42 Questions
PREFACE

Since  the "Mormon" church has been charged with not responding to the criticisms of the anti-Mormons, these answers to questions are submitted for your consideration.  While these answers  do not constitute an official response by the church, nevertheless the issues are addressed and that is really the point.  The forty-two questions were written by Bob Witte and published as Appendix B in Walter Martin's The Maze of Mormonism, under the title, "Unanswered Questions on the Mormon Gospel."

Most of these questions have been dealt with long ago.  Why should the church respond every time some Jerald, Bob, or Walter raises his head, repeats something they have heard or read, and says, "Okay, I've challenged you, you must respond or be put to shame?"  We believe the following verses from the Doctrine and Covenants apply:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good; and their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations; and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me.  Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to destruction.

And thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the work of God; but I will require this at their hands, and it shall turn to their shame and condemnation in the day of judgement.

Yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work.  Yea, he saith unto them: Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that ye may destroy; behold, this is no harm.  And thus he flattereth them, and telleth them that it is no sin to lie, that they may destroy him.  And thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell; and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare.  And thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God.

(Doctrine and Covenants 10:20-28)

While these answers will not stop all controversy, it is hoped that it will assist all people in their search for truth about the LDS church.  Critics'  views to the contrary notwithstanding, there is no substitute for prayer in finding truth (James 1:5; Matt. 7:7; 21:22).  Remember the experience of the Apostles on the road to Emmaus:  After they had conversed with Jesus, they asked themselves "...did not our hearts burn within us?" (Luke 24:32)  How did people receive testimonies of the truth on the day of Pentecost?  Did not "...cloven tongues like as of fire" appear unto them "and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost"? (Acts 2:3-4)  There are those who would have you believe that your personal understanding (or their explanations) of the scripture is more reliable than the Spirit of God teaching you the truth and giving you understanding.  Considering the counsel of James, does anyone really believe that the Bereans, who searched the scriptures (including those scriptures that urge prayer), never prayed about them?  God will answer prayers of the honest in heart with a witness of the Spirit.

Our hope is that these answers may open "the eyes of your understanding" (Eph 1:18) to see that the truth is found in the Lord's earthly kingdom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We encourage you to seek understanding by searching the word of God and receiving a witness of the Spirit of God.