What Happened to the Cross? Distinctive LDS Teachings

by Robert L. Millet

What do we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints really believe? What causes us to act as we do? How are we like other Christians? In what ways are we different? At a time when the spotlight of the public scrutiny seems to be turned ever more intensely on the Latter-day Saints, respected author Robert L. Millet clearly describes the Church's crucial teachings in a way that's easy to understand and to explain those of other faiths.

Genres: Religion, Lds, Nonfiction

235 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Robert L. Millet, professor of ancient scripture and former dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, holds a master s degree in psychology from BYU and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Florida State University. He is a popular speaker and prolific writer whose other books include Lost and Found: Reflections on the Prodigal Son; Grace Works; and More Holiness Give Me. He and his wife, Shauna, have six children and live in Provo, Utah.

Reviews

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful...because it's Robert Millet. But the title is quite misleading. He focuses on some of the key things that make the Mormon faith different than other Christian denominations.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a lot of thought to rate this book 3 stars. Maybe I'll change it to 4 stars after some time has expired.

I love Bro. Millet and his writing is always top notch, as it was here. But, through the entire book I could not tell who his audience was as he spoke. For many chapters he came across as approaching someone familiar with Mormon doctrine, but looking for greater coverage of it. Other times he seemed to simply be speaking to the Mormon's who have become jaded with Mormonism's uniqueness. And even other times he seemed to just be speaking from his heart about the gospel, regardless of where the reader stood. His quotes are fabulous, his thoughts well experienced, I just wasn't sure where I was supposed to go with his chapters and what he was getting at in sharing them. His wistfulness became distracting to me and I simply had to read it as individual chapters that I could expect at an EFY, in the Deseret News, or at a Single's Ward Fireside. Again, all very helpful in their own right, but as a whole the book was just slightly not there.

I want to note, too, that with all of that said, his cover is extremely misleading. While you think it is speaking directly to the Christian world or to Mormon history, in fact neither are true. Where the cover and title seem to point you in one direction, the book itself points in another (he doesn't even cover the title until the middle of the book as a smaller chapter. An example of the somewhat errant voice). Again, though, while at Millet's standards this book might be lacking, how can anyone really complain when it's Millet?

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful Brother Millet took the time to write this book. It was time well spent on both his and my account. I intend to reread this one and take more time to mark the best parts.

I appreciate hearing my own belief in the love and acceptance of the offerings of ALL our Father's children by the Father, regardless of which sect they are a part of. One doesn't hear that enough from members of the Church, who place too much emphasis on "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me," choosing to interpret it as anyone who doesn't have the fullness of the gospel doesn't really love God and all their worship is in vain being unacceptable to our Lord. I have never believed that because I, too, have known too many people who I know truly love the Lord and desire to serve him with all their heart, mind and strength, yet are outside the Church. How could a loving God, ignore their efforts simply because they are not baptized members of the LDS Church? I know He does and I also believe some individual's missions for life cannot be fulfilled as members of this church, like Mother Theresa.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift from my grandma. This book provides a nice basic overview of gospel principles. It covers the basics and adds some nice quotes from apostles and prophets. This book seemed geared towards people who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints. If you are a member of the church it might not really sustain your attention.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a little scattered at times, I thought this book really opened up the way to understanding LDS beliefs as perceived by other religions and its own members. It is a book I will return to because of its explanations that are full of scriptural and prophetic references. The book is unassuming and non-defensive. Written with the many non-LDS friends this author has, in mind.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of it were very interesting, but on the whole I felt like it was geared toward explaining LDS beliefs to someone with misconceptions of Mormonism. I still gleaned some things from it, but I didn't feel like I was the target audience for this book. I don't need convincing of most of the points he wrote about, but I did like some of his explanations, so that was at least good.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title on this one caused a lot of confusion when I was reading it. Several people thought it was along the lines of The DaVinci Code. It's really about why the LDS churches do not have crosses inside, and other distinct teachings of our church.

[Robbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting study of distinctive LDS doctrines, from a professor of religion at BYU.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's good, but from one book to the next, he's very repetitive.

[Michael Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just what it claims to be, a well and thoughtful approach to distinctive LDS doctrines. Learn a lot from his Living Doctrine chapter. Well worth a read.