Episodes

  • 85. The Creedal Imperative: Why Creeds? (Part 9/9)

    85. The Creedal Imperative: Why Creeds? (Part 9/9)
    Jul 29 2024

    In this series, Brendon and Skye are going through the book Crisis of Confidence by Carl Trueman – exploring the reasons why Christians have normally used creeds to guard the faith, and why Mormons have been anti-creedal since their founding. This week we cover the Conclusion, Appendix, and wrap-up the series.

    Note of clarification: The Council of Arminium or Rimini was in AD 359 and has around 330 western bishops.


    Christianity and Liberalism; The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen

    Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity; The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

    Christless Christianity; “Charles Finney v. The Westminster Confession” by Michael Horton (also here and here)

    The Need for Creeds Today by J.V. Fesko

    "Dispensing with Merely Human Meaning: Gains and Losses from Focusing on the Human Author, Illustrated by Zephaniah 1:2-3" by Vern Poythress
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    58 mins
  • 84. President Nelson on Priesthood Keys: A Response (w/ Ed Romine)

    84. President Nelson on Priesthood Keys: A Response (w/ Ed Romine)
    Jul 22 2024
    In this episode, Skyler is joined by Dr. Ed Romine to review and respond to LDS President Russell M. Nelson’s April 2024 General Conference talk “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys”. Correction/Clarification: I brought up the 1838 First Vision Account, and then made the comparative point with the other accounts in a way that wasn’t as clear as it should've been. More technically, I should have said JSH-1, which includes the First Vision account. The Elijah portion quoted, which was also placed in D&C 2 in 1876, comes from the “Moroni” visit of JSH-1 (notice: not Nephi), and, similarly, that portion is also a part that is not mentioned in the other accounts of Nephi/Moroni.Moreover, the Sept. 23, 1823 Moroni-visit may more accurately be called the “First Vision” depending on how one argues the dating of what they now call the First Vision (wherein he claims to see God, the Father and Jesus Christ). If the dating is 1820, it would be prior to the Moroni visit in 1823, but would also have a social context that is anachronistic; if 1825, then the context of revival would be fitting, yet it would obviously date to after the Moroni visit. “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys” by Russell M. Nelson News: RNS; SLTrib D&C 109; 110; 2; 77; BD: Elias; JSH-1 “Why did Moses, Elias, and Elijah appear in the Kirtland Temple?” (Notice the footnotes on Elias) The Words of Joseph Smith, edited by Andrew Ehat and Lyndon Cook History of Church, edited by B.H. Roberts (vol.’s 2, 4, 5, 6) Joseph Smith: here and here Jesus the Christ by James Talmage Gospel Principles “Celestial Marriage” by Orson Pratt (August 29, 1852) “Elijah’s Latter-Day Mission” by Orson Pratt (August 28, 1859) “Discourse By President John Taylor” (October 21, 1877) “Discourse By President George Q. Cannon” (May 25, 1884) The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Lyndon Cook Visions, 3 April 1836 [D&C 110] (Warren Cowdery) “The Mormon Creed” by Orson Pratt Lectures on Faith An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer Power from on High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood by Gregory Prince Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera Like A Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith by Stephen Taysom “This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology by Charles Harrell Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Sandra and Jerald Tanner Temple Made With Hands?; An Earnest Plea to Charismatics (Jason Wallace) “Doctrine and Covenants 110: From Vision to Canonization” by Trevor Anderson, MA Thesis Polygamy on the Pedernales: Lyman Wight’s Mormon Village in Antebellum Texas by Melvin Johnson “Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder” by Kyle Robert Beshears “God Has Made Us a Kingdom”: James Strang and the Midwest Mormons by Vickie Cleverley Speek The Kirtland Temple: Biography of a Shared Mormon Sacred Space by David J. Howlett NOTE (from an earlier episode): Who is Elias? What is the spirit of Elijah? Malachi's Prophecy and John's Fulfillment - Though in the Bible Elias and Elijah are the same person, with just a difference in the transliteration of the name - Joseph Smith claimed they were different people, and that they (both) appeared to him. In other words, Elias is simply the Greek form of the OT prophet Elijah's Hebrew name. They are the same person. Yet, according to Joseph Smith, they are two different people who both appeared to him. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 335-338; D&C 110 Why did Moses, Elias, and Elijah appear in the Kirtland Temple? (Notice the footnotes on Elias) Not only do LDS see the coming of Elijah as actually fulfilled in the Kirtland Temple (though some, including a Mormon prophet outside the LDS church, dispute this) - but they connect the "spirit of Elijah" to temple work (including vicarious rituals for the dead). One irony about this is that John (who is biblically associated with Elijah and the prophecy of Malachi) is born to parents of a priestly lineage (of Aaron) - and yet, one of the LDS distinctives is that the Aaronic priesthood is unable to do sealings, and thus, John would not have qualified in their system. The Malachi prophecy that the Bible teaches as fulfilled in John the Baptist preparing the way for The Lord features in a key place in Joseph Smith's story (JSH 1. 38-39, D&C 2:1-2); and the spirit of Elijah is described in ways linked to genealogy and temple work, such as: "Elijah would restore the sealing powers so families could be sealed together. He would also inspire people to be concerned about their ancestors and descendants." (here, here also here) Yet, Jesus says this prophecy of Elijah/Elias (who are one and the same) was fulfilled in John the Baptist. (Matt. 11. 13, 17.12-13). In fact, the prophecy - including the language about turning the hearts of the...
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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • 83. The Creedal Imperative: Why Creeds? (Part 8/9)

