Posted in Mormon Dilemmas, tagged false doctrines, Jesus, mormonism, Perfection Pending and Other Favorite Discourses pg 193 & 1 Cor. 15:1-4, restitution of all things, Restoration of the gospel, Thomas Monson, works vs. grace on 02/16/2012| Leave a Comment »
Restoration of the Gospel
Perfection Pending, and Other Favorite Discourses, pg 193; “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been restored in these latter days to fulfill ancient promises of the Lord. It is part of the “restitution of all things.”” – Russell M. Nelson
Posted in Mormon Dilemmas, tagged Christianity, false apostles, false doctrines, Gospel of Jesus, mormonism, New Era December 2009 & Hebrews 1:1-3, Quentin L. Cook, works vs. grace on 02/12/2012| Leave a Comment »
Salvation & the Gospel:
Are You a Latter-day Saint?
New Era, December 2009, pg. 5; “A Saint loves the Savior and follows Him in holiness and devotion. Evidence of this kind of holiness and devotion is exemplified by consecration and sacrifice. Sacrifice is the crowning test of the gospel. It means consecrating time, talents, energy, and earthly possessions to further the work of God. In Doctrine and Covenants 97, verse 8, it concludes, ‘All . . . who . . . are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.’ “– Quentin L. Cook
Posted in E-mails, Mailbag, tagged bible, false doctrines, false gospel, false prophets, Jesus, joseph smith, mormonism, polygamy, works vs. grace on 08/08/2011| 2 Comments »
Why Would They Lie?
This article is actually an e-mail we received here at the ministry and my response. His name is John. The reason I’m sharing it this way is for the reader to gain an understanding of where the Mormon is coming from. It also serves as a good example of how to witness to them. I did not correct or change any of his e-mail so his typos are intact as well; if you’re a stickler on proper typing, please excuse this as I didn’t want to touch any of his e-mail.
Please pray for him won’t you?
Posted in Jesus, tagged bible, Jesus, joseph smith, mormonism, Redeemer, redemption of man, salvation, works vs. grace on 05/14/2011| 1 Comment »
Jesus is the Only Way
By Melissa Grimes
I recently come upon this quote by Gordon B. Hinckley:
“Just as our Redeemer gave His life as a vicarious sacrifice for all men, and in so doing became our Savior, even so we, in a small measure, when we engage in proxy work in the temple, become as saviors to those on the other side who have no means of advancing unless something is done in their behalf by those on earth” (“Closing Remarks,” Ensign, November 2004, 105).
Posted in Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged bible, false gospel, false teachers, freedom, Jesus, Joseph Smith's Testimony, lds church, mormonism, Savior, truth, works vs. grace on 04/23/2011| Leave a Comment »
February 11 – Peter’s denial of Jesus. Matthew 26:34 says; “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice”.
Posted in Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged baptism for the dead, bible, crucifixion, grace, Jesus, Jesus' atonement, mormonism, Redeemer, truth, Works for salvation, works vs. grace on 04/18/2011| Leave a Comment »
April 18 – Heb. 9:27; “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”.
Posted in Witnessing Tip of the Day, tagged angel of light, bible, Book of Abraham, Book of Moses, false doctrine, false prophet, false teachings, freedom, God incarnate, grace, Jesus, joseph smith, lds church, lies, Lucifer, mormonism, Pearl of Great Price, pre-existence, Reedemer, rest for your soul, salvation, Savior, Teachngs of the Prophet Joseph Smith, truth, works vs. grace on 02/17/2011| Leave a Comment »
February 17 – Hebrews 1:5 is clear about what God said in relation to angels and Jesus Christ. “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? And again, I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON?”
_____
Mormons believe that Jesus and Lucifer are literally spiritually begotten by God and the Heavenly Mother. Ask them what they think about this verse.
_____
“The contention in heaven was-Jesus said there would be certain souls that would not be saved; and the devil said he could save them all, and laid his plans before the grand council, who gave their vote in favor of Jesus Christ. So the devil rose up in rebellion against God, and was cast down, with all who put up their heads for him”. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 357.
