Bridge of Reason

  Russell M Ballard Speaking in Toronto If you were asked to identify ‘the most remarkable event in history’ you would, as a Christian, be spoiled for choice. I know the obvious answer is the events on Golgotha, the cross and the atoning sacrifice of Christ, but there are some pretty close run second place events in Christian history. What about the incarnation itself, God taking on human form and, as John so eloquently puts it: ‘ The Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled, pitched his tent) among us and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ John 1:14 Then again , that this Word become flesh went about healing the sick, raising the dead, and more remarkable still, forgiving sins – full of grace and truth indeed – must be up there. The unveiling of his glory atop mount Hermon, to which John alludes – ‘we have seen his glory’ – is a truly remarkable event. The Son of God, his glory veiled in flesh, revealing his true natu...

In a lively debate on the Reachout Facebook page I was challenged to share the view of Reachout Trust on the controversial question of The Chosen. This is my take on it, no doubt not held by everyone. For those who don’t know about it, The Chosen has been described as ‘an American religious historical drama television series created, directed and co-written by American film-maker Dallas Jenkins. It is the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.’ Problematic Partnerships: Interfaith? The production has proved controversial because Dallas Jenkins has partnered with Angel Studios , a streaming video company that was co-founded by brothers Neal and Jeffrey Harmon, who are Latter-day Saints. T he fact these men are Latter-day Saints, i t might be argued , is no reason to not work with them. They are, after all, in the same industry as Dallas Jenkins and bring considerable professional talent and resources to the project. T he series is filmed at th...

It is always good to know old friends are still on form and issuing thoughtful challenges to the ministry of Reachout Trust. One such is a good man who is a faithful Mormon and has been for many years. The challenge was to our use of the word ‘Mormon’ when we know ‘the name is the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day saints.’ The question is, which church name would he have us use given the name has changed so much over the years. Instead of Mormonism should we call it, ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-ism?’ I would point out the current Mormon prophet, M Russell Nelson, has point-blank contradicted the policy of his immediate predecessor, Thomas S Monson. Perhaps Mormons should look closer to home and have the Mormon Church do some housekeeping. The various names of the church have been: The Church of Christ - 1830 The Church of the Latter Day Saints - 1834 The Church of Jesus Christ - Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 3:24, footnote The Church of God - ibid ...

  ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not see itself as one Christian denomination among many, but rather as God’s latter-day restoration of the fulness of Christian faith and practice. Thus from its earliest days LDS Christians sought to distinguish themselves from Christians of other traditions.’ (Encyclopaedia of Mormonism 1:270) When LDS leader Brad Wilcox told the youth, and the assembled adults, that O is for Only True Church, I wonder what they thought? Older Mormons perhaps felt like giving Brad a hearty ‘amen’, after all he was declaring the historical Mormon position that the LDS church is the only true church. What Brad said clearly lines up with the Mormon past, with Mormon doctrine and with the Mormon scriptures, but it doesn’t quite square with what I constantly hear from Missionaries. Missionaries have often told me that I am a Christian, but I am missing some pieces of information, namely, the doctrines and gospel ordinances found only in the...

The Mormon missionary manual, Preach my Gospel, teaches: "The Church of Jesus Christ is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (see Ephesians 2:19–20; 4:11–14). These leaders have divine priesthood authority. Through revelation they direct the affairs of the Church. They maintain doctrinal purity, authorize the administration of ordinances, and call and confer the priesthood authority upon others" This is about the classic Mormon argument that, either there is a continuity of authority from the days of the apostles, in which case the Catholic Church has prior claim to supreme authority, or there has been a break in continuity from those days, an apostasy, therefore the Mormon claim to be a restoration stands true. When a Mormon male is ordained an elder in the church he is given a document known as a 'line of authority,' showing an unbroken line of ordinations, from the one who laid hands on him back to Joseph Smith, and then to Peter, James, and John who, ...

Mormons claim that, following the time of the apostles, the Christian Church fell into total apostasy. They claim: Apostasy was prophesied...2 Timothy 3:1-3 A 'Restoration' was anticipated...Acts 3:19-21 But, while apostasy was foretold, the Bible disallows total apostasy: ‘And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ (Matthew 16:18) ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:19/20) ‘And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of God , to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the f...

The Mormon Church is not changing it's name again, it is making a 'correction.' In an official statement in August new president, Russell M Nelson, said: “ The Lord has impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have work before us to bring Technorati Tags: ourselves in harmony with His will. In recent weeks, various Church leaders and departments have initiated the necessary steps to do so. Additional information about this important matter will be made available in the coming months.” Call me cynical but I have the suspicion this is not so much an impression from the Lord as a long-standing issue for the man. I imagine all those leadership meetings over the years where he tried to raise the subject - 'Oh, Russell's on his hobby horse again. Mormon is popular Russell, listen to the tech guys. ' I imagine the rolled eyes when this was announced, 'He's only...

ANN: Before I was taught by the Mormons in my teens, I only knew what I had learned at Sunday School as a small child and in R.E. lessons in school. Like many people, I thought that a Christian was someone who tried hard to do good things, read the Bible, and prayed to God. I learned from my Mormon friends that Jesus had paid for the fall of Adam, so that we are all born sinless and are held accountable only for the sins we ourselves commit. Because Jesus died for my sins, I could work to be acceptable to God and hope one day to be judged worthy of heaven. It certainly sounded right, and I looked no further. I was introduced to the Mormon church via a card through the door offering a free copy of the Book of Mormon. I had been asking a lot of questions about God and the purpose of life, so I sent it off. The book was delivered by two Mormon missionaries when I was out, so my mother made an appointment for them to come back and speak to me. Through their teaching, and visits to the chur...