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Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor: A Quick Christian Guide for Relating to Latter-day Saints
In Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor, Ross Anderson seeks to help Christians relate to Latter-day Saints by giving insights into Mormon life and culture. Anderson's work is supported both by his lifetime of experiences growing up Mormon and by current research that utilizes many Latter-day Saints' own sources. This book explains core stories that form the Mormon worldview, experiences that shape the community identity of Mormonism, and how Mormons understand truth. Anderson shares how most Mormons see themselves and others around them, illuminating why people join the LDS Church and why many eventually leave. Latter-day Saints will find the descriptions of their values, practices, and experiences both credible and familiar. Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor suggests how Christians can befriend Latter-day Saints with confidence and sensitivity and share the grace of God wisely within their relationships. Anderson includes discussion questions for individuals and small groups, black and white photographs and charts, and an appendix that includes 'Are Mormons Christians?' and 'Should I Vote for a Mormon?'
- GenresReligionNonfiction
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2011
7 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 3, 2012
I'm biased. I really like this book because I wrote it!
November 13, 2025
The Christian men's discipleship group I attend has been going through this book trying to gain better insight into where our Mormon neighbors come from in their religiousity. As a practicing Mormon for the first 55 years of my life, and living in Utah, I already knew about everything in this book, and as such I can vouch that its author, Ross Anderson, has a firm understanding of Mormon beliefs and the varied people who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). More recently they have aschewed the "Mormon" moniker, but until a few years ago, wore the name proudly as anyone familiar with the "I Am a Mormon" campaign can attest.
The book does express the idea that there are varied levels of Mormon committment from the truly believing, to those who stay in it only to preserve family ties and associations. That has been my experience as well.
I would say that as a primer for understanding Mormons, Mr. Anderson deserves an A+ although some of their policies and procedures have changed since the publication of this book--a two hour block of meetings now, rather than a three hour block, etc. So maybe another edition is forthcoming, and with some of the recent, and not so recent changes, would be warranted. All that being said, it's a short book and informative on many levels.
The book does express the idea that there are varied levels of Mormon committment from the truly believing, to those who stay in it only to preserve family ties and associations. That has been my experience as well.
I would say that as a primer for understanding Mormons, Mr. Anderson deserves an A+ although some of their policies and procedures have changed since the publication of this book--a two hour block of meetings now, rather than a three hour block, etc. So maybe another edition is forthcoming, and with some of the recent, and not so recent changes, would be warranted. All that being said, it's a short book and informative on many levels.
July 24, 2019
Very informational and helpful. Dry and weighty read. Soooo much information. Took me a bit to get through it. 3.5/5 stars.
January 14, 2012
A great quick overview on the philosophy and thinking of a Mormon. This book isn't addressed at apologetic confrontation of error, rather, it offers a biblical look into the life and practice of an everyday Mormon, including history, church life, passions and family life. Ross does a great job wrapping up each chapter with a call to pursue relationship with the Mormons that are around us. It would seem that a Mormon could read his treatment of them and agree with his assessment of the LDS.
I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick simple read, and I loved the loving gospel connections!
Here is a particularly great section connecting the gospel in relationship with a mormon friend.
"The message of unconditional grace can speak powerfully to Latter-day Saints, especially when it comes from a person whose life has moral integrity. It’s the message they need to hear. Many devoted members feel they can never measure up to the standards set by the Church. The quest for increasing worthiness can leave average Saints weary and disheartened.33 How do you know if your efforts are good enough or when you’ve done enough?
This can take a toll on conscientious members. A study released in March 2008 by a federal agency found that Utah, which is 60 percent Mormon, has the highest rate of adults who report feeling “serious psychological distress.” Utahans also have the highest use of antidepressants in the nation. Of course, statistics can be interpreted in different ways.34 One Utah psychiatrist relates these findings to the extraordinary expectations of achievement and worthiness placed on Latter-day Saints, especially women, which drive them to maintain a constant image of perfection.35
A number of LDS scholars are appealing for a greater emphasis on grace in Mormonism. One respected LDS scholar writes: “It is lamentably ironic how grace can be edged out of Mormon theology,” which results in “a religious culture where the status of grace is uncertain.”36 LDS scripture passages are being reinterpreted by some to make more room for the concept of grace.37 Whether the Church’s leadership will follow this trend is unknown. Nonetheless, this may signal an increasing responsiveness among Latter-day Saints to the biblical message of God’s unconditional grace.
When Saints come to feel defeated in their pursuit of worthiness, they have four options. They can try harder. They can pretend to try harder, in order to maintain the public image of worthiness. They can reinterpret the standards downward so that they feel as if they are measuring up. Or they can just give up. When our LDS friends come to sense the futility of their efforts, a kind, trusted Christian friend can provide a safe listening ear."
I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick simple read, and I loved the loving gospel connections!
Here is a particularly great section connecting the gospel in relationship with a mormon friend.
"The message of unconditional grace can speak powerfully to Latter-day Saints, especially when it comes from a person whose life has moral integrity. It’s the message they need to hear. Many devoted members feel they can never measure up to the standards set by the Church. The quest for increasing worthiness can leave average Saints weary and disheartened.33 How do you know if your efforts are good enough or when you’ve done enough?
This can take a toll on conscientious members. A study released in March 2008 by a federal agency found that Utah, which is 60 percent Mormon, has the highest rate of adults who report feeling “serious psychological distress.” Utahans also have the highest use of antidepressants in the nation. Of course, statistics can be interpreted in different ways.34 One Utah psychiatrist relates these findings to the extraordinary expectations of achievement and worthiness placed on Latter-day Saints, especially women, which drive them to maintain a constant image of perfection.35
A number of LDS scholars are appealing for a greater emphasis on grace in Mormonism. One respected LDS scholar writes: “It is lamentably ironic how grace can be edged out of Mormon theology,” which results in “a religious culture where the status of grace is uncertain.”36 LDS scripture passages are being reinterpreted by some to make more room for the concept of grace.37 Whether the Church’s leadership will follow this trend is unknown. Nonetheless, this may signal an increasing responsiveness among Latter-day Saints to the biblical message of God’s unconditional grace.
When Saints come to feel defeated in their pursuit of worthiness, they have four options. They can try harder. They can pretend to try harder, in order to maintain the public image of worthiness. They can reinterpret the standards downward so that they feel as if they are measuring up. Or they can just give up. When our LDS friends come to sense the futility of their efforts, a kind, trusted Christian friend can provide a safe listening ear."
January 22, 2012
This is perhaps the best book I've read regarding the subject. It demonstrates both how NOT to share your faith, and how to do it from a loving, relational concern. While I believe Mormonism diverges greatly from biblical Christianity, I'm not sure we can say "If you are Mormon, you are not a Christian." A very useful (and easy) read!
February 8, 2014
Ross Anderson's love for the LDS culture and people shows clearly as he challenges Christians to introduce Mormon friends and neighbors to the infinite, unchanging God who has adopted us into HIS forever family.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews