Mormons - do you believe this?

AMEN

Prophets-Who needs them?

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV

In this dispensation of times our Father has given the exclusive right to our Lord and Savior to be our spokesman between us and the Father. Before the Christ was born of virgin birth, God spoke through prophets contained in the Old Testament to His people.
Now, God continues to speak to us in many ways through the Holy Spirit. No need for a prophet any more. Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, is in all. He surrounds all things both in the heavens and in the earth. The whole of all existance is in Him and through Him. Our Lord and Savior sits on the right hand of the Father, Christ being one in the Father, is the only one who can speak for us and to us in the Spirit.
His throne is where our hearts are turned. Our salvation is lived through Him.

For Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is:
1. He is the appointed heir of all things.
2. He is the appointed creator of the worlds.
3. He is the radiance of Gods glory.
4. He is the exact representation of his being.
5. He is the upholder of all things.
6. He provided purefication for sins.
7. He sits at the right hand of the majesty on high.
(Higley's Sunday School Lesson Commentary, R.D Higley, L. R. Ringenberg, John Paul Huffman, The Higley Printing Company, 1956, pg. 169&170)

**Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prophets of the Old Testiment. No need for a latter-day prophet now.

The Parable Of The Ten Virgins

"For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving into marriage...they knew nothing about what would happen...That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man...Keep watch...you must also be ready...The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of...At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom..." (Matthew 24:38-50, 25:1) (italics added)

"Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they were on their way to buy the oil. the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' [You will not be known if you do not prepare.] "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:2-13) (Brackets added)

Not only are those who are in Christ Jesus in need to prepare spiritually, day by day, for the coming of the Son, but also physically and mentally for the tribulations that have already begun.

Take heed all those who are of the flock of the Shepard. The time is near for the gathering of His sheep. Listen, watch, and prepare; for the dreadful time of the earth's birth pains are upon us. It will bring those who are not prepared, misery. It will also bring those who are prepared in Christ a time of looking to the heavens for the coming of the Bridegroom. Have your lamps trimmed, filled with oil, and have extra oil on hand. Prepare so your lamp will not run out while in wait...

The parable of the ten virgins is all about our Christ. The Mormon community has decided to take these important verses of scripture and twist them around for their own selfish desires. Here are a couple of examples:

"Our number one responsibility is to see that we are converted, and then to convert others...Be converted, because no one can endure on borrowed light. You will have to be guided by the light within yourself. If you do not have it, you will not stand." (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, pg.954)

"Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show you that you are true to God and his work. This [p.450] Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand...Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light with himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand." (Orson R. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, p.450)

The above title is linked to a very good web site that shows that the time of our Lord is extremely close. Please take the time to read it.

What Mormon Eyes Do You Have?

*Mormons approach their Jesus through the eyes of Mormon leadership instead of approaching their leaders through the eyes of Jesus*

A Hard Gospel

"Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Revelation 22:17 NIV)
Our risen Christ has arms stretched out with a free gift in hand. He offers it to all impoverished sinners. The gift is salvation, and it's totally free. What wonderfully good news that is for us all. The offering is free, the taking is free. But was it really free?
The cost of salvation came at the greatest price in all of humanity, ever. "It cost the Word, who from the unbegun beginning was God and face-to-face as an equal in the Holy Trinity, the humiliation of exile from the throne room of the universe, the renunciation of the glory and majesty which had been His, and the acceptance of an identification with humanity so complete that He must forever remain the Son of man-a circumstance from which there can be no retreat in all eternity to come." (1)
This free gift, salvation, not only came at a high price to Jesus Christ, it comes at a great price to us lowly sinners. We who take the free gift of salvation must make a complete surrender of self in order to completely be "crucified with Christ and to live is Christ." Not only is Jesus Savior of the soul, He is Lord of life.
"The Gospel of Christ, though a comfortable Word, is in a sense "a hard gospel." Jesus warned His hearers that the cost of discipleship is dear.... The gift of salvation is costly. It cost God more than heaven can declare. It cost Jesus the cross. It costs everyone who receives it the total submission of self in the acceptance of the rightful claims of Jesus on the lives and souls of all who would be His for time and eternity.

Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken-
Thou, from hence, my all shalt be.

Perish every fond ambition,
All I've sought and hoped and known;
Yet how rich is my condition:
God and heaven are now my own!

Henry F. Lyte (adapted)" (2)

1&2: Life in the Son, Robert Shank, Westcott Publishers, Pgs. 14-16

You Are Not Allowed to Talk About Jesus on Church Property

A good Christian friend of mine (whom I will call Allen) was at Temple Square with others, talking with whomever would stop to talk about Jesus. Mormonism was not the topic of discussion, but only Jesus. Temple grounds security guards stopped and told him, "You must leave immediately or be arrested." When Allen inquired what they had done to deserve such unprovoked hostility they said, "You are not allowed to talk about Jesus on Church property." As this was a bit shocking, coming from men who were supposed to be security guards for the 'Church of Jesus Christ,' he asked them why?

They just said, "This property belongs to us and we have every legal right to arrest you for trespass if you do not leave immediately." So Allen said, "Technically, if this truly is the Church of Jesus Christ the property belongs to Jesus and I am certain He would approve of us talking about His teachings on His property." At this point the guards made it clear that they were going to call the local Sheriff and have them arrested if they did not leave immediately.

Allen attempted to reason with them "Look, we don't want any trouble and we will leave your property but please, just take a minute to think about what you are doing - You are supposed to be representatives of the "Church of Jesus" and you are threatening to arrest Christians for talking about Jesus - does that make any sense?"

As one of the guards escorted Allen off the Plaza the guard asked what Allen would think if he (the guard) came to Allen's personal property or to his church to do what Allen and his friends were doing. Allen smiled and said, "You are invited to my personal property any time and trust me, you would be welcome to come to our church to discuss the teachings of Jesus. We would talk with you as long as you want to talk." The Guard just looked frustrated.

And, since that tactic didn't work, the guard said, "Well, you KNOW that Jesus would never have encouraged His disciples to break the law and you are breaking the law - you are trespassing!" Allen just said, "That is exactly why we are here... you do not know Jesus nor do you understand His teachings. When the Lord's disciples were arrested by the Temple Guards and thrown into jail, an angel sent from God set them free and told them to go right back to the temple and keep preaching. If you think your threats will stop us from being witnesses for Jesus you are dead wrong." This shocked the guard, and his face softened a bit as he said in a hushed voice, "Well, if you come back again within the next 24 hours I will have no choice but to arrest you." Allen responded, "Look, I know you are just doing your job, and I realize you have rules to follow, but think about it... you are hired by 'The Church of Jesus' to stop Christians from talking about Jesus - that's just not right."

Click on the heading.

Please go to Concerned Christians web. Take a look around. They are helping many Mormons who want to know the truth in Jesus!

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

"He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:48&49)

The family of Christ is with those who are His disciples, not flesh and blood.

The Ex-Mormon

ACCORDING TO: ABOUTMORMONISM.COM
My thoughts are in red and in brackets.

