<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT THIS BOOK?
Review: A lot of people come to the misconception that Jospeh Smith wrote The Book of Mormon. This is incorrect, Jospeh Smith only translated The Book of Mormon with the power of God. The Book of Mormon or the plates that brought forth The Book of Mormon were written by ancient prophets in ancient America between 600 B.C. and 400 A.D. I testify to you that The Book of Mormon was translated through Joseph Smith by the power of God and without God, this 18 year-old could not have translated The Book of Mormon. Therefore, The Book of Mormon is true.
Rating:
Summary: Ashamed Of Joesph ( Finally a piece that hits reality)
Review: Being once a member that walked out after seeing so much of the items described in this book, I find myself excited that this message would get out. Much luck Russia the LDS church is crumbling. Inside inactivity of the church is not publicised. A church that is in a identity crisis. It knows that it has been duped but it fears loosing the social connection coupled with the peer pressure. All Members should read this book along with a "New Approach to the Book of Mormon".
Rating:
Summary: Crane relies on logic and rational thought.
Review: I enjoyed the book because it demonstrated a great truth of what one can observe from looking at Mormonism at this current time. I believe that Mormonism has been downplaying Joseph Smith for quite some time and their some of their more peculiar doctrines. For example I was in the North Visitors center at Temple Square a few days ago and I asked to see the film "Man's Search for Happiness" and the missionary laughed at me. When I asked her why, she told me that the film was "funny" and that it was "too old" to take seriously. But I thought that it represented a clear picture of Mormon beliefs and it was only from 1986 (it wasn't really out of style or anything). This is just indicative of what Crane was demonstrating in his book and I believe that any thinking person can see this going on in the LDS church today. That is that Mormonism is leaving their roots in an attempt to appear more like mainstream Christianity. I don't deny that the LDS church is going faster than any other church but that still doesn't dismiss the facts about Joseph Smith such as him altering the accounts of his First Vision or writing in the Book of Mormon that polygamy is abominable before the Lord (Jacob 2:24) however he later prophesies that the Lord was the one who gives many wives (D&C 132:1,39). What is the thinking person supposed to see in things such as these? I firmly believe that if Joseph Smith was not a true Prophet, that means that Mormonism is a falsehood. And to any Mormon who is critical of Crane's work I would say, look into Joseph Smith and attempt to refute his work Logically rather than emotionally. State facts in response to his book. I think that Crane hit the nail on the head when he said that when a person starts to think logically then they are on the road to Biblical Christianity. - Jason Johnston
Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting Account of the Life and Works of Joseph Smith
Review: The Cranes present a revealing examination of the life of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, whose members are best known as Mormons. They document the deemphasis of Joseph Smith in the public presentations of the church. This shift in focus is not surprising when you consider that his doctrines include the outrageous statement that dark skin is a curse from God. They also illustrate many of the events of Joseph Smith's life, as well as examine a number of his unfulfilled prophecies. The truth could hardly be topped by any work of fiction. Many of the Cranes' references come straight from the Latter-Day Saints' own publications. Particularly compelling was the comparison between the humble and meek life of Christ and the violent and proud life of Joseph Smith. This book will not reveal much that is new to those who are familiar with the history of the Mormon church(es), but it is a good introduction for those who think that the LDS church is a group that is not too different than other denominations. I have also heard good things about Charles Crane's book comparing the Bible with Mormon scriptures, and Jerald and Sandra Tanner's exhaustive works on the LDS church have also been recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for the Serious Researcher of Mormonism
Review: The first two chapters of Ashamed of Joseph caused me to think that the authors truly had a heart for the misled Mormon people and were honestly concerned for their spiritual condition. However, after the second chapter, it became vividly apparent that the book was written for the sole purpose to viciously and scathingly mock the Mormon founder and "Prophet". The Cranes seemed to be having a fine time doing so. Based on some of their comments in the book, I could envision them sitting around the computer, father and son having a fine time trying to outdo each other in wit and satire. Instead of simply presenting the facts about the Mormon "Prophet", and allowing the reader to come to his own conclusions about the foundations of Mormonism, the book was riddled with sarcastic, mean-spirited comments about Joseph Smith. Although there are historical facts presented in the book, some of the necessary information is suspiciously left out. For example, the theory that Smith plagiarized the Book of Mormon from a contemporary named Spaulding was presented as irrefutable truth. The Cranes failed to mention, however, that there are serious doubts that the Spaulding manuscript ever existed! All of the evidence regarding the manuscript is sketchy at best. None of this important information is given in Ashamed of Joseph (By the way, the phrase "ashamed of Joseph" is used so redundantly throughout the book as to make one want to pitch it across the room every time it appears.) After much research into the character of Joseph Smith, I'm confident enough to say that he was certainly no "Saint". After reading the Cranes' book, however, I can also say the same about them. They certainly had their own agenda in the writing of this book, and it wasn't a very loving, or Christian one. There are no illustrations of any Mormon leaders, followers, or other Mormon points of interest. The authors made sure to include photos of themselves, however. For the serious researcher into Mormon history, I would definitely not recommend this work
<< 1 >>
| 
