Life After Ministry

Reasons Starting with T

Tattoos

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 775; “The practice is a desecration of the human body and should not be permitted, unless all that is involved is the placing of a blood type or an identification number in an obscure place. (Deut. 14:1.)”

Deuteronomy 14:1; “Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.”

Leviticus 19:28; “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”

Here we have a couple of things going on.

First of all the scripture they used is technically not about tattooing.  The people in this day would either cut their bodies in desecration during their mourning the death of a loved one or they would also shave their heads and baldness would be a sign of mourning.  (A bald/shaved head was symbolic of the globe they worshipped).  If they were cutting themselves they would then take their blood and smear it upon themselves in devotion to their particular god or idol they worshipped.  This is part of ba’al worship.

Jesus is the One who has altered the property (body) of death by hanging on the cross.  When we desecrate ourselves in mourning we are symbolizing that we want the dead to be remembered as well as the god we’ve made the sacrifice to.

The next thing to notice is the ambiguity in the Mormon doctrine’s teachings.

Tattoos are bad, but if you’re going to do it then hide it?  Hmmm…when was the last time you told your kid to lie and hide his sin?

Temples – A place for individuals to work

Abundant Life, pg. 132; “Temple building to us is different from building chapels, or tabernacles, or meeting places. We build temples for the express purpose of having a holy place into which the worthy may go to perform ordinances calculated to bind together the living and the dead.” – Hugh Brown

Hebrews 10:1; “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

And while you go into your temples, God tells us that this isn’t necessary in addition to it being a sin to practice necromancy.

Temple Clothing

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 534; “The white garment symbolizes purity and helps assure modesty, respect for the attributes of God, and, to the degree it is honored, a token of what Paul regarded as taking upon one the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13; cf. D&C 27:15). It is an outward expression of an inward covenant, and symbolizes Christlike attributes in one’s mission in life. Garments bear several simple marks of orientation toward the gospel principles of obedience, truth, life, and discipleship in Christ….A biblical tradition teaches that Adam and Eve, prior to their expulsion from Eden, wore sacred clothing.”

Colossians 2:15-16; “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.”

The attributes of God are not symbolized in any clothing you might wear.  The Mormons wear these garments like a good luck charm.

Temple in Missouri

Doctrines and Covenants 84:31; “Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses—for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed—”

Titus 1:13-14; “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”

The prophecy given by Smith in Kirtland, Ohio on September 22^nd & 23^rd, 1832 qualifies as a false prophecy.  No temple was built in Missouri before Smith died in June 1844.

Temple, New Testament

D&C 124:39; “Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.”

1 Cor. 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?”

All that work, effort and money are wasted when you don’t know the true God of the Bible.

Temple:  Molten Sea, OT Temple

Answers to Gospel Questions 5:12; “It is verily true that the Bible as it has come down to us has very little to say about baptism in the Old Testament. Yet there are passages in the writings of Moses and the old prophets which clearly indicate to the prayerful student that baptism was a principle which was practiced all through the days of old Israel. When the temple of Solomon was built, we read of a “molten sea,” ten cubics from one brim to the other, it stood on the backs of twelve carved oxen. This font, or brazen sea, was not used for baptisms for the dead, for there were no baptisms for the dead until after the resurrection of the Lord. It is a logical venture to say that it was used for baptizing the living for the remission of their sins.”

1 Kings 7:23-26; “And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.  24 And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.  25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.  26 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.”

2 Chronicles 4:6; “He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.”

The molten sea in the temple mentioned in the OT was for the priests to wash themselves after they had made sacrifices to God.  They’re not to be used in NT times to be baptized for dead people.

As a Mormon I was baptized for the dead several hundred times.  I went in the first Saturday of every month from the time I was about 12 until I was 16.  Each time I was there I was baptized for 50-250 dead people.

Temple Ordinances

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1444; “All participants must be baptized and confirmed members of the Church, and must receive a temple recommend. However, children under eight years of age may participate in their own family sealings before being baptized. Members who are twelve years of age or older may serve as proxies in baptisms for the dead. Worthy adults may participate in the temple Endowment ceremonies. All men must have been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. Temple ordinances are performed in sequence.”

Philippians 3:9-10; “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

Remember, if you don’t do all those temple works you’re not really saved in Mormonism.

Temple Recommend

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 619; “See –>EPISTLES OF COMMENDATION. It is the practice of the Church to issue certificates, commonly called recommends, in order to identify persons as members of the Church or to certify to their worthiness to receive certain ordinances or blessings.”

2 Corinthians 3:1-3; “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

These temple recommends are coveted pieces of paper the Mormon carry in their wallets and shows the temple workers to gain entrance into the temple.  It is SO much work!  Where is Jesus in all this?

Temple Weddings, Who can Attend?

Doctrines of Salvation 2:61; “Of course there are people who are not worthy to go to the temple, and therefore should not go to the temple. No one should go to the temple except those who are worthy, as the Lord has said, “who [have] overcome by faith,” and are cleansed and are just and true. Then they can go to the temple. If they are unclean, if they lack the faith, they had better stay out until they get the faith and are clean.”

