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Grant Palmer

This web page is dedicated to the accomplishments of Grant Palmer and his dealings with the Mormon Church.

Who is Grant Palmer?

Grant Palmer was employed by the LDS Church as a Church Education System (CES) teacher for 34 years. He retired in 2001.

Summary: More on Grant

Books

Book authored by Grant: "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins". Published in 2002 and available at Signature Books.com. It was sold at Deseret Books for several years and is still available there by special order. It's also still sold at the BYU bookstore.

Summary: Over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into Mormon origins—Joseph Smith's early life, the Book of Mormon, the prophet's visions, and the restoration of priesthood authority. Longtime LDS educator Grant H. Palmer suggests that most Latter-day Saints remain unaware of the significance of these discoveries, and he gives a brief survey for anyone who has ever wanted to know more about these issues.

He finds that much of what we take for granted as literal history has been tailored over the years—slightly modified, added to, one aspect emphasized over another—to the point that the original narratives have been nearly lost. What was experienced as a spiritual or metaphysical event, something from a different dimension, often has been refashioned as if it were a physical, objective occurrence. This is not how the first Saints interpreted these events. Historians who have looked closer at the foundational stories and source documents have restored elements, including a nineteenth-century world view, that have been misunderstood, if not forgotten.

Excerpt: Excerpt from An insider's View

Reviews: Several scholarly reviews of An Insider's View

Response to FARM's critical review: A Reply to FARMS and the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute

Notes: on the "Golden Pot" Chapter. This is the most original and perhaps controversial chapter in An Insider's View.

Book authored by Grant: "The Incomparable Jesus". Published in 2005 and available at Kofford Books.com

Summary: Grant Palmer closed his thirty-four-year career teaching for the LDS Church Educational System with the final thirteen years as a chaplain and the LDS Institute director at the Salt Lake County Jail. Distilled from his personal and teaching experiences, this tender testament to the incomparable Jesus describes a Savior who walked the halls with him, succoring those in need.

In this slim volume, Palmer sensitively shares his understanding of what it means to know Jesus by doing his works. He lists the qualities of divine character attested to by the Apostles Peter and Paul, and also those that Jesus revealed about himself in his masterful Sermon on the Mount, particularly in the beatitudes.

With reverence Palmer shares personal spiritual experiences that were life-changing assurances of Jesus's love for him--a love poured out unstintingly in equally life-changing blessings on prisoners whose crimes have not stopped short of sexual abuse and murder. Reading this book offers deeper understanding of the Savior's mercy, a stronger sense of his love, and a deeper commitment to follow him.

Review: "This book reminds me why I am proud to be a Christian; and it makes me want to be a better one. This slender volume provides a better insight into the atonement than anything I have ever read. Grant Palmer has given us a timely gem of a book, one that is focused exclusively on the Savior" Dee Benson - Chief Judge, U.S. Federal District Court of Utah.

Excerpts on each chapter of The Incomparable Jesus available here.

Grant's Other Writings

Salt Lake Tribune article from 2008: "Jesus’ Judgment of Humanity"

Sunstone article from 2007: The "Born Again" Saint

Sources for the Book of Abraham (2009): Five sources Joseph used for composing the Book of Abraham.

Sources for the Book of Mormon (2009): Six sources Joseph Smith used in composing the Book of Mormon

Visions (2009): What Joseph Smith’s Four Foundational Visions have in Common

Associated Press Article (2004): Former LDS Teacher Faces Excommunication for Controversial Book (Under News Stories about 3/4 of the way down)

Los Angeles Times Article (2004): Mormon Author Says He's Facing Excommunication (Under News Stories about 5/6 of the way down)

Associated Press Article (2004): Mormon Church Disciplines Author for Book (Under News Stories at very bottom of page)

MIDWESTERN JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY Article (2010): Religious Feeling and Truth

Article: Sexual Allegations Against Joseph Smith

Article: Why William and Jane Law Left the LDS Church in 1844

Article: Did Joseph Smith Commit Treason in His Quest for Political Empire in 1844?

Grant's Timeline of events

Grant kept a detailed journal of the events as they transpired after he wrote An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. The following shows his thoughts and correspondence he had with his local leadership all throughout his church disciplinary hearing till the present:

Timeline of events

Podcasts

Mormon Stories Podcasts - Grant Palmer was interviewed by John Dehlin of Mormon Stories for a four-part series on Mormonism. Episodes 30-33.

Mormon Expression Podcast - John Larsen talks with former Church Educational System Institute Director, teacher, and author about his journey within Mormonism and his view of Jesus.

Radio Station Interview

	Interview with Grant H. Palmer, 2004 Gena Edvalson, "RadioActive," KRCL Radio FM 90.9
	Click here for:	Audio version		Typescript

Documentary Appearance

PBS Special "The Mormons" - aired by PBS Frontline on May 1, 2006. Provided commentary in the second part. He appears about 45 minutes into the first hour of Part II, for about two minutes. Here's a one minute youtube video excerpt.

TV Interview

Grant was interviewed Wed. May 18, 2011 and Wed. May 25, 2011 on live TV by Jason Wallace on Channel 20 in the greater Salt Lake area. Wed May 18, the focus was on An Insider's View of Mormon Origins and the future of Mormonism. On Wed May 25, the focus was on comparing the Mormon Jesus with the New Testament Jesus, especially their personality, behavior, attitudes and what their doctrinal emphasis is. The format each week was an interview for 30 minutes followed by questions from callers.

First Interview available online Part 1.

Second Interview available online Part 2.