Life After Ministry

I Am a Child of God

The words from this Mormon children’s song still rings in my ears at times; some 40 years later no less.  My kids have never heard it and I look at it as one of those things in life that obviously won’t be passed on down to the next generation.

I have a long list of things that won’t be passed down just as all ex-Mormons do.  Songs, clothing choices, dietary laws, genealogy work, books, et al; all the traditions I deemed important at one time in my life are now as rubbish as the Apostle Paul so eloquently said almost 2,000 years ago.  Philippians 3:7-8;

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

What’s so incredibly cool now though are the traditions my husband and I have put into place for the kids are based upon a biblically solid foundation.  Observing Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, Easter and the empty cross…all those things were non-existent in my Mormon life.  And that would include Bible studies, listening to great sermons and uplifting, Christ-centered praise and worship music.  The words of “I am a child of God” are heretical and I’m in awe He pulled me out of such a dark pit.

As I was writing this article I did a search for the exact words even though I unfortunately knew them after all these years and came across another ex-Mormon’s blog that talked about this song.  It’s good to see I’m in great company and how God works through His children!

So let’s take a look at that song and show you why it doesn’t line up with biblical Christianity.

I Am a Child of God

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.

Chorus
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday

I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows too late.

Chorus

I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will
I’ll live with him once more.

As you can see, the lyrics are filled with innuendos, uncertainty of what will happen to your soul, a misrepresentation of where man came from to begin with and of course the ever present; lack of grace.

“I am a child of God” means they believe each person was literally spiritually begotten by a Heavenly Father (God) and a Heavenly Mother in a sexual union before the earth was created.

Answers: Straightforward Answers to Tough Gospel Questions, pp. 5-6; “Every truth of salvation, that is, every doctrine or principle that we must accept and live in order to be saved, was taught to us before we were born. We came into this life knowing but having forgotten these sacred truths.” – Joseph Fielding McConkie

1 Corinthians 15:45-47; “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”

For Behold Ye are Free, p. 42; “…as intelligences, we voluntarily agreed to the proposed action of God the Eternal Father and his companion – we consented to our being born as sons and daughters of them, understanding the laws and consequences of obedience and disobedience to those laws that obtained in that kingdom…Now as spirit sons and daughters of God, after we had taken that step to become the literal offspring of celestial Parents, we read in the Doctrine and Covenants, an item pertaining to our freedom of choice as spirit beings.  “…for, behold the devil was before Adam…”” – Lynn A. McKinlay

Gal. 4:4-7; “But when the ullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Chorus
“Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday”

“Walk beside me” is all the Mormon Holy Ghost can do.  They don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a constant companion for the everyday Christian.  If you’re doing well in life by not sinning, he will come alongside you at times.  They believe the Holy Spirit can influence you much like the sun in the sky does, but that’s the extent of His radiating presence.  But watch out because there’s other Mormon scripture that’ll tell members the exact opposite.  Compare their works alongside the Bible and you can see why these dear people need our prayers.

Ensign, November 2008, p. 35; “Nothing in this life is of greater worth than the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the source of joy, peace, knowledge, strength, love, and every other good thing. With the Atonement, it is the power by which we may be changed and made strong where we are weak. With the priesthood, it is the power by which marriages and families are sealed together eternally (see D&C 132:7, 19). It is the power by which the Lord makes Himself manifest unto those who believe in Him (see 2 Nephi 26:13). Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Everything depends on that.”” – Lawrence E. Corbridge

Acts 10:45; “And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Holy Ghost Constant Companion – D&C 121:46; “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”

Romans 8:26-27; “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with ullness which cannot be uttered.  27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Holy Ghost; Is Holy Ghost Omnipresent? – D&C 130:23; “A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.”

1 Corinthians 6:19; “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Holy Ghost; Omnipresent or Not – Doctrines of Salvation 1:40; “As President Joseph F. Smith says: “He does not have to dwell with one constantly.” This man here, another one over there, and a man over in England, are confirmed members of the Church. The question arises, “How can the Holy Ghost be with them all at the same time?” He does not have to be, but the power of the Holy Ghost is such that it can be manifest in every place at the same moment of time.”

John 20:22; “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

Holy Ghost, Qualifying for – Ensign, July 2008, p. 29; “One of the greatest blessings of membership in the Church is the opportunity to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through virtuous living we can qualify for this divine source of guidance, which enables us to see “things as they really are, and … as they really will be” (Jacob 4:13).” – Kenneth Johnson

1 John 2:20-21; “⁰But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. ²¹I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.”

In the second verse of this song it says;

“I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows too late.”

For the Mormon this means there’s no salvation without becoming a god and in order to do that you must go to church, be married in the temple, go on a mission, marry the right person, have a family, do works for the dead in the temple, serve in various capacities and callings when the bishop ordains or calls you to do so…

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 331; “The question is frequently asked, “Can we not be saved without going through with all those ordinances?” I would answer, No, not the ullness of salvation. Jesus said, There are many mansions in my Father’s house, and I will go and prepare a place for you. House here named should have been translated kingdom; and any person who is exalted to the highest mansion has to abide a celestial law, and the whole law too.”

Colossians 2:13-14; “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 103; “In harmony with biblical precedent and latter-day commandment, all saving and exalting ordinances, from baptism to temple marriage, are performed in the presence of witnesses, and a proper and faithful record is made and kept in the archives of the Church (2 Cor. 13:1; cf. D&C 128:2-5). Thus, ordinances become “a law on earth and in heaven” and, unless the covenants are violated, they cannot be annulled, “according to the decrees of the great Jehovah” (D&C 128:6-10).”

2 Corinthians 13:1; “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

And finally the last verse…

 “I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will
I’ll live with him once more.”

 In other words and the words of the Mormons at that, to obtain salvation you must “endure to the end” which simply means;

“Enduring to the end, or remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God. This belief distinguishes Latter-day Saints from many other Christian denominations, which teach that salvation is given to all who simply believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ. Latter-day Saints believe that to be saved a person must have faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrate repentance of sins, submit to baptism by immersion, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying-on of hands by those holding the true priesthood authority, and then remain faithful to all covenants, continue in righteousness, and endure faithfully to the end of mortal life (Heb. 3:6-14; 6:4-15; Mark 13:13). This enduring faithfulness makes it possible for a person to receive fully the grace of Christ. The Doctrine and Covenants states, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).” – Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 456

Come alongside us and pray for the Mormon people won’t you?  I know many Christians prayed for me as a Mormon and I am indebted beyond words!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor. 1:18