LDSFAQ (Mormon Answers) is my attempt to deal with many common questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the "Mormon Church").
While I strive to be accurate, my writings reflect my personal understanding and are subject to human error and bias. This site is the sole responsibility of Jeff Lindsay. For an official LDS site, see LDS.org. And even then, remember: Humans are fallible, Webmasters are superhuman, and thus Webmasters are super-fallible. Exercise healthy skepticism for anything you find on the Internet!
"Mormon Answers" is the work of Jeff Lindsay of Appleton, Wisconsin. Writing about LDS topics is simply a hobby and passion. Jeff served an LDS mission in the Switzerland Zurich mission and has served in a variety of Church callings. However, don't blame the Church for any errors here: he writes, he rambles, and he stumbles on his own.
Not that it matters, but Jeff has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from BYU, is a registered U.S. patent agent, loves inventing, photography, writing and learning, and professionally has been in academia, corporate research and development, corporate intellectual property strategy, and innovation strategy and new product development as a consultant.
Jeff is also the lead author of a new book on innovation, entrepreneurship and strategy from John Wiley & Sons: Conquering Innovation Fatigue by Jeff Lindsay, Cheryl Perkins, and Mukund Karanjikar. See the related blog, InnovationFatigue.com.
Other LDS Writings from Jeff
Mormanity is a leading LDS blog that gives emphasis to the LDS experience while also discussing and promoting the Book of Mormon and the Restored Gospel. Check it out!
Follow Jeff on Twitter! Sadly, Jeff has become hooked on social media and regularly chirps in on Twitter as both Mormanity (for LDS issues) and JeffLindsay (for most everything else).
If you would like to see more current and free-flowing discussions of LDS issues, why not visit my LDS blog, Mormanity? Your polite comments on my posts are welcome there and likely to be get a response from a variety of people who participate. Or visit the other blogs on my blogroll there.
If you have sincere comments to make, please send e-mail to <jeff at jefflindsay dot com>. Also be sure to visit lds.org and mormon.org for further information.
LDSFAQ was named one of the 25 best LDS sites at ZionsBest.com.
Links to Questions and Answers
A list of general Mormon topics follows. Clicking on a topic takes you to a separate page giving the specific question(s) and my answers.
Newest "Mormon Answer" pages:
Questions about Science and Mormon Doctrine - An essay that deals with general issues of science and Mormonism, as well as specifics such as evolution, the Flood, DNA, etc., that tend to be of interest to Mormons and of relevance to Mormon thought. This may be a useful companion article to my essay on DNA Evidence and the Book of Mormon.
My Turn - Instead of answering frequent questions from critics of the Mormons, I've decided that it's time I ask a few infrequently answered questions of my own.
Mercy and Justice in the Book of Mormon: Ancient or Modern Concepts? - Is the Book of Mormon's profound discourse about mercy, justice, and the Atonement of Christ evidence of modern derivation, or evidence of ancient truth restored? Critics have charged that Book of Mormon theology is too modern. This page seeks to show that Book of Mormon concepts can plausibly fit into the fabric of ancient revealed truths known to Jewish prophets and early Christians - truths which were muddled for centuries and restored beautifully in the Book of Mormon.
Ancient Records Offer New Support for the Book of Abraham - A brief survey of the vast body of ancient documents that confirm numerous details in the Book of Abraham that are not found in the Bible, and could not have been known to Joseph Smith or other early Mormons.
Is the Book of Mormon too Wordy to Be True? - A response to attacks alleging that the apparent wordiness of the Book of Mormon shows that the text was not taken from a record engraved on metal plates, where a terse writing style might be expected. In fact, the "offending" aspects of the Book of Mormon are what one would expect from sacred writings from a Hebraic people. Created Aug. 3, 2002.
