Difference between revisions of "Criticism of Mormonism/Video/Search for the Truth DVD/Randy Gavin press release"

Jesus Christ / Joseph Smith DVD Distribution Conceived and Carried out by a Broad Consortium of Churches, Ministries and Non-Profit Organizations

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWeb) March 30, 2007 -- Since its founding in 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has insisted that it alone represents true Christianity and that all other churches professing the name of Christ are part of a "Great Apostasy," that has incorporated corrupt doctrine and practices. (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith 2:19)

This statement misunderstands the LDS doctrine of the Great Apostasy. Latter-day Saints see the apostasy as a very early event in Christian history (probably within the first one to two centuries of the Christian era). The lack of agreement among modern Christian denominations is evidence that modern Christians are victims of the Apostasy; they are not responsible for its occurrence, or the mistakes made by earlier leaders in response to it. The Latter-day Saints do not believe that the effects of apostasy can be overcome by human efforts, no matter how well-intentioned, and so no fault lies with any modern Christian group or leader.

To read more:

Numerous churches, ministries and para-church organizations have now come together as part of a consortium ("Good News for LDS") to produce and distribute a DVD presentation that answers this accusation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The consortium here tries to pretend that they have been accused or attacked by the Latter-day Saints. The Saints do not attack other faiths—they share their own beliefs.

The DVD contains no analysis of early Christianity, or the evidence for an apostasy as understood by the LDS. Instead, they merely describe their own version of Christianity, assume this represents the only original, "true" Christianity, and contrast it with a caricatured view of LDS belief in order to condemn. The LDS position and data are never engaged by the video, and it is disingenuous to claim otherwise.

Members of the consortium frequently receive questions about the differences between Biblical Christianity and Mormonism. This DVD was created to inform people with questions about the differences between the two faiths.

The press release again tries to pretend that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not Christians. The DVD only succeeds in comparing the producer's version of Christianity with a caricature of LDS beliefs. As an attempt to genuinely inform, it fails.

The groups standing behind this DVD are well aware that members of the LDS Church are sincere about their beliefs. "It is not our desire to belittle those beliefs. In fact, we would be the first to defend the right of every Latter-day Saint to share their faith with others and we hope that they will allow us the same courtesy to clarify our beliefs," said Randy Gavin, spokesman for GoodNewsForLDS.org.

Latter-day Saints do not object to Mr. Gavin or anyone else sharing their beliefs. They do object to Mr. Gavin's group presenting itself as the ones to explain what others beliefs are. Mr. Gavin and the others responsible for the DVD are not experts on Latter-day Saint beliefs. They are incapable of even describing those beliefs in a way which is acceptable and recognizable to a Latter-day Saint.

If Mr. Gavin does not wish to belittle Latter-day Saint beliefs, he should take better care not to present reenactments of LDS temple ceremonies, which any informed person knows Latter-day Saints will find deeply offensive. He should refrain from telling Mormons they are not Christians.

• Home page
• Introduction
• Who Is Jesus?
• Who Is God?
• Eternal Life
• Archaeology
• Prophecies &
  Revelations
• Polygamy
• The First Vision
• The Occult
• The Translator
• DNA
• Book of
  Abraham
• Witnessing to
  Mormons
• Summary
• Call to LDS Leaders
• Music Video
• Credits

• The Good Test
• Burning in the Bosom
• The Priesthood?
• What is Hell?
• A New Beginning

• Letter given
  to distributors
• Annotated with comments
• Producers' press release with comments
• Selected reader comments
• Distorted quotes

Other Protestant attacks on the Church of Jesus Christ:

• Contradictions in LDS scripture?
  Many anti-Mormon protestants use a list of supposed "contradictions" between the Book of Mormon and other LDS scripture. This table reviews and rebuts each.
• Do Christians Believe in Three Gods?
  Review of an anti-Mormon pamphlet.
• Questions All Mormons Should Ask Themselves
  Questions which protestant critics think that Latter-day Saints cannot answer are here answered.
• 50 Answers from FAIR to 50 Questions Critics Ask Latter-day Saints
  Even more questions which protestant critics think that Latter-day Saints cannot answer are here answered.
• Jesus Christ/Joseph Smith DVD
  A review and examination of this slick anti-Mormon video