Rating: 
Summary: One deceit deserves another...
Review: After reading through this work, I took it upon myself to review the author's website, which was, to say the least, informative. Most telling was his letter posted to Publisher's Weekly.In his letter to Publisher's Weekly regarding an unfavorable review of his book, Mr. Abanes accuses Jana Riess of the magazine of unfairly reviewing his work because she is a Mormon. He then states that her review is absurd when compared to the supposedly unbiased reviews of "non-Christians and Christians alike" . It is, however, perfectly clear that the reviews he cites are not anything closely resembling "unbiased". Mr. Abanes' first review is offered by Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine. That Mr. Shermer's "review" can be anything but biased is manifest on Mr. Abanes' homepage to his website. On that site, a brief introduction of the Religious Information Center includes the following information: "Interestingly, although Richard is an evangelical Christian, he is on the editorial advisory board of the California-based Skeptic Society, founded by Michael Shermer." This association is hardly the stuff from which unbiased reviews can spring. His second "review" comes from Sandra Tanner , a well-known and notorious publisher of inflammatory works against the Mormon Church . Additionally, she is the author of the forward to One Nation Under Gods . As such, her opinion of the book is not only spelled out clearly in the Foreward, but since a large portion of Mr. Abanes' research relies so heavily on her other works, it would not be unfair to say that her "review" is far from objective. Lastly, Mr. Abanes' cites a review by Hank Hanegraff, President of the Christian Research Institute . Besides being listed as a location to obtain One Nation Under Gods on his website , the Christian Research Institute is also featured under "Other Religious Websites", subcategory "Apologetics / Cults / World Religions" . A search on "Mormons" at CRI's website produces some interesting results. Seven pages of "eStore and Article Results" are listed. A cursory review of the hits, from books titled Witnessing to Mormons and Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons to articles "Reaching Out to Mormons" and "Of Cities and Swords: The Impossible Task of Mormon Apologetics" , paints a very clear picture of an organization that is anything but unbiased in its regard to Mormons and Mormon history. His complaint to Publisher's Weekly, that Ms. Riess had perhaps not read the entire book, but only gleaned a comment from his concluding statements is unfounded. It is likely that Ms. Riess had more to say on the subject but, due to page size constraints, the magazine edited her remarks to it essence. This, by the way, is what Mr. Abanes does in the quote cited by Ms. Riess in her review, boils the essence of his previous 435 pages (not 600 as claimed) to the following: "The history of Mormonism is rife with nefarious deeds, corruption, vice, and intolerance. So far the fruits of Mormonism have included lust, greed, theft, fraud, violence, murder, religious fanaticism, bribery, and racism." As I am sure Mr. Abanes is aware, there is no such thing as an objective review of history. All historical reviews begin with some preconceived viewpoint in mind. In most cases, the facts are then gathered that support that point of view to the exclusion of any evidence that may present any given event in a different light. His work, therefore, falls exactly where Ms. Riess classified it - agenda-driven exposé. Pehaps there is no more telling remark explaining Mr. Abanes' intent then the press release at Four Walls Eight Windows website for another of his books, End-Time Visions. The final paragraph reads "The director of the Religious Information Center and a familiar voice on Christian radio, Abanes is himself a former cult member (The Way International)" As a "recovered" cult member, no doubt he feels compelled to bring others back from their "indoctrination" to
"my God, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer;" Regarding that Christianity that Mr. Abanes so piously claims to uphold, he should perhaps in his next work begin an historical review of the rock he has built his own faith upon. Or he should heed the warning of that same Jesus of Nazareth: "Or how wilt thou say to they brother, Let me pull the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of the brother's eye." If Mr. Abanes feels wrongly used by Ms. Riess, perhaps he should ask himself if his own actions in this affair, i.e. attacking her beliefs, are above reproach.
