Distinctive Christianity

Original title: Eternal Progression and the Spirit World; "They" have a Divine Nature - and so do you!

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-eighth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (November 20-26) is titled “Rejoice with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory” and covers 1 and 2 Peter. 

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. 

Note: the grammatical construction referenced is called Granville Sharp's Rule. (More below)

Seminary Manual: here and here 

“Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” (a.k.a. D&C 138); D&C 93;29; 76; 88; 110; 132; 137 

Gospel Principles (and here) 

“The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” (M. Russell Ballard) 

“The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus” (D. Todd Christofferson) 

“The Price of Priesthood Power” (Russell Nelson) 

"Life Is Eternal" (Ezra Taft Benson)

“Becoming Like Him” (Scott D. Whiting) 

Joseph Smith: here and here; The Lectures on Faith 

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

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

• “If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses. For if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from him and drawing towards the Devil...Search your hearts and see if you are like God. I have searched mine and feel to repent of all my sins...As far as we degenerate from God, we descend to the Devil and lose knowledge. And without knowledge we cannot be saved...Is not God good? Yes; then you be good. If he is faithful, then you be faithful. Add to your faith virtue, to your virtue knowledge, and seek for every good thing....A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence, it needs revelation to assist us and give us knowledge of the things of God.” (pp. 113-114) 
• “It is not wisdom that we should have all knowledge at once presented before us, but that we should have a little. Then we can comprehend it...The principle of knowledge is the principle of salvation. The principle can be comprehended, for anyone that cannot get knowledge to be saved will be damned.The principle of salvation is given to us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.” (p. 200) 

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary by Bruce R. McConkie 

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

Brigham Young: JD 1.50-51 ;2.137; 4.285, 287-289, 4.371, 9.269 

Heber C. Kimball: JD 1. 161, JD 3.125; 4.4-5; 4.329; 5.203   

John Taylor: JD 6.163, 17.375; 18.138-39; 22.308-309 

Wilford Woodruff: JD 19.229; 22.333-334, 24.54-55 

Joseph F. Smith: JD 20.28; 21.10  

Gospel Doctrine: Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith 

A Rational Theology by John A. Widtsoe 

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

The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson 

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

The Essential Orson Pratt 

Gospel Trilogy by Cleon Skousen 

“Treasures in the Heavens” by Hugh Nibley 

“Becoming Like God” (Gospel Topics Essay) 

“The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead (D&C 138)” by Robert L. Millet 

“From Obscurity to Scripture: Joseph F. Smith’s Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” by Mary Jane Woodger 

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

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

The Mormon Jesus by John Turner; who calls Mormonism “temple Christianity”. 

“Wilford Woodruff’s Vision and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence” by Brian Stuy; found in Dimensions of Faith: A Mormon Studies Reader, edited by Stephen C. Taysom 

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

Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn 

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner 

“An Ambivalent Rejection: Baptism for the Dead and the Reorganized Church Experience” by Roger Launius 

“Baptism for the Dead: Comparing RLDS and LDS Perspectives” (Grant Underwood) 

“Reincarnation In Mormonism” (Sunstone; Kirk Watson and Robert Beckstead) 

WHI: here, here and here 

1, 2 Peter and Jude by Thomas Schreiner 

1 Peter: A Commentary by Craig Keener 

Greg Bahnsen: here, and here 

The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G.K. Beale 

Vox Petri by Gene Green; though, also considering Michael Kruger and TCI on 2 Peter. 

James White; Jason Wallace (esp on hermeneutics) 

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

The King James Only Controversy by James White

• the author points out that 2 Peter 1.1 is one of the clearest examples of what is called Granville Sharp's Rule.
• "Basically, the rule states that when you have two nouns, which are not proper names (such as Cephas, or Paul, or Timothy), which are describing a person, and are connected by the word 'and,' and the first noun has the article ('the') while the second does not, both nouns are referring to the same person. In our texts, this is demonstrated by 'God' and 'Savior' at Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1. God has the article, it is followed by the word and, and Savior does not have the article. Hence, both nouns are being applied to the same person, Jesus Christ." (p.335)
• More on Granville Sharp here.