1 Kings 12:28-31; “Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.  29 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.  30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.  31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.”

Note:  Read the entire biblical passage for full context of the Israelites sin of worshipping at a pagan temple from 1 Kings 12:25-33.  The similarities between this passage in the Bible and what the Mormons do with their “priesthoods” are striking.

Temple Works

Alma 34:36; “And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb.”

1 Corinthians 3:16; “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

Why don’t the Mormon people believe this?  Why was this supposedly written in the BC era?  And just as importantly why do their “scriptures” contradict themselves?

Temples

“Beautiful Memorial”, Ensign, Nov. 2002, pgs. 4-5; “Many of you participated in the dedication of the Nauvoo temple last June. It was a great and marvelous occasion, one to be long remembered. We not only dedicated a magnificent building, a house of the Lord, but we also dedicated a beautiful memorial to the Prophet Joseph Smith.”In 1841, two years after he came to Nauvoo, he broke ground for a house of the Lord that should stand as a crowning jewel to the work of God.”It is difficult to believe that in those conditions and under those circumstances a structure of such magnificence was designed to stand on what was then the frontier of America.”I doubt, I seriously doubt, that there was another structure of such design and magnificence in all the state of Illinois.”It was to be dedicated to the work of the Almighty, to accomplish His eternal purposes.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

Zechariah 10:2; “For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.”

So is it a memorial to God or Joseph Smith?

Temples; Who can enter

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1446; “Temples have always been revered and reserved as sacred ground. Anciently, the prophet ezekiel [sic] declared, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary” (Ezek. 44:9). The Prophet Joseph Smith prayed that “[the temple] may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house” (D&C 109:12), “and that no unclean thing shall be permitted to come into thy house to pollute it” (D&C 109:20)…After construction and before a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been dedicated to the Lord, an open house is held and the general public is invited to enter and view the rooms….”

Ezekiel 44:9; “Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.”

If they are building temples that are to be holy places for the Lord to dwell in why are they allowing the public to do a run through first?

Testimonies

Gospel Standards, pg. 22; “THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. We are not dependent upon the testimony of men who lived many hundreds of years ago. We have the testimony that is given to us from the Prophet Joseph Smith, and from Sidney Rigdon that they saw the Son, that they heard the voice declare from the heavens that He was the Only Begotten of the Father, that by Him and of Him the worlds were created, and that He lives, for they saw Him.”

Romans 4:18, 23; “Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him.”

Also see Hebrews 11 that tells us we can use the saints of the OT as an example who serve as a “great cloud of witnesses” to what we are doing here.

Testimonies of Traitors Cannot Influence LDS

D&C 122:3; “And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors.”

Is. 55:11; “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

According to the Church someone like Ed Decker, Sandra Tanner, Doris Hanson, people at Living Hope Ministries or me are all traitors.  They don’t want to admit it publicly but our testimonies have led many people out of Mormonism and into a relationship with the real Jesus of the Bible.

Testimony, How to Gain a

Gospel Standards, pg. 26; “HOW TESTIMONY IS GAINED. Wherever the gospel of Christ has gone, men and women by the hundreds and thousands have embraced it and have been able to bear individual testimony that they received a witness of the divinity of the work in which we as Latter-day Saints are engaged after supplicating God for a testimony. This testimony has not come through their own study, nor through the natural intelligence with which God has endowed them, but in answer to earnest and sincere prayer, uttered in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, for light and knowledge regarding the divinity of this work.—70th Birthday Pamphlet, November, 1926, pp. 14-15.”

Hebrews 11:6; “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Another thing the Church doesn’t want to admit is that millions upon millions of people have already accepted the real Jesus Christ and they were nowhere around.

Testimony of (the) Gospel Needed

Living the Gospel, pg. 51; “There is nothing in this world for which I am so grateful as an absolute knowledge that we, the Latter-day Saints, have the true gospel of Jesus Christ”.  This testimony, borne by President Heber J. Grant, is typical of those from the lips of thousands…”

2 Timothy 1:12; “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

See “Philosophy of Mormonism” above for comparison.

Testimony of Joseph Smith

Ensign, November 2009, pg. 30; “No testimony is more significant to us in our time than the witness of Joseph Smith. He was the prophet chosen to restore the ancient Church of Christ in this, the last time when the gospel will be on the earth before the return of Jesus Christ. Like all the prophets who opened the work of God in their dispensations, Joseph was given especially clear and powerful prophetic experiences to prepare the world for the Savior’s Second Coming.” – Robert D. Hales

Hebrews 10:15; “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

The testimonies of the saints in the Bible, the apostles in the Bible and Jesus’ testimony far outweighs anything Smith could offer.

Testimony of Joseph Smith Needed

www.lds.org; “For a testimony of the restored gospel to be complete, it must include a testimony of Joseph Smith’s divine mission. The truthfulness of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rests on the truthfulness of the First Vision and the other revelations the Lord gave to the Prophet Joseph. President John Taylor, the third President of the Church, wrote, “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it” (D&C 135:3).”

Matthew 6:24; “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

If anyone has a testimony supporting this “restored gospel” that person cannot possibly have a testimony that Jesus is Lord.

