Jerald & Sandra Tanner: The Case Against Mormonism, Volume 3
Scroll down for the PDF, “The Case Against Mormonism,” Volume 3.
Volume 1 is available here.
Volume 2 is available here.
Sandra and Jerald Tanner, both raised as Latter-day Saints with deep roots in the Mormon community, embarked on a journey of faith and discovery that would ultimately lead them away from their upbringing. Jerald, a descendant of John Tanner, a notable financial supporter of Joseph Smith and the early church, and Sandra, a fifth-generation Mormon, the great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young, the second president of the Church, were both exposed to challenges to their beliefs as teenagers.
These challenges sparked a curiosity within them, prompting them to delve deeper into the origins of Mormonism. Soon after meeting, they joined forces in their research, which led them to question their faith. During this period of intense study, both Sandra and Jerald found a personal connection to Christianity, leading them to leave the Mormon Church.
Their original ministry was founded as Modern Microfilm Co. and was reorganized as a non-profit organization on January 1, 1983, and the name was changed to Utah Lighthouse™ Ministry.
Their book, “Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?” (PDF), revolutionized access to information critical of the LDS Church. No longer did one need to spend countless hours in libraries and archives; the Tanners meticulously compiled a wealth of evidence into one comprehensive volume. It was subsequently revised and was the basis for a more readable later book, “The Changing World of Mormonism” (PDF).
The book’s strength lay not only in its breadth but also in its meticulous detail. It systematically dismantled LDS claims with a barrage of evidence: Book of Mormon anachronisms, the questionable translation of the Book of Abraham, alleged plagiarism of the Temple Ceremony from Freemasonry, unfulfilled prophecies, the practice of plural marriage, the historical ban on black people holding the priesthood, Joseph Smith’s involvement in treasure seeking and occult practices, Brigham Young’s controversial teachings on Adam-God and blood atonement, alterations to revelations, inconsistencies in the first vision and priesthood restoration narratives, and more.
The Tanners faced significant opposition when they first published their research, but they bravely endured the Church’s backlash. Their unwavering stance eventually garnered support from dissident LDS scholars who began to concur with many of their findings. This paved the way for a wave of departures from the LDS Church in the early 2000s. The Tanners’ pioneering research can be seen as a precursor to modern critiques like the CES Letter, Jeremy Runnells’ search for answers to his Mormon doubts. Jeremy was offered an opportunity to discuss his own doubts with a director of the Church Educational System (CES) and was assured that his doubts could be resolved. After reading Jeremy’s letter, the director promised him a response.
No response ever came.
The Tanners were early public skeptics of Mark Hofmann, the forger and later convicted murderer. While Hofmann’s “discoveries” of significant Mormon documents initially seemed to support the Tanners’ critical stance, Jerald Tanner became increasingly doubtful of their authenticity, particularly the Salamander Letter. In a bold move, he published a critique of the letter in early 1984, surprising many who believed in its legitimacy. By the end of that year, Tanner had questioned the authenticity of most, if not all, of Hofmann’s finds, primarily due to their lack of documented origins. His suspicions were ultimately confirmed when Hofmann’s fraudulent activities were exposed. Hofmann’s story was documented in Robert Lindsey’s “A Gathering Of Saints – A True Story of Money, Murder and Deceit,” an astonishing report on one of this century’s most puzzling and cunningly executed crimes. Hofmann’s story was also the subject of a Netflix documentary, Murder Among The Mormons.
Utah Lighthouse Ministry: About the Tanners
Utah Lighthouse™ Ministry is a Christian non-profit organization providing humanitarian outreach to the Community, and printing critical research and documentation on the LDS Church.
Originally founded as Modern Microfilm Co. by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, the company was reorganized as a non-profit organization on January 1, 1983, and the name was changed to Utah Lighthouse™ Ministry.
As teenagers, before they met, Jerald and Sandra were challenged by different people and events to examine the origins of Mormonism. Soon after their introduction, they jointly began researching Mormonism and became engaged. Both accepted Christ during these early years of study and have left the Mormon church. They are both active members of a local Christian church in Salt Lake City.
The Tanners are authors of over forty books on the subject of Mormonism. They are well known for their extensive research into Mormon history and doctrine. Utah Lighthouse™ Ministry provides these books and research, as well as photocopies and reprints of original Mormon documents to the public.
Deseret.com: Tanners are a wellspring of documents
Sandra and Jerald Tanner’s quest fit the times: They were fumbling into adulthood in the early ’60s, brash and full of big ideas.
They weren’t war protesters or hippies, though; the Tanners’ rebellion was more personal. Pioneer descendants, Sandra and Jerald – 18 and 20 when they met in 1959 – believed that the church’s 19th-century founder, Joseph Smith Jr., was a fraud and the religion he created a sham.
The firebrands began broadcasting their convictions, first in mimeographed handouts to dismayed family members and eventually around the world through a newsletter, pamphlets, and more than 40 books.
At the same time, they began ferreting out and publishing early church documents, newspapers, diaries, and books they believed proved their case.
More than 30 years later, the evangelical Christian Tanners are recognized for their trove of documents. They’re loved by those trafficking in anti-Mormon literature and grudgingly respected by many Latter-day Saint scholars for their painstaking and accurate research, if not for their interpretations.
Their Utah Lighthouse Ministry and its bookstore have become a chief resource for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are interested in early church history as well as members who are disillusioned and looking to get out.