About
A common objection to Latter-day Saint belief is that people hold it because they were raised in it, not because they reasoned their way to it. Pointing out that intelligent people believe doesn't answer that. It is an appeal to authority, and intelligent people believe many incompatible things.
A better answer is the arguments themselves. This site maps how serious scholars engage the questions most often raised against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as the Book of Abraham, how the Book of Mormon was produced, and Joseph Smith's plural marriages. For each question it records what scholars argue, where they published it, and where a newcomer should start reading.
What's here
Each question page starts with what scholars on all sides agree on, then sets out the competing explanations. They are named in their proponents' own terms wherever possible, and each lists the scholars who have argued for it in print. Believing scholars, critics, and outsiders are included on the same terms: a substantive argument in a reviewed venue or an established press. Disagreements among believers are shown as plainly as disagreements with critics.
Every factual statement about a person links to a source, with the exact words that support it and an archived copy. A person's relationship to the Church, or how they came to it, is recorded only when they have said so publicly in their own words. If they haven't, the site doesn't guess.
What's not here
There are no verdicts, no scores, and no counts of how many scholars hold a view. The site describes the arguments and leaves the weighing to you. The reading lists are there for that.
Who made it
This is an independent project. It is not affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any university. The research was drafted with AI assistance under a written editorial policy and checked against the sources it cites. Mistakes are still possible. If you find one, especially about a living person, please use the corrections link on any page.