Distinctive Christianity

In this episode, Skye interviews Russ Robinson about his story and some of the history of First Baptist Church of Provo in Utah County.  He was a pastor at this local Baptist church for 14 years.

Russ preaching on John 1

E.g. SBC: 1995, 2009  

“The Heresy of Racial Superiority – Confronting the Past, and Confronting the Truth” by Al Mohler 

For comparison: here, and here  

Watchman on the Tower: Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right by Matthew Harris 

In this series, Brendon and Skye are going through the book Crisis of Confidence by Carl Trueman – exploring the reasons why Christians have normally used creeds to guard the faith, and why Mormons have been anti-creedal since their founding. This week we cover chapter three: “The Early Church”. 

Correction: The dates for Heber C. Kimball are June 14, 1801 – June 22, 1868. The dates for Jedediah M. Grant are February 21, 1816 – December 1, 1856. Thus, Kimball lived for 11.5 more years than Grant. Sorry for the silly mistake! I think the Grant comment must have had something to do with either phases or goals of Young’s presidency, rather than length of service. (The mistake was mine, not Sister J's)

Christianity and Liberalism; The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen 

Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity; The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman 

Christless Christianity; “Charles Finney v. The Westminster Confession” by Michael Horton 

Heresies: The Image of Christ in the Mirror of Heresy and Orthodoxy by Harold O. J. Brown 

Christianity at the Crossroads by Michael Kruger 

Early Christian Doctrines by J.N.D. Kelly 

The Cruelty of Heresy by C. FitzSimons Allison 

Institutes of the Christian Religion; Letter to Sadoleto by John Calvin 

The Story of Creeds and Confessions by Ryan Reeves and Donald Fairbairn 

Credo by Jeroslav Pelikan 

Given recent coverage of MMP in the news, including two interviews with historians of Mormonism, Skyler and Colin give their immediate reaction to what they see as PR-Mormonism obfuscating the point and purpose of the doctrine. With all due respect, these historians either should know better - or at least be interested in knowing better!

Why would any LDS believe MMP, to begin with? Are there any historical and theological reasons to believe it? Do people believe it in spite of Mormonism, or because of Mormonism? Is it only extreme crazy-people and/or criminals who would believe it?

Please note the correction below.

To get the most out of this interview, one may consult these two interviews (at least the indicated time stamps) prior to hearing our discussion:

• "Are Chad and Lori Daybell's beliefs in line with LDS teachings? Religious expert explains." (East Idaho News); especially timestamp: 26:22-28:33
• "LDS Historian on Chad Daybell Beliefs" (Hidden True Crime); especially timestamp: 1:03:00-1:15:34

Also, of interest, e.g.:

• Lori Vallow's cousin (who is himself a "faithful LDS", currently!) is also open to the doctrine
• As well as the straw man of the doctrine presented by Melanie Gibb (1:01:15f)
• Sunstone

Correction: Orson F. Whitney was bishop of the 18th Ward, not the 19th Ward. Also, I mentioned the Improvement Era as a source. I had conflated some sources in my memory and misstated this piece of evidence. The Improvement Era article in mind was “A Lesson from the Book of Job” in November 1918. The term is not here. 

The source that was in mind is from Orson’s Saturday Night Thoughts, in which he cites an author named Maeterlinck. He mentions how a play of his “inspired mind” was Mormon in its understanding. However, it is actually in a different play of Maeterlinck, The Mountain Path, that the term “expiations” was used. Given Orson F. Whitney’s own views, it is an interesting connection – though clearly not as direct as was stated in the episode. I apologize for the error. 

It is interesting to note that Orson cites Eliza R. Snow, who –in her works in their totality - are evidence of MMP, in both citations above. 

The hypocrisy of calling out historians on details while getting a few wrong myself is not lost on me. However, I hope these couple details don’t detract from the overall reaction toward this pattern of historian-minimization that I was so critical of in this episode.  

In this episode, Pastor Jason Wallace joins us to discuss his recent video Cyril Lucaris: Calvinist Patriarch/Orthodox Saint. Who was Cyril Lucaris, and what do we know about him? Was his Confession authentic, and does it indicate that he was Protestant? And what are the implications for Eastern Orthodox claims about the Christian faith, and their arguments against Protestantism? 

We also take the time to go through some highlights from Lucaris's Eastern Confession of the Christian Faith, largely inspired by his own reading of scripture - as well as his agreement with The Belgic Confession.