Rating: 
Summary: A little more open minded please -From a Mormon
Review: I think this is a good read for anyone that is interested in learning more about the Mormon Church. However, it is somewhat biased as all books are. So it might be best to complement this book with a LDS published book defending or explaining some of these arguments. When doing either, keep in mind to think level headed and try not to be biased yourself. This is the best way to learn the truth! Further, I would like to give a bigger piece of the puzzle to some of the more radical Mormons or radical Anti-Mormons. Even if you don't think you're radical you're probably on one side or the other if you've previously studied any Mormon literature. Please read my little explanation Explanation:
Mormons feel that writing Anti-Mormon literature is not Christ-like. So they feel that this already in itself makes the book an evil intended book. This is surely not the case though if you think a little outside of the box. For Mormons feel that it is fine to spread their gospel by doing missionary work, and this is perfectly fine, since they have good intentions in saving or helping people. Argument:
Anti-Mormon literature is the same thing as reverse missionary work! The teachings in both religions contradict one another, so Mormons feel that they are showing how their scripture is another testiment and that the Bible is not complete. Christians, on the other hand, feel that they are doing the same thing by trying to save Mormons. The Christians are just trying to show us the problems in the Mormon Church (Bible is true and Book of Mormon isn't another testiment) as the Mormon Church is showing problems in the Christian faith. So in conclusion, Mormons and non-Mormons both have good intentions as they are trying to help the other. Why dig up dirt:
Yes, this book does bring up some difficult and sometimes half truths about the history of the Mormon Church. True it may not give the 100% full truth from both sides in every situation it mentions in the book. However, the Mormon Church history is not the only point of the book. To understand the present, one needs to look at the past. My personal and biased opinion : - ) is that this book tries to explain the modern day church through its history i.e. polygamy! True, you can dig up dirt on other religions too. For example, the book A World Lit by Fire by William Manchester also digs up dirt on the Catholic Church and through it you'll learn about the reformation, thus explaining all the different Christian church denominations including and indirectly the Mormon Church (Joseph Smith didn't know which church was true, consequently writing/translating Book of Mormon. This being a consequence of the reformation). In my opinion, the main difference is that Catholics and other denominations acknowledge their troubled history of corruption. The modern LDS saints only partly acknowledge their history. They still believe that those original prophets were divine and pure while most Christian faiths acknowledge the fact that their church was corrupt once upon a time. And they don't feel this history is Anti-Christian unlike Mormon's do on their own history! Further, if it doesn't promote the Mormon Church many Mormon's feel that it is Anti-Mormon, even if it may be true. Conclusion:
The key to understanding the present is to learn from the past and I encourage all LDS faiths to read this book. I further encourage Christians reading this book to also look at LDS published literature or websites explaining this past. Then let the decision be up to you, but be ware you may not like what you find.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent But Flawed
Review: Abanes has written an exceptionally interesting and well researched presentation of the history and structure of Mormonism. But it is flawed in that Abanes apparently doesn't realize that all "revealed" religions have been built on invention and manipulation. Since New Testament supernatural claims and miraculous stories are just as invented as those of Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon, Abanes's book misses the point that angelic and miraculous "histories" are fantasies. Mormons, as do Catholic and Protestant Christians, operate socially beneficial myths that, as Joseph Campbell has pointed out, are valuable in that they fool people into rising above themselves. Though the divine aspects of Mormonism and other forms of Christianity are evolved fantasies of one person or many, these socially needed myths provide motivation, inspiration, comfort, direction, family focus, improved personal and social behavior, and lowered stress through better communication arising from an agreed-upon value system and shared goals. Abanes points out how Mormonism was contrived, but ignores how Christianity was contrived in somewhat analogous ways, as clearly described in readable books such as Who Wrote the New Testament?
Rating:
Summary: informative, documented, readable
Review: The 400 plus pages organizes the history of this important American religious group, and I recommend it to any one who wishes to understand the development of this group.
Rating:
Summary: How pathetic!
