Thirty years have gone by since we started Concerned Christians. It started in 1973 at the kitchen table in our home. This was after a handful of people encouraged us to do so. This small group met several times to come up with a plan that would provide the kind of information that could be assimilated to reach the Mormons and to educate the Christian community. Since Judy and I had recently come out of Mormonism, invitations began to come in asking me to come to a church or Bible study group to teach. As our little group began to grow, we started getting requests to meet with people coming out of Mormonism because of the trauma involved. This became a weekly group which quickly grew to several people, all having the same traumatic experiences, and thinking they were the only one with that problem. Sometimes we had 25 people crammed into our living room. It soon became obvious that we needed more room.
Next we moved to a spare room at a local Christian bookstore where we met for quite a while. God called Judy and I to go to the South Pacific nations of Samoa and Tonga to live and work for 7 years. When we returned we again began meeting in our home. By now all of our kids were grown and gone, so we had a large home with 4 bedrooms and only 2 of us. So we converted 2 ˝ rooms into office space and in essence started over. Pretty soon we were working with people all hours of the day and night. We were seeing great results, but it became obvious that Judy and I had no privacy at all and we had grown too large for our 2 ˝ rooms. Our board agreed that we needed a place of our own. However, we didn't want to rent because that seemed to be pouring God's money down the drain, so we said we wanted to buy a place. Of course, we had no money so we were stepping out on faith.
One day shortly after that a woman called and said she had a building that the economy was forcing her to sell and asked me to come look at it. I explained that we had no money, but would come look. As I was getting out of my car, I looked across the top of it and there was the Mesa Mormon temple just down the street 2 blocks away. This place was perfect, but I again told her we had no money. We both agreed to pray about it. A few days later, as Judy and I were having our morning prayer time together, I remembered I had a good friend in California that was CEO of a church mortgage company, so I called him to ask if he was going to be in our parts anytime soon. He said, in fact he would be here the next day, so we made plans to get together. The next afternoon he and his VP met me at the property, but the place was locked up and all we could do was walk around outside. He asked me how much she wanted for the property. After telling him, he thought about it, looked at his VP and then said we could have it. I was shocked but realized that this was definitely a "God thing."
A month later we moved in and immediately watched the growth progress. This place, a renovated home built in the 1950's, was perfect with its several offices, a conference room, a kitchen, 2 large work rooms and a very nice chapel with pews. However, the growth continued and soon our chapel became crowded. It was decided that somehow we had to expand, but again it would take money. It was about this time that one of the churches that have supported us for years contacted me and said they had some money that they wanted to give to a ministry that would have a real need. After describing what we needed they voted to give us enough money to accomplish our expansion project. An ex-Mormon construction person and good friend of the ministry offered to double the size of our meeting room and to do it within budget. That job is now finished and we have a beautiful new room. It has doubled the size of our chapel and given us what we needed in the way of space. God has a way of providing for those who are faithful and trust Him to meet the needs of His followers.
Helps Fund:
A few months ago many of you responded to our request for money, over and above
your usual giving, for our Helps Fund. It was to benefit a family which had
recently left the LDS church. That family was truly blessed with the amount
of help we were able to provide them. Although they aren't completely out of
the woods (financially), they are praising God as they watch Him meet their
daily needs. They have decided to move back to the state where the husband/father
was a Mormon bishop and perhaps start a Concerned Christians in their hometown.
In the meantime, we have recently helped other ex-Mormons and would like to continue in this type of ministry to current and future ex-Mormons. Please pray and give, if God so leads.
Summer Drought:
As we appeal to our readers for help with the Helps Fund (above), we want to
remind you of Concerned Christians' need, also. With the summer season upon
us we're already seeing the usual drop in giving that most ministries experience.
So, don't forget us over the summer. We continue to need operating funds. Thank
you.
Judy Robertson is teaching a series of classes entitled, Preparing My Heart to Witness to Mormons, on Thursday nights, 7:00 at our offices at 525 E. Broadway Rd. in Mesa, AZ. Her final two topics are "Bible versus Book of Mormon" and "What is the Church and how will we know it's true?" on June 3rd and June 10th respectively.