Posted in Oaths and Loyalty, tagged bible, blind obedience, endowment ceremony, freedom, grace, Jesus, lds church, Mormon oaths, Mormon temple, Mormon testimony, Mosaic Law, oaths, salvation, Savior, secret not sacred, truth, works for the dead, works vs. grace on 01/25/2011| Leave a Comment »
Oaths & Loyalty
Loyalty can be a noble thing in life. There are a number of causes we can be loyal to and as Christians we all know that the loyalty of Jesus’ love for us knows no bounds. But what about mankind; where’s the line of being loyal and the line of blind obedience which can lead to destruction?
My family and I watched a movie this past week about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German pastor and theologian who helped secure freedom for Jews from 1939 to the time of his imprisonment in 1943.
The short film about Bonhoeffer, Agent of Grace, is just one of a handful of movies released about Hitler. Each begs the question of what the difference is between loyalty and blind obedience. How could something like the Holocaust happen and why didn’t anyone question their moral conscience when swearing allegiance to Hitler? Every member of the German armed forces swore an oath of allegiance to Hitler. Notice it wasn’t to the country or the constitution of Germany, but to Hitler. They oath each member took is as follows:
“The Wehrmacht Oath of Loyalty to Adolf Hitler, 2 August 1934
“I swear by God this sacred oath that I shall render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Führer of the German Reich, supreme commander of the armed forces, and that I shall at all times be prepared, as a brave soldier, to give my life for this oath.”” (1)
Compare the above information with the oaths of personal allegiance to the constitution of the United States that is taken by each member of the American Armed Forces:
“I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” (2)
As you can see, the evidence of where the loyalties of these two militaries lie is abundantly clear. The American military vows to protect our land and Hitler demanded unfettered loyalty to him. This is a classic example of how blind obedience leads to tragedy.
Now while loyalty to your family or friends is commendable, we still have to ask; how far is too far? Seeing the film on Bonhoeffer reminded me of the oaths Mormons will take each time they go to temple or even the oaths they take towards their own souls when “bearing their testimonies”. As you well know the testimony of a Mormon is eerily similar to each other. The same words and phrases are used to define their individual commitment and adoration towards the Church, Jesus, the Book of Mormon and lest we forget; Joseph Smith.
Let me make something very clear before I proceed any further. I do not believe that Mormons behave like Nazis. I do not equate Hitler to any past, present or future prophet of the LDS Church. The reason I use the analogy is to show how blind obedience to a person and/or system is a dangerous behavior.
While some of the words a Mormon will use in their testimonies are in a different order, the main theme runs throughout each. This is typically what you’ll hear;
“I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true Church on the face of the earth. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and I know that the current president (right now it’s Monson) is a true prophet of God. I know that Christ is the Messiah who died for me and was resurrected on the 3rd day…”
On the LDS Church News website I found a section that gives instructions for members to teach their children how to “bear their testimonies”. (3) According to this site “testimony language is different from talking about God”. Huh?
The site tells the reader they should teach children what to bear testimony of; Christ, Joseph and the Book of Mormon. It then tells them to practice at home in informal settings.
First of all, why would there be such a thing as “testimony language”? Secondly, why should you be taught to “bear testimony of the Church, the prophet Joseph”, etc.? A testimony is a declaration of your faith, or a statement you give while under oath in a court setting to tell what you know of a certain situation. It’s a statement about something you know to be true in your personal experience.
Thirdly, it says to tell the children that their testimonies will grow. Isn’t this a given? I mean why would you tell somebody what to say about the personal things they already know? Why is it they have to be dictated to regarding how they share their own experiences? This is manipulative.
Kirk and I traveled extensively throughout Europe when we lived there in the mid eighties and I’ve often said the one place that reminded me most of Utah was East Berlin. The tones of the people’s voices and the emptiness in their eyes spoke volumes to me. It was obvious to all that the presence of communism had taken its toll.
Throughout all our travels Kirk and I met a lot of people and ironically the one thing that attracted me to the Christians was their testimonies. Each person had their unique story, but each fact they shared with me about Jesus was the same. He loves me, He died for me and He was God incarnate. Those were the only similarities existent in their “testimonies”. No one practiced it before they met me and then recited something by rote, yet the vocabulary they spontaneously used radiated their devotion for Christ Jesus.
