10/07/2025
The following is a slightly edited version of the newsletter we just sent out prompted by two recent events.
On September 27, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson (shown in the picture), passed away at the age of 101 years old. Nelson was the 17th LDS Church president and held that position beginning in early 2018. A distinguished medical doctor (holding both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees), Nelson became the oldest LDS apostle as well as the oldest president of the LDS Church.
Christians ought to be forthright in their criticisms of Mormonism, including fair-minded criticisms of specific policies or claims made by Nelson, without engaging in character assassination or mean-spirited representations. Unfortunately, some people (whether Christians or not) on social media have posted unflattering memes portraying Nelson in a sinister manner or have made extremely harsh comments about him. Such responses to Nelson’s passing do not help anyone in the LDS Church recognize the errors of Mormonism or come to know Christ truly. It ought to be possible to express in a civil and gracious manner our reasons for viewing the LDS Church as a false religion.
The very next day, September 28, a man identified by authorities as Thomas Jacob Sanford drove a pickup truck into a church building of the LDS Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan—just two hours from our office—during their Sunday morning meeting. Reportedly, he shot people in the church, killing two persons, then set fire to the building, as a result of which at least two others were killed. According to our most current information, authorities say that Sanford was motivated by hatred for the LDS Church, apparently sparked by a bad relationship years earlier with a Mormon woman in Utah.
I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that what we do at IRR is motivated by love, not hate. Our critiques of Mormonism, the Jehovah’s Witness religion, and other modern religious movements that deviate from historic Christianity are driven by love for God, love for the people misled in these religious movements, and a firm commitment to the truth. Opposition to false religion is compatible with genuine compassion and concern for the people who are being misled. This does not mean speaking disrespectfully and harshly about people and then merely claiming to be motivated by love. It means showing genuine love for people by speaking in a civil tone, with gentleness especially toward rank-and-file members who may not know better or who (as is sometimes the case) were disillusioned by their past experiences in traditional Christian churches. It also means making the effort to understand these other religions fairly and accurately and to engage their claims with well-evidenced facts and a sound handling of biblical teaching.
The resources we make freely available on our website exemplify these standards. For example, the article “Love, Honesty, and the Defense of the Faith” begins with a list of 18 points from two chapters of the LDS curriculum manual Gospel Principles with which we fully agree. If you’re not familiar with this article, it explains in some detail what motivates us in our efforts to talk about matters of faith with members of the LDS religion (and with others as well). Another article in the same series on Gospel Principles and the Bible, “Mormonism and Jesus Christ,” sets out a list of twelve points about Jesus Christ on which Mormons and Christians are in agreement before summarizing ten LDS doctrines about Christ that are not biblically sound. I should also mention a newer article on the site, “How Do You Know That? Understanding and Responding to What Others Believe.” This article, which was originally a teaching article sent out with one of our newsletters, explains in some practical ways how to go about engaging what others believe in a responsible, fair-minded way. I will provide links to these three articles in the comments below.
Speaking of teaching articles, my most recent one is a short outline entitled “Developing a Constructively Critical Christian Mind.” This outline consists of several groups of bullet points on how to grow as a Christian thinker. You can get a copy of it by signing up for our newsletter free of charge. You may do so via our website, IRR.org, or by mail at IRR, 550 West Street, Cedar Springs, MI 49319.
Please pray for us at IRR to continue responding to false religions in a godly, compassionate manner, to speak the truth in love, so as to honor the real Jesus for his glory and for the blessing of those who need to know him.
