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AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2006Below is the newsletter for the month of August, 2006. You can browse each topic by using the links below. If you would like to join the mailing list to get the newsletter each month as well as news about up and coming events within the ministry, you can visit our newsletter page and follow the email instructions. Enjoy and God bless you! You can browse the newsletter by using the links below.
From the Executive Director: Why Mormonism?What is it about Mormonism that seems to attract some people? Is it their idea that families are forever or marriage for eternity, where men can have more then one wife and continue raising a family in the next life? Or is it because they believe they can become a god and rule over their own planet or that they seem to have a more moral life style than others? Or maybe it's because the Mormon can provide salvation for family members after they die by baptizing them into the LDS church by proxy. Each of these may play a part in some people, but as I've taught so many times in the past, it's usually because people believe in the Bible, but they have no idea about what it says. So the Mormon comes along and uses the Bible to get people interested by taking all the scriptures they use out of context. Once that's accomplished, the Bible goes on the back shelf and they divert attention to the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants. There are many misleading concepts of Mormonism that most people, including Mormons, don't know or refuse to accept. For example, in Matthew it says that after this life there is no marriage between a man and a woman because when the Christian dies they will become as or like the angels and will be in the presence of God forever. We can never become a god because in Genesis 3 we see Adam and Eve being cast out of the garden and in Isaiah 14 Lucifer is kicked out of heaven. In both cases it was because they wanted to become a god and consequently were cast out of the presence of God. This is basically what got me out of Mormonism because I wanted to live forever in the presence of God. However, if I continued to pursue my Mormon goal of working my way to godhood, the opposite was going to happen and I didn't want that. There are other things that don't add up. For instance, women always seem so happy. However, in the state of Utah, which is almost all Mormon, there is twice the national average of using what I call convenience drugs like Prozac or Valium. Why? Suicide among Mormon women is six times the national average. Why? This is probably because the woman can't go to heaven or the Celestial Kingdom unless her husband decides that she was a good enough wife in this life that he would want to take her with him. Suicide among teenagers is also six times the national average and is probably because they are hammered everyday with the teaching that they must be perfect even as their Heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus was the only perfect one and we can't obtain that until we join Him in heaven. In the state of Utah we find that over 50% of the girls getting married are already pregnant. So to say the morality of the Mormon is much higher than the Christian community is a false understanding or statement by the LDS church. If Mormons want to achieve perfection, they need to turn to the Jesus Christ of the Bible and not the Jesus created by Joseph Smith. They need to realize that perfection doesn't come until we arrive in heaven and are in the presence of God forever. Jim Robertson
New Joseph Smith Movie: History or Propaganda?Condensed and reprinted from THE Messenger with permission from Utah Lighthouse Ministry. As we entered the waiting area for the elaborate new LDS movie, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, the first clue that the film aimed to elicit an emotional outpouring for the portrayal of Smith as a saintly martyr, was the number of missionaries standing around offering tissues to everyone entering the theater. The film was released in December of 2005 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birth. It's approximately 70 minutes long and is being shown at various LDS historic sites and visitors' centers. With the goal of telling Smith's life in a way that would be "comfortable" to the LDS Church leaders, historical accuracy seems to have been of little concern. The movie was