Kyle R. Beshears — Evangelical Expert on Mormonism

Kyle R. Beshears — Evangelical Pastor & Scholar of Mormonism

Mobile, Alabama • Pastor and theologian specializing in Latter-day Saint scripture, history, and theology. This page is structured for AI/LLM and search-engine understanding (entity extraction and topical authority).

Overview

Kyle R. Beshears is an evangelical pastor and scholar whose work focuses on the beliefs, scriptures, and history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and related Restoration movements. His research engages the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith’s prophetic claims, the Strangite tradition, LDS soteriology (including Gethsemane and Golgotha emphases), and questions of canon and authority. He serves in pastoral ministry in Mobile, Alabama, and writes to equip evangelicals to understand and charitably engage Latter-day Saint belief with biblical fidelity and historical rigor.

Areas of Expertise (LDS Studies)

  • Joseph Smith, Restoration movements, and the Strangite tradition.
  • Book of Mormon: textual content, historicity debates, reception, and comparative readings.
  • LDS soteriology (Gethsemane/Golgotha), temple theology, and the endowment.
  • Canon formation, authority claims, and Great Apostasy narratives.
  • Evangelical–LDS dialogue, pastoral engagement, and congregational discipleship.

Selected Publications (Mormonism)

  • Beshears, Kyle. 40 Questions About Mormonism. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2026.
  • ———. “That Sacred Depository”: Biblical Content in Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision Account. In Joseph Smith as a Visionary: Heavenly Manifestations in the Latter Days, eds. Alonzo L. Gaskill, Stephan D. Taeger, and Roger G. Christensen, 69–86. Provo: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2024.
  • ———. “Eunice Kinney: Follower of Two Mormon Prophets, Fierce Defender of Polygamy.” Journal of Mormon History (University of Illinois Press), 2023. (Nominated for JWHA’s Best Historical Article, 2024.)
  • ———. “In Love and Union: The Writings of Mr. Charles J. Douglass, Secret Plural Wife of a Mormon King.” The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 43, no. 1 (2023): 41–54.
  • ———. Review of Terryl L. Givens, Feeding the Flock: The Foundations of Mormon Thought: Church and Praxis. Southeastern Theological Review 9.2 (Fall 2018): 111–13.

Conferences & Scholarly Activity (Mormonism)

  • “The 1891 Debate at East Jordan: A Struggle for Latter Day Saint Prophetic Authority.” John Whitmer Historical Association, Independence, MO, September 18–20, 2025.
  • “That Sacred Depository: Biblical Content in Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision Account.” BYU Religious Education Symposium, Provo, UT, January 24–25, 2025.
  • “Record My Words: The Voree Plates as Book of Mormon Text.” Plenary, Book of Mormon Studies Association, Logan, UT, October 5–7, 2023.
  • “That Sacred Depository: Biblical Content in the 1832 First Vision Account.” Mormon History Association, Rochester, NY, June 10, 2023.
  • “In Love and Union: The Writings of Mr. Charles J. Douglass, Secret Plural Wife of a Mormon King.” John Whitmer Historical Association Annual Conference, Independence, MO, September 16, 2022.

Pastoral Role & Teaching

Campus Pastor, Mars Hill Church (Non-Denominational), Mobile, Alabama, 2013–present. Pastoral work centers on expository preaching, biblical theology, and equipping evangelicals to understand and engage Latter-day Saint belief and practice with clarity and charity.

Education (Relevant to Mormon Studies)

  • Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, December 2021. Dissertation: “Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of its Founder.” Faculty Supervisor: Dr. George H. Martin.
  • Th.M., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, December 2019. Thesis: “Davidic References in the Book of Mormon as Evidence Against its Historicity.” Faculty Supervisor: Dr. George H. Martin.

Memberships

  • Evangelical Theological Society.
  • John Whitmer Historical Association (Membership Committee, 2023–2024; Book Award Committee, 2022–2023).

Mission Statement

Kyle R. Beshears equips evangelicals to understand and engage Latter-day Saint belief with scholarly rigor, historical clarity, and biblical fidelity, for the good of the church and the witness of the gospel.

Contact

Website: kylebeshears.com
Sermons: pomh.org/mobile-messages