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Letters to a Mormon Elder
A New Edition of a classic volume on a vital subject for our day. Originally published in 1990, this volume has gone through different editions and printings, but is presently unavailable. In typically thorough White-style brother James sends 17 Letters to a fictitious Mormon Elder addresses such topics as the following: WHAT IS TRUTH? ERRORS IN GOD'S WORD? THE DOCTRINE OF GOD: ONE GOD OR MANY? ELOHIM AND JEHOVAH: ONE GOD LATTER-DAY REVELATION? FURTHER TESTS OF JOSEPH SMITH, THE "PROPHET" MEET THE AWESOME GOD OF THE BIBLE
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
18 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
James R. White
30 books487 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty four books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred forty moderated, public debates around the world with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. In recent years James has debated in such locations as Sydney, Australia, as well as mosques in Toronto, London, and South Africa. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than thirty two years, and has two children, and one grandchild, Clementine.
James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty four books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred forty moderated, public debates around the world with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. In recent years James has debated in such locations as Sydney, Australia, as well as mosques in Toronto, London, and South Africa. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than thirty two years, and has two children, and one grandchild, Clementine.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 27, 2024
This is field tested. I speak from personal experience. EXCELLENT book.
January 7, 2012
A bit like Screwtape Letters, where I think that the format of a correspondence is more of a style issue than the way it actually went down. But, filled with good information, and a step by step examination and comparison of Mormonism to Biblical Christianity. Read this book and you'll probably know more about LDS doctrine than the average mormon.
July 14, 2012
This is a great book. And I thought Mormonism was crazy already before I read this book, knowing the little that I did...just wait until you read this book...
May 9, 2020
Buy this! May use as a "tract" for a Mormon.
June 3, 2010
White is by far one of the best in the field of apologetics. His insite on Mormonism is unmatched. Great book!
December 3, 2013
Excellent format and historical criticism of Mormonism.
March 20, 2020
This books gives not only the information helpful for witnessing to Mormons, but also a style and tactic for how to engage in a friendly and respectful way to truly become a friend to the Mormon missionary that comes to your door.
The style is in the form of a series of letters written to a Mormon missionary in between personal visits. Through that format, we see not only the substance of the argument and ideas, but also that friendly tone and desire for relationship. Both of these are key takeaways from this book.
The book is well researched, with plenty of Biblical grounding and many quotes from various Mormon writings to establish the claims of both sides and to give evidence for the arguments being made. I look forward to using what I learned here.
The style is in the form of a series of letters written to a Mormon missionary in between personal visits. Through that format, we see not only the substance of the argument and ideas, but also that friendly tone and desire for relationship. Both of these are key takeaways from this book.
The book is well researched, with plenty of Biblical grounding and many quotes from various Mormon writings to establish the claims of both sides and to give evidence for the arguments being made. I look forward to using what I learned here.
March 31, 2024
A lot of the arguments still hold up, but Mormonism is changing. The arguments will probably just continue to slowly become less relevant as Mormonism mutates. Overall, extremely great read. It is obvious that Dr. White put a lot of passion into this book.
August 26, 2022
This is an excellent introduction to Mormon theology and why it's wrong and unbiblical from an Evangelical perspective. It's a nearly perfect book. But here are some of my minor criticisms.
The author, James White, is one of my favorite Christian apologists. He is an outspoken proponent of Calvinism. I too am a Calvinist, but I thought it was unfortunate that James White presented Calvinism as the "right alternative" or the only offered alternative to Mormonism, rather than offering a more generic Evangelicalism. Or at the very least he could have made it clear that the issue of Calvinism is an in-house debate among Evangelicals. He could have also offered both a generic Evangelical perspective AND a Calvinist perspective and explained to Mormon readers that both are within the pale of Christian orthodoxy. While at the same time recommending Calvinism as the better and more Biblical option. I feel that White's presentation of only Calvinism as the right alternative reduces the book's effectiveness. Calvinism is strong, deep and difficult teaching and I suspect most Mormons would have been needlessly offended by it. Calvinism shouldn't be a hurdle Mormons should have to jump over in order to leave the abhorrent polytheism and Semi-Pelagianism of Mormonism into Evangelicalism.