Cyril Lucaris: Calvinist Patriarch/Orthodox Saint 

The Failure of Eastern Orthodoxy 

Protestant Patriarch: The Life of Cyril Lucaris, 1572-1638 by George Hadjiantoniou 

 Eastern Confession of the Christian Faith

Disillusioned by Joshua Schooping

When Grace Comes Home; When Grace Transforms; When Grace Comes Alive by Terry Johnson 

The Courage to Be Protestant by David Wells 

War Against the Idols by Carlos Eire 

In this episode, Pastor Jason Wallace joins us to discuss his recent video Cyril Lucaris: Calvinist Patriarch/Orthodox Saint. Who was Cyril Lucaris, and what do we know about him? Was his Confession authentic, and does it indicate that he was Protestant? And what are the implications for Eastern Orthodox claims about the Christian faith, and their arguments against Protestantism? 

We also take the time to go through some highlights from Lucaris's Eastern Confession of the Christian Faith, largely inspired by his own reading of scripture - as well as his agreement with The Belgic Confession.

Cyril Lucaris: Calvinist Patriarch/Orthodox Saint 

The Failure of Eastern Orthodoxy 

Protestant Patriarch: The Life of Cyril Lucaris, 1572-1638 by George Hadjiantoniou 

Eastern Confession of the Christian Faith

Disillusioned by Joshua Schooping

When Grace Comes Home; When Grace Transforms; When Grace Comes Alive by Terry Johnson 

The Courage to Be Protestant by David Wells 

War Against the Idols by Carlos Eire 

In this episode, Skye interviews Dr. Kyle Beshears on his dissertation “Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder”. Who was Mormon prophet James Strang? Who was Wingfield Watson? What is their place in Mormon history, theology, and practice?  

“Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder” by Kyle Robert Beshears 

• “Eunice Ross Kinney: Follower of Two Mormon Prophets, Fierce Defender of Polygamy 
• Kyle's website

The Rajah Manchou of Vorito; The Book of the Law of the Lord by James Strang 

“God Has Made Us a Kingdom”: James Strang and the Midwest Mormons by Vickie Cleverley Speek 

The Kingdom of Saint James by Milo M. Quaife 

Assassination of a Michigan King: The Life of James Jesse Strang by Roger Van Noord 

“The Mormon Succession Crisis of 1844” by D. Michael Quinn 

A Voice of Warning by Parley Pratt; Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt 

Ezra T. Benson: JD 2.348 

George Q. Cannon: JD 13.45-47 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

 Like a Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith by Stephen Taysom

Joseph Smith III: Pragmatic Prophet by Roger Launias

In this episode, Skye interviews Dr. Kyle Beshears on his dissertation “Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder”. Who was Mormon prophet James Strang? Who was Wingfield Watson? What is their place in Mormon history, theology, and practice?  

“Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder” by Kyle Robert Beshears 

• “Eunice Ross Kinney: Follower of Two Mormon Prophets, Fierce Defender of Polygamy 
• Kyle's website

The Rajah Manchou of Vorito; The Book of the Law of the Lord by James Strang 

“God Has Made Us a Kingdom”: James Strang and the Midwest Mormons by Vickie Cleverley Speek 

The Kingdom of Saint James by Milo M. Quaife 

Assassination of a Michigan King: The Life of James Jesse Strang by Roger Van Noord 

“The Mormon Succession Crisis of 1844” by D. Michael Quinn 

A Voice of Warning by Parley Pratt; Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt 

Ezra T. Benson: JD 2.348 

George Q. Cannon: JD 13.45-47 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

 Like a Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith by Stephen Taysom

Joseph Smith III: Pragmatic Prophet by Roger Launias

In this series, Brendon and Skye are going through the book Crisis of Confidence by Carl Trueman – exploring the reasons why Christians have normally used creeds to guard the faith, and why Mormons have been anti-creedal since their founding. This week we cover chapter two: “The Foundations of Creedalism”. 

Pastor Brendon sermons.  

Christianity and Liberalism; The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen 

Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity; The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman 

Christless Christianity; “Charles Finney v. The Westminster Confession” by Michael Horton 

Institutes of the Christian Religion; Letter to Sadoleto by John Calvin 

The Story of Creeds and Confessions by Ryan Reeves and Donald Fairbairn 

Credo by Jeroslav Pelikan 

When Grace Comes Alive: Living Through the Lord’s Prayer by Terry Johnson 

The Lord’s Prayer by Wesley Hill 

The Church of Christ by James Bannerman 

Don’t Fire Your Church Members by Jonathan Leeman 

The Young Bultmann by William Dennison

Destroyer of the Gods by Larry Hurtado 

Christianity at the Crossroads by Michael Kruger 

Paul and His Predecessors by A.M. Hunter 

In this series, Brendon and Skye are going through the book Crisis of Confidence by Carl Trueman. This week we cover chapter one: “The Cultural Case against Creeds and Confessions”. 

