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Mentoring Handbook Chapter 12

Posted in Mentoring Handbook, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on 10/22/2010| Leave a Comment »

GOSPEL ORDINANCES (LAW) VS. GRACE 

Jacob 4:5; “Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham…” – 544 BC

If someone were to ask me why I feel so compelled to do this work, the above verse from the Book of Mormon would be my answer why.  This particular section of this booklet has my mind thinking of nothing but my mother.

She called me one day and her distressed voice captured my immediate attention.  She has been an active member of the LDS Church her entire life, yet never being quite worthy enough to earn the coveted temple recommend.  On this particular day I think she just needed a safe place to vent her frustrations with the Relief Society.

She had called the president of the Relief Society to let her know that she wouldn’t be able to provide the cookies for the meeting the next evening.  My nieces weren’t feeling well (they live with her), she wasn’t feeling well and she had just enough energy to make the call.  The president told her that she still had plenty of time to get the cookies together and she would do my mother the favor of picking them up on her way to the meeting.  She also reminded my mother how they had never had store bought cookies at their meetings.  True story!

After venting for quite some time I asked her what she was going to do and she said that she should at least go buy some chocolate chip cookies and put them in a nice serving basket.  I asked her if she really thought Jesus was more concerned about cookies for a meeting or for her physical well-being.  By the end of the conversation she hung up while being mad at my question.  I personally believe the Relief Society president had a dual problem, alas that’s for another booklet!

It’s obvious the leaders of the LDS Church have not shown its members what it means to “keep the law of Moses” or what it means to believe in Christ.  The verse from the book of Jacob makes about as much sense as the following sentence:  “I’ll be driving my car while I walk to work tomorrow”.  You can’t do both at the same time, so which mode of transportation are you going to use to get to work?

It’s much the same with our salvation.  We can live our lives believing that we want to go to heaven with the attitude of being self-sufficient.  Or, we can die to self and accept God’s precious Son as our only way to heaven.  Because of the enormity of this subject I am going to be spending a bit of time here.  Be sure to share that free salvation doesn’t give us license to do evil things and explain that the Holy Spirit wouldn’t allow us to do those things anyway because of 2 Cor. 5:17!

In addition to my examples I highly encourage the mentor to come alongside the ex-Mormon and ask him/her what ordinances were most important to them while in the Church.  The reason for this is to show them how to transfer their spiritual allegiance to Jesus fully, instead of believing in Jesus and still thinking they need to work.

Using the example of that ordinance, go to your concordance and look up the

transliterations for it, and the verses where they’re located to get a full understanding of what this ordinance really means.  Next, look for the same subject in the New Testament showing why performing this ordinance isn’t necessary because of Jesus’ work to fulfill it!

Always remember that every single thing the Mormon believes and knows about God, Jesus, and salvation is a lie.  Joseph Smith has tricked the members into believing everything he said or taught.  They are so devoted to the Church they would give their very lives, literally, so don’t be surprised at the amount of energy they would be willing to give for “works”.

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1032, says this about ordinances and salvation:

“Latter-day scriptures give ample evidence that God has established unchangeable, eternal ordinances as essential elements of the Plan of Salvation and redemption (Isa. 24.5; Mal. 3:7; Alma 13:16; D&C 124:38)…”

Go through each of the following LDS verses with the person you’re mentoring, making a point to take note of the biblical verses in context to understand the meaning.  For instance in Malachi God told the people to return to Him even after they had been cheating Him in the tithe offerings and had an “I don’t care about you God” attitude.  Show them using biblical scripture this type of an example – God just loves us and wants us back.  Yes, we need to obey, but when we are alive in Christ it’s hard to stay away from Him and paying money to the “scribes” of Mormonism isn’t the way to God!

“A biblical example of the necessity of ordinances can be found in the Lord’s statement to Nicodemus that one must “be born again” (John 3:3). The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “being born again comes by the spirit of God through ordinances” (TPJS, p. 162). The process of salvation is experienced as a “mighty change in your hearts” (Alma 5:14) under the guidance and assistance of the Spirit of God through keeping the divine ordinances…One is fully accepted of God and is “of God” if, and only if, she or “he obey mine ordinances” (D&C 52:14-19)…”

1.  What is John 3:3 really saying when read in context.  ______

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Smith went on to tell the audience more about the necessity of ordinances; from the same page of Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg. 1032):

“Ordinances, in the sense of rituals and ceremonies, embrace the entire mortal life of God’s sons and daughters and are performed by the Lord’s authorized representatives…”

2.  What does Isaiah 64:6 say?  ___________________________

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This is a good time to stop and do a word study!  What is the Hebrew meaning of the term “filthy rags”?

___________________________________________________

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In other words for the members of the LDS faith, it’s going to keep being this way until the day you die and there’s more of it after you get to “heaven”.  There are countless verses in the New Testament giving us instructions on what it takes to get saved.  I cannot emphasize enough that you must deal with this part of mentoring from the way you live your own life.

To make sure that I’ve given the LDS perspective its fair share of verses from their writings here’s just one more, this time from the Book of Mormon.  In 2 Nephi 25:23 it says;

“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

In sharp contrast God, Jesus, the prophets, the disciples and others have told us throughout the sixty-six books of the Bible that the Mormon verse above would be considered blasphemy.  Not to mention that it sounds too familiar to what Paul had written 2,000 years earlier in Ephesians 2:8-9;

“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.”

The “slight variation” was a little addendum of Smith’s at the end of the original writing, thus totally negating the grace aspect of our salvation.

3.  According to the apostle Paul, what happens to the significance of Christ’s death when we trust in works?  Gal. 2:19-21.  ____________________________________________________

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© 2010 Life After Ministries, Inc.

Link to Chapter 13

Chapter 13. Assurance of Our Salvation

http://lifeafterministry.com/2010/10/22/mentoring-handbook-chapter-13/

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Mentoring Handbook Chapter 10

Posted in Mentoring Handbook, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 10/22/2010| Leave a Comment »

GUILT AND SHAME

Witnessing Tip of the Day Guilt & Shame Is 617Mormons live life on the precept they must work for salvation. In Mormonism there’s a ‘general salvation’ given to all mankind, and after this comes the placement of souls which is dependent upon good works here on earth.

This may cause a myriad of problems as you might imagine, so our focus is on the impact this has on the soul.

There are several ways to work for  salvation, but for now I’m only listing a few.

The Mormon will always feel shame if they’re not accepted into the highest level of heaven – this is known also as the Celestial Kingdom, and there are three requirements to get in; temple marriage, good works which includes proxy work for the dead, and the third requirement is to pay a full ten percent tithing.

The most important ‘must’ in getting to the Celestial Kingdom is making sure you are married in the temple. Yes, marriage is the way to salvation ladies and gentlemen. If you aren’t married in the temple, you lose your right to see your relatives in heaven, you’ll be placed in a lower kingdom; only to become a servant to those in the Celestial Kingdom.

There are the remaining two things required for “true salvation”, but keep in mind marriage is a definite must in the mind of every single Mormon. From the series, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:58-59 it says;

“Marriage, as understood by Latter-day Saints, is a covenant ordained to be everlasting. It is the foundation for eternal exaltation, for without it there could be no eternal progress in the kingdom of God…Marriage is the grandest, most glorious, and most exalting principle connected with the gospel. It is that which the Lord holds in reserve for those who become his sons and daughters; all others are servants only, even if they gain salvation. They do not become members of the household of our Father…”

LDS theology dictates you’ll receive a calling from the Lord to work in different areas of the Church. The bishop will take a look at his list of who’ served where, and for how long. If your name hasn’t appeared on the list of who’s worked in the nursery for example, you should expect your phone to ring. You cannot refuse this ‘calling from the Lord’.

The structure of the Church is made up of lay clergymen, and women, so there’s no compensation for your hours spent working until you’ve been called to the status of high priest, or above.

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 48 –

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized to benefit all who participate, and all are expected to assist in its labors (see Activity in the Church; Lay Participation and Leadership; Ward Organization). The Church is administered according to the principles of individual involvement, service, and self-government. There is no paid ministry in local wards or stakes, and the work of the Church is carried out through volunteer service by the members, who are called by priesthood leaders to contribute in various capacities.”

LDS theology also dictates you must tithe a hard 10% to receive a temple recommend.

These small slips of paper are coveted by members of the Church as their token of being righteous and worthy enough, to be in God’s presence. It is God’s permission slip for you to get in the doors.

There is no higher calling in the Church than to hold a current temple recommend and they can keep their recommend only if they have a good standing at the ‘annual tithing settlement’.

For those who haven’t divvied up by January, there’s a line at local banks with people applying for personal loans.

D&C 119:4 says;

“And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.”

Also see Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 1481 –

“At the end of each year, ward members meet individually with their bishop in a tithing settlement interview to verify Church records of their individual contributions and to declare confidentially to the bishop whether or not the amount contributed is a “full tithe.””

The members are obligated to pay their ten percent, and this amount goes solely to the Church for more church buildings, temples, supplies, etc. Additionally, once a month they hold a ‘fast and testimony’ meeting.

Members will fast from food for two meals before they attend these meetings, and take the money they would have spent on that food to donate to a benevolent fund. These funds go to help the needy in their local food banks, or if there are special needs within their own ranks.

There’s a fair share of people who won’t be able to meet the financial standards of giving the Church requires.

These things will produce the inevitable; guilt and shame. For others, there might be guilt and shame experienced if they’re a convert and get out of the Church.

Or there is the guilt associated with converting others into the Church, and/or bringing children into the mix. Many adult ex-Mormons are riddled with shame by watching their adult children making the choice of staying in the Church after they have been saved. It’s heart-wrenching no doubt, to see them still in the Church when you’ve found freedom in Christ.

Several years ago while working through my exodus, the Lord showed me an amazing truth. It’s an easy enough thing to remember which is good for me! But it also packs a powerful punch in the way of a learning tool for any of us in regards to our own spiritual life with Jesus. He showed me this:

Guilt and Shame are Never the Same.

It rhymes, making it easy to remember.

Guilt and God both begin with “G”. God convicts us of our sin – this is the guilt – we repent, and He remembers it no more as He promised us in Isaiah 43:25;

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

Shame and Satan both begin with an “S”. Shame is death to the soul dear one! Shame is experienced when you repent for the same sin repeatedly. Dictionary.com defines it this way –

‘…the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another to publicly humiliate or shame for being or doing something specified’.

Isn’t it sad this is what the Church would want for the majority of its members? Less than 10% of active Mormons are considered temple worthy! The bishop knows who’s worthy, and who’s not; and you can bet the farm everyone else in the ward will know as well when you don’t stand up to ‘bear your testimony’ about your temple experience last month. Yet no one gets together to compare notes because the temple experience is also considered ‘sacred’ and shouldn’t be spoken about in detail with anyone at all.

In Deut. 28:66 God warns the Israelites that He would curse them if they didn’t obey His commands of staying pure in the land of Canaan. The curse is not having a restful assurance of their lives.

Ask the ex-Mormon what kind of assurance they had for their salvation while being in the Church. I don’t know of one Mormon who can say for sure that they’re going to heaven.

They have no hope at all because of shame; they never feel as if they’ve been forgiven, or believe they’ve not done enough. Share with the ex-Mormon from the Bible how they can be assured of their salvation.

2 Tim. 1:12 – I know whom I have believed

Phil. 1:6 – He will complete the work

Heb. 13:5-6 – He will never desert me

1 John 2:12 – Your sins are forgiven.

Isaiah 40:8 – The word of God endures forever

© 2017 Life After Ministries, Inc.

Link for Chapter 11:

Chapter 11. Denouncing Mormonism

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