Distinctive Christianity

In this episode, Skyler sits down with his brother, Colin Hamilton, about his “Mormon Story”. Colin's story ended not in agnosticism/atheism or in "new age", but in Creedal Christian belief.

Skyler and Colin discuss their mutual (shared, though distinct) journey – while landing on several of Colin’s stories that may help the listener understand the Mormon worldview, and the Mormon experience for someone who (as a Mormon) actually cared about doctrine, and not just fuzzy experience. Colin's story includes bits of previously-believed Mormon theology, and currently-believed Christian theology, along the way.

Skyler and Colin Hamilton were baptized in the name of the Triune God on the same day, May 16, 2021 - along with their mother, at Life In Christ CRC. All have formally removed their names from the LDS church and, as part of their baptism, renounced the Mormon gods, prophets, and "gospel".

The two churches that have been their home are FBC Provo and Christ Presbyterian Church in Magna - along with some dear siblings at Christ Fellowship Church in American Fork.

Recommended resources: 

Lecture by Jeff Durbin; American Gospel; Sermon by Voddie Baucham 

Augustine’s Confessions 

The Forgotten Trinity; The King James Only Controversy by James White 

Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett 

The Incarnation of God by John Clark and Marcus Peter Johnson 

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin 

Christian Apologetics by Cornelius Van Til

The One Christ: St. Augustine’s Theology of Deification by David Vincent Meconi 

Ironies of Faith by Anthony Esolen

The Family Worship Book by Terry Johnson 

Jason Wallace: here, here, here, here, here, here, and here 

• After Mormonism...Atheism? 
• After Mormonism...Now What? 

(Some) Mormon sources: 

Joseph Smith: here and here 

Lectures on Faith 

Brigham Young: here, here and here 

Waiting for World’s End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, edited by Susan Staker 

Elias: An Epic for the Ages by Orson F. Whitney 

Ezra Taft Benson: here and here 

Our grandmother’s story is found in The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball (also: here); There was also a signed First Presidency Statement/Letter issued for, and read at, our grandfather’s funeral. 

• Also, Grandma Hamilton's funeral: here

A Gospel Trilogy by Cleon Skousen (also here) 

Earth In the Beginning by Eric Skousen 

Temple and Cosmos by Hugh Nibley 

LDS Temple transcript: here and here; A form of the transcript is in Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner (also: here) 

New Testament Witnesses of Christ by John Hall 

Eternal Man by Truman Madsen 

The Second Comforter by Denver Snuffer 

No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie 

Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn 

• Colin recommends a shorter book, The Angel and the Sorcerer by Peter Levenda if Quinn’s book is too lengthy or intimidating.

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith by Linda King Newell 

“A Gift Given: A Gift Taken – Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women” by Linda King Newell 

In this episode, Skyler interviews Dr. Ed Romine about his book The Booming Baritone Bell of England: The Pedagogy and Practice of Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Open-Air Preaching. The interview will cover Spurgeon's basic biography, including chapters such as the Downgrade Controversy - and will include any comments Spurgeon had about Mormonism. Toward the end, we will also cover some of Ed’s story and how he came to be an Elder at FBC Provo. 

An example of an Ed Romine sermon can be found here and here.

Other Resources: 

Ten Essential Sermons of Charles Spurgeon, Introduction by Tom Nettles 

• One Example: “The War of Truth” (Spurgeon Sermon on Exodus 17.9, Jan. 11, 1857) 
• "Baptismal Regeneration" (Sermon on Mark 16.15-16, June 5, 1864)

Spurgeon by Arnold Dallimore 

Spurgeon the Pastor: Recovering a Biblical and Theological Vision for Ministry by Geoffrey Chang 

“What Was the Downgrade Controversy Actually All About?” by Alex DePrima (also: here)

Living by Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon by Tom Nettles 

The Child is the Father of the Man: C.H. Spurgeon by Tom Nettles 

Reformation Theology: A Systematic Summary by Matthew Barrett 

“Mormons, Crickets, and Gulls: A New Look At An Old Story” by William Hartley (Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 38, 1970, No. 3) 

In this episode, Skyler interviews Dr. Ed Romine about his book The Booming Baritone Bell of England: The Pedagogy and Practice of Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Open-Air Preaching. The interview will cover Spurgeon's basic biography, including chapters such as the Downgrade Controversy - and will include any comments Spurgeon had about Mormonism. Toward the end, we will also cover some of Ed’s story and how he came to be an Elder at FBC Provo. 

An example of an Ed Romine sermon can be found here and here.

Other Resources: 

Ten Essential Sermons of Charles Spurgeon, Introduction by Tom Nettles 

• One Example: “The War of Truth” (Spurgeon Sermon on Exodus 17.9, Jan. 11, 1857) 
• "Baptismal Regeneration" (Sermon on Mark 16.15-16, June 5, 1864)

Spurgeon by Arnold Dallimore 

Spurgeon the Pastor: Recovering a Biblical and Theological Vision for Ministry by Geoffrey Chang 

“What Was the Downgrade Controversy Actually All About?” by Alex DePrima (also: here)

Living by Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon by Tom Nettles 

The Child is the Father of the Man: C.H. Spurgeon by Tom Nettles 

Reformation Theology: A Systematic Summary by Matthew Barrett 

“Mormons, Crickets, and Gulls: A New Look At An Old Story” by William Hartley (Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 38, 1970, No. 3) 

Original title: "Final" Judgment(s); The Universalist-impulse, Exaltation(s), and the sons of perdition

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the fifty-second lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (December 25-31) is titled “He that Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things” and covers Revelation 15-22. 

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

Pastor Brendon's Colossians series can be found here and/or here. 

Seminary Manual: here, here and here 

• “Help students discover that “the spirit of prophecy” (verse 10) refers to the gift of revelation and inspiration from God, which allows us to receive and speak His word.” 

Gospel Principles and here, here and here 

1 Nephi 10.20-21, 14.7,10; 2 Nephi 9.46; Mosiah 3.11,19, 4.30, 5.15, 24, 15.25; Alma 5.39, 11.34-44, 12.12-14, 27, 28.11-12, 34.33-35, 42.10; Mormon 3.20; 3 Nephi 26.4-5, 27.33; Moroni 8.22 

D&C 11; 19; 29; 38; 45; 58; 68; 76; 82; 88; 128; 130; 131; 132; 133; 137 

“Celestial Kingdom”  

The Words of Joseph Smith edited by Andrew Ehat and Lyndon Cook 

• “No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus, and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever salvation has been administered it has been by testimony.” (p.10) 
• “Now if any man has the testimony of Jesus, has he not the spirit of prophecy? And if he has the spirit of prophecy, I ask, is he not a prophet? And if a prophet, he can receive revelation. And any man that does not receive revelation for himself must be damned, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (p. 230) 

Joseph Smith: here and here 

The Articles of Faith by James Talmage 

“Divine Love” (Russell Nelson) 

“My Words...Never Cease” (Jeffrey Holland) 

Statements of the LDS First Presidency, edited by Gary Bergera: 

• “According to the light we receive, so shall we be judged; the Lord will not hold us responsible for what we have had no opportunity of learning and His mercies will be extended to those who do not know the law.” (Joseph F. Smith to William A. Smith, Jan. 23, 1903; p. 244) 

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary; Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie 

The Revelation of John the Apostle by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes 

“The Redemption of the Dead: A Latter-day Saint Perspective on the Fate of the Unevangelized” by David Paulsen 

Joseph Smith the Prophet by Truman Madsen 

• “To those who argued that there was no such thing as prophecy, anceint or modern, he would say (quoting John in Revelation 19:10): ‘The New Testament says that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. I am a servant of Jesus Christ. I have a testimony of Jesus. Therefore, I am a prophet.’ Occasionally, he tied his enemies into a logical paradox. He would say, ‘Have you discovered that there is no revelation? How?’ They would say, ‘Does not the Bible end all revelation?’ He would reply, ‘If so, there is a great defect in the book or it would have said so.’ Pointing out that it takes revelation to know that there will be no more revelation, he once asked, ‘Have ye turned revelators? Then why deny revelation?’” 

