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Smithsonian Institution Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon Some Latter-day Saints, in their zeal to give tangible authenticity to the Book of Mormon, have told prospective converts that the Smithsonian Institution has used the Book of Mormon to verify sites in the New World. In response to numerous requests on this subject, the Smithsonian has issued the following paper detailing their position on the matter. Information from the National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560 Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon 1. The Smithsonian Institution has never used the Book of Mormon in any way as a...

In a whimsical moment, Richard D. Land -- the generous Christian thinker -- said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could make things easier for itself by simply declaring Mormonism to be the fourth, great religion in the Abrahamic tradition. We all know the first three. The Muslims trace their history from Abraham, through Ishmael to the prophet Mohammed. The Jews come down through Abraham and Moses. Christians descend through Abraham and Moses to Jesus. And Mormons claim Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but add the prophet Joseph Smith. Mormonism pulls from all three. Mormonism, the missing link that...

        Gospel Library Ordinances and Covenants By Elder Dennis B. NeuenschwanderOf the Presidency of the Seventy Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Ordinances and Covenants,” Ensign, Aug 2001, 20From a fireside address at Brigham Young University on 27 October 2000. Sacred ordinances and covenants provide an endowment of divine power in our lives. We are all aware that the mission of the Church is “to help bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man by inviting all people to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.” 1 One of the most significant teachings given by the Savior...

    Gospel Library   “I Have a Question,” Ensign, Jul 1989, 59–61 Questions of general gospel interest answered for guidance, not as official statements of Church policy.What is the role of grace in LDS theology? Robert E. Parsons, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, July 1989, 59–61Robert E. Parsons, associate professor of ancient scripture, Brigham Young University.One cannot be an active Christian or a student of the scriptures without being introduced to the term grace. It is as much a part of Christian theology and doctrine as are faith, baptism, the Atonement, and the Judgment. Just as we grow in our...

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — HBO...defended its plans to depict a sacred Mormon temple ceremony in an upcoming episode of "Big Love." The drama about a Utah polygamous family will show an endowment ceremony Sunday. ... ...the ceremony is an important part of the "Big Love" story line, HBO said. In the scene, actress Jeanne Tripplehorn's character, Barb, goes through the endowment ceremony as she faces losing her membership in the Mormon church... ... Only church members in good standing can enter temples to perform or witness sacred ceremonies. The ceremonies are centered on religious teachings and re-enactments of Bible...

Monday, March 09, 2009 Big Love vs. Polygamy   [Kathryn Jean Lopez] 03/09 03:10 PMShare   HBO's Big Love to air LDS temple ceremony in upcoming episode Sunday March 15   ARTICLE FROM LOPEZ' LINK: Big Love   Friday March 6, 2009   (At some point I will start thinking of nifty titles. In order to garner a lot of hits through searches, I imagine many will need to include "Britany Spears" or "Brangelina" or perhaps even.."Obama!") So, Big Love has been terrific this season. It's always been pretty good, but a stride has definitely been hit of late. Let's...

    Gospel Library   Ensign » 1990 » September A Chance to Start Over:Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings By Elder M. Russell BallardOf the Quorum of the Tweve M. Russell Ballard, “A Chance to Start Over: Church Disciplinary Councils and the Restoration of Blessings,” Ensign, Sep 1990, 12The longer I live, the more profoundly grateful I am that the Lord has given us a plan to help us grow and progress. As part of this plan, He has given guidance on how we can overcome serious error and sin. His desire is that all his children return to him, that all...

An alternative to the Mormon caucus. Mormons not allowed to post, just as Non Mormons are not allowed to post on Mormon Caucus threads.

Limhi, Alma, and Passover PatternsBy John P. PrattThe Book of Mormon and sacred calendars provide keys to understand the patterns of the Biblical Exodus.One of the strongest types or patterns in the Book of Mormon is that of an exodus similar to that of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This recurring pattern is interesting both because of the similarites to the archetype for which the book of Exodus was named, but also because of many differences. Some of those differences are now explained in this article because the Lord's sacred calendars provide the keys to understand two...

Comparing LDS Beliefs with First-Century ChristianityDaniel C. PetersonProvo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,The views expressed in this article are the views of the author and do not represent the position of the Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University, or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   Daniel C. Peterson and Stephen D. RicksSince the inception of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many critics have denied that it is Christian. Surprisingly, the basis for the claim has little to do with the standard definition of Christian: anyone or any group that believes in Jesus Christ as the Savior...

 Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible   by Robert J. MatthewsJoseph Smith the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made a "new translation" of the Bible, using the text of the King James Version (KJV). This work differs from the KJV in at least 3,410 verses and consists of additions, deletions, rearrangements, and other alterations that cause it to vary not only from the KJV but from other biblical texts. Changes range from minor details to fully reconstituted chapters. This article presents statements by Joseph Smith telling why he made a Bible translation,...

The subtitle is "The Bible and LDS Scriptures Prove Conclusively that Mormons Are not Biblical Christians" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Historically, only until recently have Mormons wanted to be called Christians, preferring not to be included with Christian denominations, which Joseph Smith said were, "all wrong ... all their creeds were an admonition in his sight, and that those professors (Christians) were all corrupt" (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, 2:18-19). Mormons have preferred to be called "saints"; however, in the recent years the LDS church has spent millions in an intense "PR" campaign aimed at moving the church into the mainstream of...

  “Neither Boast of Faith Nor of Mighty Works”   Elder Marvin J. AshtonOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles  When I was a boy, I liked to hear about King Arthur. In the story of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere gives this advice to Lancelot, the bravest of the Knights of the Round Table: “For I would not have you declare yourself to the world until you have proved your worthiness. Wherefore do not yourself proclaim your name, but wait until the world proclaimeth it.”How much more effective it is in our day also to let the world see...

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Joseph Smith Papers Project: Court Cases In addition to his many roles as the Lord's anointed, Joseph Smith showed remarkable competence in legal matters as well, according to two men who are making an exhaustive study and compilation of his legal records.Gordon Madsen and Jeffrey Walker are leading a team preparing the Legal and Business Series of the  Joseph Smith Papers Project. Both are attorneys as well as Church history and legal scholars who are part-time instructors at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU."Part of the scope of our series is to look at...

Ever wonder what today's Mormon Church would be like if Joseph Smith had never practiced polygamy? Here's just a few of the lasting legacies due to Joseph Smith "restoring" the doctrine of Polygamy: 1. Creation of Temple Endowment In order to keep Smith's Polygamy a secret, he came up with the temple endowment with its oaths of secrecy. On Wednesday, May 4th, 1842, Joseph Smith initiated nine men into his new inner-circle called the "Holy Order," the "Quorum," the "Holy Order of the Holy Priesthood," or the "Quorum of the Anointed." For the first year, only a very select few...

OGDEN, Utah -- Using the Bible as an entry point can help people better understand the mystery that is Joseph Smith, a prominent scholar of LDS Church History advocates. Utah State University professor Phillip Barlow said the Bible is a key to seeing Joseph Smith through different eyes Monday evening in a special public lecture at Weber State University's Lindquist Alumni Center. Speaking on "Joseph Smith, the Bible, and the Modern Mormon Mind," Barlow, the Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at USU, said the Bible "represents a DNA strand of Joseph Smith's thinking." He said the U.S....

      Gospel Library     Ensign » 1984 » December Early Signs of the Apostasy By Kent P. Jackson  Kent P. Jackson, “Early Signs of the Apostasy,” Ensign, Dec 1984, 8The New Testament both prophesies and documents the first-century apostasyThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has proclaimed to the world consistently since its beginning that there was an apostasy of the church founded by Jesus during his Palestinian ministry and led by his Apostles following his ascension. 1 This is a fundamental belief of the Latter-day Saints. If there had not been an apostasy, there would have been no need...

<p>One might think that defining a Christian would be simple. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word Christian to mean “adherent of Christianity”, or “relating to or professing a belief in Christianity or Jesus Christ.” Simply put, a Christian is defined as one who believes in Jesus Christ.</p>

A rare 1841 copy of the Book of Mormon that likely belonged to Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, is now owned by the LDS Church, the gift of a church member who wishes to remain anonymous... Her name imprinted on the base of the book's spine identifies it as Lucy's book, likely a "presentation copy" from the 1841 edition published in England. Because of superior and less-expensive printing and binding, the edition was made there, commissioned by LDS Church apostles on a mission in that land and acting at the behest of Joseph Smith. It was...

Gospel Library    A New Commandment:Save Thyself and Thy Kindred! By Bruce R. McConkieOf the Council of the Tweve Tambuli, Aug 1977, To the great joy of those who love the Lord and his holy word and who desire to be guided from on high, two heaven-sent revelations—both long known in the Church to be scripture!—were added to the standard works at the April 1976 general conference. In solemn session in the holy temple on March 25, 1976, while the Spirit of the Lord attended, the First Presidency and the Twelve voted unanimously to add to the Pearl of Great...