Transition2Hope

Enjoy this conversation with David P. Johnson, a former bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David has moved from being an active LDS member to becoming a follower of Christ and of His Gospel as set forth in the New Testament. David discusses his oversight of tithing, temple recommends and other aspects of his experience as a former LDS bishop. He also points to some important differences between LDS church governance and the polity of a healthy Christian congregation modeled and based on New Testament principles. David’s personal testimony is available on You Tube at    • From LDS Bishop to Born Again Christian   or you can search YouTube for “From LDS Bishop to Born Again Christian.” David mentioned that he volunteers at the Utah Christian Research Center (https://utahchristianresearchcenter.c.... Utah Christian Research Centeris an outreach of Mormon Research Ministry (https://www.mrm.org/)

Debate between Albert D. Spalding, JD, PhD [Associate Professor Emeritus] and Mark R. Satta, JD, PhD [Assistant Professor, Philosophy and Linguistics]. Held on March 27, 2024 at Wayne State University. Sponsored by the WSU Dean of Students Office and the Ratio Christi campus apologetics alliance. Professor Mark Satta is an assistant professor in the Philosophy Department at Wayne State University. Dr. Satta began teaching at Wayne State in the fall of 2020, and as a result taught many of his classes online. He is glad that we are now able to have classes in person again. Dr. Satta holds a PhD in Philosophy as well as a law degree. He enjoys thinking about philosophical issues related to knowledge, language, law, and religion among other topics. One of the favorite parts of his job is to help students to think about these issues, too. His LinkedIn profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/mark-satta-277272131   Albert Spalding is an associate professor emeritus at Wayne State, where he taught in the Mike Ilitch School of Business for 38 years. His LinkedIn profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/aspalding   NOTE: There were some technical glitches that prevented a high quality audio recording. We sincerely apologize for the distorted audio but we hope you are able to follow the basic arguments and comments of the debate participants. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3qCBEje and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Thank you.

In this episode of Transition to Hope, we get to interview Dr. Ross Anderson. Pastor Anderson is one of the authors of the recently published book, Responding to the Mormon Missionary Message: Asking Questions. Ross Anderson, DMin, was born in Utah and was raised LDS. After leaving Mormonism as a young adult, he earned a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree. Anderson has served as a church planter and pastor in Utah for four decades. He taught at Salt Lake Theological Seminary and served as a denominational church planting director for the region. Ross is currently a teaching pastor at Alpine Church. He is the executive director of Utah Advance Ministries and founder of the Faith after Mormonism project and the Culture-Wise podcast. Ross is author of Understanding the Book of Mormon, Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor, and Jesus without Joseph – a study guide for former Mormons. He and his wife, Sally, are parents to five adult children. Transition 2 Hope offers brief discussions of questions on the shelves of thinking members and former members of the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Church, as well as interviews of thinkers who interact respectfully with LDS members and former members. Questions are addressed from the perspective of a questioning LDS Church members, and also from the perspective of the bishop, stake president, Relief Society officers, CES teacher or leader or other mid-level leader charged with stemming the flow of people leaving the church. Most people who leave the LDS church become agnostics or atheists. We focus on why people believe what they believe at various points on their faith journey or faith crisis. Our theme: "Don't give up on God."

Should Bible-believing Christians spend time with missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, allowing the LDS missionaries to walk through their “Preach My Gospel” lesson plans aimed at converting non-Mormons? Many New Testament Christians would emphatically say, No. Citing New Testament passages like 2 John 1:7 and Romans 16:17, many Christians would choose to turn away LDS missionaries who come knocking on their door. Other Christians might prayerfully take another tack. They might invite the LDS missionaries into their homes, and listen attentively (not just politely) to the lesson plans. Not necessarily with the intent to forcibly argue with every point of doctrine or Biblica interpretation, but, instead, to ask good questions. Knowledgeable, well-placed questions that can often lead to the opportunity to explore the truth claims of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Questions that might help the LDS missionaries sort out the LDS truth claims when they eventually (inevitably?) begin to experience their own faith crisis. For those Christians who consider the arrival of LDS missionaries to be an opportunity to provide answers for the true hope within us (1 Peter 3:15), knowledgeable, well-placed questions might seem difficult to construct or articulate. Not to worry. The book Responding to the Mormon Missionary Message: Confident Conversations with Mormon Missionaries (and Other Latter-day Saints) serves as an invaluable resource for Christians who want to have friendly-but-firm conversations with the young men or women who have left their homes to bring their message to your door. Everything the LDS missionaries will try to teach is provided … along with excellent suggestions for insightful questions that can lead to Christ-honoring conversations. Corey Miller is an editor and one of the lead authors of Responding to the Mormon Missionary Message. It is our privilege to have a short conversation with Dr. Miller in this Transition to Hope interview.

Is Mormonism "Christian" in the same sense that biblically-based New Testament Christianity is "Christian"? Many members (including many leaders) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seem to think so. Actually, the doctrines, beliefs and teachings of the LDS Church are very much at odds with biblical Christianity. We saw this during our seven "fireside" discussions (available on YouTube or at our website, www.transition2hope.org). During those firesides, we walked through the main points of Eric Johnson's book, Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches. We had a chance to discuss this book with the author, Eric Johnson. The interview is in three parts, and is available on YouTube and on our website: www.transition2hope.org Eric is a frequent podcaster at the "Viewpoint on Mormonism" podcast and radio show, available at www.mrm.org He has authored, co-authored or edited several other books on the subject of Mormonism (also available at www.mrm.org ... along with many informative articles).

Is Mormonism "Christian" in the same sense that biblically-based New Testament Christianity is "Christian"? Many members (including many leaders) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seem to think so. Actually, the doctrines, beliefs and teachings of the LDS Church are very much at odds with biblical Christianity. We saw this during our seven "fireside" discussions (available on YouTube or at our website, www.transition2hope.org). During those firesides, we walked through the main points of Eric Johnson's book, Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches. We had a chance to discuss this book with the author, Eric Johnson. The interview is in three parts, and is available on YouTube and on our website: www.transition2hope.org Eric is a frequent podcaster at the "Viewpoint on Mormonism" podcast and radio show, available at www.mrm.org He has authored, co-authored or edited several other books on the subject of Mormonism (also available at www.mrm.org ... along with many informative articles).

Is Mormonism "Christian" in the same sense that biblically-based New Testament Christianity is "Christian"? Many members (including many leaders) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seem to think so. Actually, the doctrines, beliefs and teachings of the LDS Church are very much at odds with biblical Christianity. We saw this during our seven "fireside" discussions (available on YouTube or at our website, https://www.transition2hope.org/). During those firesides, we walked through the main points of Eric Johnson's book, Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches. We had a chance to discuss this book with the author, Eric Johnson. The interview is in three parts, and is available on YouTube and on our website: https://www.transition2hope.org/ Eric is a frequent podcaster at the "Viewpoint on Mormonism" podcast and radio show, available at https://www.mrm.org/ He has authored, co-authored or edited several other books on the subject of Mormonism (also available at mrm.org ... along with many informative articles).

Why do humans often seem to have innate tendencies to be selfish, aggressive, or rebellious toward authority? On the other hand, why do humans often strive to be godly or godlike, often through religious systems like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? The Bible answers these two (seemingly opposite) questions with a story. The story of Adam and Eve. Transition to Hope Episodes 8 and 9 unpack this story, and its relevance to faith (and faith crisis) today. Episode 8 (Adam and Eve in a Nutshell, Part One), explores the idea of the emergence of the human race and its broken relationship with God. Episode 9 (Adam and Eve in a Nutshell, Part Two) considers whether “the Fall” as described in Genesis 3 was an “upward” fall (enabling godlikeness) or a “downward” fall (ultimately requiring intervention and redemption by God). Along the way, these two episodes consider the extent to which discussions about timelines, genetics and genealogies (e.g., Mormon Stories Episode 1620) are red herrings that distract from the theological, philosophical, sociological and psychological significance of the story of Adam and Eve. T2H Episode 9 Show Notes and Credits

Why do humans often seem to have innate tendencies to be selfish, aggressive, or rebellious toward authority? On the other hand, why do humans often strive to be godly or godlike, often through religious systems like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? The Bible answers these two (seemingly opposite) questions with a story. The story of Adam and Eve. Transition to Hope Episodes 8 and 9 unpack this story, and its relevance to faith (and faith crisis) today. Episode 8 (Adam and Eve in a Nutshell, Part One), explores the idea of the emergence of the human race and its broken relationship with God. Episode 9 (Adam and Eve in a Nutshell, Part Two) considers whether “the Fall” as described in Genesis 3 was an “upward” fall (enabling godlikeness) or a “downward” fall (ultimately requiring intervention and redemption by God). Along the way, these two episodes consider the extent to which discussions about timelines, genetics and genealogies (e.g., Mormon Stories Episode 1620) are red herrings that distract from the theological, philosophical, sociological and psychological significance of the story of Adam and Eve. T2H Episode 8 Show Notes and Credits

Latter-day Saints and Christians have much in common. Their belief in God (and their beliefs about God) might differ significantly, but they often find themselves working side by side in the service of the poor and the victims of disasters. Unlike much of the rest of Western culture, they also understand the importance of holding the line against moral decline and degradation.  But the essential truth claims of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are in many ways very different from those of the Bible.  In this final Fireside dedicated to a review of the book Introducing Christianity to Mormons by Eric Johnson, two topics are covered: What is "the Gospel," and what is "church" all about?

