Catholic book on Mormonism?

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Hi,

Can someone recommend a good Catholic book on Mormonism?
 
Inside Mormonism - Catholic Answers

Isaiah Bennett. Former Mormon insider Isaiah Bennett uses his inside knowledge to reveal the truth behind the religion’s contradictory doctrines and expose its deliberate ploy to appear Christian. In this one-of-a-kind book you’ll learn how Mormons believe that God the Father was once a mortal man living on another planet. You’ll discover how faithful Mormon men believe they can become gods themselves. You’ll find out that Mormons hold that Jesus and Lucifer are “spirit brothers” and that “dark skin is a curse.” You’ll see how they redefine words to mask their polytheistic doctrines as Christian and much more
 
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PaulDupre:
God bless,
Paul (a former Mormon now Catholic)
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I just had to ask, why did you convert? I’m LDS wanting to go Catholic. What advice could you give me. I have read The Everything book on Catholicism. And I’m reading Catholicism for Dummies. I know I should read the Cathecism book, but I will be taking the lessons in the fall. To try to learn more about it. How long were you LDS before you converted? Sorry, about the change of subject.
 
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discipleofJesus:
Hi,

Can someone recommend a good Catholic book on Mormonism?
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Hi there! I’m a Mormon myself. I thought I’d offer my opinion — if you don’t like it, you’re perfectly welcome to ignore it.

If you want to debate against Mormons, I don’t know how to help you.

But if you want a good understanding of Mormonism from a Catholic perspective, for either self-enlightenment (just as one might study Greek mythology to understand more about how different human cultures believe and have believed) or open dialogue with Mormons (which can make for a better, more civil society all around), then I can offer some advice.

I would recommend reading Mormon books on Mormonism.

I am here trying to understand Catholicism — rather than go to a Mormon’s view of Catholicism, I am going to Catholics’ views of Catholicism. I am studying the Catechism and the Vulgate. I have also been reading the writings of Pope Benedict XVI — a phenomenal man with a powerful mind, if you ask me. I truly believe the Lord wanted him to serve in this capacity at this time, and I think we will see some remarkable things coming from him in the future. Anyway, the point is, I want to know how Catholics worship, not how Mormons think that Catholics worship.

I think if you want to understand Mormonism, you should do the same. Read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Read the writings of Mormon leaders, past and present — you might want to emphasize the present — if I wanted the Catholic view on Islam, I wouldn’t expect the writings or statements of Pope Urban II to be the best expression of contemporary Catholic beliefs on the religion and its adherents. There are also various manuals for class instruction published by the Mormon Church, and these can be helpful tools to learn more about the religion.

Some helpful links:
Mormon Scriptures: scriptures.lds.org/
Some links to recent writings of Mormon leaders:
lds.org/conference/display/0,5234,23-1,00.html
lds.org/library/page/display/0,7098,5344-1-2783-1,00.html
Church curriculum and other publications (the HTML version is kind of a pain to navigate, but the PDFs can get pretty big):
HTML: library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm
PDF: lds.org/gospellibrary/pdfindex/0,7777,579-1,00.html

One manual in particular that could be helpful is called Gospel Principles, which we use for instruction of newly baptized and confirmed members of the church. A link to a PDF of it is here:
lds.org/gospellibrary/materials/gospel/Start%20Here_01.pdf

Of course, in order to study Mormonism from a Catholic perspective, it is essential that you be well-versed and well-grounded in your own faith first. I cannot emphasize that enough.

Of course, if you want to study all the dark and sordid crannies in Mormon history, these sources will not help you with that. But then, studying such crannies is hardly helpful for understanding the average Mormon you are likely to encounter anyway. By a similar token, studying all the dark and sordid crannies of Catholic history will not help me understand the beliefs of my Catholic friends — studying the Catechism likely will.
 
Studens, with all due respect, saying to find out about Mormonism by reading all the books is like saying find out about Catholicism by go reading the bible, the catechism, all of the encyclicals, all of the writings of all of the popes, etc. As far as I know, you don’t have a catechism. So its pretty hard unless we know what questions to ask.