Brigham Young: JD 4.220 ; "Discourse on Marriage" 

Heber C. Kimball: JD 7.236 

A Treatise on Atonement by Hosea Ballou 

Jason Wallace: here and here 

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Sandra and Jerald Tanner 

“This is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology by Charles Harrell 

The Mound Builder Myth by Jason Colavito 

“Anti-Universalist Rhetoric in the Book of Mormon” by Dan Vogel; found in New Approaches to the Book of Mormon, edited by Brent Metcalfe 

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

The Joy of Hearing; Revelation (BECNT) by Thomas Schreiner 

The Book of Revelation (NIGTC) by G.K. Beale 

The Returning King by Vern Poythress 

Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis Johnson 

All Things New by Brian Tabb 

The Question of Canon; Canon Revisited by Michael Kruger 

In this episode, Skyler goes over a few loose ends from previous episodes. This includes Wilford Woodruff’s vision of, and temple work for the “founding fathers” - some aspects of the LDS version of the fundamentalist v. modernist debate to keep in mind (so as to not put Boyd K. Packer and J. Gresham Machen on the same side of the divide) - J. Reuben Clark’s impact on LDS church education, and two book recommendations to read on biblical canon. 

D&C 98; D&C 101; Wilford Woodruff: JD 19:229 

Temples of the Most High, compiled by N.B. Lundwall 

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

The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson; “The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner” 

Things in Heaven and Earth: The Life and Times of Wilford Woodruff, a Mormon Prophet by Thomas Alexander 

“Wilford Woodruff’s Vision of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence” by Brian H. Stuy; found in Dimensions of Faith, edited by Stephen Taysom 

The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff by Vicki Jo Anderson 

“Joseph Smith Goes to Washington, 1839-40" by Ronald Barney 

No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie

“Proclamation - Rebellion in the Territory of Utah” by President James Buchanan 

The Mormon Rebellion: America’s First Civil War, 1857-1858 by David Bigler and Will Bagley 

Seminary Manual (for teachers) 

Mormonism in Transition by Thomas Alexander 

Mormons and the Bible by Philip Barlow 

“The 1911 Evolution Controversy at Brigham Young University” by Gary Bergera; found in Search for Harmony: Essays on Science and Mormonism, edited by Gene Sessions and Craig Oberg 

Brigham Young University: A House of Faith by Gary Bergera and Ronald Priddis 

“A Charted Course in Church Education” by J. Reuben Clark (and here) 

“The Mantle is Far, Far Greater than the Intellect” by Boyd K. Packer 

“The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922” by Shannon Caldwell Montez 

“W.H. Chamberlin and the Quest for a Mormon Theology” by James M. McLachlan 

“Seers, Savants and Evolution: The Uncomfortable Interface” by Duane Jeffery 

Lynn Packer: here ; Mormon Land (and here) 

Gospel Topics Essays 

The Modernist Impulse in American Protestantism by William Hutchison 

The Presbyterian Controversy by Bradley Longfield 

Defending the Faith by D.G. Hart 

David Swing: here; Charles Briggs: here, here, here, and here 

The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture by B.B. Warfield (and here) 

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

The Church Confronts Modernity: Catholic Intellectuals and the Progressive Era by Thomas Woods

Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden 

Seminary Manual (for teachers) 

“My Words...Never Cease” (Jeffrey Holland) 

The Question of Canon; Canon Revisited by Michael Kruger 

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the fifty-second lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (December 18-24) is titled “Good Tidings of Great Joy” and covers Christmas. 

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

Pastor Brendon's Colossians series can be found here and/or here. 

Individuals and Families 

Gospel Principles ; here and here 

Statements of the LDS First Presidency compiled by Gary Bergera 

Joseph Smith told Alexander Neibaur that he saw Jesus with a light complexion (white skin) and blue eyes (A.N. Journal, May 24,1844) - thus, looking a lot like...Joseph Smith. Whiteness is also true of Mary in 1 Nephi 11.13-15, who is even claimed by some LDS to be from England, based on legend.   

