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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 June 2005
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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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* MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. President Scott Gordon takes a look
at matters of interest to FAIR at large. In this month's
message, Scott examines the upcoming FAIR Conference, hotel
accommodations for the Conference, and the lawsuit filed by
the Tanners (Utah Lighthouse Ministry) against FAIR and others.
* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: "Steel in the Book of Mormon." William
Hamblin responds to the frequent anti-Mormon complain about
references to steel in the Book of Mormon.
* ASK THE APOLOGIST. Got a question you are dying to ask? Here's
how. This month features a response by Allen Wyatt to a reader
who asks how to integrate apologetics into his family and church
relationships.
* FAIR TOPICAL GUIDE. The Topical Guide on the FAIR Web site is
one of the most popular resources offered. Learn what is
available and help us expand our references. Listed below are
some new links in FAIR's Topical Guide.
* FAIR LDS BOOKSTORE. Take a look at the four specials available
this month from 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.
* FAIR JOURNAL ARCHIVES.
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
It is time to register for the FAIR conference on August 4 and 5 in
Sandy, Utah, at the South Towne Exposition Center. The conference is
open to all,* and you won't want to miss it. Some of the speakers are
fresh from giving presentations at the Library of Congress Joseph
Smith event. We have Richard Bushman, a top historian from Columbia
University speaking about Joseph Smith and some of the criticisms
of Joseph. Also fresh from the Library of Congress event, Dr. John
Clark, the director of the New World Archaeological Foundation will be
addressing archeology and the Book of Mormon. Now is your chance to
hear a respected archeologist speak on this topic.
If that was all we had, it would be worth attending this conference.
But there is more. Dr. Ryan Parr is flying in from Canada to speak on
DNA and the Book of Mormon. Dr. Parr is an international expert in
human genetics working on the recovery and sequencing of mtDNA
extracted from the skeletal remains of ancient Egyptian populations,
and he recently used mtDNA to identify unclaimed victims from the 1912
RMS Titanic disaster.
Boyd Peterson, the man who wrote the biography on Hugh Nibley and
husband of Zina Nibley Peterson, will be speaking about Brother Nibley
and some of the recent controversy surrounding him.
Do you have Book of Abraham Questions? John Tvedtnes will be speaking
about some of the Book of Abraham discoveries that show Joseph Smith
got it right.
What about the relationship between Masonry and Mormonism? Master
Mason Greg Kearney will be speaking on this topic.
Wondering about cognitive dissonance, blacks in the LDS church,
historical perspectives or new directions in anti-Mormonism or even a
philosophical perspective? We have Dr. Wendy Ulrich, Dr. Davis
Bitton, Darius Grey, Marvin Perkins, Dr. Dan Peterson, and Blake
Ostler who will address these topics.
Sign up now and tell your friends. You won't want to miss this event.
The FAIR Web site has been updated with the latest information about
the conference, including the speakers' schedule and hotel special:
http://fairlds.org/conf05a.html
To register, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the
registration button or link. With the purchase of a two day ticket,
the cost is approximately $30 per day and lunch is included each day.
After you register, print out a copy of your receipt as your ticket.
We will also keep a list of people who signed up at the conference
registration table.
* Since this is a private event, we do reserve the right to ask people
to leave.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
FAIR has received several inquiries about recommended hotel
accommodations for the upcoming Apologetics Conference. We are pleased
to announce that we have secured a group rate at the Best Western
Cottontree, just minutes away from the South Towne Exposition Center.
Best Western Cottontree
10695 S Auto Mall Dr
Sandy, UT 84070
801-523-8484
Map - http://tinyurl.com/7h95e
Rooms are available for only $69 per night, which includes a room
upgrade to a room with a balcony and microwave(as available),
high-speed wireless Internet access; a great breakfast of eggs, hash
browns, waffles, French toast, and more; plus free shuttle service to
the conference.
To make your reservations with the special price and room upgrade,
contact the hotel at 800-662-6886. Tell them you want a FAIR
Conference room, or use the confirmation number 901001.
