When Judy and I left the Mormon Church in 1973, we began sharing the differences between Mormonism and Christianity shortly after. Our schedule of teaching and the curiosity in this topic began to create an interest by others who wanted to help reach the lost, including ex-Mormons. In 1978 we incorporated as a non-profit 501-C-3 ministry.
That same year we were challenged by an anonymous individual to write down many of the things we were teaching in a form that was easy to understand and could be used by a wide range of age groups. This individual also sent a cashiers check for $400 and stipulated that it was to be completed in a certain period of time.
So a group of us got together, with Judy spear-heading it to completion, and worked diligently to finish it by the deadline. We took the draft copy to a Christian print shop, D & L Press in Phoenix. Although it was to cost more then the $400, they liked the idea so much they agreed to work with us to get it out. This book came out in 1979 and is called "Witness To Mormons" and at 26 years of age is still one of our best tools. We have no idea how many thousands of copies have been printed because the print shop records only go back to 1998.
The reason for this piece of history is to let you know that we are in the process of making some changes/additions to it. It will still be a yellow book because some people order it by that color; however it will have a slick cover to make it look more professional. There will be some minor changes, but also a few additions to it. It should be ready the first part of April this year.
We are also increasingly being asked to have this material for use in Mexico, Central and South America, Spain and the Philippines. So we have recently finished translating it into Spanish and hope to have it printed for distribution in the very near future. A few years ago we wrote a large number of pages to add to "Witness To Mormons," but decided that "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" because we wanted to keep the price down to be affordable to everyone. So the other material that we have will become another book in the future; maybe "Witness To Mormons II."
We are very excited about the changes and additions, as well as the Spanish material. We pray that God will use it to reach the lost in Mormonism. We encourage your prayers and support of the work that is ongoing and know that God and the Angels all rejoice in heaven each time a Mormon comes to the real Jesus Christ.
The sign in front of every Latter-day Saint church says: "Visitor's Welcome."
I hope this description of a typical LDS Sunday service satisfies the curiosity of those who might be considering visiting their local LDS ward meetinghouse.
The ward is similar to a parish. Members are assigned to the wards based on where they live. LDS churches throughout the world have the same structure, meeting agendas, and meetinghouse layouts. The LDS sacrament meeting is the Sunday gathering for the whole congregation.
As you enter, you will notice that everyone is in Sunday best. (Women are not allowed in the chapel in pants.)
The bishop and two "counselors" (the bishopric) sit facing the congregation on the platform, behind a short wooden wall with a central microphone podium. They preside over the meeting and call it to order, but do not usually "preach."
Begin with a song and a prayer…
The bishopric gives a welcome, and the congregation sings an opening song from
the LDS hymnbook, led by a director, accompanied by an organist. A member of
the congregation gives the opening prayer, while everyone bows their heads and
folds their arms. "Amen" following a prayer will be the only response you hear.
There is no clapping, no "hallelujah's," no other "amen-ing," which would be
considered "irreverent."
There is no "worship team," no band, and no drums in an LDS service. They would also be considered "irreverent." The striking difference in LDS music is that instead of praises TO God, about His Love, His Grace, the LDS sing about the church, pioneers, prophets, and "put your shoulder to the wheel."
Making announcements and upholding callings…
The bishopric presents "ward" business and sustains "new callings" for laypeople
that have passed a worthiness interview for leadership positions. He'll say,
"All who can uphold and sustain brother or sister-in their position, please
manifest by the raising of the right hand." Everybody raises their hands. The
bishop says, "Any opposed by the same sign," and rarely does anybody raise their
hand.
Taking the sacrament…
The sacrament is the LDS version of holy communion. It is the main reason for
being in sacrament meeting, and is a necessary ritual for a member to remain
in good standing. Only members in good standing are supposed to partake of the
sacrament.
The sacrament elements, plain bread and water, are laid out in trays on top of a cabinet table that is roughly the size of a casket. They are covered with a white lacey tablecloth draped over the Sacrament Table.
Two young men about 15-17 years old, ordained as "teachers" in the priesthood, sit behind the sacrament table. They are fulfilling a duty to "bless and administer" the sacrament. The young 12-14 year-old deacons, all dressed in white shirts, dark pants, and ties will pass the sacrament.
The congregation sings a slow "sacrament hymn." The young priesthood teachers stand and very methodically fold back the lace cloth exposing only the trays containing the bread, which they break into small pieces. At the end of the song, one of the teachers kneels behind the sacrament table and reads the prayer over the bread. The prayer must be read perfectly or he must start over from the beginning. When the prayer is complete, he stands up and, with the other teacher ceremonially hands a tray to each of the deacons who systematically spread around the congregation to serve.
All of the young men only hold the trays with their right hands. The congregation takes the bread with their right hand, eat it, and then pass the tray with their right hand down the pew. The same process is repeated for the water.
Leaven in the Judeo-Christian tradition represents sin. To contrast the symbolism between communion elements and the sacrament, the LDS have taken the blood out and put the sin in.
The rest of the story…
There is no preacher, minister, or priest. For the rest of the meeting, 2-3
unpaid laypeople from the ward give 5-10 minute "talks" on subjects assigned
by the bishopric, and will reference LDS scriptures and materials more than
Bible verses.
On "fast Sunday," the first Sunday of the month, the congregation fasts and the podium is open for them to publicly "bear their testimony." Members will tell the occasional story of answered prayer or a "testimony building experience," but the testimony centers on belief in the LDS church, its prophets and teachings.
End on a song and a prayer…
The service closes with a closing song and prayer.
There is no "offering plate" passed. The tithes are discretely handed to a member of the bishopric in tithing envelopes or collected by young priesthood deacons at the member's home.
In short, a sacrament Meeting may seem innocuous, but this is where the beginning of the deception and "group think" lies. Listening to the speakers and the lyrics of the hymns may hint at the distinctions of LDS theologies and doctrine, but you would be better served to know Jesus, know the Word of God, and pray so that you will have discernment with your Mormon neighbors.
LDS Movie Review:
From the first volume in the book series entitled The Work and the Glory, Mormon author Gerald N. Lund's romance novel came to the big screen last January, adapted by director Russel Holt. Most of the story centers around the daily life of the fictitious Steed family and their occasional but life-changing interaction with the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith. The time-frame is between 1826 and shortly after the publication of the Book of Mormon and the formation of the Mormon church in 1830.
In 1826 the Steed family moves from Vermont to Palmyra, N.Y. to start a new farm. Upon the recommendation of a neighbor named Martin Harris, one of the "three witnesses" to The Book of Mormon, Benjamin Steed hires Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum to help Benjamin and his two adult sons, Joshua and Nathan, clear trees and plant crops before it's too late in the planting season.
The romance part of the movie involves the two Steed brothers being equally smitten with Lydia, the general store owner's daughter. Numerous passionate kisses, first between Lydia and Joshua, then between Lydia and the younger Nathan, along with a fist fight and the threat of a gunfight between the brothers over Lydia, gives the movie a PG rating. One additional fight takes place between Joseph Smith and the greedy Joshua Steed and one of Joshua's bad-guy buddies, Will Murdock, who are both attempting to wrestle away from Joseph, the sack containing the gold plates.
Three groups of people are portrayed in this film: Joshua Steed and the Murdocks, who scheme to get their hands on Joseph's gold treasure; the townsfolk, Benjamin Steed and Lydia's parents, portrayed as intolerant, hypocritical, mean-spirited Christians, who mercilessly ridicule Joseph Smith and his family; Joseph and his family, Martin Harris, Nathan Steed and his mother, Mary Ann, along with his younger siblings, portrayed as spiritual, down-to-earth, reasonable, peaceable, kind, loving, understanding, confident, sad and defensive victims of the persecution from the other two groups.
After hearing and eventually believing Joseph's stories of a visitation from God and Jesus Christ, visitations from an angel and buried gold plates, Nathan Steed befriends Joseph and Emma Smith and winds up defending them before the townsfolk, who are all angrily abuzz about Joseph's unbelievable tales.
At one point in their conversation with Nathan, Joseph and Hyrum smile and make light of the townsfolk for calling Joseph's claims "evil" and "devil-work" and for calling Joseph "a fraud" and "the devil's own servant." In this scene, Joseph and Hyrum portray the townsfolk as over reactive and irrational, while Joseph and Hyrum act like your ordinary, sincere, good-natured, levelheaded, young gentlemen.