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

Core Christianity; Christless Christianity by Michael Horton (also here and here)

One With Christ by Marcus Peter Johnson 

The Incarnation of God by John Clark and Marcus Peter Johnson 

Crux, Mors, Inferi by Samuel Renihan 

“He Descended to the Dead” by Matthew Emerson 

Battle for the Keys by Justin Bass (and here) 

The Disobedient Spirits and Christian Baptism by Bo Reicke 

Heidelcast on the Descensus 

Original title: First Vision(s), and which "Faith" Without Works Is Dead?; Contradiction or Complement?

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-seventh lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (November 13-19) is titled “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only” and covers James. 

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. 

Accounts of the First Vision; JSH 1

Seminary Manual: here, here and here 

“Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains” (Russell Nelson) 

“The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith” (Gordon Hinckley) 

"Life Is Eternal" (Ezra Taft Benson)

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary by Bruce R. McConkie 

“What Faith Is” by Dennis Rasmussen; found in The Lectures on Faith in Historical Perspective, edited by Larry Dahl and Charles D. Tate 

An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer 

“New Light on Mormon Origins from Palymyra (N.Y.) Revival” by Wes Walters 

“The Significance of Joseph Smith’s ‘First Vision’ in Mormon Thought” by James Allen 

“Another Look at Joseph Smith’s First Vision” by Stan Larson 

“Which First Vision Account Should We Believe?” by Lane Thuet 

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner 

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

By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus by Charles Larson (and here) 

The Mormon Hierarchy: Wealth and Corporate Power by D. Michael Quinn 

Nelson stories: here and here  

Second Anointing: here, here and here 

M Russell Ballard and Tim Ballard  

WHI: here, here, and here 

Michael Kruger

Notes on Galatians; What Is Faith?; Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross by Leon Morris 

The God Who Justifies by James White 

James (TNTC) by Douglas Moo 

 The Letter of James; Brother of Jesus, Friend of God by Luke Timothy Johnson 

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin 

The Letter and the Spirit by Augustine 

Greek Grammar: Beyond the Basics by Dan Wallace 

Biblical Words and Their Meaning by Moises Silva 

Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson 

All that Is in God by James Dolezal 

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey 

Histories and Fallacies by Carl Trueman 

Jesus' Resurrection and Joseph's Visions by Robert Bowman

Original title: Power Grab and Double Standards: Lost Patriarchs to Semi-lost "Doctrine"

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-sixth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (Nov.6-12) is titled “An High Priest of Good Things to Come” and covers Hebrews 7-13. 

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 and here 

General Handbook (esp. here, here, here and here)

D&C 20; 28.13; 68.4; 84;86.8-9; 107; 110; 124; 132; 138; Alma 32; 3 Ne 11

Official Declaration1

The Lectures on Faith 

Joseph Smith: here and here 

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

• At one place – Smith distinguishes between Melchizeedek and the “Aaronic or Levitical” (p. 38-39). Yet, at other places, Smith distinguishes between “Aaron, Abraham, and Melchizedek” - Levitical, Abraham’s “patriarchal power”, and “that of Melchizedek”- and the “three grand orders of priesthood” as “the King of Shalom”, “patriarchal authority”, and Levitical (pp. 244-246). 
• “I admit that by reading the scriptures of truth, Saints in the days of Paul could learn beyond the power of contradiction that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had the promise of eternal life confirmed to them by an oath of the Lord. But that promise or oath was no assurance to them of their salvation. But they could, by walking in the footsteps and continuing in the faith of their fathers, obtain for themselves an oath of confirmation that they were meet to be partakers of the inheritance with the Saints in light...will not the same faithfulness, the same purity of heart, and the same faith bring the same assurance of eternal life – and that in the same manner...” (pp.299-300) 

True to the Faith, excerpt from “Faith”: “Faith is a gift from God, but you must nurture your faith to keep it strong. Faith is like the muscle of your arm. If you exercise it, it grows strong. If you put it in a sling and leave it there, it becomes weak.” 

Gospel Principles 

“Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains” (Russell Nelson) 

“Faith Is Not by Chance; but by Choice” (Neil Andersen) 

“Faith - The Choice Is Yours” (Richar Edgley) 

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Understanding Paul by Richard Lloyd Anderson 

Epistle To the Hebrews by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes  

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie; under “Faith” - he includes the heading: “Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness.” 

Orson Pratt: JD 19.114

The Lectures on Faith: In Historical Perspective, edited by Larry Dahl and Charles Tate, Jr. 