DNA Evidence and the Book of Mormon. Dives into the hot issue of DNA evidence and the attacks that are now being made on the Book of Mormon. The critics are leaving out some important details! Possible DNA links between Native Americans and the Middle East do exist and challenge the arguments made by critics. I am happy to report that the Nov. 16, 2003 version of that essay in PDF format has been posted on the LDS.org Website at http://www.lds.org/newsroom/files/jeff_lindsay_dna.pdf as unofficial background information on the DNA controversy, along with four excellent articles from the November 2003 issue of The Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, all conveniently available on an LDS.org "DNA and the Book of Mormon" page.
2 Nephi 12 and the Septuagint: Evidence for Fraud or Authenticity in the Book of Mormon? This page deals with interesting internal evidence for authenticity of the Book of Mormon found in 2 Nephi 12, which quotes Isaiah 2. I respond to a critic's attempt to dismiss an interesting passage that brings together Isaiah variants from the Septuagint and Masoretic texts. In researching this issue, I came away with an even deeper respect for the Hebraic roots of the Book of Mormon - something Joseph Smith could not have fabricated or reproduced through his "intuition." In my research, I found some interesting (but still tentative) examples of what appear to be an authentic Hebrew poetical form in the Book of Mormon known to scholars as "paired tricola" - a form unrecognized in Joseph Smith's day. Take a look and let me know your thoughts.
Questions about the Oneness of God. Deals mostly with inquiries about the Trinity, "plurality of gods," how God can be One if Christ and the Father are distinct Beings, etc. Contains interesting material from early Christianity and modern scholarship. (Please note how strong the evidence is becoming that Latter-day Saint doctrine really is a restoration, not an innovation from Joseph Smith.)
Questions about the Dead. Do they live as spirit beings or are they just unconscious (or nonexistent)? This LDSFAQ page is actually a Q&A by Raymond Woodworth, used with his kind permission.
Love, Dating, Marriage, and Morality - a new page answering common questions about dating, marrying in or out of the Church, morality, and so forth. These topics have resulted in many questions recently - often from non-LDS people dating Mormons. I hope this page will help.
Is it true? (yes!) Infallible? The final authority? Are there missing books? Can there ever be any more words of God? What about the prohibition on adding and subtracting? A Bible, a Bible - which Bible? A new page, perhaps my favorite.
Gives detailed discussion on many popular topics used to condemn us as a cult. What does the word "cult" really mean? Challenge: is there a reasonable definition of "cult" in the negative sense that could condemn the Latter-day Saints without also condemning early Christians or the writers and prophets of the Bible, or even Christ? This page discusses the Trinity, modern revelation, polygamy, and other hot issues.
You bet we are. But watch out - standards used to exclude us will typically exclude Christ and the earliest Christians as well. At least we're in good company....
What is a prophet and why are they needed after Christ? Are prophets infallible? Was Joseph Smith really a prophet? What about the affidavits against him and other attacks on Joseph's character? What about Gordon B. Hinckley and the Salamander Letter?
Provides several examples of accurate prophecies covering the Civil War, the future of the Church, Stephen A. Douglas, and more. (So just how do critics explain the prophetic accuracy of the Word of Wisdom?)
Baptism by immersion by authorized ministers of God: nice idea or essential ordinance? Is the loss of the original practice evidence of widespread apostasy?
What happens to those who lived and died without ever even hearing of Christ? Does a just, loving God send them all to hell for having been born at the wrong time and place? No! Welcome to one of the most wonderful doctrines of the original and restored Gospel of Christ, and one of the many powerful evidences of Joseph Smith's divine calling as a prophet of God. Examine the evidence that baptism for the dead was an ancient Christian practice that was restored through Joseph Smith.
What do Latter-day Saints mean when they speak of their "testimonies"? Isn't it just based on emotion? What role does intellect play? What is the gift of the Holy Ghost? How does one "follow the Spirit"?
Discussion of the ancient Christian concept of "theosis" and its presence in LDS theology. Do "Mormons" really think they will become gods? What does the Bible mean when it calls humans and angels "gods"? What did early Christians believe? You may be surprised....
