This suit was all started because Dr. Martin was using a non-existent reference. In a lecture at Westminister Presbyterian Church he quoted from Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, page 385. Mr. Johnson asked him how he could be quoting from page 385 when the book only had 376 pages. Martin said that he would let Mr. Johnson prove that he was wrong in a court of law. "If you're right and I'm wrong, you've ruined me. If I'm right and you're wrong, the Mormon Church in California is going to be terribly embarrassed." (Brown 1986, 102)The fraud's lies were laughed out of court.On a motion from the defendants, the court entered a summary judgment against Martin's suit. Walter Martin asked for an appeal and a retrial. They were both denied by the court. Walter's final petition was denied on Feb. 13, 1979. (Brown 1986, 317) Therefor after Feb. 13th, Walter Martin had lost his suit and no further action was possible. But that didn't stop Walter from claiming that a suit existed which he had already lost. As late as 1985 Walter Martin was still claiming that, "This case will come to trial in Orange County, California." (Brown 1986, 99)
You said -- "The fraud's lies were laughed out of court."
I'll guarantee you -- without a doubt -- that the facts in the book "The Kingdom of the Cults" -- are laughed out of *no Christian churches* -- but are taken very seriously.
Why are these facts taken very seriously -- as they are written in this book (and many other books, too)? Well, because it accords *exactly* with the historic Christian faith -- which causes all Christian denominations to be *bound together* as a "unity" on the core essentials of the faith.
It's no laughing matter for them.
BUT -- for the sake of levity -- here, since you bring it up... some do get a kick out of the idea that the Mormons teach -- that Jesus Christ is the brother of Satan.
That's just for some levity for those who are wanting a quick laugh...
Regards,
Star Traveler
P.S. -- just in case someone doesn't know -- this would be "anathema" to the Christian church to say that (about Satan and Jesus Christ), in other word, they would be almost apoplectic... :-)