James White used the King James Version of the Bible as the primary translation when quoting the Bible. It's understandable that he did so because Mormonism accepts the "Authorized Version" (i.e. the KJV) as a good translation to the degree that it's accurately translated and preserved. However, I think James White wasn't always completely forthright when using the KJV to bolster his case because he knows Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek as well as being familiar with modern translations, and he quoted the KJV in ways that didn't reflect issues that he's aware of. He would even later write the EXCELLENT book The King James Only Controversy which documents some of these issues.
For example, in defending the total inability of human beings he quotes Jer. 17:9 which reads:
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" [bold added by me]
James White knows that most modern translations have the word "sick" in the place of "wicked." The word "sick" is a more accurate translation. While I agree with the doctrine of Man's Total Inability, summoning this verse in its defense using the KJV without full disclosure could be seen by some as a case of him "putting his thumb on the scale."
Another example is his use of Micah 5:2 to defend the eternality of Christ. The Hebrew could be interpreted either as teaching beginningless eternality, or great antiquity that's consistent with a beginning. While I think the best interpretation is beginningless eternality (and hence supporting the historic doctrine of the Trinity which I believe in), it's not clearly the only possible or virtually certain interpretation.
Another example is his use of Rom. 5:1 to defend the doctrine of full and free justification through faith alone [sola fide] in the all sufficient work of Jesus Christ Alone [solus Christus]. Again, while I agree with this standard Evangelical doctrine, White doesn't fully disclose that there's a textual variant in the Greek text that doesn't as strongly support it. The difference is between "we have peace with God" vs. "let us have peace with God." In times past this was a huge bone of contention between Protestants and Catholics because Protestants had a vested interest in defending "we have" and Catholics in defending "let us have." However, in recent years there has been some concessions on both sides. James White has acknowledged that in his earlier years he might have been influenced by an agenda and was being overly enthusiastic in defending the reading of "we have." While many Catholics now grant that the reading "let us have" can nevertheless be consistent with the Evangelical doctrine and doesn't necessarily (or virtually) preclude it.
Another example is James White's interpretation and use of Psalm 82. Maybe at the time of the writing of Letters to a Mormon Elder (first published 1990?) James White didn't know about or didn't take seriously enough the issue of the Divine Council as it relates to that psalm. Maybe at the time he thought it was a liberal concept that no conservative Christian should even entertain. In that sense, it's understandable that James White didn't address the issue. However, because of the work of (relatively conservative) scholar Michael Heiser in recent years, and his popular books like The Unseen Realm, the issue can no longer be skirted. Especially since many Evangelicals now grant that the concept of the Divine Council is compatible with historic Evangelical theology and accept it. I myself, as a "card carrying Evangelical," subscribe to aspects of it.
See these following articles by Heiser:
You've Seen on Elohim, You've Seen Them All? A Critique of Mormonism's Use of Psalm 82 by Michael Heiser [ Or HERE]
Monotheism, Polytheism, Monolatry, or Henotheism? Toward an Honest (and Orthodox) Assessment of Divine Plurality in the Hebrew Bible by Michael Heiser [or HERE]
I could say more, but those are some of the minor quibbles I have with this book, Letters to a Mormon Elder. All in all it's an EXCELLENT book that I recommend all professing Christians read in order to understand the basics of Mormon theology and why it should be rejected and opposed.
The author, James White, is one of my favorite Christian apologists. He is an outspoken proponent of Calvinism. I too am a Calvinist, but I thought it was unfortunate that James White presented Calvinism as the "right alternative" or the only offered alternative to Mormonism, rather than offering a more generic Evangelicalism. Or at the very least he could have made it clear that the issue of Calvinism is an in-house debate among Evangelicals. He could have also offered both a generic Evangelical perspective AND a Calvinist perspective and explained to Mormon readers that both are within the pale of Christian orthodoxy. While at the same time recommending Calvinism as the better and more Biblical option. I feel that White's presentation of only Calvinism as the right alternative reduces the book's effectiveness. Calvinism is strong, deep and difficult teaching and I suspect most Mormons would have been needlessly offended by it. Calvinism shouldn't be a hurdle Mormons should have to jump over in order to leave the abhorrent polytheism and Semi-Pelagianism of Mormonism into Evangelicalism.
