Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Interview: Eric Johnson – Misconceptions about Mormons

Guest Host: Robby Lashua

 

Robby talks to Eric Johnson of Mormonism Research Ministry about the rules Mormons have to follow, the LDS view of authority and the way they view their prophets, the LDS need to keep all their commandments, and how Mormons and Christians talk past each other by using the same terms with different definitions.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Eric Johnson of Mormonism Research Ministry (00:00)
2. Can Mormons drink caffeine? What are the rules they have to follow? (06:00)
3. What’s the LDS view of authority and their structure of leadership? (24:00)
4. Christians and Mormons use the same terms but mean different things. (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Eric Johnson
• Mormonism Research Ministry
• Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches by Eric Johnson
• Viewpoint on Mormonism – Podcast
• Utah Lighthouse Ministry
• Temple Recommend Interview Questions

Interview: Eric Johnson – Introducing Christianity to Mormons

Guest Host: Robby Lashua

 

Robby interviews Eric Johnson of Mormonism Research Ministry about his new book, Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Eric Johnson, author of Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches (00:00)
2. Why are so many Latter-day Saints leaving their faith? (15:00)
3. Why does the historicity and reliability of the Bible matter so much when talking to Latter-day Saints? (28:00)
4. What is the LDS view of faith? (37:00)
5. Are Mormons Christians? (40:00)
6. How can we share the truth with LDS friends and family? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Eric Johnson
• Mormonism Research Ministry
• Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches by Eric Johnson.
• BuddyandSanta.com
• Gospel Topics Essays on LDS website
• MRM’s reviews of the Gospel Topics Essays
• The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church by Jana Riess
• Utah Lighthouse Ministry
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
• The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball (LDS book)
• IntroducingChristianity.com

Related Links:

• Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall
• Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall

Prophecy Is Not Something One Learns to Do

Greg critiques the concept of “practicing prophecy,” explaining why prophecy is not something one learns to do, then he answers questions about taking a sick child to a Christian who claims to be a healer and whether some people are called by God to be single.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Prophecy is not something one learns to do. (00:00)
2. What do you think of my decision to not take my eleven-year-old son, who has scoliosis, to a Christian who claims to be a healer? (32:00)
3. Is it true that some people are called by God to live a life of singleness, and what’s your view on Matthew 19:12 and 1 Corinthians 7? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 23–24 in Orange County, CA; October 14–15 in Seattle, WA; November 11–12 in Minneapolis, MN; February 24–25, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 24–25, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• EPS Apologetics Conference in Littleton, CO on November 17–19
• Info for front office manager position at Stand to Reason
• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Keep Your Eyes Open for Smoke and Mirrors

Greg examines the rhetoric in an article about a “Center for Transgender Health,” then he answers a question about what “give it to the Lord” means when we’re facing difficult times.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Keep your eyes open for smoke and mirrors. (00:00)
2. Does “giving it to the Lord” mean not doing something about our situation? (27:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 23–24 in Orange County, CA; October 14–15 in Seattle, WA; November 11–12 in Minneapolis, MN; February 24–25, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 24–25, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• Info for front office manager position at Stand to Reason
• Johns Hopkins Hospital Opens Center for Transgender Health by Mark Hamby

Count the Cost of Following Jesus

Greg responds to Doug the atheist’s comments on one of Tim Barnett’s videos, then he answers questions about what Christians mean when they say God told them to do something, slavery, going on vacation without one’s spouse, and whether if a Christian isn’t healed, it’s because he lacks faith.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Count the cost of following Jesus. (00:00)
2. What do Christians mean when they say God told them to do something? (18:00)
3. Slavery is never condemned in the Bible, so why does it seem wrong? (26:00)
4. Is it appropriate for a married person to go on a vacation without his or her spouse? (37:00)
5. If a Christian doesn’t get healed, is it because he didn’t have enough faith? (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Acts and the Voice of God by Greg Koukl
• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God by Greg Koukl
• Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan

Related Links:

• Be Willing to Submit to Our Good God on the Issue of Homosexuality by Amy Hall
• Gay or Straight, We All Must Decide if We Love Jesus above All Else by Amy Hall
• Be Obedient Even When You Don’t Understand the Command by Amy Hall
• Is It God’s Will to Always Heal? by Tim Barnett

Are Evangelicals Bad Representatives of Jesus?

