To receive truth is
a fundamental principle of Mormonism… Joseph Smith.
This work is the
testimony of four scholars, all formerly LDS, contending for truth in
a loving spirit of peace. If you are expecting another book about
problems with Mormon history or Mormon scriptures this is not that
book. You will find references to those things but the thrust here is
to tell the how and why of the journey towards truth for these four
authors. I encourage you to read on.
Dr Corey Miller CEO
of Ratio Christi, searched the faith of his roots for the good life.
Dr Miller answers questions most don’t think to ask about the
nature and limitations of personal testimony. The implications of
which are relevant for traditional Christians and Mormons alike. His
exposure to the gospel of traditional Christianity made his Mormon
experience feel like a “religious veneer of behaviorism” (p25).
His working through these conflicts clarified his faith and he shows
how we can have confidence in our testimonies. He clarifies the
significant differences between the Mormon and Christian concepts of
God and the plan of salvation.
Dr Latayne C. Scott
tells of her heartbreaking journey from Mormonism. She was determined
to discover the truth. Her journey led her to “Representational
Research” a research method for reasoning or perhaps you could call
it a hermeneutic for our mind. This tool along with “True Narrative
Representations” enables one to rationally discern truth from
fiction from error from lies. These tools Dr Scott explains very well
and they have implications that are further reaching than just Mormon
studies. This is a rich field to glean from for anyone who works with
words. This section alone is worth the price of the book.
Dr Lynn K Wilder was
a tenured professor at Brigham Young University. She has three sons
who all served missions. She believed that the outside world was in
opposition to the LDS Church and the Prophet. She never took
seriously anti-Mormon literature but dismissed them as lies. However
her position at BYU required her to wrestle with some hard questions
about racist ideas in the LDS scriptures. This fractured her bubble.
She writes that it wasn’t only these difficulties that led her away
from Mormonism but rather it was her search for truth in the words of
Christ. She doubted everything else. She found these most fully in
the New Testament.
Dr Vince Eccles is
descended from a well known Utah family. His upbringing was both
wonderful and tumultuous. By the laying on of hands, after his
baptism into Mormonism, his father prayed “Make him a peacemaker”
quoting a section of Matthew 5. His father also instilled in him a
rich imagination and a love of rigorous study. As a six year old boy
he wondered what he would see if he flew a rocket ship to the edge of
the universe. This was a good mix for a future physicist.
Disillusioned by the LDS Church his search for the Creator took on a
scientific quality. His boyhood rocket became a metaphor in his
search for truth. Dr Eccles established criteria for assessing
doctrines. He came through with three creed-like statements, God is
One, God is Spirit, and God is Love. His journey of faith has been
like his childhood both wonderful and tumultuous. Discouragement and
a “dark night of the soul” eventually comes to all Christians.
The truth Dr Eccles found and his dogged determinism to keep his
rocket ship flying has enriched the Christian Church. His insights on
the call of Abraham, the meeting with Melchizedek, the Shema, and the
Golden Rule are wonderful and edifying. It is this reviewers hope
that Dr Eccles will continue to write and share more.
Thanks to Kregel
Publishing for a review copy of this book for an unbiased review.
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