Answers to Anti's

The Catholic website, Catholic Answers, has a section devoted to (quite opinionated) information about non-Catholic groups. In this section, under the heading "non-Christian," is a series of articles devoted to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While it appears that the unnamed author(s) of these articles on Mormonism have done a tad more research than most, the information is still, at best, incomplete. As Joseph Smith stated, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may (AofF 1:11)." Therefore, we would like to overlook the condescending attitude of the author(s) and direct our attention to the specific LDS beliefs and doctrines that are discussed there.

You may wish to read the the original article first.

Introduction

In the introductory statements, it is pointed out that Mormons are not Protestants. While this is technically true, as in Mormons are not a breakaway sect of Catholicism like other Protestant denominations, there are many instances where Mormons would self-identify as Protestants, particularly where the term is intended to represent any non-Catholic, Christian faith.

Are Mormons Christian? (Please see Stephen E. Robinson, "Are Mormons Christians?," New Era, May 1998, 41) I suppose the answer depends upon your definition. As many have pointed out in times past, Mormons are definitely not Christian when that is defined as someone who believes the same thing that Group X, Y, or Z believes. For instance, the author(s) express the opinion that one is not Christian if one does not adhere to all the things that C. S. Lewis believed in when he wrote "Mere Christianity."

If, however, one were to define Christian as one who believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Saviour of the world, and Redeemer of mankind, this would necessarily include Mormons, as they believe all these things.

What we need to be cautious of is the ridiculous, and illogical, rhetoric that claims that "since I am Christian and I believe X, you cannot be Christian, since you do not believe X as well."

This applies to the final paragraphs in this section, also, which give very brief descriptions of the offices and duties of the priesthoods, and then conclude that the levels of the priesthood and ecclesiastical structure of the church are confusing. Yes, the fact that a Mormon bishop is not the same thing as a Catholic bishop might be a little confusing at first, but if you can lay the whole thing out in four short paragraphs, it can't be too confusing.

Polygamy

This sections begins with the declaration that the "wholesome family life" image that people have about Mormons, or that Mormons project, is merely an illusion. The author(s) claim that "Mormon Utah has higher than average rates for suicide, divorce, and other domestic problems than the rest of the country." This claim is not only undocumented, it is simply untrue. Adherents.com is a religiously unaffiliated repository of religious statistics, not just about Mormons but thousands of religions from all different faiths around the world. They provide snapshots of religions based on published data gathered by government agencies, councils, and other official organizations. They report the following findings about Utah:

1. Utah [is] the state with the lowest teen pregnancy rate and the lowest abortion rate in the United States.
   [Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States 1997: National Data Book. Washington, D.C.: Census Bureau, U.S. Dept. of Commerce (1997).]
   
   
2. Utah was ranked as the #1 best state in which to raise children.
   [Source: Children's Rights Council Annual Ranking of States Based on Child Well Being]
   
   
3. Utah [received] high marks for low levels of infant mortality, a low percentage of single-parent families and low numbers of children living in low-income families.
   [Source: Ashley E. Broughton, "Statistics Show Utah Is 3rd-Best for Kids", Salt Lake Tribune, 23 May 2002.]
   
   
4. Utah remained No. 1 in the nation for fewest one-parent families.
   [Source: Ashley E. Broughton, "Statistics Show Utah Is 3rd-Best for Kids", Salt Lake Tribune, 23 May 2002.]
   
   
5. The latest federal health figures (1997) rank Utah as having the fewest births to unwed mothers.
   
   
6. LDS women are more likely to graduate from college than Catholic or Protestant women.
   [Original source: Brinkerhoff, Merlin B., and Marlene MacKie. "Religion and Gender: A Comparison of Canadian and American Student Attitudes." Journal of Marriage and the Family 47 (1985):415-29.]
   
   
7. Utah has the lowest child poverty rate in the county.
   [Source: Maria Titze, Utah's '98 budget slice for schools highest in nation in Deseret News, 28 April 2000.]
   
