Letters to a Mormon Elder: Challenging Eye-Opening Information for Mormons and the Christians... [Paperback]

James R. White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1993

Incorporating the most recent research and solid biblical truth, Letters To A Mormon Elder is a series of personal letters written to a fictional Mormon missionary. Examining the teaching and theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the book brings a relational approach to material usually presented in textbook style. James White draws from his extensive apologetics ministry to thousands of Mormons in presenting the truth of Christianity.

With well-defined arguments, James White provides readers with insight and understanding into:

the Book of Mormon.

the prophecies, visions, and teachings of Joseph Smith.

other major historical issues relevant to the claims of the LDS Church.

the theological implications of the doctrines of Mormonism.

This marvelous new study is a valuable text for Christians who talk with Mormons and is an ideal book to be read by Mormons.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James R. White is the author of the popular The King James Only Controversy, The Roman Catholic Controversy, and Grieving: God's Path Back to Peace. He is the director of ministries for Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics ministry, and scholar-in-residence at Grand Canyon University. He holds an M.A. from Fuller Theological Seminary. He and his wife have two children and live in Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155661344X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556613449
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,022,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading, March 20, 2000

By 

Former LDS member (Seattle, WA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to a Mormon Elder: Challenging Eye-Opening Information for Mormons and the Christians... (Paperback)

The author provides an unusual, engaging style to provoke some stimulating arguments. He does a fine job of prodding the reader into providing emperical arguments for what they believe.

I am a former LDS member, and I am turned off by those I feel lack compassion or understanding of those in the LDS Church. I believe he has a genuine concern for Mormons, and has tried to show those Mormons who are open to logic and rational thought that there are real substantive problems with the teaching of the LDS Church.

The very roots of Mormonism began with deception and distortion, and Mr. White exposes what many of us feel about the promotion and protection of those roots by the LDS Church itself.

I and other former LDS members felt that there were many things that bothered us about the teaching of the church, but we overlooked them because of our love for other Mormons, and the good principles that the Church taught.

Mr. White provides good food for thought for those types of Mormons, the LDS Church is NOT the same as Christianity.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A grounded, evidential look at Mormonism, December 27, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Letters to a Mormon Elder: Challenging Eye-Opening Information for Mormons and the Christians... (Paperback)

This was an excellent book--the best I have read on the topic thus far. James White is not out to "destroy the faith of others;" he obviously has a heart for Mormons and wants desperately for them to know the truth (as do I). This book helped me develop a very deep compassion for the members of the LDS church, and this wouldn't have happened had Mr. White written with hatred and the intent to destroy, as some claim. Mormons are wonderful people--I pray that they will read books such as James White's and realize that their doctrines are built on sinking sand. James White does a very good job of taking the focus off of the "burning in the bosom" and looking at the LDS religion from an intellectual and evidential viewpoint. Simply, the evidence is just not there. Our faith, Christianity, should be grounded in truth and history, not one's emotions or how one "feels" about it. If you read any book on Mormonism, this should be the one.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional and balanced analysis of Mormon doctrine, May 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Letters to a Mormon Elder: Challenging Eye-Opening Information for Mormons and the Christians... (Paperback)

This well-researched and clearly written book deals with the fundamental doctrinal divides between Mormons and Christians. Lovingly presented and impressively documented, White discusses in detail such issues as the "translation" of the Pearl of Great Price, the prophet status of Joseph Smith, the question of godhood, the divinity of Christ, and the promise of grace. This book surpasses other works written by non-Mormons about the Mormon faith in that it does not seek to tear down Mormons, but to build up Christianity. In addition, White does not rely on many of the straw-person arguments detractors of the Mormon church traditionally utilize(which generally only increase antagonism, without getting at the real issues). The research and effort involved in this book are truly astounding, as is the apparent care with which it was written. I think this book could only be characterized as anti-Mormon by those who are so threatened by its well-documented truths that they cannot respond to it any other way.