The US military gathers their new recruits together and they pledge to obey so that the forces stay strong. Hitler did this to another extreme to ensure that everyone did just as they were told at all times so that he could someday rule the world much like the Romans did. What purpose does it serve for everyone to have similar testimonies, other than to control the masses?
Can you just imagine what the Apostle Paul would’ve said? How would he talk about Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon? What do you think his testimony is like up in heaven? With the utter devotion he portrayed to Jesus in his writings, where would Joseph or Monson fit in? If we’re so busy talking about Smith, Hinckley and/or Monson then honestly, where in your testimony does Jesus fit?
To show what I mean about their devotion to Smith take a look at what it says in Joseph Smith: The Choice Seer, Part III, Chapter 25;
“The accumulation of all scholarly knowledge in the earth’s history of events past or the projection of things future will yet pale into embarrassed silence when compared with the knowledge granted us through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Such things stand as a third great evidence of his prophetic calling.”
Just think…even Moses and Isaiah, not to mention Jesus’ knowledge, will “pale in embarrassed silence” when compared to the third grade education of good ol’ Joe. Now in light of this let’s see one of the reasons they say we should trust the prophet Joseph Smith. Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pg. 67;
“GREATNESS OF JOSEPH SMITH. I look upon Joseph Smith as the greatest prophet that ever breathed the breath of life, excepting Jesus Christ. Father Adam, as I have said, stands at the head; but Joseph Smith was reserved to lay the foundation of this great kingdom and dispensation of salvation to the whole human family in these last days, to build up Zion, to establish God’s kingdom, and to prepare it for the coming of the Son of Man.”
Again, unfettered loyalty to a man is a dangerous thing. It has the potential of great destruction either to one person or a whole society. Yet they have the examples listed above on where to direct their loyalty to and even receive other examples from the pulpits of their schools. At Brigham Young University, the apostle Dallin Oaks said this at the CES Doctrine and Covenants Symposium;
“Our individual, personal testimonies are based on the witness of the Spirit, not on any combination or accumulation of historical facts. If we are so grounded, no alteration of historical facts can shake our testimonies.” (“1985 CES Doctrine and Covenants Symposium,” Brigham Young University, Aug. 16, 1985, page 26)”
The point is this; on whom or what do you lay your devotion? Making public oaths is a serious business and shouldn’t be taken lightly, yet this is what each and every Mormon does when they bear their testimonies to what they falsely believe is truth. For the Mormon the oath is made to not only Joseph Smith, but to all prophets in the Church, the Book of Mormon and the Church itself. Jesus ends up being a mere sideline attribute. The pressure of believing all this is tremendous as they’re promised suffering for any incompliance.
For example, there is a list of protocols called “The Fourteen Fundamentals of Following Our Prophets”. The complete list will be posted at the end of this article but the last item is what caught my attention. It says;
“The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.”
Now tell me how this is inspired? Where in the Bible did Jesus ever tell us to follow mankind and manmade institutions in this manner?
Pray with us won’t you? Pray for each and every member of the LDS Church to indeed have a personal revelation and testimony as to the truth of this false church and the truth of the One True God, Christ Jesus.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Jude 1:24-25; “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
1 – http://ddickerson.igc.org/oath-of-loyalty.html
2 – http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/oathofenlist.htm
Liahona June 1981, pg. 1, Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet
(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University); “In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.”
1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.
I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.
May God bless us all to look to the Prophet and the Presidency in the critical and crucial days ahead is my prayer.”
Posted in Baptisms for the Dead, tagged baptisms for the dead, baptize, bible, endowments, false gospel, freedom, gospel, heresy, Jesus, lds church, Mormon temple, mormonism, ordinance, proxy baptisms, truth, works vs. grace on 01/24/2011| 1 Comment »
Baptisms for the Dead
The following paragraph about the practice of baptizing the dead was taken from Jefflindsey.com, an LDS “apologetic” website–if there is such a thing. It shows how Mormons helplessly try to explain the practice of baptizing the dead:
“Baptism for the dead is a powerful evidence that Joseph Smith was a real prophet and the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. The LDS practice has long been derided as absolute fiction and an abomination, and based on a terrible mis-interpretation of 1 Cor.15:29. However, long after Joseph Smith restored the practice through revelation, dozens of ancient documents have turned up showing that early Christians (at least some) indeed believed in and practiced baptism for the dead much as we do today. “
I am always glad to see the appearance of the phrase “through revelation” because it usually means that all other Mormon explanations have been exhausted leaving only “we do what we want through revelation.”