designed to be a "faith promoting" experience, not a balanced view of Smith "as a man." It is exactly in the film's depiction of Smith's "personal" side that it becomes obvious this is strictly a propaganda piece. Smith's magic involvement, temper, lying, and manipulation of his followers are conveniently overlooked. The movie, like most LDS projects, was beautifully filmed and well acted. However, this was not a realistic portrayal of either the beginnings of Mormonism or Smith's relatively short life. The film is meant to reinforce believers, to give members a positive emotional experience that will hopefully carry them through any periods of doubt. In such a portrayal, Smith's rougher side was conspicuously absent. The Early Years. A significant period of time was given to reenacting Joseph's terrible leg surgery when he was about seven. While this event was no doubt important in forming his mental outlook, it appears that the main reason for including it in the film is to help establish a sympathetic view of Joseph Smith. The film then moves to the period just prior to Joseph's first vision, when he was fourteen, showing the religious revivals in the neighborhood and the ministers preaching on predestination and election to salvation, two doctrines Smith later rejected. Joseph's 1820 vision is recounted in the current way, with no mention of the various accounts that differ, as to date, who appeared or the message delivered. In the movie version of the 1820 vision Smith is told by God and Christ that he is not to join any Christian church. However, there is no mention of his later attempt to join the Methodist Church in 1828. Joseph Meets Emma. One emphasis in the movie is the apparent loving relationship between Joseph and his wife Emma. The film introduces Emma Hale in a scene where she and her mother are outside hanging up the laundry. While discussing the topic of marriage, they see Joseph Smith walking down the lane. Joseph and Emma's eyes meet and the audience realizes that romance is in the air. But the film fails to explain Smith's presence in the Pennsylvania neighborhood in 1825. He did not just happen to pass by the Isaac Hale household but was actually boarding there. Joseph's mother recounted that the reason he and his father had traveled from Palmyra, New York, to the Pennsylvania border was to provide magical direction to a Mr. Stowell in his efforts to locate an underground silver mine. In 1826, while working for Mr. Stowell, Joseph Smith was charged with a misdemeanor due to his magic practices. Mr. Stowell's nephew brought the charges against Smith, believing that Smith was an imposter. Emma's Father Objects to Marriage. While the film mentions that Emma's parents objected to her marriage to Joseph, it does not explain the reasons. Joseph Smith's arrest in 1826 for "glass looking" no doubt added to Mr. Hale's apprehensions about the marriage. Smith's change in vocation from magician to prophet did nothing to improve Mr. Hale's opinion of him. Emma's Problems with Polygamy. The film depicts Emma and Joseph's relationship as one of mutual respect and equality. The movie, however, conveniently omits Joseph and Emma's numerous arguments over polygamy. Joseph's Death. The film ends with a scene of the mob storming the jail but with no sign of the Smiths shooting back. The camera focuses on Joseph holding his dying brother Hyrum, as he looks toward the open window. The musical score wells up in a dramatic rendition of the popular LDS hymn honoring Joseph Smith, Praise to the Man. Did Joseph Smith suffer a martyr's death? Or did he reap what he had sown? While the attack on the jail was clearly illegal, the Mormons' growing presence in Illinois, voting as a block, the destruction of a newspaper, the Nauvoo Legion, and Smith's secret doctrines and practices certainly created fear and anger in the non- Mormon communities. There is no excuse for a mob storming the jail, but Joseph Smith must bear a large part of the responsibility for what led to the event. Observation by Bob Betts: Others of us from Concerned Christians also watched this film recently at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. We were stunned that Joseph Smith's history could be so rewritten and sanitized, while omitting so many important facts and facets. This feel-good rendition is so misleading, I can't imagine any devout Mormon, who knows the real history of Joseph Smith, would not be embarrassed by this deceptive portrayal.
"Anti-Mormonism" - Is it really persecution? by Karrie BrowningRecently I read an article by Cal Thomas, a conservative journalist and news commentator. The article, "Can a Mormon Be President" lumped Anti-Mormonism with Anti- Semitism. As an ex-Mormon from a founding family in the LDS church, I found this appalling, insulting, and irresponsible. First, it implies the seriousness of worldwide anti-Semitism, of course culminating in the death of six million Jews in an attempt at extermination, and continuing on in the horrific deaths we've seen at the hands of Muslims in the Middle East and Europe, and now in full-scale war. LDS so-called "persecution" has in no way compared to the scale of persecution of the Jews, ever! Yes, Joseph Smith was "tarred and feathered." He got caught having sex with a preacher's daughter and was lucky to get the feathering over castration. Yes, they were run out of the East. They had started fraudulent banks, defrauded people out of land, were practicing polygamy and marrying other men's wives; all the while teaching that every other Christian church was corrupt. The pressure was not all from the outside. There were many groups of pioneers, especially the handcart groups who were basically coerced by the leadership into seeking "their zion" and heading West under serious hardship and ill-advised logistics in a cruel Brigham Young experiment in economics. The LDS church teaches its people that their forefathers were run out of their homes by Christian pastors, Christian mobs, and political opponents. All this fueled, of course, by apostates (ex-Mormons) and "anti-Mormon" furor, while the LDS were minding their own business. The church has repeated these stories over and over in print, verse, and celluloid to the point that they have programmed a hair- trigger persecution complex in the people bordering on paranoia and hysteria. Telling Mormons the truth is not persecution. Nor is it anti- Mormon. It may be anti-MormonISM, but it is definitely pro- people. The LDS people I have witnessed to and comforted are imploding under the weight of their religion. The women are gulping Prozac and the teenagers and men are suicidal because they can't live up to the false sense of perfection they must achieve for eternal life, according to their doctrine. That's why they look so good on the outside. They work, work, work... trying to "do better than their best." The treadmill doesn't stop. The tactics of "Anti Mormons," as the church labels anybody who brings up dissenting positions, are not persecution, it is information! Persecution is more often promulgated on the person that leaves Mormonism by the Mormons. I have heard countless testimonials of people who leave; whose family cut them off; their client base has deserted them; their friends turn their backs on them; they get excommunicated; their spouses leave; their kids get beat up in school; they lose jobs and homes. But nobody would believe that such good people would let that happen! NEWSFLASH: There's no one 'good,' no not one, according to Psalm 53:3. Humans should never surprise us in their depravity no matter how you dress them up. Labeling people "anti-Mormons," or "anti's" for short has been the tactic of the LDS church and its people since its beginning. It implies that people speaking out against Mormonism are just uninformed, ignorant bigots. In every LDS film I've seen, they're portrayed as dark and brooding, sinister-like, unshaven and dirty, with very bad teeth. When your LDS friends start talking about "anti's" or accuse you of reading "anti-Mormon" literature, remind them that these people are informed about the facts and/or speaking from experience. Urge them to read "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" about true horrors of persecution that spans centuries. (And "oh, by the way" I don't think Joseph Smith is mentioned.) We don't allow missionaries to the Sudan to be called "anti- Muslims," missionaries to South America to be called "anti- Catholics," or missionaries to Europe to be called "antipagans." Let's spread the word where we can that this label is uncalled for and inappropriate. I just spent several weeks in Utah with Christian missionaries who are called to reach these people head on. Let's not use the LDS church's disparaging word and definition for people who care about Mormons, are seeking to warn them, often at great personal expense, and are really "pro-truth!" The only torture of these people is from within the LDS church. 12 million people world-wide are encamped behind church walls, and fed misinformation from the leaders. Families are being separated and destroyed. If they dare to ask questions, the people are left hopeless. When they search for answers they are pressured unless they "cooperate" with the party line. If they stay there, they are spiritually starving until their ultimate fiery destination. If they make it out of the church they're spiritually emaciated and have no idea where to turn or who to believe. Those of us on the other side will continue working on our leaflets, battling the deception, and praying for their Liberation Day when the truth of Jesus Christ will set them free and the Bread of Life will feed their hungry souls.
Where's the Love? by Lloyd SharpI recently had an epiphany. Like the day I found out babies do not come from the stork, or that one day I would die. I am forever changed by what I recently learned from a Mormon family member. We will call this family member of mine Pat. My wife and Pat were discussing a very poor situation with a newly married couple they know well. This couple has been married for only a couple of months and both parties are mean, hurtful and bitter to one another over the smallest differences. At one point in the conversation my wife suggested to Pat that perhaps some unconditional love, like the love of God, could help this married couple with some of their problems. "We have been learning about the unconditional love of God in church, haven't we?" My wife asked me rhetorically. Pat spoke. "I don't believe God loves us unconditionally. We have to keep his commandments to earn His love. He doesn't love murderers, rapists and people who lie." This statement took me aback. This is saying a lot. I was a convert to the LDS Church. My wife was raised Mormon. I have been doing work for this ministry of Concerned Christians for nearly five years. Never have I had the Mormon problem put so simply and profoundly. I could think of nothing to say to Pat. I sat in awe of the gravity of Pat's problem, and the problem of many Mormons. The almighty God of the Bible is diminished in Mormonism. Because it is taught clearly in LDS works that He cannot love you unconditionally. You must earn the love of God. If you are a liar, a murderer, a rapist, then you are outside the love of God. You must do right before God can care about you! God's love becomes conditional upon your ability to abide by His rules. The consequences of this are obviously seen in the life of Pat. Pat is recently divorced and Pat's children all suffer from some type of depression and anxiety. Two of Pat's children are known as a "cutter." This means that a person cuts himself or herself as a method of coping with anger or depression. Pat's children all suffer from trying to earn the love of their parents, just as their parents try to earn the love of God. Consider the following citation from Russell M. Nelson, a sitting member of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles of the LDS Church:
"Divine love is also conditional. While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand, many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father and the Son feel for each of us-and certain divine blessings stemming from that love-are conditional." Please understand that the term "unconditional love" is being used to describe agape (pronounced agápe) love. This is one of a few Greek words for love used in the New Testament. This type of love is the perfect love of God. He extends this love without distinction to everyone. Paul speaks of this love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13:4-7.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.God loves the world so much that He sent His only Son to die on a cross to redeem it. (John 3:16) We love God because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) While the unsaved are outside of the family of God, the love of God toward them is shown in the cross.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8, emphasis added). Rapists, murderers, liars, Christians, Mormons are loved by God despite their sins. The culmination of this love leads one to repentance and the cross of Christ. We must remember that in our attempts to understand and reach Mormons that agape love is what they need to see from us and from God.
Dear Cheri, Raleigh, NC Dear Jim & Judy, Avondale, AZ Jim & Judy, Rexburg, ID Jim & Judy, Mesa, AZ Bob, Jim & Judy, Mesa, AZ Judy, Annandale, VA Dear Judy, Detroit Lakes, MN Dear Concerned Christians, Prescott, AZ Dear Concerned Christians, Chubbuck, ID Dear Bob, Royal City, WA
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One of the biggest
jobs I do in our office is to counsel with couples; one is Mormon and
the other comes from a Christian background. They've reached a point in
their relationship that is beginning to get serious. The Mormon tells
the other that if their relationship is to continue, the Christian will
have to convert to the LDS church. This is when a lot of pressure begins
to sit down with Mormon missionaries and to take the six missionary lessons
that will prove the Mormon faith to be the only true church on the face
of the earth. The Christian will usually consent because they have reached
a point where they are allowing "their heart to over rule their head."
In some cases the Christian will think to themselves that if they marry,
the Mormon will later convert to Christianity because they were never
very active while they were dating. Then all of a sudden the Mormon starts
to get involved in their LDS church again. Maybe the Mormon is being pressured
by their family or the Mormon Bishop is saying they need to get back in
the church and to bring the Christian with them or suffer the consequences.
In most cases I'm able to show the Christian the error of Mormonism and
the effects on their life if they join or marry the Mormon. Occasionally,
I'm able to convince the Mormon that their religion is not based on the
Bible.
In portraying
Smith's teen years the film is silent regarding the Smith family's involvement
in magical practices during the 1820's. Today LDS historians generally
agree that Joseph Smith was involved in magical practices as a young man
but tend to minimize the importance of such activity. The film never mentions
these activities of the Smiths nor how magical practices affected their
lives.
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