Lifting The Veil

The claims made by some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) regarding their persecution, both historically and in modern times, warrant careful analysis. While it is historically accurate that early Latter-day Saints faced real hardship and hostility, particularly in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, some contemporary claims of persecution are often exaggerated or misrepresented. Historically, the 1838 Missouri Extermination Order did indeed declare that Mormons must be “exterminated or driven from the state,” and it was not formally rescinded until 1976 (Church History Topics: Extermination Order). This decree arose in the context of violent conflicts between settlers and Mormon communities in Missouri. Hostilities escalated due to economic, political, and religious tensions, including the fear of Mormon political consolidation and armed militias. The forced exodus of Mormons from Missouri and Illinois, culminating in the migration to Utah, was tragic but must...

A lot of people assume that Mormonism is just another Christian denomination—like Baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian—just with some extra stuff added in. But when you really look into what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually teaches, you realize it’s not just a quirky cousin to Christianity. It’s teaching a different God, a different Jesus, and a completely different gospel. And that’s not just a small issue—it’s huge. Now, I don’t say this to be harsh or unkind. But we’ve got to deal in truth. According to the Bible, any religious system that redefines the essentials—who God is, how we’re saved, what the gospel is—that’s what we’d call a theological cult. And when we compare Mormon doctrine to what the Bible actually teaches, it checks all the boxes. For example, Mormons teach that God the Father was once a man who lived on another world and became a god. Seriously. You’ve probably heard it before: “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” That’s not ...

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Let’s be honest—faith is a deeply personal thing. But if someone’s asking us to believe that God gave a new set of scriptures on golden plates, that ancient Israelites sailed to America, and that humans can become gods, we’re allowed—actually, we’re commanded—to stop and ask: Is this true? That’s what cold-case detective and Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace did in his article “Investigating the Evidence for Mormonism in Six Steps.” He approached Mormonism not with anger or emotion, but with the same method he used to solve decades-old murder cases: looking at motive, evidence, and credibility. And guess what? The evidence doesn’t hold up. Not even close. Wallace starts by asking what any good detective asks first: Who stands to gain? Joseph Smith—the founder of the LDS Church—gained a lot. He rose from a poor treasure-hunting farm boy to the head of a growing religion, had dozens of wives (including teenage girls an...

  Does the Book of Mormon Measure Up? A Christian Perspective As a follower of Christ, I respect the sincerity behind each point defending the Book of Mormon, yet each falls short when held against Scripture, history, and reason. First, while it may appear distinct from the Bible, the Book of Mormon presents Christ in ways that contradict biblical teachings—insisting on added temple-based requirements and works for salvation, undermining the grace proclaimed in Ephesians 2:8–9 and Galatians 2:16. True Christian faith rests not on a supplemental gospel but on the finished work of Christ alone (Hebrews 10:10), not on post-resurrection visits by a different Jesus in another land. Regarding Joseph Smith’s claim of divine translation, historical evidence paints a very different picture. Accounts from the period describe him using a seer stone in a hat—a method eerily similar to folk magic rather than revelation. Authentic prophecy in Scripture comes by the Spirit and aligns with establi...