We invite you to worship with us on any Sunday - at First Baptist Church of Provo or Christ Presbyterian Church in Magna. We welcome visitors! 

Christianity and Liberalism; The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen 

Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity; The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman 

Christless Christianity; “Charles Finney v. The Westminster Confession” by Michael Horton 

Institutes of the Christian Religion; Letter to Sadoleto by John Calvin 

The Story of Creeds and Confessions by Ryan Reeves and Donald Fairbairn 

Credo by Jeroslav Pelikan 

No Place For Truth; Above All Earthly Pow'rs by David F. Wells

Nostalgia; Out of the Ashes; Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization; Reclaiming Catholic Social Teaching by Anthony Esolen

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til by Lane Tipton 

An Introduction to Systematic Theology by Cornelius Van Til  

The Young Bultmann by William Dennison (also Dr. Dennison's review of Lane Tipton's book, cited above, in New Horizons) 

Schleiermacher by Terence Tice

Apostles of Reason by Molly Worthen

Orthodox yet Modern: Bavinck's Use of Friedrich Schleiermacher by Cory Brock

The Incarnation of God by John Clark and Marcus Peter Johnson

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande 

The Bourgeois Trilogy by Deirdre McCloskey 

Factfulness by Hans Rosling 

Progress by Johan Norberg 

Religion and the Rise of Capitalism by Benjamin Friedman 

American Awakening by Joshua Mitchell 

A Time to Build; The Great Debate by Yuval Levin

The Rational Optimist; How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley

The Territories of Science and Religion; The Fall of Man and the Foundations of Science; The Bible, Protestantism, and the Rise of Natural Science by Peter Harrison

The Victory of Reason by Rodney Stark

How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods

Galileo Revisited by Dom Paschal Scotti

The Savior of Science; The Origins of Science and the Science of its Origins by Stanley Jaki

In this series, Brendon and Skye are going through the book Crisis of Confidence by Carl Trueman – exploring some of the reasons why Christians have normally used creeds to guard the faith, and why Mormons have been anti-creedal since their founding. 

We invite you to worship with us on any Sunday - at First Baptist Church of Provo or Christ Presbyterian Church in Magna. We welcome visitors! 

JSH-1; 1 Ne 13; D&C 46.2 ; D&C 84; D&C 123 

History of the Church, edited by B.H. Roberts (vol.’s 3, 5, and 6) 

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, edited by Joseph Fielding Smith 

The Great Apostasy; Jesus the Christ by James Talmage 

The Truth, the Way, the Life by B.H. Roberts 

“The Mormon Creed” by Orson Pratt 

George A. Smith: JD 13.292-293 

John Taylor: JD 14.267-70 

Wilford Woodruff: JD 24.236 

Mormon Doctrine; A New Witness for the Articles of Faith and “Our Relationship with the Lord” by Bruce R. McConkie  

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder; “Strange Creeds of Christendom” by LeGrand Richards 

“Apostasy and Restoration” by Dallin Oaks 

“The Things of Which I Know” ; “What Are People Asking About Us?” by Gordon Hinckley 

LDS Temple transcript: here and here 

The American Transcendentalists: Essential Writings, edited and with an introduction by Lawrence Buell 

The American Religion by Harold Bloom 

Religious Seekers and the Advent of Mormonism by Dan Vogel 

“’No Creed to Circumscribe My Mind’: Joseph Smith, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Romantic Theology” by Jared Hickman 

“’Build, Therefore, Your Own World’: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Joseph Smith, and American Antebellum Thought” by Benjamin E. Park (Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 36, Winter 2010: Iss. 1) 

“Frontier Kantianism: Autonomy and Authority in Ralph Waldo Emerson and Joseph Smith” by Ryan W. Davis [The Journal of Religious Ethics, Vol. 46, No. 2 (June 2018), pp. 332-359] 

“Minding Business: A Note on the ‘Mormon Creed’” by Michael Hicks (BYU Studies) 

Mormonism; Wrestling the Angel by Terryl Givens (also here) 

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman 

Christianity and Liberalism; The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen 

Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity by Carl Trueman 

Christless Christianity; “Charles Finney v. The Westminster Confession” by Michael Horton 

Institutes of the Christian Religion; Letter to Sadoleto by John Calvin 

The Story of Creeds and Confessions by Ryan Reeves and Donald Fairbairn 

Credo by Jeroslav Pelikan