Testimony is of God, Not of Man

Especially for Missionaries 4: Chapter 2; “Now, don’t ever think your testimony isn’t strong, because it is. Every testimony that’s born is not born of man, but born of God by the power of the Holy Ghost. When you bear testimony, it’s not you. It’s not me. It’s the Spirit of God, and that’s powerful.”

Romans 10:17-18; “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”

I share the biblical passage from Romans for two reasons.  One – the testimonies of the saints went into every nook and cranny of the earth which is quite contrary to LDS teachings.  Secondly – the Mormon Church would have you believe what Mr. Pinegar wrote in “Especially for Missionaries” is truth.  Nothing could be a bigger lie.  As we’ve seen in previous teachings of the Church, the Mormon’s testimony must include many variables which prove their faith in Jesus is nothing more than an afterthought.  The Mormon testimony is a well rehearsed 3-5 minute explanation of their belief in Joseph Smith, Mormonism and their good works.

Theme of the Gospel vs. Theme of the BoM

Alma 50:20; “Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.”

John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Mark 1:14-15; “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Jeremiah 32:40; “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”

Note:  While there are many themes within the Bible, we have chosen the three listed here to use as examples.

Thought Life

Ensign, Nov. 2009 pg. 46; “When temptation comes, you can invent a delete key in your mind—perhaps the words from a favorite hymn. Your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your mind. When some unworthy thought pushes into your mind, replace it with your delete key. Worthy music is powerful and can help you control your thoughts (see D&C 25:12).” – Boyd Packer

2 Cor. 10:5; “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Note:  It’s not bad to fill your thoughts with a hymn when encountering spiritual warfare in your mind, but why is it the Mormons don’t think of using biblical scripture?  And who is determining what is worthy?

Thoughts, An Accounting of All

Power Within Us, pg. 60; “Although your spirit had a veil of forgetfulness placed over it at the time of your birth into mortality, it retained its power to remember all that happens—precisely recording each event of life. Indeed, scriptures warn that “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36.) Prophets refer to our “bright recollection” (Alma 11:43) and “perfect remembrance” (Alma 5:18) at that day of decision.” – Russell M. Nelson

Psalm 94:11; “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”

How is this even possible when the Lord has repeatedly told us that we were created here on earth?

Trinitarian Doctrine

2 Nephi 19:6; “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6; “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

If the Bible has been translated incorrectly, then why are there plagiarisms from the Bible found in the Book of Mormon?  Also; Mormon doctrine does not ascribe itself to Trinitarian beliefs so why would a verse like this appear in the Book of 2^nd Nephi?  Lastly, the plagiarisms in the BoM also contain the errors of the KJV.  Why were the mistakes in the KJV that were written in 1611 found on plates that were originally in Reformed Egyptian from the BC era?

Trinity, No Such Thing in Mormonism

D&C 130:22; “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”

John 14:17; “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

I wonder how long the Mormon Holy Ghost has been waiting for a body.  Other Mormon scripture tells us that those spirits without a body are not of God.

Trinity, Some Members are Subordinate

Mormon Faith: Understanding Restored Christianity, pgs. 28-29, 189-190; “Latter-day Saints worship God the Father, in the name of Christ the Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost. These three—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—constitute the Godhead. Latter-day Saints believe that the members of the Godhead are three separate and distinct personages. Joseph Smith described them as “God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator.  1 The members of the Godhead are believed to be one in purpose, one in mind, one in glory, one in attributes and powers, but separate persons. Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit are subordinate beings to the Father, albeit divine beings, and partake of the attributes and powers of the Father. But because the second and third members of the Godhead have had extended to them the powers of the Father, because they enjoy a divine investiture of his authority, they may appropriately speak on his behalf…Latter-day Saints believe that taken together, New Testament references to the Godhead bear witness of a Trinity of oneness in purpose, not oneness of essence, and of a Godhead composed of three physically separate beings. The material for this study was developed by cataloging every verse in the King James Version of the New Testament in which more than one member of the Godhead is mentioned.”

Colossians 2:8-9; “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Luke 9:26; “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

The scripture in Luke struck me as a powerful message to those who don’t believe.  How scary it would be to read that and realize you’re in a lot of trouble.

Truth

Apostle Russell M. Nelson, “Truth—and More,” Ensign, Jan. 1986, pg. 69; “To anyone who, because of truth, may be tempted to become a dissenter against the Lord and his anointed, weigh carefully your action in light of this sacred scripture…“These dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information…not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent…wicked…entirely forgetting the Lord their God.” (Alma 47:36.)…”

Matthew 11:28-30; “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Truth Mr. Nelson is all that matters.  The Church has no priority over the truth of Jesus who told us plainly that He is the way the truth and the light and no man goes to the Father but through Him. – John 14:6.

Truth

Apostle Boyd K. Packer, as related by D. Michael Quinn, “Pillars of My Faith,” talk delivered at Sunstone Symposium, Salt Lake City, August 19, 1994; “I have a hard time with historians… because they idolize the truth. The truth is not uplifting; it destroys. Historians should tell only that part of the truth that is inspiring and uplifting.”