Review: I am no big religious person myself but to be honest, I found this book to very degrading. So what if Mormons believe that and did this and that? Who has the right to tear at others beliefs? The author, who declares himself as a Christian, can not say that his faith has not been tarred with a bleak past... all religions have. I have never seen any evidence to make me think that Mormons are evil. In fact, I think they operate some kind of welfare charity or something. Sure they believe some stuff that is unorthodox but thats their right. They have never lead a terrorist attack against anyone. They do not attack other religions, by force or this kind of undermining rubbish. However, this is not the full problem of the book. It keeps running back to the same arguements over and over. The only person who would benefit from this book is those who hate Mormons because that is what it promotes, hatred! For that reason I would strongly recommend against this book. And to Mr Abanes, if you are going to write another book, write something positive and upbeat. I am sure that is what Jesus would do!
Rating:
Summary: Garbage, Abanes is Scared of Mormons and Harry Potter???
Review: Abanes successfully brings NOTHING NEW to the anti-Mormon movement. I AM "Mormon" and I know that Abanes is NOT being Christ like. Abanes and his writings are the furthest from the truth. He selectively takes portions of the history of the church and twists "what he believes" to be the truth and manipulates it to his anti-Mormon benefit to sell his book. "It reads like a fast paced novel." The funny thing is you people are buying into it. If you want to know more about "Mormonism" (The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints) go to WWW.LDS.ORG and do your own homework. Do not be lazy and allow this one person to "teach" you and lead you astray. Beware of this man that tells you good is bad and bad is good.
Rating:
Summary: Unreliable
Review: I heard the author of this book on a Christian radio program discussing his book. He is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sains and seemed to be intent on "bashing" the members of the church and their beliefs. I find it interesting that somone who proclaims to be a Christian would go out of their way to attempt to blemish the religious beliefs of others. Our country was founded on the premise of freedom of religion. A true Christian wouldn't spend their energy trying to bring down the faith of other Christians.
Rating:
Summary: "One Nation Under Gods..."
Review: Much of his so-called historical references (by a non-historian) are opinions of either non-members or, in the earliest journalistic references, people with axes to grind and probably even those associated with the murder of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyram. All I have to say is this is the same kind of criticism Jesus Christ himself took in a modern-day version. I'm sorry I had to even give this book one star.
Rating:
Summary: The best scholarly work on the history of the Mormon church.
Review: I was an active, temple worthy Mormon Elder who was steeped in church history and doctrine...yet I must confess this is the single best scholarly, non-biased work I've encountered to date on the fascinating history of the often misunderstood Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Author Richard Abanes provides extensive documentation and footnotes to persuasively show the most devout Mormon among us that there's much more than meets the eye in this fast growing church with it's Osmond image yet bizarre and cultish temple rituals, et al. The author corrobates everything, quite literally, with footnotes and even reproductions of original documents. An incredibly well-researched work, to say the least. The book truly reads like a fast-paced novel. I couldn't put it down. Lastly, as a Mormon Elder (before I requested that my name be removed from their membership records) I had extensive discussions with many, many life-long, devout and active Mormons (Bishops and Stake Presidents) steeped in Mormon history...and they reluctantly corroborated many, many of the unflattering accounts you'll find in this book. In short, if you want the WHOLE story of Joseph Smith and the history of the Mormon church in one volume, this is the book for you!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Reading by a person that just joined the church
Review: Hello. I just joined the church and I preformed alot of reading both on books and the net for over 5 years. The book has truth to it. The intresting thing about "history" is that there is alot of "mixed up" media out there. Take for example the fact that Joseph Smith had been sealed to many wives. One source will say that the wives were married when another will say were not married. Alot of that kind of mixed information got me too look even closer into the church.
If you look on page 171, epigraph it gives you the look of one quote but if you look back...its from three different sources and he compresses the quotes to make it look...interesting in his eye.
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