In this category I strive to provide factual responses to the arguments used that challenge doctrines and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made in the letters. I look at the claims being made, explain the motive behind them, where those arguments fall short, and provides context that helps remove confusion for me. The purpose of this category is to support honest seekers looking to rebuild faith by working through doubts with a different perspective of what is really going on.
Facsimile 3 is the least discussed of the three Book of Abraham facsimiles, but it may be one of the most important for understanding the full Book of Abraham story. We have no copy of the papyrus or even a hand drawn copy. The only thing we have is the lead plate made by Reuben … Read more
Facsimile 2 of the Book of Abraham is one of the most debated images in Latter-day Saint scripture. Modern Egyptologists identify it as a hypocephalus, a small circular object placed under the head of a mummy. Ancient Egyptians believed hypocephali provided light, warmth, protection, divine power, and rebirth in the afterlife. But Facsimile 2 is … Read more
For years, LDS Egyptologists have assumed that the hieroglyphics to the right of Facsimile 1 were not related to the Book of Abraham. This is primarily because modern Egyptian scholars, utilizing standard translations, have interpreted these characters as a common “funerary permit” belonging to an Egyptian priest named Hor. They claim that they have NOTHING … Read more
There are not many modern anti-Mormon arguments. Almost all anti-Mormon claims recycle from earlier generations, but one newer claim the anti’s on X like to use is that Joseph Smith copied the names Moroni and Cumorah from a small island group off the coast of Mozambique. The reason this claim even exists is because of … Read more
For those who deny that the Book of Mormon was received by the gift and power of God, an alternative explanation has to be created. For decades, the explanation was that Joseph Smith was too stupid and uneducated to have written the Book of Mormon, so someone else must have. For decades the claim was … Read more
One of the popular anti-Mormon arguments is that Joseph Smith stole Freemasonry to invent the temple endowment. The history and evidence do show that, like many influential men of the time including the Founding Fathers, Joseph Smith and several early Church leaders did join the Freemasons shortly before the Nauvoo Temple endowment. Nauvoo itself had … Read more
One of the strongest historical evidences for the reality of the Book of Mormon is the testimony of its witnesses. From a legal standpoint, these testimonies meet several core standards used to evaluate credible eyewitness accounts: competence, opportunity to observe, consistency over time, and persistence under personal loss and threat. The witnesses were named, known, … Read more
The Book of Mormon makes the claim that at least some of the ancestors of Native American Indians originally came from Jerusalem. If Native Americans originally came from ancient Israel, it would make sense that there would be some evidence of similarities. The book View of the Hebrews written by Ethan Smith in 1823 presents … Read more
Do Mormons Really Believe Jesus and Satan Are Brothers? One of the most common accusations made by critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the claim that Mormons believe in a “different Jesus.” The argument is usually summarized with the phrase: “Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers.” This claim is … Read more
The second principle of the gospel is repentance. To be happy in life, we must repent and accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Fixating on past errors and sorrows creates discontentment and ingratitude and limits our ability to grow. Happiness requires moving on from past wrongs and focusing on improving the present and the future. … Read more