"Ex-Mormon, sometimes abbreviated as Exmo, is a term used by former members of the Mormon church, properly known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to describe themselves. There is no one group that can be described as "Ex-Mormon," since those who leave the Mormon Church do so for a variety of different reasons. Dissenters range from liberal atheists to committed Evangelical Christians. [ok, now, for me, I was not a dissenter from the Mormon church. This statement is closed minded and false. The writer was not careful in the words chosen. Did ya notice, when "Evangelical Christians" is put in here, Mormonism is showing its true colors here. Remember, Mormonism is not Christian!!!!!]
While technically anyone who leaves the Mormon Church could be described as an "Ex-Mormon," the term is generally reserved for people active in the ex-Mormon, and frequently anti-Mormon, world especially on internet blogs. [The term "Ex-Mormon" is just that, meaning someone no longer in the Mormon church. Now the term has shifted to the www. thing and to all Ex-Mormon bloggers. The Mormon church should not lump those who are getting the truth out to truth seekers into a huge pile. Spreading the truth is a loving thing to do.]
Perhaps the most famous of these self-described ex-Mormon groups is Ed Decker's organization called variously "Recovery from Mormonism," "Saints Alive," or "Ex-Mormons for Jesus." Decker was excommunicated from the Mormon Church in 1976. He has become quite controversial for is sensationalists attacks against Mormonism (which were condemned by the Anti-Defamation League [I looked up the ADL's web page, and did an extensive search on it and it does not say anything about Ed Decker and his work, it's a web site for the Jews.]) his hyperbolic [Meaning of being a hyperbole. So what's a hyperbole? It's a noun meaning obvious exaggeration; an extravagant statement. If Ed is being hyperbolic for the real JESUS, then yeah he has a right to be hyperbolic!] language and unsubstantiated [Meaning not established by evidence. Go to his web site and find out for yourself if Ed has any evidence or not. You'll find out that his work is full of evidence! www.saintsaliveinjesus.com] claims. Other ex-Mormons and critics of Mormonism have rejected his work and his style, but he remains influential particularly through the internet.
The majority of those who describe themselves as ex-Mormons and participate in the various on-line ex-Mormon blogs are secular humanists who reject belief in God altogether [I am not a student of human paganism. Quite the contrary. I show the TRUTH about a FALSE religion, or cult, that has brought evil to the world and to Christianity! The true Christ of the Bible, only, please!]. Many of these writers attack Mormonism claiming that its leaders discourage freedom of thought or force conformity. Many assail what they perceive as hypocrisy [pretending to be what one is not] among Mormons [Most Mormons don't know the hypocrisy of the LDS faith.]. This latter argument is very popular among agnostic critics who see in every weakness or failing an instance of hypocrisy. They relate ad infinitum [To infinity or endlessly.] accounts of Mormon bishops or Mormon missionaries doing something contrary to their own beliefs [Truth hurts doesn't it.]. There is a disturbing schadenfreude [Great word isn't it. If you already know what it means. Translation for the English: "the habit of dwelling with enjoyment of evil thoughts."] in their attacks on every human failing of faithful Mormons [Nice play of words. The TRUTH is, it's the organization of Mormonism that is attacked, not the people. They only DO what they are told, ie; bishops and missionaries. Oh yeah, the REAL JESUS is not evil. My enjoyment is of HIM only!]. Many ex-Mormons describe feeling duped or tricked and to justify their having believed in it, they accuse the Mormon Church and its culture of brainwashing and lying [Did you catch that? "its culture of brainwashing and lying!" There you go, in their own words. It is a culture of brainwashing and lying. Nuff said.]. Many also evince [To show plainly. And I do.] a very egocentric [Viewing everything in relation to oneself.] outlook in concluding that since they no longer believe in Mormonism [I show plainly the facts of a false religion and they are objective.], then any other intelligent person should consider Mormonism absurd [If the intelligent person would study the truth]. They conclude that other Mormons are either lying or deluded or simply after power [Remember, it's not the person that has the problem, it's the system, THE SYSTEM!]." (www.AboutMormonism.com, italics added, red type added, brackets added,)

It's All In A Name

What is in a name? The first thought is that it's the identification of someone, some other creature, or something. A name is not to be confused with a title or position.
In reference to our Lord, the name in which we identify our Savior was very important to God. And so, our Lord and Savior was named, JESUS.
"It became evident why he was named "Jesus" (Luke 1:30-33), the Grecianized form of the Hebrew name meaning, "God Saves," and why he became recognized as "the Christ," the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew, "Messiah" meaning "the Anointed One." (Harpers Bible Dictionary, Miller, Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, 1961, pg. 323)
In the Bible, when in reference to His identity before birth and after birth, the name is Jesus.
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
"You will be with child and give birth, to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." (Luke 1:31)
"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived." (Luke 2:21)
"When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required," (Luke 2:27)
Now, Christ is a title that was not put on the infant Jesus before his birth or during his infancy. Rather, it was added to His name sometime in His later life.
"Christ:" originally a title (Jesus the Christ) later used as part of the name (Jesus Christ.)" (Websters New World Dictionary, pg. 253)
Now, in Mormondom, the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants say something different.
"according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the son of God." (2 Nephi 25:19, BoM)
"Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;" (D&C 18:23)
The Bible does not say His name shall be Jesus Christ, but Jesus. The BoM and the D&C are wrong.

