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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 December 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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* FROM THE EDITOR. New FAIR Journal Feature Announced: A FAIR
Perspective.
* A FAIR PERSPECTIVE: MOTIVATION, BEHAVIOR AND DESSENTION. A
behind-the-scenes examination of the Thomas Murphy news story.
* A FAIR PERSPECTIVE: MORMON MISSIONARIES AND THE VATICAN. Stemming
from hot opinions about the Main Street Plaza issue in Salt Lake
City, accusations about the behavior of LDS Missionaries at the
Vatican have been fired. Are they true?
* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: BLACKS AND THE PRIESTHOOD. A fireside
presentation delivered by the Director of African American
Relations for the Southern California Public Affairs Council of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
* A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM FAIR. Remember the Reason!
* ASK THE APOLOGIST: The question this month addresses the question
of whether early LDS leaders were confused about the First
Vision.
* FROM THE FAIR FILES - DNA AND THE BOOK OF MORMON
* BOOK STORE NEWS - Its all new news at the FAIR Bookstore.
* MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, SCOTT GORDON.
* 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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FROM THE EDITOR - A FAIR Perspective
It is likely that you will notice a few articles in this issue that
might be a little different from what you have come to expect from the
FAIR Journal. FAIR is an LDS Apologetic organization with it's primary
goal to address the charges leveled at the doctrines, practices and
leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
with documented responses that are written in an easily understandable
style.
With that said, we rarely publish papers or articles on current
events. We do write letters to editors of varies news outlets when we
see an unfair or inaccurate story published on the Church of Jesus
Christ. But, that is usually the extent of our involvement with issues
in the press. That has changed with this issue of the FAIR Journal.
It is my pleasure to announce a new feature of the FAIR Journal: "A
FAIR Perspective." You will notice two articles that cover current
LDS-related events in this issue. We felt the need to address these
topics as they most certainly overflowed into the Apologetics arena
and will continue to do so, as needed, in the future. These stories
will run as "A FAIR Perspective" feature. We are interested in your
feedback on these two stories and covering current events like these,
in general.
Lastly, you will also notice one article that has no apologetic
application, but is important, nonetheless. At this time of year, we
feel it is important to remember the reason for this season: Our
Redeember, Jesus Christ, and the celebration of His birth. We hope you
enjoy this issue of the FAIR Journal.
-J. Cooper Johnson
Editor
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A FAIR PERSPECTIVE:
MOTIVATION, BEHAVIOR AND DESSENTION
by Allen Wyatt
Thomas W. Murphy, a University of Washington graduate student and
nominal member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has
made national news in recent weeks. In a story that reached the
newswire of the Associated Press late on Friday, November 29, writer
Patty Henetz reported that Mr. Murphy expected to "be excommunicated
next week for articles he has written questioning the validity of the
Book of Mormon." Thus began the one-sided posturing to portray Mr.
Murphy as an independent academic, singled out by the monolithic
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for persecution because he
intelligently disagrees with its doctrinal issues.
This paper examines inconsistencies in the behavior and apparent
motivations of Mr. Murphy—using his own words and those of his
co-conspirators—in relation to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Read full paper here:
HTML: http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Motivation_Behavior_and_Dissension.html
PDF: http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/murphy.pdf
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A FAIR PERSPECTIVE:
MORMON MISSIONARIES AND THE VATICAN
by Cooper Johnson
Don’t exhale just yet. While a potential compromise looms in downtown
Salt Lake City, the artillery fire has not ceased. The smoke from
shots recently fired has not settled quite yet. Interested observers
will simply have to wait and see how this latest offer will play out.
However, in the midst of the heated battle possibly bound for the
Supreme Court, over the Salt Lake City Main Street Plaza, heated
opinions continue to fly. Wedges are deepening. Heels are digging in.
Fingers are-a-pointing. When one fights through all the legal
maneuvering and spin-doctoring of our First Amendment rights, which
are hanging in the balance (or so I’m told), the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is simply attempting to prevent it’s
detractors from performing their activities on Church-owned property.
"Respect" seems to be the core of the LDS position. Many faithful
members of the Church of Jesus Christ have done their part to
publicize their opinions to reporters, journalists and in letters to
editors about this "respect." Some have posed the hypothetical "what
if the shoe were on the other foot," like Brenda Lyon,
I wonder how the American Civil Liberties Union, the First
Unitarian Church and their other clients would feel if LDS
Church members went to the public easements in front of their
buildings during their special events and were offensive to their
patrons. (Salt Lake Tribune, Forum, October 31, 2002)
This seems to be a fair question. Certainly, we don’t hear about the
Mormon faithful with bullhorns and signs outside the Southern Baptist
Convention headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee or at the steps of
Prestonwood Baptist Church, home of one of the largest Baptist
Churches in the nation, located in Dallas, Texas, and home to the SBC
President, Pastor Jack Graham.
This just doesn’t seem to be the Mormon "style." Instead, The Church
of Jesus Christ sends it’s strapping young men and women out door to
door, politely attempting to share it’s message with the utmost
respect for others' religious views. Smiles on faces; well groomed;
dressed conservatively. Humble pie.
Or not...
Read the full article: http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Mormon_Missionaries_the_Vatican_and_Respect.html
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BLACKS AND THE PRIESTHOOD
by Marvin Perkins
This talk was presented by Marvin Perkins, Director of African
American Relations for the Southern California Public Affairs Council
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This talk was
presented at the Westwood Chapel in Los Angeles on September 8, 2002,
and is posted here with the permission of Brother Perkins.
On Wednesday, I'll celebrate the 14th anniversary of my baptism. Many
of you know that this issue almost kept me from joining the Church. As
I was confronted with it, I thought, I'll just ask some of the
members. The more people I asked, the more offended and distant from
the Church I became. I saw in the eyes of my friend who had introduced
me to the Church, a desperate desire to find anyone who could give me
better answers. The foolish virgins that did not prepare the lamps
with oil come to my mind. No one that my friend knew, including
herself, had prepared themselves to be able to answer the question that
so greatly plagues the Church. And she feared that this baptism would
not happen. I was fortunate enough to learn probably the most crucial
lesson of my life before I was baptized. When the Stake President said
that he couldn't answer my question either, but if this book is true,
holding up the Book of Mormon, that there are answers out there
somewhere, I knew right then that my testimony would have to always be
based on the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ alone, and not any other
issue. That I would move forward based upon what I did know, and never
be held back because of what I didn't know. So hopefully what we cover
tonight will help you to be better on your way to help your brothers
and sisters into the Kingdom of the Lord.
I attended a baptism last Saturday of an African American brother who
had been taking the discussions. He was rapidly losing his receptivity
to the Elders and their message because they were not equipped to
satisfy his questions on Blacks and the Priesthood. Many of you, I'm
sure, have found yourselves in the same situation, and that may be one
of the reasons you're here tonight. Well the Elders called me. I
receive these calls all the time. We all met and I taught some of what
I had researched. It was enough to take down the barriers, and the
discussion continued with increased receptivity. All but one of these
calls, that I've ever gone out on, have resulted in baptism.
Read the full transcript: http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Blacks_and_the_Priesthood.html
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A FAIR CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
by Marc Schindler
We at FAIR would like to take some time at the end of this eventful
and exciting year to leave you with some words to ponder over the
Christmas season.
Some years ago, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a talk to the Religious
Instruction faculty at Brigham Young University shortly before
Christmas. Now you might think that Elder Holland would have something
very deep and profound-sounding for such an august group of scholars,
but instead he related the Dr. Suess tale, "The Grinch Who Stole
Christmas." As most readers probably recall, this is a story about a
mean "grinch" who thinks he can "steal" Christmas from Who-ville by
taking away all their Christmas presents, only to find that Christmas
was really in the hearts of the little Who-ville people.
The earthly demands the season places on us can be distracting, to say
the least: the cooking, the travel, finding a bed that's comfortable
enough for Uncle Jack (or finding the most comfortable way for you to
sleep on Uncle Jack's lumpy old couch!). Then comes January when the
bills come in.
Read the article: http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Journal/c2002.html
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ASK THE APOLOGIST - FAIR Journal feature.
This month's question:
Anti-Mormons claim that Joseph Smith's claims of a vision of the
Father and the Son were added to his story later, replacing his
initial claim of only seeing an angel. They use statements from early
LDS leaders to demonstrate this claim. Did early leaders not know
about the First Vision?
Read the answer: http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Did_Early_LDS_Leaders_Misunderstand_the_First_Vision.html
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FROM THE FAIR FILES: DNA AND THE BOOK OF MORMON
Due to this issue being a hot one, this article is being featured.
This is a review of Scott Woodward's FAIR Conference Presentation,
2001.
Read the review: http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon.html
The full video of Scott Woodward's presentation will be available on
the FAIR Web site within the next couple of weeks, for free. So check
back soon.
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BOOK STORE NEWS - ITS ALL NEW NEWS AT THE FAIR BOOKSTORE!
Be sure your visit the FAIR Online Bookstore soon to see our new look
and new approach; now with over 200 products available and adding
items and specials daily. We are committed to not only raising funds
for FAIR's efforts through your purchases, but gathering quality
books, tapes, and videos at great prices in one location for your
convenience.
Apologetics will still be our focus, but in order to serve our
customers better, we are adding items useful for research in a variety
of topics as well as some things that are just enjoyable to look at
(see our photography books on the Holy Land for added dimension to
New Testament study.)
We will be offering a special selection of books for the 2003 course
of study for Relief Society/Priesthood (Teachings of the Prophets:
John Taylor) and the New Testament, including the illustrated
collector’s edition of Jesus the Christ by Talmage, our price $33.95,
(retail $39.95) and FARMS new book, Charting the New Testament,
available through FAIR at $20.95 (retail $24.95).
Also from FARMS is the bestseller Echoes and Evidences, priced on our
site at $11.95 (retail $14.95)
We emphasize the FARMS product line, but carry a variety of other
companies as well. If you don't see a product you want, e-mail us and
we will be happy to try and track it down for you. Check us out at:
http://store.fairlds.org
We're interested in any suggestions you may have to improve our
service as well. Let us know what you need and what you want.
The FAIR Bookstore Staff
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
We're pleased to announce the new expanded bookstore on our Web site.
We hope to bring you great books at a great price and provide some
funding for FAIR at the same time. Don't forget about "Guess Who
Wants To Have You For Lunch!" The book is out and available to ship!
If you believe that FAIR is providing a valuable service, please
consider making a tax-deductible donation before the end of the year.
All labor and management is volunteer, but we rely on monetary
donations to cover our other expenses. Without donations, we can't
continue to provide help to those who need it. You can make this
donation at the FAIR Online Store (click on the word "Store" on the
left side of the Web page), or you can send a check in the mail to
FAIR, PO Box 491677, Redding, CA 96049.
At this Christmas season, we at FAIR would like to wish you a very
merry Christmas. Now is a wonderful time to reflect on the birth and
atonement of Jesus Christ and the blessings we have through Him.
-Scott Gordon
President
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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, Cooper Johnson
(FAIR contact page). 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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