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Biblical Mormonism: Responding to Evangelical Criticism of LDS Theology
This is an apologetic book discussing evangelical criticism of LDS theology. The author is a Los Angels trial attorney. He uses the tools of textual criticism, which he asserts is recognized and accepted by Evangelicals, to show how LDS theology is Biblical.
- GenresReligionNonfiction
Hardback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 11, 2026
A DEFENSE OF LDS THEOLOGY AGAINST MANY ‘EVANGELICAL’ CRITICS
Richard Hopkins (1944-2013) was a trial attorney and LDS apologist. He wrote in the Preface of this 1994 book, “In recent years, Mormon writers have become prolific in their response to the charge of some Christian groups that Mormonism is a ‘cult.’ … Members of the [LDS Church] are deeply offended by this inappropriate characterization of their faith… Those who assert the claim … are referred to in this book as ‘Evangelicals.’ … the tie that binds this diverse group together … is the acceptance of two fundamental doctrines… (1) the Trinity, and (2) the doctrine of salvation by grace without obedience.” (Pg. 11)
“In the Mormon viewpoint, these two doctrines are the landmarks of the Great Apostasy, prophesied by Christ and His Apostles…. The difficulty of convincing Evangelicals of their error, however, cannot be underestimated. For over 1800 years ‘orthodox Christianity’ has been so affected by Greek philosophy that its doctrines now include many concepts… which … have no scriptural basis whatever… Latter-day Saints must not shrink from this task. They will need more than a mere defense of Mormon teachings, however, to accomplish it… The need for Evangelicals to reconsider their teachings … is critical. If their misconceptions about the Gospel, for example, are not corrected, many more well-meaning Christians will find themselves swallowed by the tide of evildoers … who embrace the notion and Man can be saved without obedience to God… This book was written in the hope it might pave the way for meaningful exchange on the central issues that separate other Christians from the [LDS Church].” (Pg. 12-15)
He rejects the idea of God’s omnipresence: “The Bible nowhere supports the notion that God is literally present at every point in the universe simultaneously. Were that notion accurate, it would have made no sense for Paul to tell the Greeks on Mars Hill, ‘he be not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27). The phrase, ‘not far from’ is hardly descriptive of the physical distance between Man and a God who is simultaneously present at every point in the universe.” (Pg. 58)
He also asserts, “The word ‘create,’ used in the Bible, does NOT mean to make something out of nothing… Indeed, the phrase ‘out of nothing’ appears nowhere in the Bible. The only use of the word ‘nothing’ in connection with the Creation appears in Job 26:7 (NASB)… which states that God ‘HANGS the earth out of nothing.’” (Pg. 61)
He argues, “to demonstrate that Jehovah is not God the Father, OR the triune God of the Creeds, one need merely observe that Jehovah is repeatedly referred to in the Old Testament as the One who will judge men… John 5:22 states unequivocally that the FATHER will judge no man, but has committed ALL judgment to the SON. Therefore, Jehovah is unquestionably the Son only, NOT the Father or any triune God.” (Pg. 88)
He explains, “Mormons emphatically believe in the virgin birth… The fact that Christ was the literal, physical Son of God the Father… does not require that his conception occurred by other than immaculate means. It certainly does NOT require that God the Father had sexual relations with Mary!” (Pg. 90-91)
He clarifies, “Mormons do not teach that men must obey a difficult and complex set of rules for a defined period … in order to merit salvation. Instead they teach that, to be saved, a person who believes in Christ need merely CONFESS OPENLY that they are WILLING to obey his commandments (Rom 10:9).” (Pg. 129) Later, he adds, “The Mormon gospel teaches that Men must strive to obey God’s commandments in order to be and remain saved.” (Pg. 137)
He points out, “What happens to … Africans who lived and died without a word about Christ… According to many Evangelicals these people are lost… all victims of the sovereign election of God. This would be so, even if they were eminently obedient to their consciences, if God had made no provision for them to hear of and accept Jesus Christ AFTER DEATH.” (Pg. 211-212)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying LDS apologetics.
