Equipping Saints • Engaging Culture • Examining Claims
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…
Photo: A collage: Joseph Smith addressing members of the quorum of the twelve. Hyrum Smith, Willard Richards, Joseph Smith, Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Hyde, Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young, c. 1843 – 1844. Artworks in the Celestial Room of the First Nauvoo Temple. JSTOR.org. Brigham Young University Studies (2002). Via Wikimedia, Public Domain. Inset:…
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…
There is a moment in every conversation about faith when words run out. Not because we lack information, but because information was never going to be enough. The story of William—a young man preparing for his Mormon mission, armed with arguments and fortified by years of religious training—illustrates this truth with striking clarity. Here was…
Plural Marriage in Mormon Doctrine: A Critical Theological and Historical Analysis I. Introduction: The Origins and Motivations Behind Mormon Plural Marriage The introduction of plural marriage into Mormon doctrine represents one of the most controversial and consequential developments in American religious history. While faithful Latter-day Saint (LDS) narratives have traditionally portrayed this practice as a…
Photo: Via Wikipedia Commons. Model of the interior of the Washington D. C. Latter Day Saint Temple. Taken on January 30, 2020, at the visitor center at the temple. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Temples Without Biblical Foundation: A Theological Analysis of the Absence of…
Who Are They, What Happened, and Where Are They Now? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with its approximately seventeen million members worldwide, has long projected an image of unity, doctrinal certainty, and divine mandate. Founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 in the Burned-Over District of upstate New York—a region so named for…
Photo: Library of Congress: Smith, Joseph, Jr. Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Kirtland, Ohio: Printed by F.G. Williams & Co. for the Proprietors, 1835. Retrieved from the Library of Congress. THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS: Including an Analysis of the Utah Lighthouse Ministry Document “Changing the Revelations” INTRODUCTION The Doctrine…
Photo: Just for the record, it didn’t work like this: “Woe unto thee, Babylon! For the great sphere hath declared: Outlook Not So Good.” An Academic, Historical, and Traditional Christian Analysis of LDS Prophetic Claims Introduction In examining the role of prophets within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one must first understand…
Photo: An AI-generated image imagines Jesus confronting two LDS missionaries on a street corner: “In my day, the Elders sat at the city gates sharing wisdom earned over decades. You two look like you still get carded for buying Diet Coke.” A Comprehensive Examination from a Traditional Christian Perspective Introduction The Church of Jesus Christ…