The FAIR Journal

The FAIR Journal is published monthly. It contains information about new apologetic information at the FAIR Web site. If you would like to sign up to receive the FAIR Journal automatically, click here.

To return to the index of past FAIR Journal issues, click here.

THE FAIR JOURNAL                                            March 2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------
        The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research
----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Apologetics: The branch of theology that is concerned with
   defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines. (The
   American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth
   Edition, 2000.)


INSIDE THE JOURNAL
----------------------------------------------------------------------
   * TURNING STUMBLING BLOCKS INTO STEPPING STONES: Responding to
     Challenging Issues in Mormonism. This year's FAIR conference will
     be held at UVSC in Orem Utah on Friday August 9th and Saturday
     August 10th.  

   * DNA AND THE BOOK OF MORMON: A review of Dr. Scott Woodward's
     2001 FAIR Conference presentation of the status of DNA research
     in Native American genetic studies.

   * NEW ON THE WEBSITE: Does Gordon B. Hinckley Understand LDS
     Doctrine?

   * NEW ON THE WEBSITE: Anti-Mormon Efforts at the 2002 Winter
     Olympics--A Pictorial Tour.

   * WHAT IS FAIR AND WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING? A one-page brochure
     about apologetics in general and FAIR in particular. Share with
     your friends!
   
   * FAIR APOLOGETICS INDEX. The Index continues to grow, becoming a
     valuable source of LDS apologetic information.

   * CHANGES AT FAIR. Making FAIR a more effective resource.
   
   * BOOKSTORE SHIPPING SALE. Shipping is still free at the FAIR
     bookstore.

   * ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS. Interested in writing for FAIR? Learn how
     you can have your apologetics work published.

   * PUBLISHING NOTES. Learn how you can become more involved in FAIR
     and how you can reuse the material we publish.


------------------------------
TURNING STUMBLING BLOCKS INTO STEPPING STONES: Responding to
Challenging Issues in Mormonism.

This year's FAIR Conference will be held at Utah Valley Stake College
(UVSC), located at 800 West University Parkway in Orem, Utah, on
August 9th and 10th. This location is just off of the freeway and
should be easily accessible. Last year's conference was a big success
among the participants, so we are following the same format.  

The conference will be from 10-4 on Friday August 9th and from 9-3 on
Saturday August 10th. Lunch will be included each day. This gives an
opportunity to renew friendships and to eat lunch with the speakers.
After you factor in the price of lunch and the accessibility of the
conference speakers, you will agree that the FAIR conference is one
of the best bargains out there.

The price of the conference is as follows (including 2 lunches):

   Purchase in Advance:
     $45 per person
     $75 per couple

   Pay at the Door:
     $65 per person
     $95 per couple

This year we will also sell a single-day ticket, which includes a
single lunch:

   Single Day:
     $27.50 (in advance)
     $37.50 (at the door)

We will also offer discounted student tickets, but you must show a
student ID at the door:

   Two-day Student Ticket, in Advance:
     $35 per person
     $55 per couple

   Two-day Student Ticket, at the Door:
     $55 per person
     $75 per couple

   Single-day student
     $22.50 (in advance)
     $32.50 (at the door)

Last year's conference was a lot of fun. We believe this year's
conference will be great and we look forward to seeing you there.

Sign up for the conference at http://www.fairlds.org/conf02.html

If you have a business and are interested in sponsoring a booth at
the conference, contact us at the Webmaster.


------------------------------
DNA AND THE BOOK OF MORMON
by Cooper Johnson

Have you ever tried to envision the big picture with a few pieces of a
thousand-piece puzzle? Come on, you puzzle buffs; you know what I’m
talking about. Say I were to give you five random pieces of a
thousand-piece puzzle. Would you have any chance of identifying the
picture that would result from all one thousand pieces put together,
from just having those five pieces? No cheating; no peaking at the
puzzle box to identify the picture.