If there’s a part of scripture that best illustrates how Mormons twist the word of God, this is it. We have always maintained that Mormons are great basing an entire belief system upon one or two verses of scripture. This is a well known fact amongst those of us who work in the field of counter-cult ministries. The LDS Church is no exception to this rule, although they would vehemently deny the allegations. There is literally one verse that talks about baptism for the dead and this is what the Mormon Church has put their minds on to set a standard of a dead work for their god. It is found in 1 Corinthians 15:29 and it says; ‘Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?’
The key to understanding scripture is to read all things in context before you apply it to any teaching. The first half of 1 Corinthians 15 is speaking about the absurdity of not believing in the resurrection of the dead. Paul gave examples of those who had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection and then went on to explain that baptizing for dead people was even more absurd if they didn’t believe in the resurrection. The uniqueness of Christianity lies in the resurrection of the dead. For whatever reasons, the Corinthian church believed they needed to perform this proxy for the dead and Paul was there to set them straight.
Joseph Smith is quoted in the book Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 179 as follows; ‘The Saints have the privilege of being baptized for those of their relatives who are dead, whom they believe would have embraced the Gospel, if they had been privileged with hearing it, and who have received the Gospel in the spirit, through the instrumentality of those who have been commissioned to preach to them while in prison.’
Several questions arise in my mind when I read this thought process of Smith’s. First of all, how does one know if their dead relative got the chance to hear the gospel in spirit prison? Secondly, how could someone ever presume that their dead relative would even accept the gospel? Third, if, as many Mormon leaders teach today, that all people will be caught up in the first two levels of heaven regardless of whether they’re Mormon believer or not (i.e. they deny the concept of hell), then what is the point of baptizing the dead? Aren’t we all already going to heaven?
Let’s look at the exact passage in scripture:
1 Cor. 15: 29
“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” KJV.
Just to gather some meaning here, let’s read the same verse from the NLV to get a better understanding:
“What good will it do people if they are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised, why are people baptized for them?”
Mormon “apologists” put all their reasoning behind the word “they,” in 1 Cor. 15:29, as if to imply that since Paul said “they” in referring to his fellow apostles in the early part of the chapter, that he means to attribute “they” to [the apostles’] practices later in the chapter as well.
We cannot build a doctrine based on that. We need more. We need to know what is biblical and what is not, based on the entire bible. Since God is not a God of confusion, He tells us what is His ways and what is not. We know that when we see things mentioned in the bible, as in God’s law in the Old Testament, we also saw it in practice in the scriptures as well. Paul talks about living a life for Christ numerous times in the New Testament and we see many characters in the Gospels doing just that. We also see what Paul wrote to the Churches in Ephesus, Corinth and others, yet again, we see it put into practice in Acts. We also know that the Church of Corinth was a church that was practicing some strange rituals. They had lost their way and Paul’s letter was sent to correct that. That alone should make us suspicious and cause us to question his motives for mentioning baptisms for the dead—if the context to the chapter were not obvious already.
But let’s look at this from one other angle. Doesn’t it seem reasonable that if baptisms for the dead were truly God’s way, then it’s a significant thing? Forgetting or not baptizing the dead as the Mormon’s teach would cost someone their salvation, or so we’re led to believe by LDS doctrine. That’s an incredible statement if true! If it were a practice of the early church, and a teaching of Jesus Christ that Paul taught as well, shouldn’t it have appeared somewhere else in scripture? Perhaps Paul just wasn’t that concerned about the dead. And perhaps Jesus had better things to do.
Again, I cannot over emphasize this. The idea of baptizing the dead so that people could be resurrected who would otherwise be lost for all eternity is a rather astonishing idea. And there is much to be lost if the Church has failed to practice this exercise. Were it not the pagan ritual that it is, then we should have seen it put into practice by the early church. The book of Acts gave us many examples to follow, preaching, baptism, and laying on of hands, to name a few.
