Get the facts on temples, tithing, missions, and caffeine
Mormon doctrines, rituals, and history, demystified at last
Mormonism, or the LDS Church, is one of the world's fastest growing religions. But unless you were raised a Mormon, you probably don't have a clear picture of LDS beliefs and practices. Covering everything from Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon to tithing and family home evening, this friendly guide will get you up to speed in no time.
Discover:
* How the LDS Church differs from other Christian churches
* What Mormons believe
* What happens in Mormon temples and meetinghouses
* The history of the LDS Church
* LDS debates on race, women, and polygamy

"Each true story in this series by outstanding authors Janet and Geoff Benge is loved by adults and children alike. More Christian Heroes: Then & Now biographies and unit study curriculum guides are coming soon. Fifty-five books are planned, and thousands of families have started their collections! Horrified by the poverty and human misery in industrial England, General William Booth and his Salvation Army brought the gospel and life-changing social services to the outcasts of society (1829-1912).

CHRIST FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS is an engaging and thoughtful inquiry into Christianity for Unitarian Universalists and other spiritual seekers - including sceptics, non-religious people, liberal Christians and those who consider themselves "spiritual but not religious." The book has several purposes. The first is to present Christ in an understandable and compelling way to the increasing number of people who do not consider themselves Christian. The second is to present liberal and progressive Christians with the non-dogmatic way that Unitarian Universalists have viewed Christ through the Bible and personal experience. And the third is to promote active dialogue between non-Christians and the nearly 80% of Americans who identify themselves as Christian. CHRIST FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS addresses frank questions with integrity and intellectual honesty, yet, also, presents a sincere and genuine sense of love as embodied in Jesus that is so heartfelt, so unconditional and so revolutionary that it will take your breath away.

In a time when the Pauline dictum decreed that women be silent in matters of the Church, Johanna Eleonora Petersen (1644-1724) was a pioneering author of religious books, insisting on her right to speak out as a believer above her male counterparts. Publishing her readings of the Gospels and the Book of Revelation as well as her thoughts on theology in general, Petersen and her writings created controversy, especially in orthodox circles, and she became a voice for the radical Pietists--those most at odds with Lutheran ministers and their teachings. But she defended her lay religious calling and ultimately printed fourteen original works, including her autobiography, the first of its kind written by a woman in Germany--all in an age in which most women were unable to read or write.
Collected in "The Life of Lady Johanna Eleonora Petersen" are Petersen's autobiography and two shorter tracts that would become models of Pietistic devotional writing. A record of the status and contribution of women in the early Protestant church, this collection will be indispensable reading for scholars of seventeenth-century German religious and social history.

What is hope? What is Zion? And what does it mean to hope for Zion? In this insightful book, Joseph Spencer explores these questions through the scriptures of two continents separated by nearly two millennia. In the first half, Spencer engages in a rich study of Paul's letter to the Roman to better understand how the apostle understood hope and what it means to have it. In the second half of the book, Spencer jumps to the early years of the Restoration and the various revelations on consecration to understand how Latter-day Saints are expected to strive for Zion. Between these halves is an interlude examining the hoped-for Zion that both thrived in the Book of Mormon and was hoped to be established again.

Praise for "For Zion":

""For Zion: A Mormon Theology of Hope" is more than a theological reflection. It also consists of able textual exegesis, historical contextualization, and philosophic exploration. Spencer's careful readings of Paul's focus on hope in Romans and on Joseph Smith's development of consecration in his early revelations, linking them as he does with the Book of Mormon, have provided an intriguing, intertextual avenue for understanding what true stewardship should be for us-now and in the future. As such he has set a new benchmark for solid, innovative Latter-day Saint scholarship that is at once provocative and challenging." - Eric D. Huntsman, author, "The Miracles of Jesus"

"With "For Zion," Joseph Spencer develops the Mormon tradition of Zion, writing in the style of Hugh Nibley-mixing Old Testament and New Testament studies with commentary on the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith revelations, and early Mormon history. The main area of development is the addition of theology, Spencer's expertise. Mormon readers much prefer scriptural commentary and history to theology, but Spencer weaves in his theological arguments and reflections in a readable and accessible manner. He also tracks the textual development of Joseph Smith's consecration revelation with great care and provides historically informed readings. And the whole work is aimed at the redemption of Zion. "For Zio"n proves that there can be such a thing as genuinely Mormon theology." - Mark Ashurst-McGee, Joseph Smith Papers