Who is Jesus Christ? More importantly, how do we come to know Him and know about Him? Do we blindly accept the talking points of this or that church, or, is there a way we can confidently arrive at the truth?  This Fireside takes a critical look at the truth claims about Jesus Christ, the Old Testament prophecies about Him, and the historical facts surrounding His resurrection from the dead.  Along the way, we unpack the idea of "atonement" and consider the relevance of that concept to the significance of faith in Jesus Christ.

God is God. Simple. Latter-day Saints and New Testament Christians both worship the same God of the Bible. Do they, though?  This Fireside explains the radical differences between the truth claims of the LDS Church and the claims of the Bible. Topics include God's perfection and holiness, the Trinity, being "like God," and worship.

If God is so powerful, knowledgeable and loving, why would God allow so much evil in this world? Doesn't it make more sense to conclude that God doesn't even exist? This T2H Fireside No. 4 picks up where ex-Mormonism leaves off: asking whether God's existence should be chucked along with all of the other claims and beliefs of Mormonism.

Can the Bible be trusted? Can any book be trusted?  In this Fireside No. 3, we consider the corroborating evidence that supports and affirms a high view of the credibility of the Bible. Some of that corroborating evidence is simply amazing. So much so that the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of the Bible (that is, both the Old and New Testaments) begin to come into focus.   This podcast is Episode 3 of a series based on the book "Introducing Christianity to Mormons" by Eric Johnson.  Dr. Albert Spalding leads a group discussion in which some intriguing (and sometimes troubling) questions are addressed.

When a Latter-day Saint's "shelf of questions" about Mormonism begins to sag or collapse, it's not unusual for the Saint to just throw out the Bible with the rest of troubling LDS scriptures. Does there really need to be a tension between the claims and doctrines in the Book of Mormon, and Bible? Don't LDS scriptures agree with, or at least expand on, the revelations in the Bible? And if there are differences, aren't those differences simply the result of translation and transmission errors in the Bible? This podcast is Episode 2 of a series based on the book "Introducing Christianity to Mormons" by Eric Johnson. Dr. Albert Spalding leads a group discussion in which some amazing (and sometimes troubling) questions are addressed.

Truth is worth seeking, discussing and sharing. But truth-seeking can result in a faith crisis. Too often Christians (that is, those who seek to follow Jesus Christ in the manner articulated in the New Testament) aren't sensitive to the trauma of a faith crisis than can be experienced by members of religious organizations like the LDS Church. This podcast launches a series called Introducing Christianity to Latter-day Saints. It's about being sensitive, caring and respectful as well-meaning folks find opportunities to talk with each other about the big questions in life. Based on the book Introducing Christianity to Mormons by Eric Johnson, a podcaster at Mormon Research Ministry.

Does atheism usually take into account the possibilities of transcendence and the supernatural? If not, how can near death experiences (NDEs) and out-of-body observations be explained? And what does any of this have to do with belief in God? Transition 2 Hope Episode 7, The Afterlife in a Nutshell, explores these questions, especially from the perspective of current and former Latter-Day Saints who are deconstructing some of their traditional Mormon beliefs. Enjoy! T2H Episode 7 Show Notes and Credits

T2H Episode 6: Being Worthy, in a Nutshell is now available here and on YouTube at https://youtu.be/XscOAtGz43w Worthiness is in the eye of the beholder ... and also in the eye of the beholden. I might feel unworthy, undeserving or insignificant when in the presence of a great or famous person (like, Alice Cooper?).  I might also be treated by others as if I was, well, worthless. That's how we think about horizontal worthiness. What about vertical worthiness? How do I even come close to worthiness in the eyes of a holy and majestic God? Welcome to Transition 2 Hope Episode 6: Being Worthy, in a Nutshell. Show notes and credits are available at https://www.transition2hope.org/ If you have not already done so, please subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNEth61HqqEiLCgSCkX1YXw

T2H Episode 5: Bashing the Bible, in a Nutshell. Question - What lessons can we learn about ancient texts from the Kinderhook plates hoax? Answer - We always need to look for three things: textual integrity, faithful transmission and historical corroboration. In a letter to the editor of a Chicago newspaper, Joseph Smith stated, "We believe the bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly." He was correct. If the Bible has not been translated correctly, it is not the word of God. And we all know that the Bible has not been translated correctly ... Or, has it? Welcome to Transition 2 Hope Episode 5, Bashing the Bible, in a Nutshell.

T2H Episode 4: Shrinking God, in a Nutshell Most people feel a need to connect with God, but God is too big. So they shrink God. Most religions, in turn, make God (however God is defined) more accessible by encouraging two things: human godliness and God-shrinkage. This episode explains what God-shrinking is all about, and considers whether God-shrinking is, at the end of the day, reasonable. On YouTube at https://youtu.be/ofJym5VTl_Y