Apologetics Profile

What might you say to a Latter-day Saint who asks you to define how you understand the concept of forgiveness? It is important to know that most Latter-day Saints understanding of forgiveness differs significantly from the traditional biblical doctrine of forgiveness.

This week and next on the Profile we will be talking with Eric Johnson of Mormon Research Ministry in Utah about an influential 1969 LDS publication, written by former apostle and later president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Spencer W. Kimball called The Miracle of Forgiveness. But as Eric will share with us, Kimball's ideas of forgiveness aren't anything like what we find in the Bible. 

From MRM.ORG
Eric Johnson has been a student of Mormonism since 1987 when he served a summer mission outreach in Utah. Eric graduated from San Diego State University (1985, BA in Journalism) as well as at Bethel Seminary San Diego (1991, Master’s of Divinity). Eric cohosts the daily radio program Viewpoint on Mormonism  and writes for MRM’s Mormonism Researched newsletter. His new book is Introducing Christianity to Mormons (Harvest House, 2022). He is also the co-author of Answering Mormons’ Questions: Ready Responses for Inquiring Latter-day Saints (Kregel, 2013), Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Baker Book, 2015), Mormonism 101 for Teens(MRM, 2016) as well as serving as a co-editor of Sharing the Good News with Mormons (Harvest House, 2018).

Also visit the Utah Christian Research Center website at https://utahchristianresearchcenter.com/.

Watchman Fellowship's New Blog!
Check out Watchman Fellowship's newly revamped blog on Substack! See Daniel Ray's extended article and review of The Miracle of Forgiveness here.

Related Links: 
 

Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: www.watchman.org/Mormonism 

Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  www.watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Apologetics Profile podcast list of all episodes about Latter-day Saints https://www.watchman.org/files/ldspod.htm 

 
Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Are leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prophets and apostles in a true biblical sense? Was Joseph Smith a true prophet? We believe the answer to both questions is "No." Tune in this week to find out more.  

Watchman Fellowship has published free articles on our blog related to this topic. Visit and subscribe to our new blog today! Be sure to check out these articles.

Testing Joseph Smith
Discerning False Christs

This week we continue our conversation with former Latter-day Saint and the great, great granddaughter of Brigham Young, Sandra Tanner. Sandra shares her wisdom and experience from her decades-long research of the LDS Church. Her insights will help equip you to be better prepared to engage your Mormon friends, neighbors or missionaries who come to your door.

If you are enjoying Apologetics Profile, be sure to leave us a nice review on your favorite podcast platform! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😀👍

Sandra Tanner and her late husband Jerald were raised in the LDS faith, both with a strong Mormon family history. Jerald was the great-great-grandson of John Tanner, well known for his sizeable financial contributions to Joseph Smith and the LDS church in 1835 when the church was deeply in debt. Sandra Tanner is a great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon Church.

As teenagers, before they met, Jerald and Sandra were challenged by different people and events to examine the origins of Mormonism. Soon after their introduction, they jointly began researching Mormonism and became engaged. Both accepted Christ during these early years of study and have left the Mormon church. Sandra remains today a Christian.

The Tanners are authors of over forty books on the subject of Mormonism. They are well known for their extensive research into Mormon history and doctrine during their time as founders of Utah Lighthouse Ministry.

Related Links: 
 

Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: www.watchman.org/Mormonism 

Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  www.watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Apologetics Profile podcast list of all episodes about Latter-day Saints https://www.watchman.org/files/ldspod.htm 

 
Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

The Bible gives us a standard by which we may discern truth from falsehood, especially when someone proclaims themselves to be a prophet (Deuteronomy 13; 18; Matthew 24:24; 1 John 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6).

Watchman Fellowship has published free articles on our blog related to this topic. Visit and subscribe to our new blog today! Be sure to check out these articles.

Testing Joseph Smith
Discerning False Christs

This week and next on Apologetics Profile, we were privileged once again to have been able to interview former Latter-day Saint and the great, great granddaughter of Brigham Young, Sandra Tanner in Utah this past fall. Sandra shares her wisdom and experience from her decades-long research of the LDS Church. Her insights will help equip you to be better prepared to engage your Mormon friends, neighbors or missionaries who come to your door.

