I have six half brothers and sisters who were raised in the church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). When I first became interested in the existence of God and the reliability of the Bible, I committed myself to a simultaneous investigation of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. What I discovered kept me from becoming a Mormon. I hope some of these resources will help you investigate Mormonism as well (each article is printable and downloadable as a PDF file):

Resources Related to the Evidence Against Mormonism

Articles to help you examine the evidential claims of Mormonism:

Investigating the Evidence for Mormonism In Six Steps

Given the evidence, there is more than enough reason to conclude Joseph Smith was a fraud and the Book of Mormon is a work of fiction.

How the Book of Abraham Exposes the False Nature of Mormonism

By taking an evidential approach to Christian and Mormon scripture, you can confirm the veracity of Christianity and guard yourself from the falsity of Mormonism

What Do the Kinderhook Plates Reveal About Joseph Smith?

The Kinderhook Plates reveal the false nature of Mormonism and the deceptive efforts of Joseph Smith.

The First Question to Ask of an Ancient Holy Book: Is It Ancient?

Can a book alleging to be from the ancient world be “holy” if it is lying about ancient history? How does the New Testament measure against the Book of Mormon?

Test Your Eyewitnesses, Even When the Eyewitness Is You

Can we trust religious experience? Be ready to provide an answer incorporating both our experiences and the evidential basis for believing they are from God.

The Witnesses of the Resurrection Compared to the Witnesses of the Golden Plates

The truthfulness of the Book of Mormon hinges on the validity of the Golden Plates from which it was translated.

Resources Related to Mormon History

Articles examining the complex and contradictory history of the LDS Church:

The Rich, Contradictory History of Mormon Polygamy

Mormonism has been clearly unorthodox in its positions related to polygamy, extreme in its practices, and variable in its commandments.

Is the Account of Joseph Smith’s First Vision Reliable?

Joseph Smith omitted and changed the facts of the first vision account to make them less offensive and more compelling.

Can We Trust the Prophecies of Joseph Smith?

Joseph Smith uttered demonstrably false prophecies. His status as a prophet of God must be removed and with it, the foundation for Mormonism.

Resources Related to Mormon Theology

Articles describing the theological differences between Mormonism and Christianity:

Is Mormon Salvation Possible?

According to Mormonism, no one receives eternal life until they have abandoned all past sin and have committed themselves to never repeat these sins again.

Mormon Beliefs, Salvation and the Nature of Perfection

Mormon Beliefs: What does Mormon theology teach about grace, salvation and forgiveness? Is perfection required for salvation, and if so, what kind?

The Difference Between Christian Grace and Mormon Grace

Christianity stands alone as the only religion that offers true “grace” to its adherents. Salvation is not the result of anything we do.

Salvation: Why Christians Know They Have Eternal Life (Right Now)

What does Christianity and Mormonism teach about eternal life? What do Mormons believe about the relationship between grace and the assurance of salvation?

Mormons Are Not Christians Because the Mormon Jesus Is Not the Christian Christ

Is the Mormon Jesus the same as the Christian Jesus? Does the nature of Jesus matter when examining the difference between Mormonism and Christianity?

Mormons today often try to portray their belief system as simply another, legitimate, historical denomination of Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mormonism is not evidentially legitimate, historically reliable, nor theologically compatible with Christianity. I hope these resources will help you understand the truth about the Church of Latter Day Saints.

For more information about the reliability of the New Testament gospels and the case for Christianity, please read Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. This book teaches readers ten principles of cold-case investigations and applies these strategies to investigate the claims of the gospel authors. The book is accompanied by an eight-session Cold-Case Christianity DVD Set (and Participant’s Guide) to help individuals or small groups examine the evidence and make the case.

J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured Cold-Case Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adj. Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith, and creator of the Case Makers Academy for kids.

Subscribe to J. Warner’s Daily Email