September 5 — Leaving Mormonism Means Losing Family. Journal of Discourses 4:165 “A motion has been put, and unanimously carried, that John Hyde be cut off root and branch, that is, himself and all the roots and branches that are within him; this has no allusion to his family. He has taken a course by which he has lost his family and forfeited his Priesthood; he has forfeited his membership. The limb is cut off, but the Priesthood takes the fruit that was attached to the limb and saves it, if it will be saved. Do you understand me?
His wife is not cut off from this Church, but she is free from him; she is just as free from him as though she never had belonged to him. The limb she was connected to is cut off, and she must again be grafted into the tree, if she wishes to be saved; that is all about it.” – Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City, January 11, 1857
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Romans 12:14 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
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I guess if you don’t actually believe in the Bible, you wouldn’t accept this verse, but it bears repeating. Where’s the Christian behavior when you separate the family? Where’s the “families are forever” message in motives such as this?
I spoke to yet another heartbroken family on the phone recently that had experienced much of what this Mr. John Hyde must have gone through more than 150 years ago. Parents lost their grown daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren who’ve turned their backs on the family because they wouldn’t join the Church with them.
All of a sudden there are no more Christmases, family reunions, or birthdays with grandparents or great-grandparents because of Mormonism. The grown woman and husband were both raised in solid Christian homes and had publicly confessed Jesus on numerous occasions. So what happened?
Not spending enough time in His word, not spending enough time at church or with other believers and not spending enough time in prayer, thanksgiving and confessing of sins before Him on a regular basis. That’s the recipe for getting caught up in the cults.
I know what it’s like to lose everything for the sake of following Jesus. My kids grew up not receiving phone calls, cards or gifts from my side of the family and it was hurtful. As an adult it hurt my heart this would happen to them, but I learned early on to memorize Acts 5:41 and Philippians 2:7-8 and had my daughters memorize them as well.
Acts 5:41 “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Philippians 2:7-8 “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.”
This scenario keeps repeating itself no matter what the date on the calendar says Please pray for those who choose Jesus over Joseph, or any other ‘ism’ and if you know someone this has happened to be sure to come alongside them for support.
With Love in Christ —
Michelle ✟
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