Romans 3:3-4; “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? ⁴God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

Sometimes the truth hurts.  And sometimes the truth is not encouraging – like finding out our national security was severely lacking on 9/11.  But if we replace the truth of God for a lie we are in danger of not only being blind but losing our very souls.  In this case, truth is always good.

Truth, Some of it is not Useful

Boyd K. Packer, “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect”, 1981, BYU Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 259-271; “Church history can be so interesting and so inspiring as to be a very powerful tool indeed for building faith. If not properly written or properly taught, it may be a faith destroyer…There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not…Some things that are true are not very useful…Teaching some things that are true, prematurely or at the wrong time, can invite sorry and heartbreak instead of the joy intended to accompany learning.”

John 8:31-32; “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

It seems Mr. Packer spent a fair amount of time explaining to people that it’s okay to lie by not telling the whole story or by outright ignoring what is as plain as day.  Telling the truth is always the best way to go about things and much easier to remember.

Truth, Some Truth in Everything

Mormon Faith: Understanding Restored Christianity, pg. 203; “The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

People are shocked when I tell them that Mormonism is a lot like Hinduism.  Here we can see plainly that indeed the Mormons do incorporate whatever thing looks good to them at the time.

Truth; Some Truth in Everything

TPJS, pg. 316; “Have the Presbyterians any truth? Yes. Have the Baptists, Methodists, etc., any truth? Yes. They all have a little truth mixed with error. We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true “Mormons.””

Isaiah 59:13-15; “In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.  14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.  15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.”

Mormonism is a hodgepodge of all sorts of things, that’s why it’s so confusing.

Truths, there are some in all Churches

Doctrines of Salvation 3:271; “SOME TRUTH IN ALL CHURCHES. All churches teach some truth, whether they profess belief in Confucius, Buddha, the Greek and Roman gods, or anything else; otherwise their churches would not endure a month. The fact that they teach some truth does not make them the Church of God. There is but one Church of God.”

Hebrews 13:7-9; “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.  8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”

There is no truth in believing anything about Confucius, Buddha, the gods or any other belief system outside of the One True God of the Bible.  To believe and teach otherwise is a recipe for disaster.

Reasons Starting with U

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Reasons Starting with V

Vocabulary

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1537; “Although Latter-day Saints share with other Christian faiths a general Judeo-Christian linguistic heritage, “Mormon language” includes many words and phrases that have distinctive meanings.  Also, many words commonly used in other branches of Christianity are not common in LDS language.”

Romans 1:22-23; “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

This is one of the top signs of a cult.  When a group of people change the meanings of words it is for one purpose only.  To define their own theology and to confuse the members.

Vocabulary of Mormons Unique

Preach My Gospel, pg. 21; “Defining Words…We have a powerful message with a unique vocabulary.  Just as a physician speaks differently in the family waiting room than in the operating room, so too must you learn to speak so that those who are unfamiliar with our message can understand what you are teaching.”

Matthew 5:15; “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

The only reason the LDS Church has to explain the English language to an English speaking audience is because they have changed the meanings of the English words they employ.  The surgeon uses layman terms with families because most people don’t speak Latin and/or aren’t trained in surgical terminology.

Virgin Birth

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 822; “Our Lord is the only mortal person ever born to a virgin, because he is the only person who ever had an immortal Father. Mary, his mother, “was carried away in the Spirit” (1 Ne. 11:13-21), was “overshadowed” by the Holy Ghost, and the conception which took place “by the power of the Holy Ghost” resulted in the bringing forth of the literal and personal Son of God the Father. (Alma 7:10; 2 Ne. 17:14; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38.) Christ is not the Son of the Holy Ghost, but of the Father.”

Luke 1:26-28; “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (See entire passage Luke 1:26-56)

Contrary to popular Mormon belief, God did not have sex with Mary.

Virtue

God Delights in Chastity

Moroni 9:9; “And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—”

John 15:15-16; “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

Why is chastity and virtue the most precious thing?  What about your life?

Raped Daughter Better off Dead

Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 194; “I would rather follow her to the grave, and send her home pure, than suffer my daughter to be prostituted. I will not suffer any female member of my family to be polluted through the corruptions of wicked men. 2:322.”

Deuteronomy 22:25-27; “But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: 26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.”

What an evil, evil, wicked man he was.  Isn’t prostituting your daughter the same as having her betrothed to a relative amongst several other wives?

Virtue Worth More Than Life

Miracle of Forgiveness, pg. 61; “Your virtue is worth more than your life. Please, young folk, preserve your virtue even if you lose your lives. Do not tamper with sin … do not permit yourselves to be led into temptation. Conduct yourselves seemly and with due regard, particularly you young boys, to the sanctity of womanhood. Do not pollute it.”

Isaiah 43:1-4; “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.  4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.”

Ditto.

Visions from God

Milton Backman, Jr., Ensign, January 1985; “On at least four different occasions, Joseph Smith either wrote or dictated to scribes accounts of his sacred experience of 1820… In an important way, the existence of these different accounts helps support the integrity of the Latter-day Saint Prophet. It indicates that Joseph did not deliberately create a memorized version which he related to everyone. In the legal profession, attorneys and judges recognize that if a witness repeats an incident by using precisely the same language, the court might challenge the validity of such a statement…Indeed, there are long-standing precedents for differing accounts of the same spiritual experience. For example, the four Gospels do not correspond exactly concerning the great events at the garden’s empty tomb. There are variations as to the number of women and angels who were present and whether the angels were sitting or standing. Although the Prophet Joseph Smith in his inspired translation clarified some of these details (and others cited below), minor disparities remain in the four descriptions of this event (compare Matt. 28 with Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20). The differences, however, are not important—they may have resulted from incorrect transmissions or translations, or may be the result of recording the event from different perspectives. The glorious fact remains that the tomb was empty because Jesus had risen as the first fruits of the Resurrection.”

Jeremiah 14:14; “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.”

Having a different perspective of the same event is only good if you’re using the testimonies of MORE THAN ONE person.  All nine different accounts came from ONE person – Joseph Smith.  When the same person gives nine different stories it’s called lying.

All 9 versions of the first vision can be found at http://www.lifeafter.org/jsmith.asp

Visions of Joseph Smith

Teachings of David O. McKay, pg. 91; “His declaration was simple but positive; and he was surprised when men doubted its truth. To him his claim was but the statement of a simple fact; to the Christian world it proved to be a lightning flash that, striking, weakened their religious structure from turret to foundation.”

John 12:48; “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Smith wasn’t surprised, he was mad that people found him out.

Volunteerism

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1539; “Members strive to govern themselves and voluntarily find ways to serve within the principles, objectives, and guidelines taught by the Church. While all members are commanded to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will” (D&C 58:27), it is not customary for members to offer unsolicited advice, to intervene in the responsibilities of others, or to suggest themselves for specific Church callings. Most members accept whatever callings are extended to them, and few request to be released except under difficult circumstances.”

James 2:17-18; “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

No we wouldn’t want the Mormons to be inspired to do something unsolicited like think for themselves or to be inspired by God instead of the Church…good grief.  They don’t request to be released because they know it’ll cost them their temple recommend.

Reasons Starting with W:

http://lifeafterministry.com/2010/10/01/reasons-starting-with-w/

Link to Index:

http://lifeafterministry.com/2012/06/07/mormon-quotes-1000-reasons-to-leave-mormonism/

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Reasons Starting with W

(The) Way, the Truth, and the Light

Marion Romney, Conference Report, April 1961, pg. 119; “This Church is the standard which Isaiah said the Lord would set up for the people in the latter days. This Church was given to be a light to the world and to be a standard for God’s people and for the Gentiles to seek to. This Church is the ensign on the mountain spoken of by the Old Testament prophets. It is the way, the truth, and the life.”

John 14:6; “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

It is one of the most ironic things in life.

Mormons degrade the Bible and yet take it with them when they go out on their missions.

Mormons berate the Bible yet Joseph Smith plagiarized from it and put it in the Book of Mormon.

Mormons claim it is full of errors and can’t be trusted, yet the quote phrases from it in their talks and literature.

Wedding in Cana of Galilee

Journal of Discourses 2:82; “Gentlemen, that is as plain as the translators, or different councils over this Scripture, dare allow it to go to the world, but the thing is there; it is told; Jesus was the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana of Galilee, and he told them what to do.  Now there was actually a marriage; and if Jesus was not the bridegroom on that occasion, please tell who was. If any man can show this, and prove that it was not the Savior of the world, then I will acknowledge I am in error.” – Orson Hyde, Salt Lake City, October 6, 1854

John 2:1-2; “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.”  (See entire passage in John 2:1-11.)

Where in the text does it say that Jesus was the groom?

Where in the Bible does it ever mention Jesus’ wife?

Where in the Bible does it state that Jesus had a widow?

White & Delightsome, Indians Will be

Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 2 (October 1835-September 1836): pg. 193; “The Indians are the people of the Lord; they are of the tribes of Israel; the blood of Joseph, with a small mixture of the royal blood of Judah, and the hour is nigh when they will come flocking into the kingdom of God, like doves to their windows; yea, as the book of Mormon foretells—they will soon become a white and delightsome people.”

James 2:9; “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

This hour is nigh has passed you by Mr. Smith.  This prophecy was made 174 years ago and the Indians are still dark brown.  God doesn’t perform magic tricks.

Whore of Babylon

1 Nephi 14:10; “And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.”

Jeremiah 3:6; “The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.”

The passages in Jeremiah are one place Smith might have picked up the phrase “the whore of Babylon”.  Many times the Lord tried to call her back but Judah was too busy worshipping other gods to pay attention to the one true God.

Whores of Babylon

The Seer, pg. 255; “But who in this generation have authority to baptize? None but those who have received authority in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints: all other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God; and any person who receives Baptism or the Lord’s supper from their hands will highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt of all people. Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the “whore of Babylon” whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. And any person who shall be so wicked as to receive a holy ordinance of the gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent of the unholy and impious act.”

