FAIR

Faithful Study Resources for Come, Follow Me

You are here: Home / Archive / Journal / Journal – November 2010

Journal – November 2010

November 2010

LATIN – apologeticus GREEK – apologetikos Apologetics: “The branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines” (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009).

JOURNAL CONTENTS

  • Message from the President
  • FAIR 2010 Conference Talks
  • FAIR Podcast
  • FAIR YouTube
  • FAIR Wiki
  • FAIR Bookstore
  • FAIR’s ‘Front Page’
  • Ask the Apologist
  • Copyright Notice and Disclaimer

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The trial of Brian David Mitchell, who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart, has captured the interest of media all over the world. In several stories and blogs the writers blame the Church for fostering the environment that created the kidnapper. It is written in a few articles that the LDS Church believes in prophets and Mitchell walks around in long robes claiming to be a prophet, therefore he is a product of Mormonism. I believe every LDS member would roll their eyes at this comparison. But it shows the expectations that people have when you say the word “prophet.”

All of us have certain expectations of prophets and how they should act. In the Old Testament book of 2 Kings, chapter 5, Naaman, the Syrian, came to Elisha to be healed of leprosy. But he didn’t like the suggestion to bathe seven times in the River Jordan.

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

Naaman had his idea of what the prophet should do. Elisha didn’t do as Naaman expected so he almost rejected the prophet’s advice. Luckily for Naaman, his servants convinced him otherwise and the story had a happy ending.

In our own lives we, too, sometimes have expectations of what the prophet should have said or done. Sometimes people who struggle with testimony issues over Church history are really dealing with false expectations.

We, as members, should be cautious about judging current and past prophets or apostles by our expectations of what we think they should do or say. We need to rely, instead, on the truthfulness of the gospel and the guidance of the Spirit or, unlike Naaman, we may end up without the happy ending.

–Scott Gordon President of FAIR

FAIR 2010 CONFERENCE TALKS

Did you miss the FAIR conference? You can now watch the 2010 Conference talks on your computer. You can watch and listen to what William Duncan says about religion in the public square, or what Gary Lawrence says about how American’s view Mormons. You can also watch Valerie Hudson’s views on Mormon women or William Schryver’s revelation on the Kirtland Egyptian papers.

FAIR Bookstore – 2010 FAIR Conference Talks

FAIR PODCAST

You won’t want to miss the FAIR Podcast with Blair Hodges interviewing communication theorist John Durham Peters. Like the Bushman interview, this one is broken into two episodes. In part one Peters talks about the Church’s use of media from the beginning to today, some of the ethical implications of media in relation to suffering in the world, and the problems and possibilities of witnesses.

FAIR Podcast, Episode 5: John Durham Peters p.1

You can also find this and other FAIR podcasts for free download on iTunes. Look for the FAIR-Blog in iTunes and be sure to leave a comment.

Mormon FAIR-Cast By Hosts: Blair Dee Hodges & Steve Densley, Jr.

FAIR YOUTUBE

Michael Ash gave the first official FAIR fireside this last month, which can now be viewed on our YouTube channel. This is broken up into two parts. The first three clips deal with intellectual apostasy; how to deal with and prevent it. While the latter three are evidences for The Book of Mormon.

FAIR WIKI

How does Wikipedia treat Oliver Cowdery, as one of the Three Witnesses? It is abundantly recorded that Oliver reaffirmed his testimony of the Book of Mormon numerous times throughout the course of his life. Yet, Wikipedia does not quote a single instance in which Oliver gave or published that testimony, instead granting only that there is “no direct evidence” of him having denied it. However, Wikipedia devotes an entire paragraph to a poem published in the Times and Seasons which hints that Oliver mayhave denied his testimony, despite the fact that Oliver reaffirmed his testimony even on his deathbed. FAIR analyzes the Wikipedia article “Oliver Cowdery,” and finds that almost every single case of negative bias is the work of a single, critical editor. FAIR’s review may be found here:

A FAIR Analysis of Wikipedia article: Oliver Cowdery

For more information about how the Three Witnesses stood by their testimony, see:

Did the Book of Mormon witnesses ever recant?—Critics have tried to argue that some or all of the Witnesses recanted concerning their testimony. They were all faithful to their testimonies to the end of their lives, even though many of them had personal disagreements with Joseph Smith that caused them to leave the Church. (Link)

FAIR BOOKSTORE

Now is the time to order from the FAIR bookstore to be sure your friends and family members get the books they want for Christmas. Come to the FAIR Bookstore to find the Internet’s best selection of materials for LDS apologetics. Whether you are looking for books, study aids, DVDs, or audio products, the FAIR Bookstore has what you need. You can begin your browsing by going to our main site.

