CES Letter


Book Description

CES Letter is one Latter-Day Saint's honest quest to get official answers from the LDS Church (Mormon) on its troubling origins, history, and practices. Jeremy Runnells was offered an opportunity to discuss his own doubts with a director of the Church Educational System (CES) and was assured that his doubts could be resolved. After reading Jeremy's letter, the director promised him a response.No response ever came.




Joseph Smith's Seer Stones


Book Description

This book discusses the origins of Joseph Smith's three seer stones--the brown stone, the white stone, and the green stone, --as well as exploring how Joseph used them throughout his life in a way that goes beyond translating the Book of Mormon. It also traces the provenance of the three seer stones once they leave his possession. The authors also examine how the Book of Mormon itself provides a storyline about the history of seer stones, which also helped Joseph Smith learn about his own prophetic gifts. Finally, this book explores how Joseph Smith took his own experiences with seer stones and created a theology of seer stones that became closely linked with his unique doctrines of exaltation.







Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim


Book Description

Seer Stone v. Urim and Thummim places the Book of Mormon translation on trial, presenting the latest research in one of the most comprehensive treatments of the translation process to date providing encouragement for Latter-day Saints who fear they have been “betrayed” by the translation history taught by the Church for over 190 years. Did Joseph Smith study and master the Nephite language? Did the Prophet tutor some of the early Brethren in ancient Nephite characters? Did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon using a dark seer stone in a hat? Why are progressive historians creating a new history using sources from a man who vowed to wash his hands in the blood of Joseph Smith, while boasting that he had deceived the Prophet and his God? Has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covered up its history for nearly 200 years? Was Joseph Smith a treasure digger? During his life, did the Prophet artfully suppress his alleged treasure digging past? Did Joseph Smith cover up his use of a seer stone during the translation, feigning use of the Urim and Thummim? What new information has The Joseph Smith Papers Project uncovered that challenges our understanding of the translation process? Is David Whitmer a credible witness of the Book of Mormon translation? Did you know that David Whitmer consulted a witch and occultic seer stones, denounced Joseph Smith as a false prophet and aided the mob in the persecution of the Missouri Saints? Was Joseph Smith involved in sorcery, astrology and ritual magic? “Seer Stone v. Urim and Thummim makes a great case for simply going ‘back to the basics’! That is, accepting the translation of the Book of Mormon as Joseph said it was done, as opposed to how others claim it was done. It is well researched and very enlightening and a must read for those who are willing to accept the words of Joseph and other prophets at face value.” —Kay M Godfrey, Author, Joseph Smith Epoch Historian “As you read this book, it will validate your knowledge that the Book of Mormon is a real history of a real people. The Stoddards have once again born witness that Joseph Smith was and is truly our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. You will love this book.” —Rian Nelson, Author and speaker, FIRM Foundation “The Stoddards present a thorough and careful analysis of the numerous errors and sometimes outright falsehoods that have crept into many of the translation narratives, even some by respected scholars, who relied on changing accounts from both fallible acquaintances and also outright enemies.” —Leslie Pearson Rees, Author, “Ye Have Been Hid: Finding the Lost Tribes of Israel”




The Urim and Thummim


Book Description

This is the first exhaustive study of the Urim and Thummim since 1824, and in this book Van Dam sets out to rectify that lack of attention. He investigates all of the biblical data concerning this enigmatic oracular means of high-priestly revelation and its connection, in the historical books of the Old Testament, with the common phrase "to enquire of Yahweh/God." After surveying the history of interpretation and the treatment of the terms in the various versions and translations, Van Dam examines the implications of similar oracular devices and priestly dress within the larger cultural context of the ancient Near East. He places the Urim and Thummim within the context of divine revelation and human inquiry and the corollary probibition of divination in ancient Israel. He concludes that the breastpiece functioned as a pouch to hold the Urim and Thummim, which therefore clearly were tangible objects. Van Dam traces the use of this oracular instrument through the early monarchy under David--from the time of Joshua through the early monarchy under David--and its apparent disappearance by the time of the "classical" prophets, where a shift to primarily verbal oracles occurs. Concurrent with his study of the history of the oracle, Van Dam interacts with current discussion on the nature and process of God's revelation to humankind.




Moroni's America


Book Description




Ye Have Been Hid


Book Description




Urim and Thummim


Book Description

The Urim and Thummim were the prescribed method of divination used in the Old Testament of the Bible, which the Tribes of Israel used to consult the LORD. The objective of this book is to provide a functional means of using the Urim and Thummim in conjunction with the Breastplate of Judgment to assist in the decision making process.The Judeo-Christian believer will find this method of divination superior to others, because it encourages the inquirer to use the Bible to develop solutions for life's problems. Like all forms of divination, it can be done for meditative or recreational purposes, or as a way of exercising the mind and improving in one's problem solving abilities. This book is structured to allow immediate use of the Breastplate of Judgment. After using the Urim and Thummim to select a Tribe of Israel, you can immediately turn to the corresponding chapter and begin analyzing the information to assist in the decision making process. Each chapter begins with a table that lists the blessings the tribe received from its mother, father, and Moses. General attributes are separated into positive (Urim) and negative (Thummim) qualities. Each of the sections in the table is then elaborated on further, followed by relevant information taken from the Pseudepigrapha Apocrypha. This book is structured to serve as a reference guide for utilizing the Breastplate of Judgment, but it can also be read from cover to cover to gain insight into the Twelve Tribes of Israel or to explore other concepts related to Judeo-Christian divination. To demonstrate that contemplative divination functions by using intuition and deductive reasoning in unison to evaluate abstract information against a set of criteria, the Astrological connections commonly associated with Palmistry were replaced with characteristics from members of the family of Israel. This demonstrates the interchangeability of set criteria, and reinforces the fact that the information derived by divination is the result of a person's mental efforts. Divination is a process that relies more on the art of interpretation, than it does on the random selection of concepts. The Urim and Thummim were the only prescribed method of divination authorized in the Bible, and the High Priest used them to obtain guidance from God. The 'Urim and Thummim Divination Kit' is the only functional system for using the Urim and Thummim in conjunction with the Breastplate of Judgment in existence today. This book is truly unique. Not only does it provide the only functional method of using the Breastplate of Judgment with the Urim and Thummim, but it also presents Judeo-Christian based systems of Palmistry, Dream Interpretation, and Tarot Card Reading. It presents these systems as a means of spiritual growth, and relates them to other mystical Judeo-Christian philosophies such as Alchemy and the Kabbalah.




Faith Crisis - We Were NOT Betrayed!


Book Description

After working with thousands of struggling Latter-day Saint members, the authors have written a book offering hope and answers for those struggling with faith crisis. In a head-to-head, behind-the-scenes-battle, 20th century traditional leaders resisted intellectual progressives working in the Church History Department and at BYU.