The credits list people associated with the production of the video. There is one section of the credits, entitled Special Thanks, that lists people who provided commentary on the video.
It may be helpful to those viewing the video to know a little more about some of these people—more than what you will discover through the video itself. We are sure that the video's producers, who want people to know more about the "true" Joseph Smith, won't mind if others know more about the people they have selected as experts on Mormonism.
Individuals are highlighted, below, in alphabetical order.
Marvin Cowan
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Marvin is the director or owner of Utah Christian Publications. This organization sells exclusivly anti Mormon books and material. Many of the books sold by UCP are written by the other people listed in the credits of this DVD.
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Scott Gallatin
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Scott Gallatin is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Finger Lakes in Farmington, New York.
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Dennis and Rauni Higley
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Dennis and Rauni Higley are anti-Mormons living in Sandy, Utah. Rauni is originally a Finnish citizen and served as a Mormon missionary in Finland. Dennis is an American who also served as a Mormon missionary in Finland. They eventually met and were married in Utah. While working as a translator for the LDS Church, Rauni began to doubt its teachings. Her husband eventually followed suit. Together, they left the Church in the 1980s and became Evangelical Christians. They later established HIS (He is Savior) Ministries.
- The Higleys have been highly influenced by the Evangelical countercult arguments of the 1980s. During Rauni's stay in Finland in 1984, for example, she was instrumental in the inception of a highly sensationalistic article on the Mormons in a religious magazine. The material was heavily drawn from arguments in the book and movie The God Makers, with in-temple screenshots provided as illustrations. Some of the article’s statements convey the mood: "The truth is kept secret on purpose. It is not meant but for the few and chosen, for Mormonism is a pagan religion tied to secret doctrines, mysteries, and occultism. On its most secret levels, a Luciferian doctrine is unveiled as the background...Mormonism is based on a secret for the simple reason of the truth being too gruesome for a normal, ordinary person. Joseph Smith founded his religion based on completely mindboggling tales."
- —Kim Östman, "An International Perspective: Opposition to Mormonism in Finland, 1845-2006" (presentation at the 2006 FAIR Conference).
In 2004 the Higleys wrote a thirty-page booklet, The Truth about Mormonism, published by The Berean Call, a ministry outlet closely associated with Dave Hunt.
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Tim and Karen Howard
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Info
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Dave Hunt
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Dave Hunt has been actively involved in the self-styled countercult movement for over two decades. He is the coauthor, with Ed Decker, of both the original and the "updated and expanded" version of The God Makers. According to common marketing hype, he is "an internationally recognized cult expert." The 1984 edition says he's the author of 10 books in 20 languages, and the 1994 edition gives him "20-plus books [with] combined sales of more than 3 million copies."
This, of course, still does not answer who Mr. Hunt really is—what credentials he has to speak to Christianity in general and Mormonism in particular. Mr. Hunt's lack of credentials have been problematic to many, if not to the video's producers.
In commenting on the "problem of authority and credibility" within the Christian countercult movement (of which Search for the Truth is a product), one non-LDS scholar comments specifically on Dave Hunt's place within the movement:
- Robert Wise begins his critique of The Seduction of Christianity in what seems an obvious, if often overlooked, place: who are Dave Hunt and Thomas Aloysius McMahon? Noting that "Hunt and McMahon define truth in a way peculiar to themselves," Wise continues: "We are never told who Hunt and McMahon are nor what credentials they have. Apparentlyl Hunt is a self-certified authority on cults" (1986: 40). DeMar and Leithart complain similarly: "That Dave Hunt, a man with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, is now the most prominent theologian of the dispensationalist movement...indicates the extent of the crisis" (1988: xvii).
- —Douglas E. Cowan, Bearing False Witness: An Introduction to the Christian Countercult (Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 2003), 199.