Brigham Young: JD 7.289; 10.324-325 

“Remembering Christmas Past” by Larry Porter 

“Nephi and His Asherah” by Daniel Peterson (also here, here, and here) 

“For Mormons, Christmastime Is For Honoring Jesus – and Joseph Smith” by Sharon Lindbloom 

Christmas Books (MRM) by Eric Johnson 

The First Days of Jesus: The Story of the Incarnation by Andreas Kostenberger and Alexander Stewart 

Why God Became Man by Anselm 

On the Incarnation of Our Lord by Athanasius 

Nativity Sermons I-VIII by Pope Leo the Great 

Sermons to the People: Advent, Christmas, New Year, Epiphany by Augustine  

Christianity and Liberalism; The Virgin Birth of Christ by J. Gresham Machen 

Miracles by C.S. Lewis 

The Incarnation of God by John Clark and Marcus Johnson 

The Birth of Christ by J.V. Fesko 

This is a response to this short. There is nothing here that is meant to take away, in any way, from the good this ministry does and will continue to do. In fact, in defense of the short - the LDS often obfuscate with their use of language, rather than clarify, including on their website.

The citations which the short portrays, and one from the comments are:

D&C 29.36-38; 76. 28-38; 88.24,32; "Hell" (LDS website)

The episode at issue in which we originally covered this is here. There will be overlap in coverage with other episodes from throughout the year, as well as the upcoming episode on Final Judgment.

LDS Website, e.g. - “Grace” 

1 Nephi 10.20-21, 14.7,10, 15.35; 2 Nephi 9.46; 28.21-23; Alma 1.3-4, 34.32-35, 41.4-5, 42; 3 Nephi 26.4-5, 27.11-17,33; D&C 19; 133.73; Moses 4; Abraham 3  

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith; also, here and here 

The Words of Joseph Smith edited by Andrew Ehat and Lyndon Cook 

History of the Church 5.517 

“Life and Death, or Organization and Disorganization” by Brigham Young (July 10,1853) 

“The Three Glories” by Brigham Young (August 26, 1860); notice – even in the sermon where he says concerning D&C 76 that it “far outweigh[s] all the Christian tenets, doctrines, and systems they have drawn from the Bible” and that “[T]he doctrine God has revealed here is more precious to me, and is worth more than all the doctrines of Christendom” - he still goes on to say: “The Kingdoms that God has prepared are innumerable.” He did not read D&C 76 as teaching that the lines between the kingdoms are eternal barriers. Moreover, he states that the LDS elders' preaching hell is “good for nothing.” 

“Eternal Punishment - ‘Mormonism,’ &c.” by Brigham Young (January 12, 1862) - wherein he states: “God’s punishment is eternal, but that does not prove that a wicked person will remain eternally in a state of punishment.” He here also distinguishes himself between the first and second death. Notice: no caveat made for anyone here – even under his discussion of the second death.  

Brigham Young: JD 1.118, 1.185 (also here); 1.275-276; 2.31; 2.124; 2.135-136; 2.137; 3.94; 3.247; 4.285; 5.76; 7.57; 9.333 

Heber C. Kimball: JD 1. 161, 3.109, 3.125; 4.2,4-5; 4.223; 4.329; 5.95; 5.203   

John Taylor: JD 1.151-152 

Orson Pratt: JD 2. 336-337 

• Orson Pratt used D&C 76 to argue that not all people of the worlds under the Father are literally children of his, but rather of the network of gods, more generally.

Jedediah M. Grant: JD 2.227 

George A. Smith: JD 12.333-334 

George Q. Cannon: JD 24.374 

Chas. W. Penrose: JD 24.91-93: “But it does not follow that because a person may be banished into the eternal punishment it is intended that he shall stay there eternally. He may go into eternal punishment, he may go to the place prepared for the rebellious and the sinner and stay there but for a certain period.” He then goes on to speak of D&C 19, then D&C 76 – and then states: “The sons of perdition are to go away into this everlasting punishment.” He makes only the caveat of “this world or the world to come”. 

A few more relevant Brigham Young quotes: 

• On the 1/3 of the children point – Brigham Young taught that: “Do you suppose that one third part of all the beings that existed in eternity came with [Lucifer]? No, but one third part of the spirits that were begotten and organized and brought forth to become tenants of fleshly bodies to dwell upon this earth.” 

