Check out our videos, including this newest one from CARM'S Matt Slick and MRM's Bill McKeever. 

 The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a booklet given away  by missionaries to prospective converts. According to LDS teaching, the    priesthood in ancient Christendom was made void soon after the  death  of the apostles. The "Great Apostasy" corrupted Christianity until  it  was  restored by Joseph Smith in the 19th century. Let's look at this pamphlet,  paragraph by paragraph, and see if there are any problems  with the  teachings as proposed by the LDS Church.

When it comes to the origin of hte universe, there are important differences between biblical Christianity and Mormonism. According to Chrsitianity, God created matter by His spoken word. Mormonism's leaders disagree, saying matter has always exsited. Let's contrast the viewpoints to see which one makes better sense according to the Bible and Christian history.

In April 2013, the leaders at the Evangelical Ministries to New Religions (EMNR) put together an offiical statement regarding the former president of Fuller Seminary, Richard Mouw. The statement is located here along with the official link.

The Plan of Salvation booklet was produced in 2008 and is apparently used by Mormon
 missionaries to explain the three questions that potential converts commonly ask: Where did I come from? What is my purpose in life? And where am I going? This 24-page booklet (measuring 5x7 inches) includes 8 pages of pictures, taking up one-third of the space, and is meant to be an easy read for a layperson. Since this is printed by the LDS Church (with the church's official emblem on the back cover), we will quote the booklet word-for-word, providing commentary from an Evangelical Christian perspective. What you will discover is that the doctrines of the Mormon Church when it comes to the "plan of salvation" are not in line with the teachings from the Bible.

Emma Smith (1804-1879) may not be as well-known as her husband, Joseph Smith, Jr. but understanding this woman is important for anyone who desires a more complete picture to the Mormon story. In this 1994 book, two female historical researchers—Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippets Avery—tackled the life of the first wife to the founder of the Mormon religion. This review takes a closer look at the book and sheds an interesting light on the woman whose deepest conflict with her husband involved his plural marriages to many of her friends and their daughters.

LDS Church apologist Michael Ash wrote an article in the April 2013 church magazine Ensign ("The Restoration and Early Christian Teachings," pp. 60-65). His article explains that teachings such as premortality, work on behalf of the dead, and exaltation can be found in the writings of the Early Church Fathers. There are several problems with this view, including the fact that Mormonism teaches in a "Great Apostasy" that surely took place before these men ever wrote on these topics. In addition, the author pulls quotes from obscure sources to support his view that Mormonism must be true because it restored these lost teachings via the life of Joseph Smith and other prophets. 

SYNOPSIS

Critics and supporters agree that the veracity of Mormonism hinges on Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844), the founder and first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS or Mormon Church). Smith began his own church with just six people and saw it grow and thrive, despite the many persecutions it endured. He and his brother Hyrum Smith were murdered on June 27, 1844, by an armed mob, an event that has prompted Mormons to classify them as martyrs. It has caused others, however, to raise the question whether someone who dies in a gun battle fighting against his enemies can be considered to be a martyr. A close examination of the term reveals that one must meet specific requirements to be considered a martyr, which involve, for example, the reasons why one is put to death and the way one faces such a death. An investigation of the reasons why Smith was murdered and the actions he took to avoid this fate inevitably makes it difficult to maintain that Smith was “like a lamb led to the slaughter.”

Learn about basic Mormon theology in a FREE seminar!

This is an incredible morning of PowerPoint presentations on a variety of topics. Symposium I deals with issues such as the Book of Mormon (lift the gold plates!), the Godhead and salvation. Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson, authors of Mormonism 101 (Baker: 2000) and Answering Mormons' Questions (Kregel: 2012) and hosts of the Viewpoint on Mormonism daily radio program, will keep this fast-paced PowerPoint teaching interesting! You will be shown tactics that you can use in a loving and kind way with your LDS friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. A complete set of symposium notes is also provided. The event is sponsored by different churches across the country and is presented to individuals FREE OF CHARGE. A love offering to help cover the day's expenses will be taken. You do not have to belong to the church in order to attend!

Draper, UT. Symposium I. Saturday, July 27. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Adventure Church, 352 W. 12300 S, Draper, UT. 

Las Vegas, NV. Symposium I. Wed/Thur, September 11 and 12, 7 p.m. Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain, 4295 N. Rancho Dr. 702-633-4240

Boulder City, NV. Symposium II. Saturday, September 14  9 a.m. - 1 p..m Calvary Chapel Boulder City. 1000 Nevada Way, Ste. 207, Boulder City, NV 89005. 702-454-4003. Includes a special Friday night service on 9/13 at 7 p.m.), and Bill McKeever will speak at the Sunday Services.

Clearfield, UT. Symposium I. Saturday, September 21, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Calvary Chapel Wasatch Front, 564 South 800 East, Clearfield, UT 84015. 

Would you like to have your church host us for a Saturday morning or perhaps for a complete weekend? Let your pastor know about this opportunity or contact Eric ([email protected]) for more information.