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.infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><caption class="infobox-title" style="font-size:125%; font-style:italic; padding-bottom:0.2em;">Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? <span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Mormonism%3A+Shadow+or+Reality%3F&rft.author=%5B%5BJerald+and+Sandra+Tanner%5D%5D&rft.date=1963&rft.pub=%5B%5BUtah+Lighthouse+Ministry%5D%5D&rft.place=United+States&rft.pages=576+pp+%3Csmall%3E%281987+edition%29%3C%2Fsmall%3E"></span></caption><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:Mormonism,_Shadow_or_Reality%3F.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1d/Mormonism%2C_Shadow_or_Reality%3F.png/220px-Mormonism%2C_Shadow_or_Reality%3F.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="296" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Mormonism%2C_Shadow_or_Reality%3F.png 1.5x" data-file-width="272" data-file-height="366" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Author</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Jerald_and_Sandra_Tanner" title="Jerald and Sandra Tanner">Jerald and Sandra Tanner</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Language</th><td class="infobox-data">English</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Subject</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_Mormonism" class="mw-redirect" title="Criticism of Mormonism">Criticism of Mormonism</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Publisher</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Utah_Lighthouse_Ministry" class="mw-redirect" title="Utah Lighthouse Ministry">Utah Lighthouse Ministry</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Publication date</div></th><td class="infobox-data">1963</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Publication place</th><td class="infobox-data">United States</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Media type</th><td class="infobox-data">Print (Hardcover, Paperback)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Pages</th><td class="infobox-data">576 pp <small>(1987 edition)</small></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-99930-74-43-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-99930-74-43-4">978-99930-74-43-4</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><i><b>Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?</b></i> is a 1963 book by <a href="/wiki/Jerald_and_Sandra_Tanner" title="Jerald and Sandra Tanner">Jerald and Sandra Tanner</a> that is critical of <a href="/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints" title="The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints">the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a> (LDS Church). </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Description">Description</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mormonism:_Shadow_or_Reality%3F&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Description"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The book was originally entitled <i>Mormonism: A Study of Mormon History and Doctrine</i> and has been reprinted five times since (the latest edition was in 2008). The book is a long, densely written work full of copies of early Latter Day Saints documents accompanied by commentary. It has subsequently been revised and was the basis for the Tanners' more readable later book, <i>The Changing World of Mormonism</i>. </p><p><i>Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?</i> deals with many subjects in a critical view, including the <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Mormon" title="Book of Mormon">Book of Mormon</a> and other <a href="/wiki/Standard_Works" class="mw-redirect" title="Standard Works">LDS scriptures</a>, <a href="/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr." class="mw-redirect" title="Joseph Smith, Jr.">Joseph Smith</a>'s life, alleged false prophecies, the <a href="/wiki/Missionary_(LDS_Church)" class="mw-redirect" title="Missionary (LDS Church)">missionary</a> system, controversial historical incidents and subjects (<a href="/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre" class="mw-redirect" title="Mountain Meadows massacre">Mountain Meadows massacre</a>, <a href="/wiki/Finances_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints" class="mw-redirect" title="Finances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints">wealth</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Black_people_and_Mormonism" title="Black people and Mormonism">priesthood ban</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mormonism_and_polygamy" title="Mormonism and polygamy">polygamy</a>) and many doctrines and practices (<a href="/wiki/Adam-God_doctrine" class="mw-redirect" title="Adam-God doctrine">Adam-God doctrine</a>, <a href="/wiki/Temple_(LDS_Church)#Temple_ordinances" title="Temple (LDS Church)">temple ceremonies</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Critical_reception">Critical reception</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mormonism:_Shadow_or_Reality%3F&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Critical reception"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Mormon book dealer Curt Bench listed this book among 50 important books on <a href="/wiki/Mormonism" title="Mormonism">Mormonism</a> in its first 150 years, including it as one of six "anti-Mormon" titles on the list.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The book has been described by Dean Helland of <a href="/wiki/Oral_Roberts_University" title="Oral Roberts University">Oral Roberts University</a> as "the heavyweight of all books on Mormonism".<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, <a href="/wiki/D._Michael_Quinn" title="D. Michael Quinn">D. Michael Quinn</a>, a Mormon historian at <a href="/wiki/Brigham_Young_University" title="Brigham Young University">Brigham Young University</a>, took issue with the Tanners' work, calling it a "distorted view of Mormonism".<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/w/index.php?title=Danel_W._Bachman&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Danel W. Bachman (page does not exist)">Danel W. Bachman</a>, of the <a href="/wiki/Foundation_for_Apologetic_Information_%26_Research" class="mw-redirect" title="Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research">Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research</a>, a group consisting of Mormons who seek to defend their faith, concluded that he found in the book "propagandistic techniques and instances of egregious misuse of documentary evidence".