Why don't we accept the standard Trinity concept from the creeds of the fourth and fifth centuries? Does the LDS idea of a unified Godhead of three Beings differ from the teachings of the Bible and early Christianity?
What happens to non-LDS people on the day of judgment? Do we need to obey Christ and keep His commandments to be saved? What about the thief on the cross? Do we believe in a physical resurrection?
What is the LDS view of the Bible? Is it sufficient for salvation? Is it infallible? What about the various canons that Christians have used over time? Is the Book of Mormon on the same plane as the Bible? Does the Bible contain errors? Is it complete? How dare Mormons add scripture to the modern canon!?
Black or white, all are children of God and potential heirs of eternal life through Christ. This page deals with common questions about LDS doctrine and the painful previous policy of racial limitations on the priesthood. Also see my review of the book, Black and Mormon on this site or my review at Mormanity.
A new page answering common questions about dating, marrying in or out of the Church, morality, and so forth. These topics have resulted in many questions recently - often from non-LDS people dating Mormons. I hope this page will help.
Includes discussions of Pepsi versus Coke, garments, planets, polygamy, and more. It's one of the more popular LDSFAQ areas. Warning: not for the comically impaired.
Questions about the Book of Mormon
Update: Apparent Discovery of the Seal of Mulek
One of the most intriguing recent evidences of Book of Mormon authenticity may be the discovery of the seal of Mulek, the son of King Zedekiah, supporting the Book of Mormon account. I discuss this on my Book of Mormon Evidences page and on a "Book of Mormon Nugget" page, "Mulek, Son of Zedekiah." For the impressive details, see Jeffrey R. Chadwick, "Has the Seal of Mulek Been Found?," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2003, pp. 72-83, available online at FARMS.
Christ is the foundation of the Church, and the Book of Mormon is cited as the "keystone." It's the primary evidence that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. If it falls, so does the Church. If it's true, so is the core of our message. Critics, this is the place to focus your attacks. Investigators, this is the place to start reading to understand the message of the restored Gospel and to put our claims to the test. Latter-day Saints, you ought to spend more time reading this treasure and less time surfing the Web! (Call 1-888-537-7111 to receive a free Book of Mormon.)
Deals with the many sloppy statements made by a department at the normally quite reputable Smithsonian Institution - but made without the benefit of adequate scholarship about either Mesoamerica or the Book of Mormon. The Smithsonian Statement is embarrassingly out of date and needs significant revision. Many issues are covered, including transoceanic voyaging and allegedly missing items such as silk.
Did Joseph Smith plagiarize from Shakespeare, the King James Bible, Solomon Spaulding, James Adair, or View of the Hebrews to create the Book of Mormon? And what about those italics in the Bible and their treatment in the Book of Mormon? (Also see The Book of Mormon and the Writings of Alexander von Humboldt, a "Book of Mormon snippet".)
Is the Book of Mormon too Wordy to Be True? - Critics mock the wordy passages, but they are the type of thing one would expect from a text with its roots in ancient Hebrew. Created Aug. 3, 2002.
Questions about the Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham is Joseph Smith's translation of an ancient Egyptian writing from Thebes. The original manuscript may have had a Christian or Jewish source, and could have been brought to Egypt by refugees from Israel. My long, detailed documents are intended primarily for LDS people with a serious interest in this minor work. If you just want to know the bottom line from my perspective, it's this: there is no need to reject Joseph Smith as a prophet on the basis of the Book of Abraham. In fact, there is much recent evidence which offers plausibility to his work. If you wish to criticize my views, I hope you'll first look at what I've written:
Discusses background on the Book of Abraham, whether the source of the Book of Abraham has really been found (comparing two different views), and whether the Kirtland papers were used to produce the translation.LONG - about 140 k.
Discusses Joseph Smith's comments on the Facsimiles in the Book of Abraham, presenting some of the many correlations to other recently discovered documents and to Egyptian concepts. Also discusses the text of the book and its relationship to other documents. Long - about 90 k.
