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Thoughts and commentary from the apologetic frontlines.

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Polygamy Resources
Questions about polygamy and the Mormons? Find your answers here.

Bible vs. the Book of Mormon
A common-sense review of the anti-Mormon video from Living Hope Ministries.

The Truth About "The God Makers"
Classic, line-by-line examination of this anti-Mormon film and book.

DNA and the Book of Mormon
Does DNA evidence disprove the Book of Mormon?

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 July 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. The FAIR Conference is next week!
Be sure to attend and to let others know about it.

* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: "A Slippery Slope that Limits the
Atonement." A. Dean Byrd, Shirley E. Cox, and Jeffrey W.
Robinson review "In Quiet Desperation: Understanding The
Challenge Of Same-gender Attraction," a book that views
homosexuality as innate and immutable.

* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: "Miraculous Events in Early Church
History." David Ferguson recounts a number of miracles,
fulfilled prophecies, and "marvelous events" in LDS Church
history.

* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: "Explaining Away the Book of Mormon
Witnesses." Richard Lloyd Anderson discusses the strength and
consistency of the Book of Mormon witnesses and responds to
common criticisms of their testimonies. (2004 FAIR Conference
presentation)

* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: "The Apostasy." Roger Keller explains the
apostacy as the loss of authority in the Church and analyzes
some misconceptions some Latter-day Saints hold about God's
work outside the Church. (2004 FAIR Conference presentation)

* NEW ON THE WEBSITE: "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph
Smith: Defending the Faith." David L. Paulsen looks at the
LDS view of diety relative to other Christian faiths and in
light of some early Christian statements on the issue. (2004
FAIR Conference presentation)

* ASK THE APOLOGIST. Got a question you are dying to ask?
Here's how.

* 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. This month's specials include items
discounted up to 60% off of list price!

* 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 that time of year for the FAIR Conference. On Thursday August 4
and on Friday August 5 we will be at the South Towne Plaza in Sandy,
Utah, feasting on the messages there. The conference is always
exciting with great speakers, great books, and fun people. I look
forward to meeting you there. Some of the fun is getting your books
signed by the authors. If you can come but haven't purchased your
tickets yet, buy them now before we run out of space! Tell your
friends as well. If you can't come, don't despair. We will try to
quickly have the talks available on CD, MP3, and eventually DVD
format.

Most importantly, schedule August 3 & 4 2006, the first Thursday and
Friday of August 2006, for next year's conference.

See ya soon!

--Scott Gordon
President, FAIR

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Streaming Audio & Video of the FAIR Conference.

We are excited to announce that LDSAudio.com will be offering
streaming audio and video for the upcoming FAIR conference. If you
have Internet access and are unable to attend in person, you can now
enjoy the presentations no matter where you live. Connection fees are
as follows:

2-day feed (full conference): $39.95

The broadcast will be made 24 hours after the actual conference
recording, so those connected through the Internet will be able to
"attend" the conference on August 5th and 6th, as opposed to the 4th
and 5th for those physically attending.

Simply go to the following URL and follow the instructions to enjoy
the conference presentations.

http://www.ldsaudio.com/fair

(This link--the one above--will not be active until the day before the
conference at the earliest. If you try it today and you cannot display
a page, don't despair; just try back at conference time.)

With FAIR fans living in various parts of the world, we're grateful to
the folks at LDSAudio.com for offering this service.

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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

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A Slippery Slope that Limits the Atonement
by A. Dean Byrd, Shirley E. Cox, and Jeffrey W. Robinson

There are probably few people whose circle of friends and relatives is
unaffected by the issue of homosexuality or same-sex attraction. In
recent decades, there has been a plethora of articles, books, studies,
and websites dealing with SSA and related issues. Unfortunately, there
are many false or distorted views about just what "science" has found
out about SSA.

In their review of "In Quiet Desparation," Byrd, Cox, and Robinson
examine some of the misconceptions that many people have come to
accept about SSA. The reviewers note that the "born that way" belief
about SSA is not only unproven, but it can be damaging to many who
could otherwise receive help and strength to change their lives.

"The book inadvertently limits the power of the Atonement in the lives
of people who struggle with homosexual attraction. As professionals
with many combined years of practice in treating those with unwanted
homosexual attraction, we have witnessed changes in the lives of many
of these individuals, and the epiphanies have been many."