Richard Hopkins (1944-2013) was a trial attorney and LDS apologist. He wrote in the Preface of this 1994 book, “In recent years, Mormon writers have become prolific in their response to the charge of some Christian groups that Mormonism is a ‘cult.’ … Members of the [LDS Church] are deeply offended by this inappropriate characterization of their faith… Those who assert the claim … are referred to in this book as ‘Evangelicals.’ … the tie that binds this diverse group together … is the acceptance of two fundamental doctrines… (1) the Trinity, and (2) the doctrine of salvation by grace without obedience.” (Pg. 11)
“In the Mormon viewpoint, these two doctrines are the landmarks of the Great Apostasy, prophesied by Christ and His Apostles…. The difficulty of convincing Evangelicals of their error, however, cannot be underestimated. For over 1800 years ‘orthodox Christianity’ has been so affected by Greek philosophy that its doctrines now include many concepts… which … have no scriptural basis whatever… Latter-day Saints must not shrink from this task. They will need more than a mere defense of Mormon teachings, however, to accomplish it… The need for Evangelicals to reconsider their teachings … is critical. If their misconceptions about the Gospel, for example, are not corrected, many more well-meaning Christians will find themselves swallowed by the tide of evildoers … who embrace the notion and Man can be saved without obedience to God… This book was written in the hope it might pave the way for meaningful exchange on the central issues that separate other Christians from the [LDS Church].” (Pg. 12-15)
He rejects the idea of God’s omnipresence: “The Bible nowhere supports the notion that God is literally present at every point in the universe simultaneously. Were that notion accurate, it would have made no sense for Paul to tell the Greeks on Mars Hill, ‘he be not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27). The phrase, ‘not far from’ is hardly descriptive of the physical distance between Man and a God who is simultaneously present at every point in the universe.” (Pg. 58)
He also asserts, “The word ‘create,’ used in the Bible, does NOT mean to make something out of nothing… Indeed, the phrase ‘out of nothing’ appears nowhere in the Bible. The only use of the word ‘nothing’ in connection with the Creation appears in Job 26:7 (NASB)… which states that God ‘HANGS the earth out of nothing.’” (Pg. 61)
He argues, “to demonstrate that Jehovah is not God the Father, OR the triune God of the Creeds, one need merely observe that Jehovah is repeatedly referred to in the Old Testament as the One who will judge men… John 5:22 states unequivocally that the FATHER will judge no man, but has committed ALL judgment to the SON. Therefore, Jehovah is unquestionably the Son only, NOT the Father or any triune God.” (Pg. 88)
He explains, “Mormons emphatically believe in the virgin birth… The fact that Christ was the literal, physical Son of God the Father… does not require that his conception occurred by other than immaculate means. It certainly does NOT require that God the Father had sexual relations with Mary!” (Pg. 90-91)
He clarifies, “Mormons do not teach that men must obey a difficult and complex set of rules for a defined period … in order to merit salvation. Instead they teach that, to be saved, a person who believes in Christ need merely CONFESS OPENLY that they are WILLING to obey his commandments (Rom 10:9).” (Pg. 129) Later, he adds, “The Mormon gospel teaches that Men must strive to obey God’s commandments in order to be and remain saved.” (Pg. 137)
He points out, “What happens to … Africans who lived and died without a word about Christ… According to many Evangelicals these people are lost… all victims of the sovereign election of God. This would be so, even if they were eminently obedient to their consciences, if God had made no provision for them to hear of and accept Jesus Christ AFTER DEATH.” (Pg. 211-212)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying LDS apologetics.
January 27, 2008
This is an apologetic book discussing evangelical criticism of LDS theology. The author is a Los Angels trial attorney. He uses the tools of textual criticism, which he asserts is recognized and accepted by Evangelicals, to show how LDS theology is Biblical.
February 17, 2016
anyone who defines evangelicals as those (Protestant or Catholic) who consider the LDS Church a cult doesn't know what he's talking about.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews