Answering Bill McKeever!

 

 

Bill McKeever, who has gained a reputation as a critic of the LDS Church, has written a book in collaboration with Eric Johnson entitled, Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend: Challenging the Claims of Latter-day Saints in a Constructive Manner. It has received critical reviews from two LDS academics which can be read here.

My style of answering such critics, however, is different from the way in which LDS scholars usually reply to them. His style of attacking the restored Church of Jesus Christ is more conversational than written; and I believe the best way to address his questions is through a one-to-one dialogue. I haven’t read his book; but according to one of the reviews mentioned above, his book can be summarized into fifteen short questions that he recommends one should ask of a Latter-day Saint. Below are my answers to his “fifteen questions”:

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Q. If I accept you as a Christian, will you accept me as a Mormon?

A. Yes, when you are baptized (by one having authority)!

Q. Which First Vision account should we believe?

A. All of them.

Q. How do you determine doctrinal truth?

A. By the standard works—the canonized scriptures of the Church (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price).

Q. What if the Bible is translated correctly after all?

A. Which translation of the Bible are you referring to? And do you intend to guarantee that it is 100% error free?

Q. If the Bible is corrupt, why doesn’t the LDS Church use the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible?

A. We don’t claim that the Bible is “corrupt;” and we do use the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.

Q. Why should a person pray about the Book of Mormon when the Bible says we should not rely on such a subjective test?

A. Prayer is not a “subjective test”. That says more about his lack of faith in God than the objectivity of prayer.

Q. Is it wise to place blind trust in mere mortal men?

A. Of course not! Who says we should?

Q. Why does the Mormon church ignore Jesus’ role as prophet of God’s Church?

A. Absurd question. Makes no sense.

Q. Is the Mormon priesthood really of ancient origin?

A. Yes.

Q. Where in the Bible does it say a person has to be worthy to enter the temple?

A. 1 Corinthians 3:17.

Q. What historical support does the Mormon Church have to justify baptism for the dead?

A. 1 Corinthians 15:29.

Q. If Mormon families will be together forever, where will the in-laws live?

A. Irrelevant question.

Q. Do you really believe you can become a God?

A. Yes.

Q. Have you ever sinned the same sin twice?

A. Yes.

Q. Are you keeping the whole law?

A. Which law? And what is “the whole law”?

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That is my way of answering his questions. A lengthy and elaborate reply is not required. If he has a problem with these answers, he can come here and tell us why, and I can discuss it further with him here, or in a more suitable venue elsewhere.