   
8. The smoking rate among Utah teens is the lowest in the nation.
   [Source: Center for Disease Control, 1998.]
   
   
9. Active Latter-day Saints [are] Seven Times Less Likely to Commit Suicide
   [SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology 2002;155:413-419. Write-up in: "High Religious Commitment Linked to Less Suicide", by Charnicia E. Huggins (Reuters Health), Daily News (6 March 2002), URL: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20020306/hl/religion_1.html ]
   
   
10. In a ranking of "Family Values", based on marriage rate, divorce rate, suicide rate, AIDS rate data from the World Almanac of the U.S.A. Utah was ranked 4th highest [ie, 4th best] in the nation.
    [Original source: http://www.innova.net/~randycox/z-chance.htm (No longer online)]
    
    
11. Couples in which both partners are Latter-day Saints (and who marry in a Latter-day Saint temple) have the lowest divorce rate among all U.S. social and religious groups studied.
    [Sources: Daniel K. Judd. Religion, Mental Health and the Latter-day Saints. William Lobdell, Holy Matrimony: In an Era of Divorce Mormon Temple Weddings are Built to Last in Los Angeles Times, 8 April 2000; Dave Condren, New Temple Marks Origin of Mormons in Buffalo News, 27 March 2000.]
    
    
12. Etc, etc.

Please feel free to browse these statistics in their original contexts, or view these statistics and more as summarized on the Adherents.com website.

In misquoting these statistics, the author(s) seek to put Mormonism in a negative light - they're all just living a lie, after all - and then proceed to demonstrate that the only other thing the general public might know about Mormons is that they are somehow connected to polygamy, which of course is also negative, or at least viewed as strange. This is known as "setting the stage." If we demean the Mormons enough in the beginning, or at least prove how "different" they are from "us," less proof will be required of our statements further on.

It is interesting to point out the peculiar phrase that concludes the first paragraph in this section: "And if Mormonism's public image of large, happy families, and marriage bring to mind anything, it is polygamy." The equation of "large, happy families, and marriage" with polygamy is an interesting claim, to say the least, and should, journalistically speaking, be accompanied by statistics.

The author(s) next quote the current president of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, in reminding detractors that God has commanded certain men at certain times to practice polygamy, specifically in the Old Testament. No attempt is made by the author(s) to explain how these Biblical events were any different, nor how such a commandment would not be possible today. They then state, correctly, that few members of the church practiced polygamy, but it was enough to catch the attention of other Americans. It might be important to note here that the reason that polygamy became an issue in the 1800's, and indeed the reason that it has remained an issue in the public eye even to this day, 175 years later, is the word 'sensationalism.' People love to read about things they don't understand, and journalists are quite aware of the fact. Little effort is ever made to understand the details of a situation, but a sensational story is a sure way to an easy dollar. [This issue is discussed in detail here: Neal E. Lambert and Richard H. Cracroft, "Through Gentile Eyes: A Hundred Years of the Mormon in Fiction," New Era, Mar 1972, 14.

It is also the easiest way for a non-Mormon priest or preacher to keep their own flock disinterested. [For a very recent related story, please see this article from the LDS.org Newsroom, and this detailed wiki entry from the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research.]

The final paragraph in this section is absolutely unrelated to polygamy, but adds to the alienation of Mormonism by putting it into the bucket with other religions that are deemed strange, namely Christian Science and the Jehovah's Witnesses, and then by labeling Mormonism "peculiarly American" and "nationalist." Once again, the "Us vs. Them" approach. Mormons can't be Christian, they're too different from us.

First of all, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in no way related to either of the religions mentioned. That all three had their beginnings in America is true, as the author(s) state, but lumping them all together is disingenuous. Second of all, how "peculiarly American" the Mormon Church tends to appear decreases the more one studies it's doctrines and scripture, which contain material that can also be found in ancient documents from around the world, in Egyptian, Greek, Syriac, and many others. This is not surprising to Mormons, who believe that Adam, the first man, was taught the same Gospel, as he talked with God, as that which Mormons adhere to today (see Heb. 13:8, 1 Ne. 10:18, and others). Lastly, the accusation of "nationalism" is another misrepresentation. The Wikipedia entry for nationalism states that "Nationalism, in its broadest sense, is devotion to one nation's interests over those of all other nations [quoted from Akomolafe, Olusoji A. "Nationalism." Ethics, Revised Edition. Ed. John K. Roth. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 2005]." The Church itself takes no official stance on political matters except that which Christ himself declared, which is that we must "render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's (Luke 20:25)." We are all to love the country we live in, as we love all mankind, and to serve the country we live in, as far as the laws have been established. What the author(s) may be referring to is the love that American Mormons exhibit for their country, where one can only assume the author(s) reside, which is the same behaviour that can be seen in Mormons around the world for their own countries. Elder Charles Didier, a French Mormon, and a General Authority of the LDS Church, was asked the question more than 30 years ago, "What should be the place of national feelings among Church members?" His response:

It is natural for people to have national feelings as they live under the influence of the language, the culture, the history, and the customs and habits of a nation... I would say: keep your national heritage in your heart, be proud of it, cultivate these values in your families as long as they are building the kingdom of our Father in heaven. As soon as it comes out of these boundaries, it is used more to create differences among people than to bring them together... The final word is given by our Lord as a commandment, not only as an objective: "I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine." (D&C 38:27.) (Charles Didier, "I Have a Question," Ensign, June 1976, 62)

Mormonism: Made in America

This section begins by stating that, like Fundamentalists, Mormons believe "that America is destined to play a key role in the events of the Last Days, ... The Mormons' theory is that Christ also established his Church here, among the Indians, where it eventually flopped, as did his original effort in Palestine." The two main insinuations of the author(s) here being: 1) that this is more evidence of Mormon "nationalism," and 2) that Mormons believe God's efforts were "flops."

The accusation of "nationalism" has already been addressed, but this particular angle, that God has an important role for America, has not. As this ground has already been covered by others, we refer you to an excellent article by former General Authority, N. Eldon Tanner, "If They Will But Serve the God of the Land," New Era, Jul 1977, 36.

While Mormons do not regard God's endeavors as flops, they do believe that there was a falling away of the churches in Jerusalem and the Americas, as well as others. Elder Russell M. Nelson, a current Mormon Apostle, stated recently:

After a time the Church as established by the Lord fell into spiritual decay. His teachings were altered; His ordinances were changed. The Great Apostasy came as had been foretold by Paul, who knew that the Lord would not come again "except there come a falling away first." [Footnote: "2 Thessalonians 2:3. "Falling away" is translated from the Greek apostasia, meaning "apostasy." "] This Great Apostasy followed the pattern that had ended each previous dispensation. The very first was in the time of Adam. Then came dispensations of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others. Each prophet had a divine commission to teach of the divinity and the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. In each age these teachings were meant to help the people. But their disobedience resulted in apostasy. Thus, all previous dispensations were limited in time and location. They were limited in time because each ended in apostasy. They were limited in location to a relatively small segment of planet earth. (Russell M. Nelson, "The Gathering of Scattered Israel," Ensign, Nov 2006, 79-82)

For an excellent treatment of the Apostasy by a well-respected professor of ancient scripture, please see The Passing of the Primitive Church: Forty Variations on an Unpopular Theme, By Hugh W. Nibley.

The author(s) next attempt to compare Mormonism to the Church of England, in that "Mormonism has allowed itself to be modified by Congress" in the same way that British Parliament can theoretically make priesthood assignments in that church, the reference being to the fact that Mormons officially discontinued the practice of polygamy following an order of Congress to that effect. On this subject, I defer to the words of Wilford Woodruff, who was President of the LDS Church at the time, and who received the revelation from the Lord stating that the Church should discontinue polygamy:

I have had some revelations of late, and very important ones to me, and I will tell you what the Lord has said to me. Let me bring your minds to what is termed the manifesto...

The Lord has told me to ask the Latter-day Saints a question, and He also told me that if they would listen to what I said to them and answer the question put to them, by the Spirit and power of God, they would all answer alike, and they would all believe alike with regard to this matter. The question is this: Which is the wisest course for the Latter-day Saints to pursue - to continue to attempt to practice plural marriage, with the laws of the nation against it and the opposition of sixty millions of people, and at the cost of the confiscation and loss of all the Temples, and the stopping of all the ordinances therein, both for the living and the dead, and the imprisonment of the First Presidency and Twelve and the heads of families in the Church, and the confiscation of personal property of the people (all of which of themselves would stop the practice); or, after doing and suffering what we have through our adherence to this principle to cease the practice and submit to the law, and through doing so leave the Prophets, Apostles and fathers at home, so that they can instruct the people and attend to the duties of the Church, and also leave the Temples in the hands of the Saints, so that they can attend to the ordinances of the Gospel, both for the living and the dead?

The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice. If we had not stopped it, you would have had no use for . . . any of the men in this temple at Logan; for all ordinances would be stopped throughout the land of Zion. Confusion would reign throughout Israel, and many men would be made prisoners. This trouble would have come upon the whole Church, and we should have been compelled to stop the practice. Now, the question is, whether it should be stopped in this manner, or in the way the Lord has manifested to us, and leave our Prophets and Apostles and fathers free men, and the temples in the hands of the people, so that the dead may be redeemed. A large number has already been delivered from the prison house in the spirit world by this people, and shall the work go on or stop? This is the question I lay before the Latter-day Saints. You have to judge for yourselves. I want you to answer it for yourselves. I shall not answer it; but I say to you that that is exactly the condition we as a people would have been in had we not taken the course we have.

...I saw exactly what would come to pass if there was not something done. I have had this spirit upon me for a long time. But I want to say this: I should have let all the temples go out of our hands; I should have gone to prison myself, and let every other man go there, had not the God of heaven commanded me to do what I did do; and when the hour came that I was commanded to do that, it was all clear to me. I went before the Lord, and I wrote what the Lord told me to write...

I leave this with you, for you to contemplate and consider. (Official Declaration 1, Doctrine and Covenants)

The correctness of Pres. Woodruff's manifesto was made abundantly clear, as some time after that, "[t]he property of the Church [was] escheated following the enactment of laws against plural marriage. Almost all Church properties were confiscated, and the Church was forced to pay exorbitant rent for using its own property." (Norman S. Bosworth, "Remembering Joseph F. Smith: Loving Father, Devoted Prophet," Ensign, Jun 1983, 21)

Next, the author(s) conclude with the accusation that the Mormon Church also succumbed to government pressures when the priesthood was finally extended to "all worthy male members of the Church... without regard for race or color" (see Official Declaration 2, Doctrine and Covenants). Never mind the statement of the Church leaders that they had "pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance."

President Kimball [The Mormon prophet at the time of this revelation, 1978] had long been sensitive to this issue... [but he] wasn't the first prophet to ponder and pray over the exclusion policy of the priesthood. Other prophets had made pronouncements to the effect that someday the priesthood would be made available to all worthy male members.

Wilford Woodruff [who became President of the Church in 1889] had written, "But the day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have." President [David O.] McKay [who became President of the Church in 1951] had said, "Sometime in God's eternal plan, the Negro will be given the right to hold the Priesthood."

"According to Mormon thinking," noted Leonard Arrington, "God's love would not permit an indefinite continuation of exclusion from the temple of any worthy person."

President McKay had prayed earnestly to the Lord for permission to rescind the exclusion, and "Harold B. Lee [who became President of the Church in 1972], shortly before his death, spent three days and nights fasting in the upper room of the temple, praying earnestly to the Lord for guidance on this matter," without receiving an answer. Both were anxious and prepared, but in the inscrutable timing of the Lord, the revelation would come later, when Spencer W. Kimball was the prophet. (Hallelujah! The 25th Anniversary of the Revelation on Priesthood, by Maurine Jensen Proctor)

Continuing Revelation

We continue on into this next section, which briefly states that Mormons believe that revelation from God continues to this day. The article states: "It might be added: public revelation continues. Catholics hold that public or "general" revelation ended at the death of the last apostle (Catechism of the Catholic Church 66, 73), but private revelations can be given still-and have been, as Marian apparitions at such places as Fatima and Lourdes testify (CCC 67). Such revelations can never correct, supplement, or complete the Christian faith, which is precisely what Mormon "revelations" claim to do." It is interesting to note, then, that the Rosary was established by "revelation" sometime in the 13th century (The Origin, Purpose and Power of the Rosary, www.fatimafamily.org, accessed 4-23-07), yet it has become one of the defining practices of modern Catholicism. Is this not "supplementing the faith?"

To address the issue of modern revelation, it is best to note that Mormons believe that God's house "is a house of order... and not a house of confusion (D&C 132:8)", and that a person is only authorized to receive revelation for himself, and for any he might have stewardship over, although only in regards to that stewardship. Therefore, any revelation that I might receive from the Lord is only binding on me and is only relevant to me. If the Lord has guidance for me, He will tell me. If you need to repent, He will not tell me, He will tell you. It follows, then, that if the Lord has guidance in matters that concern all the world, He will reveal those things to the one with stewardship for the world: the current prophet. As the prophet Amos famously said, "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)." The fact that revelation to the early Christian church ended is true, but that did not relegate authority to random individuals to receive revelation for mankind. The fact that the revelation the apostles received was necessary in guiding the church is attested to in many places in the New Testament, where the apostles must write to the various meetingplaces of the church to set them straight on Gospel principles (Gal. 1:6-7, 3:1; 1 Cor. 11:18).

As stated by the author(s), "public or "general" revelation ended at the death of the last apostle." Hence the need for a Restoration of the Gospel. Within the Mormon Church, there is no argument over the interpretation of scriptures, the propriety of practices, or the intentions of God, because we understand that God has the final say on such matters, and that He will only reveal those types of things to us through the appropriate channels. If Maricella Ortiz of Kansas City says that she saw a vision or received a heavenly visitation, we can be sure that, if it truly came from God, it was intended for her and her alone, as she has no authority or stewardship over the church.

Mormonism's Debt to Puritanism

In this particular section, we learn that "alcohol (as well as tobacco, tea, and caffiene) is out for the believing Mormon." These things are true. However, there follows an accusation that Joseph Smith borrowed these things from the Puritan religions of his day, and that such things are "contrary to the Bible. It is one of those doctrines," the author(s) tell us, "shared by Fundamentalists and Mormons, that is believed independently of the Bible, though the Bible has been searched unsuccessfully for verses that seem to back it." There are obviously several points of discussion here.

To begin with, there is no evidence that Joseph Smith borrowed this practice from anyone. You may speculate all you wish.

Next, of course, Mormons must (and do) concede that there are no verses in the Bible that proclaim abstinence from alcohol, coffee, tea, or even cocaine. True, alcohol was consumed in many instances throughout the Old and New Testaments, and even the Book of Mormon. Mormons, however, do not believe that these things were always wrong, but consider the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89) as one specific to our own day. In a close parallel, one might ask why it was permissible for the children of Israel who lived prior to Moses to eat the animals that were forbidden in Leviticus, chapter 11. Answer: It was a law specific to the members of God's religion in that specific era. (For an excellent discussion of the Word of Wisdom, please read Word of Wisdom: Commentary on D&C 89, By Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, . P. N/A )

Jesus Wasn't a Teetotaler

In this section, the author(s) continue their justification of the practice of drinking alcohol, and of course adding more "proof" that Mormons are evil because they don't, by indicating specific instances from the Bible where alcohol is mentioned. Mormons, who obviously have never read the Bible despite what they might say, "would be shocked to learn," the author(s) inform us, "that in a key Old Testament passage where tithing... is discussed, God says: "you shall turn [your tithe] into money,... and spend the money for whatever you desire, oxen, or sheep, or wine or strong drink..." " This, of course, comes as no surprise to Mormons, who study the Bible as all Christians do, but one must ask: Is the consumption of alcohol so important that we must use its allowance as a measurement of the true church?

The Lord always knows of what He speaks. When the Word of Wisdom was revealed, the use of tobacco was extremely common, even among Mormons. Its discontinuance among Mormons was based solely on this revelation. It was only later (much later) that science confirmed the direct relationship between cancer, and other health problems, and tobacco in all its forms - a fact that requires no documentation in our day. Alcohol, while enjoying what may be its greatest popularity in the history of mankind, is also known to be related to, or the sole cause of, many health problems. The alcohol page of www.greenfacts.org provides the following details:

1. A number of disease conditions are wholly attributable to alcohol. These include alcoholic psychoses, alcohol-dependence syndrome, as well as some diseases affecting the nerves (alcoholic polyneuropathy), the heart (alcoholic cardiomyopathy), the stomach (alcoholic gastritis), and the liver (alcoholic liver cirrhosis).
2. Alcohol can cause a number of different cancers.
3. Alcohol can have a damaging role in the development of cardiovascular disease
4. Alcohol appears to contribute to causing depression.
5. Etc, etc.

