The Mormon Mirage: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today (Paperback)

~ Latayne C. Scott (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Latayne Scott is a gifted writer with a thorough knowledge of Mormonism. The book is filled not only with excellent information, but keen analysis. Moreover, she demonstrates genuine kindness and empathy toward Latter-day Saints, based on her positive experiences growing up in the LDS Church...The additional material provides excellent insight into current trends and problematic issues facing the Mormon world. Ms. Scott is very tuned in to the current climate, and she addresses all of the key issues and debates. People often ask me to recommended books on Mormonism. This one has risen to the top of my list. --Ross Anderson, author of Understanding the Book of Mormon

After reading Latayne Scott's The Mormon Mirage, I would say she has done the most complete analysis of the history and contemporary scene of the LDS religious movement. I recommend it highly. --Jackie Stearsman, Director, Florida School of Preaching

Review

After reading Latayne Scott's The Mormon Mirage, I would say she has done the most complete analysis of the history and contemporary scene of the LDS religious movement. I recommend it highly.

Her book presents one of the most complete treatments of Mormon theology that I've read in some time. It is thorough, historically accurate, well researched and documented with up to date evidence that substantiates even further the falseness and deceptiveness of Mormonism. Her presentation of the errors of Mormonism is admirably balanced by her honest portrayal of not only the positive values of the Mormon Church, but in sharing her soul-wrenching resolve to leave the religion she had so loved, to embrace only Biblical truths - a heart-tugging decision that I can well identify with.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; New edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310291534
• ISBN-13: 978-0310291534
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #203,098 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WELL RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED, May 4, 2009

By	JANIS HUTCHINSON (Everett, WA) - See all my reviews

Her book presents one of the most complete treatments of Mormon theology that I've read in some time. It is thorough, historically accurate, well researched and documented with up to date evidence that substantiates even further the falseness and deceptiveness of Mormonism. Her presentation of the errors of Mormonism is admirably balanced by her honest portrayal of not only the positive values of the Mormon Church, but in sharing her soul-wrenching resolve to leave the religion she had so loved, to embrace only Biblical truths--a heart-tugging decision that I can well identify with.
Janis Hutchinson
Author
The Mormon Missionaries
Out of the Cults and Into the Church
[...]

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, sensitive, and up-to-date, April 17, 2009

By	Ross J. Anderson (Roy, Utah) - See all my reviews

I was impressed by The Mormon Mirage. Latayne Scott is a gifted writer with a thorough, first-hand knowledge of Mormonism. The book is filled not only with excellent information, but keen analysis. (But for more on the Book of Mormon, see my book:Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Quick Christian Guide to the Mormon Holy Book.) Moreover, she demonstrates genuine kindness and empathy toward Latter-day Saints, based on her positive experiences growing up in the LDS Church. You will not find any bitter Mormon-bashing in this book. This newest edition is up to date on all the changes in Mormonism over the last three decades. The additional material provides excellent insight into current trends and problematic issues facing the Mormon world. Ms. Scott is very tuned in to the current climate, and she addresses all of the key issues and debates. As a pastor and former Mormon myself, people often ask me to recommended books about Mormonism. This one has risen to the top of my list.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mormon Mirage, May 1, 2009

By	Susan Smith - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Mormon Mirage by Latayne C. Scott is not just a book, it is most decisively a mini encyclopedia of Mormon history and insights. When LaTayne asked me to review this new edition of her massive work I thought, "why not." The depth to which she has gone in finding historical documents is amazing. And for me, a former Mormon it was a look back into a life that I too left with "sadness".

Latayne was once an ardent proponent of Mormonism. But a meticulous examination of Latter-day Saint (LDS) doctrines and practices convinced her that she and countless others had believed a lie. In the first edition of The Mormon Mirage, she shared her remarkable journey out of Mormonism as she uncovered shocking inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions in the faith she had loved and lived.

Thirty years later, Mormonism and Mormon scholarship have evolved with the times. In this third, revised and updated edition of her well-known book, Latayne keeps pace with the changes and advances in Mormonism, and reveals formidable new challenges to LDS claims and teachngs.

The first major change to strike me were terms such as Internet Mormons and Chapel Mormons. It is noted that those who get information from the Internet have a different approach and understanding of the Mormon faith than those who only have an understanding from the weekly chapel services.

* There is a wonderful chronology of events from the era of Joseph Smith to the present
* Historical statements from the general authorities stating that they were sorry for some of the statements made regarding previous "prophesy" which were now being changed
* Exhaustive searches by archeologists and historians for artifacts or confirmation for anything in the Book of Mormon which would confirm that the people, places, and events actually took place
* Subtle changes such as the Native American Indian previously was to change to a white(r) skin tone if they remained true to the teachings but was changed to a pure race
* During the recent past the scrolls which were supposed to confirm doctrine, have been shown by experts to not have anything in agreement
* Why did large numbers of Japanese members suddenly leave, including leadership?

But above all and besides all, the fact remains that the Jesus that died on Calvary and was resurrected said that the Kingdom of God was established on the earth, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. If this is truth as written in the Bible, then the Book of Mormon and its doctrine is questioned since it states that the Kingdom that Jesus brought to the earth was taken away for over 1,700 years and was re-established under Joseph Smith.

There are just too many notable events to list them all. This is a book not to be taken lightly, nor is it a book that bashes a religion but gives insights based on Mormon doctrine and changes throughout its history. For me, it was fascinating to find answers to things I had heard as a child but to actually read it as history was wonderful.