Crossing The Divide From Baptist To Latter Day Saint

Thousands of people are baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints every week. In many ways, Bryan Ready's story is no different than any other convert-except that Bryan was an ordained Southern Baptist Pastor with a formal theological education. He firmly believed that Joseph Smith was a false prophet. In 1979, Bryan and his mother were driving home from a fireside featuring members of the Osmond Family. He had listened to their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was impressed. He turned to his mother and said, "Mom, I want to be a Mormon." Her answer was a firm and adamant "No!" Over the next thirty-five years, Bryan became a committed follower of Jesus Christ-and a staunch anti-Mormon. But then things changed. His heart began to soften as he opened his mind to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. His faith would face the ultimate test of conviction-to quit his ministry and seek baptism. This is Bryan's story.

Thousands of people are baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints every week. In many ways, Bryan Ready's story is no different than any other convert--except that Bryan was an ordained Southern Baptist Pastor with a formal theological education. He firmly believed that Joseph Smith was a false prophet. In 1979, Bryan and his mother were driving home from a fireside featuring members of the Osmond Family. He had listened to their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was impressed. He turned to his mother and said, "Mom, I want to be a Mormon." Her answer was a firm and adamant "No!" Over the next thirty-five years, Bryan became a committed follower of Jesus Christ--and a staunch anti-Mormon. But then things changed. His heart began to soften as he opened his mind to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. His faith would face the ultimate test of conviction--to quit his ministry and seek baptism.

Voted one of Christianity Today's 1998 Books of the Year! Mormons and evangelicals don't often get along very well, at least not once they begin to discuss their religious beliefs. They often set about trying to convert one another, considering the faith the other holds as defective in some critical way. Unfortunately, much of what they say about one another simply isn't true. False stereotypes abound on both sides, preventing genuine and helpful communication. Having discovered this sad state of affairs, Craig Blomberg, a committed evangelical scholar, and Stephen Robinson, a committed Mormon scholar, set out to listen to one another and to ferret out the real agreements and disagreements between them. In the conversation that develops, you will read what each believes about key theological issues--the nature and bounds of Scripture, the nature of God and deification, the person of Christ and the Trinity, and the essentials of salvation--and see how they interact with one another. What they agree on may surprise you. Though this book does not sweep differences under the rug, it is meant to help Mormons and evangelicals know and tell the truth about one another. It does not expect to end evangelistic efforts from either side. In fact, it may help to promote more effective communication because it can help to get rid of misrepresentations from both sides. In the end, however, you will be able to judge for yourself just how wide the divide between them is.

Scholarship in Mormon studies has often focused on a few key events and individuals in Mormon history. The essays collected by Quincy D. Newell and Eric F. Mason in this interdisciplinary volume expand the conversation. One of the main purposes of this volume is to define and cross boundaries. Part 1 addresses internal boundaries—walls that divide some Mormons from others. One chapter examines Joseph Smith’s writings on economic matters and argues that he sought to make social distinctions irrelevant. Another considers Jane James, an African American Latter-day Saint, and her experiences at the intersection of religious and racial identity In part 2, contributors consider Mormonism's influence on Pentecostal leader John Alexander Dowie and relationships between Mormonism and other religious movements, including Methodism and Presbyterianism. Other chapters compare Mormonism and Islam and examine the group Ex-Mormons for Jesus/Saints Alive in Jesus. Part 3 deals with Mormonism in the academy and the ongoing evolution of Mormon studies. Written by contributors from a variety of backgrounds, these essays will spark scholarly dialogue across the disciplines.

Tyler makes some new friends who belong to "The 'Not Even Once' Club" and who teach him about living high standards and holding true to his beliefs.

For over a decade Fuller Seminary president Richard Mouw has participated in Mormon-evangelical dialogue with a view to developing a better understanding between the two groups. His participation in these discussions has drawn severe criticism and even anger from people who believe such talks are pointless or even dangerous. This brief, highly accessible book is his answer. Advocating humility, patience, and a willingness to admit our own shortcomings, Mouw shows why it is necessary to move beyond stark denunciation to a dialogue that allows both parties to express differences and explore common ground. Without papering over significantly divergent perspectives on important issues like the role of prophecy, the nature of God, and the creeds, Mouw points to areas in which Mormon-evangelical dialogue evidences hope for the future. In so doing, he not only informs readers but also models respectful evangelical debate.