Mr. Hunt's work relative to The God Makers was characterized by the non-Mormon US National Council of Christians and Jews as follows:
- "The Godmakers" ... does not, in our opinion, fairly portray the Mormon Church, Mormon belief, or Mormon history. It makes extensive use of 'half-truth', faulty generalizations, erroneous interpretations, and sensationalism…not reflective of the genuine spirit of the Mormon faith...It appears to us to be a basically unfair and untruthful presentation of what Mormons really believe and practice.
- — National Council of Christians and Jews, "Programs in Pluralism," April 1994.off-site
Mr. Hunt believes that his version of Christianity is the only true version, and that all those who disagree are following religions that have their roots in Satanism. Included in his cadre of false religions (besides Mormonism) is Roman Catholicism. According to one non-Mormon observer,
- [Hunt] presents the darkest possible version of Roman Catholic history, laying responsibility squarely at Rome's door for, among other things, the rise of Nazism in Germany (elsewhere he claims Hinduism is responsible; cf. Hunt 1983); the implementation of the Final Solution (Hunt 1994:265-93); and the Ustaschi (Croat) massacres of Yugoslavian Serbs in teh early 1940s (Hunt 1994: 297-307). For Hunt...the syllogism is simple: Because there were at least nominal Catholics involved in these attrocities, therefore the Roman Catholic Church as an institution supported and encouraged their actions--a convenient, monocausal explanation for these various attrocities.
- —Douglas E. Cowan, Bearing False Witness: An Introduction to the Christian Countercult (Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 2003), 187.
Hunt's intolerant views don't extend solely to those in other religions. The same author goes on to describe his overtly misogynistic tendendencies:
- For Hunt there is no doubt that the Roman Catholic Church plays a pivotal role in the end-times drama. She is the "Great Whore of Babylon," allegedly prophesied in the Revelation to St. John (17:3-6)—the "woman who rides the beast." For Hunt, as well, there is no doubt why it is a woman who rides the beast.
- Worldwide, today's women are asserting themselves as never before in history. Contrary to popular opinion, "women instigate more domestic violence [and] hit men more frequently and more severely [than men hit them]" and violence is far more frequent in lesbian relationships than between husband and wife. Women are taking over what were once men's jobs, and there is a growing acceptance of women at the highest levels of leadershipin business, government, and religion. Only God could have given John, 1900 years ago, a vision that so fits out day—a woman in control. From current trends, it seems inevitable that a woman must ride the beast. (Hunt 1994: 456; glosses and emphasis in the original)
- There are two points of interest here, one methodological, the other substantive. First, while arguments like this surface from time to time, Hunt's [sic] takes his citation of domestic violence statistics from USA Today (June 29, 1994; Hunt 1994: 541 n.20) rather than a recognized research source. In addition, as is often the case, Hunt misrepresents the reference he does use. On that date, USA Today published three articles related to domestic violence—none of which contain the statistics Hunt cites, and two of which contain information in direct contradition to it. Second, one is led to wonder about Hunt's thinly veiled misogynism, given that his chief candidate for the Whore of Bablylon is a church that has yet to ordain its first woman priest.
- —Douglas E. Cowan, Bearing False Witness: An Introduction to the Christian Countercult (Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 2003), 187-188.
To read more:
- Gilbert W. Scharffs, "The Truth About 'The Godmakers'" (a line-by-line refutation) FAIR link
- Craig L. Foster, "Old Themes and Stereotypes Never Die: The Unchanging Ways of Anti-Mormons," FAIR link
- Robert Brown and Rosemary Brown, They Lie In Wait to Deceive: Vol. 4 FAIR link
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Scott Johnson
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Scott Johnson is the "Producer" for Living Hope Ministries, a "Ministry," lead by Joel Kramer, which produces anti Mormon DVDs.