Rev. 17:4-6; “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: ⁵And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. ⁶And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”

Here we have Mr. Pratt mimicking the sayings of Joseph Smith.  So the entire body of Christ is the whore?  Imagine Jesus calling His bride such a name.

Wives

Apostle Heber C. Kimball, The Twenty Seventh Wife, Irving Wallace, p. 101; “I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow.”

Genesis 2:18; “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

Oh beloved I pray you see that as a woman you are so much more than some beast of the field.  God created you to be alongside your husband and for both of you to worship God.  It is so difficult for the Mormon woman to see herself as a precious, valuable creation of God.  This bad thought behavior is passed on down from one generation to the next.

Women

Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pg. 26; “Men and women in the image of heavenly parents. God made man in his own image and certainly he made woman in the image of his wife-partner. (72-02).

You [women] are daughters of God. You are precious. You are made in the image of our heavenly Mother. (72-08).”

Galatians 3:26-29; “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

This is obviously a lie from the pits of hell.  There is no such thing as a mother in heaven.  Believing something like this is what got the Israelites into trouble in 785 and 600 BC.

Women and Priesthood Bearers

Young Women Manual1, pg. 66; “Help the young women understand that to achieve their divine potential, they must enter into celestial marriage with a righteous priesthood bearer. They should realize the integral part they play in God’s eternal plan, along with a righteous man who bears the priesthood. Man is essential to woman, and woman is essential to man.”

Romans 3:10-11; “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

Marriage is not essential to anyone’s salvation – male or female.

Women in the Church

Elder Erastus Snow, JD 5:291; “Do the women, when they pray, remember their husbands? Do you pray for brother Brigham? Yes, you should always pray for him. But when you pray for him, do you pray also for your own husband, that he may have the inspiration of the Almighty to lead and govern his family as the lord? Do you uphold your husband before God as your lord? “What!—my husband to be my lord?” I ask, Can you get into the celestial kingdom without him? Have any of you been there? You will remember that you never got into the celestial kingdom without the aid of your husband. If you did, it was because your husband was away, and some one had to act proxy for him. No woman will get into the celestial kingdom, except her husband receives her, if she is worthy to have a husband; and if not, somebody will receive her as a servant.”

2 Corinthian 5:19; “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

Where in the above biblical scripture does it mention marriage?  Don’t you think Paul of all people would have told us these things if it was so?

Women, Role is Found in Mormonism

November Ensign 2007, pg 110; “The only place Latter-day Saint women will learn the whole and complete truth about their indispensable role in the plan of happiness is in this Church and its doctrine.” – Julie B. Beck

Galatians 3:3; “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

No Mrs. Beck, the answer is in the Bible.

Women, Salvation for

Journal of Discourses 5:291; “Do the women, when they pray, remember their husbands? Do you pray for brother Brigham? Yes, you should always pray for him. But when you pray for him, do you pray also for your own husband, that he may have the inspiration of the Almighty to lead and govern his family as the lord? Do you uphold your husband before God as your lord? “What!—my husband to be my lord?” I ask, Can you get into the celestial kingdom without him? Have any of you been there? You will remember that you never got into the celestial kingdom without the aid of your husband. If you did, it was because your husband was away, and some one had to act proxy for him. No woman will get into the celestial kingdom, except her husband receives her, if she is worthy to have a husband; and if not, somebody will receive her as a servant.” – Erastus Snow, Salt Lake City, October 4, 1857

Acts 28:28; “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”

In the world of Mormonism it is a sad day indeed if you’re not married or even if you are married.  If you’re not married you’re a servant.  If you are married you serve your husband.

Women, Unmarried are Damned

Latter-day Prophets and the D&C, 4:392-393; “We cannot feel justified in closing this article on the subject of marriage without saying a few words to unmarried females in this Church. You will clearly perceive, from the revelation which God has given, that you can never obtain a fulness of glory, without being married to a righteous man for time and for all eternity.” – Orson Pratt

1 Corinthians 7:8-11; “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.  9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.  10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”

WORD OF WISDOM

Word of Wisdom/Dietary Laws

D&C 89:1-21; “A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—…”

Col. 2:13-17; “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; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Yet another way to control the masses.  Imagine a life with no caffeine…

Liquor, Joseph’s Ordinance of Selling

History of the Church 6:111; “Ordinance on the Personal Sale of Liquors.

Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of Nauvoo, that the Mayor of the city be and is hereby authorized to sell or give spirits of any quantity as he in his wisdom shall judge to be for the health and comfort, or convenience of such travelers or other persons as shall visit his house from time to time.  Passed December 12, 1843.  Joseph Smith, Mayor. Willard Richards, Recorder.”

Proverbs 20:1; “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

So no one in the Church can sell, buy or consume liquor except Joseph Smith who owns the town liquor store.  That’s convenient.

Tea Drinking by Bishops

Journal of Discourses 12:28; “…a brandy sling, a little wine, or a cup of tea is good to revive them. Do not throw these things away, and say they must never be used; they are good to be used with judgment, prudence, and discretion. Ask our Bishops if they drink tea every day, and in most cases they will tell you they do if they can get it. They take it when they do not need it and when it injures them. I want to say to the Elders in Israel, this is not our privilege. We have a great many privileges, but to indulge in liquor or other things to our own injury is not one of them.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, April 7, 1867

Galatians 4:31; “So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

It’s never a good thing to be drunk – all things in moderation.