Starting June 17, we will revert back to our usual class schedule which will
include:
| "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful
and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message,
so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." (Col 4:2-4, NIV).
If God has given you a heart for prayer, join us on Tuesday nights from 7-8 p.m. at our office in Mesa. If you're unable to come, please join us in prayer from where you are. Pray for our staff and teachers. Pray that God will bless us and increase our territory and that we will give God all the glory. |
Article 12: " We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."
It is difficult to explain the utter falsehood in the above statement made by Joseph Smith. Of all the early Mormon leaders, the inability to abide by the law of the land is best seen in the case of Joseph Smith. Most notably so in the case with the Kirtland Safety Society Bank. In A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we read the following:
"In November, 1836, a number of brethren including the presidency and other leading elders of the church, applied to the Ohio state legislature for a charter for a bank, to be known as the "Kirtland Safety Society Bank;" but on account of religious prejudice it is supposed, the legislature refused to grant the charter." (B. H. Roberts, 1:400-402)
Historians have noted however, that the reason the charter was denied is due to the fact that "there is no evidence to sustain the idea that it was even asked to grant one. No bills to establish a Mormon bank were ever considered by the [Ohio] legislature." (Robert Kent Fielding, The Growth of the Mormon Church in Kirtland Ohio, pp. 179-181, insert added)
Be that as it may, Joseph Smith and other LDS leaders decided to defy the state legislature, start their own bank (naming it the Kirtland Safety Society Antibanking Company) and print their own currency. All of which was done to no avail as the bank went bankrupt within a year.
Another example of LDS leaders defying the law deals with the practice of polygamy. In February of 1833 the state of Illinois passed a law making it illegal to commit "the crime of marrying while one has a wife or husband still living from whom no valid divorce ahs been effected." The doctrine of polygamy was established as official doctrine by Joseph Smith 10 years later in 1843 (Doctrine and Covenants 132). Also noteworthy is the fact that Joseph Smith was indicted on charges of polygamy.
"May 25, 1844 (Saturday) Joseph Smith learned that the grand jury at Carthage had found two indictments against him, one of them for polygamy." (Andrew Jenson, Church Chronology: A Record of Important Events Pertaining to the History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1914], p.25)
Had he not been killed in the Carthage jail, "it is very possible that he would have gone to prison for being a polygamist." (Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?, p. 205)
After the Manifesto was issued to abolish polygamy among Mormons, many LDS leaders continued to practice polygamy in defiance of the law of the land and the law of the LDS Church.
Sixth LDS President Joseph F. Smith testified as follows in the Reed Smoot Case:
"The CHAIRMAN. Do you obey the law in having five wives at this time, and having them bear to you eleven children since the manifesto of 1890?
Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman, I have not claimed that in that case I have obeyed the law of the land.
The CHAIRMAN. That is all.
Mr. SMITH. I do not claim so, and I have said before that I prefer to stand my chances against the law."(Reed Smoot Case, vol. 1, p. 197)
"The CHAIRMAN. ...you are violating the law?
Mr. SMITH. The law of my State?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
Mr. SMITH. Yes, sir.
Senator OVERMAN. Is there not a revelation published in the Book of Covenants here that you shall abide by the law of the State?
Mr. SMITH. It includes both unlawful cohabitation and polygamy.
Senator OVERMAN. Is there not a revelation that you shall abide by the laws of the State and of the land?
Mr. SMITH. Yes, sir.
Senator OVERMAN. If that is a revelation, are you not violating the laws of God?
Mr. SMITH. I have admitted that, Mr. Senator, a great many times here."(Ibid., pp. 334-335)
The above examples vividly show that early LDS leaders did not consider the law of the land, or laws of their own church to be worth following when it fit their need. As such, it is unlikely that they were true prophets of the living God.
Article 13: "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
As we come to the last Article of the LDS faith, we ask several important questions that pertain to "doing good to all men."