“The ‘Lectures on Faith’: A Case Study in Decanonization” by Richard Van Wagoner, Stephen C. Walker, and Allen D. Roberts 

Power From On High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood by Gregory Prince 

Lost Legacy: The Mormon Office of Presiding Patriarch by Irene M. Bates and E. Gary Smith 

"A Gift Given: A Gift Taken; Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women" by Linda King Newell

The Mormon Jesus by John Turner 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

Mormonism in Transition by Thomas Alexander

Early Mormonism and the Magic World View;The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power; The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn 

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

The Politics of American Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle by Kathleen Flake

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Sandra and Jerald Tanner 

The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri by Steve LeSueur

When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger, et al.

What Is Faith?; Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

Popular Misconceptions on Faith; also here 

Jason Wallace: here, here; Simply Put 

The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G.K. Beale 

The Royal Priest: Psalm 110 in Biblical Theology by Matthew Emadi 

Hebrews (NIV Application Commentary) by George Guthrie 

Today’s episode is with Pastor Jason Wallace on his recent video The Failure of Eastern Orthodoxy.

We discussed his motivation for making the video, his thoughts about the importance of its content, as well as some of the criticism the video has received. Along the way, we focus on topics such as the work of John of Damascus, the authenticity and validity of The Protoevangelium of James, and the doctrine of theosis.

An Earnest Plea to Roman Catholics

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

The Courage To Be Protestant; No Place For Truth by David Wells

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Disillusioned: Why I Left the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood and Church by Joshua Schooping

The Patristic Roots of Reformed Worship by Hughes Oliphant Old

War Against the Idols by Carlos Eire

Historical Criticism of the Bible: Methodology or Ideology?; Biblical Criticism on Trial: How Scientific is 'Scientific Theology'? by Eta Linnemann

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

Who Is My Mother? by Eric Svendsen

By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus by Charles Larson (also here and here)

Debate on Homosexuality

After Mormonism...Now What?

Original title: The Passable Mormon-Jesus: From New Age Seances to Loving Executions

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-fifth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (Oct. 30 – Nov. 5) is titled “Jesus Christ, ‘the Author of Eternal Salvation’” and covers Hebrews 1-6. 

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. 

Correction (of a silly mistake): JS was assassinated on June 27,1844.

Individual and Families; Sunday School (Holland video at bottom; also here) 

Gospel Principles and here 

2 Ne. 2.7, 9.7,26, 25.16; Mosiah 13.28,34; Alma 34.8-12, 42.15,21-31; Mos. 1.33, 3.1-9; D&C 20.17,28; 76; 77.3; 93; 132 

True to the Faith, under “Atonement”, regardless of substitutionary language states things like: “To receive this gift, we must meet certain requirements”; and “Through your faith and righteousness and through His atoning sacrifice, all the inequities, injuries, and pains of this life can be fully compensated for and made right.” 

“The Light of Christ” (Boyd Packer) 

“Atonement of Jesus Christ” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism);“The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent” (Jeffrey Holland) 

The Lectures on Faith 

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

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

• “Christ, who is the image of man, Is also the express image of his Father’s person. So says Paul. For in him, Christ, dwelt ‘the fulness of the Godhead bodily’. Why? Because he was ‘the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.’ What person? God’s person.” (p.231) 
• “But the holy ghost is yet a Spiritual body and waiting to take himself a body. As the Savior did or as god did or the gods before them took bodies...” (June 16, 1844; p. 382) 
• “Joseph also said that the Holy Ghost is now in a state of Probation which if he should perform in righteousness he may pass through the same or a similar course of things that the Son has.” (August 27, 1843; p. 245) 

Joseph Smith: here and here ; The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 38-40 

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 actually be from England, based on legend. 

Statements of the LDS First Presidency compiled by Gary Bergera 

• “Christ’s supreme sacrifice can find full fruition in our lives only as we accept the invitation to follow Him. This call is not irrelevant, unrealistic, or impossible. To follow an individual means to watch him or listen to him closely; to accept his authority, to take him as a leader, and to obey him; to support and advocate his ideas; and to take him as a model. Each of us can accept this challenge.” (Howard W. Hunter, “First Presidency Message”, Ensign, Sept. 1994) 

Michael as Adam is agreed upon by all sides of Mormonism.

