Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Blog
    • Su Gracia Gratuita (Spanish Blog)
    • Graça sem limites (Portuguese Blog)
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
Why We Left Mormonism: Eight People Tell Their Stories

Why We Left Mormonism: Eight People Tell Their Stories

Posted in Book Reviews

Why We Left Mormonism: Eight People Tell Their Stories. By Latayne C. Scott. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990. 166 pp. Paper, $7.99.

Conservative Republicans with “family values”; neat teenage “elders” with white shirts and dark trousers going door to door; a world-class choir-these are the images that Mormonism evokes for many. Historically-minded readers will think of the Westward trek to Utah-and the reason: polygamy.

This aggressively “evangelistic” religion is one of salvation by works with a vengeance. Character, performance, good deeds, human merit, even building towards potential “godhood” are Mormonism’s hallmarks.

This is not a hateful book but one filled with testimonies of ex-Mormons that includes a former BYU scholarship student, a bishop, a great granddaughter of Brigham Young (one of many-he had 27 wives!), and a self-styled “super-Mormon.” This constitutes Part One. Their stories are varied, convincing, and centered on coming to believe in the real Jesus, though the new church connections are varied, and not all ones that GES members might choose.

Since Mormonism is a community religion, it is very hard to resist the pressure to stay in it, even for those who no longer believe.

Part Two is well described as “Identifying Factors Involved in Leaving Mormonism and Effective Nurture of Ex-Mormons.” A weekly meeting or two at a church is not enough to keep most former “Latter-day Saints” going. They need special love and encouragement. The eight “Latter-day Saints” of Part One, who are now, to use Dr. Ironside’s phrase, “Former-day Saints,” tell specifically what techniques Christians have used that affected them, including approaches that proved to be counter-productive.

Being a conservative family-oriented person is nice, but it won’t save a person from hell (which Mormonism has reduced to a very rare possibility for most).

The Bookstore Journal rightly labels this little paperback as “an excellent resource for Christians who want to know how to help Mormons.”

Arthur L. Farstad
Editor
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Dallas, TX

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
Art Farstad

by Art Farstad

Art Farstad (1935-1998) was Executive Editor of the New King James Version of the Bible, co-editor of the Hodges-Farstad Majority Text of the NT, and a gentleman par excellance.

Cart

Recently Added

January 22, 2021

Atrapando y limpiando el pez

Siempre estoy atento en capturar ilustraciones simples de las verdades bíblicas fácilmente entendibles para la mayoría de las personas. Aquí está una: Escuché a un...
January 22, 2021

Is Repentance Necessary for Baptism?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. In todays episode, Bob and Shawn will be discussing repentance and its role in baptism. The guys will be...
January 22, 2021

The New Testament Understanding of Following Jesus

A friend sent me some comments and asks my thoughts: Interested in your opinion. I am trying to craft a reasonable response to the “follow Jesus...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Tough Texts: Did Jesus Teach Salvation by Works? $18.00 $10.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.95
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 1 $8.95 $2.50
  • Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation $15.00 $7.00
Grace Evangelical Society
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

Tweets by GESwebmaster