for him to produce such a long and complicated book by himself. The issues in the book are seen by defenders as universal, and likey to have aroused interest in ancient times as well as in modern America."

Such objective and unemotional scholarship is refreshing and stands in marked contrast to that of BYU Professor Hugh Nibley, who, for example, illogically invisioned Joseph Smith being both a translator and illiterate (!) (see "Lehi in the Desert," p. 32). In speaking of the disappearing gold plates, Nibley said illogically that they would be "very disruptive" today and that the present paper edition of the Book of Mormon is "more miraculous than any gold plates would be" (see, "An Approach to the Book of Mormon, p. 18).

See my one-star reviews of Nibley's books--"Lehi in the Desert," "Since Cumorah," and "An Approach to the Book of Mormon." Lehi in the Desert, the World of the Jaredites, There Were Jaredites (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 5)Since Cumorah: The Book of Mormon in the modern world An Approach to the Book of Mormon (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 6)

Mormon scholars Arrington and Bitton, as well as Richard Bushman, have taken a higher and more logical road than Hugh Nibley, the former big-gun of Mormon scholarship.

In short, Arrington and Bitton deserve the praise of the Utah Historical Quarterly, "An excellent book...it should be read by Mormons and non-Mormons alike."

The Saturday Review called it, "A remarkably intelligent and open-minded official history."

As a non-Mormon, I admire Arrington and Bitton's book, "The Mormon Experience," for its reasoned approach to Mormon history.

TAKE A PEEK AT WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING FAITH
Although described as a history, this book is actually more of a description of Mormonism and the Mormon lifestyle.We are told a good deal about how the Saints spend their time and just how much effort must be devoted to church affairs.The last chapters describe how followers have responded to the challenge of modernism, already facing the church by the 1970's.

But don't get me wrong, there is quite a bit of history here nonetheless, and the author spends a lot of time explaining what made the Mormons so different from other faiths and why they suffered so much violence at the hands of 'gentiles'.I was surprised that so much print was given to the issue of polygamy, expecting the subject to be dodged by a Mormon writer.And a good job is done of addressing the strengths and weaknesses of the religion.Arrington does not write as a mere cheerleader for Latter Day Saints.

The reader is told next to nothing, though, about Mormon theology, and this is a huge drawback.After all, most of the criticism thrown at the church is directed at its unusual beliefs, not practices.The postscipt complains that anti-Mormonism is on the comeback, but never mentions the doctinal element fundamental to all this.A chapter on church beliefs would have gone a long way toward making this a more complete book. ... Read more

Product Description

Well–known authors and noted researchers John Ankerberg, John Weldon, and Dillon Burroughs have updated and revised The Facts on the Mormon Church, a significant title from the popular Facts On Series (more than 1.9 million copies of books from this series sold).

The Facts on the Mormon Church presents the truth about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints—Mormon history, doctrines, practices, and theology. Readers find well–researched and easy–to–understand answers to many of the common and not–so–common questions surrounding this high–profile church, all in a handy, quick–reference format. Topics include:

• How did Mormonism originate? Who was Joseph Smith?
• Is it a Christian religion? What does it teach about God?
• What is the Mormon doctrine regarding salvation? Life after death?
• Who do they believe Jesus Christ was...is?
• What is the Book of Mormon? The Pearl of Great Price? Doctrine and Covenants?

Customer Reviews (15)

Not the whole "shebang," but a brief insight
From other comments I read, I wish to respond to them, while also addressing some of the same issues brought up from those comments, as well as other points I wish to address myself.

1.) Anybody who critiques another's way of believing/point of view will tend to become defensive. IT IS NOTHING PERSONAL! It is not directed at any individual. The critique is simply stating the facts that the overall Mormon church believes. If the Mormon church can't handle their faith being layed out for other to read, I personally think there is something wrong there; that, and it would almost go against their mission to "lead others to the truth." How can one lead another to believe their message if they stand in judgement and reject those different than they?

2.) There is nothing wrong to critique another's religion. As it says in the book, somone (can't remember who) who is held in high esteem by the Mormon church invited the faith to be examined. Why is it, then, that Mormons tend to try to negate the proof - which is valid and verifiable and even moreso from their religious texts and words spoken by their leaders - which disproves something that they have believed for so long. Just because one does not agree with the fact that the text contradicts itself, or that something was proven wrong by a source does not automatically make the source wrong. For example, I could believe with all my heart that the grass is blue. But those that believe the grass is green can have valid proof that it is green and show me, but that doesn't mean that proof is no good because I [still] don't believe the grass is green. (This book is NOT anit-Mormon as some say. Again: it is a critique, and I hope that others will stop taking it as a personal attack/taking it persoanlly against them or anything. It is simply a critique and comparison. There is NO anti-Mormonism sentiment in this book.) One must have an open mind and acceptance of what is proven, or disproven. Opinion of whether one thinks the source or the proving/disproving has nothing to do with the issue, nor does opinion validate as evidence/a good source. Opinions don't equate to proof.

