Real vs. Rumor

How to Dispel Latter-day Myths

Did Joseph Smith really say that? Does the Church have the sword of Laban? How accurate was the story told in Sunday School? Should I trust the information I found online? Can I draw closer to God by learning about history?

Real vs. Rumor explores Latter-day myths, rumors, and Church history to demonstrate how to think critically about the information that swirls around us. Each chapter brims with illuminating examples from scripture, history, and popular culture. By thoughtfully combining study and faith to investigate myths and rumors, you will deepen your discipleship, avoid deception, understand tough topics, and see the hand of God in history and in your own life.

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CONTENTS

Introduction: Our Day of Rumors

PART I. THE MYTHS WITHIN US

1. We Know Everything
2. I Heard . . .
3. I Assumed . . . [read an excerpt here]
4. Let the Facts Speak for Themselves
5. There Are Two Sides to Every Story
6. The Truth Is Enough
7. They Were Just Like Us
8. What a Coincidence!

PART II. HOW TO INVESTIGATE

9. Which Sources Can I Trust?
10. You Sure It Ain’t Fake?
11. You Got a Source for That Story?
12. What If It’s Antagonistic?
13. How Good Is That Book?

PART III. DISPEL THIS

14. Get Yourself Smart
15. Don’t Say This at Church
16. Help a Friend in Crisis [read an excerpt here]
17. Know the Dealings of God

Epilogue: You Take the Next One

APPENDICES

A: Discern Real and Rumor with These Questions
B: Dispel These Bad Assumptions
C: The Sniff Tests