If you are enjoying Apologetics Profile, be sure to leave us a nice review on your favorite podcast platform! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😀👍

Sandra Tanner and her late husband Jerald were raised in the LDS faith, both with a strong Mormon family history. Jerald was the great-great-grandson of John Tanner, well known for his sizeable financial contributions to Joseph Smith and the LDS church in 1835 when the church was deeply in debt. Sandra Tanner is a great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon Church.

As teenagers, before they met, Jerald and Sandra were challenged by different people and events to examine the origins of Mormonism. Soon after their introduction, they jointly began researching Mormonism and became engaged. Both accepted Christ during these early years of study and have left the Mormon church. Sandra remains today a Christian.

The Tanners are authors of over forty books on the subject of Mormonism. They are well known for their extensive research into Mormon history and doctrine during their time as founders of Utah Lighthouse Ministry.

Related Links: 
 

Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: www.watchman.org/Mormonism 

Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  www.watchman.org/GordonWalker 

Apologetics Profile podcast list of all episodes about Latter-day Saints https://www.watchman.org/files/ldspod.htm 

 
Additional Resources:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (two volumes totalling over 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

The official teaching of the Catholic Church directs its parishioners to pray directly to Mary to intercede to Jesus on our behalf (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraphs 2277-2279). The Church also teaches that Mary was herself immaculately conceived and preserved from every stain of sin common to the rest of humanity (see CCC 490-492). 

But are these doctrinal statements in keeping with a biblical portrait of Mary? We will explore these topics and others on part two of our discussion with Italian pastor, theologian, and author Leonardo De Chirico. 

Leonardo De Chirico is the pastor of Breccia di Roma, a church that he helped plant in Rome in 2009. He served as Vice Chairman of the Italian Evangelical Alliance from 2003-2021 and now serves as chairman for the theological commission of the IEA. Previously, Leonardo planted and pastored an evangelical church in Ferrara, Italy, from 1997 to 2009. He earned degrees in History (University of Bologna), Theology (ETCW, Bridgend, Wales) and Bioethics (University of Padova). His PhD is from King's College (London); it was published as Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism. In 2015, he published A Christian Pocket Guide to Papacy and A Christian Pocket Guide to Mary: Mother of God? through Christian Focus. He is a lecturer of Historical Theology at Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy. Additionally, Leonardo is the Director of the Reformanda Initiative, which aims to equip evangelical leaders to better understand and engage with Roman Catholicism, and the leader of the Rome Scholars & Leaders Network (RSLN).

Free Profile Articles from Watchman Fellowship:
Roman Catholicism
Goddess worship
Islam
New Age Movement

Additional Resources from Watchman Fellowship:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.
The complete Profile Notebook (Digital Edition, PDF, over 600-pages): www.watchman.org/DigitalNotebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

What role does Mary, the mother of Jesus, have in traditional Catholic theology? This week and next on Apologetics Profile, we will examine some of the core dogmas of Catholic Mariology and contrast them with the Bible's portrait of Mary with our guest Leonardo De Chirico, pastor, theologian, and author of several books on Catholic and Protestant theology and engagement.

Leonardo De Chirico is the pastor of Breccia di Roma, a church that he helped plant in Rome in 2009. He served as Vice Chairman of the Italian Evangelical Alliance from 2003-2021 and now serves as chairman for the theological commission of the IEA. Previously, Leonardo planted and pastored an evangelical church in Ferrara, Italy, from 1997 to 2009. He earned degrees in History (University of Bologna), Theology (ETCW, Bridgend, Wales) and Bioethics (University of Padova). His PhD is from King's College (London); it was published as Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism. In 2015, he published A Christian Pocket Guide to Papacy and A Christian Pocket Guide to Mary: Mother of God? through Christian Focus. He is a lecturer of Historical Theology at Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy. Additionally, Leonardo is the Director of the Reformanda Initiative, which aims to equip evangelical leaders to better understand and engage with Roman Catholicism, and the leader of the Rome Scholars & Leaders Network (RSLN).

Audio clips about the Dallas Cowboys featured in this episode:
Play by play of Cowboys & Vikings famous "Hail, Mary" from December 1975.
Roger Staubach interview on the Dan Patrick Show.

Free Profile Articles from Watchman Fellowship:
Roman Catholicism
Goddess worship
Islam
New Age Movement

Additional Resources from Watchman Fellowship:
FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.
The complete Profile Notebook (Digital Edition, PDF, over 600-pages): www.watchman.org/DigitalNotebook
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.
Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.