3.) Anybody whose faith is being critiqued will become defensive...it's a natural reaction. However, if something is proven wrong, as much as we humans hate to admit it, the best thing is to just take that bite of humble pie and admit we were wrong, then move on with life, thus, striving to do what is right. Additionally, there is NO crime to compare two religions to show any differences and to prove they are not the same. For example, if people (for some reason,) thought that Mormonism and Islam were the same, one would have every right to write in a book that 1.) this is an overall view on the Islamic faith, 2.) based on this information, we can conclude that..., 3.) Islam is NOT the same as Mormonism because a...b...c... and based of these other prinicpals/ideas/etc. This is all this book does: state [very briefly, for there are books and books written about what the Mormon faith is, in full] the overall Mormon faith, critiques the faith, compares it to Chrisitainy and then states/concludes (with reasons and other evidence) that Mormonism is not the same as Chrisianity.

This book is intended to be brief, and in 75 pages, I feel it does a good job of BRIEFLY explaining and touching on those three points just listed above. I purchased it to get an overall idea about the Mormon faith, for, I myself have Mormon friends, but they have never truly shared with me what they "exactly" believe, so I have been left to guessing. I read this and now have a better understanding and more full picture of their faith, what they mean when they use certain vocabulary I have heard before, and just feel it is a good book for exposure to Mormonism. This isn't a DEEP theological, super complex critique of the Mormon church, but rather an OVERALL view. I think that is what most people need to understand.

There is no agenda. There is no purpose to "convert" people. At the end, yes I can see how others might view that. However, what people fail to realize is that is NOT the point of the whole book. The end is an invitation for Mormon and non-Mormon (or so I feel) alike to re-examine the Mormon faith, to re-examine the individual's heart (who is reading,) and just simply praying that prayer (or something similar to that....doesn't have to be exact, word-for-word.) The idea is that there is a sincere prayer that is said with the hopes of pure motive that each individual may find for themselves "the truth," and that they may continue in that path. Not based off of what they have believed or have been told to believe all their lives. Not what they (as a human) think they should do/what is right, but truly surrendering their thoughts/desires to be shown what it is that is wrong with their herts (whether it be motive or a misunderstanding of faith or whatever.) There is no agenda to convert, only an invitation to evaluate one's heart.

This little gem is filled with gold!
I happened upon this little book and, after glancing through it, decided to purchase it. I was extremely impressed with the ability of the authors to provide a well-referenced facts about the cult using their own sources (i.e., the Book of moron, Doctrine & Covenants, moron Doctrine by cult member Bruce McConkie, etc., etc.) I have to laugh at the cult members who whine about this book spewing the same old tired nonsense - if they spent even a fraction of their time reading their own bogus "scriptures" written by their false "prophets," they would see just how vile their cult really is. Obviously, they're too brainwashed to recognize reality.

Like a previous reviewer, I have to agree that the reference to FARMs is absurd - that's analogous to asking the KKK if they're a bunch of bigots.The authors provide succinct, but well-sourced, answers to many of the cult's claims (no, the cult is not a Christian religion); yes, they think they'll become gods of their own planets; yes, mormonism is based upon the occult practices of their false prophets; etc. Again, the authors used many of the cult's own "scriptures" and other drivel to demonstrate just how evil moronism is.

This book should be very helpful to those who want to know the truth about the cult. Pick up a copy today, take out copies of some offalse mormon "scriptures" (get free copies from the cult), and highlight all the references to the shocking facts discussed - could come in very helpful the next time a brainwashed bicycle rider knocks at your front door!

Reveiw from an ex-Mormon
This book is titled "The Facts About Mormons" but all the facts don't seem to be a high priority for this author.This book is full of half truths and spin.If all you want is fodder to attack someones religious beliefs then this is the book for you.It won't challange you or cause you to think, but then open mindedness is probably not an important trait of yours.

If, however, you are truly trying to understand Mormonism and all that it entails, their are a number of books that are far superior to this one.I would recomend "No Man Knows My History" by Fawn Brodie or any book by D. Michale Quinn.Both authors are ex-Mormons but at least they try to take a more honost aproach to the subject.

The key to knowledge is more reading, and then some.
Lies are black.Black holes are the deepest, lie-full-est, and blackest.And mormonismsm is one of the worst.This book packs in the information that you "read and more reading" will help you.

I think it was Milton who said that Truth is a gem that runs from you, so hurry up and catch it.

I oppose the Mormonites, bnut I hate them with the pure love of God.I belive that we can love them out of their doubt into love.

Informative, eye opening, straight talk --must read!
Did you think that the Mormon Church was just another Protestant Christian Evangelical denomination?This book will explain the difference in plain English.It is written in a question and answer formate.This small 44 page book lists several clear differences in the Mormon Church and the Bible.If you believe the Bible and are interested in spending an hour or so aquiring an understanding of this groups mis-claims as a Christian Religion then this little book is a must read! ... Read more