I was baptized for the dead on several occasions in the Ogden Temple while I was growing up as a Mormon in Utah. I remember thinking I had never heard of any of the people I was baptized for so I was unable to say if those people accepted the gospel. Each time I went to do my proxy work I wondered if what I was doing was in vain. I prayed that with all my hard work to stay holy and pure to get in the temple wouldn’t be for nothing. I wasted many hours praying they would accept what I had to offer them.
The Lord tells us to set our minds upon the things of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it says; ‘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’. The church keeps their members busy so they don’t have the time to think about the obedience of Christ, let alone anything He would want them to do, i.e., studying His Word.
My prayer now is that if you are a Mormon, you will study the entire passage in 1 Corinthians 15 to see where this teaching originated. I can assure you that it had nothing to do with the Mormon Jesus’ teaching on the ‘eternal principles’ of baptizing for the dead in the meridian of times and everything to do with Jesus’ resurrection as told consistently in other scriptures in the bible. Can Mormons present the same evidence for Baptism of the dead being taught elsewhere in scripture?
Posted in Lifestyles of the Mormon, tagged Aaronic Priesthood, baptism for the dead, bible, false gospel, freedom, grace, Jesus, lds church, marriage by proxy, Melchezidek Priesthood, Mormon lifestyle, mormonism, Mututal in Action, peace, Priesthood Meetings, Primary, Relief Society, temple endowments, truth, Works for salvation, works vs. grace on 01/24/2011| Leave a Comment »
Mormon Lifestyles & Daily Routines
The Mormon life is beset with many activities they see as necessary in their ultimate goal towards salvation. Now while we can all be guilty of over scheduling our lives at times, we are assured by the Lord that we are never responsible for our own salvation – Ephesians 2:8-9 says; “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Good works are always a manifestation of our salvation; they never serve as a result of salvation. They are faith in action; never because we must earn our own place beside Him. Unfortunately for the Mormon this is not what they’ve been taught to believe.
Posted in Firing Squad and Mormonism, tagged bible, blood atonement, Book of Mormon, Brigham Young, false teachings, freedom, Jesus, joseph smith, law, mormonism, ordinances, sacrifices, salvation, truth, works vs. grace on 01/15/2011| Leave a Comment »
Firing Squad and the Mormons
Journal of Discourses 4:220; “This is loving our neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, February 8, 1857
Mormon Doctrine, pg. 92; “But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins. Murder, for instance, is one of these sins; hence we find the Lord commanding capital punishment.”
Doctrines of Salvation 1:133; “But man may commit certain grievous sins-according to his light and knowledge-that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone-so far as in his power lies-for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail. …Do you believe this doctrine? If not, then I do say you do not believe in the true doctrine of the atonement of Christ. This is the doctrine you are pleased to call the “blood atonement of Brighamism.” This is the doctrine of Christ our Redeemer, who died for us. This is the doctrine of Joseph Smith, and I accept it….To these I will add: “Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses…”
Doctrines of Salvation 1:135; “Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. This is scriptural doctrine, and is taught in all the standard works of the Church.”
D&C 42:79; “And it shall come to pass, that if any persons among you shall kill they shall be delivered up and dealt with according to the laws of the land; for remember that he hath no forgiveness; and it shall be proved according to the laws of the land.”
The references above provide a clear understanding of what the Mormon Church has thought of blood atonement through the years and how it continues to see it. The reason we’re highlighting this particular teaching of the Church is because of what’s taking place in Utah as this I’m writing this.
In 2004 Utah changed its rules on capital punishment. As it stands today, if you’ve received the death penalty you will die by lethal injection with the exception of 4 men who sit on death row. Their sentences have been grandfathered into the new law passed seven years ago. Those four men have chosen to die by firing squad. The last person choosing this method was John Albert Taylor who stood in front of 5 prison guards in 1996.
The date of the next execution by firing squad in Utah will take place in June 2010 – the offender is a Mr. Ronnie Lee Gardner. In 1984 Gardner was on his way to his court sentencing after being convicted on a robbery and murder charge when he tried to escape. In the melee he shot and killed a defense attorney and injured a court bailiff. (His girlfriend had snuck a gun into the courtroom for him.) His repertoire also includes an escape from a minimum security facility, stabbing somebody over 100 times, breaking into a home to initiate a gunfight and the malicious attack of a couple of prison guards in a medium security prison.
