Bookstore Home > Conference Proceedings > 2003 > 2003 FAIR Conference CDs

2003 FAIR Conference Proceedings (15 CDs)

15 Audio CDs at a Discount:

1) Matthew Roper: "NephiÆs Neighbors: Some LDS Perspectives on Book of Mormon Peoples & Pre-Columbian Populations."

LDS scholars overwhelmingly agree that there were other indigenous people in the New World when the Lehites arrived. Critics claim that such a belief is contrary to the official LDS position (at worst), or contrary to all the teachings of early General Authorities (at best). Matthew RoperÆs presentation demonstrates that many early LDS were open to the possibility that there were already people in the Americas prior to the coming of Book of Mormon peoples.

2) John Tvedtnes: "The Charge of Racism in the Book of Mormon."

Some critics have claimed that the Book of Mormon teaches "racism," as demonstrated in the use of such terms such as "black" and "white." John Tvedtnes dispels such misreadings and explains how the Nephites would have understood such terminology.

3) Trent Stephens: "Evolution and Latter-day Saint Theology: the Tree of Life and DNA."

"Creationism" or evolution? Trent Stephens explains the ChurchÆs officially neutral position on the issue, and why faithful Latter-day Saints can accept evolution and still remain faithful believers in the scriptures.

4) Brant Gardner: "Monotheism, Messiah, and Mormon's Book."

The 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon refers to Mary as the "Mother of God." Current editions have been changed to read the "Mother of the Son of God." Critics claim that Joseph SmithÆs views developed as time passed while Gardner argues that the original 1830 usage was correct based on Lehite terminology.

Highlighted are the religious reforms that were underway in Lehi's time. It is made clear that the Book of Mormon is not, in fact, a nineteenth-century book reflecting Joseph Smith's theology.

Lehi's understanding of God followed his inherited understanding of one God of Israel. Just as in the Old World, the presence of Jesus Christ as the Son of God necessitated an alteration of the definition of monotheism. Restoring the 1830 readings for such texts as 1 Nephi 11:18 ("mother of God" in 1830, "mother of the son of God" after 1837) shows how Nephite religion handled the transition from God to Godhead.

5) Roger R. & Helen Ekins, "Defending Zion: The California Mormon Newspaper War of 1856-57."

During the early years of Mormons in Utah, many newspapers throughout the country wrote scathing editorials about the Latter-day Saints. This presentation recounts some of these nasty editorials as well as the rebuttals written by George Q. Cannon.

The Ekins give what could best be called a performance in which they take sides in the California Mormon Newspaper War of 1856 and 1857. The polemics leveled at the Church by the editor of a California newspaper was not only howlingly funny to the audience, but the presentation served to show that little has changed since then.

6) George Potter/Richard Wellington: "Lehi In The Wilderness: 81 New Evidences Documenting the Book of Mormon Is a True History."

George's interest in archaeology began as a LDS missionary in the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia. After a year at BYU and his mission, George returned to his home state of California and put aside his amateur archaeology interest. He graduated with high honors from the University of California at San Diego, and two years later received a master's degree from the University of California at Berkeley. On leaving the university he became a certified public accountant, and joined one of the Big 5 CPA firms. Later he entered management and consulting, two professions which have taken him to over 50 countries, including a five-year stay in Zurich, Switzerland. For the last ten years he has owned Bear River Training and Consultancy, a training, e-learning and financial services company located in Saudi Arabia. It was while exploring the deserts of Arabia that his interest in archaeology was rekindled. He has lectured at universities in the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. George is married to Susan Jenson Potter, and together they have ten children. Besides co-authoring a book, he has produced eight films on his Book of Mormon research. He also researched and co-authored the book Discovering the Valley of Lemuel: Bountiful and 79 Other Reasons Why First Nephi Is A True History.

7) Michael R. Ash and Kevin L. Barney, "Apologetics 101."

What are some of the tactics used by critics of the Church? What are their motives, and how should we respond to them? What are the sources from which LDS apologists can cull information for counter-arguments? Ash and Barney give outlines and basic suggestions to those who are beginning their journey into LDS apologetics.

This informative presentation also discusses logical flaws used by critics of the Church. The presentation is tempered by a warning to avoid a few treasured "Mormon myths."

8) D. Jeffrey Meldrum, "Evolution and Latter-day Saint Theology: the Tree of Life and DNA."

9) Michael Rhodes: "The Book of Abraham: Dealing with the Critics"

Ever since the rediscovery of the Joseph Smith Papyri, critics have charged that Egyptology has found the Book of Abraham to be fraudulent. Michael Rhodes demonstrates in this technical but very informative presentation the weakness of such arguments and shows how the critics have failed to give Joseph Smith credit in areas where Joseph got it right.

10) Roger R. Keller, "The Grace of Apologetics."

A one-time Protestant minister himself, Roger Keller recognizes that God loves and inspires those outside the LDS faith. Apologetics, he explains, should be about dialogue and not about arguing.

In this moving presentation, Keller also recounts his involvement as a non-Mormon with the NCCJ (the National Council of Christians and Jews) and their review of The God Makers, which he described as "religious pornography." He relates other experiences and offers suggestions when dialoging with those with whom we disagree.

11) Gene A. Sessions, "Shining New Light on the Mountain Meadows Massacre."

What happened at Mountain Meadows and why? Was Brigham Young at fault? Gene Sessions answers these questions and more in this hard-hitting and balanced presentation.

Sessions looks at the subject of two new books: Will Bagley's Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Mountain Meadows Massacre and Sally Denton's American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows. While Sessions felt Bagley's book demonstrated good research and knowledge of the sources, he said the interpretation and analysis was lacking. In regard to Denton's book, he could not find any redeeming value.

12) Craig L. Foster, "The Unchanging Ways of Anti-Mormons."

Some things never change. Craig Foster shows that many of the charges made by anti-Mormons today are simply rehashes of anti-Mormon arguments of yesterday—and of early romance novels!

Foster also discusses Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith and neatly places the book where it belongs: among other similar poorly researched anti-Mormon literature of past and present.

13) Armand Mauss: "LDS Church and the Race Issue: A Study in Misplaced Apologetics"

Armand Mauss' study of race issues is the fruit of forty years' work. His presentation proved to be quite up to providing insightful answers during the question and answer period.

14) Daniel C. Peterson, "Random Reflections on the Passing Scene."

Perennial favorite, Dan Peterson reflects on his experiences with critics, and atheists, and how he continues to find evidence for the reality of God and the truthfulness of the Gospel in this off-the-cuff presentation that is at once thought provoking and incredibly funny.

Peterson believes that if we believe something is true, then it is worth defending. However, apologetics is not about winning points.

Other areas of discussion deal with the inviting target both Christian religion and the Church are by the secular press; bias against scholars who profess faith; a focus on the belief that religion leads to violence and judgementalism (especially since 9/11); the value of religious faith that never makes it into the media headlines and the many books including Evangelical books on Mormon history that do not address serious Mormon scholarship on Mormon history.

15) Margaret Blair Young, "Black Latter-day Saints: A Faith-FULL History."

Young gave a spiritually moving presentation with a little help from her partner Darius Gray. Her presentation on the faithful black Saints of the early Church was an excellent response to charges of racism in the Church.

Title: 2003 FAIR Conference Proceedings (15 CDs)

Your Price: Only $74.25

FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.

Last Updated [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Copyright © 2006 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research. All Rights Reserved.

You can send comments/suggestions using our contact page.