To read more
- Brant Gradner, "Behind the Mask, Behind the Curtain: Uncovering the Illusion (Review of The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon FAIR link
- David E. Bokovoy, "The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon: Still Losing the Battle: Review of The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon by Joel P. Kramer and Scott R. Johnson," FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): 3–19. off-site wiki
- Louis Midgley, "Orders of Submission: Review of "Essays on Mormonism," Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 9/2 (Summer 2005): 1–81.," FARMS Review 18/2 (2006): 189–228. off-site wiki
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Joel Kramer
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Joel Kramer is the Director of Living Hope Ministries from Brigham City, Utah. Their mission statement is: "Living Hope Ministries exists to share biblical truths with Mormons, and to educate and equip Christian individuals, ministries and churches to reach Mormons for the biblical Jesus Christ. " Living Hope Ministries have produced several anti Mormon DVDs.
Joel has been recently arrested for disorderly conduct as he refused to comply with a police officer as he was allegedly unlawfully video taping an LDS pagent. Of course just being arrested may not mean anything, but it certainly was important to the writers of this DVD when talking about Joseph Smith. Since it was so important to them, we thought it only fair to include it here.
To read more:
- Brant Gradner, "Behind the Mask, Behind the Curtain: Uncovering the Illusion (Review of The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon FAIR link
- David E. Bokovoy, "The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon: Still Losing the Battle: Review of The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon by Joel P. Kramer and Scott R. Johnson," FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): 3–19. off-site wiki
- Louis Midgley, "Orders of Submission: Review of "Essays on Mormonism," Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 9/2 (Summer 2005): 1–81.," FARMS Review 18/2 (2006): 189–228. off-site wiki
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Charles Larson
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Larson is the author of the well-known but deeply flawed anti-Mormon book "By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus": A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri. This book has been reviewed by LDS Egyptologists who hold degrees in the field. One reviewer summed up Larson's work:
- Larson's historical method is as follows: Invent evidence, read minds, attribute motives, misquote sources, argue from circumstantial evidence—or better yet—argue from no evidence....
- If Larson stumbles as a historian, he falls flat on his face as an Egyptologist. He betrays no knowledge of any foreign language, yet offers to guide us through Egyptian, "a unique area of study that is extremely difficult to master."
- —John Gee, "A Tragedy of Errors," p. 99.
The only qualifications listed for Larson at his publisher's web site are "former Mormon and Brigham Young University graduate." If the producers of the video can dismiss trained Egyptologists only because they are Mormon, is it reasonable to likewise dismiss critics like Larson because of his religious beliefs? Or should we add to those critical religious beliefs the fact that he is not trained in Egyptology at all? The producers willingly apply a double standard here.
To read more:
- John Gee, "A Tragedy of Errors (Review of By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri by Charles M. Larson," FARMS Review of Books 4/1 (1992): 93–119. off-site
- Michael D. Rhodes, "The Book of Abraham: Divinely Inspired Scripture (Review of By His Own Hand upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri by Charles M. Larson)," FARMS Review of Books 4/1 (1992): 120–126. off-site
- Reviews of Charles Larson
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Living Hope Ministries
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Living Hope Ministries is a Utah-based anti-Mormon ministry. They exist solely to lead Latter-day Saints out of Mormonism and to prevent other people from becoming Mormons. To accomplish their goals they have produced and distributed several anti-Mormon videos and plan on doing even more.
Their videos display the same superficiality, lack of respect, and dishonesty as Search for the Truth.
- To read more:
- Brant Gradner, "Behind the Mask, Behind the Curtain: Uncovering the Illusion (Review of The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon FAIR link
- David E. Bokovoy, "The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon: Still Losing the Battle: Review of The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon by Joel P. Kramer and Scott R. Johnson," FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): 3–19. off-site wiki
- Louis Midgley, "Orders of Submission: Review of "Essays on Mormonism," Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 9/2 (Summer 2005): 1–81.," FARMS Review 18/2 (2006): 189–228. off-site wiki
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Brian Mackert
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Brian Mackert was a member of the Allred polygamous group. His ancestors left the LDS church in 1890 with the issuing of the Manifesto ending plural marriage.
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Jon McCartney
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Jon McCartney is pastor of the First Baptist Church in Tooele, Utah.
