Mormonism Explained: What Latter-day Saints Teach and Practice

by Andrew Jackson

Sociologist Rodney Stark estimates that by 2080, Mormonism willhave 267 million adherents. As a leading rival to biblicalChristianity in both America and Latin America, it is a religion tobe reckoned with. However, Mormons are not so much a group to befeared by Christians, says author Andrew Jackson, as a missionfield to be cultivated.

As a professor and a pastor in a city that boasts a large LDScommunity, Jackson has had not only many discussions with Mormonneighbors but with current and ex-members from every level of thechurch hierarchy. These conversations have led him to study thisreligion and write this book.

His systematic, concise, and well-documented work offers aneasy-reading explanation of Mormon teaching and practice today.This book is the first place readers will want to turn for a primeron Mormonism's origins and specific doctrines, and what Mormonsbelieve and why.

Genres: Religion, Mormonism

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2008

Reviews

[Heather Gladney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read on Mormonism and brought some things to my attention that I didn’t know. This author had some funny quips when contrasting blatant differences. Would read another book by him.

[Scott Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I read this for a research paper I'm looking to write on the relationship of Mormon culture to the rest of the world. This was written by a Presbyterian minister, I believe, basically as an introduction to Mormon doctrine for other Christian churches. He clearly did some research, and most everything in there (not all) is technically correct, as far as doctrinal issues and such. But he overall seems to miss the point. Not shocking I guess, since he clearly has more on his agenda than just learning about the LDS church for curiosities sake. For the first little while he maintains a fairly good level of academic detachment but later on he starts inserting his own spin on things and pointing out the differences between LDS doctrine (which he starts to debunk) and the rest Christianity (which he excludes Mormons from on the basis that they don't align themselves with Protestantism, Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy, apparently being Christian has nothing to do with Christ anymore). While he does not ever go totally overboard with Mormon bashing, he loses his credibility for me when he fires up the old "we say, they say" rhetoric that is totally a waste of time. I would much rather read a study of Mormonism from the perspective of an academic who isn't throwing in little bits of snarkiness and just sticks to the facts. But, if I am trying to get a good picture of the culture of Mormonism (which he fails to really differentiate from the Church, and in that makes his greatest blunder) I suppose it does have its useful portions.
So there you have it.

[Stefani Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive, non-biased view on exactly who the Mormons are and what they teach. As a former Mormon myself I can attest this book is exceedingly accurate in both its content and its assertion that most Mormons are not taught these things, both of thse are correct. It does not take an anti-Mormon view, but is told from an objective, non-Mormon standpoints and attempts to explain how Mormons are different from Christians...and why they prefer it that way. Absolutely exceptional reading for anyone interested in or a part of the faith.

[Dan Gorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jackson's summary of Mormon history is a good general introduction, and his list of various sources is quite useful for students who are trying to learn about the Latter-day Saint movement. However, Jackson's book shifts from being a fairly unbiased primer to an evangelical Christian critique of Mormonism. Now, if readers want an evangelical critique of Mormonism, this book will probably be right up their alley. However, if readers are looking for an introduction to Mormonism written from a secular (i.e., non-judgmental) perspective, they must look elsewhere.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read before "Under the Banner of Heaven" for some more background on Mormonism. Mostly consisted of me saying, "Really? ... really?!" a whole lot. Solid, quick read basic primer on what Mormonism is/isn't.

[Dianna Thiel]

Mormon Belief #13 “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul – we believe in all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

While this book was helpful in explaining aspects of the Mormon faith, it was written by a Presbyterian minister (Andrew Jackson) who, after about halfway through the book, unleashed his biases. He inserted many jolting remarks that grew in intensity as the book reached its conclusion. Remarks such as, “Where did Mormons get the idea...” and “It is unthinkable, repulsive, and even blasphemous to Christians for anyone to spread the teaching that…” (pg. 122) and, “The shallowness of this Mormon accusation...”

I found the author’s language offensive. The title of the book is, Mormonism Explained, What Latter-Day Saints Teach and Practice. Andrew Jackson did an average job of outlining the basics of Mormonism, but at times he lost his grip. It would have been much more helpful if he would have maintained an academic detachment to lay the facts on the table.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an overview of basic "Mormon" history, beliefs and practices, this book was adequate. Jackson's own xianity frequently intruded into the descriptions, adding unnecessary contrasts and comparisons to some vague, generic xianity version of the topic. At a minimum, it should be clear to readers that all organized religions, with their rules and practices, are human created methods of controlling people. Old men in funny clothes telling people what to do via political, economic and social control systems. The philosophy/theology crap is just to boggle the minds with bullshit and opium dreams.

[Catherine Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Jackson did an excellent job on this book. I thought it was well researched and clearly presented. Although it can be considered biased, I went in to this year expecting that, knowing the author is a Christian pastor. If I wanted a non-biased perspective on this topic, I would have read The Book of Mormon myself. It was a good length and engaging throughout it's entirety, I was worried that it would drag on but that was no the case. Thankful for Andrew Jackson's faithful research and presentation of this topic.

[Aaron Shafovaloff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I helped review the drafts. Balanced and well-researched.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked about this book was that it only explained where Mormonism came from and what it teaches. It does not try to refute or condemn its beliefs or practices; just clarifies where Mormonism and Christianity differ.
It's a short 160 pages, and a good primer on Mormonism, with lots of endnotes and direct quotes from influential Mormon sources.

[John Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a desciption of the beliefs and history of the church of Latter Day Saints. It is also a contrast of their interpretation of the Bible and their "Plan of Salvation" with the Christian's.
It is interesting enough through the history of Joseph Smith and his followers. The second part of the books discusses mormon theology though, which reads like a dull characterless fantasy.

[Brian Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this brief (200 pp.) book Jackson provides a helpful overview of basic Mormon history and teaching drawn primarily from official Mormon sources and major Mormon apologists such as Stephen Robinson and Robert Millet. He also compares and contrasts Mormon teaching with basic Christian doctrine. A helpful book.

[Curt Mize · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crystalline in style, this is a highly accessible, concise, and fair explanation of what the LDS believes according to their own public writings and history. Comparisons are made from an orthodox Protestant view to aid the reader in understanding the differences in world views. Mormons and Christians often use the same terms, but different dictionaries. This is a helpful clarification.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very informative for anyone interested in learning in detail the history, beliefs and practices of Mormonism and also where beliefs in Christianity and Mormonism differ. Simply a read to obtain matter-of-fact information, not much more.

[Kory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an effective survey of Mormon beliefs that cross-sections it with Biblical teaching. The biggest detractor is that it felt like a fairly shallow pool of Mormon authorship was quoted here (a lot of McConkie) but overall was very insightful to illuminate a very shrouded religion.