The SBJT Forum: Speaking the Truth in Love Editor’s Note: Readers should be aware of the forum’s format. Russell D. Moore, R. Philip Robers, Robert Stewart, John Divito and Richard Abanes have been asked specific questions to which they have provided written responses. These writers are not responding to one another. The journal’s goal for the Forum is to provide significant thinkers’ views on topics of interest without requiring lengthy articles from these heavily-committed individuals. Their answers are presented in an order that hopefully makes the forum read as much like a unified presentation as possible. SBJT: How can evangelical Protestants ism, evangelicals should read the works engage Latter-day Saints with historic of Latter-day Saints who explain why they Christianity? love their religion. Some LDS intellectuals Moore: Evangelicals often wonder why who have concluded, to their regret, that Mormons believe such an incredible Joseph Smith constructed from his own system: golden tablets translated with mind the narrative of the Book of Mormon “magic glasses,” an advanced society of and the “translation” of the Book of Abra- ancient American Indian Israelites who ham are instructive here. Grant Palmer’s left behind no archaeological evidence at An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins, for all, a “revelation” of polygamy that was instance, warns that his conclusions are reversed when Utah needed to do so for not for children or new converts. Demon- statehood, a “revelation” barring black strating the roots of the Book of Mormon Mormons from the priesthood that was in the nineteenth-century world of King reversed after the triumph of the civil James Bible, freemasonry, occultism, and rights movement, an eternity of godhood frontier Americanism, Palmer nonetheless producing spirit babies, and special pro- remains a committed Mormon—because tective underwear. he loves the social and theological vision Russell D. Moore serves as Dean What we must understand is that of the LDS culture. Likewise, Coke New- of the School of Theology, Senior Vice Latter-day Saints (LDS) believe these ell, a convert to the LDS church in his President for Academic Administration, things for the same reason that people late teens, lays out why a drug culture and Professor of Theology at The South- everywhere believe the things they do: vegetarian would find the LDS church ern Baptist Theological Seminary. He they want to believe them. Very few compelling. In so doing, he glories in the also serves as executive director of the Mormon converts become convinced by ancient mysteries of Mormon cosmology Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical rational arguments of the prophetic office and eschatology: from a God and a God- Engagement. Dr. Moore is the author of Joseph Smith. Indeed, Mormon mis- dess who produce offspring to a future of The Kingdom of Christ: The New sionaries don’t ask one to do so; instead in which deified humans rule a vast Evangelical Perspective (Crossway, relying on a “burning in the bosom” that cosmos. Newell makes clear that he isn’t 2004). He is also a contributing editor the claims of Smith are true. simply convinced by Smith’s claims; he is of Touchstone magazine. To understand the draw of Mormon- convinced because he loves the picture of 70 reality they portray. allure of falsehood is because falsehood is This should come as no surprise to parasitic on the truth. We need not just ask evangelicals who have read the Apostle whether Mormons believe things that are Paul’s revelation of the roots of human untrue and dangerous; they do. We must idolatry in the first chapter of Romans. ask also why they believe these things, and Fallen humans have affections and counter them with the revealed truth. inclinations that they then prop up with Latter-day Saints do not need an beliefs, convincing themselves that their unbiblical and unsatisfying vision of systems are true. This could not be clearer Christian hope that is not much more with Mormonism, which is in reality little than an eternal choir practice. Instead, more than an Americanized version of a our LDS neighbors (and all of us) need Canaanite fertility cult. With this the case, to hear of the biblical glory of a restored evangelicals should take more than a scat- universe in which human beings will rule tershot approach to knocking down Mor- with Christ over all things, a universe in mon claims (although this is necessary). which nature itself is freed from the curse We must also present a counter-story to and in which human friendship, love, and the Mormon story: one that resonates with community continue and grow forever. the beauty of truth and holiness. Latter-day Saints do not need to hear of Evangelical “how-to” sermons are not a creation stance