Featured articles...
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Analysis and response to the article "Reinventing Lamanite Identity," by Brent Lee Metcalfe, published in Sunstone, March 2004, 20-25.
Critics who wish to use DNA evidence to disprove the Book of Mormon must use a hemispheric model of the lands described in the book and assume that the Lehites and Mulekites arrived on an empty continent. The article argues for a traditional interpretation of the Book of Mormon which would exclude the presence of others on the American continents and thereby enable critical DNA claims to be valid. The article's claims are examined one-by-one and links to corresponding responses in the FAIR Wiki are provided. The analysis can be found here:
Elder Holland's General Conference Talk (Oct. 4, 2009)
For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”
—Jeffrey R. Holland, “Safety for the Soul,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 88–90
- Elder Holland gave a powerful testimony about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. During the course of his talk he mentioned two secular Book of Mormon authorship theories. So who are Ethan Smith and Solomon Spalding? What is the best that critics have been able to come up with to explain away the origin of the Book of Mormon? Read the articles below to find out.
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Current events...
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- "Big Love" and the temple— Errors and mistakes in the HBO series Big Love. Come see what happens when non-Mormon screenwriters create Mormon dialogue. (Don't worry—Latter-day Saints take their temple covenants seriously. We won't discuss details about temple ordinances, but we can certainly talk about everything else that was wrong with the episode.)
- Latter-day Saints and California Proposition 8— The passage of California Proposition 8 during the November 2008 election has generated a number of criticisms of the Church regarding a variety of issues including the separation of church and state. FAIR examines this event and how it relates to Latter-day Saints.
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Critics on the Web...
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| | Analysis of LDS-related Wikipedia Articles
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- Mormonism and Wikipedia. FAIR regularly receives queries about specific LDS-themed Wikipedia articles with requests that we somehow "fix" them. Although some individual members of FAIR may choose to edit Wikipedia articles, FAIR as an organization does not. Controversial Wikipedia articles require constant maintenance and a significant amount of time. We prefer instead to respond to claims in the FAIR Wiki rather than fight the ongoing battle that LDS Wikipedia articles sometimes invite. From FAIR’s perspective, assertions made in LDS-themed Wikipedia articles are therefore treated just like any other critical (or, if one prefers, "anti-Mormon") work. FAIR examines and responds to the following LDS-related Wikipedia articles in detail:
| | Analysis of Critical Web Sites
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- FAIR web site reviews. Many web sites critical of the Church are very obvious in their mission—to pull the foundation from members' faith. Some, however, are much more subtle in their approach. These sites are claimed to be operated by active and believing members of the Church. Their message, unfortunately, is not consistent with building or supporting faith. FAIR reviews one such site.
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Old Favorites...
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Responses to anti-Mormon questions...
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| | Lists of questions from anti-Mormon ministries
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Countercult ministries love to have people ask questions about us. Rather than being sincere attempts to understand Latter-day Saints, these questions are designed to provoke a response. Here are FAIR's responses to some of the more popular lists.
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Critical Media...
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| | A FAIR Response to Critical Films and Videos
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- Search for the Truth DVD—Although the producers of this video state that it was produced out of love, the numerous mischaracterizations, misrepresentations, errors, and outright falsehoods found on the DVD make it difficult for believing Latter-day Saints to see that expression of love as sincere. But that didn't stop the purveyors of this "love" from leaving a copy on your doorknob...
- September Dawn—"When an independent film company produced a grossly distorted version of the Mountain Meadows Massacre two years ago, the Church ignored it. Perhaps partly as a result of that refusal to engender the controversy that the producers hoped for, the movie flopped at the box office and lost millions." (The Publicity Dilemma, LDS Newsroom, March 9, 2009.)
- The God Makers—This classic 1982 film represents an appeal to ridicule, by taking beliefs or doctrines of the church and presenting them in a manner which makes them appear so strange and bizarre that nobody could possibly accept them...unless, of course, you really do aspire to become an "eternally pregnant goddess." Notable for one of the cheesiest cartoon sequences ever viewed on YouTube.
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| | A FAIR Analysis of Critical Works
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Is a particular book "anti-Mormon"? FAIR analyzes and responds to critical works that attack the Church. Our current featured analysis is:
- An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer. The book, written by a former CES instructor, attempts to explain many otherwise clearly described events of the restoration by reinterpreting them as spiritual rather than physical events. The book has become very popular among critics of the Church, since it concludes that Joseph Smith deliberately enhanced and added fabricated detail to his later accounts of events such as the First Vision, the Priesthood restoration, the Three and Eight Witnesses and the visit of the angel Moroni. Although the stated purpose of the book is to "increase faith," it is clearly intended to demonstrate the Joseph Smith employed dishonesty in order to secure his position as head of the church. See our detailed claim-by-claim examination of this book to find out more.
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| | A FAIR Analysis of "Faith Promoting" Works
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Occasionally "faith promoting" works attempt to defend the faith on the basis of faulty arguments. FAIR analyzes and responds to cases of "friendly fire."
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Special features...
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New articles and videos...
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New articles are added to the FAIR Wiki each week. Some of our recent additions and updates:
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About FAIR
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- Sign up for the FAIR Journal—Receive our free monthly e-mail newsletter for defenders of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- Join & Support FAIR—FAIR is a volunteer organization. People become involved with FAIR because they want to. There are six ways you can join FAIR: Pick the level of involvement that is right for you.
- Ask the Apologist—Have a question? This is the place to ask. One or more of our FAIR volunteers will respond. You may even find your answer added to the FAIR Wiki.
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Who are we?
The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR) was formed in late 1997 by a group of Mormons in an attempt to defend their faith from detractors who frequented online message boards. Incorporated as a non-profit organization in November 1997, FAIR put up its first Web site in March 1998 and the FAIR Wiki in 2006.
FAIR is staffed completely by volunteers. It is not owned, controlled by, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief, or practice.
If you would like to be a part of FAIR, we invite you to support FAIR in any way you are able. FAIR only succeeds through the efforts of our gracious volunteers. For more information about FAIR, visit the FAIR Web site.
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Why are you apologizing?
We are not apologizing for our beliefs: Our objective is to defend the faith against those who would attempt to destroy it.
- An apologist is someone who defends a position or explains it. Apologetics is the branch of theology that defends and explains Christian doctrine.
- To learn more:
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FAIR Editors
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The FAIR Wiki is built by volunteer editors. If you would like to become an editor, visit our prospective membership page.
If you are already an editor, the following will be of interest to you:
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FAIR Wiki Languages
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