I’m always surprised when a close friend or a relative, tells me they’re reading a book about Mormons which turns out to be an anti-Mormon book. They aren’t uncomfortable or embarrassed when I explain that the book is against the Mormon faith — “this is not representative of my faith.” They seem to already know that, but they think it’s ok, they usually tell me “hey, I’m reading this book about Mormons, it’s really interesting.” 

What?

What if I called up my friend — Jewish or other — and I told her I was reading an anti-Semitic book and found it interesting–that I am enjoying it? And yes, my good friend of Jewish faith read “Under the Banner of Heaven”– her Rabbi gave it to her. Yes, he did. Are there different rules here for what constitutes even the simple rules of etiquette?  My bishop would not be handing me an anti-Semitic book to read — “Here I want to let you know what the Jews are really about.”
Of course, her husband may have infuriated the Rabbi when he said the Mormon missionaries cared more about their son with cerebral palsy then he did. (They later changed congregations.)A friend told me she was reading “The 19th Wife” — a historical fiction. It is fiction. A little history mixed with error makes a messy novel. And I have to tell you — I don’t think she would read an anti-Semitic book.
Now, I always remain calm in the face of this, and usually offer a book of historical value that is not anti-Mormon. But it never gets read — it gets returned to me unread. “Thanks, but I didn’t have time to read it.” However, we stay friends. I understand that they didn’t intend to offend me — I can choose to be offended or not.  And actually, I’m not — I’m just concerned that they are getting handed a bunch of crap mingled with scripture. However, my sister-in-law who read that 19th wife book, later joined the LDS church. So there, you never know.
My most favorite talk ever, on this subject is  “How to Write an Anti-Mormon Book“ by Hugh Nibley. It is pure Nibley, scholarly with his dry sense of humor. I can listen to it over and over.  And it just makes me laugh at all this nonsense. Here is the link to the MP3 for you to download and listen. Please do. It is so funny.

Hugh W. Nibley, “How to Write an Anti-Mormon Book,” BYU Speeches (17 February 1962) Dr. Nibley humrously looks at some of the similarities in techniques and claims of anti-Mormon critics. MP3 download also available here

Mormons tend to be non-combative, that’s why those South Park guys felt comfortable doing a Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon, making fun of Joseph Smith, Mormon missionaries and God.

There are plenty of scholars within the Mormon faith that are revealing the true history of the LDS church. Bushman gives a very neutral presentation of Joseph Smith in Rough Stone Rolling.  You don’t have to restrict yourself to only those things published by Deseret Book. There are great books and sites that talk about the mysteries of God, which advance your understanding of the gospel.