Brigham Young: JD 1.50-51; 4.53-54; 4.215-220; 13.309; 14.71-72 

Amasa Lyman: JD 3.140f; 3.164-177, 213f; 7.296-299 

Jedediah M. Grant: JD 1.346; 4.49-51 (Notice the condemnations of occult practices that would include their prophet, Joseph Smith) 

Orson Hyde: JD 4.259f 

Preface to JD 8 states: "The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church, and every rightminded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every Number as it comes forth from the press as an additional reflector of 'the light that shines from Zion's hill.'"

Brigham Young stated:

• "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture." (JD 13.95)
• "when they are copied and approved by me they are as good scripture as is couched in this Bible" (JD 13.264)
• 
  

Young stated in a "Discourse on Marriage" that: "Some years ago I advanced a doctrine with regard to Adam being our Father and our God. That will be a curse to many of the elders of Israel because of their folly with regard to it...It is one of the most glorious revealments of the economy of heaven, yet the world hold it in derision. Had I revealed the doctrine of the baptism for the dead instead [of] Joseph Smith, there are men around me who would have ridiculed the idea until doomsday, but they are ignorant and stupid, like the dumb ass."

The Mediation and Atonement by John Taylor 

A Rational Theology; Evidences and Reconciliations by John Widtsoe 

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie 

Understanding Paul by Richard Lloyd Anderson 

Epistle To the Hebrews by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes 

A Gospel Trilogy; The First 2,000 Years by Cleon Skousen 

Exploring Mormon Thought: Volume 2, The Problems of Theism and the Love of God by Blake Ostler 

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

“The ‘Moral’ Atonement as a Mormon Interpretation” by Lorin Hansen 

Jason Wallace: here, here, here and here 

No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie 

An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer 

“Early American Influences on the Book of Mormon” by Thomas E. Donofrio 

The Mound Builder Myth by Jason Colavito 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet; The Mormon Jesus by John Turner 

The Thirteenth Apostle: The Diaries of Amasa M. Lyman, 1832-1877 edited by Scott Partridge (also here) 

The Ritualization of Mormon History and Other Essays by Davis Bitton

“Amasa Lyman, The Spiritualist”; “From Apostle to Apostate: The Personal Struggle of Amasa Mason Lyman” by Loretta L. Hefner 

Early Mormonism and the Magic World View; The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power; The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power; “LDS Church Authority and New Plural Marriages, 1890-1904" by D. Michael Quinn 

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

The Mormon Jesus by John Turner 

Wayward Saints by Ronald Walker 

The Mountain Meadows Massacre by Juanita Brooks (also here) 

Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows by Will Bagley

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

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? By Jerald and Sandra Tanner 

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

The Gospel According to John (PNTC); The Gagging of God by D.A. Carson 

The Cross and the Prodigal by Kenneth Bailey 

The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross by Leon Morris 

Justin Peters (including a Todd White clip making the point that Holland makes) 

Hebrews (NIV Application Commentary) by George Guthrie 

The Forgotten Trinity by James White; Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett 

Divine Discourse in the Epistle to the Hebrews by Madison Pierce 

The Royal Priest by Matthew Emadi 

The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G.K. Beale 

Ancient Greek Religion by H.J. Rose 

Plutarch and His Intellectual World by Judith Mossman 

Destroyer of the Gods by Larry Hurtado 

Moralia by Plutarch; “Isis and Osiris” 

The Cross Before Constantine by Bruce Longenecker 

Plutarch and History by Christopher Pelling

Today’s episode is with Pastor Jason Wallace on his recent video The Failure of Eastern Orthodoxy.

We discussed his motivation for making the video, his thoughts about the importance of its content, as well as some of the criticism the video has received. Along the way, we focus on topics such as the work of John of Damascus, the authenticity and validity of The Protoevangelium of James, and the doctrine of theosis.

An Earnest Plea to Roman Catholics

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

The Courage To Be Protestant; No Place For Truth by David Wells

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Disillusioned: Why I Left the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood and Church by Joshua Schooping

The Patristic Roots of Reformed Worship by Hughes Oliphant Old

War Against the Idols by Carlos Eire

Historical Criticism of the Bible: Methodology or Ideology?; Biblical Criticism on Trial: How Scientific is 'Scientific Theology'? by Eta Linnemann

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

Who Is My Mother? by Eric Svendsen

By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus by Charles Larson (also here and here)

Debate on Homosexuality

After Mormonism...Now What?