• “Who will be saved in the celestial kingdom of God? They that have the oracles of truth and obey them. Where will the rest go? Into kingdoms that God has and will prepare for them and there are millions of such kingdoms. There is as many degrees of glory as there are degrees of capacity and to them will be meted out according to their faith, and goodness and the truth that abides in them and according to the light God has imparted to them.” (The Essential Brigham Young, pp.139-140)  

• "Do we know what hell is? And where hell is? Who can point it out? In many instances where the apostles have been speaking and likewise Jesus in his communications to the people this earth is compared to hell. Well it is in one sense. If we find out really that hell is anything more or less than this earth, this wicked world, we shall find that it is banishment from the society and presence of Holy beings." (The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Vol. 1, pg. 1103) 

• Young stated in a "Discourse on Marriage" that women "are not accountable for the sins that are in the world." This is one of the places where the idea that women cannot become "sons of perdition" is taught. He also teaches that here, but says “in hell”. 

Evidences and Reconciliations; A Rational Theology; Joseph Smith: Seeker After Truth – Prophet of God; The Message of the Doctrine and Covenants by John A. Widtsoe 

• “In the Great Plan there is no provision for the eternal damnation of man.” (A Rational Theology, p. 183) 
• “In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is no hell...The gospel of Jesus Christ has no hell in the old proverbial sense.” (Joseph Smith: Seeker After Truth - Prophet of God, p. 178) 

Elias: An Epic of the Ages by Orson F. Whitney 

Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage 

A Gospel Trilogy by Cleon Skousen 

• “Elder Widtsoe then called my attention to Doctrine and Covenants, 88:32 where it says that these afflicted entities will ‘RETURN AGAIN to their own place.’ The scripture says this means: ‘They shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.’ (D&C 133:73). From all of this we learn that the scriptures clearly teach that we all originally came from outer darkness and the sons of perdition return AGAIN to the place from which we all originated.” (p.11, emphasis in original) 

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie 

Gospel Principles ; Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service 

LDS Temple transcript: here and here; A form of it is in the book by Sandra Tanner, cited below. This is the script that Skyler read from in the episode. Apparently, there is also a line (missing from the Tanner version) about believing in “a devil”, as well. Notice: the belief in “a devil” is condemned literally in a scene where Lucifer is present. 

“Review: Heaven, Hell, and Other People: A Wandering Review of Samuel Brown’s First Principels and Ordinances” by Michael Austin 

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Sandra and Jerald Tanner 

Mormonism in Transition by Thomas Alexander 

The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, edited by Devery Anderson 

The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship by David John Buerger 

Mormon Matters 

“Eternal Damnation, Outer Darkness, and the Reorganization of Intelligence” by Tom Bennett 

Concise Theology by J.I. Packer 

Simply Put: here and here 

“Trichotomy: A Beachhead for Gnostic Influences” by Kim Riddlebarger  

Isaac Watts Hymn: “When I can Read My Title Clear” 

Original title: The War in Heaven; Agency as theological "Liberal-tarianism"

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the fiftieth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (December 11-17) is titled “They Overcame...,by the Blood of the Lamb” and covers Revelation 6-14. 

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

Pastor Brendon's Colossians series can be found here and/or here. 

Seminary Manual: here, here, here and here 

JSH 1.29-54; JST Revelation; Moses 4; Abraham 3; 2 Ne 2; Alma 13, 32 

D&C 4.4; 6.3; 7; 13; 19; 22; 29; 33.7; 45; 76; 77; 82; 84; 86; 87; 88; 93; 97; 101; 110; 115; 121; 128; 131; 132; 133  

Gospel Principles; Jesus Christ Chosen as Savior 

“My Turn on Earth” (Carol Lynn Pearson) 

Joseph Smith: here and here 

The Words of Joseph Smith edited by Andrew Ehat and Lyndon Cook 

“Beware of Pride”; The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner; “Our Immediate Responsibility”; “Life Is Eternal” (Ezra Taft Benson) - also Oct. 1961 CR 

“A Time of Decision” (Harold B. Lee) 

“The Times in Which We Live”; “War and Peace” (Gordon Hinckley) 

“The Canker of Contention” (Russell Nelson) 

“Prayer and Promptings” (Boyd Packer) 

“The Enemy Within” (James Faust) 

“If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear” (L. Tom Perry) 

“Preparing for the Lord’s Return” (D. Todd Christofferson) 

“Winning the War Against Evil” (James J. Hamula) 

October 2010 General Conference 

“Race Problems – As They Affect the Church” (Mark E. Petersen) (or here) 

The Seer by Orson Pratt 

Mediation and the Atonement by John Taylor 

The Articles of Faith; Jesus the Christ by James Talmage 

A Rational Theology by John Widtsoe 

Elias: An Epic of the Ages by Orson F. Whitney 

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

The Way to Perfection by Joseph Fielding Smith 

The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil; Many Are Called but Few Are Chosen by H. Verlan Andersen 

Approaching Zion by Hugh Nibley 

Gospel Trilogy; Prophecy and Modern Times by Cleon Skousen 

Brigham Young: JD 3.256; 3.369; 9.333; 13.282; 14. 93-94, 280-281 

John Taylor: JD 19.79; 22.300 

Wilford Woodruff: JD 21.125-126; 23.126-127 

Lorenzo Snow: JD 20.367 

Orson Pratt: JD 21.287-288 

George Q. Cannon: JD 11.229-230 

Jedediah M. Grant: JD 2.11-12 

Moses Thatcher: JD 26.305 

“Agency”; “War in Heaven” 

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary by Bruce R. McConkie 

The Revelation of John the Apostle by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes 

The Second War in Heaven as Now Being Waged by Lucifer Through Hitler as a Dummy by Nels L. Nelson 

“Free Agency and Freedom - - Some Misconceptions” by Garth Mangum 

“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” 

“The War in Heaven and Satan’s Continuing Battle for Power” by Kevin Bulloch 

“Mormonism’s Satan and the Tree of Life” by Jeffrey Bradshaw and Roman J. Head 

“’Moral, Responsible, and Free’: Mormon Conceptions of Divine Justice” by Terryl Givens 

The Mormon Jesus by John Turner 

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

“Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts” by D. Michael Quinn 

“’One Soul Shall Not Be Lost’: The War in Heaven in Mormon Thought” by Boyd Jay Petersen 

“Making A Mormon of Milton” by John Tanner 

“An Ambiguous Heritage” by Thomas Alexander; also see Things in Heaven and Earth: The Life and Times of Wilford Woodruff, a Mormon Prophet 

The Ritualization of Mormon History and Other Essays by Davis Bitton 

“The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922” by Shannon Caldwell-Montez 

“The Doctrine of the Firstborn and Only Begotten” by Rodney Turner  

David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Gregory Prince 

“This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology by Charles Harrell 

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner 

“Mormonism in the New Germany” (Deseret News, December 9,1933); or here 

“The Fuhrer’s New Clothes: Helmuth Huebner and the Mormons in the Third Reich” by Alan Keele and Douglas Tobler 

Moroni and the Swastika by David Conley Nelson 

The Aryan Jesus by Susannah Heschel 

The God of Israel and Christian Theology by R. Kendall Soulen

Christian Antisemitism by Michael Brown 

The Lie the Will Not Die: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion by Hadassa Ben-Itto 

The Hebrew Republic by Eric Nelson 

The Virtue of Nationalism; Conservatism: A Rediscovery by Yoram Hazony 

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

The Joy of Hearing; Revelation (BECNT) by Thomas Schreiner 

The Book of Revelation (NIGTC) by G.K. Beale 

The Returning King by Vern Poythress 

Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis Johnson 

All Things New by Brian Tabb 

Jason Wallace: here, and here 

Defending the Faith by D.G. Hart 

The War for Righteousness by Richard Gamble 

The Great and Holy War by Philip Jenkins 

Illiberal Reformers by Thomas Leonard 

Intellectuals and Race by Thomas Sowell 

American Awakening by Joshua Mitchell 

The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt 

Original title: Revelation(s): Do we worship the same Jesus?

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-ninth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (December 4-10) is titled “Glory, and Power, Be Unto...the Lamb for Ever” and covers Revelation 1-5. 

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

Pastor Brendon's Colossians series can be found here and/or here. 

Seminary Manual: here, here, here, and here 

D&C 93; 82.10; 130.10-11,20-21; Alma 42.13, 22, 25; Mormon 9.19; 2 Nephi 2; 1 Ne 14.18-27; Ether 4.16 ; D&C 113 (and here); 77; 7; 132; 137 

Gospel Principles and here, here, here 

Joseph Smith: here and here; The Lectures on Faith 

“Happiness Letter” (also here and here) 

• HC 1.176: “The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph in an unusual manner, and he prophesied that John the Revelator was then among the Ten Tribes of Israel...to prepare them for their return from their long dispersion, to again possess the land of their fathers.”  