James White used the King James Version of the Bible as the primary translation when quoting the Bible. It's understandable that he did so because Mormonism accepts the "Authorized Version" (i.e. the KJV) as a good translation to the degree that it's accurately translated and preserved. However, I think James White wasn't always completely forthright when using the KJV to bolster his case because he knows Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek as well as being familiar with modern translations, and he quoted the KJV in ways that didn't reflect issues that he's aware of. He would even later write the EXCELLENT book The King James Only Controversy which documents some of these issues.
For example, in defending the total inability of human beings he quotes Jer. 17:9 which reads:
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" [bold added by me]
James White knows that most modern translations have the word "sick" in the place of "wicked." The word "sick" is a more accurate translation. While I agree with the doctrine of Man's Total Inability, summoning this verse in its defense using the KJV without full disclosure could be seen by some as a case of him "putting his thumb on the scale."
Another example is his use of Micah 5:2 to defend the eternality of Christ. The Hebrew could be interpreted either as teaching beginningless eternality, or great antiquity that's consistent with a beginning. While I think the best interpretation is beginningless eternality (and hence supporting the historic doctrine of the Trinity which I believe in), it's not clearly the only possible or virtually certain interpretation.
Another example is his use of Rom. 5:1 to defend the doctrine of full and free justification through faith alone [sola fide] in the all sufficient work of Jesus Christ Alone [solus Christus]. Again, while I agree with this standard Evangelical doctrine, White doesn't fully disclose that there's a textual variant in the Greek text that doesn't as strongly support it. The difference is between "we have peace with God" vs. "let us have peace with God." In times past this was a huge bone of contention between Protestants and Catholics because Protestants had a vested interest in defending "we have" and Catholics in defending "let us have." However, in recent years there has been some concessions on both sides. James White has acknowledged that in his earlier years he might have been influenced by an agenda and was being overly enthusiastic in defending the reading of "we have." While many Catholics now grant that the reading "let us have" can nevertheless be consistent with the Evangelical doctrine and doesn't necessarily (or virtually) preclude it.
Another example is James White's interpretation and use of Psalm 82. Maybe at the time of the writing of Letters to a Mormon Elder (first published 1990?) James White didn't know about or didn't take seriously enough the issue of the Divine Council as it relates to that psalm. Maybe at the time he thought it was a liberal concept that no conservative Christian should even entertain. In that sense, it's understandable that James White didn't address the issue. However, because of the work of (relatively conservative) scholar Michael Heiser in recent years, and his popular books like The Unseen Realm, the issue can no longer be skirted. Especially since many Evangelicals now grant that the concept of the Divine Council is compatible with historic Evangelical theology and accept it. I myself, as a "card carrying Evangelical," subscribe to aspects of it.
See these following articles by Heiser:
You've Seen on Elohim, You've Seen Them All? A Critique of Mormonism's Use of Psalm 82 by Michael Heiser [ Or HERE]
Monotheism, Polytheism, Monolatry, or Henotheism? Toward an Honest (and Orthodox) Assessment of Divine Plurality in the Hebrew Bible by Michael Heiser [or HERE]
I could say more, but those are some of the minor quibbles I have with this book, Letters to a Mormon Elder. All in all it's an EXCELLENT book that I recommend all professing Christians read in order to understand the basics of Mormon theology and why it should be rejected and opposed.
March 29, 2016
I've written reviews on a few other of White's writings so for a slightly more detailed account of his, check those.
This book presents a stylistic difference from White's other writings in that he takes on the form of Screwtape Letters - a simulated back and forth conversation with a hypothetical entity.
Personally, it doesn't do a ton for me. I would be just as, if not more, fine with having the book written in a typical expository style so that I wouldn't have to read through all the salutation fluff.
Overall though, the content was adequate. I have not researched Mormons much so this was was my exploration. It seems to have done a decent job.
This book presents a stylistic difference from White's other writings in that he takes on the form of Screwtape Letters - a simulated back and forth conversation with a hypothetical entity.
Personally, it doesn't do a ton for me. I would be just as, if not more, fine with having the book written in a typical expository style so that I wouldn't have to read through all the salutation fluff.
Overall though, the content was adequate. I have not researched Mormons much so this was was my exploration. It seems to have done a decent job.