LAWSUIT NEWS
As you may or may not know, FAIR has recently been sued by Utah
Lighthouse Ministry for a Web site that parodied the UTLM Web site. I
was also personally listed as a defendant on the lawsuit as was Allen
Wyatt and Discovery Computing. For the record, neither FAIR nor the
FAIR president (me) was involved in this Web site and we would have
been happy to inform the Tanners of this had they but asked. They
decided to file suit instead, without any advance notification
whatsoever.
For those interested, both FAIR and DCI filed motions with the court
related to this lawsuit. The motions are available at these locations:
http://www.dcomp.com/DCImotions.pdf
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIRmotions.pdf
- Scott Gordon
President, FAIR
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FAIR relies on your kind donations to remain in business. Now is the
time to make a donation. FAIR is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, so
if you are in the United States, your donation is tax deductible.
http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s147
------------------------------
Steel in the Book of Mormon
by William Hamblin
Anyone who has spent much time reading anti-Mormon attacks on the Book
of Mormon is familiar with the accusation that anachronisms permeate
the text. Critics complain about flora, fauna, technologies, literary
references, demographics, societal structures, and nearly every other
aspect of the book. One Book of Mormon reference is particularly the
object of ridicule: steel.
In his article, Hamblin looks at the various ways that crictics
misread and misinterpret the actual text of the Book of Mormon--
attacking their 21st century interpretation of a text that even
nonbelievers must grant has a minimum of two linguistic layers and
where believers identify at least seven layers. This inability of
anti-Mormons to respond to what the text actually claims instead of
what they want it to say is the reason the tired arguments against the
word "steel" in the Book of Mormon are resurrected in nearly each new
anti-Mormon book and on virtually every anti-Mormon web site.
Hamblin notes, "anti-Mormons insist that the Book of Mormon must be
evaluated on the basis of modern metallurgical terminology and
science, which has categories and distinctions completely foreign to
ancient peoples."
Read the article: http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/Steel_in_the_Book_of_Mormon.html
------------------------------
ASK THE APOLOGIST
FAIR invites the public to submit questions relating to LDS beliefs,
practices, and history. Some questions are asked sincerely by members
and investigators, others are clearly hostile questions challenging
the veracity of the Church and its teachings. Many of these responses
may end up on the Web site as a FAIR paper or brochure. If you have a
question, simply mail it to our Questions address. Email sent to this
address will be shared with members of FAIR, so it is not uncommon to
receive several responses that approach the issue from different
angles.
This month we feature a response by Allen Wyatt to the question:
"Apologists deal with a lot of anti-Mormon material, and surely
must receive questions from their families as to why they do what
they do. Has anyone at FAIR had to deal with these types of
issues in their families? What is the best way to deal with your
interest in apologetics when it comes to your spouse or other
close family member?"
Wyatt gives his seven rules on appropriately integrating apologetic
interests into a balanced spiritual life.
Read the article: http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Families_and_Anti-Mormon_Issues.html
------------------------------
FAIR TOPICAL GUIDE
The Topical Guide is one of the most important LDS apologetic
resources available. If you aren't familiar with this part of FAIR's
Web site, check it out at
http://www.fairlds.org/apol
Among this month's TG additions are the following. Note that several
of these are free MP3 files.
