Journal of Discourses

Excerpt from the Journal of Discourses, Topic on LDS.org: 1 “The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It included some doctrinal instruction … Read more

We Don’t Have That

Excerpt from a 2017 YSA Face to Face with Russell Ballard and Dallin Oaks:1 MALE HOST:“…we have a lot of questions in the YSA about their friends dealing with doubts. A question from Utah asks what advice/guidance would you give for answering tough questions about church history when we are asked about them by someone … Read more

New World Horses

Excerpt from the Oxford Journal of Heredity, ‘Iberian Origins of New World Horse Breeds’: 1 “Fossil records, archaeological proofs, and historical documents report that horses persisted continuously in the Iberian Peninsula since the Pleistocene and were taken to the American continent (New World) in the 15th century….The genus Equus evolved in North America, and during … Read more

Wives Submit

Excerpt from a 1965 April General Conference address by Spencer W. Kimball, ‘Home Training—the Cure for Evil’: 1 “President Richards explained the concepts of home, fatherhood, and motherhood, and stated this Church has always taught this exalted concept of putting and keeping father at the head. A pity he did not live to see this … Read more

Facsimile 3

From ‘A Facsimile from the Book of Abraham No. 3’ explained by Joseph Smith Jr.: 1 Explanation Fig. 1. Abraham sitting upon Pharaoh’s throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the Priesthood, as emblematical of the grand Presidency in Heaven; with the scepter of justice and judgment in … Read more

Two Wives or More

LDS Apostle Orson Pratt, discourse delivered in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, Sunday Afternoon, July 18, 1880: 1 “All these principles that I have treated upon, pertaining to eternal marriage, the very moment that they are admitted to be true, it brings in plurality of marriage, and if plurality of marriage is not true or … Read more

Give a Fig

Excerpt from LDS apostle Orson Pratt’s 1874 General Conference address: 1 “…I have heard now and then (I am very glad to say that only a few such instances have come under my notice), a brother or a sister say, “I am a Latter-day Saint, but I do not believe in polygamy.” Oh, what an … Read more

I Have Set by His Side

Footnote 31, ‘Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham’, LDS Gospel Topic Essay: 1 “31. John Whitmer, History, 1831–ca. 1837, 76, in Karen Lynn Davidson, Richard L. Jensen, and David J. Whittaker, eds., Histories, Volume 2: Assigned Historical Writings, 1831–1847, vol. 2 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers, edited by Dean … Read more

Word of Wisdom

Excerpt from a 1977 General Conference address by Gordon B. Hinckley: 1 “The so-called Mormon code of health, widely praised in these days of cancer and heart research, is in reality a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1833 as a “Word of Wisdom” from the Lord. (D&C 89:1.) In no conceivable way could it … Read more

Elevation

Doctrine and Covenants 9:8: 1 “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.” From the Wikipedia … Read more

Sabellianism

Apostle Russell M. Nelson referenced a list of things the Book of Mormon is during his October 2017 General Conference address. The following is an excerpt from that list: 1 “The Book of Mormon affirms: The individual identity of Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.”   From Wikipedia, Sabellianism: 2 In Christianity, Sabellianism … Read more

Horse

Excerpt from Wikipedia, Horses in the United States: 1 “The horse evolved in the Americas, but became extinct between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago. When the Spanish arrived on the American mainland in the 16th century, they brought horses with them and re-established the animals on the continent.” Excerpt from a Fair Mormon article titled, Horses … Read more

3 Nephi 9 — Destruction of Cities

Quote from 3 Nephi 9 describing the burning and drowning of entire cities and their inhabitants, paired with a statistic noting that children make up roughly 25 percent of any population.

Excerpts from 3 Nephi, Christ is speaking to the remnant survivors in America, describing the destruction he’s caused: 1 1 And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying: 2 Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto … Read more

Book of Mormon and DNA

Excerpt from the ‘Book of Mormon and DNA Studies’, LDS Gospel Topic Essay: 1 The evidence assembled to date suggests that the majority of Native Americans carry largely Asian DNA. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated Book of Mormon accounts, a relatively small group of people migrated from northeast Asia to the Americas … Read more

Worldwide Flood

‘The Flood and the Tower of Babel’ published in the January 1998 Ensign

Excerpt from ‘The Flood and the Tower of Babel’ published in the January 1998 Ensign:1 There is a third group of people—those who accept the literal message of the Bible regarding Noah, the ark, and the Deluge. Latter-day Saints belong to this group. In spite of the world’s arguments against the historicity of the Flood, … Read more

7,000 Years

Doctrine and Covenants 77:6  [footnote]Doctrine and Covenants 77:6 – LDS.org[/footnote] “Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals? A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth … Read more

Not So Fair

  Image: Kerry Muhlestein is an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University.[footnote]Kerry Muhlestein – Fair Mormon[/footnote]   Defending Exclusive Truth Claims: LDS Apologetics video. [footnote]Defending Exclusive Truth Claims: LDS Apologetics (video) – Examining Religious Claims[/footnote]     The Book of Abraham and Unnoticed Assumptions, 2014 Fair Mormon Conference:[footnote]The Book of Abraham and Unnoticed Assumptions, 2014 Fair Mormon … Read more

Showing Affection

Excerpt from Utah Layton Priesthood Leadership Conference, February 15, 2014:[footnote]Utah Layton Priesthood Leadership Conference – Mormon Leaks[/footnote] Q. How should you address a same-sex couple in a Sacrament Meeting who are showing inappropriate affection? A. Elder Perry: Refer to the Jan 9th letter issued by the Senior Brethren. We do not turn anyone away from Sacrament … Read more

No Evidence

Image: National Geographic image. A Canadian archaeological dig finding evidence of a viking outpost dating to around 1000 AD. Evidence of Viking Outpost Found in Canada The Smithsonian Institution’s letter “Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon“ Pg. 1 Your recent inquiry concerning the Smithsonian Institution’s alleged use of the Book of Mormon as a scientific guide … Read more

Where is Cumorah?

Image: The Hill Comorah is a drumlin in Manchester, New York, United States, where Joseph Smith said he found a set of golden plates which he translated into English and published as the Book of Mormon. In the text of the Book of Mormon, “Cumorah” is a hill located in a land of the same name, … Read more