Response to claims made in an insiders view of mormon origins by grant palmer summary. The following very interesting memorandum was received on 5th april 20 from grant h. I cannot speak to grant s claims directly but, leaving mormonsim has a social cost and i do think there are some who prefer to play along rather than risk familyfriend relationships. He has been very helpful to me and to the group at mormonthink almost since its foundation when i asked him some questions about his book an insiders view of mormon. A celebration of the life and work of grant palmer mormon. Palmer has an incorrect view of what constitutes new mormon history and uses the idea to incorrectly interpret mormon history.
He claims that joseph smith did not have the power to translate anything and, therefore, not just the book of mormon but also his bible translations and the book of abraham were fabricated albeit in some kind of inspired way. Lds leaders who admit mormonism isnt true life after ministry. Palmer asserts that he was disfellowshipped from the lds church in december 2004 as a result of his book, an insiders view of mormon origins, which was skeptical of mormonisms claimed origins being disfellowshipped results in probational loss of some church privileges without being forced to leave the church. To me, restoring christ is important because so many postmormons abandon god and christ when they abandon mormonism. An insiders view of mormon origins quotes by grant h. Grant hart palmer august 17, 1940 september 25, 2017 was an american educator best. I have received a number of inquiries from people seeking additional information and clarification on my moroni and the golden pot chapter, found in, an insiders view of mormon origins. He has excellent credentials, and the book is wellsourced. Palmer, is a solid overview of the documented facts surrounding joseph smith jr. Grant is a renowned lds historian, and is author of an insiders view of mormon origins, which is referred to in the following memorandum. Palmer, an insiders view of mormon origins salt lake city. The incongruence between palmer s approach and new mormon history is striking. Palmer threetime director of lds institutes of religion in california and utah, former instructor at the church college of new zealand, an lds seminary teacher at two utahbased locations, and mormon high priest group instructor, is an informed, informative, and original study of the roots of. An insiders view of mormon genealogy and temple work don casias pt.
An insiders view of mormon origins book by grant h. Palmer, the renowned lds historian, and is shared here with his permission. During his career palmer was active in the mormon history association. Palmer, a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday. Palmer over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into mormon originsjoseph smiths early life, the book of mormon, the prophets visions, and the restoration of priesthood authority. An insiders view of mormon origins is a 2002 book about the origins of mormonism by grant h. He was excited about the new book, still surprised at how much of an impact insiders view had made and he expressed gratitude for all the support and well wishes he had received from so many people.
If you have any final questions for him, please post them here. In insiders view of mormon origins was developed during a period of time that its author worked as a teacher in the church educational system ces, and was published after. An insiders view of mormon origins by grant palmer, kurt. In classifying himself as an insider, and outlining his background in the church, many members could look at the book as a thoughtful and thoroughly researched outline of the challenges regarding the origins of the church. Grant was born the first of 7 boys on august 17, 1940 to merlin and elna hart. There are vague similarities between the two stories and since the golden pot was published in 1814, and the book of mormon was published in 1830, it has been used by critics of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormons, although it. Criticism of mormonismbooksan insiders view of mormon. As of this writing it has been validated from several reliable sources that grant palmer has acknowledged the authenticity of the memo he was indeed the author, that much is known.
An insiders view of mormon origins is a fascinating read with many compelling proofs against the claims of the church. This was first suggested in an insiders view of mormon origins written by grant h. I live near grant and went to visitbring a care package a few weeks ago. With restoring christ, grant thoughtfully challenges postmormons to give god and christ a second chance. Check back for more content and coming soon, a history of mormon expression. Three meetings with an lds general authority, 201220. This web page is dedicated to the accomplishments of the amazing and incomparable grant palmer and his dealings with the mormon church. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. The mormon religion is predicated on what are said to be historical events such as the first vision of joseph smith and the historicity of the book of mormon, which describes a detailed precolumbian history of the americas. September 25, 2017 grant palmer has passed away last night. Theres a remarkable story circulating the net in which a prominent lds general authority allegedly lost his faith due to the teachings of grant palmer, the controversial ex mormon author who was teaching seminary for years while secretly circulating some highly implausible theories of plagiarism of the book of mormon. Grant palmer s eye opening article on how the hierarchy within mormonism really operates.
Over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into mormon originsjoseph smiths early life, the book of mormon, the prophets. No, grant, thats not historyand it was certainly not written with balanced scholarship and academic integrity. An insiders view of mormon origins signature books. Please read this book if youve never considered any other point of view but your own regarding the truthfullness of the book of mormon. How can this be considered the work of a faithful insider in the church. Page 1 of 3 58 posts go to page 1, 2, 3 next previous topic next topic. John dehlin august 14, 2017 book of mormon, church history, jesus christ, joseph smith, politics, polygamy, top 10 church history 11 comments. Grant palmer my ahha moments while researching mormon.
Mormon expression podcast john larsen talks with former church educational system institute director, teacher, and author about his journey within mormonism and his view of jesus. Grant palmer, who wrote a landmark insiders critique of. Mormon stories podcast and the open stories foundation, along with a few supporters, will be holding a private event in grant palmers honor on the evening of february 15, 2017 in utah with the plan of livestreaming the event to all who are interested in showing support for grant. Mormon expression was a podcast that i ran from 2009 to 2014. He is most well known for his amazing book an insiders view of mormon origins. Moreover, when sound historical scholarship is censured purely for the sake of maintaining a religious image, there is something terribly wrong in mormondom. Grant palmer reveals stunning lds church insider information. Grant palmer is an author of mormon books, a former ces director and most importantly a friend of mine. Criticism of mormonismbooksan insiders view of mormon origins. Scholars book led to his 2004 disfellowshipment, 2010 resignation from the lds church. The book questions the divine origins of the book of mormon and. Palmer 2002, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
Grant palmers eye opening article on how the hierarchy within mormonism really operates. Palmer wrote his book with the goal of publishing it even as he maintained the fiction of being a believer in order to maintain his employment with the church. I am currently in the process of adding all of the content here. Mormon stories podcasts grant palmer was interviewed by john dehlin of mormon stories for a fourpart series on mormonism.