Original title: What is Mormon Doctrine?

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-fourth lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (Oct. 23-29) is titled “Be Thou an Example of the Believers” and covers 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus - and they mention the name of the book Philemon on the title page. 

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. 

Correction: Every time Skyler said "Rasban", he actually meant to say "Renlund" (who's talk is cited below). Although both are equally boring - they may not be equally Jacobin. Being baptized "for the remission of sins" (understood as, by the correct priesthood authority claimed, the sins are washed away) being so common in the experience of nearly every LDS (ever) to the point of raising the question of the limits of needed documentation - it should be said that, technically, the True to the Faith manual states: "Because you have been baptized, you can receive the remission of your sins." Can implies a potential, rather than a guarantee. Thus, perhaps this change has been in the works longer than previously realized.

Also, the recent talk on “the Gathering” that was mentioned was actually by D. Todd Christofferson (who's talk is also cited below). 

D&C 132; original D&C 101; D&C 26.2; D&C 28.13; D&C 1.38;D&C 68.4

Sunday School Manual: here, here, here and here 

True To the Faith: A Gospel Reference 

Preach My Gospel ; Gospel Principles

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Understanding Paul by Richard Lloyd Anderson 

The Articles of Faith; The Articles of Faith by James Talmage 

“Articles of Faith: Know What We Believe” (Spencer Kimball) 

“Approaching LDS Doctrine” 

“Eternal Truth” (John Pingree, Jr.) 

“Trial of Your Faith” (Neil Andersen) 

“The Doctrine of Christ” ; “The Sealing Power” (D. Todd Christofferson) 

“Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet” (Ezra Taft Benson) 

“The Love and Laws of God” (Russell Nelson) 

“Living in the Fulness of Times” (Gordon Hinckley) 

Russell Nelson statement: “If you think the Church is fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning...” 

“Kingdoms of Glory” (Dallin Oaks) 

“Jesus Christ Is the Treasure” (Dale Renlund) 

Tim Ballard and his personal connections to M. Russell Ballard: here and here, e.g. 

"Stand As True Millennials" (Russell Nelson); also here, and here

"A Triumph of Faith: Paul's Teachings in Second Timothy" by John Scott; found in The Apostle Paul: His Life and Testimony which was the 23rd Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium

HC 6.366; wherein Joseph Smith states: “I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.” Joseph Smith also taught “that a prophet was a prophet only when he was acting as such.” (HC, 5:265.)

Evidences and Reconciliations; A Rational Theology by John Widtsoe 

Mormon Doctrine; “All Are Alike unto God” by Bruce R. McConkie (notice: “They don’t matter anymore. It doesn’t make a particle of difference what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June of this year, 1978. It is a new day and a new arrangement...”) 

"Finding Answers to Gospel Questions" (Bruce R. McConkie), esp. see section no.3. - wherein he quotes Joseph Fielding Smith (who would become a president-prophet of the LDS chuch) as saying: "It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. My words, and the teachings of any other member of the Church, high or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have this matter clear. We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man’s doctrine." Yet, how does this square with Joseph Smith, Brigham Young - and even points taught by Ezra T. Benson cited above.

"The Place of the Living Prophet, Seer, and Revelator" (Harold B. Lee); one pertinent quote by Pres. Lee is: "The only one authorized to bring forth any new doctrine is the President of the Church, who, when he does, will declare it as revelation from God, and it will be so accepted by the Council of the Twelve and sustained by the body of the Church."

Preface to JD 8 states: "The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church, and every rightminded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every Number as it comes forth from the press as an additional reflector of 'the light that shines from Zion's hill.'"

Brigham Young stated:

• "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture." (JD 13.95)
• "when they are copied and approved by me they are as good scripture as is couched in this Bible" (JD 13.264)

Brigham Young: JD 1.50-51; 9.149-150; 9.289; 10.251; 11.375; 11.269,272; 13.95; 13.264; 18.359 

Young stated in a "Discourse on Marriage" that: "Some years ago I advanced a doctrine with regard to Adam being our Father and our God. That will be a curse to many of the elders of Israel because of their folly with regard to it...It is one of the most glorious revealments of the economy of heaven, yet the world hold it in derision. Had I revealed the doctrine of the baptism for the dead instead [of] Joseph Smith, there are men around me who would have ridiculed the idea until doomsday, but they are ignorant and stupid, like the dumb ass."

