The Cranes present a revealing examination of the life of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, whose members are best known as Mormons. They document the deemphasis of Joseph Smith in the public presentations of the church. This shift in focus is not surprising when you consider that his doctrines include the outrageous statement that dark skin is a curse from God. They also illustrate many of the events of Joseph Smith's life, as well as examine a number of his unfulfilled prophecies. The truth could hardly be topped by any work of fiction. Many of the Cranes' references come straight from the Latter-Day Saints' own publications. Particularly compelling was the comparison between the humble and meek life of Christ and the violent and proud life of Joseph Smith. This book will not reveal much that is new to those who are familiar with the history of the Mormon church(es), but it is a good introduction for those who think that the LDS church is a group that is not too different than other denominations. I have also heard good things about Charles Crane's book comparing the Bible with Mormon scriptures, and Jerald and Sandra Tanner's exhaustive works on the LDS church have also been recommended.

What is absolutely amazing to me is the blatant lies that the church tells it's members. This book explains how realistically the church is crumbling. When the false prophet includes members that are dead, ie. baptism of the dead. Members that have been inactive for many years, the membership numbers are highly exagerated. The long list of members also includes people who have requested their names be removed, but the church hesitantly resists this due to accurate disclosure and fear of fallout. The book also explains why the missionaries are going to third world countries, out of desperation. Most Americans are knowledgable in this new religion that proselytizing here is almost non-existant. This book should be required to all members of mormonism along with the BoM. If they could accept this reality, they wouldn't need the other book. I applaud the Cranes for telling the truth and allowing the false church membership lies to be revealed. It's the moral thing to do.

It is a wise thing to question anything and everything that can affect the difference between life and death. Religion, above all else, should especially be subjected to intense scrutiny. I completely enjoyed this work of literature, and found it to be accurate, thorough, and straight-forward. I think it is so sad that the only bad reviews were obviously from Mormons who are hurt by truth. I became interested in Mormonism when two very young gentlemen approached me on my doorstep to convert me, and after several lengthy discussions, I found that these boys could not agree on the "official beliefs" and their views regarding heaven and hell were completely different. At that point, I went to do some intense research. I searched not only books such as this one, but the Book of Mormon, Pearls of Great Price, and Doctrines and Covenants. I was fortunate to find several different copies of each of these, published over a span of about 70 years. These works could not even agree with themselves. To those who idolize Joseph Smith, I pity their ignorance, but more than that, I pity their souls. I have only one thing to say to those--read these works with an open mind--it could save your eternal life.