GUEST AUTHOR: Nonfiction Author B. Jay Gladwell

[Dorothy Thompson]

Author Day presents B. Jay Gladwell, author of the nonfiction book, WHAT'S WRONG WITH MORMONS, on Monday, August 4, 2008. Leave your questions for Jay in the comment section below and you’ll have a chance to win a free copy of his book!

B. Jay Gladwell is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Having served in several leadership positions in the Church on the local level, he currently serves as the Gospel Doctrine teacher in his ward. He received and MFA from the University of Miami in screen writing and has taught various writing and cinema classes on the university level in South Florida.

He and his wife have four grown children and live in Miami, Florida.

You can visit his website at www.whatswrongwithmormons.com or his blog at www.whats-wrong-with-mormons.blogspot.com.

About the Book:

What’s Wrong Wrong With Mormons? was written as a result of the falsehoods and misinformation that continues to be perpetuated by those who are less than honest. The author, B. Jay Gladwell, invites the reader to come and reason together. Using a conversational style, he discusses the basic doctrines of the restored Gospel, based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible and latter-day scriptures.

[Cheryl C. Malandrinos]

Hi Jay,

Glad you could join us today. Can you explain why you used that particular piece of Scripture as the subtitle for your book?

Thanks. Best of luck with your tour.

Cheryl

[B. Jay Gladwell]

Hi, Cheryl--

Thank you for your question!

The last chapter of the book is titled "By Their Fruits". In that chapter there is a brief discussion of Matthew 7:16-18, which includes that specific quote.

During the designing of the book cover (which wasn't at all easy, considering the subject), the designer mentioned that the title, What's Wrong With Mormons?, wasn't an accurate indicator of the book's subject matter. He was right! As a result, he suggested I go back through the book and see if there wasn't something in there that could be used as a subtitle to better explain what the book was going to be about.

It didn't take but a minute or two for that line to jump out at me. As I was doing the layout design for the cover, I added some space between the words of the title. Then I selected a hand-written font for the subtitle to make it appear that someone had come along and answered the question the title was asking.

Jay

[Cheryl C. Malandrinos]

I'm glad the designer mentioned it, because when I first read the title I went, "Wow! What's his beef?" But that added subtitle perfectly explains what the book is about. Also, Matthew 7:18 is a Scripture that we will be talking to our children about in Vacation Bible School this year.

Best of luck with your book.

Cheryl

[B. Jay Gladwell]

As it says on the web site, depending on the word one emphasizes in that question determines the tone of the question. For instances...

What's wrong with Mormons? asks what's with these people, how can they believe such things?

What's wrong with Mormons? asks what's so bad about these people, their beliefs come the scriptures?

So the title was intended to be a two-edged sword. So far, the title has caused more discussion than the book itself!

Jay

[Dorothy Thompson]

Welcome to Author Day, Jay! I would love to know what moved you to write this book and what has peoples' responses to the book been so far?

[B. Jay Gladwell]

Hello, Dorothy--

Thank's for having me.

This book was written as the result of numerous falsehoods that are currently being perpetuated by those who are less than honest and truthful. If I may speak frankly, it is very tiresome reading and hearing and seeing what other people—nonmembers—outside the Church are claiming our doctrines to be.

While writitng the book, I read a news article about the Mormon candidate who was running the Republican presidential nonimation at the time. The article raised the issue of “Mormons as Christians,” which keeps cropping up time and time again. It went on to say that a survey had shown many of the evangelical Christians were drawn to this candidate’s values but repelled by his Mormon faith. Can you see the inconsistency in that statement? Isn’t that like saying, “I like apple pie, but I am repulsed by apples”? How can one accept the teachings (values) of Jesus Christ but reject the Savior?

So this book is my modest attempt to answer the question: What's wrong with Mormons?

[Cheryl C. Malandrinos]

You have very interesting comments here Jay. I'm from Massachusetts, have met Mitt Romney a few times, and never quite understood what the big deal was that he was Mormon. Religious tolerance was also in short supply when John F. Kennedy ran for president--Gasp, a Catholic is going to run the country!

Do you believe that we can ever get to a place of acceptance of all faiths?

Thanks.

Cheryl

[B. Jay Gladwell]

That's an excellent question, Cheryl! Unfortunately, I don't have the answer to it. Even Christ himself couldn't resolve that problem when during his mortal ministry. Even so, that was not his fault!

Allow me to rephrase your question: "Do you believe that we could ever get to the place of acceptancing of all faiths?"

To that, I would answer, "Yes, we could." It's our choice. If we would set aside pride a great many things could be accomplished. Therefore, the real question is, are we willing to set aside pride (enmity)?

Jesus taught: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew 22:37-39, emphasis added).

Those of us who claim to be Christians need to be more aware of what Christ taught and then start living it. We truly need to practice what we preach!

Jay

[JM]

Hi Jay!

I was wondering, sort of along the same lines of Dorothy's question, have you had to deal with any negative responses to your book?

Also, do you have any plans of following up on WWWM with another book?

[B. Jay Gladwell]

Hi, JM--

Yes, I have received one. It's quite funny, actually, it came from a Mormon. He sent an e-mail commenting on my "attacking" the LDS Church. I wrote back and invited him to visit the book's Web site. That's all I said. Within a matter of minutes, he wrote back with a sincere apology. He explained that he hadn't read the book and was simply responding based on something someone had told him.

See how easy it is to spread misinformation and create misunderstanding? That's what we're up against!

So that's my long-winded way of saying, "No, I haven't had any negative responses so far." That's not to say there won't be any.

Yes, there's another book out there, but I'm waiting to see how this one is received before rushing forward with another one.

Jay

[Susan Storm Smith]

Hi Jay, having been a Mormon most of my younger days, I know extensively about Mormons and congratulate you on your book. I enjoy people who write with passion!

However, please explain why Mormons believe in Jesus of the Cross, but that Lucifer (satan) and Jesus of the Cross are spiritual brothers. And how the Archangel Michael can be Adam in the garden of Eden (from the Discourses of President and Seer Brigham Young), and then an Archangel again in Daniel.

Thanks much!

[Cheryl C. Malandrinos]

Like Susan, the belief that Lucifer and Jesus are spiritual brothers is something that I cannot understand, and therefore, I would appreciate this explanation.

BTW, not all we Evangelical Christians are as intolerant as others. How can we follow the example that Christ gave us when we do not accept everyone--even those whose beliefs are very different from our own? Another author who is touring this month is Kathi Macias. She wrote "Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World. This book is a true call to pick up our crosses and follow Him. It is very powerful. Kathi shares some of the most indepth insights into popular parables that I've seen. The Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son are my favorites. Perhaps you would also find this book of interest.

All my best,

Cheryl