    83. The Creedal Imperative: Why Creeds? (Part 8/9)
    Jul 15 2024

    In this series, Brendon and Skye are going through the book Crisis of Confidence by Carl Trueman – exploring the reasons why Christians have normally used creeds to guard the faith, and why Mormons have been anti-creedal since their founding. This week we cover chapter six: “On the Usefulness of Creeds and Confessions”.

    Christianity and Liberalism; The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen

    Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity; The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

    Christless Christianity; “Charles Finney v. The Westminster Confession” by Michael Horton (also here and here)

    The Need for Creeds Today by J.V. Fesko

    "The Princeton Seminary Curriculum" by B.B. Warfield

    Don’t Fire Your Church Members by Jonathan Leeman

    Democratic Religion: Freedom, Authority, and Church Discipline in the Baptist South, 1785-1900 by Gregory Wills

    The Church of Christ by James Bannerman

    OPC Book of Church Order

    “Pragmatism” by Daniel Larison

    Jacques Derrida by Christopher Watkin

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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • 82. James Renihan on Divine Impassibility

    82. James Renihan on Divine Impassibility
    Jul 8 2024
    In this episode, Skyler interviews Dr. James Renihan about his book Confessing the Impassible God: The Biblical, Classical, & Confessional Doctrine of Divine Impassibility. The LDS have historically rejected any notion of any god being “without body, parts, or passions.” This teaching was even explicitly identified as a Luciferian deception through the character of a Reformed Minister (called a “hireling of Satan”) in the LDS temple until 1990 (also here). Today, we ask Dr. James Renihan if the doctrine of Divine Impassibility is what the Bible actually teaches, what Christians have historically believed – and why Christianity must confess One God “without body, parts, or passions.” James Renihan lectures: "God Before the Beginning” “The Eternal God’s Eternal Love” “The Trinity: The Foundation of Our Faith” Also mentioned were his books: Faith and Life for Baptists: The Documents of the London Particular Baptist General Assemblies, 1689-1694 A Toolkit For Confessions: Symbolics 101 – Helps for the Study of English Puritan Confessions of Faith Against the Gods by John Currid All That Is In God by James Dolezal The Suffering of the Impassible God by Paul Gavrilyuk Christianity and Classical Culture by Jaroslav Pelikan Brigham Young: 10.192 ; 13.309John Taylor: JD 14.267-70LDS Temple transcript: here and here “Strange Creeds of Christendom” by LeGrand Richards “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent” by Jeffrey Holland The Great Apostasy; Jesus the Christ by James Talmage The Truth, The Way, The Life: An Elementary Treatise on Theology by B.H. Roberts The God Who Weeps; Wrestling the Angel by Terryl Givens Brigham Young clearly taught that “the God that I serve is progressing eternally, and so are his children: they will increase to all eternity, if they are faithful.” (JD 11.286) However, there has been some voices to the contrary, though still stated within a context which accepts eternal progression (i.e. gods becoming gods by obedience to law, acquisition of knowledge, etc, etc)Compare President Wilford Woodruff and Elder Bruce R. McConkie on the question of eternal progression:"If there was a point where man in his progression could not proceed any further, the very idea would throw a gloom over every intelligent and reflecting mind. God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end. It is just so with us. We are in a probation, which is a school of experience." (Wilford Woodruff, JD 6.120)"Now may I suggest the list of heresies. Heresy one: There are those who say that God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths. This is false - utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it." (Bruce R. McConkie; Seven Deadly Heresies; Notice the condemnation of earlier men of higher church-rank then himself - including but not limited to Presidents/Prophets Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff.)Even Orson Pratt, in his "confession" and "apology" for opposing Brigham Young on the eternal progression of even the highest gods, stated that “[w]e are told that every God will continue to progress in knowledge to all ages of eternity; and we are told this by the highest authority on the earth.” (the line was in the original sermon, edited out of JD 7.371-76, but see Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera, p.163. To see more context on the issue, Bergera's book is well-worth reading.)
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • 81. Excursus: Joseph Smith's Anti-Creedal Imperative (Part 7/9)

