FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Plan of salvation
Plan of salvation
Topics
Premortal existence
Premortal existence
Summary: Some Christians claim that the LDS doctrine of a "premortal existence" is pagan, unchristian, or unbiblical, and therefore false.Mortal existence
Original sin
Summary: Why don't Latter-day Saints believe the doctrine of "original sin" like the rest of Christianity? Do Mormons believe that the Fall of Adam was a "fortunate event?" Is the Church wrong to teach that little children are free from the taint of original sin?Birth control
Summary: What is the stance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on birth control? The General Handbook of Instructions states: "Husbands must be considerate of their wives, who have a great responsibility not only for bearing children but also for caring for them through childhood…. Married couples should seek inspiration from the Lord in meeting their marital challenges and rearing their children according to the teachings of the gospel."
Mormon doctrine regarding our post-mortal existence
Jump to Subtopic:
- The Mormon concept of three degrees of glory
- Mormon belief in the deification of Man
- Mormon views regarding the resurrection
- The Sons of Perdition
The Mormon concept of three degrees of glory
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Mormon concept of Hell?
- Question: What did the Jews and early Christians really believe with regard to a three-part heaven?
- Question: With respect the the three degrees of glory, what does the word "telestial" mean?
- Question: Do the Latter-day Saint "Three Degrees of Glory" have a basis in the Bible?
- Question: Do Mormons believe that there is there progression between the three degrees of glory?
- Question: Did Joseph Smith derive the idea of "three degrees of glory" from Emanuel Swedenborg's book, Heaven and its Wonders and Hell?
- Question: Do Mormons believe that everyone else will be "damned"?
Mormon belief in the deification of Man
Jump to Subtopic:
- Gospel Topics: "Latter-day Saints see all people as children of God in a full and complete sense"
- Question: Do Latter-day Saints believe that they will one day 'supplant' God?
- Question: What were the views of early Christians on the deification of man?
- Question: Was the Latter-day Saint concept of deification derived from Greek philosophy?
- Question: What Biblical scriptures discuss the doctrine of the deification of man?
- Question: If a person faithfully practices Mormonism during this life, do they become a god after they die?
- Question: Do Mormon men believe that they will become "gods of their own planets" and rule over others?
- Question: If God was once like us, does that mean that God was once a sinner?
- Question: What do Mormons believe regarding the nature of angels?
- Theosis
The Mormon view of the resurrection
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: Do Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance?
- Question: Do Mormons believe that we will have blood in our bodies when we are resurrected or will it be just flesh and bone?
- Question: Does the statement in 1 Corinthians 15:50 that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven mean that resurrected beings cannot enter heaven?
- Question: Do Mormons believe in the "rapture"?
Sons of Perdition
- Question: What must one do in order to become a son of perdition?
- Question: Will sons of perdition be resurrected?
- Question: Will the sons of perdition be given another chance to achieve celestial glory?
- Question: Are there women who will be among the sons of perdition?
The Mormon concept of three degrees of glory
Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: What is the Mormon concept of Hell?
- Question: What did the Jews and early Christians really believe with regard to a three-part heaven?
- Question: With respect the the three degrees of glory, what does the word "telestial" mean?
- Question: Do the Latter-day Saint "Three Degrees of Glory" have a basis in the Bible?
- Question: Do Mormons believe that there is there progression between the three degrees of glory?
- Question: Did Joseph Smith derive the idea of "three degrees of glory" from Emanuel Swedenborg's book, Heaven and its Wonders and Hell?
- Question: Do Mormons believe that everyone else will be "damned"?
Sons of Perdition
- Question: What must one do in order to become a son of perdition?
- Question: Will sons of perdition be resurrected?
- Question: Will the sons of perdition be given another chance to achieve celestial glory?
- Question: Are there women who will be among the sons of perdition?
When are children capable of sin?
Summary: The Bible is claimed to contradict the Book of Mormon teaching that children cannot sin under eight years of age. The Bible is claimed to place sin at the point of conception. Critic Walter Martin writes, "Anyone who thinks that children under age eight cannot sin has not visited the classrooms of today's schools."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Agency
Some have theological, scriptural, philosophical, or scientific objections to the Church's teachings about agency. Click the links below for faithful answers to these questions.