Is it good to all men to teach false doctrines? Is it good to all men to follow false prophets? Is it good to all men to usurp the authority of the Bible? Joseph Smith regularly broke the laws of the land and the laws of God. He has given scores of false prophecies and lied to even his own followers. We ask that the answer to such questions be carefully weighed before accepting the LDS Church as the only true church on the face of the earth.
Review is always a good thing, especially when it comes to God's truth. Last month we looked at point one of "deception prevention," which was that deceivers always seek opportunities for entrance, and acceptance into our lives. Jude 4 tells us that deceivers seek to "creep in unnoticed" to a local fellowship, or a believer's life. In other words, they won't jump into your life doing a belly flop! It's so important that we know the truth so well that we can spot a counterfeit teaching from afar. I am distressed to hear that a high statistic of people involved in "Christian sounding" cults came out of Christian churches. That is, cults are parasitic. They only come into areas where the true gospel is being preached, to steal sheep. But what are the sources of deceit? Where does deception ultimately come from? The Bible tells us in II Corinthians 11:14 where deception's sources are:
The First Source - Satan
"And no wonder," Paul writes, "for Satan transforms himself into an angel of light…." This angel of light is really the prince of darkness! The Lord Jesus describes Satan as the ultimate liar in John 8:44 when He says - "When he [Satan] speaks, he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [nature], for he is a liar and the father of all lies."
Let's not think that Satan's sedition would look like or sound like a lie in its initial presentation. Satan's lies initially sound so close to the truth, but are not. Satan is indeed an angel of light. Isn't it interesting to realize that pseudo-Christian claims are usually delivered supposedly by an angel? Mormonism's angel Moroni supposedly brought Joseph Smith a new "restored" gospel, didn't he? Satan was originally created as an angel wasn't he? Satan's lies usually contain some truth, but they are deceptively twisted to lead others away from the truth. Isn't that why Paul warns in Galatians 1:8, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you then what we have preached, let him be accursed"?
No doubt, Satan is the source of deception. He's the source of Mormonism's deception. I choose de-truth from Jesus over deception from Satan. How about you?
The second source of deception is Satan's carriers, his teachers
In II Corinthians 11:13 Paul states, "for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ." Verse 15 tells us these false teachers "transform themselves into ministers of righteousness." History proves Joseph Smith to be an immoral deceiver, yet he presented himself to his followers as "a man of God." Too often, true followers of the Biblical Jesus (not the Mormon pseudo savior) fail to recognize that deception tries to morph itself to prevent its true nature from being revealed.
Yet, the true work of God is very distinct from Satan's sedition. God's work is always in the light. It has no sacred secrets. We have no hidden rituals. We have no "upper echelon" teaching that's only available to the initiated few. God's truth, found in God's Word, the Bible, is available to whosoever wants to come.
True believers are true to God's truth. We aren't afraid to put the Bible's historical claims to the test of accuracy. We believe the Bible, from Genesis to maps! And we believe the Bible's central message is that God loved us so much, that He became a man, that as the God-man, He could die in our place, and live the completely sinless life that heaven requires. We believe that if we put our complete trust in Him as our Savior and Lord, that He takes our sin, and in exchange, gives us His righteousness. Salvation is not found in the believer "doing" anything, because the work's been done by Jesus. All God calls us to is to believe. Trust Him. Have you?
Anti-counterfeit experts don't study counterfeit money to discover false funds. They study the real bills, backward and forward, so they can spot a fake a mile away. I challenge you to stay in the Bible, God's Word. And let the Bible stay in you. Know what you believe and why you believe it. If you've never done systematic Bible reading, let me encourage you to start. For example, start in a book of the Bible (John) and read a chapter a day. Jot down at least one truth from your reading. Then, think about that truth during the day. When you get done with one Bible book, start on the next (Romans, for example). Soon you'll be able to spot deception, because you know what the Bible really teachers! God's truth: love it, learn it, and live it. It will be your best prevention against deception!