Tobacco, How to Chew While in Church

Journal of Discourses 8:362; “Many of the brethren chew tobacco, and I have advised them to be modest about it. Do not take out a whole plug of tobacco in meeting before the eyes of the congregation, and cut off a long slice and put it in your mouth, to the annoyance of everybody around. Do not glory in this disgraceful practice. If you must use tobacco, put a small portion in your mouth when no person sees you, and be careful that no one sees you chew it. I do not charge you with sin. You have the “Word of Wisdom.” Read it.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, March 10, 1860.

Matthew 15:7-9; “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Even though it was against the word of wisdom to chew tobacco here is a prophet of the Lord giving directions on how to use the sinful substance and in church no less.

Wine Drinking and Fasting All Day

Journal of Discourses 2:216; “It was this, after the people had fasted all day, they sent out and got wine and bread, and blessed them, and distributed them to the multitude, that is, to the whole assembly of the brethren, and they ate and drank, and prophesied, and bore testimony, and continued so to do until some of the High Council of Missouri stepped into the stand, and, as righteous Noah did when he awoke from his wine, commenced to curse their enemies. You never felt such a shock go through any house or company in the world as went through that. There was almost a rebellion because men would get up and curse their enemies; although they could remember well that it is written that Noah cursed his own grandson, and that God recognized that curse to such an extent that, at this day, millions of his posterity are consigned to perpetual servitude.” – George A. Smith, Salt Lake City, March 18, 1855

2 Timothy 3:4-5; “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

What is the purpose of quoting scripture out of context while you’re drunk at church?

Wine for Enjoyment

History of the Church 7:101; “Sometime after dinner we sent for some wine. It has been reported by some that this was taken as a sacrament. It was no such thing; our spirits were generally dull and heavy, and it was sent for to revive us. I think it was Captain Jones who went after it, but they would not suffer him to return. I believe we all drank of the wine, and gave some to one or two of the prison guards. We all of us felt unusually dull and languid, with a remarkable depression of spirits. In consonance with those feelings I sang a song, that had lately been introduced into Nauvoo, entitled, ‘A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief’, etc” – edited by John Taylor

Proverbs 26:23-26; “Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.  24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.  26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.”

So what made it okay to break the word of wisdom while jailed on treason charges?

Wine, Drinking of at a Wedding

History of the Church 2:378; “Elders Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, and Warren Parrish, then presented the Presidency with three servers of glasses filled with wine, to bless. And it fell to my lot to attend to this duty which I cheerfully discharged. It was then passed round in order, then the cake in the same order; and suffice it to say, our hearts were made glad while partaking of the bounty of earth which was presented, until we had taken our fill; and joy filled every bosom…”

Proverbs 11:9; “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.”

There is nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine but when you preach and have claimed to have a prophecy from God that it is sinful then why are you engaging in such behavior?

Wine, Drinking While Reading Conference Notes

History of the Church 5:380; “Wednesday, 3.—Called at the office and drank a glass of wine with Sister Jenetta Richards, made by her mother in England, and reviewed a portion of the conference minutes.”

Titus 1:16; “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Another example of not obeying the rules imposed by yourself.

Wine, Enjoyment of a Bottle of by the Elders

History of the Church 4:120: “April 17.—This day the Twelve blessed and drank a bottle of wine at Penworthan, made by Mother Moon forty years before.  Held a Council at her house in the evening, and ordained Peter Melling, Patriarch.”

James 4:8; “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Here we go again not obeying the word of wisdom.

Word of Wisdom Will be Obeyed

Journal of Discourses 17:104; “Every man, whether he is or is not a Latter-day Saint, when he comes to study our written works, the written revelations which God has given, will acknowledge that the Latter-day Saints cannot be the people they profess to be, they cannot be consistent with the revelations they profess to believe in and live as they now live; they have got to come into the system which the Saints call the New Order, otherwise they cannot comply with the revelations of God.” – Orson Pratt, June 14, 1874

Romans 2:3; “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”

Like Paul said, what makes the Mormons think they’re better than the outsiders when they don’t obey their own rules?

Work and You Shall be Saved

Ensign, November 2009, pg. 56; “How I admire men, women, and children who know how to work! How the Lord loves the laborer! He said, ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread’ (Genesis 3:19), and ‘The laborer is worthy of his hire’ (D&C 84:79). He also gave a promise: ‘Thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you’ (D&C 31:5). Those who are unafraid to roll up their sleeves and lose themselves in the pursuit of worthwhile goals are a blessing to their families, communities, nations, and to the Church.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Genesis 3:17-19; “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

When I read this teaching of the Church I could literally feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.  I picture Satan being the very teacher at the pulpit to deliver this poison.  Mr. Uchtdorf failed to share with the readers of the Ensign and listeners of the Conference that when God told Adam he would sweat it was because he had been cursed!