HTML Files
John Welch, "Study, Faith, and the Book of Mormon"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai218.html
PDF Files
Richard L. Anderson, "Parallel Prophets, Paul and Joseph Smith"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai057.html
Truman Madsen, "The Olive Press"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai037.html
Robert Millet, "What We Believe"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai003.html
David L. Paulsen, "Joseph Smith and the Problem of Evil"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai185.html
Daniel Peterson, "Scholarship and the Gospel"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai003.html
Noel B. Reynolds, "The Authorship of the Book of Mormon"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai110.html
Noel B. Reynolds, "Reason and Revelation"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai136.html
John W. Welch, "And with All Thy Mind"
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai136.html
MP3 Files
Note: All of the following MP3 files can be found under:
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai197.html
Margaret Barker, "What Did Josiah Reform? The Earlier Religion
of Israel"
John E. Clark, "Archaeology, Relics, and Book of Mormon Belief"
Spencer W. Kimball, "Absolute Truth"
Truman Madsen, "The Olive Press"
Robert Millet, "What We Believe"
Hugh Nibley, "The Book of Mormon As a Record of Military
Strategy"
Hugh Nibley, "Critical Opinion of the Pearl of Great Price"
Hugh Nibley, "Forty Day Ministry: Part I"
Hugh Nibley, "Forty Day Ministry: Part II"
Hugh Nibley, "How to Write an Anti-Mormon Book"
Hugh Nibley, "Leaders and Managers"
John W. Welch, "And with All Thy Mind"
Michael F. Whiting, "Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life: Some
Assembly Required"
John A. Widtsoe, "Fireside" (Testimony of John A. Widtsoe)
------------------------------
FAIR LDS BOOKSTORE
With the FAIR Conference just a month away, it is time to prepare for
an exciting and thought-provoking experience with many LDS scholars,
researchers, and authors. The FAIR Bookstore is discounting several
books that will make excellent additions to any LDS library. The new
scripture CD is a great study aid for any serious student of the
scriptures.
--> A Different Jesus?: The Christ of the Latter-day Saints
This recent publication by Robert L. Millet has generated significant
controversy, particularly since it was published by Eerdmans, a
mainstream and respected Christian publishing company. Millet argues
that both traditional and LDS Christians do, in fact, worship the same
Jesus, and that Latter-day Saints can legitimate claim the designation
of Christian. This book has just been made available through the FAIR
Bookstore and has been discounted 20% to $12.80.
http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s183
--> Stand by My Servant Joseph: The Story of the Joseph Knight Family
and the Restoration
In this volume, historian William G. Hartley tells the extraordinary
story of the Joseph Knight family. He explores the family's intimate
role in obtaining the gold plates, the translation of the Book of
Mormon, the experiences of the Colesville Branch, the gathering to
Kirtland, the sufferings in Jackson County, the building of Nauvoo,
and the journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Father Joseph Knight,
acquainted with Joseph Smith before he received the plates, stood by
the Prophet through every circumstance. This fascinating account is
drawn from important original documents that detail mobbings and
losses, spiritual experiences, miraculous healings, and contacts with
Joseph Smith. These writings are given context and corroboration by
other early documents, contemporary records, and the best scholarship
about Mormonism's early years. This volume is available for a limited
time from the FAIR Bookstore for 18.95, a 50% discount!
http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s186
--> Mormonism for Dummies: Your plain-English guide to The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This recent addition to the "Dummies" series presents the teachings
and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an
easy-to-understand form. This is available from the FAIR Bookstore for
$17.60, a 20% discount from its list price.
http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s184
--> The Scriptures: CD-ROM Edition 1.1 (12 Languages + Hebrew & Greek)
This CD-ROM contains both the Standard 1.1 and Resource 1.1 versions.
Standard includes the full English text of the Bible, Book of Mormon,
Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. It also includes the
following scripture study aids: Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide,
chapter headings and footnotes, Guide to the Scriptures, selections
from the Joseph Smith Translation, cross-references to the standard
works, and maps and photographs. In addition to the Hebrew and Greek
scriptures, the Standard Works are presented in 12 languages. The cost
for this tremendous study aid is $9.95.
http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s185
- The FAIR Bookstore Staff
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ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
We welcome article submissions for the FAIR Journal and website. 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, Paul McNabb
(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 figures, 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 website (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 "Join &
Support FAIR" link.
If you are interested in apologetics and would like to participate
actively in FAIR you should consider joining our apologetics e-mail
list. Visit www.fairlds.org and click on the "Join & Support FAIR"
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 at
webmaster. We have a fairly liberal policy of using our
material as 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).
--------------------------------
FAIR JOURNAL ARCHIVES
For past issues of the FAIR Journal, go to
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Journal
--------------------------------
Copyright (c) 2005 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and
Research (FAIR). All rights reserved.
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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