"The hour is late. Our eyes are heavy. Working without rest, possessed by our possessions, and consumed by fantasies of acquisition and success we know full well, even were they to be realized, offer no relief from what's eating us, we stumble. 'Wake up ' Spencer calls. 'Have hope The kingdom of God is among us, Zion is real, the Sabbath is here, and the law of consecration remains, as it must, in full force '" - Adam S. Miller, author, "Rube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology"

"Joseph Spencer is one of the most astute readers of sacred texts working in Mormon Studies. Blending theological savvy, historical grounding, and sensitive readings of scripture, he has produced an original and compelling case for consecration and the life of discipleship." - Terryl Givens, author, "Wrestling the Angel: The Foundations of Mormon Thought"

William Ambrose Spicer (1865-1952) was a Seventh-day Adventist minister and president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.He was born December 19, 1865 in Freeborn, Minnesota in the United States in a Seventh-day Baptist home. Spicer worked for the church in the United States, England and India, where Spicer College is named after him. He served as Secretary of the General Conference during the presidency of A. G. Daniells and Daniells served as the Secretary during Spicer's years as President. The two men led the Adventist Church for the first 30 years of the 20th century.

Books about Mennonites have centered primarily on the East Coast and the Midwest, where the majority of Mennonite communities in the United States are located. But these narratives neglect the unique history of the multitude of Mennonites living on the West Coast. In "California Mennonites," Brian Froese relies on archival church records to examine the Mennonite experience in the Golden State, from the nineteenth-century migrants who came in search of sunshine and fertile soil to the traditionally agrarian community that struggled with issues of urbanization, race, gender, education, and labor in the twentieth century to the evangelically oriented, partially assimilated Mennonites of today.

Froese places Mennonite experiences against a backdrop of major historical events, including World War II and Vietnam, and social issues, from labor disputes to the evolution of mental health care. California Mennonites include people who embrace a range of ideologies: many are historically rooted in the sixteenth-century Reformation ideals of the early Anabaptists (pacifism, congregationalism, discipleship); some embrace twentieth-century American evangelicalism (missions, Billy Graham); and others are committed to a type of social justice that involves forging practical ties to secular government programs while maintaining a quiet connection to religion.

Through their experiences of religious diversity, changing demographics, and war, California Mennonites have wrestled with complicated questions of what it means to be American, Mennonite, and modern. This book--the first of its kind--will appeal to historians and religious studies scholars alike.

Constellations: No one disputes their celestial glory -dazzling, dramatic, and perhaps somehow meaningful. But how? What is it about the 12 major constellations in our night sky that has captivated almost everyone throughout history from ancient stargazers searching the skies with naked eyes to modern astronomers scanning the stars through incredibly powerful telescopes. There are those who claim the stars give each of us personal information based on the date of our birth. But we know better, or course. Are the positioning of the stars entirely random? If so, why do they tell such a powerful story? Is anything in God's universe truly random? Is He not a God of order, with an immense desire to teach us and reach us through every possible aspect of His creation? Study the heavens with a biblical perspective and learn the real message God has written in the stars.

Follow the inspiring dialogues between a Christian named Karen and a Jehovah's Witness named Cindy as they discuss the Watchtower brochure "What Does God Require of Us? "and explore the core differences between Biblical Christianity and the Watchtower religion. In this book, Biblical truth is presented in an effective way that challenges the common reasoning embraced by faithful members of the Watchtower organization. Originally published under the title "What Does God Require?," this book is the product of experiences the author had talking with Jehovah's Witnesses of all levels of leadership. Written in dialogue format, this book includes photocopies of the pages referenced from official Watchtower publications and other sources essential for Christians using this book to witness to Jehovah's Witnesses. Discussion topics are:

New Light Changes In Watchtower Doctrine
False Prophecies Of The Watchtower Society
The Watchtower's Definition Of A Cult
Watchtower History and Cover-ups
The Jehovah's Witness Claim To Be The Only True Religion
The Divine Name Jehovah
The Trinity And The Deity Of Christ
Faith and Works in Salvation
Blood Transfusions
War And Political Neutrality
Holiday And Birthdays Celebrations
Hell and Immortal Soul
The Cross
Loyalty To Jehovah God

A Christian who reads "Christian Conversations with JWs" will not only learn the reasoning behind many of the doctrinal differences that separate Jehovah's Witnesses from Biblical Christianity, but he or she will be inspired to approach Jehovah's Witnesses in a more gentle, non-confrontational way that will help open the door to more effective dialogues rather than closed-minded defensive debates. Likewise, any thinking Jehovah's Witness will find the documentation presented from Watchtower publications and solid Biblical arguments stimulating to: "Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine." (1 Thessalonians 5:21, New World Translation)

Regarding the Karen and Cindy conversations in this book, readers have said:

"I am currently studying each and every page of the Karen and Cindy studies, looking up every Bible passage. They are very well put together, very well documented, with references and all, enormously helpful "

"I had Jehovah's Witnesses visiting for six years. ... The sad thing is now I have their beliefs in my head. So I put myself into God's hands and asked for direction. ...Well, the feeling of freedom is amazing. I am like a child, learning again for the first time. The reason I had to write to you was the Karen and Cindy conversations. Instead of me asking for help, one question at a time, they are all there for me It seems as if 'Cindy' could read my mind. It's so lovely for things to fall into place... I was scared while I did not understand even the tiny bit I do now. It's such a joy instead of feeling unworthy (we're all sinners I know) and feeling I would never be saved or go to Heaven. So, please thank God and Jesus with me for such help."

"As you know... I am in prison... I know that every soul you help touch is a seed that might grow to touch hundreds and thousands... For example, the "What Does God Require "book you sent me some time back has been making its rounds around this prison yard. And many Jehovah's Witnesses have been raising lots of questions and are re-thinking their faith... Again, thank you for your ministry... Keep up the great work "

Using the Book of Mormon and the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as they correlate with the Twelve-Step Program to overcome compulsive/addictive behavior and other problems.

Stand Up for Freedom is a compilation of essential teachings on liberty by Ezra Taft Benson, prophet, leader, statesman. With this book one can gain an understanding of the principles of freedom and the proper role of government, based on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ministry of Healing was first published in its present form in 1905. Its roots, however, began as far back as the 1860s with materials Ellen White wrote for publications such as Health Reformer, Good Health, Appeal to Mothers, How to Live, and Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene. This electronic version is a full text rendition. Over 200 hand drawn illustrations from that era have been restored and add much to its attractiveness and study value. Christ spent more time healing and ministering to the physical needs of suffering humanity than he did to preaching. He related to people in the areas of their felt need and after gaining their attention and indebtedness he ministered to their spiritual needs, encouraging them to "go and sin no more." He was indeed the pattern Medical Missionary. Through His example in ministry He calls not only health professionals but every admirer of His to "come and follow Me." This book helps us to see the natural laws of our bodies as the divine laws of a loving Creator. Practical counsel guides us in our day-to-day care of our physical being in ways that will greatly maintain physical health and in general provide us a longer, more productive, and enjoyable life span. There is also much information on how to best minister to those who are suffering physically, mentally, and spiritually. There is good, practical advice on how to provide effective home health care which, in many instances, will diminish, the need for professional health care and fewer medications.

Western Society is in confusion, the industrial world is teetering on collapse, and it looks like things could get worse. Agrarian Blogger, historian, and "plain" preacher Michael Bunker has been living off of the grid for many years, and he has some advice for those living in the industrial/consumerist economy ...living an off off-grid life is achievable. It has been done for thousands of years, and it can be done today... It is quite possible that many people who have relied on a failing system for their means of survival will very soon find that they have made a mistake of historic proportions. Historic, because every major "classical" culture went down the same road our society is on today. This book is about the lessons we should have learned, and what you can do to survive what history tells us must come next.