Dear Concerned Christians,
I am writing you in regards to finding a Christian ex-Mormon support group here
in my area. I am currently inactive in the LDS church and have wanted to break
away from it. Ever since my family has been aware of me not believing in "the
church," there has been pressure from them to try to lure me back into the LDS
church. I have had bitter feelings from them and friends of theirs who are also
members. At other times former ward-mates have been trying to warm up to me
to find out what my life is like. I have been praying for the right time to
do something, but I don't even know what to do. I need help and support! Please
help me in whatever way you can and thank you for the work you are doing.
Oakland, CA
Dear Jim & Judy,
As a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, I appreciate "The Cross"
newsletter and may our Lord strengthen your insight into the false teachings
of men's religion and lies.
St. George, UT
Dear Mrs. Robertson,
I'm a recent convert to the LDS church. The last few months since my move from
Washington State to Arizona, I've been in a rut, until last Sunday when a Mormon
elder gave a talk on the Book of Mormon. He finished by saying the Book of Mormon
was the best and most correct book one can read. As he said this, a distinct
voice said to me loud and clear, "NO IT'S NOT!" In that instant I knew why my
spirit was so depressed. My husband and daughter had in the meantime read your
book, "Out of Mormonism." They were watching for the right time to get me to
read it too. I did on Sunday, January 18th. I couldn't believe that there were
others who felt the same way I did about the temple ceremony. For me there was
no peace, just dark confusion. In the past three years since my involvement
with the LDS church I felt dead spiritually. Thank you!
Pearce, AZ
Concerned Christians,
I'm too weak to leave the LDS church. I know it's wrong and yet I can't seem
to leave. I dread waking up on Sundays and going to a cult church that claims
to teach about the Jesus of the Bible, when in fact they don't. It's making
me insane! I'm becoming hostile and hateful to those around me because I'm so
weak and hurting. I can't even imagine hurting my missionaries. It would kill
me if they ever found out I'd left the church. I can't imagine life without
marrying a returned missionary, and in the temple. Yet deep down I still know
it's wrong. I'd never know how to tell my family because they think it's so
great that I joined. My sisters are even looking into joining. I'm so torn between
God and a false religion. I moved across country to get a stronger testimony,
but all I did was lose it. I know that Jesus exists and died on the cross for
me. However, I'm beginning to think it wasn't for me. My Dad just died and he
wasn't saved. So at least in the Mormon church I can be baptized for him; it's
just a comfort, even if it's not true. There are so many Bible verses that prove
our church wrong, yet some that prove it right. I've read every anti-Mormon
book out there, yet I'm still in the LDS church and can't seem to leave. HELP!
Salt Lake City, UT
Dear Jim & Judy,
Thank you for inviting us to attend your Thursday night Support Group meeting.
We came with our brother-in-law. May God continue to protect and provide for
you to have this ministry. What a blessing it is for those who struggle with
the issues of Mormonism. I'm enclosing a small donation for your ministry, trusting
that God will multiply it. Please put me on your mailing list.
Minneapolis-St.Paul, MN
Dear Concerned Christians,
Thank you for all you're doing in helping others come to the God of the Bible,
to know the love that surpasses knowledge, the peace that calms the soul rather
then the burning of the bosom. If God brings calm and peace, wouldn't it be
Satan that brings a burning in the bosom? Anyway, thank you again.
Tempe, AZ
Dear Bob,
It's scary that in a span of just the few months I've been Mormon, how distorted
my mind became. I feel like I have to relearn the basic Christian beliefs I
once knew. In just a few months, At the LDS church I have been taught to recite
over and over again how true the LDS church is and how Joseph Smith is a prophet
of God, that I gave up questioning it and just started to believe what I was
saying. I want to thank you for sending the tapes and material. I probably would
have given up on me if I were in your shoes. I'm grateful you didn't give up.
We watched part of Jim's tape together and I took it to my mom's house to finish
it and I wept. I thought the LDS church would lead me to heaven when I die.
I know now that I was wrong. I have to leave the Mormon house and I'm scared
to death. I want them so badly to see what I now see, but I'm afraid they won't.
I can not thank you enough and I know my family will feel the same. So much
change is about to take place in my life very soon, so keep me in your prayers.
Wyoming, MI.