The reviewers point out that though the authors' pain and suffering
are real and tragic, "In Quiet Desparation" does not present a
balanced, accurate, or complete picture of the complex issues
associated with homosexuality.

"Thus, In Quiet Desperation moves us further down the slippery slope
expressed by Alexander Pope: 'We first endure, then pity, then
embrace.'"

Read the review: http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Reviews/Rvw200505.html

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Miraculous Events in Early Church History
by David Ferguson

Mormon history is full of many stories of miraculous events and divine
intervention in the affairs of Latter-day Saints. Ferguson presents a
number of these amazing miracles, prophecies, and marvelous events
that provide a witness to the divinity, sacredness, and truthfulness
of the restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph.

Ferguson gives examples of healings, angelic visitations, and
prophecies that demonstrate the hand of God in the latter-day work. He
is also careful to point out that "miracles cannot provide a solid
foundation on which to base a testimony of the Kingdom of God.
However, they do serve the purpose of helping us understand God's love
for us."

Though miracles seldom are sufficient to instill belief, they are
affirming and strengthening for those who already have a testimony. As
Ferguson says, "As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, I consider myself truly blessed to have such an
amazing history to reflect upon. It makes me smile sometimes when an
occasional anti-Mormon says, 'How could you possibly believe that?'
And silently, to myself, I always respond, 'How could you not?'"

Read the article: http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Miraculous_Events_in_Early_Church_History.html

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Explaining Away the Book of Mormon Witnesses
by Richard Lloyd Anderson

This article is the transcription of Anderson's 2004 FAIR Conference
presentation. In that presentation Anderson remarks that he has in his
files hundreds of instances where witnesses to the Book of Mormon
reaffirmed their initial testimonies. Anti-Mormons and skeptics have
been singularly incapable of providing a consistent explanation for
this powerful witness to Joseph Smith's claims. The witnesses
continued to restate their experiences in consistent, concrete, and
emphatic terms over many decades and in the presence of strong
motivations to deny or water-down their original statements.

Anderson looks at a few of the common responses to the witnesses'
testimonies, such as Harris's "eye of faith" statement, the idea of
the experience being "visionary" rather than "real", and notions of
conscious fraud on the part of the witnesses. Each of these attacks on
the witnesses is weak and strained, and each fails to account for the
mass of reinforcing, solid testimony by men who were considered highly
reliable by their non-LDS associates.

"Not only did Joseph have visions, [the witnesses] had similar
verification physically and spiritually and there is nothing that I
have found that would make me feel a bit to the contrary
intellectually or spiritually... I have looked for whatever
contradictions--I made up my mind early if they were there I'd find
them--I haven't found them."

Read the article: http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2004_Explaining_Away_the_Book_of_Mormon_Witnesses.html

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The Apostasy
by Roger Keller

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to be a
restoration of the ancient church established by the Savior. Implicit
in this claim is the belief in the apostacy of the early Christian
church. This early apostacy has been the subject of studies and
speculation since the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Unfortunately, many Church members have beliefs
about the Great Apostacy that are at best folklore, and often are
demonstrably false.

In his presentation at the 2004 FAIR Conference, Keller discussed a
number of erroneous beliefs about the early apostacy and how those
beliefs can cause problems for Latter-day Saints who are learning to
position the restored Gospel into a Christian history filled with men
and women of faith and courage who have clearly been led and inspired
by God. As Keller said, "There are some Latter-day Saints who see The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the only vehicle
through which God works, but maybe their worldview needs to be
slightly broadened."

Keller discusses just what was lost during the first centuries and
just what was restored through the Prophet Joseph. The restored Church
is able to fully carry out God's plan but is not the only place where
God is working "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of
man."

"It would be my testimony that the 'more' of Mormonism, the more
that builds on and adds to these other traditions is the authority of
the priesthood of God that can be found only here."

Read the article: http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2004_Apostasy.html

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The God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph Smith: Defending the Faith
by David L. Paulsen

One of the major anti-Mormon attacks involves the LDS concept of God
and the Godhead. In his presentation at the 2004 FAIR Conference,
Paulsen looks at the LDS beliefs involving the corporeality of God and
the nature of the Godhead and how similar beliefs were held by saints
of the early Christian church.