It would be an impossible task, and of the thousands of people reading
this article, I doubt I could find anyone who has even attempted this
task. Why would anyone take five pieces and use that to guess the "big
picture?" Silly, isn’t it?

Attempting to determine the validity of the Book of Mormon with
current mitochondrial DNA (MDNA) studies of the Native American
populations is equally as difficult, according to Scott Woodward,
Professor of Microbiology at Brigham Young University, as he addressed
the attendees at the FAIR Conference last year.

The focus of the 2001 FAIR Conference was the Book of Mormon, and with
the rise of genetic studies of Native American MDNA that have been
reported in various press and media outlets, Dr. Woodward’s
presentation on the subject of DNA and the Book of Mormon was timely
and extremely enlightening for those in attendance. My purpose in this
article is to summarize and outline the findings and conclusions of
Dr. Woodward as per his conference presentation. I hope this will help
us understand the current state of DNA evidence as it relates to
Native Americans and the Book of Mormon, ultimately providing all of
us a sound basis with which to judge the genetic data being produced
in this area.

Article continued here: http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon.html
(Includes information on how to purchase Dr. Woodward's complete
presentation on audio CD or VHS video tape.)


------------------------------
NEW ON THE WEBSITE: DOES GORDON B. HINCKLEY UNDERSTAND LDS DOCTRINE?
by Michael Fordham

The August 4, 1997, edition of Time magazine published an article
entitled "Kingdom Come" by David Van Biema. Since its publication,
critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have
pounced on a couple of sentences which they use to attack President
Gordon B. Hinckley as a leader who does not understand the doctrine of
the Church. An examination into the facts, however, shows that it is
the critics who fail to understand just what President Hinckley
stated. This is probably due to their eagerness to argue against the
Church, instead of a desire to actually learn the truth about the
Church. The claim of the critics is that President Hinckley dodged the
issue, and that he does not understand what the church has taught in
the past. And what is the issue, you ask? There is a well-known
couplet in the Church that says, "As man is now, God once was; as God
is now man may be." Lorenzo Snow, President of the Church from 1898 to
1901, coined this couplet. The article in Time refers to this couplet,
and the critics, as well as the interviewer, don't seem to like the
response that President Hinckley gave.

Article continued here: http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Does_President_Hinckley_Understand_LDS_Doctrine.html


-------------------------------
NEW ON THE WEBSITE: ANTI-MORMON EFFORTS AT THE 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS--A
PICTORIAL TOUR

These pictures document the efforts of some critics of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These pictures were taken on the
afternoon of February 15, 2002 in Salt Lake City, during the 2002
Winter Olympics. They were taken along South Temple between West
Temple and Main Street by Gary Bowler.

The links provided under each picture provide additional information
that explain these sensationalistic claims. We allow all people to
worship who, where, or what they may--and trust the reader can
determine if picketing a sacred edifice is Christian behavior.

Thanks to Allen Wyatt for putting this together and assembling the
answers, linked to the pictures. Excellent work!

See the pictures and answers (click on pictures for answers) at this
page: http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Anti-Mormon_Efforts_at_the_2002_Winter_Olympics.html


--------------------------------
NEW ON THE WEBSITE: WHAT IS FAIR AND WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING?
by Gary Bowler

Why does FAIR exist and what is apologetics all about? Author Gary
Bowler has prepared a one-page brochure that you can download (in PDF
format), print, and share with your friends. If you know someone that
is looking for a great place for truthful answers about the LDS, share
this with them. View the brochure here:

     http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Brochures/AboutFAIR.pdf


--------------------------------
FAIR APOLOGETICS INDEX CONTINUES TO GROW AND GAIN POPULARITY

We continue to add content to the Apologetics Index. Now we not only
have many Ensign articles on the various topics indexed, but we also
have many LDS Web sites on the Internet indexed. You will also find
articles and papers from the FAIR site, many articles from the
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, free information from the FARMS site, and
several electronic books.  

