This page follows the point made that a Christian has the duty to 'test the prophets', which was included in the May 2001 meditation.

In addition to the internal test suggested in that meditation, there are the words of Jesus (Matt. ch 7 v 15): "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them." Now not all of us have time for research into the lives of such as Joseph Smith Junior, Charles Taze Russell, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White, or John Thomas, all of whom founded sects in the 19th century that have grown to worldwide proportions. But for those who feel the need to do this research, here are some useful sites to visit. Not all are equally useful, or equally gracious and balanced in the way they present the evidence. But there is a body of evidence about the 'fruit' of such people, which the Internet makes it possible to access relatively easily.

Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry has links on its home page to 'What makes a group a cult?' and discusses in some detail Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians, Mormons, Christian Science, and a number of other cults.

The Institute for Religious Research is a similar general starting point, with a simlar range of links to various cults.

Because Mormonism depends very much on the claims of a particular individual to be a prophet, the material regarding the life of its founder, Joseph Smith Junior, is more widely available than, say, that about Charles Taze Russell (who - by contrast - is rarely mentioned by contemporary Jehovah's Witnesses). Here are some sites that provide material about the founder of this sect, and his immediate successor, Brigham Young:

• The articles page of The Mormon Research Ministry has much material about the life of Joseph Smith, and many other useful commentaries on the cult.
• The online text of a book published in 1902, The Story of the Mormons is a continuous narrative of his life and what followed, written in a very balanced and careful way.
• The resources page of the Utah Lighthouse Ministry is very helpful, especially in explaining the major theological difference between Mormons and Christians.
• Another site with an abundance of interesting detail, presented in not the most gracious way, is The truth about the LDS Mormon Cult. Here for instance is the book written by Ann Eliza Young, who was one of Brigham Young's many wives, called 'Wife Number 19'. It also contains the text of the Spalding Manuscript, which many see as a forerunner of the Book of Mormon.
• A personal page, written by a former member of the cult, Richard Packham, also contains a lot of insights, written with inside knowledge and personal experience.