The Controversial History of Mormonism Tackled in the New Book ‘A Reason for Faith’

By Derek Welch --
19 May 2016 --

Navigating the controversial parts of LDS doctrine and Church history.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in the 1820s in Western New York. Smith was said to possess a seer stone, looking into which he was able to find lost items and buried treasure. This is just one of the controversies that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has been trying to tackle for a long time.

The Controversial History of Mormonism Tackled in the New Book ‘A Reason for Faith'[/tweetthis]

The age of the Internet has provided for the discussion and debate of the historical and doctrinal questions that were not present in the LDS Church curriculum, and that were mostly found in the academic journal's scholarly articles. When the LDS Church members come across this information online that they are not familiar with, they feel surprised, betrayed, and even angry.

A Reason for Faith - May 1, 2016 — A Reason for Faith – May 1, 2016

Deseret Book, the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher, owned by the Church itself, has in the past tried to provide answers to many controversial questions surrounding the religion via various books. The latest from them is called, A Reason for Faith: Navigating LDS Doctrine and Church History, a book put together by Laura Harris Hales, a freelance copy editor and author. Hales is the copy editor of Mormon Historical Studies.

According to Hales, she started working on the book to provide answers to some of the questions that her children asked her regarding their religion, that she was ill-equipped to answer at the time. Hales admits that most of those questions were asked by some of her children who got blindsided by things that contradicted traditional perceptions about religious topics. Once she realized that the new generation is looking for logical and reasonable answers, she assembled a team of prominent LDS scholars and started on the book.

4 of 5 stars to A Reason for Faith by Laura Harris Hales https://t.co/JT7zYfm96P
— Bryan Sebesta (@sebestabryan) May 3, 2016

Hales says that when existing beliefs are stretched, people may grieve for the loss of perceptions that they held dear for an eternity. However, they may be consoled by the fact that the new understandings are based upon accurate teachings.

A Reason for Faith is a well-researched book. The depth of knowledge possessed by Hales and her team, and their unwavering faith towards their religion, enabled them to share their perspectives, reliable details, and context to both LDS doctrine and Church history. The book indeed shatters many disillusions, however, it speaks the truth.

According to Walker Wright who reviewed Hales's book for the Mormon blog Times and Seasons, A Reason for Faith is a welcome addition to the growing list of Mormon pastoral works.