Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?
Mormonism : Shadow or Reality ?  
Author(s) Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Country United States
Language English
Subject(s) Criticism of Mormonism
Publisher Utah Lighthouse Ministry
Publication date 1963
Media type Print (Hardcover, Paperback)
Pages 576 pp (1987 edition)
ISBN 978-9993074434

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? is a 1963 book by Jerald and Sandra Tanner that is highly critical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Description

The book was originally entitled Mormonism: A Study of Mormon History and Doctrine and has been reprinted five times since (the latest edition was in 2008). The book is a long, densely-written work full of copies of early Latter Day Saints documents accompanied by commentary. It has subsequently been revised and was the basis for the Tanner's more readable later book, The Changing World of Mormonism.

Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? deals with many subjects in a critical view, including the Book of Mormon and other LDS scriptures, Joseph Smith's life, alleged false prophecies, the missionary system, controversial historical incidents and subjects (Mountain Meadows massacre, wealth, the priesthood ban, polygamy) and many doctrines and practices (Adam-God doctrine, temple ceremonies).

Critical reception

Mormon book dealer Curt Bench listed this book among 50 important books on Mormonism in the first 150 years, including it as one of six "anti-Mormon" titles on the list.[1]

The book has been described by Dean Helland of Oral Roberts University as "the heavyweight of all books on Mormonism".[2] However, D. Michael Quinn, a historian at Brigham Young University, took issue with the Tanners' work, calling it a "distorted view of Mormonism".[3] Danel W. Bachman, of the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research, concluded that he found in the book "propagandistic techniques and instances of egregious misuse of documentary evidence".[4]

References

  1. ^ Bench, Curt (October 1990). "Fifty Important Mormon Books" (PDF). Sunstone (79): 56. https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/079-54-58.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-14. 
  2. ^ Dean M. Helland, "Meeting the Book of Mormon Challenge in Chile," Ph.D. dissertation, Oral Roberts University, 1990, 58 as cited by Matthew Roper of Brigham Young University.
  3. ^ "Jerald and Sandra Tanner's distorted view of Mormonism - A response to Mormonism - Shadow or reality ? by a Latter-day Saint Historian". LDS-mormon. http://www.lds-mormon.com/mo2.shtml. Retrieved 2009-07-17. 
  4. ^ "Mormonism--Shadow or Reality? - History or Propaganda? - Joseph Smith as a Case Study". Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research. http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_History_or_Propaganda.html. Retrieved 2009-07-17. 

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