Anyway, the poster is already Mormon and probably has read them. They are probably pretty disillusioned with it if they are asking to find Catholic books about it. Maybe you might be enlightened by the book. If there are errors, you can tell us. But maybe there aren’t errors and you will be inspired like they are to learn about the Catholic faith.

I have done my own research on Mormonism and I didn’t have to look very far to find some pretty shaky beliefs. The great apostacy is one. Your entire religion is founded on this. Yet, there is no historical evidence of it. Only Joseph Smith’s “revelation”. The Native American connection is not historically accurate. Again, only Joseph Smith’s revelation. God never revealed anything to a prophet that contradicted history. Secularists may not like Catholic Christianity but they can’t deny the history. It all happened.
 
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Pjs2ejs:
Studens, with all due respect, saying to find out about Mormonism by reading all the books is like saying find out about Catholicism by go reading the bible, the catechism, all of the encyclicals, all of the writings of all of the popes, etc.
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I agree. If you’ll read my whole post, you’ll see that this is the very approach I am taking in my efforts to understand Catholicism. I think a similar approach should be taken by anyone who seriously wants to understand Mormonism.
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Pjs2ejs:
As far as I know, you don’t have a catechism. So its pretty hard unless we know what questions to ask.
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Well, if you’ll read my whole post, you’ll see a link to a PDF version of a manual called Gospel Principles that we use to instruct newly baptized and confirmed members of the church. I think that manual could compare to the Catechism, and could be useful to someone who wants to understand Mormonism. That’s why I singled it out.
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Pjs2ejs:
Anyway, the poster is already Mormon and probably has read them. They are probably pretty disillusioned with it if they are asking to find Catholic books about it.
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Ah, I had no idea that discipleofJesus was Mormon. Oh well. Maybe my post will be useful to some faithful Catholic who wants to really understand Mormonism.
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Pjs2ejs:
Maybe you might be enlightened by the book.
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Which book?
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Pjs2ejs:
If there are errors, you can tell us. But maybe there aren’t errors and you will be inspired like they are to learn about the Catholic faith.
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Ah, well, if you’ll read my whole post, you’ll see that I am already very inspired to learn about the Catholic faith, and on the merits of the Catholic faith alone, without any need to resort to questioning my own faith first.
 
I also agree with looking up the original source if one wants to learn of them.

For example, one of the elders lent me a book on the basics of Mormonism, which used various examples of the Church Fathers. Then I looked them at earlychristianwritings.com/ to verify context… 😃

I certainly did not learn about true Catholicism until I went to the very source itself, through their interpretation of the Bible, Catechism, various sites on the internet, etc.

One should read the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price for the basics of Mormonism and the ideas behind it. I especially love Pearl of Great Price, of the counsel of the gods.
 
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Studens:
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Pjs2ejs:
Anyway, the poster is already Mormon and probably has read them. They are probably pretty disillusioned with it if they are asking to find Catholic books about it.
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Ah, I had no idea that discipleofJesus was Mormon. Oh well. Maybe my post will be useful to some faithful Catholic who wants to really understand Mormonism.
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What? I’m not a Mormon, nor was I ever a Mormon.
 
Thanks for the recommended Catholic books on Mormonism everyone. If anyone knows any more, feel free to post them here.
 
Hi meggy, the biggest problem of LDS is that they have another Jesus.

John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

2 Corinthians 11
1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM
TRANSLATED FROM THE PAPYRUS, BY JOSEPH SMITH

CHAPTER 4

The Gods plan the creation of the earth and all life thereon—Their plans for the six days of creation are set forth.

1 AND then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods•, organized• and formed the cheavens• and the earth.

2 And the earth, after it was formed, was empty and desolate, because they had not formed anything but the earth; and adarkness reigned upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of the Gods bwas• brooding upon the face of the waters.