    81. Excursus: Joseph Smith's Anti-Creedal Imperative (Part 7/9)
    Jul 1 2024

    In this episode, Skye flies solo further analyzing the Mormon anti-creedal imperative. Building on the coverage in Part One of the Creedal Imperative series, Skye analyzes whether it it just creeds – or perhaps it is a deeper issue that would affect their view of canon, and even written texts at all? This is all occurring within the background of the Mormon paradox of on the one hand, the impulse toward exclusivity – and on the other hand, the trend toward a type of conformity that downplays any distinctives.

    JSH-1; 1 Ne 13; D&C 46.2 ; D&C 84; D&C 123

    History of the Church, edited by B.H. Roberts (vol.’s 3, 5, and 6)

    Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, edited by Joseph Fielding Smith

    George A. Smith: JD 11.9; JD 13.292-293

    John Taylor: JD 14.267-70

    Wilford Woodruff: JD 24.236

    Elias: An Epic of the Ages by Orson F. Whitney

    Mormon Doctrine; A New Witness for the Articles of Faith by Bruce R. McConkie

    “But Arise and Stand Upon Thy Feet” by Harold B. Lee

    A Marvelous Work and a Wonder; “Strange Creeds of Christendom” by LeGrand Richards

    LDS Temple transcript: here and here

    Wrestling the Angel by Teryl Givens (also here)

    Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman

    Mormonism in Transition by Thomas Alexander

    Jason Wallace: An Earnest Plea to Charismatics

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • 80. The Creedal Imperative: Why Creeds? (Part 6/9)

    80. The Creedal Imperative: Why Creeds? (Part 6/9)
    Jun 24 2024

    In this series, Brendon and Skye are going through the book Crisis of Confidence by Carl Trueman – exploring the reasons why Christians have normally used creeds to guard the faith, and why Mormons have been anti-creedal since their founding. This week we cover chapter five: “Confession as Praise”.

    Christianity and Liberalism; The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen

    Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity; The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

    Christless Christianity; “Charles Finney v. The Westminster Confession” by Michael Horton (also here and here)


    The Need for Creeds Today by J.V. Fesko

    War Against the Idols by Carlos Eire

    OPC Book of Church Order

    Disruptive Witness by Alan Noble

    Cultural Liturgies series by James K. A. Smith

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • 79. Pastor James Phelps Interview (Part 2/2)

    79. Pastor James Phelps Interview (Part 2/2)
    Jun 17 2024

    In this week's episode, we finish an interview with Pastor James Phelps from Crossroads Church about his life story.

    Growing up LDS, we hear his story of leaving Mormonism to then being converted to Christianity. His story includes going from serving an LDS mission in Taiwan - to then being an elder in a faithful Christian church in Sandy. He also shares with us that he will be leading a church-plant in southern Utah later this year.

    Check out: Ask LDS Questions

    Sermons: "The Remedy for Gospel Amnesia: Galatians 5.1-6" and "Living Life at the End of the World: 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11"
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • 78. Pastor James Phelps Interview (Part 1/2)

    78. Pastor James Phelps Interview (Part 1/2)
    Jun 10 2024

    In this week's episode, we begin an interview with Pastor James Phelps from Crossroads Church about his life story.

    Growing up LDS, we hear his story of leaving Mormonism to then being converted to Christianity. His story includes going from serving an LDS mission in Taiwan - to then being an elder in a faithful Christian church in Sandy. He also shares with us that he will be leading a church-plant in southern Utah later this year.

    Check out: Ask LDS Questions

    Sermons: "The Remedy for Gospel Amnesia: Galatians 5.1-6" and "Living Life at the End of the World: 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11"
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    1 hr and 14 mins