If that wasn’t enough he also tried to escape from a medical appointment and in so doing, bashed in a guard’s face and kidnapped a med student at gunpoint. He’s been on death row since 1985. And here we are today, April 23, 2010.
Third District Judge Robin Reese signed Gardner’s death warrant after asking him if he still wanted to die by firing squad. Gardner’s reply: “I would like the firing squad please”. And yes, he is a Mormon.
The question for us at Life After Ministries isn’t about the worldview of capital punishment. It’s about the inconsistencies in the doctrines of the Mormon Church and the lies they tell about the Bible. If you’re LDS and you’ve murdered someone there’s no salvation for you unless you’ve shed your own blood.
According to the teachings of the Church, King David will not receive a true salvation. (1) The apostle Paul and even Moses should be banned from enjoying life in the hereafter because they all have the same thing in common as Mr. Gardner. They’re all murderers. Ironically, the rules don’t apply to Moses and Paul like they did to King David. The Mormon’s silence on their salvation status is deafening. And while I’m here on this earth long enough to talk about this I will continue to do so!
In the eyes of the Mormon god there is no way to atone for your murderous sin unless you have your own blood shed for that crime.
Did Moses shed his blood to atone for the murder he was guilty of? No. Deut. 34:5-7.
Did King David shed his blood to atone for the murder he was guilty of? No. 1 Kings 2:10-11.
What about the apostle Paul? Again, we know the answer to this question is also no. There are no biblical accounts on the death of Paul. Tradition has it that he was beheaded and buried in Rome. If you’re LDS and you’re thinking, “hey his blood was shed”, you’re wrong. Paul was beheaded for being a follower of Jesus, not for the murderous rampage he took part in before his salvation.
However, here we have Ronnie Gardner maliciously murdering innocent people and he is going to have the opportunity to go to the Celestial Kingdom all because of his incredible “sacrifice” of having his own blood shed for his sin. (See references above.)
Now let’s take a look at how this is done, shall we? In addition to the shedding of his own blood he will need someone to do his temple work for him.
Temple worthy family members can take out endowments for deceased relatives in their local temple one year to the day after that deceased person’s death. (2)
Never mind the fact we’re living in the New Testament era, or the fact this man isn’t remotely close to being in the same league as the power houses of the Bible. Oh, and did I mention the New Testament era? Hmmm…whatever happened to our Lord hanging on that cross for everyone’s sins, including Mr. Gardner’s?
For those not familiar with the ritual of “taking out endowments”, let me explain. An active, temple worthy member of the LDS Church has the opportunity to stand as a “savior on the mountain” for relatives who’ve died and not accepted Jesus into their lives. They do this through performing proxy works in the temple for that deceased person. (3)
There are a number of things to participate in and works to perform in the temple so the deceased person will have the opportunity to once again accept Jesus into their lives. It also serves as a way for you to earn your own salvation.
Baptism by proxy for the dead
Confirmation to become a member and receive the Holy Ghost by proxy for the dead
Ordination into the priesthood by proxy for the dead
Sealings to spouses for eternal marriages by proxy for the dead
Sealings of children by proxy for the dead
(The above information was retrieved from www.ldsendowment.org on 4/24/10)
Works for the dead violates every teaching in the New Testament you can imagine. Let’s take just a handful of examples for beginners, and leave others for you to investigate. Let’s begin with the fact this is necromancy!
Deuteronomy 18:11 explicitly tells us that consulting with the dead is forbidden.
Luke 16:19-31. Here we have Jesus giving a parable about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man of course wants for someone to relay a message from him to his family members who are still alive that where he ended up is horrible. Jesus is very clear when He told the Pharisees about the chasm set in the afterlife and how no one can warn his family for him. You’ve got one chance while you’re here on earth.
Jesus told His disciple Thomas He is “the way, the truth and the life” in John 14:6. Remember the “highway” spoken of in Isaiah 35:6?
What about John 19:30? “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
Hebrews 9:11-14 – only the blood of Jesus qualifies for the redemption of sins.
Hebrews 10:10-14 – priests keep offering sacrifices in the temples and none of them are deemed worthy. And if you think this is the worst of the bad scenario that wouldn’t end – there’s more.
