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The FAIR JournalThe 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 October 2002
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The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research
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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
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* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE? A brief but
excellent analysis of the issue of salvation by grace and how
faith and works fit it to the equation.
* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: DID LEHI USE EGYPTIAN? EXAMINING
JEWISH-EGYPTIAN RELATIONS IN THE 7TH CENTURY B.C. The Book of
Mormon was written in reformed Egyptian? Everyone knows that
faithful followers of the Jewish religion would never have used
Egyptian to write a sacred record, right? This issue is examined.
* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: CRI AND SALVATION FOR THE DEAD. Can those who
die without hearing about Jesus Christ be saved? Using statements
from the Christian Research Institute as an example, this issue
is analyzed.
* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: ANTI-MORMONS ON TEMPLE SQUARE--A Photo Essay.
The opposition continues to grow at General Conference time. More
and more vocal critics of our faith are appearing on Temple
Square. See some of the action in these amazing photos.
* ASK THE APOLOGIST. The question this month addresses the charge
the LDS exhibiting "blind faith."
* COMMUNITY FIRESIDE VIDEO AND AUDIO PRESENTATION. Ross Baron's
presentation, one of the most requested presentations of the 2001
FAIR Conference, is now available in video and audio format FREE
on the FAIR website.
* 2002 FAIR CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS NOW ON SALE! Did you miss the
FAIR Conference? Now is your chance to hear the speakers
yourself!
* MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, SCOTT GORDON.
* BOOK REVIEWS ON THE WEBSITE. Looking for a review of that book
your friend just gave you?
* JOIN THE FAIR APOLOGETICS LIST. The FAIR Journal isn't the only
communication forum available to FAIR members.
* 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.
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SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE?
by John T. Tvetnes
Traditionally, Christian churches have believed that salvation comes
through the grace of God but that God expects us to demonstrate our
faith by performing good works, including baptism. Though the concept
of works was challenged by some of the Reformers, most Protestant
churches nevertheless continue to admonish good works and to practice
baptism and confirmation. In recent decades, more and more Christian
groups have come to rely on grace alone, believing that baptism, while
permitted, is unnecessary for salvation, and that good works are a
gift of the Spirit that comes to believers after they have accepted
Christ.
By contrast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues
to follow the beliefs of the early Christian community, that salvation
comes by a combination of grace, faith, obedience to God's will, and
the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. The Church's beliefs are
summed up in the third and fourth of the Articles of Faith:
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may
be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the
Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second,
Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
These beliefs, though based on teachings found in the New Testament,
are often challenged by those Christian groups who believe that grace
alone brings salvation. It is this concept that is examined in this
article.
Read full article at: www.fairlds.org/Misc/Is_There_Salvation_by_Grace_Alone.html
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DID LEHI USE EGYPTIAN? EXAMINING JEWISH-EGYPTIAN RELATIONS IN THE
7TH CENTURY B.C.
by Ben McGuire
In his on-line book, Mormon Claims Answered, anti-Mormon author Marvin
Cowan states the following:
1 Nephi 1:1-4 says Lehi, a devout Jew living in Jerusalem, kept a
sacred record in the Egyptian language. But Jews were enemies of
the Egyptians in 600 BC. King Josiah was killed in a battle with
Egypt about 608 BC. and Judah paid tribute to Egypt after that (II
Chron. 35:20-36:4). Since Hebrew was the sacred language and the
Lord was then "against Egypt" (Jer. 46:1-2), no devout Jew would
write in Egyptian.
This paper explains how this perspective cannot be established in
light of either the biblical text or the historical evidence, and
posits that it is quite reasonable to suppose that a Jew living in
Jerusalem at the time of Lehi could in fact know Egyptian and be
required to use it extensively in his professional and private
dealings.
Read the FAIR Paper here: www.fairlds.org/pubs/LehiEgypt.pdf
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CRI AND SALVATION FOR THE DEAD
by Joel Honea
What happens to those who die without ever having an opportunity to
hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Savior? What
of those who live in nations where the gospel is not preached? Many
have wondered about the unique position of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints regarding salvation for the dead. Some, like Dr.
Krister Stendahl, former dean of the Harvard Divinity School, have
named this their "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints.1 Others have
chosen to treat this doctrine with ridicule and disrespect. Still
others have attempted to put forth a differing view.
For example, the Christian Research Institute (CRI) teaches that if a
person dies without accepting Christ, they are lost to hell forever
with no chance of salvation. Not only does this perspective not offer
these people or their descendants any hope, it is also unsupported in
the scriptures. This article is a brief attempt to explain why.
Read the entire article here: www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/CRI_and_Salvation_for_the_Dead.html
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ANTI-MORMONS ON TEMPLE SQUARE
A PHOTO ESSAY by Allen Wyatt
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. FAIR member Allen
Wyatt attended General Conference earlier this month and took pictures
of anti-Mormon Christians protesting. These pictures provide a small
glimpse at the efforts of some critics of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. These pictures were taken October 4-6, 2002, in
Salt Lake City. Protesters positioned themselves all around Temple
Square and along the west side of the Conference Center.
Each picture is accompanied by some comments by the photographer, as
well as some links that provide additional information to explain the
sensationalistic claims of the protesters. Unfortunately the nature of
pictures don't convey the yelling and screaming being done by many of
the protesters.
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.
See the photo essay here: www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/2002_October_General_Conference.html
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ASK THE APOLOGIST - FAIR Journal Feature
Welcome to Ask the Apologist. Here we post questions that we receive
from FAIR Journal subscribers, from the Web site, or from the FAIR
Apologetics list. FAIR apologists will answer the questions, and the
results reported here and on the Web site.
Q. Do Latter-day Saints blindly follow their leaders and simply do
what they are told? And are they instructed to do so by the
Latter-day Saint leaders?
Read the answer: www.fairlds.org/Misc/Do_Mormons_Believe_in_Blind_Obedience.html
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COMMUNITY FIRESIDE VIDEO/AUDIO PRESENTATION--Now available FREE
on the FAIR Web site.
Ross Baron, an Institute of Religion Director from southern
California, delivered a presentation at the 2001 FAIR conference
reporting on and describing a Community Fireside implemented in a
southern California Stake. It is a revolutionary concept and has
everyone wanting to know more. You can now view and/or listen to
Brother Baron's presentation on the FAIR Web site.
View the video or listen to the audio here:
www.fairlds.org/pubs/baron01/
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DID YOU MISS THE 2002 FAIR CONFERENCE?
Do you want to know what all the hype was about? The 2002 FAIR LDS
Apologetic Conference Proceedings are now available on audio CD for
only $19.99!
Click here to visit the FAIR store:
http://store.fairlds.org
Once in the store, click on the link titled "2002 FAIR Conference
Proceedings."
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, SCOTT GORDON.
In an effort to make FAIR easier to find on the Internet, we have
changed the URL (the Internet address). We have removed the hyphen
from the address to make it www.fairlds.org. Hopefully this will make
it easier for you to find the Web site and it will make it easier for
you to tell your friends about us.
We are also working hard to translate some of our articles into
different languages. If you would like to help, e-mail us at
translation@fairlds.org.
We appreciate your support. Without your contributions of dollars,
articles, and time, FAIR wouldn't be able to provide the support and
services that it does. FAIR is a non-profit corporation with an all
volunteer staff. We count on your support.
Feel free to e-mail me with any suggestions at my new e-mail address:
FAIR President.
Scott Gordon, President
Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research
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BOOK REVIEWS ON THE FAIR WEBSITE
Looking for a review of that book a friend just gave you? Try
searching the 90 book reviews found on the FAIR Web site (FAIR reviews
and FARMS and others). Reviews of most books critical of the LDS faith
can be found here.
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai186.html
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JOIN THE FAIR APOLOGETICS LIST
FAIR sponsors two mailing lists. You already subscribe to one of
them--this one, which is used to publish the monthly FAIR Journal. It
is a great tool for those who want to keep on top of the latest in
apologetic efforts here at FAIR.
Our other mailing list, the FAIR Apologetics list, is a different type
of beast. It is an unmoderated list in which FAIR members share their
thoughts and outlooks on points of doctrine and discuss how to respond
to recent and oft-repeated criticisms of the LDS Church. It is a "safe
harbor," so to speak, where those dedicated to defending the restored
gospel of Jesus Christ can meet and discuss matters of common
interest.
It is also a very busy list, with more than 100 messages per day quite
common. Even so, the topics discussed and the viewpoints exchanged are
both fascinating and enlightening.
If you want to be part of the FAIR Apologetics list, we invite you to
apply. You can do so here:
www.fairlds.org/Join_FAIR/FAIR_Apologetics_List_Application.php
-----------------------------------
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.
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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 FAIR
Publications 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 Join FAIR link to join
this list.
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 Web site (www.fairlds.org).
Past issues of the FAIR Journal: www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Journal/
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.
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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.
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