Greg responds to an author’s evaluation of evangelicals, then he answers questions about churches not working together, the appropriateness of separating from a spouse who’s addicted to prescription drugs, and the ideals and virtues that encompass masculinity.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Are evangelicals bad representatives of Jesus? (00:00)
2. Do you have any thoughts on churches not working together to solve what’s going on in the culture today? (34:00)
3. At what point is it necessary to separate from a spouse who is addicted to prescription drugs? (42:00)
4. What are the ideals and virtues that emcompass masculinity, and how do I practice those ideals on a day-to-day basis in order to communicate my beliefs more effectively? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reading Less, More—and Twice as Fast by Greg Koukl
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 23–24 in Orange County, CA; October 14–15 in Seattle, WA; November 11–12 in Minneapolis, MN; February 24–25, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 24–25, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• Days of Wine and Roses – Film

Do Pro-Lifers Compromise?

Greg comments on whether an incremental approach to fighting abortion is compromising, then answers questions about recommended resources on objective truth, whether we should reflect on conversations after the fact, and whether homosexuality should be a capital offense.

 

Topics:

1. Do pro-life advocates compromise when they fight for incremental changes instead of an all-or-nothing outlawing of abortion? (0:00)
2. What books or resources do you recommend for learning more about objective truth? (22:00)
3. What is a healthy way to reflect on conversations after the fact for future improvement? (44:00)
4. Should Christians be working to make homosexuality a capital offense? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference
• I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Frank Turek and Norman L. Geisler
• Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig
• Thinking About God by Gregory Ganssle
• Tactics by Greg Koukl
• The Primal Heresy by Greg Koukl

A Creeping Totalitarianism in the Public Education System

Greg comments on a school district making national headlines for its handling of sex education, then he answers questions about the language describing homosexuality in the Bible and about a fear that God will answer prayer with hardship.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary:  A Creeping Totalitarianism in the Public Education System (0:00)
2. Are other uses of the word "homosexuality" in the Bible the same root word as that used by Paul in Corinthians? (25:00)
3. How can I face my fear that prayer for bold faith will lead to hardship? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Besieged by a Worldview Foreign to Jesus’ View of Reality

Related Links:

• When it Comes to Homosexuality, the Bible Addresses Behavior

Greg’s Thoughts on Replacement Theology

Greg answers questions about “replacement theology,” whether pro-life advocacy is wrong since if the children live, many will go to Hell, and whether there are still apostles in the church today (per “five-fold ministry”).

 

Topics:

1. Can you discuss “replacement theology” and give your opinions on that topic? (04:00)
2. Is pro-life advocacy morally wrong since if the children live, many of them will go to Hell? (28:00)
3. Are there still apostles in the church today (per “five-fold ministry”)? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• The Bible: Fast Forward by Greg Koukl
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 23–24 in Orange County, CA; October 14–15 in Seattle, WA; November 11–12 in Minneapolis, MN; February 24–25, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 24–25, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• God’s Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement by Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec

Darwinism Can’t Account for Objective Morality

Greg explains why Darwinism can’t account for objective morality, then he answers a question about whether our sins are covered or washed away and takes a follow-up call from a caller about the origin and development of the cosmos.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Darwinism can’t account for objective morality. (00:00)
2. Are our sins covered or washed away, or is there a difference? (24:00)
3. A follow-up on a previous conversation about the origin and development of the cosmos. (38:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher
• Totalitarianism: Can It Happen in America? by Rod Dreher
• We’re Living in a War on Reality with Rod Dreher

Related Links:

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 23–24 in Orange County, CA; October 14–15 in Seattle, WA; November 11–12 in Minneapolis, MN; February 24–25, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 24–25, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA