Customer Reviews

Behind the Mask of Mormonism

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While much of the spelling has been corrected in this revision, it is still essentially a reprint of a 1992 book, which is reflected in the copyright on the title page. Ankerberg and Weldon cite Philastus Hurlbut and Elias Howe as reliable sources in what is one of the poorest critical works about Mormonism

A comprehensive review of one of america's oldest secretive and powerful religious organizations. This book will offend the LDS "true believers" but the accounts are accurate and well researched

Television show host John Ankerberg and co-author John Weldon have written numerous other books (e.g., The Facts on the Mormon Church (The Facts On Series), What Do Mormons Really Believe?: What the Ads Don't Tell You, Fast Facts® on Mormonism, etc.). This 1996 book was formerly titled Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mormonism.

In the Introduction, it states, "The need for this book derives from the particular claims made by the Mormon church... Mormonism claims that it represents true Christianity. Mormonism contends it believes in the biblical God... But none of these claims are true, as we will document... the church as a whole has misled the public concerning its true teachings. Therefore, our book is written to help set the record straight... we have attempted to fairly and accurately describe the teachings and beliefs of the Mormon religion. If any individual Mormon truly does NOT accept these teachings, then he or she should ask themselves, 'Why am I a Mormon?'" (Pg. 16)

Here are some additional quotations from the book:

"Even if Joseph Smith was the recipient of supernatural manifestations, how do we know they were not clever counterfeits by deceiving spirits who were lying when they claimed to be God, Jesus, angels or saints? Counterfeit revelations are notoriously deceptive." (Pg. 41)
"On the other hand, one cannot deny that a few encyclopedias and secular works on religion do classify Mormonism as a Christian religion or sect. That such incorrect classifications exist is testimony to the tremendous power of the Mormon church's public relations programs." (Pg. 86)
"Technically, Mormon theology is 'henotheistic'---a form of polytheism which stresses a central deity." (Pg. 99)
"Because of the belief that there are so many spirits waiting for bodies to indwell, the Mormon church has always emphasized the importance of large families." (Pg. 112)
"But the most damning indictment against the witnesses is their personal character and lack of credibility. It is relevant to not that 'some of the most damaging statements' against the Eleven Witnesses came from the pen of Joseph Smith himself and other early Mormon leaders. Some were gullible; others were psychologically unstable and religiously insecure. In other words, they 'were not competent witnesses.'" (Pg. 297)
"For those who have had the 'burning bosom' testimony, as Mormons call it, how can they logically know that it was God---and not their own needs (or insecurities), or even the devil---who personally confirmed the 'truth' of the Book of Mormon to them?" (Pg. 368)

"Behind the Mask of Mormonism" is, essentially, an updated and better edited version of their 1992 book "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mormonism" (0890819084). In this book, they have corrected a large number of spelling and grammatical errors and have rewritten and, in a few cases removed, some arguments which were, for lack of a better phrase, strawman attacks. The book, however, still contains its fair share of logical fallacies and - to be short - lies. This is especially annoying because, in my opinion, when it comes to religion (any religion) you don't have to make things up about it to reveal how ridiculous it is. But, alas, Ankerberg and Weldon felt that it would be a good idea. Some of the untruths included are: the Mormon's attack God (p.119), the Bible (p. 376), and that they are waiting ever so patiently for "the Second Coming of the god Joseph Smith" (p. 22).
The only thing which outweighs their laxity with the truth is their reliance on ad hominem attacks. For instance, they call the leaders of the Mormon Church "liars" on several occasions (though I don't entirely disagree, it just comes off as petty when not backed by any logical arguments) and also refer to Mormonism as "bizzare" (though I can't tell if it's their twisted version of Mormonism or actual Mormonism to which they refer). My favourite ad hominem, however, is when they say that Mormons are driven by greed and sexual desire (p. 151-152). Also, in the newly addeded sections, their bad spelling (so evident in their first book, and since corrected) comes back with a vengeance. I was going to list a few examples but it was just to upsetting as an English Major.
For anyone familiar with what Mormon's actually believe, I'm sure you could spend your time combing through this book and dividing up that which is true and that which just suits the authors' arguments. It'd be much easier to just read any of a number of books (and I'm quite sure there are many) which better analyze the LDS church by placing their actual beliefs against a background of reason and historical context.

One of the more definitive descriptions of the history and origins of the Mormon cult is offered in this book, including some of the more unfortunate mistakes that the authors of the Book of Mormon made when they pieced together their addendum to the Bible.

One of the aspects about the Mormon cult that I felt could have been addressed in more detail is the fact that the BoM claims that elephants lived in North America at the time the cult's creators, Josephn Smith and the anonymous individuals who helped him, claimed Jesus Christ lived in North America. They're wrong. Mammoths lived in North America, but elephants did not. The creators of the cult just didn't know that the two animals are different species. That fact alone proves that the book isn't inspired by God, Jesus, a Holy Ghost, or a "heavenly father" of any kind.

Another aspect of the Book of Mormon which I felt this book could have discussed in greater detail is the mistaken notion that steel existed at the time the authors of the BoM claimed it did. While there is no archeological or anthropological evidence for such a notion, the manufacture of steel requires a temprature that just wasn't possible at the time the authors of the BoM claim in their book.

The whole cult is predicated around a book that is stuffed full of ignorant notions that are in any event honest; the authors just didn't know. And I thought this book should cover these failing in greater detail.

A very well researched work exposing the deceit of one of the largest cults existing today. A large bibliography of both pro- and anti-Mormon books, cassettes and pamphlets provides plenty of references for anyone who wants to 'see for himself' the doctrines of Mormonism. Recommended for both Mormons (who generally have a very poor knowledge of their cult's history and doctrine) and non-Mormons.

This is an atrocious book -- ill-informed, insulting, drenched in bias and hatred, smug, desperately in need of proof-reading, unbalanced, and only marginally improved from the differently-titled volume that (without acknowledgement) preceded it. It is frightfully depressing that many readers (including some represented in these comments here) evidently believe that this book embodies solid research, and that they apparently trust it as a guide to understanding the religious faith of their neighbors.

A thoroughly researched and well-documented expose of Mormonism. The authors show how this cult erroneously hides behind the respectibility of Christianity while pushing eldritch beliefs.

These cults that Weldon refers to don't fit the definition of the word. A cult has paid officials, Mormons do not. This book doesn't even come close to looking at all things that compile the church.

A must read for those first investigating the Mormon church. The authors give clear examples of the differences in terminology, beliefs and reasoning of the two religions. Historical fact is stressed rather than an emotional response, though it does have a Christian bent. Easy to read and understand. Clearly explains how the LDS church worships man rather than the traditional God of Judeo/Christian history.