For many years, Mormons have tried to explain to their people the reason Judy and I left the Mormon Church. When their missionaries seek out potential converts, they are frequently asked if the missionaries are familiar with the Robertsons and Concerned Christians. The Mormons will immediately respond that they know who we are and that we not only teach lies, but that we were excommunicated from the Mormon Church for a variety of reasons. The most common reason given is that we left because we wanted to commit adultery. As I sit and write this article, Judy and I today are celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary.
Another rumor is we left because someone offended us or that I had a bad business experience with another Mormon, etc. None of this is true! Their justification in saying this is that no one would leave "the only true church" because of things they read in the Bible; all ex-Mormons who leave must have done something immoral and were forced out of the church. I can emphatically say that we left as a result of studying God's word, the Holy Bible and after much prayer.
So when someone tells you that we or any other Mormon left for any other reason, ask them to provide proof of it. Mormons have been misled by their own leaders.
Another false report that needs clarification regards the witnessing we do at the Mormon Temple here in Mesa. During the Easter Pageant and at the Christmas lights display, our people are there only to pass out tracts. This is done in a loving manner and to answer any questions that may be asked. There are others who come to witness to Mormons and to warn the unsuspecting Christians who come. Some of these people do not come with love in their hearts. They carry offensive signs and have rather harsh words for or about the Mormons. It is not being done with an attitude of love. This is not our style of witnessing, but many Mormons lump us all together implying that Concerned Christians say and do hurtful things at these gatherings. This is absolutely not what our people do or say! Jesus gave us only one commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself." (Luke 10:27) So as we obey this commandment of love, we recognize that to say or do otherwise is not obeying Christ.
Now I want to tell you something very positive. This month (September) Concerned Christians is celebrating 30 years of ministry. It's hard to believe that so many years have gone by since leaving Mormonism and coming to Christ. We have seen hundreds of lives change from living in fear, wondering if they had done enough good works, to the freedom they now have in Christ Jesus. We have seen this ministry grow from a mom and pop organization to one of over 7500 families. And the ministry has now been influential all over the world as we receive mail and requests from all corners of this earth. God has truly blessed Judy and me! It's been a labor of love we couldn't have done without you and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Jim Robertson
So far we have seen articles one through five. Now we move on to articles six and seven.
Article 6: "We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth."
While the sixth Article claims they believe in the same organization of the early apostolic church, this is not what is practiced. According to Mormonism, it is only through apostolic succession that proper authority is given to LDS prophets and apostles. However, the New Testament knows nothing of an unbroken line of prophets and apostles. Neither does it teach that the apostles of Christ ordained any successors to replace them once they died.
"The apostles did not exercise any power of appointing successors…. Paul never taught apostolic succession nor did he believe that one apostle or bishop could transmit the gift [of apostleship] to another, nor that the sacred office could be confined to any channel or given or withheld by those who already enjoyed it…. They had no successors as we understand the term. They were chosen by their Lord for a specific task and endowed with particular gifts for its accomplishment, and their office and their gifts terminated with the apostles when their work was finished." (All the Apostles of the Bible, Herbert Lockyer, p.264, insert added, emphasis original)
While the leaders of the LDS church are the ones who chose the successors of the offices of prophet and apostle in their church, it was the Lord who chose the original apostles and sent them out to witness in His name (Luke 10:1).
The New Testament church placed apostles in authority over prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28). The LDS church has a prophet in authority over apostles. The LDS church also has a quorum of seventy that assists in the leading of the LDS church. Nowhere is this found in the Book of Mormon or the Bible. Luke 10:1 mentions the appointment of seventy (seventy-two in some Biblical manuscripts) disciples by Jesus to prepare the way for His ministry on His way to Jerusalem. Nowhere are these seventy placed under authority of the apostles. Indeed, they are appointed and directed by the Lord Himself and not the apostles!
Article 7: "We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth."
The problem here is not the wording of the Article nearly as much as the definitions poured into the words. Specifically the words ‘prophecy' and ‘revelation' take on a significant importance when we look at the LDS interpretation.
According to the Mormon church the ‘prophecy' and ‘revelation' of the church President (currently Gordon B. Hinkley) is to be treated as holy writ, even if it conflicts with the ‘prophecy' and ‘revelation' of former church leaders.
"In addition to these four books of scripture [The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price], the inspired words of our living prophets become scripture to us." (Gospel Principles, 1986 ed. p. 52, inserts added)
While Bible believing Christians believe in prophecy, we do so only in the sense of forth telling that which has already been revealed, not in fore telling events yet to occur. The Bible is clear that God used prophets in the past, but now speaks to us through Christ (Heb. 1:1).
In our next issue of The Cross we will examine the eighth Article of Faith. This article calls into question the validity of the Bible, so we will take the entire article to examine this claim.
