In the first edition of The Mormon Mirage, Latayne C. Scott shared her remarkable journey out of Mormonism as she uncovered shocking inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions in the faith she had loved and lived. Thirty years later, Mormonism and Mormon scholarship have evolved with the times. In this third, revised and updated edition of her well-known book, Scott keeps pace with changes and advances in Mormonism, and reveals formidable new challenges to its claims and teachings.
“Mormons are taught that abstinence from tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco is essential for entrance into the celestial kingdom. If this is true, Joseph Smith must be a candidate for the terrestrial or telestial kingdom, because he repeatedly violated the Word of Wisdom. An examination of early church sources in the original editions compared to the corresponding modern-day versions shows that the references to the drinking habits of early Mormon leaders have been purged from the original records. In other words, a great cover-up has been effected.” (Page 46)
“His book Early Mormonism and the Magic World View gives a jaw-dropping, detailed look at the role of the occult in Joseph Smith’s life.” (Page 34)
“The wicked Lamanites were punished for their rebellion when God turned their skins dark” (Pages 73–74)
“According to 2 Nephi, chapter 2, Adam needed to sin for his and our own good” (Page 78)
“Native American Indians are not Semitic but rather Mongoloid/Asian,” (Page 75)
I applaud the sensitivity and understanding invested in this enormous work.
—Ravi Zacharias