This book is co-authored by Pastor Dave Mallinak (Berean Baptist Church, Ogden, UT) and Pastor Brandon Vaughan (Grace Baptist Church, Logan, UT). It rises to a powerful climax in its clear and compelling presentation of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The authors model the finest and most gracious ways of addressing both doctrinal and practical differences, writing with genuine care and an unmistakably irenic tone—yet without pulling any punches.
Each chapter offers substantial comparative and contrasting material between biblical Christianity and Mormonism. What I value most is how their work equips the reader with the right questions to ask and the most thoughtful approaches to take when witnessing to our LDS friends. Since so many people are religious but lost, Mallinak and Vaughan show a godly, biblical pattern for sharing one’s faith—with love, concern, and a firm commitment to the truth we all so urgently need.
For me, the final three chapters are an absolute home run. The breadth and depth of biblical doctrine presented throughout the book are summarized with remarkable clarity and skill. A few areas of disagreement are, of course, to be expected ("sacramental meal", pg. 204, I used my Kindle Reader; This perhaps was more of a concept drawn from some "Christian theologians" than these Baptist pastors). I don't believe Melchizedek was a Christophany (not saying the authors do) but Paul did likened the king-priest to the Son of God in Heb. 7:3. An area of disagreement I would have is the use of the name "Yahweh" instead of Jehovah. Though anywhere the term Yahweh shows up, the name Jehovah is supplemented. This has more to do with the Hebrew vowel points and that topic is beyond this review and recommendation article.
I certainly do not want to end my review and recommendation on a couple of minor points of disagreement, and so allow me to stress how wonderful this book is for a couple of reasons: Firstly, If you desire to know more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so that you can be an effective witness for the Lord Jesus Christ, then look no further. Secondly, if you want to know the best approaches, questions, and challenges (reasonings) to reach out to the religious-but-lost crowd (though obviously they target our LDS friends in this book, but the general idea or principles apply very easily to other sects and denominations, or religious movements) then this book shows us that genuine love and hospitality will undoubtedly go a very long way.
Finally, a prayer: May the Lord use this material to help our LDS friends and to strengthen our Baptist brethren in holding fast to the biblical truths so beautifully presented in these pages.