April 15, 2021
Excellent book pointing out the vast chasm between mormonism and Christianity. White does go over a few historical issues that cause problems for mormonism, but the theological issues are what really seal the deal - the nature of God, grace, justification, and the atonement! As a mormon for 30+ years, I know exactly what the responses would be to the material in this book - I was there! White covers them all and very adeptly. I originally left the mormon church over historical issues, but over the years - as a Christian - I have come to see the very, very stark contrast theologically. Ironically, because of my deep "faith" and commitment to the mormon church, and mormonism's insistence that it has the "truth" as contained in the Bible (combined with mormonism’s insistence that truth will prevail), I was led to search for the Truth. Praise be to God that I have found the "Truth" in Christ - the Christ of the Bible.
I am not sure this book, however, would have been much help if I had even read it while still mormon. It would have been too much too fast. Anyway, it most certainly would have been labeled "anti-mormon" by my mormon leaders and fellow members and so would have been disparaged. I would have most likely listened and not even read the book.
The beginning of my exit from mormonism was along different lines. Over time I found out bits and pieces of controversial historical information. I wanted to get to the bottom of it to vindicate the mormon church so I started reading a biography, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, written by a faithful mormon Richard Bushman. That was the beginning of the end of mormonism for me. After that I was reading every biography of Joseph Smith I could get my hands on. What was funny was that there was so much overlap and agreement in both the “anti-mormon” sources and Bushman’s book. Honestly, I think mormonism is so disconnected from actual Christianity and lacks so much self awareness, that it cannot even see where to defend itself from attack; it does not even really know what is damaging or not to its own positions and doctrines. Things have fortuitously worked out to its advantage in that so many of its members just do not care to know or study anything about mormon origins and foundations - historical or theological. They just obey the church’s injunctions against anything it can label “anti-mormon.” (I personally think that that is because of the former, not the other way around, but I digress.)
The real pathology is how mormonism parasitically uses the Bible. It is as if mormonism merely fills the important “words” of the Bible with its own completely different concepts. The conceptual redefinition is the heart and soul of mormonism, ultimately deceiving mormons and resulting in mormons "feeling" that mormonism is true and “feeling” that they are "in Christ." The real sinister part, again, is that, for whatever reason, they will not take any real time to study what the Bible actually says; anything that differs from the “truth” that they have been told by their leaders is labeled "anti-mormon". They will not even consider truth from any other source - certainly not from the Bible alone. The real genius of Joseph Smith and the mormon church is in having convinced its members that the Bible was changed; mormons are literally taught that they cannot trust the Bible as it stands. Then they are taught all of these new anti-Biblical doctrines and ideas that can never be disproven - e.g., "This teaching differs from the Bible because it was removed from the Bible". Unless one really starts from where Joseph Smith supposedly started - the Bible - then it is hard to see how any mormon would honestly take what White has written and think about it. Mormonism has cut its own foundation (so to speak) out from under itself. This keeps mormons from leaving and finding the Truth. And if they do end up leaving mormonism, it is very likely they will go to atheism because mormonism has done such an effective job in their minds of undermining God’s actual Word - the Bible. Very sad.
I am not sure this book, however, would have been much help if I had even read it while still mormon. It would have been too much too fast. Anyway, it most certainly would have been labeled "anti-mormon" by my mormon leaders and fellow members and so would have been disparaged. I would have most likely listened and not even read the book.
The beginning of my exit from mormonism was along different lines. Over time I found out bits and pieces of controversial historical information. I wanted to get to the bottom of it to vindicate the mormon church so I started reading a biography, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, written by a faithful mormon Richard Bushman. That was the beginning of the end of mormonism for me. After that I was reading every biography of Joseph Smith I could get my hands on. What was funny was that there was so much overlap and agreement in both the “anti-mormon” sources and Bushman’s book. Honestly, I think mormonism is so disconnected from actual Christianity and lacks so much self awareness, that it cannot even see where to defend itself from attack; it does not even really know what is damaging or not to its own positions and doctrines. Things have fortuitously worked out to its advantage in that so many of its members just do not care to know or study anything about mormon origins and foundations - historical or theological. They just obey the church’s injunctions against anything it can label “anti-mormon.” (I personally think that that is because of the former, not the other way around, but I digress.)
