never take ANTI-Mormon literature at face value

[Gadiantoncaptain of 50]

I never take anti-Mormon literature at face value.

OK, been a member of the forum a short time and I see we seem to have a host of critics. Some appear intent on trying to destroy us. They mock that which is sacred. They belittle that which we call divine. Some have said that we are trapped by our history, others have worked with great diligence seeking flaws in our early leaders.

We’re not against honest inquiry in the Church. We welcome it. The Apostle Paul said, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “One of the grand fundamental principles of ‘Mormonism’ is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may” (History of the Church, 5:499). As we search for truth in Church teachings and history, we should remember that it is faith in Christ that helps us to “lay hold upon every good thing” (see Moroni 7:15–25). And we should keep everything in its proper perspective and context.

Here are a couple of things to remember about anti-Mormon material.

First, it would be a waste to spend a lot of time and energy reading it. For one thing, it’s incredibly repetitive. Most of its questions and claims have been brought up—and answered—time and time again for over 100 years. But because anti-Mormon authors want to discredit the Church, they keep writing the same stuff over and over in the hope that they can reach a new audience. For another thing, you may not have the knowledge and experience to successfully investigate and counter all of the arguments they make. If you do end up reading something that criticizes the Church, discuss it with someone you trust who is knowledgeable in the gospel, like your parents, bishop, or seminary teacher. They can help you find answers and, more importantly, put things in proper perspective.

Second, you should never take the claims of anti-Mormon literature at face value. Although some critics of the Church may be doing what they sincerely believe to be right, too many of them are either misinformed about the Church or downright antagonistic toward it. This latter group is often all too willing to rely on deception and dishonesty to achieve their goals. The literature they produce often uses lies or half-truths; it distorts, sensationalizes, or misinterprets Church teachings and history; its intent is to tear down the Church and scare people away from it.

Think of how you feel when you read the Book of Mormon, pray, or bear your testimony. How do those feelings compare with the feelings that come from reading anti-Mormon literature? Which is guiding you to the truth?

I served Cali-Ventura mission 86-88, it seemed in the Los Angelos area it was the anti capital of the world. Churches passed around the movie Godmakers, Temple of the Godmakers, To Moroni with Love and Ask Ur Bishop constantly. But in the final, pray, strengthen your testimony and not become as some of the orignal BOM witnesses. Anyone of us can fall.

Here are some cool anti-anti-Mormon books Deseret Books sells:

http://deseretbook.com/search/search?ut ... rmon+books

[NoGreaterLovecaptain of 1,000]

Thanks

[kathyncaptain of 1,000]

Yes, anti_Mormon literature is something to stay away from. Many years ago when I lived in No. California, I took my son to a preschool which was held at a protestant church which had a playground, because my son needed some playmates. In the foyer of that church were a lot of anti-LDS, anti Jew, anti-catholic and anti-JW pamphlets. Every time I went there, I took all of the anti-LDS pamphlets home with me and destroyed them.
I was pretty naive at the time and read some of them. They kind of shook me, but my father knew the answers to my questions and that helped me so much. Now I can see through those things, but inactive or part-time LDS can certainly be swayed by that stuff. Just stay away from it. It's a huge distraction and waste of time.

[gkearneycaptain of 1,000]

Why did you not take the others as well? Is it not just as wrong to lie about Catholics Jews and JWs as it is Mormons?

[JohnnyLcaptain of 1,000]

I never take anti-Mormon literature at face value.
Here are a couple of things to remember about anti-Mormon material.

First, it would be a waste to spend a lot of time and energy reading it. For one thing, it’s incredibly repetitive. Most of its questions and claims have been brought up—and answered—time and time again for over 100 years. But because anti-Mormon authors want to discredit the Church, they keep writing the same stuff over and over in the hope that they can reach a new audience. For another thing, you may not have the knowledge and experience to successfully investigate and counter all of the arguments they make. If you do end up reading something that criticizes the Church, discuss it with someone you trust who is knowledgeable in the gospel, like your parents, bishop, or seminary teacher. They can help you find answers and, more importantly, put things in proper perspective. When that usually doesn't work... I suggest searching a pro-Mormon website for answers, or asking here, on lds.net forums, or on mormonapologetics.org. Also, it's easy to get hung up on something, then realize later that, duh!, you already knew the easy answer--but your mind was fogged up (been there, done that).

Second, you should never take the claims of anti-Mormon literature at face value. Although some critics of the Church may be doing what they sincerely believe to be right, too many of them are either misinformed about the Church or downright antagonistic toward it. This latter group is often all too willing to rely on deception and dishonesty to achieve their goals. The literature they produce often uses lies or half-truths; it distorts, sensationalizes, or misinterprets Church teachings and history; its intent is to tear down the Church and scare people away from it. This happens even from very scholarly-seeming publications, "friends of the Church", etc.

Think of how you feel when you read the Book of Mormon, pray, or bear your testimony. How do those feelings compare with the feelings that come from reading anti-Mormon literature? Which is guiding you to the truth? Very good point. If you ever do read it, read the BoM immediately afterward; is there a different feeling?

[kathyncaptain of 1,000]

gkearney, it really didn't occur to me at the time. I was young and was just trying to protect the Church. I wasn't trying to slap the face of the others, good grief.

[Gadiantoncaptain of 50]

I never take anti-Mormon literature at face value.
Here are a couple of things to remember about anti-Mormon material.

First, it would be a waste to spend a lot of time and energy reading it. For one thing, it’s incredibly repetitive. Most of its questions and claims have been brought up—and answered—time and time again for over 100 years. But because anti-Mormon authors want to discredit the Church, they keep writing the same stuff over and over in the hope that they can reach a new audience. For another thing, you may not have the knowledge and experience to successfully investigate and counter all of the arguments they make. If you do end up reading something that criticizes the Church, discuss it with someone you trust who is knowledgeable in the gospel, like your parents, bishop, or seminary teacher. They can help you find answers and, more importantly, put things in proper perspective. When that usually doesn't work... I suggest searching a pro-Mormon website for answers, or asking here, on lds.net forums, or on mormonapologetics.org. Also, it's easy to get hung up on something, then realize later that, duh!, you already knew the easy answer--but your mind was fogged up (been there, done that).

Second, you should never take the claims of anti-Mormon literature at face value. Although some critics of the Church may be doing what they sincerely believe to be right, too many of them are either misinformed about the Church or downright antagonistic toward it. This latter group is often all too willing to rely on deception and dishonesty to achieve their goals. The literature they produce often uses lies or half-truths; it distorts, sensationalizes, or misinterprets Church teachings and history; its intent is to tear down the Church and scare people away from it. This happens even from very scholarly-seeming publications, "friends of the Church", etc.

Think of how you feel when you read the Book of Mormon, pray, or bear your testimony. How do those feelings compare with the feelings that come from reading anti-Mormon literature? Which is guiding you to the truth? Very good point. If you ever do read it, read the BoM immediately afterward; is there a different feeling?

You have valaid points. The phrase "know your enemy" is a catch 22 here. I used to study The Satanic bible by Anton LaVey, Lucifer Rising, and the Satanic Scruptures, many things to learn what Satan was about so I could avoid him, but it just brought me down. I do not have to study evil behavior to change. I know now to change I need to study only the gospel. Anti'literature is like studying the Occult. You would be just as wise to shoot yourself.

[Gadiantoncaptain of 50]

Why did you not take the others as well? Is it not just as wrong to lie about Catholics Jews and JWs as it is Mormons?

The reason why the opposition to other sects is not an issue is because the only truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel is found in the Mormon Church. All others are the great and abominable church.

[Mindfieldscaptain of 50]

Personally I don't think we should attack other religions. They deserve to exist just as much as we do. Actually we should defend their right to believe whatever they choose and hope they will allow us the same.

Great and abominable church = government. IMHO

[ChelCThe Law]

I think the OP is great advice. You can read the rest of it here:
http://lds.org/new-era/2007/07/qa-quest ... nti+mormon

[RathusHi, I'm new.]