FAIR Bookstore

Be sure to check out the Clearance Section. We have many older books and some new books with slightly damaged covers that offer great deals to buyers.

Clearance Special:

Teachings and Commentaries on the Old Testament (Limited to stock on hand)

Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications, 2005, 8×10.5″ hardbound, 532 pages. ISBN: 1598110144

The Old Testament is the foundation of the Holy Scriptures. Though our personal scriptural study is incomplete without the knowledge provided by this canonized book, studying and understanding the Old Testament can often be difficult. Now with the help of Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, you’ll look forward to Old Testament study as you gain a deeper understanding of the earliest of our standard works.

Teachings and Commentaries on the Old Testament includes:

  • An overview of the major themes and doctrine contained in the Old Testament and the Pearl of Great Price
  • A portrait of the Savior as He is referenced throughout the books of the Old Testament
  • Inspiring commentary from the complete text of Latter-day Commentary on the Old Testament highlighting key scriptural passages
  • In-depth insights on gospel doctrine reading assignments
  • Pathways of study to make learning easier
  • Hundreds of applicable quotes from modern Apostles, prophets, and Church leaders
  • Insightful applications for our own lives and times

Retail Price: $39.95 Special FAIR Price: $23.97 (40% Discount)

The Old Testament: Family Heritage Edition (limited to stock on hand)

King James Version. American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications, 2005. Hardcover, 9″x11″, 1023 pgs. ISBN: 1591568854

This elegant volume contains more than 100 beautiful illustrations from nearly thirty well-known artists. Constructed with a bonded- leather cover, sewn binding, a ribbon marker, and acid-free pages with gilded edges to last for generations. Features large print for easy reading. Includes fifteen pages for recording important family information.

Retail Price: $99.95 Special FAIR Price: $49.98 (50% Discount)

November Specials:

FAIR Bookstore – Monthly Specials

Biblical Evidences of the Restoration

Dennis Chamberlain. Salt Lake City, Utah: American Book Publishers, 2004. Softbound, 5×8″, 263 pages.

“A new book, which is needed for many members of the church. I would especially recommend it to recently baptized members… Longer established members should read it to understand that the Restoration is merely a continuum of the same gospel preached to Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, up to and including by Jesus Christ to his disciples. Were I to add a supplemental title to the book, it would be The Theological Basis of Mormonism.” –Peter G. Kenner

“A passionate and articulate expression of biblical statements in support of the belief of a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The book is well written and should be enlightening to anyone with a biblical background… I always knew that [author Dennis D. Chamberlain] loved the LDS church and its teachings, but I did not know that he also had a gift that allows him to express that love in writing.” –E. Martin Chamberlain, Jr.

Do Mormons believe the Bible? The answer presented by Dennis D. Chamberlain is a resounding yes! The teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are based on the Book of Mormon, and the revelations to Joseph Smith and other modern prophets as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. The LDS claim to be the Restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ, and therefore they accept the Bible as sacred scripture, revealed to the ancient apostles and prophets. Using the King James Bible, Chamberlain has presented a comprehensive and well-documented argument to back up this claim.

Retail Price: $19.95 Special FAIR Price: $15.96 (20% Discount)

Take Heed That Ye Be Not Deceived

Richard I. Winwood. Salt Lake City, Utah, 2001. Softbound, 6×9″, 84 pages.

A revealing look at anti-Mormon literature, its authors, and their motives. This book discusses the following topics:

  • A Historical Perspective
  • Truth Restored
  • Disputatious Doctrines
  • The Nature of the Godhead
  • The Completeness and Infallibility of the Holy Bible
  • The Great Apostasy
  • Modern-day Revelation
  • The Book of Mormon – A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
  • Grace vs. Works
  • Eternal Progression
  • Teapot Tempests
  • Do Mormons Practice Polygamy?
  • Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult?
  • Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?
  • Why are there various accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision?
  • Is the Book of Mormon based on the Spaulding manuscript?
  • Are Mormons living “another Gospel”?
  • Is the Church of Jesus Christ prejudiced against blacks?
  • What about the God Makers?
  • Unanswerable Questions.

Retail Price: $2.95 Special FAIR Price: $2.15 (27% Discount)

By the Hand of Mormon

Terryl L. Givens, New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, 6×9.4″ softbound, 336 pages; 26 halftones.

This book received the highest rating (four stars) in the Volume 15, Number 1 issue of The FARMS Review which indicates it is “outstanding, a seminal work of the kind that appears only rarely.”

The first major study of the Book of Mormon’s meaning and impact on American religion.

With over 100 million copies in print, the Book of Mormon has spawned a vast religious movement, but it remains little discussed outside Mormon circles. Now Terryl Givens offers a full-length treatment of this highly influential work, illuminating many facets of this uniquely American scripture.

Givens examines the Book of Mormon’s role as a divine testament of the Last Days and as a sacred sign of Joseph Smith’s status as a modern-day prophet. He assesses its claim to be a history of the pre-Columbian peopling of the Western Hemisphere, first by a small Old World group in the era of Babel, and later by tribes from Jerusalem in the age of Jeremiah. Givens explores how the Book of Mormon has been defined as a cultural product, the imaginative ravings of a rustic religion-maker more inspired by the winds of culture than the breath of God. He also investigates its status as a new American Bible or Fifth Gospel, displacing, supporting, or– in some views–perverting the canonical Word of God. Givens also probes the Book’s shifting relationship to Mormon doctrine and its changing reputation among theologians and scholars. Finally, in exploring what Martin Marty refers to as the Book of Mormon’s “revelatory appeal,” Givens highlights the Book’s role as the engine behind what may become the next world religion.

The most wide-ranging study on the subject outside Mormon presses, “By the Hand of Mormon” will fascinate anyone curious about a religious people who, despite their numbers, remain very much strangers in our midst.

Retail: $19.95 Special FAIR Price: $15.96 (20% Discount)

Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants

Steven C. Harper. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 2008. Hardbound, 9″x6″, 624 pgs. ISBN: 1590389212

Have you struggled with understanding the Doctrine and Covenants? As a collection of separate and diverse texts, it can be rather daunting to study. After all, it is the only one of the standard works that does not tell its own story.

Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants addresses this challenge in a unique way. Rather than giving a verse-by-verse commentary, author Steven C. Harper takes readers on a guided tour through the revelations. Drawing on the earliest manuscripts of those revelations, he provides historically grounded insights into why each revelation was given, what it means, and why it matters.

Chapters on every section of the Doctrine and Covenants begin by delving into the historical record to recreate the question or problem each revelation was given to resolve and end by showing readers the outcomes for individuals and the Church.

Retail: $35.95 Special FAIR Price: $25.16 (30% Discount)

Thank you for using the FAIR bookstore!

FAIR’S ‘FRONT PAGE’

FAIR’s ‘Front Page’ is a free news clipping service and the recipient can unsubscribe at any time. It is not sent in any official Church or other capacity. It is for those who are interested in keeping abreast with what is being said around the world about the LDS Church and its members. Sometimes media portrayal of the LDS Church, its members and of other religions is not positive or accurate. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of this information lies with the reader. As all information comes from other news sources and has not been independently verified, FAIR cannot guarantee or be responsible for the security of links in the clipping service. FAIR will attempt to exclude news articles containing strongly offensive language but cannot guarantee that some will not slip through. Some links may also lead to offensive images. To receive this service click on the link below, enter your email address in the white box, and push the “Sign-Up” button.

Sign up for FAIR’s Front Page

ASK THE APOLOGIST

The public is invited to submit questions related to LDS *apologetic* issues to “Ask the Apologist.” This feature can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

Contact FAIR

Mark the box labeled “Questions (for the FAIR apologists).” Then fill in accurate information in the five white boxes and push the “Send Comments” button. All inquiries will be shared with members of the FAIR List and the questioner may receive multiple responses from FAIR volunteers. All responses reflect the opinions of the respondents only and not the official position of FAIR or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

To return to the index of past FAIR Journal issues, click here.