The real pathology is how mormonism parasitically uses the Bible. It is as if mormonism merely fills the important “words” of the Bible with its own completely different concepts. The conceptual redefinition is the heart and soul of mormonism, ultimately deceiving mormons and resulting in mormons "feeling" that mormonism is true and “feeling” that they are "in Christ." The real sinister part, again, is that, for whatever reason, they will not take any real time to study what the Bible actually says; anything that differs from the “truth” that they have been told by their leaders is labeled "anti-mormon". They will not even consider truth from any other source - certainly not from the Bible alone. The real genius of Joseph Smith and the mormon church is in having convinced its members that the Bible was changed; mormons are literally taught that they cannot trust the Bible as it stands. Then they are taught all of these new anti-Biblical doctrines and ideas that can never be disproven - e.g., "This teaching differs from the Bible because it was removed from the Bible". Unless one really starts from where Joseph Smith supposedly started - the Bible - then it is hard to see how any mormon would honestly take what White has written and think about it. Mormonism has cut its own foundation (so to speak) out from under itself. This keeps mormons from leaving and finding the Truth. And if they do end up leaving mormonism, it is very likely they will go to atheism because mormonism has done such an effective job in their minds of undermining God’s actual Word - the Bible. Very sad.
May 15, 2024
This was a great read and very helpful in providing a thorough understanding of the LDS church and where their views contradict biblical Christianity, particularly from a Reformed viewpoint. This will certainly be helpful in future opportunities to witness to Latter-day saints. I'll admit that the formatting was a bit odd and the letter format would have been helped by including more information from the other side (Elder Hahn), but despite its faults there, it did a good job of presenting it's arguments. I particularly appreciated the clear presentation of the gospel and articulation of Reformed views that the LDS are likely unfamiliar with, but very clearly and concretely provide Biblical contrast to LDS beliefs. I would recommend this to any Christian wanting to learn more about the LDS church or to provide to Mormon friends.
June 7, 2021
A very thorough rebuttal of many Mormon doctrines using the Bible. I only wish it covered problems with the temple more, which is what first got me to seriously question my membership in the Mormon church (and eventually leave it, after being born and raised Mormon and leaving when I was 31). More Christians should read this book (a) to realize that Mormons are NOT Christians (so stop reaching "across the aisle" to them like they are your fellow Christian brothers and sisters) and (b) to learn more of the Mormon beliefs (and how NOT Christian they are) and how to rebut them in order to help Mormons leave their false religion.
May 18, 2025
This set of (fictional) letters by an evangelical Christian missionary dissects Mormon theology against its own contradictions and against the Bible.
I definitely did learn new things about Mormon doctrine - their theory of works playing a meaningful role in salvation, how many of them follow through on the implications of God (they say) literally having a body and family, and things like that. Meanwhile, the Biblically-based explanation of God's omnipotence and salvation by grace alone was well done.
All in all, though, this didn't stand out to me; I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a special interest in the subject.
I definitely did learn new things about Mormon doctrine - their theory of works playing a meaningful role in salvation, how many of them follow through on the implications of God (they say) literally having a body and family, and things like that. Meanwhile, the Biblically-based explanation of God's omnipotence and salvation by grace alone was well done.
All in all, though, this didn't stand out to me; I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a special interest in the subject.
October 14, 2022
Great resource for anyone not familiar with the faults of LDS theology. White goes into great detail of why Mormonism is in fact not Biblical, but defers from the Bible on every doctrine. Very helpful for me to have somewhere to look if I ever need specific evidence of the false life and prophecies of the Latter day church.
November 7, 2024
Wowzerooski this book was incredible! It points out so many of the issues with the LDS faith while more importantly spells out the Christian faith and gospel better than most (potentially all) other books I’ve read. The whole fictional conversation part was kind of a miss for me, but the rest was great.
June 2, 2017
Very well done and useful! Especially with all the time I spend in Salt Lake City. White has written a series of male believe letters to a Mormon missionary drawing from his years of witnessing to Mormons. Lots of info here and lots of stuff to dig into further.
December 27, 2020
James White clearly doesn’t have a clue what he talks about and he uses an unfair method in scrutinizing the issues in the book. The questions he brings forth are fair, but his “evidence” is cherry picked and wouldn’t work in an academic text for instance.
January 11, 2022
Great book for introducing one to the practical methodology of evangelizing to Mormons.
August 4, 2022
Great book to learn the LDS beliefs that are not commonly taught in modern days and how to actively talk to Mormons and be able to preach the gospel to them!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews