The Gospel According to Joseph Smith: A Christian Response to Mormon Teaching [Paperback]

Ethan E. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 4, 2001

An encounter with a Mormon in the Army National Guard launched Ethan E. Harris on this study and analysis of Mormon theology. Extensive contact with members of the LDS since then has exposed him to many Mormon claims and arguments, some of which have not been dealt with in other Christian books on the subject. To expound LDS views, Harris restricts himself to primary sources, seeking to avoid setting up straw men. He intends this work to be used by Christians, not only to learn more about Mormon beliefs, but also to evangelize Mormon missionaries and acquaintances. As the LDS finds itself in the midst of what the Christian Research Journal calls "enormous international growth and unprecedented public relations success," evangelical Christians must continue to study Mormonism and point out its inconsistencies with Scripture.

"Ethan E. Harris’s critique of Mormonism is a valuable contribution. He approaches the topic in a unique and effective way, thereby providing Christian apologists and other students of Mormonism a very useful tool." —R. C. Sproul

"A good introduction to the serious differences between Mormonism and the historic Christian faith." —Ronald Nash

"Clearly, logically, and forcefully exposes the heretical nature of Mormonism. This work both challenges the confused Mormon and instructs Christians how to reach Mormons with the true gospel. I enthusiastically endorse this able and devastating critique." —Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ethan E. Harris served as resource consultant and director of conferencing at Ligonier Ministries for five years, following eight years’ service in the U.S. Army. He is a graduate of Western Baptist College and has studied at Reformed Theological Seminary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: P & R Publishing (December 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875521800
• ISBN-13: 978-0875521800
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,328,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ethan Harris graduated from Corban University in Salem, OR with a Bachelors degree in Theology, studied at Reformed Theological Seminary, and is currently in an Educational graduate program at the University of Kansas where he will receive his Curriculum and Instruction degree in 2012. He is a member of Golden Key International Honor Society and was an Army Medic for 13 years.

A Pacific Northwest native, he was at Fort Vancouver, Washington, for 5 years.

At Ligonier Ministries, he served as a Resource Consultant fielding incoming theological questions and providing Biblical references.

With extensive travel throughout the United States, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, the Bahamas and Hawaii, his multicultural experiences give him a greater depth of knowledge and humility of many peoples and lifestyles. He has a keen interest in languages having studied Greek, French and Cherokee.

Ethan has a passion for writing and a continuing pursuit of excellence in education. You are invited to read more and to exchange friendships, ideas and comments at Author Blog for Ethan Harris.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A DOCTRINAL CRITIQUE OF MORMONISM, November 29, 2011

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel According to Joseph Smith: A Christian Response to Mormon Teaching (Paperback)

Ethan Harris is also the author of Don't Get "Left Behind", Conditional Forgiveness, The LDS Doctrine of Free Agency and The Ethical Argument Against LDS Theology, etc.

He wrote in the Preface to this 2001 book, "The many inconsistencies that lie within the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) will be exposed in the following pages. This is ... an effort to underscore some of the most problematic areas. The method of this study is to give a general overview of foundational teachings from the texts of Mormonism and its Prophets. We will, by way of contrast, cite authorities within that community and biblical passages that are in contradiction with them."

Here are some additional quotations from the book:

"The problem here is that the same King James Version of the Bible that is thought to be 'corrupted' has been accepted by the (LDS) Church as containing the true Gospel. The LDS Church cannot logically critiize the non-Mormon for using a corrupted Bible if it uses the same Bible." (Pg. 28)

"The following may not be practiced today, but the teaching has been repeated by numerous LDS Prophets. What is that teaching? That if your sins cannot be cleansed by baptism, you should be killed! ... This teaching of salvation by murder is repeated in several passages of LDS literature. Is this doctrine still practiced? Let's pray not." (Pg. 49)

"If the God we worship was actually a man at one time, then He is not perfect from all eternity. If, as the Mormons claim, we can become as God is, then there really is nothing special or significant about God... He would be an impotent ethereal exalted man who stumbled into having spirit-children who would one day be as great as He. But this is not the God of the Christian..." (Pg. 71)

"It cannot be denied that the Adam-God doctrine was taught. Prophet (Brigham) Young claimed that he received it not only from God, but also from Joseph Smith. If this doctrine is denounced by the Mormon Church, then Joseph Smith stands indicted for the same crime as does Brigham Young. They gave false revelation and are false prophets." (Pg. 110)

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Effective, concise, but overpriced, February 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gospel According to Joseph Smith: A Christian Response to Mormon Teaching (Paperback)

This book would be a good choice for beginning a study of Mormonism from the Christian perspective. It covers the standard doctrines of Mormonism: the gospel, God, scriptures and authority, sin, baptism for the dead, and human pre-existence.

The unique features of this book are its multiple quotations of Mormon authors and sources. Also included are testimonies of former LDS members, which help to get a grasp of how an average LDS person thinks about their faith and what attracts them to Christianity.

I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 because of the high price and the general lack of new material in comparison to Christian books already out there. If you already have assembled a library on Mormonism, physically look over this book before buying it.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong work!, January 13, 2002

By 

David J. Chamberlin (New Providence, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel According to Joseph Smith: A Christian Response to Mormon Teaching (Paperback)

An excellent book that clearly and logically lays out the the issues with Mormonism. Whether you're learning about the LDS doctrine of God, baptism of the dead (which doesn't even appear in the Book of Mormon), contradictions between the LDS Prophets and the BoM and the Doctrine and Covenants, everything is easy to follow and quite thought-provoking. A must read for those with Mormon friends, relatives, etc.