As for validation of the comments and claims of the two mormon leaders one a general authority, the other a returned mission president we wait. Apr 02, 20 theres a remarkable story circulating the net in which a prominent lds general authority allegedly lost his faith due to the teachings of grant palmer, the controversial ex mormon author who was teaching seminary for years while secretly circulating some highly implausible theories of plagiarism of the book of mormon. An insiders view of mormon origins by grant palmer. In 2002, signature books published palmer s an insiders view of mormon origins. Aug 25, 2018 grant palmer, classifies himself as an insider having been in the church education system for a significant amount of time. Over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into mormon originsjoseph smiths early life, the book of mormon, the. The book of mormon in chapters, palmer presents his views on the book of mormon. Reviewing grant palmer s first published work became an unusual personal challenge to me, for it touched on two things i hold dear. This is a very sad tale of what happens when people arent worshiping the real jesus of the bible. Buy a cheap copy of an insiders view of mormon origins book by grant h. Grant palmer, classifies himself as an insider having been in the church education system for a significant amount of time. Though he promises to present the findings of new mormon history, his. Grant palmerjoseph smiths first vision exmormon radio.
That book has helped countless thousands of people to leave the church. Mormon general authority members are bought off to keep quiet about the historicity of the their lds church. He waited until he had retired to bring the book forward for publication. Grant hart palmer, whose seminal insiders critique of the book of mormons origins and other writings challenging official lds church history. Grant is an author and retired ces director of 34 years. It looks like palmer is simply recycling anti mormon material concerning sexual allegations against joseph that have already been addressed. He has been very helpful to me and to the group at. Three meetings with a lds general authority, 2012 20. Palmers hypothesis is that the book of mormon began to form in.
Lds leaders who admit mormonism isnt true life after. Grant palmer was employed by the lds church as a church education system ces teacher for 34 years. An insiders view of mormon origins palmer s goal was to communicate to mormon laypeople the progress that had been made over the previous 30 years toward an accurate and historical understanding of mormon origins. One is balanced scholarship and academic integrity, which i have spent a career. He has published 3 books on mormonism and has been very. An exopsee of the milliondollar payoff fro mormon the mouthpices those dishonest apologists. Does grant palmer really claim to have rescued a mormon. Grant hart palmer 1940 2017 grant hart palmer died on september 25, 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer. This is why martin harris, porter rockwell, and another were digging for treasure at cumorah after the gold plates were said to have been found there in sept. Tbm husband wants to read grant palmers an insiders view of.
This web page is dedicated to the accomplishments of grant palmer and his dealings with the mormon church. It is difficult to believe that grant palmer was disciplined by the mormon church for stating his scholarly conclusions about joseph smith and the book of mormon. Palmers goal was to communicate to mormon laypeople the progress that had been made over the previous 30 years toward an accurate and historical. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. If you value grant palmer s contributions to mormonism, you will definitely value this book. Grant was employed by the lds church as a church education system ces. Nov 22, 2012 grant is the author of an insiders view of mormon origins signature books, 2002 and the incomparable jesus kofford books, 2005. Grant hart palmer august 17, 1940 september 25, 2017 was an american educator best known for his controversial work, an insiders view of mormon origins, which ostensibly led to his disfellowshipment in 2004 from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church.
Sep 26, 2017 grant spent thirtyfour years in the lds church education system, teaching institute and seminary, and served as a chaplain at the salt lake county jail for thirteen years. Harper says that palmer shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what he calls new mormon history. President joseph fielding smith, the tenth lds prophet, declared that mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of joseph smith. Grant palmer an insiders view of mormonism youtube. Grant palmer is one of the most important voices of 21st century mormonism. Grant palmer follows this argument and reading of the evidence, leading him to the conclusion that the witnesses seem to have seen the records with their spiritual eyes and inspected them in the context of a vision, apparently never having actually possessed or touched them palmer, an insiders view of mormon origins salt lake city. In 2002 signature books published grants important book, an insiders view of mormon origins, in which grant scrutinized many of mormonisms foundational stories.
In 2002, signature books published palmers an insiders view of mormon origins. In this episode of mormon stories, we interview grant palmerauthor of the book entitled an insiders view of mormon origins. When grant palmer wrote this book, he was still an active member of the church. If you value grant palmers contributions to mormonism, you will definitely value this book. Fourth generation mormon grant palmer collected a mountain of historical scholarship on the origins of mormonism and wrote a book about it in 2002. Grant was employed by the lds church as a church education system ces teacher for 34 years and retired in 2001. The problems inherent in palmers view of the book of mormon are too numerous to discuss here, but a few additional examples will illustrate the kind of faulty speculation, incomplete evidence, and misleading parallels that plague his entire book. August 16, 2012 interview with grant palmer, former latterday saint, and author of the book, an insiders view of mormon origins. A very interesting memorandum was received recently from grant h. Palmer, a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church who is a retired church educational system instructor and institute director with a masters degree in history. Grant is the author of an insiders view of mormon origins signature books, 2002 and the incomparable jesus kofford books, 2005. Palmer has an incorrect view of what constitutes new mormon history and uses. I am interviewing grant palmer tomorrow night about his book, restoring christ.
1366 715 480 1139 1012 1029 307 337 1259 1104 65 413 177 818 997 1305 1107 711 1209 884 494 675 963 915 1115 213 377 1076 816 1255 951