I truly believe the leaders of the LDS Church deliberately lie to their members and this is just one example of how they do it.  They are leading my mother to hell…they have tricked her into believing them instead of the pure, unadulterated love of God I keep trying to share with her.  Watching her age and not listening is gut wrenching for me as it is for you trying to share with your loved ones as well.

The little tidbit of thrusting in your sickle and your sins will be forgiven is equally as damning.  Where in the New Testament and the precious gospel does it tell us this?

Why would you ever want “to lose yourself in the pursuit of worthwhile goals”?  How would this serve as a blessing to your family?

How could this action by you be glorifying to God?

Works

Lifeblood of the Church, Ensign, Nov. 2008, pg. 12; “Missionary work is the lifeblood of the Church. There is no greater work, no more important work. It blesses the lives of all those who participate in it. It will continue blessing future generations.” – Silvia H. Allred

Hebrews 10:1, 4; “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

What about the very lifeblood of Christ Jesus?  Calvary.  Think of Calvary.  His spilled blood upon the holy ground at the scene of the cross isn’t more important?  “If I covet any place but the dust at the foot of the cross, I know nothing of Calvary Love”. – Amy Carmichael

Works for the Dead, No

Moroni 10:26; “And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie not.”

Luke 10:38-42; “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

I wonder how many people have read this before they go in to perform works for their dead relatives.

Works, God Won’t Recognize Good

Gospel Principles, pg. 81; “If a man does not have the priesthood, even though he may be sincere, the Lord will not recognize ordinances he performs (see Matthew 7:21-23).”

Galatians 3:10-13; “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”

The Lord is not going to recognize your false priesthood, sorry to say.

Works for God

D&C 137:7-9; “Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.”

Galatians 5:3-4; “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

This obviously contradicts Moroni 10:26.

Works on Earth and Pre-existence

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 590; “From the time of their spirit birth, the Father’s pre-existent offspring were endowed with agency and subjected to the provisions of the laws ordained for their government. They had power to obey or disobey and to progress in one field or another. “The first principles of man are self-existent with God,” the Prophet said. “God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself.” (Teachings, p. 354.)”

Luke 18:9, 14; “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Who decided this Mormon god was more intelligent than the other spirits?

Worship

Ensign, November 2008, pgs. 108-109; “Just as the Savior invited Mary and Martha of New Testament times to participate in His work, women of this dispensation have an official commission to participate in the Lord’s work. . . . The organization of Relief Society in 1842 mobilized the collective power of the women and their specific assignments to build the Lord’s kingdom, just as the organization of priesthood quorums gave men specific responsibilities. . . .”Through Relief Society, women have an official role in the Church with great responsibilities, ‘including working in the temple and teaching the gospel’ (Dallin H. Oaks, ‘The Priesthood and the Auxiliaries,’ Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 10, 2004, 17). Further, Relief Society is to help women ‘plant and make grow . . . a testimony of [Jesus] Christ and of the Gospel’ (The First Presidency, ‘Memorandum of Suggestions,’ Mar. 29, 1940, 2), ‘strengthen the family and the home’ (Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 10, 2004, 17), and ‘attend to all family duties’ (D&C 20:47).””

Luke 10:38-42; “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

This passage in Luke is telling is it not?  Immediately I think of all the duties a Mormon woman is responsible for and wonder if she (the Mormon woman) would ever take time to sit at the feet of Jesus?

Worship, Where Not to

Mormon Doctrine, pg. 662; “Sacred Grove… It was there that the Father and the Son personally appeared to him, in accordance with their eternal plan, for the hour had come for the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times. (Jos. Smith 2:15-20.)…Ever since, this chosen site, hallowed by Deity’s personal presence, has been known by the saints as the Sacred Grove. It is not a shrine in the sense that many denominations have shrines, nor is there any sanctity now attached to the trees and land there located. But it is a spot held sacred in the hearts of those who believe the truths of salvation, because they glory in the transcendent event which there took place.”

Deuteronomy 16:21-22; “Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.  22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.”

All I can say is that this is scary.

Worship, Whom Do You

Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration, pg. 112; “Consequently, as I have said, Joseph Smith is held in reverence, his name is honored; tens of thousands of people thank God in their heart and from the depths of their souls for the knowledge the Lord has restored to the earth through him, and therefore they speak well of him and bear testimony of his worth. . . .They speak to his praise, to his honor, and they hold his name in honorable remembrance. They revere him and they love him as they love no other man, because they know he was the chosen instrument in the hands of the Almighty of restoring the Gospel of life and salvation unto them.”

John 16:13-14; “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

Is your life stained with the Blood of the Lamb?  The life of a Christian is that of total passion to Christ Jesus and Him crucified.  None other name under heaven or on earth will suffice.  Jesus told the disciples in John 16:13-14 that the Holy Spirit would testify of Him to those that believe.  Oswald Chambers said “The Spirit of God does in me internally all that Jesus Christ did for me externally.”

Reasons Starting Z:

http://lifeafterministry.com/2010/10/01/reasons-starting-with-z/

Link to Index:

http://lifeafterministry.com/2012/06/07/mormon-quotes-1000-reasons-to-leave-mormonism/

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