Tag: restoration
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Mormonism’s “Only True Church” Doctrine “Does Not Feel Loving.”
Earlier this month LDSLiving online posted an article titled, “What does it mean to believe the Church is ‘true’?” In this article, LDS author and historian Kate Holbrook (1972-2002) began by presenting two questions posed to her by a friend who was relatively new to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dr. Holbrook…
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The “Completely False” Rationale for Mormonism’s Restoration
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints struggles to explain past teachings about a universal Christian apostasy.
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The Virtue of Joseph Smith
Speaking at the general conference last October, Mormon Apostle Neil L. Andersen gave a talk simply titled “Joseph Smith.” Toward the end of his message, Andersen said, “I give you my witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He chose a holy man, a righteous man, to lead the Restoration of the…
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What Do Mormon Missionaries Teach?
In the FAQ section at Mormon.org is found the question, “What will the [LDS] missionaries talk about when they visit my home?” The answer, as provided by the Mormon Church: “Missionaries share a message about Jesus Christ and His Atonement for all people. They teach about our Heavenly Father’s great plan of salvation, which allows…
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Review, The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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,…
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Review: "The Restoration and Early Christian Teachings"
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…
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Restoration (Defined)
Restoration. Reestablishment of true Gospel principles when Joseph Smith founded the LDS Church in 1830. Besides the Gospel, Priesthood authority was returned after it had been taken from the earth during the great Apostasy. According to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, “When Latter-day Saints speak of the ‘restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ’ they refer primarily…
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The Main Claim of Mormonism
Lee Benson at Mormon Times wrote about the “big image problem” Mormons are plagued with. According to LDS researcher Gary Lawrence, “We’re not as popular as we think we are.” Though Americans are very aware of the LDS Church (84 percent have been exposed to missionaries, members and/or Mormons in the media), people don’t really…