Mormon Dilemma # 42

Threats, intimidation and fear

I didn’t grow up in the Mormon Church but converted to the church in my early twenties, so I never had the opportunity to attend any of the youth firesides or activities as a young woman. When I came across this quote by a leader in the Young Women’s organization of the Mormon Church it broke my heart. It makes me feel such sorrow for those who were in attendance during this fireside or for those who will hear this quote in one of their classes. The quote reads as follows:

“Again, you are a choice group of Heavenly Father’s children; your attendance at this fireside further demonstrates your desire for righteousness. But, like Moses, this also makes you a larger target for the adversary. Every righteous soul that Satan seduces from the truth becomes a game hunter’s trophy, prominently mounted and displayed on the walls of hell.” (Bonnie D. Parkin, “Remember Who You Are!” Church Educational System fireside, 7 March 2004)

This is a great example of how the Mormon Church sees anyone who may choose to leave the religion, which is the “truth” Ms. Bonnie Parkin is referring to.  Sadly for them it’s all about a relationship with a religion, and anyone who chooses to leave the organization is in Satan’s grasp.

Threats, intimidation, guilt and fear are the tools they use to keep everyone in line and well behaved. Anyone who is questioning the church or leaves is said to be under the influence of the devil and is bound for destruction. They have a zero concept of what grace is or of what Jesus did for every person who has ever walked the earth. For the Mormon His sacrifice only “made it possible” for us to live with the Father, obedience to the Mormon gospel is the cure for sin not the blood of Jesus Christ.

God didn’t save us through a “plan” as the doctrine of Mormonism teaches, he saved us through a person and that person is Jesus Christ. John 10:29 reads-

“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

Jesus is the truth not the Mormon Church, and once we are in him nothing can take us away from him, not even Satan.

In Christ,

Melissa Grimes