What in the world do you think you’re doing trying to atone for your awful sin? Is murder worse than stealing a pen from your work place? By the law of the land it certainly is, but in God’s eyes? Sin is sin my friend. We must follow the law of the land so yes, there are consequences for our behavior, but that does not mean God thinks any less of the murderer than he does the thief.
The catch you say? The “catch” is that none of us are good enough to get into heaven without Jesus’ precious spilled blood. Not you, certainly not me and definitely not anyone who’s trying to do it themselves.
The only way to heaven is through the cross. Galatians 2:16 & 20 says;
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Notice Paul didn’t say just a little bit of work is required for this one thing…no! Paul said we are justified by the faith of Christ, and not by works.
Are you tired? Are you heavy laden? Jesus’ yoke is for you! Matthew 11:28-30. I remember being a Mormon and being exhausted all the time. It didn’t matter if I was active or not in the Church, I carried the spirit of Mormonism around with me and took it with me everywhere I went – Utah, Oklahoma, Idaho, California, Germany, Vegas, Tahoe, Washington…I kept unpacking the habits, the traditions, the “have to’s and must do’s” and I was very “lowly in heart”.
Worse than that is the man sitting on death row at the Point of the Mountain in Bluffdale, Utah right now. As if he didn’t have enough to think about, he’s obviously got his own atonement to think about.
Let me be clear about something. I used to not feel sorry for people like Mr. Gardiner, but as I’ve aged and grown in the Lord, my heart hurts for the messes he’s caused for himself and everyone who had the misfortune of coming near him. And yes, I strongly believe his punishment is just. I also feel horrible that he’s been lied to and might not come to the cross of the true Jesus. The Mormon god offers nothing but a perverted gospel of Joseph Smith. It has nothing to offer to the man in prison today or for the man who’s imprisoned by his works for the dead in the Mormon Church. May God have mercy on them both.
Know we’re praying for all the Mormon people; our hearts break for them each and every day. If you or someone you know would like further information, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us anytime!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
1 Cor. 1:18
1.D&C 132:39; “David’s wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord.”
2. Ensign, July 1999, pg. 65, “Guidelines for submitting names to the Ordinance Index using TempleReady from “I have a question”. Response by Paul E. Koelliker, managing director of the Temple Department.”
3. The Worth of Souls,” The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Oct. 1934, p. 189; “That places us in a very responsible attitude towards the human race. By that doctrine, with the Lord at the head, we become saviors on Mount Zion, all committed to the great plan of offering salvation to the untold numbers of spirits. To do this is the Lord’s self-imposed duty, this great labor his highest glory. Likewise, it is man’s duty, self-imposed, his pleasure and joy, his labor, and ultimately his glory.” – John A. Widtsoe
Posted in Bishop Duties in LDS Church, Bishops, tagged bishop, false gospel, false teachers, garments, Jesus, lds church, mormonism, salvation, temple recommend, temples, works vs. grace, worthiness on 01/15/2011| 3 Comments »
Duties of an LDS Bishop
Bishops in the LDS Church are called the “judge in Israel” for the wards and branches of the Church (Gospel Principles: Priesthood Organization, Chapter 14). They have many responsibilities throughout the Church, aside from conducting meetings. The Bishop and his counselors are over the different organizations in the Church, such as: the Young Men’s, Priesthood Quorum, Sunday school class, and Primary, as well as the organizations for the women, the Relief Society, and Young Women’s. In addition to all that they are to make sure that the leadership positions in these organizations are filled.
When you are “called” to a position in the Church, it is said that the Lord wants you to be in this position, this calling (The Latter-day Saint Woman, Part B Lesson 28, Serving in the Church). You are expected to accept this position. If you choose not to accept, it’s frowned upon. After all, are you going to say “no” to the Lord? (Dallin H. Oaks, November 2002, Ensign)
In my old ward there was a couple my husband and I were close to. The wife, “Jennifer” was dying of cancer; while this was happening, her husband “Tim” was called to be a Stake Missionary. This calling requires the person called to invest much of their free time away from home, going out with the missionaries to their appointments, and giving new members, the “new member” discussions. When I asked why Tim would be given such a calling when it seemed that his wife needed him more, I was told that it’s what the Lord wanted. I couldn’t believe for one second that the Lord would want him to be away from his wife when she needed him the most.