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Floyd McElveen
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Floyd McElveen wrote a book that was distributed in Utah about 20 years ago. On the cover it says God's Word, Final, Infallible and Forever, but inside it is actually 3 different books written by Floyd: the one on the cover, The Mormon Illusion, and From Mormon Illusion to God's Love. The book was published by Gospel Truths Ministries in Grand Rapids, MI. In the author bio it says he "is the national evangelist for the Conservative Baptist Home Mission Society."
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Roger Oakland
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Roger Oakland is with Understanding the Times International. He has a number of articles at the Website including many that attack Catholics, Mormons, Muslims, science, and New Age religious movements.
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Phil Roberts
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Phil Roberts is listed as one of the authors of The Counterfeit Gospel of Mormonism, along with Francis J. Beckwith, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, and Jerald and Sandra Tanner. It was published in 1998. He wrote the part titled "Salvation." His bio says he is the "director of the Interfaith Witness Division of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention."
To read more:
- Russell C. McGregor, "Widening the Divide: The Countercult Version of Mormonism (Review of: "Salvation," In The Counterfeit Gospel of Mormonism)," FARMS Review of Books 12/1 (2000): 303–322. off-site
- Richard R. Hopkins, "Counterfeiting the Mormon Concept of God (Review of: "God," In The Counterfeit Gospel of Mormonism)," FARMS Review of Books 12/1 (2000): 215–274. off-site
- Kerry A. Shirts, "Terminating Some Terminology Problems between Evangelical Christians and Mormon Christians (Review of: "Terminology," In The Counterfeit Gospel of Mormonism)," FARMS Review of Books 12/1 (2000): 323–334. off-site
- Louis Midgley, "Cowan on the Countercult (Review of: Bearing False Witness? An Introduction to the Christian Countercult)," FARMS Review 16/2 (2004): 395–404. off-site
- Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and David M. Whitchurch, "Assessing the Countercult (Review of: Bearing False Witness? An Introduction to the Christian Countercult)," FARMS Review 17/1 (2005): 311–336. off-site
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Sandra Tanner
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Sandra Tanner and her late husband are certainly among the most prolific anti-Mormon authors. However, non-Mormon scholars of LDS issues have noted that the Tanners display a consistent bias in their work:
- [The Tanners] always assume the worst possible motives in assessing the actions of Mormon leaders, even when those leaders faced extremely complex problems with no simple solutions.... Every bit of evidence, even if it could be most plausibly presented in a positive way, is represented as yet another nail in the coffin being prepared for the Mormon Church. There is no spectrum of colors, only blacks and whites, good guys and villains in the Tanners' published writings.... The Tanners have repeatedly assumed a holier-than-thou stance, refusing to be fair in applying the same debate standards of absolute rectitude which they demand of Mormonism to their own actions, writings, and beliefs.
- —Lawrence Foster, "Career Apostates:Reflections on the Works of Jerald and Sandra Tanner," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 17 no. 2 (Summer 1984), 45–46.
Sandra Tanner's research is agenda-driven and unreliable. Sincere seekers of the truth about Latter-day Saint beliefs and history deserve more reliable sources.
To read more:
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Chip Thompson
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Chip Thompson director of Tri-Grace Ministries in Ephraim, UT. Tri-Grace Ministries runs a college house facility, which is "intended to be safe haven for all Christian students who attend Snow College." His advisory board includes:
- Bill Mckeever, (Mormon Research Ministries, Sandy, UT)
- Luke Wilson, (Institute for Religious Research, Grand Rapids, MI)
- Keith Walker, (Evidence Ministries, San Antonio, TX)
- Bob Betts, (Board Member, Concerned Christians, Mesa, AZ)
- Timothy Oliver, (Utah Director, Watchman Fellowship, Santaquin, UT)
It is curious that a facility for college students should have a board composed entirely of professional anti-Mormons.
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John Whitcomb
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Info
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