I'm Grateful

In the eight months that Christian and I dated there were many changes and new experiences. I could spend a lot of time writing about the many 'adventures' Christian and I went on during those eight months. Mostly, this particular time was a time for healing. I knew I couldn't do anything about getting my kids back. I wasn't about to drag them into parental wars. I couldn't do that to them. I knew that they were being somewhat taken care of. My kids did move away from Convert as soon it became legal for them to do so. (I will write about them more later.)
I got to know Christian's relatives while I learned how to live on practically nothing. I learned how to appreciate God's creations around me. I learned how to fish, how to hunt, and how to utilize natural plants that grew on Christian's land. I tasted wild morel mushrooms for the first time, and made wild raspberry jam and wild blackberry jam for the first time. I learned how to identify different species of trees, plants, birds, and how to identify the different paw and hoof prints in the ground. The world around me was new and exciting. (God has given His children so much, if we would just be still and know that God is providing for our needs.) The most uplifting experience was that God provided me with so much spiritual growth, without the gain of material possession.
I quit smoking all at once. I went from two and a half packs of menthol cigarettes a day, to nothing. I owe it all to God. Jesus helped and is the only one who could help me stop depending on cancer sticks. I have not picked one up since I stopped. I started to get some exercise. Christian bought me some running shoes and I tried to 'jog' on a running track. I got one quarter of the way around the track on my first try. Afterwards, I was totally out of breath. I kept up my routine exercises with Christian. It was a matter of months that I was able to get one mile around the track. The bonus of all that exercise was that I lost seventy pounds within a year and a half. My diet drastically changed as well.
It was June of 1996 that I gave my life to Jesus and asked him to come into my heart and take over. I never knew that Jesus could give me the peace in my heart that I needed without requiring a priesthood holder and permission from those 'in authority'. There I was, with practically nothing, but Jesus stretched out His arms and accepted me. I was a wretched mess, but Jesus, through His grace, took me in with no conditions. God used Christian to show me what I needed in my life. For that I'm grateful.

Little Trailer

Christian and I became real good friends, and soon after that, we started dating. We only saw each other when Christian drove over 100 miles up from where he was living to see his mother. And he now drove that far to see me as well. A short time went by and we wanted to spend more time together to get to know one another, and I wanted to know more about the true Jesus.
I left my parents house after living there for four months and moved closer to where Christian lived. I moved into a little travel trailer that was on Christians vacant land while he lived at a friends farm house. Christian would come and pick me up in the morning and drop me off at night everyday. It wasn't easy for me to stay in that little trailer. There was no running water, electricity, or propane gas for heating and cooking. There was a bed with a roof and that was about it. Although, those things were not too bad to deal with, it was the dark quiet nights by myself that were difficult. I spent a lot of waking hours weeping and praying. The upside to all of that was that I now had hope for me and my kids through the grace and love of Jesus Christ.
I did a lot of spiritual searching during the few months I lived in that little trailer. I also expressed a lot of anger to God and Christian, because I had been deceived, lied to, and brain washed for all those years living with my parents and Convert. The Mormon way of life is so false. The church gives a persona of wholesome living, but that is just the rose petals covering the thorns.

Great Physician

I remember the freedom and relief I felt in knowing that I didn't have to do anything to gain favor with God. I also remember the betrayal of the Mormon church that led me into a confused and burdensome life, where I had no choice but to do what I was told. I recall Convert telling me, "Yours is not to ask why, yours is just to do or die." My parents put heavy demands on me when I was a child, and being married to Convert took me beyond what I could bear.
After Convert kicked me out of my home and separated me from my three children, I unfortunately, had no other course to take but to go to Michigan and live under my parents roof until I could financially get to where I could see my children again. I had no job because I had been working for Convert. I had no vehicle (Convert owned all of them), no friends, due to constantly working and knew nobody who could help me out.
I could see that my parents truly wanted to help me after moving in with them. However, they were acting more according to the dictates of the Mormon church rather than to God's unconditional love in providing for me the needs that I had. They put conditions on me while living in their home again which, as an adult, I thought were unacceptable. I knew that living there was not going to work out. My dad told me that the insurance on the loaner car I was driving was only good for a very small area. If I drove beyond the particular region that my dad specified, the insurance would expire. I'm slow in thinking, but not that slow.
The whole trauma of not being with my kids was tearing me at my heart. I wept for them every moment. I couldn't stand being so far apart from them. I knew I needed to heal, not just for myself, but for my three beautiful children. My parents couldn't do what Jesus could do for me and the kids. I, therefore, buried myself in the bible, the whole bible, not just the Joe Smiths' version of it.
Over the next few months I did a lot of changing. I became a believer in the true word of God and I could see that my life was in need of the 'Great Physician'. Christian and I read the bible together as much as possible. I could hardly wait to get together with him and study. Every time the scriptures were read, my heart's eye could see more clearer. I saw that I no longer needed to be a Mormon and go the way that my parents had taught me since birth. Rather, I needed a new birth that could open up the gates of heaven for me.