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FAIR (Mormon apologetics organization)

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FAIR
Faithful Answers, Informed Response
FormationDecember 19, 1997;
26 years ago (1997-12-19)
HeadquartersRedding, CA
Membership
Scott Gordon (President), Gregory Smith (board member), Paul McNabb (board member), Daniel Peterson (board member), John Lynch (board member)
Revenue (2019)
$306,251
Websitehttps://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/
Formerly called
  • Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc.
  • FairMormon

FAIR (Faithful Answers, Informed Response), formerly known as FairMormon and the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR), is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that specializes in Mormon apologetics and responds to criticism of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[1] FAIR comprises volunteers who seek to answer questions submitted to its web site. It was founded in November 1997 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who wanted to defend their faith on AOL message boards.[2] The members of FAIR are international volunteers. FAIR holds an annual conference where topics of current apologetic issues are presented.[3][4] The organization also publishes a monthly electronic newsletter.

FAIR is not officially affiliated with the LDS Church, though its members are "all committed to defending the Church".[5]

Name

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At its inception, FAIR was known as the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR).[6] However, because of widespread unfamiliarity with the meaning of apologetics as reasoned argumentation, in August 2013 the organization announced it would change its name from FAIR to FairMormon.

Steven Densley, vice-president at the time, explained:

“We have changed our name and are updating our websites in order to make them more easily accessible. The name has been simplified. Instead of The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, it is now simply FairMormon. Hopefully this will be easier to remember and will allow us to spend more time doing apologetics rather than spending our time explaining what apologetics is. Our mission has not changed, but hopefully, with the name change and the changes with the websites, our organization will be more effective."[7]

In February 2021, the organization announced an official rebranding effort, including a new name, website, and logo, in response to requests from church president Russell M. Nelson to avoid using the colloquial term "Mormon" to refer to the church or to Latter-day Saints.[6] The group returned to the name FAIR, though it changed the acronym to stand for "Faithful Answers, Informed Response".[6][8]

Websites

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Mormon Voices is a website run by FAIR which seeks to defend representations of the LDS Church in the media.[9][10]

Mormon FAIR-Cast

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FAIR also sponsors a podcast called the Mormon FAIR-Cast.[11] In 2011 and 2013, it won an award for best podcast in the Religion Inspiration category of the People's Choice Podcast Awards.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Romney campaign puts Mormon faith in spotlight". NBC News. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2018.[dead link]
  2. ^ "FAIR originated as an internet-based group in the late 90s …. What happened was that there were religious discussions on the old AOL message boards, and the Mormons were getting pushed around. They were the 98 pound weaklings because they didn’t control the venue. The people that did, limited their access and things like that. So FAIR originated as a group of people banding together electronically for self defense." Kevin Barney, Notes on Apologetics, FAIR Blog, last modified 17 October 2012.
  3. ^ Arave, Lynn (2 August 2008). "FAIR, Sunstone conferences are this week". deseret.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  4. ^ "2011 FAIR Conference will address controversial LDS issues - The Daily Universe". byu.edu. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  5. ^ "We're not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, the members of FairMormon are all committed to defending the Church and helping people to maintain their testimonies." https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/about/faq-html
  6. ^ a b c Noyce, David (March 21, 2021). "FairMormon Adopts a New Name and Urges a Kinder Approach in Defending the LDS Church". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "FAIR Has New Name/Shaken Faith Syndrome Updated. - FairMormon". Blog. FAIR. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Gordon, Scott (March 20, 2021). "New Name and New Directions". Blog. FAIR. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Walker, Joseph (21 November 2011). "FAIR changes Mormon defenders website name". deseret.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Website defending Mormonism adopts softer name". mysanantonio.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Blog - FAIR". fairlatterdaysaints.org. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  12. ^ "2011 Winners and Nominees". Podcast Awards. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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