“The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent” ; “A Perfect Brightness of Hope” (Jeffrey Holland) 

“Our Relationship with the Lord” (Bruce R. McConkie) 

“We Look to Christ” (Gordon Hinckley) 

“The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner”; “Civic Standards for the Faithful Saints” (Ezra Taft Benson) 

Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, edited by Susan Staker:

• "[President Kimball] made the following remarks: ...Some have said that I was very presumptuous to say that Brother Brigham was my God & Saviour. Brother Joseph was his God. The one that gave Joseph the keys of the kingdom was his God which was Peter. Jesus Christ was his God & God & Father of Jesus Christ was Adam." (p.150)

“Becoming Like God” (Gospel Topics Essay; cited in the Seminary Manual) 

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary by Bruce R. McConkie 

The Revelation of John the Apostle by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes 

The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil; Many Are Called but Few Are Chosen by H. Verlan Andersen 

Gospel Trilogy; Prophecy and Modern Times by Cleon Skousen 

The Words of Joseph Smith, edited by Andrew Ehat and Lyndon Cook 

• “Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written.” (p.188) 
• “There is no angel [who] ministers to this earth [but who] either does belong or has belonged to this earth. And the angels do not reside on a planet like our earth, but they dwell with God, and the planet where he dwells is like crystal, and like a sea of glass before the throne.” (p. 169) 
• “Probably those were beasts which had lived on another planet than ours.” (p. 171) 

Compare President Wilford Woodruff and Elder Bruce R. McConkie on the question of eternal progression:

• "If there was a point where man in his progression could not proceed any further, the very idea would throw a gloom over every intelligent and reflecting mind. God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end. It is just so with us. We are in a probation, which is a school of experience." (Wilford Woodruff, JD 6.120)
• "Now may I suggest the list of heresies. Heresy one: There are those who say that God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths. This is false - utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it." (Bruce R. McConkie; Seven Deadly Heresies; Notice the condemnation of earlier men of higher church-rank then himself - including but not limited to Presidents/Prophets Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff.)

Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden 

Crucible of the Millennium by Michael Barkun  

As A Thief in the Night by Dan Erickson 

The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism by Grant Underwood 

“This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology by Charles Harrell 

An Earnest Plea to Charismatics; An Earnest Plea to Seventh-day Adventists (Jason Wallace) 

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul 

The Joy of Hearing; Revelation (BECNT) by Thomas Schreiner 

The Book of Revelation (NIGTC) by G.K. Beale 

The Returning King; Chance and the Sovereignty of God by Vern Poythress 

Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis Johnson 

All Things New by Brian Tabb 

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer 

The Potter’s Freedom by James White 

Hume: A Very Short Introduction by James Harris 

David Hume by James Anderson (also here and here) 

Christian Theistic Evidences by Cornelius Van Til 

Original title: Is God Love or Is God Loving? - Nelson's "Divine Love" of the Gods

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-ninth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (November 27-December 3) is titled “God Is Love” and covers 1-3 John and Jude. 

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

Pastor Brendon's Colossians series can be found here and/or here. 

Pastor Ed Romine's Jude series can be found here and here.

Seminary Manual and here 

D&C 82; 130; 131; 132 

Gospel Principles

“Divine Love” (Russell Nelson) 

Joseph Smith: here and here; The Lectures on Faith 

“Happiness Letter” (also here and here) 

"The Light of Christ" (Boyd Packer)

“The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent” (Jeffrey Holland) 

The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball 

A Rational Theology by John Widtsoe

The Essential Orson Pratt 

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

Core Christianity by Michael Horton 

1, 2, 3 John (NAC) by Daniel Akin 

The Gospel and Epistles of John by F.F. Bruce 

The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson 

The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. Carson 

God in the Whirlwind by David Wells

The Attributes of God; God Is Love by Gerald Bray

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

Early Christian Doctrines by JND Kelly

The Earliest Christologies by James Papandrea 

The Incarnation of God by John Clark and Marcus Peter Johnson 

The Gnostic New Age by April DeConick