An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins – Grant H. Palmer – 1 Star

An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins – Grant H. Palmer – 1 Star

Title: An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins

Author: Grant H. Palmer

Publisher: Signature Books

Year: Softcover (Originally) 2002

Rating:  1 Stars

Price and Purchasing Options: You will not see this in many second hand stores, and it will not be in LDS Book Stores.  Your best bet is eBay or Amazon.  I don’t recommend getting this book regardless of price… so buying it shouldn’t matter.

Review: This is the worst book on Mormonism I have ever read for a number of reason.

First, the level of deception attempted in the naming and marketing of this book is ridiculous.  Grant Palmer, classifies himself as an insider having been in the Church Education System for a significant amount of time. In classifying himself as an insider, and outlining his background in the church, many members could look at the book as a thoughtful and thoroughly researched outline of the challenges regarding the origins of the church – a worthy endeavors for anyone in the church education system that long. 

However, what this book actually is, is a list of challenges to the origins of Mormonism, with absolutely no effort at all to resolve to discuss it – besides just presenting the worst possible views of them.  He will bring up everything from the translation of the plates, the book of Abraham, the Kinderhook plates, and polygamy; but never once will he actually try to discuss the topic to resolution. 

It becomes clear really fast, that somewhere he lost his faith, that his faith became his job, and that was it – and when his job was over, he wrote this book to outline why nothing makes sense.  He loses credibility very quickly when the passive student in Mormonism can resolve many of what he projects as conflict, and observes that Palmer doesn’t even attempt or insinuate this is a resolve for the conflict.

This book serves no purpose but to deceive members of the Church into thinking it can be a resource, for these challenges, but ultimately just adds fuel to the fires of doubt without any reasonable dialogue. 

I honestly have never been more upset at a book, it’s intention, or its content in my entire life.  It was offensive more on its level of deception than on its actual content.

I give this 1 Star because it is not only worth avoiding in it’s entirely, but it is worth taking these books and throwing them away.  If you see one at Deseret Industries or a second hand store – pick it up for a buck, and then throw it in the trash on your way out.

Suggestions:  DON’T BUY THIS BOOK EVER!

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Review #54

Tags: 1 Stars, Ryan Daley, Grant H. Palmer, An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins, Church History