In the fifth LDS Missionary Discussion entitled, Living a Christ-like Life, it states: "Through sacrifice we can know the joy of sharing and giving. We feel the influence of the Holy Spirit growing stronger in our lives. We may not be asked to sacrifice everything. But we should learn to sacrifice willingly whatever is required. Doing so helps us become worthy to live in the presence of God." (Bold emphasis added)
MISSING THE MARK
Without a clear understanding of the Bible, what the above quote says can make perfect sense and sound completely biblical to the average professing Christian or seeker. It appeals to the human desire to feel good. Yet, it's completely unbiblical.
Before I explain, let me add another Mormon quote to the mix; a familiar Book of Mormon verse (2 Nephi 25:23b), which attempts to blend works and grace like oil and water: "…for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." It starts out right; it IS "by grace ye are saved…" according to the Ephesians 2:8-10 passage to which Joseph Smith was alluding. But, then he takes a Uturn and contradicts God's doctrine of salvation. Let's finish the Ephesians passage: salvation is by grace "…through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Salvation IS by grace through faith and is a gift of God. Salvation is NOT of works, or else man could boast that he deserves it because he earned it. Man IS created in Christ to do good works which God fore ordained.
Joseph Smith totally did not get it. Grace, by definition, is undeserved merit or favor. Since salvation is not attained by any merit or effort on our part, then the good works that Joseph injected into what is the LDS plan of salvation (based on 2 Nephi 25:23b) nullifies grace. If good works could attain salvation, then that self-attained salvation also nullifies the need for Jesus' death on the cross.
GOD'S "GOOD WORKS" ARE ALL ABOUT GOD
God provides the means for the atonement for our sins in Christ's shed blood on the cross. Therefore, His followers do not do good works because they must, in order to earn salvation, but because they desire to do so out of love for God. (1 John 4:9- 11). Plus, "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). So, then, who deserves glory? God!
MORMONISM'S "GOOD WORKS" ARE ALL ABOUT MAN
In the LDS plan of salvation, man receives God's grace "after all (the works) he can do." In addition, LDS say Jesus atoned for Adams sins with His blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, not our sins and not on the cross. So, in Mormonism, who would be able to boast of the rewards they deserve and for which they expect to receive the glory? MAN! Joseph Smith said, "Here, then, is eternal life - to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you,...To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a God,..." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 346, 347, emphasis added) In Mormonism, it's all about the glorification and even the deification of man.
In that fifth Missionary Discussion, the LDS church leaves no doubt that it is through YOUR sacrifice (not Christ's) that you can know the joy of sharing and giving. Through YOUR sacrifice you can feel the influence of the Holy Spirit growing stronger in your life. YOUR worthiness to live in the presence of God is yours for the taking if YOU will just make the necessary sacrifices and be willing to do whatever is required.
The biblical perspective dictates that it shouldn't be about OUR sacrifices or OUR feelings. Good works are already prepared by God for us to perform after we are born of His Spirit.
SERIES SUMMARY
Don't be fooled by the feel-good approach to any religion, let alone Mormonism. We shouldn't live by our emotions, but by the Word of God. And, the subjective nature of our feelings won't bring us salvation. Only the Words of God are life (John 6:63- 69).
We've all heard that "close" only counts in the game of horseshoes. Does it count if we're "close" when it comes to knowing who Jesus is?
In our society today it's culturally correct to say that whatever a person believes is okay as long as it doesn't harm others. However, the doctrine of Mormonism does harm its believers in many ways. How? Truths about Jesus are distorted to the point of shutting the door of heaven in its members' faces.
The prophecies in the Old Testament about how and where Jesus would be born; who He said He was; the kind of death Jesus said He'd die; and what His death accomplished, are made impotent by the prophets of the Mormon church.
How and where would Jesus be born?
The Bible tells us that Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. This was prophesied in the Old Testament and evidence in the New Testament shows that these prophecies were 100% accurate. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6 Matthew 1:18; 2:1,4,6,15) However, the Book of Mormon says in Alma 7:10 that Jesus was born in Jerusalem. Well, Jerusalem is "close" but not right on target. The prophesies in the Old Testament are more than close. "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar" (Proverbs 30:5-6).
How would Jesus be born?
Clearly, Jesus' birth was the work of the Holy Spirit. (see Luke 1:26-35) "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' which means, ‘God with us'" (Matthew 1:22-23).
On this important truth, Mormon Doctrine is not even "close." It teaches "God the Father became the literal father (emphasis added) of Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, Page 64). Bruce R. McConkie is even more graphic: "Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers" (Mormon Doctrine, pp 546-547). And Joseph F. Smith said, "He [Jesus] was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1, page 18).
How would Jesus die?
The kind of death Jesus died was foretold by Him and is important because it shows His Word is truth, and that He is the One He claimed to be. (See John 8:28) "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to my self.' He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die" (John 12:32-33 emphasis added). The tree, or cross is significant because it shows that His death, the kind of death He would die was fulfilled as prophesied. Yet a Mormon visual aid shows "In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ took upon himself the sins of all mankind" (Gospel Principles, pp 67-70)
This occurred the night before Jesus died on the cross. Close enough? No. When God's Word is fulfilled exactly as He said, it demonstrates the power of God. The message of the cross cannot be compromised. It is foolishness to do so.