that piecemeal stands going to reach our LDS neighbors. Neither in the gaps left by Darwinism. Instead, are anti-theological churches that major Mormons (and all of us) need to hear of a on Christian experience and piety discon- beautiful and resonant biblical narrative nected from doctrinal content. Instead, of creation that explains the meaning we must present the gospel the way the of the universe and our place in it. LDS apostles did in the aftermath of Pente- families don’t just need to hear that we cost: as a “mystery” that now explains are pro-family. They need to understand everything in terms of God’s purposes that we are pro-family because the family in Jesus Christ. For an example of how reflects the Fatherhood of God (Eph 3:14), to proclaim the gospel to Mormons, we a Fatherhood that finds its meaning not in should pay attention to Paul’s proclama- pre-mortal spirit babies but in the sonship tion of the gospel to a cultural milieu of Jesus Christ (Rom 8:15). that closely resembled that of Salt Lake Yes, we need apologetics directed City: the pagan enclave of Ephesus. Paul toward Mormons. And, whatever some presented Jesus as the key to understand- evangelical leaders may say, we must ing God’s cosmic plan, as the reason for not back away from the sad reality that human existence, human worship, human Mormonism is not even remotely Chris- fatherhood, even human sexuality. Paul tian. But we must remember that we will did not shy away from speaking of what not convince Mormons with rational we intuitively seem to know is true: that arguments alone. This means we cannot there is an ancient warfare of which the rely on piecemeal attempts to point out affairs of human beings are only a part. discrepancies in the Book of Mormon, or The apostle understood that for the archeological proofs against the Nephite Ephesians, and for the Mormons, and civilization, or philosophical holes in indeed for all of us outside of Christ, the Mormon cosmology. All of these things 71 are important, but we must remember longing within us for this story. That’s that, deep within their hearts, Mormons because it is true. And more than that, it know that Joseph Smith is a fraud. They, is the truth, and the way, and the life. That like we before conversion, are “suppress- is good news for Latter-day Saints, and for ing the truth” (Rom 1:18). forgiven Canaanites like us. The Spirit can conquer this kind of deception, and he does so through SBJT: Can you provide any reflections the word of truth. This does not mean on recent dialogue that has taken place proof-text argumentation, necessarily. between some evangelicals and Mor- It does mean presenting the big picture mons? of Scripture, tying it together in the pin- R. Philip Roberts: The excitement began nacle of all truth, Jesus of Nazareth. This in the fall of 2004. For the first time since is not the subjective, irrational “burning D. L. Moody spoke there over a century in the bosom” of our Mormon mission- ago, the story line ran, a leading evan- ary friends. But let’s remember where gelical was asked by representatives of they found the “burning in the bosom” the LDS Church to address an assembly language. of religious leaders and assorted members When Jesus was walking with the of the general public in the historic LDS dejected disciples to Emmaus, he took Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. On a Sunday them through all of the Scriptures, show- evening in November, Ravi Zacharias ing them how the Christ was the focus took the podium in the famed venue to of them all. After he left them, they said speak on the particularly appropriate to one another: “Did not our hearts burn topic of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. within us while he talked to us on the This unique event apparently was the road, while he opened to us the Scrip- brainchild of “Standing Together”—an tures?” (Luke 24:32, ESV) This was not, ad hoc ecumenical Mormon-evangeli- and is not, the anti-propositional relativ- cal alliance led by former LDS member ism of postmodern epistemology, nor is and Baptist pastor, Greg Johnson, and it the irrational mysticism of New Age BYU religion professor, Robert L. Millet. R. Philip Roberts is President of occultism. It is the human heart created Millet and Johnson have been traveling Midwestern Baptist Theological Semi- in the image of God, freed by the Spirit, the country together for some few years nary in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to resonating with the truth. This is what hosting town hall meetings and listening this he served as Professor of Missions the apostle John means when he writes sessions together with LDS and evangeli- and Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist that we know the spirit of truth from cal audiences.