The author(s) state that it is only the misuse of alcohol that is harmful, but this is not correct. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says on its website, "[u]nder some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous." Furthermore, one cannot deny the fact that, while moderate drinkers may have only a moderate risk for alcohol-related problems, those who abstain from alcohol are at no risk for alcohol-related problems save those inflicted on them unwillingly by those who are under the influence (ie, drunk drivers, etc).

It is interesting to note, after all this discussion, that the Lord Himself laid out the guidelines for the practices of the Nazarites, a group of people who "separate[d] themselves unto the LORD." One specific practice (again, from God Himself), is recorded in Numbers 6:2-3:

He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes...

Besides the children of Israel in Moses' day, several important Old Testament figures were commanded to follow these practices, including Samuel, and Samson, and possibly even Paul the Apostle, in the New Testament. As this was an important part of "[separating oneself] unto the LORD," in old times, it does not seem out of place that it be required of the Lord's people in our times. This seems especially appropriate when you consider that Mormons believe the Church is supposed to be preparing the Earth for the Second Coming (i.e., by teaching people to prepare and sanctify themselves).

Plural Heavens

The final section of this article addresses the LDS belief in "degrees of glory," ie, that there is not simply one heaven that all go to when they die, and that "practically no one is forever damned to hell," as the author(s) point out. For a discussion of the latter, please read "What is the meaning of the Book of Mormon scriptures on eternal hell for the wicked? (H. Donl Peterson, "I Have a Question," Ensign, Apr. 1986, 36-38). As far as the different degrees or kingdoms, the Gospel Principles manual that is used to teach new members and visitors to the Mormon church has this to say:

[God's] plan provided that when earth life ended, we would be judged and rewarded according to the degree of our faith and obedience. We would then be assigned to the place for which we had prepared. Jesus taught, "In my Father's house are many mansions" (John 14:2). From the scriptures we learn that there are three kingdoms of glory in heaven. The Apostle Paul mentioned that he knew a man who was "caught up to the third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2). Paul named two of the kingdoms in heaven: the celestial and the terrestrial (see 1 Corinthians 15:40-42). The celestial is the highest, and the terrestrial is second. Through latter-day revelation we learn that the third kingdom is the telestial kingdom (see D&C 76:81). We also learn that there are three heavens or degrees within the celestial kingdom (see D&C 131:1). (31110, Gospel Principles, Unit Ten: Life After Death, 47: Exaltation, 301)

Why "many mansions" if all go to the same place? Answer: "For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared (D&C 76:111)."

"Mormons think this doctrine is a strong selling point," the author(s) tell us. No, Mormons think this doctrine is the truth, and tend to believe that anyone who seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit will recognize it as such. "But read the fine print," we are warned by the author(s). "The only way you can have your family with you is if each one of them has lived a sterling Mormon life. Otherwise, a spouse, parent, or child may be locked forever in a lower heaven." To this, we provide the following quotation:

Paraphrasing the Prophet Joseph Smith, Elder Orson F. Whitney said "that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return... They will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110). (John K. Carmack, "When Our Children Go Astray," Ensign, Feb 1997, 7)

Through the grace of God, those who are "valiant... in the Cause of Truth" may be instrumental in the salvation of their children. Furthermore, we don't know if "the faithful Mormon wife of a lukewarm Mormon man will leave him behind in an inferior place while she goes on and is sealed to a more devout Mormon gentleman," as the author(s) suggest. And the precise reason we don't know is that all judgment is reserved for the Lord. (Romans 14:10, D&C 82:23, Mosiah 29:12).

We end the article with two unique hilarities: One is the classic phrase, "The LDS slogan, "Families are forever," means fractured families." This is true humor at its finest. Finally, we come to a close with a fancy proclamation that someone important has guaranteed us that "the materials presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors." While there may not have been any errors in Catholic doctrine in this article, there have been, as we have demonstrated, numerous errors on the part of reporting Mormon beliefs. Such a guarantee should necessarily rest with one who knows, not just one with a fancy title.