I think the OP is great advice. You can read the rest of it here:
http://lds.org/new-era/2007/07/qa-quest ... nti+mormon

Thanks for providing the link. I wonder why the OP didn't simply provide his source?

[britjascaptain of 100]

All the anti-mormon, anti-catholic,anti jehova's witness,anti-seventh day adventist, and gasp, anti- islam is nothing more than religious pornography that should be shunned like pornography. I only gets people to contend one with another and make Satan proud. It promotes the open destruction of mormon's, catholics, jehovah's witnesses, seventh day adventists, and islams, in the name of safety and also, gasp, bigotry. True christians and islamic people who are true to their religion will have none of it.

[awakecaptain of 100]

It's one thing to try to avoid all the anti-mormon lit. 'outside' the Church, but it's much harder to avoid and not be deceived by all the anti-mormon doctrine taught 'inside' the Church from even it's pulpits and in it's classrooms.

[Seek the Truthcaptain of 1,000]

It's complicated for me. I studied anti on my mission whenever I could and while it's not enjoyable, I got a lot out of it. As the OP says it's quite repetitive and by and large can be viewed as a cottage industry. A lot of the material is laughable.

There are some great apologetics out there, I haven't looked into it for a very long time but it is apparently something we will have to deal with till the end.

[Seek the Truthcaptain of 1,000]

I should add, I've recently been studying a topic that antis go after us with, and as such you will run across some of their websites, and I have to say that particularly for the "Christian" websites, the standards they apply to LDS teaching would burn the bible to the ground. The bible is loaded with apparently contradictory and scientifically unsupportable statements, and to an atheist our efforts at apologism aren't any different than theirs. So I don't know exactly why they get a seat at the table when it comes to LDS criticism.

Clearly their denominations are faulty, one of the foundations of my testimony is the untenability of the Trinity, you cannot get that from a plain reading of the Bible, it's a non-starter. That invalidates all the sects right from the start, so just remember that when assessing their authority.

[jdawg1012captain of 100]

It's one thing to try to avoid all the anti-mormon lit. 'outside' the Church, but it's much harder to avoid and not be deceived by all the anti-mormon doctrine taught 'inside' the Church from even it's pulpits and in it's classrooms.

True. Interestingly enough, many years ago I was reading a book that someone must have given my father about the Abraham Papyrus. It said it was published by some "Institute of Religion," and I thought that it was put out by CES. I am a convert, and never had previously been involved in anything with CES, but had heard the term "Institute" before. It took a few pages into the book, before the criticism of Joseph Smith, Jr. and the papyrus started, and it took much longer (about halfway through), before I was convinced that it was a piece of anti-Mormon literature (the conclusions that there were making were just starting about then). I put down the book, and never picked it up again. Though somewhat curious, I never read the evidences they put up to try and tear down our religion.

It was around that time that I read through the Book of Mormon for the first time on my own. Since that time I have been faced with all kinds of apologetics both for and against Church Doctrine and principles. The fact is, that in the very, very early days of my conversion, I would pray about certain things I had heard, and I always got the same answer, that I already knew the truth (from the Book of Mormon). It no longer matters what historical things people try to present to reject the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., or his teachings. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and I know that God commissioned the work, and nothing else (in the historical arguments) is relevant to my salvation. I don't care how many wives Joseph Smith, Jr. had, or their ages, or Brigham Young's financials, or anything else. They simply don't matter.

Unfortunately so many that are on their way to losing their testimony are barraged with anti-Mormon "facts" and stories, that they become overwhelmed. The solution is to increase their testimony and the understanding that comes with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the teachings that are in the Book of Mormon and the Bible (Both contain the fulness of the Gospel, the Book of Mormon is just easier for many to read and comprehend).

A testimony of the Book of Mormon is vital to having a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (the Book of Mormon promises that true believers of the gospel in the Bible, will also accept the Book of Mormon), and once someone has that and keeps it, none of the other background noises or propwash matter.