Separating fact from fiction will be impossible for viewers, Mormon or not, unfamiliar with Joseph Smith's real history. Mormons portray him as being an illiterate farm boy. They conclude that he was incapable of producing The Book of Mormon without the inspiration of God. Yet, throughout the film, Joseph always speaks eloquently, using perfect grammar.
One fact deliberately omitted from the film, occurred in the scene in which Joseph is recounting his story to Nathan, about asking God and Christ which sect (church or denomination) he should join. Joseph said, "I was answered that I must join none of them." In the movie, Joseph stops there. However, in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph claimed God also told him "they (the sects) are all wrong…that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors (ministers) were all corrupt…"
In the same scene, Joseph's brother Hyrum sees the troubled look on Nathan's face after hearing Joseph's incredible stories. Hyrum kindly smiles and in a soft voice, gives him some unbiblical advice, "Trust your heart, Nathan."
As I viewed The Work and the Glory, it deeply saddened me to think that so many Mormons and non-Mormons alike will be fooled by this story that withholds so many facts about Mormonism's beginnings, as well as the truth about Joseph Smith and his family.
The movie itself is well directed and the cinematography is well done. The quality of acting is at or above what you might expect from a major motion-picture version of a romance novel. But, it's an extremely sanitized version of the character of Joseph Smith who is subtly portrayed as being sanctified by God, along with The Book of Mormon being excitedly and adoringly portrayed as inspired scripture, brought forth by God in these latter days.
In Ephesians 3:20 we read that God "is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine." We have once again been reminded of this! In the last newsletter, we expressed concern about having several unexpected needs -- a leaking roof, a lawnmower that died, and a phone system that wasn't working well. Through you, God has provided the finances needed to pay off these unexpected expenses. You are a blessing to us in more ways than you can imagine! Thank you for your continued prayers and support. "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!" (Rev. 5:13)
Dear Concerned Christians,
I always praise God for your good work in witnessing to our Mormon neighbors.
Although I've moved away from Mesa and my work with Concerned Christians for
sometime, the newsletter helps me to stay connected with your work. I pray for
many more Mormon people to come to the true God and Jesus as their Savior.
Ellensburg, WA.
Dear Jim & Judy,
We really enjoy "The Cross." We live around several Mormons who won't even talk
to us or let their children play outside with other non-Mormon children. We
can't figure this attitude at all.
Mesa, AZ
Dear Mr. Robertson,
We live in Australia. I know how busy you must be in helping people in your
own country and I apologize for taking up your time. However, my husband and
I are feeling completely lost. My husband has been a Mormon all his life and
I have for the last 6 years. Over the last few months we have realized what
the LDS church really is. We read your web site every chance we get and the
work you do is so amazing and we thank you for it. We were wondering if you
know of any support groups or web sites for Australians coming out of Mormonism.
We don't know a single person who has left this cult and we are feeling quite
alone. We thank you again for your help. The reason we started doubting the
LDS faith is because I read "Out of Mormonism." IT HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES "FOR
ETERNITY"!
Tasmania, Australia
Dear Concerned Christians,
Enclosed is a check for your ministry, please use it wherever it is needed.
I share my copy of "The Cross" with another family concerned about their children.
I shall pray for you as you continue to witness to the Mormons in our community.
Mesa, AZ
Dear Courageous Robertson's,
We too, live in Mormon country, but the Real Christ reigns and lives here! Because
of your faithful ministry, our "son" in the faith attended one of your classes
and was armed to break off a long term relationship with a girl who would not
be enlightened on Mormonism to the truth. We're very grateful to you!
Pinetop, AZ
Dear Jim & Judy,
We sure have enjoyed the class that Dan and LaVerne have taught the last few
weeks here in Tucson. Thank you too, for coming down to share your story with
us. Please accept the enclosed gift with love and use it where most needed.
Tucson, AZ
Dear Concerned Christians,
Thank you for the new book, "The Mormon Scrapbook." I already was aware of the
many "lies" that are contained in this book, but WOW, it's so convoluted, it's
difficult to perceive how they could believe such garbage. Thank you for your
continued prayers for my friend, that her eyes and ears of her heart would be
opened to the truth.
Allison Park, PA
Dear Jim,
A few years ago my grandson was ready to join the Mormon Church. His parents
and I were very upset, but he did not want to listen to anything we had to tell
him. I wanted him to know the truth before he joined and he agreed to talk to
you and your wife Judy, before he went through it. I asked for your help and
you met with him. He is very happy today that he chose not to become a Mormon.
We have never forgotten what you did for him. Thank you so much for your help.
Gilbert, AZ
Jim, Judy & Bob,
Enclosed is a small token of my appreciation for what you all are doing. I enjoy
reading "The Cross" and all the good news it contains. Keep up the good work!
Mesa, AZ
Dear Judy,
Hope the enclosed gift helps. You and Jim are doing a much needed, fantastic
job. May God bless you as you work in His vineyard.
Placerville, CA
Dear Concerned Christians,
Your publication, "The Cross," is so informative and helpful. I have read many
of your books that a very interesting. There are a few Mormons in our area and
there have been rumors about them establishing a Mormon Church here. Hopefully,
that will not happen. Thanks so much for all you do.
Happy Jack, AZ
Jim & Judy,
Enclosed is an offering for your awesome ministry. We were members of your church
in Mesa for 10 years and attended most of the classes you taught on Mormonism.
Then we moved from Arizona to Illinois this past summer. Imagine our surprise
when we moved to a small town of only 6,000 people and found it has an LDS church!
We, as a family, stand in agreement with the work you are doing to save Mormons
& show them the true God and His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. God bless you
always. We are keeping you in our prayers.
Genesco, IL
Testimony Corner:
(all names changed)
Carolyn was told all her life that she comes from a "proud heritage." Born and raised in the church, she was a member of one of the founding families of Mormonism, in a genealogical line of two presidents of the church and "good pioneer stock."
Active in the church throughout her youth and early college years, she participated in everything from ski trips to girls' camp, attended seminary, and held leadership positions in all of her age group classes. Her mother was a stake music director, so as the oldest daughter of five, she was also busy helping to "sustain her mother's calling" (a standard Mormon phrase for supporting someone in their church jobs), by singing in youth choirs, special programs, and performing in sacrament meeting. She gave talks in sacrament meeting when she was called to do so, and stayed worthy to go to the temple for baptisms for the dead with the youth groups.
"I went inactive after attending BYU-Hawaii," she says. "Things were not as I had expected. People claim there's hypocrisy in the Christian churches, but I hadn't been confronted with this in the LDS church. I had looked forward to being around people who were devout, but what I found was a lot of spying on each other to tattle for stupid stuff like wearing shorts, sneaking around, and partying. So, I was better off at a regular university, and that was it for me. I hadn't really 'quit' the church, I just never got around to going back, and then moved to Arizona."
When Carolyn started back to college in Arizona, God was faithful to put her with a Christian lab partner in her first engineering class. Keith and his wife Jenny became her best friends and the only Christians she really knew.
"Here I was in Mormonland. Inactive, but not really anxious to go back. My whole family's Mormon, so it's not like I wasn't exposed to it or had made any big decisions. I participated in my cousin's Temple wedding as a bridesmaid, and really don't remember having any concerns about it at all."
Keith changed all that. He was the first person to even present her with the question of if you die today, where will you go, and why? "I had him tell me his answer, and he said something like, 'To heaven because Jesus is my Lord and Savior.' I just shrugged it off and said, 'Oh. We don't believe that way,' or something flippant like that. But that conversation is forever etched in my memory as the first time a line was drawn in the sand between our two beliefs."
Carolyn spent a lot of time with Keith and Jenny. "They always had their green Bible on the dining table and those little "Daily Bread" pamphlets that they were reading," she remembers. "I'd flip through them when we were studying or hanging out. And, they always played this cool music! Now I know that it was Christian music. We're talking early-90's, so it was kind of pop. Keith would play his latest CD and say, 'check this out.'" They invited her to Christian concerts, too. Wayne Watson, and Susan Ashton played at their church. "The best thing that I'll never forget was The Young Messiah concert," she says, "We had common interests. We were friends. They really never pushed religion, Bible or other stuff that I noticed. I barely even noticed that the music was Christian. It was all just there, out in the open. I liked it and it didn't rub me wrong." The seeds were planted through music.
Things changed when Carolyn invited Keith and Jenny to attend the Easter pageant with her and her grandmother at the Mesa LDS Temple. Afterwards, they invited her to their church. She recalls, "They said, 'Why don't you come to church with us some time?' And I said, 'No, why don't YOU come with ME?' So, Keith said, 'OK! Where do you GO?' It was funny! He knew I didn't go anywhere! I was inactive, but still missionarying!"
Eventually, Carolyn took them up on their invitation, attending a contemporary Saturday night service where Keith played the drums in the worship band. "The music made me cry. The drama got great messages across. But the pastor really irritated me!" She would argue doctrine with them afterwards, but kept going back Saturday after Saturday. "I'm sure they thought I was a lost cause!" Finally, Jenny said, "You may like our Sunday service better. The pastor is starting a new series and he has a totally different style. This is our youth pastor. Sundays is our senior pastor."
She started attending the Sunday services at a Bible based church, and kept returning for "the rest of the story" of the book of Job. "One chapter at a time, and I still cried through the music every week!" She knows now that the Holy Spirit was working on her. "Of course it never occurred to me to read the book myself, only believing the Bible 'as far as it is translated correctly' and all that." Keith and Jenny answered her questions and kept bringing her with them. Carolyn learned that the God Job served is the one who loves her, because she'd known a God like Job's friends,' as a Mormon. Carolyn gave her life to the Lord on Easter of 1994. She wants Christians to know that the best way to reach Mormons is by having a relationship with them, and praying for them. "When I've asked Jenny what they were thinking, she always says, 'We knew you were our friend whether or not you became a Christian, but we were praying."
From the Editor:
While walking through the military grave site at Point Loma in California, Jim and I discovered three different symbols on tombstones: The Jewish star of David, the Christian cross, and the Mormon headstone, the angel Moroni with his trumpet. Most have noticed that Mormon wards (regular meeting house and chapel) and temples do not display a cross either inside or out, nor do they wear crosses as jewelry.
We hear Latter-day Saints say and read in LDS study manuals, that the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus sweat blood, not the cross, is the place where the atonement was accomplished. From the Latter-day Saint perspective, the manner in which Jesus died is not important.
SO WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CROSS?
In the Old Testament we read, "Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse"
(Deuteronomy 21:23). In the New Testament, "Christ redeemed us from the curse
of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone
who is hung on a tree'" (Galatians 3:13).
"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross," (Colossians 2:15). "…making peace through His blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:20).
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
"But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:23).
THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
Jesus did all that was ever necessary for the salvation of mankind on the cross.
His was the final "work," the sacrifice that opened the way to heaven for us
all. Hebrews 1:3 says, "After He had provided purification for sins, He sat
down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." He sat down because the work
of redemption was complete. Jesus said as He bowed His head and gave up His
spirit, "It is finished." (John 19:28-30)
The tree, or cross is significant because it shows the kind of death Jesus died, was fulfilled as prophesied.
Genesis 22:6-9 tells how "Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood" (italics mine). Isaac is here, a type (prefiguration) of Christ.
Isaiah 53 tells of this kind of death, "He was pierced for our transgressions."
Psalm 22 speaks clearly of death by crucifixion: "They have pierced my hands and my feet." And goes on to tell how the people "stare and gloat over me…they divide my garments."
When God's Word is fulfilled exactly as He said, it demonstrates the power of God.
The cross of Christ holds special significance in the heart of every believer, for it is the symbol of the victory Christ bought for us, defeating Satan. Unable to do this ourselves, Jesus chose to die a criminal's death on a rugged, splintery beam, and gain our pardon for sin that we could never atone for by ourselves. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The message of the cross cannot be compromised-it is foolishness to do so. Our desire is to reach out with hearts filled with Christ's love for those who have believed Satan's lie: Did Jesus really say He would die on a cross? He did! We have His testimony when he said: "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die" (John 12:32-33 italics added).
At Calvary's cross "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). "…Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe" (Romans 3:22).
Yes, it matters greatly the kind of death our Lord suffered. Only one who has experienced being set free from the bondage of sin by Christ's death on the cross can fully appreciate this most important of all symbols of our faith. And because of the cross, we live confidently in the knowledge that the work is done, the price paid, eternal life with Jesus is ours.