New!Part 3: Ancient Records Offer New Support for the Book of Abraham - A brief survey of the vast body of ancient documents that confirm numerous details in the Book of Abraham that are not found in the Bible, and could not have been known to Joseph Smith. The primary source for this page is Traditions about the Early Life of Abraham, edited by John A. Tvedtnes, Brian M. Haugid, and John Gee (Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2001), which I strongly recommend. This book provides easy access to many dozens of ancient documents to let the reader see if the details in the Book of Mormon were primarily random fantasies of Joseph Smith, or if it is related to information about Abraham known in ancient times. The evidence for authenticity is truly noteworthy.
LDS history begins with the First Vision. Critics have charged that it is bogus and full of wholes. Did Joseph contradict himself? Is the First Vision story inaccurate in verifiable details?
Responds to common misinformation about the infamous and mysterious "Danites." Also deals specifically with Stephen LeSueur's allegations about Joseph Smith's involvement with the Danites, as found in LeSueur's book on the 1838 "Mormon War" in Missouri.
For more information, see the Official LDS Web Site or my list of LDS Resources, including many external links and other pages of mine. You may also wish to examine the index to most of my pages on various topics.
A Challenge to Our Opponents
To you who zealously condemn us as a cult, do you realize that the typical logic you use against us would also invalidate the ministry of Jesus Christ? The objection to new scripture, for example, was not originated with modern critics of the Church, but was applied by Jews against the Christians and their NEW Testament. Look at my page about the cult attack for more details. But first, I would appreciate your response to your own arguments when they are applied to other targets. John Tvedtnes provides an eye-opening example of how your arguments, if accepted at face value, would also condemn our Lord (and some of these arguments WERE used against Him). Take a look at "Solving the Christian Puzzle."
FARMS, the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies in Provo, Utah, is the leading organization for scholarly understanding of LDS issues, especially the scriptures. They are a tremendous source of valuable research and publications. I also enjoy their collection of book reviews, such as Daniel Peterson's review of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mormonism (a nasty book by John Ankerberg and John Weldon). Chances are you've encountered some of the literature that is reviewed there. Reading the FARMS reviews is extremely helpful in understanding the deceitful tactics of some anti-Mormons, and in learning the rich extent of evidence in favor of the Restored Gospel. One of my favorite articles dealing with typical anti-Mormon attacks is that of Russell C. McGregor and Kerry A. Shirts, "Letters to an Anti-Mormon," FARMS Review of Books, Vol. 11, No. 1, 1999, pp. 90-298 (I said it was good, not short!). Please prepare yourself to accept the following subliminal message: Get your credit card ready and call FARMS right now and order FARMS Review of Books, Vol. 11, No. 1. It's only about $9. The phone number is 1-800-327-6715.
An extensive and valuable resource is The New Jerusalem, which offers information on the Book of Mormon and other religious issues. It includes the famous "Book of Mormon Answer Man" service used by thousands of people, providing many good answers about Gospel questions.
A rapidly growing body of valuable work is found at SHIELDS, dealing with LDS historical and intellectual issues, including good answers to some common anti-Mormon questions.
And don't miss DCP's Gospel Research InfoNet Home Page. One of my favorite LDS writers, D. Charles Pyle tackles many anti-LDS arguments with sound logic and solid research. A very valuable page on this site is his review of a popular anti-LDS work by Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson's work, Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend. Another valuable article is Pyle's review of Marian Bodine's book, "Book of Mormon vs. the Bible (or common sense)."
FAIRLDS.org - The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research is a new group dedicated to providing an intelligent defense of the truth. Many serious and well written papers can be accessed at their site.
And please don't miss Mike Ash's Mormon Fortress, a rich site loaded with great material.
For basics about LDS belief, it's hard to beat Gospel Principles - a book published by the Church to teach basics of LDS belief and practice, available free online at the LDS Web site.
Another great resource for Mormons and those interested in Mormon beliefs is About Latter-day Saints at About.com. Updated weekly, this site contains articles, resources for talks and lessons, movie reviews, Mormon forums, Mormon news, etc.
