Roger R. Keller, The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR), 2004.
What do Latter-day Saints mean when claiming that there was an “apostasy” after the death of the New Testament Apostles? Are all other churches wrong and how do Latter-day Saints view the Bible? Why was a restoration needed? Dr. Keller offers some wonderful insights into these questions and many more in his presentation on the Great Apostasy.
The Windows Media Video (WMV) format also contains the presentation, “I Don’t Have a Testimony of the History of the Church” by Davis Bitton
Roger R. Keller is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, and a past Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding. He teaches courses on the religions of the world from a Latter-day Saint perspective. Dr. Keller grew up in Boulder, Colorado, in a Presbyterian home. He received his Bachelors of Music in voice performance from the University of Colorado, his Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. in biblical studies and 20th century Christian Theology from Duke University. He was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1971 and held both teaching and pastoral positions in the years following. In 1982 he was called to be the Senior Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Mesa, Arizona, a community founded by the Latter-day Saints. He worked to bring understanding between persons of diverse religious traditions within the community and served on the regional board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (now the National Conference for Community and Justice). In this latter capacity, he participated in evaluating and condemning anti-Mormon materials as being inaccurate and against the spirit of religious pluralism. As a result of his work with the Mormon community, he and his family became Latter-day Saints in 1986. He began teaching at Brigham Young University in the fall of that year.
Dr. Keller has co-authored a book entitled Religions of the World: A Latter-day Saint View and authored two others—one on interfaith dialogue and the other on the Book of Mormon. In addition, he has written a variety of articles and presented a number of academic papers, many dealing with inter-faith issues. His service to the Church includes Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Scoutmaster, member of two high councils, member of a high priest group leadership, a bishop, and a temple ordinance worker.
He teaches courses on the religions of the world from a Latter-day Saint perspective. Here is the LDS Organization® from a BIBLICAL viewpoint:
HERESY!!!
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
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2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Galatians 1:7-10
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
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Revelation 13:13-15
13. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
If one believes the Bible is correct, then, by that Standard, Mormonism fails the test.
If, however, you are convinced that the Bible is either in error, been corrupted or mis-interpreted, then you are free to believe whatever you wish.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made.
He said to the woman, "Did God really say, `You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
12. And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.
13. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
