Customer Reviews

Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is probably the best resource for the historical case against Mormonism. The Tanners have spent their lives exposing the frauds and problems within Mormon history. The wealth of documentation from this book is astounding. One of the things that I like the most about it is in its use of sources. Generally, they tend to use sources from within the Mormon church itself. The records that they use are Mormon records and there is a wealth of primary sources, from the Journal of Discourses to the highly embarassing and racist talks given by some of the Mormon leaders. It is a very critical look at Mormonism, and to those who wish to remain in the LDS church, I would advise that you really should not read it. However, if you are having questions about Mormonism and its history, this is the place to go.

There are many excellent books on Mormonism, but for the sheer amount of information, this or their excellent work The Changing World of Mormonism (a condensed version of this book) should be a standard resource.

While praising this book for its content, readers should be aware that the Tanner's writing style can be less than scintillating and occasionally very annoying, what with all the capitalisations, putting text in bold, and copious underlining. However, their research doesn't lie. After the Mark Hoffman forgeries, their credibility has been strengthened. While Mormon historians were defending the notorious Salamander Letter, the Tanners were alone in their skepticism of the letter's authenticity.

I've enjoyed this book quite a bit over the years. It's not scholarly in writing or presentation. But it's well-compiled and obviously done from the heart and not for money or fame. I've looked into many many of their citations and haven't found one yet that hasn't checked out. Also, there is a reviewer below that says the Tanners haven't yet responded to criticisms of the book from BYU scholars in the FARMS program. That's simply not true. I have two lengthy books and a number of articles by the Tanners responding in exhausting detail to the FARMS critiques and then responding to FARMS's responses. I wish the Tanners would someday do an exhaustive update with responses to criticisms and published in a more reader-friendly format. As is, the book is better for browsing and then finding an interesting accusation and going off to research it. As for the critics below, I'd be curious how they defend Brigham Young's statements about inhabitants on the sun and the mention of elephants in the Book of Mormon. Finally, as for my qualifications for understanding both the pro and con of the book, I should note that I was born and raised Mormon, went to church every Sunday plus seminary 5 days a week during high school. And despite all that, the Tanners really helped me to see the point of "Shadow or Reality": that the Book of Mormon is a work of fiction.

I am opposed to the teachings of Mormonism and enjoy reading literature on answering cults. In fact, I maintain a ministry on how to answer cults [EadsHome Ministries; www.eadshome.com]. I was glad to read this book, but found it to be difficult to read...much like reading a dictionary. In fact, this book is best thought of as a dictionary. It is a book you would pull out to read what the Tanners compiled on a particular subject, but it isn't a book that many people would just sit down to read. I would NOT recommend this book for someone who is new to learning about Mormonism...I would only recommend this book to someone very familiar with Mormonism and who wants a reference book from the Tanners on various subjects dealing with Mormonism

The LDS church exerts tremendous pressure on its followers not to read this book, and I can understand why, for Jerald and Sandra Tanner have compiled a compelling and detailed refutation of their teachings. The great strengths of "Mormonism--Shadow or Reality?" are its comprehensiveness (explores every significant LDS controversy through 1987 in considerable detail, as well as many lesser-known controversies); scholarliness (the book is incredibly well researched and documented); and evenhandedness (the Tanners are former Mormons, and while their writings are at times forcefully written, there is nary a trace of bitterness or rancor in them, and they go to great pains to be accurate and fair). The Tanners understand their former religion and its history far better (and more accurately) than the average Mormon--in fact, it is hard to imagine anyone on this planet knowing more about the LDS church and its origins than they do. "Shadow or Reality" is not light reading (recommended only for those who are willing to dig deep), but it is clearly written and easy to follow. If you think this is just hype, buy the book and see for yourself.

Sandra Tanner's work is massive and is one of the best books on Mormonism I have found. Her work is fully documented in the book with complete photo copies of actual Mormon documents demonstrating their errors. The book has set a standard since its initial publication as THE work on Mormonism.

The book is broken down into several catagories of Mormon doctrines and history. The Tanner's offer both a biblical and historical view of the various Mormon doctrines and practices. However, the greatest aspect of SHADOW OR REALITY is the way that the Tanner's expose Joseph Smith as both a crook and a false prophet. How anyone could have followed Smith is beyond my own understanding? How do Mormons today continue to accept Smith as a prophet and the one sent to restore the Church? Surely Mormons are living in a shadow world.

A great book and a great read for all true disciples of Jesus.

While this book has its flaws (it is especially given to conspiracy theorizing), it does contain a lot of useful information and analysis. I found the chapter on the Book of Abraham to be especially worthwhile. Whereas Charles Larson glossed over the relationship between the Kirtland Egyptian Papers and the Book of Abraham papyrus, the Tanners go into it in detail and provide plenty of (photocopied) illustrations to demonstrate their point. They also chronicle some of the antics of Book of Abraham apologists. This should probably be required reading for anyone who wants to discuss the Book of Abraham controversy.

This book is so thorough and honest that it's required reading for anyone investigating the LDS church or confronted by those nice looking young men and women selling their religion door to door. One word of advice, also get An Index to Mormonism Shadow or Reality if you plan on using this as a research tool.

This book is the heavyweight of all true mormon books. Many call this work anti-mormon, but we should call it the truth. The embarrassing proofs all of which are true will devastate any mormon who reads it, as it did myself. The book is over 500 (8 1/2" x 11") pages. You cannot read this book like a novel, because it is jam packed with facts that completely demolish the fabulous claims made by the church. There are over 30 chapters dealing with almost all of the claims and doctrines of the church. Some of the subjects covered are at first unbelievable, but after plowing exhaustively through the facts you are left with no doubt. The Tanners do not use all the science and facts at their disposal though. They pick and choose which scientific evidence to use. (i.e. they do not use geology to dispute the claim of major american upheaval at christ's death; or, while showing the evil committed under Joseph Smith and Brigham Young they do not show the same evils committed under Moses or Joshua; more, they use Thomas Paine's book "The Age of Reason" in a way as to only refute Joseph Smith when clearly Thomas Paine refuted the Bible) I would venture to say that in order to sustain their belief in christianity and the bible, they do not attack with the same (or any) tenacity certain ideas or teachings that they still hold dear. If they questioned christianity in the same way they have exposed the LDS church they wouldn't be christians either. Who knows, maybe they'll take on christianity later. If you want to know the truth about Mormon history and its claims this book is a must. If you do not read it you will only know the myths and faith promoting legends the church leaders want you to know. Although this book has caused me a lot of pain and anguish over loosing my religion, I must concede that it is the truth - and I would rather know the truth than be lulled into a delusion of false hope.

An amazing compilation of the many doctrines of the Mormon faith. It is more like a textbook, heavy reading, but great if you really want to get into knowing the details about this religion. Obviously, much research was used to write this book.

This is a huge resource of devastating and critical historical facts about Mormonism. The authors have a clear and angry agenda: they want to convert you from Mormonism to their own brand of firebrand Christianity, and their anger is everywhere in the book. So you have to ignore all their stuff about how the Bible proves this or that. But what's really good about the book is the discussion of history, and the photocopies of original documents showing how things have been distorted, changed and mistranslated by Joseph Smith and the Church for a long time. I left the LDS church due to this book and its most important claims remain unanswered to this day in my view. But keep in mind I am the intellectual, reasoning, fact-based type of guy. The sheer volume of examples in this book, including original documents and sources, was very convincing.