Heber C. Kimball: JD 3.125; 5.203 

Joseph F. Smith: JD 20.28; 21.10 

Messages of the First Presidency, compiled by James Clark; specifically – Vol. 4, pp.266-267 

Statements of the LDS First Presidency compiled by Gary Bergera 

• “It ought to have been known, years ago, by every person in the Church – for ample teachings have been given on the point – that no member of the Church has the right to publish any doctrines, as the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, without first submitting them for examination and approval to the First Presidency and the Twelve. There is but one man upon the earth, at one time, who holds the keys to receive commandments and revelations for the Church, who has the authority to write doctrines by way of commandments unto the Church. And any man who so far forgets the order instituted by the Lord as to write and publish what may be termed new doctrines without consulting with the First Presidency of the Church respecting them, places himself in a false position, and exposes himself to the power of darkness by violating his priesthood.” (Millennial Star, Oct. 21, 1865) 
• “No man is authorized to teach to the Church new or advanced doctrines except the presidency thereof. Light comes from the head, and to that point must members of the Church look for knowledge and wisdom and doctrine and principle.” (Millennial Star, Apr. 15, 1878) 
• “The theology of our Church is the theology taught by Jesus Christ and his apostles, the theology of scripture and reason.” (Improvement Era, May 1907) 
• “Our doctrines are open to the world. They are not secret or clothed in mystery. We proclaim the pure gospel of Christ as revealed from heaven in these last days through the prophet of the nineteenth century, Joseph Smith. We invite all mankind to look into our teachings and promise all who obey them a witness of their truth by the power of the Holy Ghost, which makes men free indeed.” (Improvement Era, June 1911) 
• “[T]he theories, speculations, and opinions of men, however intelligent, ingenious, and plausible, are not necessarily doctrines of the Church or principles that God has commanded His servants to preach. No doctrine is a doctrine of this Church until it has been accepted as such by the Church, and not even a revelation from God should be taught to His people until it has first been approved by the presiding authority – the one through whom the Lord makes known His will for the guidance of the Saints as a religious body. The spirit of revelation may rest upon anyone, and teach him or her many things for personal comfort and instruction. But those are not doctrines of the Church, and however true, they must not be inculcated until proper permission is given.” (Joseph F. Smith to Lillie Golsan - July 16,1902) 

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.)

Jason Wallace: here, here, here and here 

“The Art of Scripture and Scripture as Art: The Proclamation on the Family and the Expanding Canon” by Boyd Petersen and David Scott; found in The Expanded Canon 

“The ‘Lectures on Faith’: A Case Study in Decanonization” by Richard Van Wagoner, Stephen C. Walker, and Allen D. Roberts 

As A Thief in the Night by Daniel Erickson 

The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism by Grant Underwood 

Conflict In the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

Power From on High; David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Gregory Prince 

The Mormon Jesus; Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet by John Turner 

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

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner 

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

Political Deliverance: The Mormon Quest for Statehood by Edward Lyman 

Christianity at the Crossroads by Michael Kruger 

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til by Lane Tipton 

Out of Mormonism by Judy Robertson

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

Core Christianity by Michael Horton 

Reformed Dogmatics by Herman Bavinck 

The Pastoral Epistles (NIGTC) by George Knight III 

The Authority and Inspiration of the Scriptures by B.B. Warfield 

God and Reason in the Middle Ages by Edward Grant 

The Territories of Science and Religion; The Bible, Protestantism, and the Rise of Natural Science; Science Without God? Rethinking the History of Scientific Naturalism by Peter Harrison 

The Rise of the Universities by Charles Haskins 

Universities In the Middle Ages by Alan Cobban 

The Savior of Science by Stanley Jaki 

In this episode, we interview the one and only John Kauer. Many will know him - and the rest of you soon will. He's been a staple here in Utah for many years!