Poulsen discussed his experience publishing several articles refuting
the idea that it is philosophically impossible for God to be
corporeal. Poulsen also had been interviewd by "Modern Reformation" on
the topic of the LDS understanding of God. In his presentation,
Poulsen shows the strength of the LDS position and its support from
ancient sources.

Read the article: http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2004_God_of_Abraham_Isaac_and_Joseph_Smith.html

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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.

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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

A number of new links have been added to the Topical Guide this month.

The following Church Educational System's institute of religion course
manuals have been added:

Book of Mormon
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai105.html

New Testament (The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles)
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai098.html

Old Testament (Genesis -- 2 Samuel):
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai098.html

Old Testament (1 Kings -- Malachi):
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai098.html

Doctrine and Covenants
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai121.html

Pearl of Great Price
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai123.html

Church History in the Fullness of Times
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai046.html

Presidents of the Church
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai081.html

The following Church Educational System's seminary course manuals have
been added:

Book of Mormon
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai105.html

New Testament
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai098.html

Old Testament
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai098.html

Doctrine and Covenants
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai121.html

Also new this month:

A three-part Meridian Magazine article on DNA by John Tvedtnes
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai195.html

Robert J. Woodford, "The Story of the Doctrine and Covenants"
(an Ensign article that deals with changes in the D&C)
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai287.html

Paul H. Peterson, "An Historical Analysis of the Word of
Wisdom" (BYU master's thesis exploring the environment from
which the Word of Wisdom arose and how the Word of Wisdom
developed into a distinguishing characteristic of Mormon
society)
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai139.html

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FAIR LDS BOOKSTORE

With the FAIR Conference just a few days away, we are all excited
about the lineup of great speakers. As we consider what we can look
forward to, we all wish we could expand our personal libraries with
the latest in research and analysis. This month the FAIR bookstore has
discounted a number of books that you will want to put into your
personal collections.

--> Critiquing the Critics of Joseph Smith

Award-winning author Hartt Wixom doesn't answer the critics through
the normal route taken by Latter-day Saints by suggesting faith,
prayer, and confirmation of truth through the Holy Spirit. Rather, he
appeals to empiricism by closely examining the claims of anti-Mormon
writers. He also scrutinizes the historical validity of their
arguments by measuring their assertions against internal and external
cohesiveness, common sense, and intellectual inquiry.

This book is available for $13.55, a 15% discount.

http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s187

--> Early Christians in Disarray: Contemporary LDS Perspectives on the
Christian Apostasy

"Early Christians in Disarray," edited by Noel B. Reynolds, takes a
fresh look at the apostasy of the early Christian church. The strength
of the book lies in its use of recent research on manuscripts written
during the first few centuries of Christianity. "Early Christians in
Disarray" enables readers to better understand when and why the
apostasy actually took place.

This book is available for $23.95, a 20% discount.

http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s188

--> More Holiness Give Me

In his insightful and persuasive way, Robert L. Millet draws upon his
experiences as a husband, father, gospel scholar, teacher, and Church
leader to describe the fruits of truly successful living, focusing our
hearts on the ways we draw close to the Lord, strengthen our
relationship with the Holy Ghost, and lay claim to the joy and
blessings that the Lord delights to bestow on his faithful people.

This book is available for $7.20, a 60% discount!

http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s189

--> Lost and Found: Reflections on the Prodigal Son

In "Lost and Found," Robert L. Millet provides a fascinating and
thorough look at the powerful parable of the prodigal son. The book
includes rich historical detail and invaluable cultural background, as
well as a verse-by-verse (sometimes phrase-by-phrase) commentary that
enables the reader to fully understand the parable. It outlines in
memorable fashion how this New Testament story helps us better
understand the plan of salvation and identifies ten vital life lessons
that can be gleaned from the parable.

This book is available for $5.95, a 60% discount.

http://www.fairlds.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?s190

- 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.

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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 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).

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FAIR JOURNAL ARCHIVES

For past issues of the FAIR Journal, go to

http://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.

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.

Last Updated June 12, 2006
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