“The besetting sin of religious thought is not doubt but credulity — the willingness to believe what we wish were true rather than what the evidence compels us to accept.” — adapted from Sterling McMurrin, The Theological Foundations of the Mormon Religion There is something simultaneously admirable and deeply troubling about Zander Sturgill’s Facebook post….
Category: Latter Day Saints
Mark Hofmann and the Mormon Murders
Unraveling the Dark Saga of a Master Forger Who Deceived a Church and Murdered to Protect His Lies Introduction: A Church Deceived On the morning of October 15, 1985, Salt Lake City awoke to what promised to be a crisp, beautiful autumn day. Temperatures were expected to reach a pleasant 62 degrees under cerulean skies….
Embracing the Cross: A Challenge to the LDS Church’s Symbolic Reluctance.
A Comprehensive Biblical and Historical Examination of the Iconography of the Cross. The crucified Jesus stands as Christianity’s central symbol of redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life—a paradoxical image that has defined the faith for two thousand years. Yet the stark contrast between the brutality of Roman execution and the message of divine love it represents…
King James Copycat? The Truth Behind Joseph Smith’s “Translation” of the Bible
Questions of religious truth are ultimately matters of faith as well as evidence. But faith that is unwilling to examine evidence is not strengthened faith but rather faith that fears examination. Introduction In the summer of 1830, just months after the publication of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith embarked on one of the most…
The Wife Who Stayed: Emma Smith and the Fracturing of Mormonism
A Historical and Theological Examination I. The Exodus Begins The winter of 1846 descended upon Nauvoo, Illinois, with a bitter cold that matched the chill settling over what had once been the largest city in the state. Along the frozen streets that led to the Mississippi River, wagons creaked under the weight of household goods,…
The MBA Prophet: Clark Gilbert’s Ascent to LDS Apostleship Without a Single Theology Credit
An investigative examination of the newest Mormon apostle’s conspicuous absence of religious scholarship On February 12, 2026, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ordained Clark G. Gilbert as its newest apostle—a man the church now considers a “prophet, seer, and revelator” authorized to speak for God to over 17 million members worldwide. His…
A Critical Examination of the LDS “Burning in the Bosom”
The Test That Cannot Fail A Critical Examination of the LDS “Burning in the Bosom” Method for Discerning Religious Truth A Traditional Christian Response to the Latter-day Saint Approach to Revelation and the Book of Mormon Introduction Among the many religious movements that have emerged from American soil, few have developed such a sophisticated and…
Joseph Smith’s Kirtland Bank: Failed Enterprise of A False Prophet
A Scholarly Analysis of the Kirtland Safety Society (1836-1838) Introduction The Kirtland Safety Society represents one of the most controversial and consequential episodes in early Latter Day Saint history. Established in late 1836 and failing by November 1837, this quasi-banking institution left a trail of financial devastation, shattered faith, and ecclesiastical upheaval that fundamentally altered…
The LDS Enigma of Orson Pratt: Did This Much Controversy Surround the NT Apostles?
A Theological and Historical Examination. Introduction: A Claim Worth Examining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes a remarkable assertion on its official website regarding its Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Jesus Christ calls Apostles to represent Him in our day just as He did in the Bible. They leave behind their regular…
When Arguments Fail, Love Remains: Reaching LDS Hearts with Grace
A Devotional on Reaching Our LDS Friends with Grace The Ring doorbell announced their arrival. Two white shirts, two black name tags, two young men who had no idea what they were walking into. They introduced themselves with a smile, the young “Elder’s” companion shifted nervously beside him. I had studied Latter-day Saint doctrine for…