The chapter discussed comes from the book Sharing the Good News with Mormons: Practical Strategies for Getting the Conversation Started, edited by Eric Johnson and Sean McDowell. John authored chapter 23: "Are You Considered As Good As Jesus? The Imputation-Approach"

1689 London Baptist Confession, chapter 11

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray

Reformed Dogmatics by Herman Bavinck

The Plan of Salvation by B.B. Warfield

Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ by John Bunyan

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

Original title: The Great Apostasy: How flexible is the Mormon narrative?

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-third lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (Oct. 16-22) is titled “Perfect That Which Is Lacking in Your Faith” and covers 1 and 2 Thessalonians. 

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. 

Correction: Skyler misspoke and stated Official Declaration 1 was 1894-95, when it was 1890. This was a weird mistake (facepalm!). There was a manifesto given in 1895, but not this one!

Seminary Manual: here, here and here 

True To the Faith: A Gospel Reference 

Preach My Gospel 

“The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” 

Jesus The Christ; The Great Apostasy by James Talmage 

A Rational Theology by John Widtsoe 

Understanding Paul by Richard Lloyd Anderson 

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Russell Nelson statement: “If you think the Church is fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning...” 

“The Ongoing Restoration” by LeGrand Curtis, Jr. 

“Apostasy and Restoration” (Dallin Oaks) 

When the Lights Went Out by Hugh Nibley 

The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil by H. Verlan Andersen

The Inevitable Apostasy by Ted R. Callister: "If there had been significant righteousness among the Saints, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would have continued." (p. 46) 

In the LDS temple endowment ceremony before 1990 - Lucifer (or Satan) states that he would "buy up...popes and priests". Then, there was a scene where Lucifer hires a minister (thus, a "hireling of Satan") who is interviewed to make sure he's been to school - and then, Lucifer has him promote "the orthodox religion" (including a God "without body, parts, or passions") to Adam/Eve. Lucifer tells the minister that he will pay him well for conversions. (here, here, here, here) Thus, Talmage’s use of this phrase would have a powerful meaning to his LDS temple-endowed readers. 

Joseph Smith claimed: "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam...Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet..." (HC 6:408; here) 

“What Latter-Day Saints get wrong about the ‘Great Apostasy’” by Peggy Fletcher Stack 

“Not Your Parents’ Apostasy and Restoration” by Michael Austin 

Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints, edited by Jason Combs, et al. 

The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism by Grant Underwood 

“New Light on Mormon Origins from Palmyra (N.Y.) Revival” by Wesley Walters 

“LDS Church Authority and New Plural Marriages, 1890-1904" by D. Michael Quinn (also here) 

Conflict In the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

The Mormon Jesus by John Turner 

The Politics of American Religious Identity by Kathleen Flake 

Standing Apart edited by Miranda Wilcox and John Young 

Justification Reconsidered by Stephen Westerholm 

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 

1-2 Thessalonians (IVP NTCS); The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G.K. Beale 

The Man of Sin; A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger 

The Reformation as Renewal by Matthew Barrett 

All That is in God by James Dolezal (also here, here) 

Luther and His Times by E.G. Schwiebert 

Roger Williams: Church and State by Edmund Morgan 

Destroyer of the Gods by Larry Hurtado 

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization by Anthony Esolen 

The Territories of Science and Religion by Peter Harrison 

The Victory of Reason by Rodney Stark 

How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods 

From Icons to Idols by David Davis 

Original title: The Only God Incarnate: The One and Only True Christ Jesus

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler discuss the forty-second lesson in the LDS Come, Follow Me sunday school manual. This week (Oct. 9-15) is titled “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me” and covers Philippians and Colossians. 

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; 132 ; JST Philippians 3.11: “resurrection of the just” 

Joseph Smith: here and here 

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

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

What Mormons Think of Christ (official pamphlet) 

Understanding Paul by Richard Lloyd Anderson 

Jesus The Christ; Articles of Faith by James Talmage 

A Rational Theology by John A. Widtsoe 

Brigham Young: JD 4.218; 11. 268; 1.49-51 

Orson Pratt: JD 18.290 

The Mormon Jesus by John Turner

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

Core Christianity; Christless Christianity by Michael Horton (also here) 

The Forgotten Trinity by James White (also here) 

Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett (also here) 

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til by Lane Tipton 

Philippians by Moises Silva 

Colossians and Philemon; The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G.K. Beale 

Christianity and Classical Culture by Jaroslav Pelikan 

The Person of Christ by Phillip Schaff