Does anyone know any good books that question the validity of mormonism?

Question

I have a friend who is mormon, and I have nothing against the religion but he has never heard the other side of the corruption that goes with this religion, like many others. Does anyone know any good books that examine the religion? This post has nothing against mormonism, but i just think it is good for people to become well-rounded in education, especially in this aspect.

Answer 1

Wikipedia has a LOT of articles on Mormonism, both good and bad. I'd almost think that they have both Mormons and Anti-Mormons working for them. Of course, all articles are written from a neutral perspective, but you see points of view come out fairly frequently.

People that leave the Church rarely leave because of external material that challenges the Church. Most "apostates" become that way by studying the Church's own publications and comparing them one with another.

"Journal of Discourses" (you can look that one up directly on Wikipedia) contains a lot of material that is difficult to swallow for many members

"History of the Church" is also one that tends to polarize people.

If you compare these volumes to the Book of Mormon, you will find TONS of contradictions (or apparent contradictions). If your friend's faith is solid, he will likely have answers for all of the contradictions and be able to explain them in their historical context. Most of the contradictions only seem to be such, since there are many words that have different meanings today than they did 200 years ago.

Keep in mind that you probably won't convince your friend to leave his religion. If this is your goal, you probably won't succeed. Mormons tend to view people who draw them away from the Church as "the wrong kind of friends" that seek to destroy their faith. Undertaking your goal from this angle is not the best idea.

The best way is to study it for yourself. Get a copy of the Journal of Discourses (wikipedia links you to a site where you can get them) or History of the Church, study it out and cross-reference to the Bible and BoM, then note any contradictions you find. That way, when you approach him with this, you can say "I've been trying to study your religion to get to know it better, and I don't understand a few of your doctrines. Would you mind explaining them to me?" That way, he won't automatically take defense and speak to you as an anti-mormon, but will want to discover truth with you. You will probably find a happy middle-ground where he learns new things about his religion, and you discover something you never knew about mormons before and gain more respect for him.

Answer 2

This is interesting, because your assumption is that those outside of the Mormon religion would have a better take or have some truth that you can't find within the Mormon faith. I have never found this to be the case with any religion I have studied. If I have wanted to find out more about a religion I studied that religion's texts, spoke with those associated with the religion and lived/walked in their shoes for a while; I have done this a bunch of times. So they always say, the best info is always "from the horses mouth."

There are many deep books published by the church that it's members don't read, but that you could use to learn more of the interesting and more difficult subjects. I wouldn't recommend reading the negative and biased stuff many have suggested.

That being said, if you do choose to read them, then read them with a grain of salt, knowing that their sole purpose is to disuade people from believing, not to educate (at least for the most part). They can be useful to spark questions and for conversation, but know that when it comes down to what they do believe I would ask them. Good luck.

There are many people who don't understand or know all the doctrines of their faith, and that's okay, because people often learn in steps or grades, learning the basics first and building upon them. If people jump right into the deep stuff it is often difficult to undertand and seesm wacky. I'm guessing most catholics don't understand the doctrine of transubstantiation. Sorry for the rambling.

Answer 3

a million. you won't be able to anticipate to unearth an historical city and discover an illustration asserting "Welcome to Zarahemla!" For all all of us understand each and all of the classic cities that have been chanced on interior the western hemisphere are cities interior the e book of Mormon. 2. DNA checking out has no longer been finished to attempt to instruct or disprove the e book of Mormon. in actuality, there won't be able to be any DNA checking out finished as a results of fact we've not got the DNA of maximum of people who we are speaking approximately. there is no way DNA can instruct or disprove the e book of Mormon. So, that one would not hassle me slightly. 3. So are the originals of the Bible. So what's the subject? 4. the account of Paul's conversion is distinctive each and each time, additionally. back, the place's the subject? If joseph Smith's tale replaced into precisely the comparable each and each time, he could be vilified as a results of fact he had a canned answer, meaning he made it up and memorized it. Damned if he does and damned if he would not. 5. God is appropriate, guy isn't. The Bible isn't suitable the two, and has had many corrections and translations and interpretations over hte centuries, additionally. do no longer carry the e book of Mormon to a double everyday. 6. there is no evidence that Joseph Smith ever did extra advantageous than look on the Kinderhook plates, there is easily no evidence that he ever even tried to translate them. there is no evidence in any respect. maximum of that's the two made up or completely beside the point to the subject. have you ever actually study the e book of Mormon? in case you have no longer finished that, I advise you start up there.

Answer 4

"The keystone of Mormonism" is a great book written by a man who served an lds mission has worked years in the lds temple and taught a church doctrine class for many years. It is the best book that I have ever read that clearly uses the Mormon churches own writings to prove without any doubt that Joseph Smith was a fraud.

Answer 5

Its a weird cult, they don't even know they're saved,as they think they have to earn their way into Heaven. That goes against the Bible, of course; they have their "book of mormon" which is false doctrine. The Bible says to not add or take away from it. I could go on about how dangerous their doctrine is, but there's not enough space. Pray for your friend that they will leave this cult and find a good Bible based church.

Answer 6

You say it's good for people to become well-rounded in education, but I don't see anything about you actually reading the book of Mormon or The Doctorin and Covenents which are the two basic books that the mormons focus on besides the bible. (yes we read the bible in our third hour of every sunday) So if your not interested in our religion why should he be interested in hearing yours???
Just a thought. Maybe you could just find out for your self if it is true or if not leave well enough alone...

Answer 7

You can look at Mormon Claims Answered by Marvin Cowan and Who Realy wrote the book of Mormon? by Cowdery Davis and Scales.

The best source of antimormon books is actually put out by the LDS Church itself. It has been said that an honest study of these books is far more effective at turning people away from the LDS church!

Answer 8

Yes, the Bible definitely. A couple others are : "An Insiders View of Mormon Origins" by Grant Palmer, who is LDS. "Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lynn Bushman, who I believe is LDS too and "The Refiners Fire" by John L. Brooke, who is not LDS.

Answer 9

It might be useless as most mormons will stick their fingers in their ears and go, "la la allalalal la, I hear nothing, la la la."

Ed Decker-Godmakers I and II

Answer 10

Mormonism is a weird cult. If you want to help your friend, tranquilize him, and drag him out of it.