Next time you have a gospel question, you no longer have to try to
remember which Web site the answer might be on. You can go to
www.fairlds.org, click on the Apologetics Index link, click on that
one topic and find a list of great responses from all over the
Internet. You can also use our handy keyword search feature.

The use of the Apologetics Index continues to rise. We have Sunday
School teachers and Seminary teachers using it now to help prepare for
their lessons. We hope this will be a great resource for you.


------------------------------
CHANGES AT FAIR
by Scott Gordon, President

There are changes happening at FAIR to provide you with better
service. We are a growing organization. This means the opportunities
and the responsibilities grow on a daily basis. With this in mind,
effective this month we are turning the reins of the FAIR Journal
(this newsletter) over to Cooper Johnson, a long-time FAIR member.
Cooper is well suited to the position of Journal Editor, and I think
he is a better writer than I am anyway.

Even though I step down as Editor of the FAIR Journal, I will continue
to have input as President of FAIR. I really appreciate Cooper's
willingness to take on this project. Take a look at his article on
DNA and the Book of Mormon in this issue.

We also have a new FAIR Bookstore Manager. Michael Bennett will be
taking on that formidable task. I am looking forward to improved
service and selection at the bookstore.

FAIR is an all-volunteer organization that relies on donated time and 
money. Thanks to Coop, Michael and to all those who help support our 
mission.

Scott Gordon
President FAIR


-----------------------------------
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

We welcome article submissions for the FAIR Web site. If you would
like to submit an article, please review the editing guidelines at:

     http://www.fairlds.org/EdStyle.pdf

Submit your article to the FAIR Journal Editor. An appropriate
article would be one that affirms the truthfulness of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

While LDS apologetics (in the broadest sense) deals with refuting
critics of the Church, articles don't necessarily have to deal with
anti-Mormonism, but may deal with some new evidence of the Book of
Mormon, some interesting scripture interpretation, a viewpoint or
quote from the early Christian Fathers or other historical figure,
an interesting lesson idea, an inspiring missionary story, Church
history, or your view on a current event related to the Church or a
piece from a historical journal.

We may also accept articles from people who are not members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that may not necessarily
meet the guidelines of supporting the church if it is a topic of
general interest to people involved in apologetics.

A submission may range in length from several pages to a single
paragraph. 


------------------------------
PUBLISHING NOTES

FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided
in the FAIR Journal and on the FAIR Web site (http://www.fairlds.org)
are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as
official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.

If someone has forwarded this e-journal to you and you would like to
join you should go to www.fairlds.org and click on the Membership
link.

If you are very interested in apologetics and would like to actively
participate in FAIR you should consider joining our apologetics e-mail
list. Visit www.fairlds.org and click on the Membership link to join
this list as well.

If you manage your own e-mail list, and wish to include some of these
thoughts or articles on your list, contact us through our Web site, at
this page: www.fairlds.org/contact.psp. We have a fairly liberal policy of using our
material so long as you contact us first to gain permission and
clearly identify that your source was FAIR and by adding a link to the 
FAIR website (www.fairlds.org).

If you would like to sign up to receive the FAIR Journal automatically, click here.

To return to the index of past FAIR Journal issues, click here.

FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.

If you like what FAIR does and you agree with our mission, we invite you to support FAIR in any way you are able. You can make a donation, or visit our Membership page for additional support ideas. FAIR only succeeds through the efforts of our gracious volunteers.

Welcome | Topical Guide | FAIR Publications | Join & Support FAIR | Message Boards
FAIR LDS Bookstore | News | FAIR Links | Contact FAIR | Home

Last Updated June 12, 2006
Copyright © 2007 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research. All Rights Reserved.
No portion of this site may be reproduced on any other Web site or in any other print publication
without the express written consent of FAIR. You may freely link to this information, however, or you
may print out copies to give to others, provided this copyright notice is included in your printout.

You can send comments/suggestions using our contact page.