"The Givenses are never confrontational or aggressive in their presentation of Mormonism’s contribution to the discussion nor do they ever whip out a trump card of why the Mormon perspective is to be crowned king. The result is a very readable, reasonable and thought-provoking experience."—Bryan Buchanan - Association for Mormon Letters"Whether by design or by chance," Terryl and Fiona Givens write, "we find ourselves in a universe filled with mystery. We encounter appealing...

A deeper look at how people individually and collectively form religious beliefs—and what that means for faith in an increasingly secular culture.Secularism is increasingly a fact of life in Western society. But that doesn't necessarily mean that faith is harder than it has been before. Even in the past when organized religion enjoyed more widespread cultural acceptance, there were still obstacles to true belief. Today, the obstacles are different, but faith is sti...

Can your choices affect God’s plans? Are there times when being “acted upon” is a good thing? Does following a covenant path make you less “authentic”? If you are born with a particular nature and disposition, just how free are you? And how responsible are you for the choices you make?The question of human agency, of how free you are to make meaningful choices, has always been a central concern of the Christian life. Philosophy, biology, cognitive science, and historical studies al...

"A well-written book that should appeal to all history and Civil War buffs." —Frank Haight, The Examiner (Independence, MO)The South's renowned Rebel Yell and its unique, demoralizing effects have been documented throughout history. Whether as a planned part of a battle strategy or as an instinctual expression of adrenaline, the yell motivated the rebel soldiers and unnerved the enemy. In this definitive work, the mighty hollers of these warriors as they me...

Faith is the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So what happens when a person has doubts?Questioning is not the problem, according to authors Terryl and Fiona Givens. “After all,” they write, “the Restoration unfolded because a young man asked questions.” The difficulty arises when questions are based on flawed assumptions or incorrect perceptions, which can “point us in the wrong direction, misdirect our attention, or constrain the answers we are capable of hearing.”

In a world increasingly prone to doubt, a foundation in Christ is the only sure basis of a durable discipleship. And for Latter-day Saints, the Jesus Christ revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith is, in some very significant ways, a different kind of Christ than the Jesus of modern Christianity. The Christ of the restored gospel collaborated with Heavenly Parents for our salvation even before the foundation of the world, "does not anything" save it be for our benefit (2 Nephi 26:24), an...

In Let’s Talk about Faith and Intellect, Terryl Givens, who has written broadly to both academic and general audiences, examines the sometimes-tense relationship between these seeming opposites, arguing that intellect and faith work hand-in-hand to draw us closer to Christ and His gospel. Faith is not just a hopeful leap into the dark or wishful thinking against the grain of evidence. A thoughtful, reflective faith considers the findings of science, the lessons of history, the ins...

What is it that the restored Church of Jesus Christ offers to the world that no other church can—and how might recognizing those contributions help us stay strong in our faith? The poet Thomas Traherne said: “No man . . . that clearly seeth the beauty of God’s face, . . . can, when he sees it clearly, willingly and wittingly forsake it.” In The Doors of Faith, Terryl Givens teaches that the surest route to a meaningful and enduring faith is a “witting” understanding of Jesus Chri...

In this first volume of his magisterial study of the foundations of Mormon thought and practice, Terryl L. Givens offers a sweeping account of Mormon belief from its founding to the present day. Situating the relatively new movement in the context of the Christian tradition, he reveals that Mormonism continues to change and grow. Givens shows that despite Mormonism's origins in a biblical culture strongly influenced by nineteenth-century Restorationist thought, which advocated a return to ...

Feeding the Flock, the second volume of Terryl L. Givens's landmark study of the foundations of Mormon thought and practice, traces the essential contours of Mormon practice as it developed from Joseph Smith to the present. Despite the stigmatizing fascination with its social innovations (polygamy, communalism), its stark supernaturalism (angels, gold plates, and seer stones), and its most esoteric aspects (a New World Garden of Eden, sacred undergarments), as well as its long-sta...

Mormonism, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is America's most successful-and most misunderstood-home grown religion. The church today boasts more than 15 million members worldwide, a remarkable feat in the face of increasing secularity. The growing presence of Mormonism shows no signs of abating, as the makeup of its membership becomes progressively diverse. The heightened contemporary relevance and increasingly global membership of the Church solidifies Mormonism as a r...

With over 100 million copies in print, the Book of Mormon has spawned a vast religious movement, but it remains little discussed outside Mormon circles. Now Terry L. Givens offers a full-length treatment of this influential work, illuminating the varied meanings and tempestuous impact of this uniquely American scripture. Givens examines the text's role as a divine testament of the Last Days and as a sacred sign of Joseph Smith's status as a modern-day prophet. He assesses its claim to be a...