What did Jesus' death accomplish?
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). This truth is the most important of all truths. Our righteousness is not of our own accomplishment but on what Jesus did on our behalf.
Is the Mormon teaching close enough when it states: "Christ did his part to atone for our sins. To make his atonement fully effective in our lives, we must strive to obey him and repent of our sins."? And when Elder Boyd K. Packer of the council of the Twelve said, "Christ's atonement makes it possible to be saved from sin if we do our part" (Gospel Principles, pp 70- 75). So in Mormonism we have Christ's atonement plus our own efforts. This is close. Yet so far away. Christ death accomplished it all for us. If Mormons believe they must help Jesus because His work on the cross was not enough, then Mormons have missed the mark completely. Jesus said, "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:22-23).
In the game of horseshoes when one throws a horseshoe close to the peg, it counts. But "Close" doesn't count at all when it comes to the knowledge of the son of God and what His death on the cross accomplished for us. Let's not allow those who have been blindsided by The Deciever to go on being "close." The Word of God is "flawless." May we determine to know it well and be bold in proclaiming its clear simple gospel message that is right on the peg, a horseshoe "ringer."
Dear Concerned Christians,
Your article on the DNA was really good. I have passed it around and it may
not get back to me, but maybe it does more good that way. Thanks for the work
you are doing to reach the lost.
Yuma, AZ
Hi Jim & Judy,
Thanks for continuing to send us the newsletter. We enjoy hearing about folks
coming to the Lord, especially the Mormons. They are so following a false prophet
and a false religion. We have just sent the new video, "DNA verses the Book
of Mormon." It is devastating and will hopefully open the eyes of those so blinded.
Queen Creek, AZ
Dear Concerned Christians,
God bless you in your mission to the Mormons! Your love for the Lord and for
the Mormons is encouraging and hopeful to those of us who have temporarily lost
a loved one to the LDS. I pray that my son will have a "Road to Damascus" experience
and make a u-turn back to the Jesus of the Bible. Please keep me on your newsletter
mailing list. I will be praying for your continuing ministry to the beloved
"lost sheep." Please pray that my son will have a strong Bible believing Christian
come into his life, who will love him to Jesus and the true gospel.
Clinton, WA
Hi Guys,
Thank you so much for your help. I do appreciate it more than you know. I have
this yearning inside to make sure no one else is deceived by them and am in
a good place to minister to people. I just never thought my name was still on
their records until I read "Out of Mormonism" by Judy Robertson. So I'm now
being aggressive in my task to have my name removed.
Safford, AZ
Hey, Y'All,
Thank you for all you have sacrificed to help others. You are the sugar in the
lemon juice, which then becomes "God's Lemonade!"
Gilbert, AZ
Dear Mr. Robertson,
Thank you so much for sending us the newsletter. I shared it with pastor and
he ordered several books and tracts from you. We are also Concerned Christians
and very much want to tell the Mormons about the real Jesus. My husband and
I want to stay in touch with you to see how your work is progressing. Enclosed
is our donation to help you complete the job.
Taber, Alberta, Canada
Dear Staff at Concerned Christians,
I really appreciate what your organization does, including sending out such
a wonderful newsletter. It is especially good because it has current information
about actual data and facts being taught by the LDS "chameleon" church. This
is important because as the LDS church tries more and more to sound like a Christian
church, people need to understand why it is not. Enclosed is a check for your
ministry.
Tucson, AZ
Dear Concerned Christians,
I am writing because I want to make a request for you to send me your witnessing
resource catalog about Mormonism. My interest comes from the fact that most
of my family is involved in the Mormon religion. I want to let them know about
the true gospel of the real Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I would very much
appreciate your help. Thank you very much and may God bless you all.
State Prison — Florence, AZ
Concerned Christians,
Hi! I'm just barely coming out of Mormonism and would like to receive your newsletter.
I've just finished reading a book called "Out of Mormonism" by Judy Robertson.
Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help your ministry. Please
pray for me as I live in Salt Lake City and it's getting very hard as I tell
various friends.
Salt Lake City, UT
Dear Friends
We are delighted to be receiving your newsletter, "The Cross." Since my son
and I have left the Mormon church, the Lord has opened our eyes to many things
we never realized before. We no longer need to work our way to heaven, not knowing
if we had done enough "good works" to be able to make it to the highest heaven.
Thank heaven we know better than that now.
Chelmsford, England
Dear Jim,
Greetings from the Kulpahar Children's Orphanage here in India. We are finally
getting our much needed monsoon rains. Thanks for sending "The Cross" newsletter;
I really enjoy reading it though we don't see many Mormons around here. My prayers
are with you and all who labor with you.
Kulpahar, India