<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cultural_impact">Cultural impact</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mormonism:_Shadow_or_Reality%3F&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Cultural impact"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The book can be seen in episode six of the <a href="/wiki/Hulu" title="Hulu">Hulu</a> television series <i><a href="/wiki/Under_the_Banner_of_Heaven_(TV_series)" class="mw-redirect" title="Under the Banner of Heaven (TV series)">Under the Banner of Heaven</a></i>, being read by the show's <a href="/wiki/Protagonist" title="Protagonist">protagonist</a> Pyre (<a href="/wiki/Andrew_Garfield" title="Andrew Garfield">Andrew Garfield</a>) in Episode 6, "Revelation" at 58:53. In this series, the book was portrayed as being taboo to read for LDS members and well-known in its appearance. One character, Allen, hid its recognizable bright red cover under a textbook jacket to conceal it from his wife; the aforementioned main character's wife is visibly upset when she accidentally catches him reading it in their family car in the driveway in the middle of the night.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mormonism:_Shadow_or_Reality%3F&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFBench,_Curt1990" class="citation journal cs1">Bench, Curt (October 1990). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211209013436id_/https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/079-54-58.pdf#page=4">"Fifty Important Mormon Books"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i><a href="/wiki/Sunstone_Magazine" class="mw-redirect" title="Sunstone Magazine">Sunstone</a></i> (79): 56. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/079-54-58.pdf#page=4">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2021-12-09<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-04-23</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Sunstone&rft.atitle=Fifty+Important+Mormon+Books&rft.issue=79&rft.pages=56&rft.date=1990-10&rft.au=Bench%2C+Curt&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fsunstone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsbi%2Farticles%2F079-54-58.pdf%23page%3D4&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMormonism%3A+Shadow+or+Reality%3F" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Dean M. Helland, "Meeting the Book of Mormon Challenge in Chile," Ph.D. dissertation, Oral Roberts University, 1990, 58 <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=102">as cited</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061010032745/http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?id=102&table=review">Archived</a> 2006-10-10 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> by Matthew Roper of <a href="/wiki/Brigham_Young_University" title="Brigham Young University">Brigham Young University</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141022021646/http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/publications/jerald-and-sandra-tanners-distorted-view-of-mormonism-a-response-to-mormonism-shadow-or-reality"><i>Jerald and Sandra Tanner's distorted view of Mormonism - A response to </i>Mormonism - Shadow or reality?<i> by a Latter-day Saint Historian</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/FairMormon" class="mw-redirect" title="FairMormon">FairMormon</a>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/publications/jerald-and-sandra-tanners-distorted-view-of-mormonism-a-response-to-mormonism-shadow-or-reality">the original</a> on 2014-10-22<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-10-21</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Jerald+and+Sandra+Tanner%27s+distorted+view+of+Mormonism+-+A+response+to+Mormonism+-+Shadow+or+reality%3F+by+a+Latter-day+Saint+Historian&rft.pub=FairMormon&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fairmormon.org%2Fperspectives%2Fpublications%2Fjerald-and-sandra-tanners-distorted-view-of-mormonism-a-response-to-mormonism-shadow-or-reality&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMormonism%3A+Shadow+or+Reality%3F" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_History_or_Propaganda.html">"<i>Mormonism--Shadow or Reality?</i> - History or Propaganda? - Joseph Smith as a Case Study"</a>. Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2009-07-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Mormonism--Shadow+or+Reality%3F+-+History+or+Propaganda%3F+-+Joseph+Smith+as+a+Case+Study&rft.pub=Foundation+for+Apologetic+Information+%26+Research&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fairlds.org%2FFAIR_Conferences%2F2000_History_or_Propaganda.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMormonism%3A+Shadow+or+Reality%3F" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2022/05/27/episode-recap-church/">"Episode 6 recap: Church leaders tell Brenda to save the Laffertys in 'Under the Banner of Heaven'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i>The Salt Lake Tribune</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Salt+Lake+Tribune&rft.atitle=Episode+6+recap%3A+Church+leaders+tell+Brenda+to+save+the+Laffertys+in+%27Under+the+Banner+of+Heaven%27&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sltrib.com%2Fartsliving%2F2022%2F05%2F27%2Fepisode-recap-church%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMormonism%3A+Shadow+or+Reality%3F" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mormonism:_Shadow_or_Reality%3F&oldid=1272992521">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mormonism:_Shadow_or_Reality%3F&oldid=1272992521</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:1963_non-fiction_books" title="Category:1963 non-fiction books">1963 non-fiction books</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Books_critical_of_Mormonism" title="Category:Books critical of Mormonism">Books critical of Mormonism</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Self-published_books" title="Category:Self-published books">Self-published books</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:1963_in_Christianity" title="Category:1963 in Christianity">1963 in Christianity</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:American_non-fiction_books" title="Category:American non-fiction books">American non-fiction books</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Collaborative_non-fiction_books" title="Category:Collaborative non-fiction books">Collaborative non-fiction books</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Works_about_the_Book_of_Mormon" title="Category:Works about the Book of Mormon">Works about the Book of Mormon</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links" title="Category:Webarchive template wayback links">Webarchive template wayback links</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description is different from Wikidata">Short description is different from Wikidata</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 31 January 2025, at 05:25<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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