Download a PDF to print at home (11 pages): Joseph Smith and the Foundations of Mormonism A Scholarly Examination of the Origins, Doctrines, and Historical Controversies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Introduction The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church or LDS Church, represents one…
Category: Joseph Smith
The King Follett Discourse: Did This One Sermon Prove Joseph Smith Was a Fraud?
In April 1844, just two months before his assassination, Joseph Smith delivered what would become his most theologically revolutionary address. The King Follett Discourse fundamentally challenged traditional Christian doctrine about the nature of God, the origin of human souls, and humanity’s eternal destiny. This sermon continues to shape Latter-day Saint theology while raising profound questions…
The Hagiographic Lens: Examining the Deseret News Portrait of Joseph Smith
Desert.com: Understanding Joseph Smith through the eyes of those who knew him ‘A plain, sensible, strong-minded man’: The people who knew the Prophet best describe his goodness, integrity. Somewhere along the six-hour horseback ride from Nauvoo to Carthage, Ill., where Joseph Smith was martyred in 1844, he shared with his small group of travel companions…
Carthage Conspiracy Unmasked: How LDS Scholars Twist Joseph Smith’s Demise
Detailed Summary of “Carthage Conspiracy” by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill “Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith” by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill exemplifies a hallmark of modern Mormon apologetics, where rigorous legal and historical analysis serves as a veneer for reframing inconvenient facts—such as Joseph…
Smith’s Skeletons Stay Buried: Inside LDS Mindless Devotion
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has saturated urban centers with a relentless architectural monotony that’s impossible to ignore—take Salt Lake City, where a staggering 174 meetinghouses sprawl across a mere 10-mile radius, according to the 2023 LDS ward locator, often sitting less than two miles apart in a grid of predictable…
Joseph Smith: The Master Weaver of Christian Threads and Fantasy
Joseph Smith: Innovator or Imitator? Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), is celebrated by his followers as a modern prophet who restored the true Christian church. However, upon closer examination, one could argue that Smith’s religious innovations were less about divine revelation and more about a…
The Hypocritical Stance on Seeking Truth: The LDS Church’s Dual Approach to Inquiry
Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) actively urge people to engage with the Book of Mormon by reading it and praying over its contents. They believe that this practice can lead to a personal revelation of its truth through divine guidance from the Holy Ghost, which is central to…
Mormonism Unveiled: Exploring the Doctrinal Divide from Christianity
Are Mormons Christians? Welcome to a captivating journey into the heart of Mormonism, a faith often misunderstood and sometimes mistakenly lumped together with mainstream Christianity. While sharing some superficial similarities, Mormonism harbors a unique set of doctrines that set it apart from the traditional Christian faith. In this blog series, we’ll embark on a fascinating…
The Case for a Deceptive Translation of the Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith Through Satanic Influence
Case for a Deceptive Translation by Joseph Smith 1. Theological Premise: Satan as Deceiver: The Bible explicitly portrays Satan as the “father of lies” in John 8:44, where Jesus says, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does…
The Evolution of the Book of Mormon Introduction: A Response to Digital Scrutiny and Historical Reevaluation
Out with the “Old” … in with the new: God is your Heavenly Father. He loves you, and there is so much He wants to teach you. He wants you to understand the purpose of your life. He wants to guide you back to His presence. Part of His plan for doing all that was…