Another duty of a Bishop is to interview the people for the temple recommends. As of July 2000, there is a list of 15 questions the Bishop asks the member. Remember these men are considered the “judge” of these people, they represent God. The questions are as follows: (The Bishops Manual)
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
5 Do you live the law of chastity?
6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
10 Are you a full-tithe payer?
11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?
12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?
14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?
As you can see, some of these questions are very personal, what business is it of anyone, what you drink, if you pay a full tithe, or what kind of underwear you have on? In the LDS Church the Bishop is your judge, in a November 2003 Ensign, President Gordon B. Hinckley tells the priesthood at General Conference the areas in which the Bishop judges the church members:
“You cannot compromise your qualifications to sit as a common judge in Israel. It is a fearsome and awesome responsibility to stand as a judge of the people. You must be their judge in some instances as to worthiness to hold membership in the Church, worthiness to enter the house of the Lord, worthiness to be baptized, worthiness to receive the priesthood, worthiness to serve missions, worthiness to teach and to serve as officers in the organizations. You must be the judge of their eligibility in times of distress to receive help from the fast offerings of the people and commodities from the storehouse of the Lord. None for whom you are responsible must go hungry or without clothing or shelter though they be reluctant to ask. You must know something of the circumstances of all of the flock over whom you preside.”
Jesus is our judge, our authority, our Savior. How could a mortal man, who is full of sin himself judge another worthy of the things mentioned in the quote above? Such questions on chastity, tithing and family matters should be between you and God, unless YOU choose to discuss it with you church leader. Jesus is the one who puts it on your heart to serve; no one can look inside your heart to see if you are “worthy” enough to serve.
Jesus has authority over us, given to him by God. He suffered and died for us, he paid for our sins on the cross, so we might have eternal life. I would rather stand in judgment before Jesus Christ who was and is perfect in every way versus a mortal man who is no better than me. Colossians 2:16:17 tells us not to let any man judge us, even what we eat or drink we only answer to Christ, no one else.
When a member commits a serious sin they must confess it to their Bishop. He then helps them through the repentance process. During this time the member may not be allowed to hold church callings, take the sacrament or participate in any class discussions. If needed he presides over any disciplinary council or “Court of Love” as it’s sometimes called, the person on “trial” so to speak, can be disfellowshipped or excommunicated. All this depends on how bad the sin is and how remorseful the church member is; in the end the Bishop will tell the member when their repentance process is complete.
As President Hinckley stated above they are to judge who needs financial help and who doesn’t. The LDS members are encouraged to not accepted assistance from the government (D&C 78:13-14). They want the members to come to the Bishop if they are in need of financial help. The Church asks members to pay a “fast” offering in addition to the tithing. The “fast” offering comes from when the members who fast once a month give a “generous” fast offering.
“In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are encouraged to fast whenever their faith needs special fortification and to fast regularly once each month on fast day. On that day, we go without eating or drinking for two consecutive meals, commune with our Heavenly Father, and contribute a fast offering to help the poor. The offering should be at least equal to the value of the food that would have been eaten. Typically, the first Sunday of each month is designated as fast Sunday. On that day, members who are physically able are encouraged to fast, pray, bear witness to the truthfulness of the gospel, and pay a generous fast offering.” Joseph B. Wirthlin, July 2001 Liahona
In exchange for the finiancial help, church the members if able, are asked to help with cleaning the church, the church grounds or the Bishop;s storehouse if they live near one (I have a question, March Ensign 1978). Wanting its members to come to them for help isn’t in its self a bad thing. My concern is what happens if someone becomes dependant on the Church for assistance and they discover the church isn’t what it claims to be. What if the Lord wants to lead them out of the LDS church? Members would feel like they couldn’t leave the Church “after all the Church has done for them”. It creates this false sense of loyalty, that no matter what, they have to stay active members of the church, because they owe the Church so much.
As I said before Jesus is our judge. He is the only one who can judge us justly, and fairly. I wish that the LDS could know the freedom that comes from knowing the Jesus of the Bible. There is liberty in Christ. Galatians 5:1 reads, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”.
In Christ,
Melissa Grimes, melissa@lifeafter.org
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