3 And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light; and there was light.

4 And they (the Gods) comprehended the light, for it was abright•; and they divided the light, or caused it to be divided, from the darkness.

vs

Genesis 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Thus the Church today teaches: “We believe that God needs no preexistent thing or any help in order to create, nor is creation any sort of necessary emanation from the divine substance. God creates freely ‘out of nothing’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 296).

catholic.com/library/Creation_Out_of_Nothing.asp

Is Creatio Ex Nihilo A Post-Biblical Invention? An Examination Of Gerhard May’s Proposal
earlychurch.org.uk/article_exnihilo_copan.html
 
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meggy11386:
I just had to ask, why did you convert? I’m LDS wanting to go Catholic. What advice could you give me. I have read The Everything book on Catholicism. And I’m reading Catholicism for Dummies. I know I should read the Cathecism book, but I will be taking the lessons in the fall. To try to learn more about it. How long were you LDS before you converted? Sorry, about the change of subject.
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Hi Meggy,
I was born into a Catholic family, but never understood Catholicism and went inactive in my teens. I joined the LDS Church when I was 21, after investigating for only 5 weeks. Needless to say I did not know what I was getting into. I served a 2-year mission in Taiwan, and was a faithful, full-tithe-paying Mormon for 11 years until I realized that I had beed duped. I knew all the time that something was wrong because i was so repulsed by the temple endowment.

I was called to teach the Elders’ Quorum. So I started to delve into LDS history, the Jof D, and other texts. I learned what Joseph Smith really did and taught, what Brigham young really did and taught. The more I learned, the more I realized how I had been lied to by the missionaries and by all of the leaders. I also came to realize that the Book of Mormon was a 19th century work of fiction. After that, I just had to leave. I had my name removed from the records of the LDS church in 1986.

I was angry and bitter, and lapsed into practical atheism for many years. But eventually the Lord called me, and I began to investigate religion objectively. I investigated all religions from paganism to Buddism to Judaism to Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. When I studies the early Church fathers, i came to see that the Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus established. When I came to hunger for the Eucharist, I knew i had to come back to the Catholic faith. In October of 2000, I made my first confession in 33 years and received the Eucharist at mass a few days later. I have been in love with Jesus and His Church ever since.

Grace to you,
Paul
 
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PaulDupre:
Hi Meggy,
I was born into a Catholic family, but never understood Catholicism and went inactive in my teens. I joined the LDS Church when I was 21, after investigating for only 5 weeks. Needless to say I did not know what I was getting into. I served a 2-year mission in Taiwan, and was a faithful, full-tithe-paying Mormon for 11 years until I realized that I had beed duped. I knew all the time that something was wrong because i was so repulsed by the temple endowment.

I was called to teach the Elders’ Quorum. So I started to delve into LDS history, the Jof D, and other texts. I learned what Joseph Smith really did and taught, what Brigham young really did and taught. The more I learned, the more I realized how I had been lied to by the missionaries and by all of the leaders. I also came to realize that the Book of Mormon was a 19th century work of fiction. After that, I just had to leave. I had my name removed from the records of the LDS church in 1986.

I was angry and bitter, and lapsed into practical atheism for many years. But eventually the Lord called me, and I began to investigate religion objectively. I investigated all religions from paganism to Buddism to Judaism to Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. When I studies the early Church fathers, i came to see that the Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus established. When I came to hunger for the Eucharist, I knew i had to come back to the Catholic faith. In October of 2000, I made my first confession in 33 years and received the Eucharist at mass a few days later. I have been in love with Jesus and His Church ever since.

Grace to you,
Paul
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Paul, have you ever considered writing a book about your experiences? It’s a great story, and could do an enormous amount of good, helping to bring Mormons to the True Faith.

Just curious.
 
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Batjacboy:
Paul, have you ever considered writing a book about your experiences? It’s a great story, and could do an enormous amount of good, helping to bring Mormons to the True Faith.

Just curious.
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Yes, I have thought about it. I wanted to wait until I could write the facts charitably and without rancor. In the meantime, you could get my tape series from the Catholic Resource Center / St. Joseph Communications. www.saintjoe.com
Grace to you,
Paul
 
Paul…

All I can say is WOW!!! you have been through like everything. I don’t think I could have ever done all that. I’m 20 and I have been investigating the Catholic faith for I’d say like 2 1/2 years. My boyfriend brought me into it, and ever since the first time I went to Easter Vigil, I wanted to go back. At first i was very scared about going up and being blessed… but now I look forward to it, and I do it every week. It really suprised my boyfriends family, but I love it.

Anyways… I would love to hear more about your journey.
 
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