tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27937062197794911232024-03-12T21:19:30.531-07:00Ephesians 2 Ministry whileyetasinner@gmail.comEphesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-17105908244130430412014-05-17T12:28:00.000-07:002014-05-20T06:38:45.341-07:00Mind over matter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mormons tell us all the time that we just need to pray and God will reveal to us the truth of the Book of Mormon. But is that what God's Word tells us we need to do? I have encouraged Christians to start conversations by asking Mormons what feelings aren't preceded by a thought. Why is this the case? Everything starts with the mind. Our attitudes that we have come from what we think before anything we feel. What does God's Word say about this? Here are a few verses...<br />
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Romans 1:28<br />
Romans 8:5-7<br />
Romans 12:16<br />
II Corinthians 4:4<br />
II Corinthians 11:3<br />
Ephesians 2:3<br />
Ephesians 4:17<br />
Philippians 3:19<br />
Colossians 1:21<br />
Colossians 2:18<br />
Titus 1:15</blockquote>
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This is why he calls us to renew our minds...</div>
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Romans 12:2<br />
II Corinthians 4:16<br />
Ephesians 4:23<br />
Colossians 3:10<br />
Titus 3:5</blockquote>
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As a result we see the attitudes of a renewed mind...</div>
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Isaiah 26:3<br />
Jeremiah 17:10<br />
Jeremiah 20:12<br />
Matthew 22:37<br />
Romans 14:5<br />
I Corinthians 2:16<br />
Philippians 2:5<br />
Philippians 4:8<br />
Colossians 3:2<br />
Hebrews 8:10<br />
Hebrews 10:16<br />
I Peter 1:13<br />
Revelation 2:23 </blockquote>
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The human mind has been programmed with natural "established attitudes". These are beliefs, thoughts, ideas, opinions, convictions, prejudices that we have concerning ourselves, others, objects, activities, God, etc. These can be instilled in us by things such as our educational system, society (books, television, movies, news, etc.) and religious training. We can acquire them through personal observation, experience, and compromise. These "established attitudes" permeated with personal interest are done for aspiration, gratification, and reputation with a possibility of one of 3 "f"s; Fight, Fright, or Flight. <br />
If your life were recorded on film would you want it played back? For God knows our every thought as we see in Jeremiah 17:10, 20:12 as well as Revelation 2:23. If this doesn't reveal the need for our minds to be renewed with a Godly attitude I don't know what does. This however isn't a one and done deal. We see this in the following verses...<br />
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Titus 3:5<br />
I Corinthians 2:16<br />
Hebrews 8:10<br />
Hebrews 10:16<br />
Philippians 2:5<br />
Philippians 4:8<br />
Colossians 3:2</blockquote>
This is why it's so important that we don't open ourselves up to anything we want to be true. We will seek out whatever means necessary in an effort to confirm it and convince ourselves it's from God. Prayer is important but NOT at the expense of God's Word. It MUST be in line with God's Word and he never tells us to pray to see if something is true. The verse you'll often hear brought up by Mormons is James 1:5.<br />
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"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5).</blockquote>
They'll follow this by pointing your to Moroni 10:4 which reads...<br />
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"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things,"</blockquote>
We don't see this from God's Word. In fact we see the opposite in verses such as...<br />
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Acts 17:11<br />
Jeremiah 17:9<br />
II Timothy 3:16</blockquote>
Please take God at his Word and don't allow anyone to tell you personal feelings (which are subjective) can override or supersede God's Word which is absolute. <br />
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Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-45215160227627299632013-12-19T16:19:00.003-08:002013-12-19T16:32:38.894-08:00Are Jehovah's Witnesses False Prophets?<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', 'Myriad Pro', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Pastor Brian Mitoraj and Brock Weigum discuss the recent passing of disgraced radio personality Harold Camping and how his false prophecies have eerie similarities to that of the Watchtower Society.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', 'Myriad Pro', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Can Jehovah's Witnesses rightfully call Harold Camping a false prophet without shooting themselves in the foot?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', 'Myriad Pro', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-0ND_4Pycc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-0ND_4Pycc</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-20815003183599836952013-11-21T19:07:00.003-08:002013-11-21T19:11:13.298-08:00Santa or the Book of Mormon?All too often we hear Mormons say they don't need evidence to believe the Book of Mormon. Well...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73-khj1VNww/Uo65FmdgsMI/AAAAAAAABRE/X58VyLRCc80/s1600/reading-night-before-christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73-khj1VNww/Uo65FmdgsMI/AAAAAAAABRE/X58VyLRCc80/s200/reading-night-before-christmas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Every December children across the world look forward to Santa coming on December 25th because he's bringing them presents. They believe this not because they've seen Santa, his reindeer, or even an elf. Quite the opposite in fact. They've been told he's real by Mom and Dad. Even told that they had better be in bed when he gets there or else he'll pass them by. They read stories about Santa, watch movies and sing carols. Yet all the time never having seen him or anything that would indicate he's more than the stories they've read. They don't need evidence because they "know" Santa is real. They can feel it.<br />
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What does this have to do with Mormonism you ask? Well.... Let's change some words around and you'll see...<br />
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Every day Mormons across the world read the Book of Mormon because they long to be exalted. They believe this not because they've seen the Golden plates, a Lamanite , or even a Book of Mormon coin . Quite the opposite in fact. They've been told it's real by Mom and Dad, or their local Bishop. Even told that they had better doubt their doubts than doubt their faith or else they'll miss the highest level of Heaven. They read stories about Joseph, watch movies and sing hymns. Yet all the time never having seen or heard anything that would indicate it's more than the stories they've read. They don't need evidence because they "know" the Book of Mormon is true. They can feel it. <br />
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Most Mormons don't seem to understand there is more evidence to show Santa is real than there is for the Book of Mormon and yet they'll believe the Book of Mormon over Santa. Let's look at some shall we? First off not one person, place, or thing specific to Mormonism has been validated, not one. There isn't even any mention of any person, place or thing specific to Mormonism outside of LDS literature.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxug354WH_0/Uo67q6RbZAI/AAAAAAAABRo/hpoEATotBR8/s1600/giving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxug354WH_0/Uo67q6RbZAI/AAAAAAAABRo/hpoEATotBR8/s400/giving.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">We've all heard he gives away presents. <br />(Historical fact he existed and did this)</span></td></tr>
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We've all heard that he</div>
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lives in the North pole. </div>
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(Archaeological fact that it exist)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuYqSm_u8zk/Uo668AjXEAI/AAAAAAAABRc/O71Bngaonu0/s1600/Reindeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuYqSm_u8zk/Uo668AjXEAI/AAAAAAAABRc/O71Bngaonu0/s400/Reindeer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">We've all heard he has reindeer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">(We see these everyday)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iYalJUjjnM/Uo7DKTw2iyI/AAAAAAAABR4/VOoLOCS3GFY/s1600/childtestimony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iYalJUjjnM/Uo7DKTw2iyI/AAAAAAAABR4/VOoLOCS3GFY/s200/childtestimony.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yZwug-TkVqc/Uo7DvgF3pLI/AAAAAAAABSA/NOVm3FLIG7Q/s1600/teentestimony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yZwug-TkVqc/Uo7DvgF3pLI/AAAAAAAABSA/NOVm3FLIG7Q/s200/teentestimony.jpg" width="200" /></a>These are only 3 examples to help support the existence of Santa Clause. Yet Mormons have more faith for the Book of Mormon than they do Santa. Maybe that's because over time Parents finally stop trying so hard to put on a show. Or it could be that kids try harder to catch Santa only to find out it was Mom and Dad the whole time. Mormons will be quick to tell you that you can't prove Lamanites weren't real or that they weren't annihilated at the Hill Cumorah. <br />
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Although it would help their case tremendously to show ANY proof they we're real most of us have come to realize it's just as much fiction as "The night before Christmas". I'm also willing to bet that those who choose to ignore the lack of evidence do so because they continue to repeat the things they see and hear as children. As they get older they never stop seeing and hearing the same stories being told not realizing or caring that it is nothing more than a story. Most have invested all if not most of their lives into the story for it not to be real.<br />
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Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-7808165640077988672013-10-23T13:15:00.000-07:002013-11-09T19:17:00.142-08:00It's not in the script.When you engage LDS in conversation and you have presented facts about their church you'll often find a common response. That being that the facts presented aren't faith promoting (meaning it doesn't put their church in a good light) and therefore they honestly don't care about them. They've had their personal experience which to them confirms the truth of the Book of Mormon and feelings will ALWAYS override facts. However I have witnessed something that shows this mindset isn't just limited to how they view their faith. It extends to all aspects of life.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8VVZnZTVTFs/UmgmAr5oqvI/AAAAAAAABPc/sCXwFwUS1CM/s1600/1378507_10151734656732634_1927773991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8VVZnZTVTFs/UmgmAr5oqvI/AAAAAAAABPc/sCXwFwUS1CM/s320/1378507_10151734656732634_1927773991_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Steve Dealy of the Nauvoo Christian Center. During our time there we went to visit some of the LDS historical sites who are ran by older missionaries. Since it's considered a tourist town they don't want to push Mormonism too much because they want people coming back. However when you enter any of their historical sites you'll get a brief history of the location along with how it fits into the importance of Mormonism. Not to be concluded without showing how it's an example of how Mormonism is true. All done which expressing a heart felt emotion in their tone. <br />
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One such site was where a older sister missionary walked through how the old pioneers would make their candles. After her presentation was over Steve asked her a follow up question. Which she then followed with how some visitors will try and explain to them another possible way people may have done the process on how the candles are made. Her following statement left me shaking my head. <br />
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She said...<br />
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"I just let them know that isn't in our script, and that's what we've been taught to say."</blockquote>
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If this isn't a perfect example of how they apply facts to their faith I don't know what does. If the facts aren't in their script they aren't important. This is a prime example of what we call "Lying for the Lord". It may not be intentional for this lady was being very sincere by letting us know she can't be bothered with too much information that what she's been told to say. <br />
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This continued as the next place we stopped at gave us LDS pride at it's best. Explaining how one mans inventions had world wide implications and how it all tied back to that location. However he went "off script" in the other direction. Explaining how others who stayed there were not a part of the listed history for the location but he felt the need to tell us because it helped show how important the church was.<br />
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What really got concerning was how one location had a gentleman making statements that included the phrase "Fact is" when it was clear he was making things up as he went along. Sounds a lot like Joseph Smith and how his revelations came to be. There is a script when it comes the missionaries that show up at your door as well. The constant tug and pull of the emotional strings to get you to buy into the program. LDS Apostle Dieter Uchtdorf summed up this mindset by stating...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9qZUY4JPgfA/UmgnR9oHU4I/AAAAAAAABPo/wAlMCZucW44/s1600/ucht.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9qZUY4JPgfA/UmgnR9oHU4I/AAAAAAAABPo/wAlMCZucW44/s1600/ucht.jpg" /></a>"Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."</blockquote>
He tries to portray this as someone who doesn't think they can live up to the churches standards. First off no one including Monson can live up to the churches standards. Jesus himself didn't live up to LDS standards because he wasn't married for all time and eternity. So what could be a key thing to take from this? Maybe if the 'facts' show us that the "only true church" isn't true they need to be looked at. Maybe 'fact' is the Word of God isn't corrupted and the Book of Mormon is nothing more than a novel compiled by Joseph. Hopefully if you claim the title Christian you always consider yourself a missionary. That each person we come in contact with is in our mission field. If we don't let the Holy Spirit lead the conversation we won't be an effective witness. For each of these people we come in contact with have a different story and following a script will never work. <br />
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<br />Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-48458714244446414912013-10-12T17:02:00.000-07:002013-11-30T11:22:27.554-08:00Helen Ann Hulse of Mormon Missions Midwest Outreach<div style="text-align: left;">
As you get involved with apologetics and start to rub LDS apologists the wrong way you will soon get attention that you may or may not want. I myself could care less for if they are trying to go after me then that just means they will leave others alone. To me some of the comments you see are funny. They claim they are Christian however I will show you some of their comments and I will let you be the judge of that. </div>
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The original title of this blog was "Oh the Child's Play" because I had the pleasure of noticing that a certain Anti-Christian (LDS apologists)or so I thought, who went under a fake facebook profile by the name of Porter Rockwell had become fascinated with me. For the privacy of others that were involved I will stick with their first names only but I'm sure most of you will know who they are. Because the person in question has decided to go after our ministry I decided to play right back by letting them notice my profile picture. Sure enough it didn't take long however their reaction went even further than I expected. This is exactly what you need to be aware of because this is the real reflection of their hearts of which God is no part of it. This is how the conversation started.</div>
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What makes the following conversation more interesting is the fact of who was behind Porter Rockwell. That's right it is a so called "Christian" who runs a 501c3 ministry to Mormons. I never could understand why an apologist would invest the time to try and research my past and it turns out they didn't. Because I told this person over Skype the information who then in turn tried to use the information to make me look bad. Who is this person you ask? Helen Ann Hulse of Mormon Missions Midwest Outreach. I have wanted to avoid bringing up issues like this because I was wanting her to leave the past in the past. Now that she insist on trying to run peoples names through the mud I thought some of you might be interested in knowing the reality behind her so called "Christianity". Feel free to view her confession and then please feel free to read how she hides behind the image of an LDS Danite.<br />
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Why is this important you may ask. Well for years Helen has cried that her ministry has been under attack by a few people on facebook. Funny thing is most of the information that was being fed to them if not ALL of it was being done so by Porter Rockwells profile. Why the need for this? Now that she has gotten rid of the Porter profile she has turned her attention to any and all people who have once helped her or stood up against her un-Christ like behavior. FYI When the following conversation took place I was under the impression I was talking with a Mormon.<br />
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John Merilatt - Porter. You seem intimidated by my pic. I'm messing with you and I? I live in Vancouver Washington. Feel free to swing my way. I'll have coffee waiting.</blockquote>
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Porter - You are a joke. Me intimidated by you John? Now that's funny!</blockquote>
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John Merilatt - I'm not saying you are. I am just going off your posting.</blockquote>
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Porter - You've never been Mormon so what the hell are you up too?</blockquote>
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John Merilatt - You are correct. I've never been. Does that disqualify me from wanting to share the Gospel with the LDS?</blockquote>
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Porter - keep your gospel</blockquote>
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John Merilatt - I will. And I will also share it with those who know hey can' live up to yours. God Bless.</blockquote>
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Porter - use your wives face cream or make remover on the photo... you don't look good like a joker or clown.</blockquote>
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John Merilatt - You are correct I don't. However Joseph and his religion of many colors does. </blockquote>
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Now at this point since he knows she won't convince me of "the error of my ways" the normal thing you will see them do is go character assassination mode. They do this in order to get you upset or to get you frustrated to the point you may say something you normally wouldn't.</div>
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Porter - get some dental work done!</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
John Merilatt - Wow. That is the best you can come up with?</blockquote>
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John Merilatt - Please. If you want to play children's games there are playgrounds for that.</blockquote>
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Porter - you would know, right? </blockquote>
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John Merilatt - You are correct. I have 2 little ones. A part of being a parent.</blockquote>
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Porter - Ha! </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
John Merilatt - Le me know when you've matured a little. I'll be around. </blockquote>
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<div>
At this point she tried to make the conversation even more personal. She heard my past and tried to use it against me as if I have something to hide. So for those of you who do care let me explain part of my past. After graduating college I got married and moved from a town I refer to as Hickville Oregon up to Vancouver Washington. I then entered the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Upon completion of training it was clear that my wife and I had a separation between us and I couldn't figure out why for some time. After some time passed the truth came out that while I was gone my wife was unfaithful. We attempted to work things out but divorce came and we moved on. This brings me to her next attack.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Porter - with your two wives?</blockquote>
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John Merilatt - Your the one who's LDS. You should know more about that than me. It isn't in my doctrine. </blockquote>
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Porter - I didn't divorce my wives, you did...</blockquote>
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John Merilat - You act like I have something to hid. Yes I am divorced. And I had every Biblical reason to do so. As if that is any of your business.</blockquote>
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Now if this is not enough here are some other comments made on Porters page.</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Greg - I would like to see John Merilatt and any of his supporters give a picture of Mohammed the same treatment and then post that on a Facebook page for Muslims. It's easy to kick a target that doesn't fight back. It doesn't take bravery to be a bully.</blockquote>
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Well Greg Islam is not a religion we know enough about to make that kind of reference to. Even then Greg they don't claim to use the Bible like you do. I also love the reference to kicking a target that doesn't fight back. Joseph insulted us from the very beginning and your pride refuses to allow you move past petty games. Last but not least "It doesn't take bravery to be a bully." You are correct, for you go a lot farther than I ever would. I have never gone after your personal character or anyone else's in order to scare them off. To bad it doesn't work with me.</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Peter - The example of John Merilatt and his ministry is the main reason why I do not trust any ministry what so ever when it claims to care to love Mormons, not that I am asking for care or love. I know my Church is True and that I have a living Prophet that leads me and that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Brother and I say these things in his name..... Amen</blockquote>
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<div>
Well Peter I wouldn't expect you to trust us. Our goal is to help those in bondage that want a way out to find one. It isn't for Anti-Christians such as yourself. I would ask you this question. If you see a dear friend of yours walking into a field with countless land mines would you keep your mouth shut or allow them to believe what they want? We all know what you "Know". I always love how when there is nothing else to say or you don't have an answer you have to tell yourselves again what you "Know".<br />
<br />
This one is one of my favorites...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Peter - I know ha all these ministries that claim o reach out to Mormons are controlled and being led by the children of Satan....... Yes I did say that..... if you have proof that you follow Jesus Christ then give it and don' play games..... if not then go back to Hell with Satan and don't let the doors of Hell hit you in the Ass.</blockquote>
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<div>
Really? At this point his true colors have come out. So any group that reaches out to Mormons is controlled by Satan huh? Do I have proof I follow Jesus. Absolutely I do. I give my life to serving him however he calls me to. It just so happens that he has laid it upon my heart to try and reach the LDS and JW's. You both claim to be the only true church and organization that can speak for God and yet neither of you have valid answers to Biblical questions we ask. You in turn spit out responses like the one we see here. Can't you just feel the love with his comments?</div>
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Last but certainly not least...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Gregory - John, did you forge to wear your WWJD bracelet yesterday? this isn't very nice.</blockquote>
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Well Greg. What would Jesus do? What did he do is the better question. Jesus stood up against those who were perverting his Gospel. Jesus got angry at those who were making a mockery out of his house. He claimed to be the only way of which was not open to interpretation or feelings. He claimed to be the great "I am". We as Christians are called to be salt and light. Salt on an open wound hurts doesn't it? If you don't know try it and get back to me. Ever turned the lights on after having been in a dark room sleeping? Why not look into what the long term affects of being subjected to intense light can do and get back to me.</div>
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I hope Helen understands that I want no harm to come to her. I pray that she stops her campaign before she ruins what reputation she has left. Upon confession, and promise to stop her smear campaigns this article will be removed. Because things like this have to stop.<br />
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May God bless you and keep you safe.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-25996741986952593972013-05-04T17:50:00.004-07:002013-05-04T17:50:46.797-07:00Jehovah's Witnesses Admit Error!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-19111571463957503032013-05-02T11:37:00.000-07:002013-05-02T12:09:33.024-07:00You misrepresent my faith while I misrepresent yours? If you've engaged any LDS apologists as of late I'm sure you've heard something along the lines of "You have no idea what we believe", or "You're misrepresenting our faith". This is usually being said to someone who is former LDS and most often a former Temple Mormon. When this part is brought up they will often they say that they obviously didn't have a true confirmation from the Holy Spirit. Yet what they are missing are the facts that clearly show Mormonism is nothing more than a modern day blasphemy. They either don't care or turn a blind eye to the teaching manuals from their own church that clearly show how the quotes posted by former leaders reflect that which is taught within the LDS church.<br />
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At some point during the conversation after they realize their points have no validity or you have asked them a question they know they can't answer honestly without admitting their wrong, you are almost assured that they will bring up how you follow the Nicene creed. Rather than rehash the same old argument I encourage you to read Eric Johnson's posting on the <a href="http://blog.mrm.org/2007/08/the-nicene-creed-and-the-invention-of-the-trinity/" target="_blank">MRM Blog</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40jac04gfY0/UW9U5JCtHZI/AAAAAAAABG4/TyGV55Zrr6A/s1600/trinity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40jac04gfY0/UW9U5JCtHZI/AAAAAAAABG4/TyGV55Zrr6A/s400/trinity.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEpgJ8RF0bs/UW9qBtGrAVI/AAAAAAAABHA/czTYw7m2wvk/s1600/tabernacle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEpgJ8RF0bs/UW9qBtGrAVI/AAAAAAAABHA/czTYw7m2wvk/s320/tabernacle.png" width="320" /></a>Can we see evidence of the trinity in scripture? Absolutely for it's written all throughout Gods Word which you can see in the chart above. However there is another way that might be able to help those who question or deny the trinity understand it a little better. How many Old Testament Tabernacles/Temples where there? One. How many parts to the tabernacle where there? Three, Outer court, Inner court (Holy Place), and the Holy of Holy's. Three parts to the temple yet only one temple. Each part no less important than the other two and the temple wouldn't be the all three parts. Those who deny the trinity refuse to realize that the Godhead as illustrated above is seen from even Genesis when God said "Let US make man in OUR own image". This example also shows how a modalistic view of God is impossible. All three exist at the same time and are separate from each other at all times. Each part has it's own distinct function yet as stated before is no less a part of the temple.<br />
<br />
Because the LDS feel they have to work in order to make themselves worthy before God they in turn see the Bibles grace as cheap. For if a person claims to be forgiven before they earn it then they can go around killing, stealing, and lying with no worries of punishment for the sin. You will often see Mormons use the second half of Philippians 2:12 out of context to show how we need to work for salvation however lets look at it shall we.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."</blockquote>
As we can see from the first portion of the verse he is addressing those who are already saved, not those who are working towards it. As a result of being saved we then go out for works knowing the price that was paid for them. (Ephesians 2:10)<br />
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As a result of a Mormons upbringing they assume that the church is the building a person attends and defines their version of truth. They think that the church we attend defines our definition of truth like it does theirs. Any Born Again Christian understands knows that the building someone choices to worship in doesn't always define their beliefs. A true Christian rely's on the Word of God to mold their will to His, not a self proclaimed prophet. Jesus is our Truth (John 14:6) not a church.Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-9553078123597972252013-04-28T12:55:00.001-07:002013-05-02T12:07:22.814-07:00Foolishness or Defense?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0p_F2ojiEEw/UX1_SNyBVfI/AAAAAAAABHk/tqJC7_SV8-4/s1600/anti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0p_F2ojiEEw/UX1_SNyBVfI/AAAAAAAABHk/tqJC7_SV8-4/s1600/anti.jpg" /></a>When your apart of a ministry such as Ephesians 2 you tend to get quite the reaction from LDS apologist. <br />
One such apologist who's name is Victor messaged me asking why I refused to allow him into a group our ministry has on facebook. This group is for Christians who support Ephesians 2 Ministry and to allow them to ask for prayer or advise with any and all situations (ministry related or not). Now why would an LDS apologist want to be a part of this other than to cause issues? I have stated from the very beginning that Ephesians 2 Ministry is not for those who are content being LDS regardless of facts presented to them. As the old saying goes you can lead a horse to water you just can't make them drink. He started out the conversation by saying...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I find it amazing how a ministry founded to reach out the the "lost" actually avoids those they claim are lost. Or, better yet, a ministry that merely targets those with weaknesses in their faith, all the while avoiding those who actually have a strong faith and an ability to respond to the claims of said ministries. Since when did the Great Commission omit any person?"</blockquote>
Now don't get me wrong. Reaching the lost is the ultimate goal for Ephesians 2. Not only by those who are a part of our team but making sure all those we serve have the knowledge and understanding to do so. However there is a difference in trying to reach those who are lost and engaging those who are only out to argue. 2 Timothy 2:23 "Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights."<br />
<br />
I often refer to their mindset as the "Red pill, Blue pill" argument. So you can understand what this means you can watch the video<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE7PKRjrid4" target="_blank"> here</a>. For someone such as Victor who has seen all the evidence against his faith and refuses to acknowledge the falsehoods and convince himself that facts don't exist is doing exactly what you hear in the video. Believing what you want to, not what is real. Now after informing him I wasn't interested in getting into debates with him he commented saying...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Not a debate, just biblical Christianity. Jesus Christ never missed an opportunity to teach those who were misguided."</blockquote>
Never missed an opportunity yes. However he also knew when those around him were only looking to pick a fight as we see in Mark 14:61. As you can see he is following the norm. Seeing where the conversation was going to go I asked him no end the conversation and to not contact me further till he was done defending a lie. He responds with..<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
""Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God." How shall the uninterested then hear if ministries, such as E2, only seeks out those with interest in hearing?"</blockquote>
Again he would be correct that faith comes by hearing. A conversation like this would go nowhere with someone who not only isn't interested in hearing how their church is a fraud, but avidly defends it spite the facts. Now again don't misunderstand me. Engaging LDS in conversation is vital if they are to realize what they've gotten themselves involved in. However in the case of an apologist that will not be the case. He then attempts to defend his case by saying...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"How un-biblical you can be. Saul defended a lie, yet Jesus Christ sought him out on the road to Damascus. He didn't say to Saul, "when you are done defending a lie feel free to look me up."</blockquote>
Thank you for comparing yourself to Saul defending a lie Victor, however you are trying to compare Saul conversing with Christians to Jesus encountering Saul. I pray you yourself one day receive a similar vision and stop attacking God's Word. His intentions after this became even more clear as he spends just as much time attempting to correct the errors made in my responses done by my phones auto-correct feature. This is why Ephesians 2 will never tolerate LDS apologist attempting their slight of hand on our facebook page or any other form of social media. They will be quick to say we are trying to hide the truth while at the same time attempting to silence those who oppose their church. When you engage someone who is LDS that you do not know personally do keep this tactic of theirs in the back of your mind. Be aware that their purpose may only be to waist your time.<br />
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May God bless you and keep you safe. Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-88851641910900386262013-04-22T20:22:00.002-07:002013-04-22T20:22:28.184-07:00How God Got Me Involved in Outreach to Mormon’s and JW’sIt was an interesting period in my life. I had just gotten married two months earlier. My wife and I were in the honeymoon stage our marriage, I was exploring a career change into financial planning, and, sinfully, I was almost solely focused on making money. I remember being very susceptible to greed at that time. God used a knock at my front door and a heartbreaking realization to bring me powerfully into the world of counter-cult apologetics.<br />
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I opened the door and standing before me was an elderly woman and a man named Clay. These two were dressed very properly, smiling politely and introduced themselves. They were Jehovah’s witnesses. They came bearing the “good news” of the Bible and God’s coming kingdom.<br />
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I was stunned. Here before me were two lost souls, and beyond the “Are you a good person test” that I had learned from Ray Comfort, I had no idea how to share the gospel with them. I kindly listened to them and the whole time felt frustrated and disgusted at my own ignorance. How could I say that I loved these people, yet I had never really tried to learn what they believe so that I can more effectively share the gospel with them?<br />
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I had a new mission. My desire to pursue a career in financial planning almost immediately vanished and I began furiously inhaling any information about Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. My best friend from 5th grade on, was and is a member of the Community of Christ (RLDS) church which also lead me to want to understand their faith better.
I would sit down with Clay three times over the course of the next year or so and discuss the diety of Christ with him. Hebrews 1 became a common scripture for us to review and he admitted that he was at a loss when approaching Hebrews 1 in relation with Psalm 102. I have not met with him in over a year. I will be moving to Yakima, WA in June and plan to have one final discussion with him, where I will be sharing this document with him: <a href="http://4witness.org/wfj/jw-bookstore.php#pj_fact">http://4witness.org/wfj/jw-bookstore.php#pj_fact</a>, along with this challenging quote:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with Gods Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. It should be the sincere desire of every one of us to learn what Gods will is for us, and then to do it." John 8:32 (The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, 1968, p. 13) </blockquote>
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My engagement with Mormons has been more consistent, and more consistently frustrating. While Clay, the Jehovah’s Witness, was willing to go to the scriptures with me, I felt that the Mormon missionaries would use the bible disingenuously and, when pressed for reasons why I should believe them, would constantly resort to the “I know it in my heart to be true” to which I would always reply, “But a Muslim, Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness can say the same thing. Why should I believe your feelings over theirs?”. I have yet to receive a satisfactory answer to this question, and I sincerely doubt that I ever will.<br />
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My heart aches for anyone who is lost, but there is a special place in my heart for Mormon’s, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics, as I grew up with them and know so many.
I now have an unquenchable thirst in my life to reach the lost and to engage not only their hearts but to force them to THINK about the issues as well. I think many churches, heretical and orthodox alike, do not do effectively equip their congregations to approach faith with our minds turned on, as society moves farther away from logic oriented decision making, and leans more and more on emotional, self-centered pragmatism and hedonism.<br />
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<i>Lord, save us from our wicked hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), help us to repent and to make sacrifices to share the gospel boldly, with those whom we love.</i><br />
<br />
-Neil
(Neil is the founder of Soul-Winning Students which can be found at <a href="http://soulwinningstudents.com/">http://soulwinningstudents.com</a>)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comHillsboro, OR, USA45.5228939 -122.9898269999999945.4339089 -123.15118849999999 45.6118789 -122.8284655tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-15200412697898089442013-02-24T16:18:00.001-08:002013-02-24T16:18:09.722-08:00Don’t Get Roped In<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m one of those people who likes to
debate. Ya’ know the type that most people don’t want to sit and have a
head-to-head disagreement with because I love to let someone talk and allow
them to hang themselves? Yeah, that’s me. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
firmly believe that any argument formed from a stance of ignorance is easily
defeated by using the very words of the one attempting to promote it!!</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently I began reading an article
and knew that within a few pages such ignorance would be revealed- I was not
disappointed. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The watchtower published an article
entitled, “Should You Believe in The Trinity?” From the beginning the ignorance
was amazingly thick. Various quotes were cited by one intelligent person and
then another. The brightest among us on both sides of the issue were used to
show that belief in the Trinity was a central teaching of the Christian Church.
Several times it was mentioned that the smartest of the human race cannot
understand- and consequently- fully explain or teach the Trinity. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s take a pause here. I was taught
in school that the best and brightest among us once strongly believed that the
earth was flat. Also there was a time when the most respected astronomers
believed that the earth was the center of the entire universe. A little more
recently the brightest scientists taught that if the human body move faster
than fifty miles per hour the skin would peel off our faces. What’s that I just
heard? Oh, another jet just <u>routinely</u> broke the sound barrier.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Sorry I was distracted for a second)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My point here is obvious: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Human understanding or the lack thereof has no bearing whatsoever on
the Truth. The Truth is the Truth weather we believe, doubt, fully grasp or remain
clueless.</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Back to the article: I continued
reading waiting for some small nugget of “evidence” that the Trinity really
should be in question. I was looking for a somewhat reasonable explanation as
to why the Watchtower has taken a stance of unbelief where the Trinity is
concerned. What I found was an even more blatant misuse scripture out of
context.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Watchtower claims that the Triune
nature of God could not have been revealed by God Himself because </span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Devine
revelation itself does not allow for such a view of God”. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It then immediately quotes 1
Corinthians 14:33 “God is not a God of confusion” as support! </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">WOW!! Talk about taking a verse out
of context. This verse has nothing to do with explaining the Trinity. In fact
it deals with the topic of using our spiritual gifts. Reading the verses before
it, starting at verse 26 clearly reveals that fact. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nor does this verse say </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If man is confused by it then it must
not have come from God”.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Are you kidding me? I am confused by
almost everything God reveals to me.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can anyone explain creation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ya’ know, God reached into nothing and
brought the entire universe to life?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who fully grasps the fact that God is
eternal having no beginning or no end?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tell me, who in the Watchtower,
Mormonism, Philosophy or Christendom can fully understand and explain how the
universe expands forever without borders!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How did God hang the earth on
nothing, set it to spin and sustain its perfect distance from the sun?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And someone please rationally,
logically- with our great human minds- explain the parting of the Red Sea, I
dare ya!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Better yet, tell me how Christ spoke,
“Lazarus, come forth!” and a dead man walked out of a tomb wrapped in burial
garb.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s push passed the ignorance shall
we?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking to </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">finite</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> human logic to understand and/or explain an </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">infinite,</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> eternal, all-powerful,
all knowing and all-present God is just plain nonsense. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This poorly written article also
stated, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<span style="color: #00b050;">If the Trinity were true, it should be clearly and
consistently presented in the Bible. Why? Because as the Apostles affirmed, the
Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. And since we need to know God
to worship Him acceptably, the Bible should be clear in telling us just who He
is”.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">It also
mentioned that the correct way to understand God is <u>from the scriptures</u>
and even Jesus used the scriptures, often saying, “It is written…”, so very
true. So let’s look at scriptures to see what God has to say about Himself!!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Let’s take a
topical approach</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Trinity
in Creation:</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">“In the
beginning God (Elohim) created the Heavens and the Earth”- Genesis 1:1.
Biblical study reveals that each part of the Trinity played a part in creation.
</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">God
the Father</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"> is the one
“from whom all things come” according to 1 Corinthians 8:6. He planned and
decreed creation- Acts 17:24-26. He did “everything in conformity with the
purpose of His will as stated in Ephesians 1:11</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">John 1:3
asserts that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jesus-God the Son’s</b>
role in creation was that “Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that was made”. Colossians 1:6 affirms this: “All things were
created by Him and for Him”.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Holy Spirit “</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">was hovering
over the waters” according to Genesis 1:2. The Hebrew word for ‘hovering’ is
important here because it gives a picture of an eagle hovering over its young
in a supervising and protecting role. So the Holy Spirit was actively a part of
creation, supervising it and ensuring its safe and secure development.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">If there was
only One Creator yet the Father, Son AND Holy Spirit were all a part of
Creation then we can only conclude that all three of these personages <u>are</u>
the Eternal Creator.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Biblical
Evidence of the Trinity</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Father is called God</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">- “of whom
are all things” in 1 Corinthians 8:6 AND Jesus is called God- “by whom are all
things” in that same verse. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Son is called God- </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hebrews 1:8
says, “But, of the Son He says, “Your throne, O <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God, </b>is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter
of your Kingdom”. Also Jesus Himself said He was God when He stated, “I and the
Father are one”. The Greek word for the word ‘one’ used in this verse means “of
the same essence and substance”. So despite what anyone may say it does not
mean “one in purpose” only. If Christ wanted us to believe that He was not God
He would have used a word that clearly showed a distinction between him and the
Father but He didn’t. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Giving
further support for the fact that Jesus claimed to be God- and therefore the
same as the Father- we read in John 8: 58 & 59 That Jesus stated”…before Abraham
was born, I AM” The Jews recognized that Jesus was claiming to be the same I AM
we read of in the Old Testament. They picked up stones in order to stone Him
for what they believed to be blasphemy. They recognized that <u>Jesus Christ
claimed to BE GOD!</u> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Holy Spirit is called God: </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">In Acts 5:
3-4 Peter asked Ananias why he had <u>lied to the Holy Spirit</u> and continued
on to say “…You have not lied to men but <u>to God”.</u> Peter fully recognized
that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God because they are one in the same.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Biblical
support for the trinity aka The Triune God goes on and on.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">The message
to us Bible-believing, Trinity-supporting Christians is simple. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do not Get Roped Into</b> the sometimes
well-worded, logical-sounding, seemingly-wise arguments of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses (and Mormons). Study the Bible so well and to such a depth that when
false teachings pop up, your mind refers back to scripture that shoots down the
Devil’s mental and spiritual attacks found in their words. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">“I have hidden Your
Word in my heart that I might not sin against You”- Psalm 119:11</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Another way to say it is, "I have studied Your Word so deeply that I will not be roped into ignorance and Sin"</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">God Bless all my Trinity-believing Christians, stay Strong!! </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-63027426446416115422013-01-29T10:57:00.003-08:002013-01-29T10:57:44.788-08:00Mormon god vs Christian God<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is God
eternal or did He <u>become </u>God? Where did He come from? Where is He
located? Does He care about us on earth or has He created us and then left us
to fend for ourselves?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every
religion has its own view on the nature of God or a “higher power” which is
ultimately responsible for the creation and sustaining of the universe.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Today we will
take a look at both the Mormon and Orthodox Christian views of God’s nature.
The information given on the Mormon view will be taken directly from Mormon
Scripture and other Mormon publications. The Christian view is given based on
the information in the Holy Bible. I do this so that there is no personal bias.
It will be a representation of what both systems of faith profess to believe
and therefore teach.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What does
the LDS organization say about the nature of God?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">More than one God:</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">First, in
The Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 5:4 states that the god<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>s</u></b> created the earth and the heavens. Verse seven of this
same chapter states that the “god<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>s</u></b>
formed man from the dust”. Clearly the LDS teaching is that there is more than
one God.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Joseph Smith
once stated, "I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations
when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">plurality</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">of gods</b>". This quote is recorded in the History of the Church
6: 474. (Emphasis added by me)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Furthermore,
Brigham Young, the second LDS prophet said, "How many God<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">s</b> there are, I do not know. But there
never was a time when there were not God<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">s</b>..."
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This statement is from the <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Journal of Discourses</span></em> 7:333.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mormon
Apostle Orson Pratt taught, "We were begotten by our Father in Heaven; the
person of our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previous heavenly world by His
Father; and again, He was begotten by a still more ancient Father, and so on,
from one generation to generation", from page 132 of <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Seer</span></em>, a Mormon publication.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These statements
are in direct contrast to the Christian teaching that there exists only one God.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First
Timothy 2:5 says</span> “<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For there is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only one God</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one </b>Mediator
who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Joshua 22:
22 says, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<span class="content">The Mighty <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One</b>, God,
the Lord, the Mighty <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One</b>, God, the
Lord! He knows, and may Israel itself know…” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also
consider 1 Corinthians 8: 6: “…</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">yet
for us there is but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one</b> God, the
Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one</b> Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist
through Him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christians believe
that there is only one God in whom all power resides. To state that there is
any God other than this one God is in direct contradiction to the Bible and
therefore not a Christian belief. By the evidence states so far it is obvious
that the god of the Mormon faith is not the same as the God of Christianity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus is not God?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First
Corinthians 8:6 and 1 Timothy 2:5, not only state that there is only one God
but that God was physically seen on earth in the person of Jesus Christ. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First John
1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This same
verse in Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible aka The Inspired Version,
reads like this: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“In
the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the
word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was <u>of
</u>God.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smith
blatantly strips Jesus Christ of His rightful deity by adding in the word ‘of’.
Obviously the LDS organization teaches that Jesus was not God in the flesh
which means they are not teaching a core Christian belief.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Trinity (a.k.a. Triune God)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This also
leads to another LDS belief that God is not one being comprised of three persons.
According to a friend/relative of mine who served twice as a Mormon Bishop, Mormons
profess that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate Gods who are
“one in purpose”. I also had an online chat with a Mormon missionary who
verified this LDS belief. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In contrast,
we read in John 10: 30 where Christ stated, “I and the Father are one”. Christ
used the Greek word for ‘one’ which means, “Of the same essence and substance”.
It doesn’t get any plainer or bolder than that. Jesus stated that He was of the
same stuff that makes up the God that created the universe. He is of the very
same unique fabric as God. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mormons may
use the events surrounding Jesus’ baptism as evidence that there is more than
one god. When Jesus rose out of the water in Matthew 3:17 the Holy Spirit
descended upon Him in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven said, “This is
my beloved Son in Him I am well pleased”. Here were see Jesus in the water, The
Holy Spirit descending from heaven and the voice of the Father in Heaven.
Mormons see this as three gods; Christians see this as God showing proof of His
omnipresence. The God of Christianity has the ability to be in three places and
in three forms all at once. Apparently the Mormon god does not share this
amazing trait.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is just
further proof that Christianity and Mormonism are absolutely not the same when
it comes to their beliefs on the nature of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is important
to realize that there are definite, undeniable differences between the god of
Mormonism and that of Christianity. Why? Because many Christians join the
Mormon organization thinking that they’ll be able to take their Christianity
with them. However, the subtle “bait and switch” approach of the LDS
organization slowly becomes apparent upon deep, detailed investigation of their
beliefs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, in
speaking with several Mormons I have been met with statements to the effect of,
“There really is no difference between what you believe and what we believe. We
both serve the same God”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The fact is,
upon detailed investigation we discover that the god spoken of and taught
within the walls of Mormonism is quite different than the God of the Christian
faith. Let us not be fooled into thinking that Mormonism is an example/extension
of our faith in the God of the Bible. It is not a denomination within
Christianity in the least bit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my
opinion Mormonism is one of Satan’s most crafty, detailed, world-wide
deceptions. The Latter Day Saints appear, in many ways, to teach and believe
the same message of Jesus Christ- but, these few examples show the Truth!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is a
fundamental believe that God is three persons which comprise <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One </b>being. We believe that Jesus Christ
was God made flesh, born of a virgin in the small town of Bethlehem. We believe
that faith in Jesus Christ alone- as shown by the thief on the cross- is needed
for salvation. We believe that God is eternal, having no beginning and no end and
as such he was not created by anyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Due to their
teachings and their lack of belief in basic core values concerning God’s nature
we must reach the obvious and logical conclusion that Mormons do not believe in
the same God that Christians do, period!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-26408936701004326012013-01-16T14:38:00.002-08:002013-01-16T14:38:51.574-08:00Implementing the Impossible GospelOne of my New Year's resolutions was to be less confrontational when speaking with and about the LDS. That lone caused me to reevaluate my approach and discussion platform.<br /><br />I have recently opened a Twitter account and I have slowly gotten the hang of it. The last few nights, I have been perusing the hashtags #Mormon and #LDS to look for opportunities to converse with people. Well, last night I sent a few tweets with little to no success, but I finally found a tweet from a guy named Bobby from Colorado who is a radio personality. We were able to converse and some traction was made.<br /><br />For this conversation, I will use 'B' for Bobby, and 'J' for Josh of Ephesians 2 Ministry. Many of the responses were multi-part tweets, but I will compile them.<br /><br />This was the original tweet that I responded to: "I always want to be with my own family....and The Lord has shown me how I can." <s>#</s><b>Mormon</b> <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2793706219779491123"><s>#</s><b>LDS</b></a> <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2793706219779491123"><s>#</s><b>Twitterstake</b></a> <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2793706219779491123"><s>#</s><b>God</b></a> <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2793706219779491123"><s>#</s><b>JesusChrist</b></a> <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2793706219779491123"><s>#</s><b>HolySpirit</b></a><br /><br />J: And how is that? Could you show me a BofM reference or Bible reference about eternal families? I would appreciate that. Thanks.<br />
<br />
B: This is what I found for ya my friend =] <span class="invisible">http://www.</span><span class="js-display-url">lds.org/general-confer</span><span class="invisible">ence/1980/04/celestial-marriages-and-eternal-families?lang=eng</span><span class="tco-ellipsis"><span class="invisible"> </span>…</span><img alt="" class="large media-slideshow-image" height="960" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BAtWbyFCcAAfOZp.jpg:large" width="640" /><br /><br />B: PS, thank you for allowing me to research a little bit. That quote is
from a hymn I sang at a funeral today. Felt inspired to share<br />
<br />
J: That's great info. And I'm glad I got you researching. What happens to a
person after death? Bible or BofM reference, too please.
<br /><br />B: I would refer you to <span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="js-display-url">LDS.org</span><span class="invisible"></span><span class="tco-ellipsis"><span class="invisible"> </span></span> my friend. I appreciate all your questions but I would go there & search references for u.
<br /><br />(At this point, I thought he was just going to be done talking. But I persisted.)<br /><br />J: Can I share a BofM verse with YOU? Will you read Alma 34:32-35 for me and get back with me?<br /><br />B: my question to you before I do that is, are you genuinely curious about my faith, or are you trying to discredit it?<br /><br />J: I grew up LDS and could not get my questions answered. Too many inconsistencies. I was just wondering your thoughts on the verses.<br /><br />B: ok, well inconsistencies, I've found tend to come from a lack of
understanding or knowledge. When that has happened to me before I've prayed to Heavenly Father for understanding. Honestly, I've come to
the realization that I am supposed to receive certain
knowledges and truths when I am ready to receive them. As for that
scripture in Alma, what I take from it is that this mortal life
is a time of a probation. A time to repent for those transgressions we
make daily. The mind/thoughts/desires are what we take with
us and we should not wait until that time The Lord calls us home to repent. And that's my perspective on it. Hope that helps.
<br /><br />J: Have you repented for all of your transgressions that you daily commit? Just wondering. I know I struggle every day<br /><br />B: I do try. I must admit it is not a daily occurrence for which I must work on my daily prayer habits. The Lord knows our hearts & intentions.
<br /><br />J: Well, I read Miracle of Forgiveness, and here is a quote in it: 'There
is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment
of the sin. Desire is not sufficient. In other words, it is not real repentance until one has abandoned the error of his ways
and started on a new path the saving power does not extend to him who merely wants to change his life. Trying is not sufficient.
<br /><br />B: well to you I would say yes, I have repented of some issues in my life,
and have abandoned them. However, all of us, shall remain
imperfect beings in this mortal life. That's the beauty of forgiveness and sincere repentance. Faith without works is dead. I've read that talk. I feel the angle you are coming from is that we
must remain free of transgression from repentance from here on out. That's not practical for any man or woman. We will always fall short of
the Grace of God, but through His sacrifice we can be made clean.<br /><br />J: But, what about 1 Nephi 3:7?<br /><br />B: I assume you are referring being baptized unto repentance?<br /><br />J: Oh no... here's the verse: 1 Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things
which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no
commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare
a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.<br /><br />B: okay, so what is your specific question regarding those verses?
<br /><br />J: If it's not practical for us to be free of sin and we fall short, how is it that "the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
<br /><br />B: you and I and the rest of the waking world have a little gift called
"free agency." God does not expect us to be perfect, however
we are commanded to obey the precepts He has brought forth in His Gospel. He prepares the way through those scriptures guidelines and ways we may grow closer to him if we open our hearts and minds to it"<br /><br />J: Wouldn't one of those precepts be full repentance, though? Alma 11:37 "And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in
their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no
unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore
how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.<br /><br />B: listen Josh. I respect your curiosity and thirst for Gospel knowledge, but we are going back and forth to no success of your questions. I sincerely feel you would have a phenomenal conversation
with a Missionary or other Mormon confidant. I am not trying
to shrug you off, but it's late, and we could go back and forth till the
wee hours. I hope you find the answers you seek from God
and I wish you well my friend. Be blessed and thanks for the inspiring conversation. All my best =]
<br /><br />J: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions and talk with me. It's great that you were willing to share your knowledge
and faith. Please consider Ephesians 2:8-9 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' God bless you my friend<br /><br />B: I must say I appreciate your questions and faith. Many people of
whatever faith backdown due to lack of knowledge. But it is thru
Christ-like dialogue we can come to agree or compassionately disagree about our beliefs. May God bless you too.<br />_____________________________________________________________<br /><br />The Impossible Gospel provided for some good conversation and some critical thinking. I pray that Bobby will reflect on our conversation the next time the subject comes up and will research further into what he believes. He was very genuine in his responses and non-confrontational. He really had a desire to answer my questions. I believe that if I had started the conversation much earlier, we would have been able to walk through the Impossible Gospel even further... but, I didn't start until nearly 11pm.<br /><br />Please join me in prayer for Bobby and all LDS people.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-85311693364763811082012-11-14T14:17:00.006-08:002012-11-14T14:18:16.507-08:00Be careful, the LDS church doesn't want you reading this.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPQEoB1Dp-E/UKQWYtP0xqI/AAAAAAAAA8E/7zBIVIvR9co/s1600/censored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPQEoB1Dp-E/UKQWYtP0xqI/AAAAAAAAA8E/7zBIVIvR9co/s1600/censored.jpg" /></a></div>
It is pretty well known now that facebook will remove postings because it supposedly violates the terms. However there is one as of late that seems to be getting censored rather quickly. So in an effort to help you understand what is going on within the world of Mormonism we are placing the article here for you to read. <br />
<br />
It is about an LDS missionary who is guilty of things we often hear about in the Catholic church or Kingdom Halls. That is taking advantage of a child. Now I can understand why they would not want this seen. However that will not stop us from making sure then information is getting out. Please follow the link below. You may place any comments you like on our facebook page however should they be removed we may need to move it over to our discussion forum for your safety. This posting has been removed at least 4 times from 2 different pages.<br />
<br />
Click <a href="http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10036964.Missionary_at_Mormon_church_jailed_for_grooming_teenager/" target="_blank">HERE</a> for the article.Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-57109549599544555452012-11-10T15:27:00.000-08:002013-05-02T12:10:00.648-07:00Earthly Permission Needed to Obtain Eternal Life?<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I was encouraged to share this...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Several months back, I received a letter from my ex-wife's bishop. Here is the letter EXACTLY (minus the omission of some last names) as I received it, including spelling and grammatical errors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Joshua Hess,</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This letter is in regard to Sara C**** a former spouse of yours. As you may already know Sara has remarried civilly and is currently seeking to go to the temple to be sealed to her current spouse, Tyson C****. Where Sara was previously sealed to you, she must go through the application process and receive a cancellation of sealing and submit the information to the First Presidency of the church for approval. Then if a cancellation is granted she will be allowed to proceed with the sealing to her new spouse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please promptly reply to this letter and include the following things:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">your feelings about this application</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"> whether the applicant is current in financial obligations</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bishop Boyd Kent Rowe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pocatello, Idaho</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">_________________________________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After some coercion and the ex-wife using my kids as leverage to make me write the letter, I wrote the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">TO: Boyd Rowe</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> RE: Sara C****</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Boyd,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My
records have been removed from the LDS church, and according to the
official letter I received from the membership office in Salt Lake City,
Utah, all temple blessings and sealings were removed, as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From
a traditional biblical Christian perspective, I find it sad that people
are still believing and falling for the nonsensical notion of "eternal
marriage", "eternal families", and works for the dead. The Bible speaks
plainly about such things, and the Book of Mormon even chimes in about
it, too.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus said in Matthew 22:29-30 "<span class="text Matt-22-29" id="en-KJV-23902">Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.</span><span class="text Matt-22-30" id="en-KJV-23903"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Matt-22-30" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Matt-22-30" style="font-family: inherit;">There is no need for marriage after death because we will be so happy glorifying God that EVERYTHING else will be secondary.<br /><br />Hebrews 9:27 states "<span class="text Heb-9-27" id="en-KJV-30133">And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment</span>."
There is no waiting room or second chance to receive "the gospel" and
the "saving ordinances" that are done in the temple. There is not one
single mention of any of the LDS churches saving ordinances in the
Bible, except for baptism for the dead. Paul mentioned it one time, but
when read in context, he is condemning the act. I would encourage you to
read 1 Corinthians 15 in context as to who Paul is addressing and why
he is addressing them. Also notice the wording he uses. He chose to use
"they" instead of "we." If baptizing the dead was something that was
supposed to be done, don't you feel Paul would have said "we" meaning
all believers?</span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Matt-22-30" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-22-30">Also, in the Book of Mormon... Alma 34:35 "<span class="verse"></span>For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected<span style="background-color: #333399;"></span>
to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the
Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you,
and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of
the wicked."<br /><br />Notice the word "final." There are no second chances, thus rendering temple work useless.<br /><br />No
marriage in heaven or during the resurrection, and no second chances.
So, why perform acts for people who's fate is sealed according to the
Bible and the Book of Mormon.<br /><br />Since we can only depend on our
earthly decisions, how can a person be saved and ensure we get to God?
We are taught in Ephesians 2:8-9 "</span><span class="text Eph-2-9" id="en-KJV-29239">For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:<sup class="versenum"> </sup>Not of works, lest any man should boast."<br /><br />There
is nothing we can "do" to be saved. Nothing in the temple or otherwise
that can save us. The Grace of God alone saves us. The Bible even calls
our righteous deeds "dirty rags." (Isaiah 64:6) Why would God want our
dirty rags? He doesn't.<br /><br />Why would I care if my ex-wife wants to
take part in cult activities with her husband? I am no longer a member
of the LDS church because I used the brain God blessed me with and found
far too many contradictions in the teachings and practices. If she
chooses to reject the Word of God and make false promises in the temple,
that is her choice, not mine. She is responsible for her own
activities, not me.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;">Legally,
however, Sara and her husband can not take my children, ***** ****** **** and **** ******* ****, through the temple with them to be sealed
without my permission. I DO NOT AND WILL NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION FOR THEM
TO DO SO!<br /><br />I would encourage you to research your church. Read
the original 1830 version of the Book of Mormon, and compare it to the
current version. The differences are too many to disregard. Then read
the Bible with the eyes of a child. The Book of Mormon and the Bible do
NOT compliment each other. As soon as you read both, you will know.<br /><br />I will be praying for you and all LDS people to accept the true and living Jesus of the Bible.<br /><br />God Bless.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;">-Josh Hess</span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;">North Regional Director</span></b></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Ephesians 2 Ministry<br />___________________________________________________________________________</b></i></span><br />
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;">He replied:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-2-9" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Wow!
This isn’t what you were asked for at all but it’s all that I need to
get Sara and her husband on to eternal bliss. It’s unfortunate that you
have pushed the truth out of your life.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Boyd Rowe</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">____________________________________________________________________________________________________</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to continue this conversation:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Your
letter stated that you needed my feelings about the application. I
shared my feelings about it, and also shared some biblical principals.<br /><br />It's
sad that you are unable to recognize that none of what goes on in the
modern LDS temple has anything to do with what went on in the temples of
the Bible.<br /><br />I would be very interested in hearing more about what truth I have pushed out of my life.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Grace and Peace.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br />-Josh Hess</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="text Eph-2-9" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">North Regional Director</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Eph-2-9"><i><b>Ephesians 2 Ministry</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">____________________________________________________________</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></i>No response from him as of yet. I do find it interesting, however, that the LDS church requires what they consider an "apostate" to write a letter of permission for an ex-spouse to go to their temple to be sealed to someone else.<br /><br />Apparently their God isn't big enough to make a decision like that.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Anyone else have similar stories? Please feel free to share them on the Ephesians 2 Ministry Facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Ephesians2Ministry" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/Ephesians2Ministry</a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-78764188164660468042012-11-08T11:44:00.003-08:002012-11-08T11:44:18.957-08:00The Amazing Accuracy of the Prophet, Joseph Smith<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It makes complete sense that if you are to trust what someone
says, you consider several things: track record, honesty, integrity, openness, response
to direct questions, etc. If you examined a broker’s track record and found
he/she was wrong about which stocks to buy significantly more often than they
were right, you would probably not allow them to invest your hard-earned green
backs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Constant tardiness, poor work performance and excessive
customer complaints would not yield an employee the vacant VP position at his
place of employment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A lying, crooked, money spending, self-centered
politician does not encourage the votes of her constituents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Obviously the track record of an individual is very
important. The same is true when it comes to those who are to teach us the
Word. It is an amazing responsibility and those of us searching for the Truth
have a responsibility to research the track record of the would-be teacher. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The LDS organization holds to the belief that Joseph
Smith Jr. was a prophet of God. This means that he received messages from the
all-knowing, all-mighty, all-present God. Therefore it is reasonable to
conclude that any message we receive from this individual is absolutely, and
beyond the shadow of a doubt, TRUE. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Deuteronomy 18:22 confirms this by stating: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="content"><span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When a prophet speaks in
the name of the LORD, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">if the thing does
not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken.</b>
The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The introduction page of the Book of Mormon states that
Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon “by the gift and power of God”
further emphasizing that Joseph Smith claimed direct contact with God and that
his messages were directly from God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is, therefore, completely fair </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">(and smart)</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
to look at what Joseph Smith has proclaimed in the past…in other words: Let’s
examine his track record!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First, Mr. Smith wrote in the</span> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doctrine
& Covenants 84:2-5 that a Mormon temple would be built in </span><span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“the
Western boundaries of the state of Missouri”.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In verse four Joseph
Smith narrowed the time line by stating the “temple shall be reared in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">this</b> generation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s stop right here for a few seconds. We all know
that when speaking plain English “this generation” means the generation in
which the speaker lives and is a part of. We also understand that the speaker
sees the generation in which he lives as separate from ones past and those to
come. There is generally no confusion when this phrased is used. However, a man
I know, who served two terms as a Mormon Bishop, and is still a dedicated Mormon,
stated something to this effect:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“When reading scripture it is not possible to know
exactly how long a generation is. Some say it’s 70 years others say it’s up to
100 or more.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">OK, let’s run with that line of logic and see where it
takes us. We’ll examine it on three fronts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No way to tell how long a generation is:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s say I predict that there will be a snow storm of
such magnitude in England that busses will be covered in snow, travel will be
impossible and a state of emergency will be declared. However I give no
definite date. I leave it open ended. This basically tells everyone that I am
predicting this will happen at some time between the moment I say it and the
end of the world. How miraculous is that? Anyone could be a “prophet” if it was
that easy. Personally I don’t see why anyone is to be admired for such a vague
prediction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Exodus 1: 6</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">- </span><span class="content"><span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
Joseph and all his brothers and all <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">that
generation</b> died, </span><span data-usfm="EXO.1.7">but the Israelites were
exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became
so numerous that the land was filled with them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="content"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clearly this is Biblical
confirmation that while the number of years each brother lived is not mention,
they all are clearly seen to have belonged to one single generation- aka common
sense.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="content"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another example is found
in </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mat.1.17.niv"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Matthew 1:17
(NIV)</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thus
there were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fourteen</b> generations in
all from Abraham to David, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fourteen</b>
from David to the exile to Babylon, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fourteen</b>
from the exile to the Messiah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
we put number to things or groups of things it is because we see a definite
beginning, end and/or separation of those things- days, weeks, months, years
and also generations. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The use of the word <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">this</b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smith used the word “this”
to <u>describe</u> the generation of which he spoke. Plainly he understood that
there was a definite beginning and end to the generation in which he lived. It was
not a statement of indefinite time. It was a statement in which he showed that
he knew there would be an end to the generation he spoke of and a beginning of
another. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Generation equals parent, child,
grandchild, etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stand in any public place with a father, son and
grandson present and yell loudly while pointing to the trio, “These three are
of one family, a father, son and grandson. How many generations are they?” The
unanimous answer will be “Three.” So apparently the general public understands
what a generation is without the need to know exactly how many years equal a generation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When considering the accuracy of this prophecy Joseph
Smith plainly failed! No matter how you look at it a generation <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">is</b> definable and Smith himself put a
finite description on the generation he spoke of. That generation has long
passed which means that this prophecy has failed, period.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s look at the Civil War Prophecy next. It is found
in Doctrine and Covenants 87: 1--4 which states</span></div>
<div class="highlight">
</div>
<div class="highlight">
<span class="verse"><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">1 </span></span><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verily, thus saith the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lord</b> concerning the <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87.1-4?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;">wars</span></a> that will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87.1-4?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shortly</span></a></b>
come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87.1-4?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;">South Carolina</span></a>, which will eventually
terminate in the death and misery of many souls;</span></div>
<div class="highlight">
<span class="verse"><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">2 </span></span><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And the <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87.1-4?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;">time</span></a> will come that <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87.1-4?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;">war</span></a> will be poured out upon all nations,
beginning at this place.</span></div>
<div class="highlight">
<span class="verse"><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">3 </span></span><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For behold, the
Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern
States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is
called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend
themselves against other nations; and then <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87.1-4?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;">war</span></a> shall be poured out upon all nations.</span></div>
<div class="highlight">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2571177387703175166" name="4"><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></a><span class="verse"><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">4 </span></span><span style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And it shall come
to pass, after many days, <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/87.1-4?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;">slaves</span></a> shall rise up against their masters,
who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">I've underlined certain words to drive home important points. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Smith claimed that
this message was from The Lord and that this event was shortly to come. So if
this was from God then it should have happened exactly as written shortly after
Smith spoke it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">But, this is what we
actually find in history:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">South Carolina had already rebelled when
Smith wrote of “the rebellion of South Carolina”</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That rebellion did NOT spark the civil war
(1833) - the war began in 1860. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">War was not poured out on the entire
nation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The slaves did not “rise up against their
masters” as a major part of the war... it was primarily a war of white men
against white men, North against South.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s another one to consider:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doctrine & Covenants 103:13-25 speaks of the men of
Zion's camp, who were organized to march to Missouri and RESCUE the Mormons
there (verse 24). Verse 25 promises they would avenge God's enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But in the History of the Church, Vol. 3, page 39 and
following describes the failure of Zion's camp to do as predicted! God's OWN
presence supposedly went with them according to verses 20 and 26...but the whole
thing failed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When considering this prophecy we must understand that
not only does general history record that this prophecy failed but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>the very organization that believes in
and teaches of the accuracy of Joseph Smith’s prophecies has recorded this one
as a failure.</u></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Agency FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s
very significant, don’t you think?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How about Mr. Smith’s attempt at predicting the second coming
of Christ? Before we investigate its accuracy let’s consider a Bible passage
about this event.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew 25: 1-13 is a parable that ends with verse 13 emphasizing
that we </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span class="content"><span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">do not know the day or the hour” </span></span><span class="content"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of
Jesus’ return. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="content"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For anyone to then take it upon themselves to predict when Jesus
would return is to contradict God- a.k.a. dangerous!</span></span><span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The “History of the Church”, Vol. 2, page 182 records
that Joseph Smith said the coming of the Lord was…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“nigh — even 56 years should wind up the scene.”</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This statement was made in 1835. Add 56 years to 1835
and you get 1891. This seems to be a little off, by 121 years….and counting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again- this “prophecy” was not a prophecy at all. It is
another FAILED <u>attempt at</u> prophecy!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One last prediction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Church History, Vol. 2, pp. 380-381, Joseph Smith
said he saw, in a vision of the CELESTIAL kingdom, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“the 12 apostles of the Lamb who are now upon the
earth.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the History of the Church later records the
apostasy and final excommunication of 5 of the 12 apostles referred to in this
vision:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lyman Johnson Vol. 3:20</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke Johnson - Vol. 2:528</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">William McLellin - Vol. 3:31</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">William Smith - Vol. 7:483</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thomas Marsh - Vol. 4:284</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So according to Smith these listed men would one day be
in the Celestial Kingdom with God. But, if they were excommunicated this means (according to Mormon philosophy)
that they were doomed to never enter that realm. This contradiction means the
LDS organization, again recorded a failed prophecy of their own prophet, leader
and founder.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
closing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Deuteronomy 18:22 clearly states that if a predicted event
does not come true then the person who spoke it did not speak on the behalf of
God. Only one failure is needed in order to show that the speaker is a false
prophet, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ONE</b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have reviewed only a few of Smith’s multiple failed
attempts at predicting the future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Furthermore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints- the very organization he founded- recorded (</span><span style="font-family: "Aegean","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">in
their own historic writings</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">) the failures of their supposed
prophet!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I pray that any Mormon who reads this will research it
to see if anything said here is true. Pick up your Church history and read what
is recorded, compare it to Smith’s predictions then ask yourself, “If he failed
at prophecy, can he really be a prophet of God?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nothin’ but love for ya!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ephesians 4:15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Your friend,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">S.T.I.L (Speaking Truth in Love)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-83241141159531633132012-10-24T16:24:00.002-07:002012-10-24T16:26:11.733-07:00The Great Apostasy: Did This Mormon Taught Event Really Happen?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Great Apostasy: Did this Mormon-taught Event Really Happen?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
E.S. “Taz” Bright</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Religion,
faith, beliefs…all these tend to evoke strong, deep emotions and have caused
many debates and arguments through the ages. However, I think it is time we
rise above the senseless, immature arguing and step into the arena of real,
mature, positive, productive, adult debate. In that spirit I would like to pose
a question, however, let’s give a little background first.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
Mormon scripture, the heading/introduction of 1 Nephi 13 states that Nephi saw
certain things in a vision, including “the loss of many plain and precious
parts of the Bible” which is the reason for “the restoration of the gospel, the
coming forth of latter-day scripture...” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Joseph
Smith claims that God the Father and Jesus appeared to him in the woods one day
and told him not to join any of the churches of the time because they were “all
corrupt”. This is stated not only in Mormon scripture but also in Mormon
pamphlets, etc. The fact that the LDS religion teaches this is not something
the LDS organization denies. It is pretty much common knowledge. The Mormon
scripture says that Nephi had this vision/prediction between 600 and 592 B.C. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before
we go any further I would like you to picture a time line in your head- a
straight line from left to right across a poster board or on a sheet of paper.
Let’s say a small vertical line at the far left of that timeline represents
when the Old Testament was written. Imagine another small vertical line in the
very middle which represents the time of Christ’s crucifixion and closely after
that another vertical line represents the death of the last Apostle. Now, with
that visual let’s continue.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">LDS
teachings are saying that the Bible we read from today is missing many plain
and precious parts. It would make sense that we look into history and
archeology to see if there is any evidence to support this historical event. Is
there a time into which we can look back and see there was a definite,
concrete, real, verifiable “corruption”? The answer is NO. In fact when we look
into archeology we see something very opposite.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Dead Sea Scrolls have been dated to be thousands of years old. They are on
display in the Holy land for all to see if they choose to make the journey. The
scrolls are hundreds of copies of different parts of the Bible, preserved by
God Himself to show that He is powerful enough to preserve His word through all
time.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
understand that the LDS side of the debate may state that the Dead Sea Scrolls
are not really the original of the Bible. However, when we compare the Dead Sea
Scrolls with our modern day Bibles, they say the exact same thing. That is
concrete proof that the words written in the Bibles we use today were written
thousands of years ago and they have survived intact for so very long.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So
my main questions for LDS members are this: </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Did the Great Apostasy really happen?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If so, when?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where is the historical/archeological
proof of the Great Apostasy?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If the Dead Sea Scrolls are not the ancient copies of the Bible, then what are they?</span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><i>Note: This is not an "attack" on the
Mormon religion at all. It is a little history followed by a few simple
questions. At no point did I use negative words to describe the LDS people or
the organization. So, if you feel attacked please do not reply to this article.
Feel free to ignore it and move on. This is a
chance for adult debate and discussion- nothing more. God Bless and let the
discussion begin!!</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-9459981491128426982012-10-21T20:46:00.000-07:002012-10-21T20:46:01.478-07:00The Book of Mormon: Translated Correctly?In the June 1984 issue of the LDS magazine the <i>Ensign</i>, Monte Nyman wrote: "There is irrefutable evidence to show both the correctness of the
translation and the Lord’s hand in it. The Three Witnesses, Oliver
Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, bore record that the voice of
God declared unto them that the book had been translated by his power.
Their testimony still appears at the front of each copy of the Book of
Mormon. Furthermore, in a June 1829 revelation given to the three men
through the Prophet, the Lord confirmed that Joseph had translated all
that he had been commanded to do and that it was a true translation."<br />
<br />
Joseph Smith presumptuously stated "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any
book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get
nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book," (<em>History of the Church</em>, vol. 4, p. 461).<br /><br />Emma Smith, the first wife of Joseph, in an 1856 interview spoke of the way the translation process worked.<br /><br />"When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote a part of
it, as he dictated each sentence, word for word, and when he came to
proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled them out,
and while I was writing them, if I made a mistake in spelling, he would
stop me and correct my spelling, although it was impossible for him to
see how I was writing them down at the time."<br /><br />David Whitmer, one of the Three Witnesses, and in whose home a majority of the translation took place, gave a very detailed account of the translation process.<br /><br />"I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of
Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat,
and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to
exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A
piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that
appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it
was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the
English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was
written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct,
then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation
would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and
power of God, and not by any power of man."<br />
<br />
So, it's been made clear that the Book of Mormon was translated according to God's will, and was a correct translation, right?<br /><br />In the October 1961 conference of the LDS church, Joseph Fielding Smith stated:<br /><br />
<div class="quote">
"During the past week or two I have
received a number of letters from different parts of the United States written by people,
some of whom at least are a little concerned because they have been approached by enemies
of the Church and enemies of the Book of Mormon, who have made the statement that there
have been one or two or more thousand changes in the Book of Mormon since the first
edition was published. Well, of course, there is no truth in that statement. It is true that when the Book of Mormon
was printed the printer was a man who was unfriendly. The
publication of the book was done
under adverse circumstances, and there were a few errors, mostly
typographical — conditions that arise in most any book that is being
published — but there was not one
thing in the Book of Mormon or in the second edition or any other
edition since that in
any way contradicts the first edition, and such changes as were made were
made by the Prophet Joseph Smith because under those adverse conditions the Book of
Mormon was published. But there was no change of doctrine."</div>
<br />A simple examination of the original 1830 version of the Book of Mormon, and the more recent publications of the Book of Mormon, yield some surprising results when compared to what Joseph Fielding Smith claimed. There have been at least 3,913 changes made to the texts of the Book of Mormon, many of them to major doctrinal issues contained in them.<br /><br />Logic dictates that if the Book of Mormon is "the most correct" book, and that if he read out loud the translation of the special characters, and the words would not disappear until the writing was accurate, then why were there so many changes from the original version? Did God change his mind about the accuracy of the translation? Of course not! Not only are there MANY, MANY changes in the book, but Joseph Smith was satisfied with the original printing of it, and said is was completed. I'll ask again, why were there so many changes?<br /><br />Many LDS leaders, and lay members claim that the errors in the original 1830 Book of Mormon are simply typographical. That is simply not the case.<br /><br />Early Mormon historian, B.H. Roberts made it clear that he did not buy into the claims made by other LDS leaders. "That errors of grammar and faults in
dictation do exist in the Book of Mormon (and more especially and abundantly in the first
edition) must be conceded; and what is more, while some of the errors may be
referred to inefficient proof-reading, such as is to be expected in a country printing
establishment, yet such is the nature of the errors in question, and so interwoven are
they throughout the diction of the Book, that they may not be disposed of by saying they
result from inefficient proof-reading or referring them to the mischievous disposition of
the 'typos' or the unfriendliness of the publishing house. The errors are
constitutional in their character; they are of the web and woof of the style, and not
such errors as may be classed as typographical. Indeed,<i><b><u> the first edition of the Book of
Mormon is singularly free from typographical errors.</u></b></i>" (Emphasis added)<br /><br />The following graph shows just a few of the changes in the Book of Mormon from the 1830 version to the 1981 version.<br />
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<br />
As you can see, these are NOT minor "typographical errors." These are "errors" that not only change character names, alter the context of verses, but also change the divinity of Jesus.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, John H. Gilbert, the man who helped to print
the Book of Mormon, claimed that the Mormons did not want him to correct the grammatical
errors which were in the manuscript:<br /><br />
<div class="quote">
"When the printer was ready to commence
work, Harris was notified, and Hyrum Smith brought the first installment of the manuscript.
On the second day — Harris and Smith being in the office — I called their attention to
a grammatical error, and asked whether I should correct it? Harris consulted with
Smith a short time, and turned to me and said: 'The Old Testament is ungrammatical, set
it as it is written.' Cowdery held and looked over the
manuscript when most of the proofs were read. Martin Harris once or twice, and Hyrum Smith
once, supposing these men could read their own writing as well, if not better,
than any one else; and if there are any discrepancies between the Palmyra edition and the
manuscript these men should be held responsible." (Memorandum, made by John H.
Gilbert, Esq., September 8, 1892, Palmyra, N.Y., printed in <em>Joseph Smith Begins His
Work</em>, Vol. 1, Introduction)<br /><br />It's interesting that even the man who did the publishing made reference to the fact that he pointed out issues with it, but the leaders of the early church told him to "set it as it is written." If those issues were acceptable at the time, why make so many changes?<br /><br />There have been no official statements by the LDS church attempting to explain the changes, but there are plenty of sources stating that the changes are simply grammatical and typographical.</div>
<div class="quote">
<br /></div>
<div class="quote">
If the "prophet, seer, and revelator" Joseph Smith correctly translated the Book of Mormon by the direction and power of God as he, and many witnesses testify he did, then there would be no need for any changes to the text of the Book of Mormon.<br /><br />Jeff Lindsay, an LDS apologist wrote the following: "The driving force for virtually all changes has been to (1) ensure that the printed text is faithful to the original manuscript
and (2) to ensure that the text is accessible and readable. Alleged
departures from the original text generally turn out to be simple
clarifications or reworkings of awkward grammar rather than doctrinal
changes."<br /><br />I believe we can safely say that if the LDS church was trying to "ensure that the printed text is faithful to the original manuscript" they wouldn't have authorized any changes in the first place. That seems like a moot argument given the amount of changes from the original 1830 version.<br /><br />As for the statement that they wanted to "ensure that the text is accessible and readable" is pure nonsense. When Joseph Smith and other early church leaders read the book off the printing press, they agreed that it was good, and what was written. If that was not the case, why would they teach from it, and sell it? That statement is self devastating. "Alleged departures from the original text generally turn out to be simple clarifications or reworkings of awkward grammar rather than doctrinal changes." Hmm... changing the divinity of Jesus seems like a pretty serious doctrinal change. Unfortunately for Jeff Lindsay, his theories were ill thought out, illogical, and easily disproven.<br /><br />The number of people who have questioned the changes are many, and the answers they receive are few. The reasons are usually excuses, or easily disproven, as we have seen here.<br /><br />Joseph Smith said it best when he said: "Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-64088380712686798082012-07-12T04:18:00.000-07:002012-10-21T15:44:52.358-07:00How Great Thou Art<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How Great Thou Art</span><br />
The house is quite now. Everyone has slowly slipped into a peaceful slumber for the night but my mind still races, processing the events of the day. Finally, I stop. No longer considering the options that lie ahead of me, waiting like a an anxious puppy at the door. My thoughts now drift to the magnificents of God. I invision my family, each in their beds, safe and secure. But again I am reminded of the decisions I must make concerning them, and then I agian, I stop. </div>
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<br />
I begin to hear the gentle but powerful hymm "How Great Thou Art" play in my head. Softly I sing along with the music that has now consumed my every thought, careful not to wake anyone. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRWSJ_tQUkg/T-evKhWioDI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/V5gQp0XvEW0/s1600/imagesCAMT8WTG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRWSJ_tQUkg/T-evKhWioDI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/V5gQp0XvEW0/s400/imagesCAMT8WTG.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #00509f; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder<br />Consider all the works thy hand hath made,<br />I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,<br />Thy power throughout the universe displayed;<br /><br />Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,<br />How great Thou art, how great Thou art!<br />Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,<br />How great Thou art, how great Thou art!<br /><br />When through the woods and forest glades I wander<br />and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;<br />when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,<br />and hear the brook, and feel he gentle breeze;<br /><br />And when I think that God his son not sparing,<br />Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in,<br />That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,<br />He bled and died to take away my sin...</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I begin to consider just how great He really is. I splender in the thought of all things created by Him. And I wonder how anyone could even imagine Him anything but great. Anything but the GREATEST. A god greater than He? A creator of MY GOD? How is that even possible, I think to myself. </span><span style="color: #073763;">"</span><em><span style="color: #073763;">Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,How great Thou art, how great Thou art".</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></em>How can I sing such a beautiful song of praise if it not be true? How can I praise and worship a God that was created by a god greater than He? How can my God be great and yet created by another? How can my God be the power through out the universe and not be the only God?<br />
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Reaching for my Bible I recollect the passages that cement my belief in monotheism. I remind myself of the verses I have learned to not only believe, but trust. The very words of God that teach me of His uniqueness, of His singularity but trinity in deity. Quietly I rustle through the pages waiting in great anticipation to recieve the comforting words of my Lord. <span style="color: red;"><em>"I, even I, am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour". Isaiah 43:11</em></span> The written words bring me peace in knowing that He is my God, and besides Him, there are no others. <em><span style="color: red;">Isaiah 45:5 "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no other God."</span></em> <br />
<br />
The large hanging clock ticking away each second, seems to echo through our solemn home. It brings to mind how God has always been. <span style="color: red;"><em>Psalm 90:2 "Before the Mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from ever lasting to everlasting, thou art GOD".</em> <em>Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."</em> </span><span style="color: black;">What great power my God has. But is He the power of all the universe? Again my Bible comes to comfort me. </span><span style="color: red;"><em>Genesis 1:1</em> <em>"In the begining God created the heavens and the earth." </em><span style="color: black;">The creator of the HEAVENS. Yes, He is indeed the power of the universe. </span></span><span style="color: black;">The hour is late. My eyes sag from the seemingly massive weight of my eyelids. I must rest now. As I rise from my chair, I slightly stumble toward the table. Catching myself, my hand lands on my Bible. One more verse from my Lord I say aloud, forgetting that others are already asleep. I finger through the pages as though it were Christmas morning and I am 6 again tearing into a box marked To:Ernest.<br />Ah, finally, I find it. The passage that will see me throught the night</span><span style="color: red;"><em>. 1Timothy 1:17 "</em><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><em>To the King of ages, immortal, invisible,the only God, be the honor and glory forever and ever."</em></span> </span><span style="color: red;"><strong>Amen.</strong> <span style="color: black;">My mind is now set for rest in the knowledge that my Lord and my God is the supreme God of all in heaven and earth.</span> <span style="color: black;">I turn to Him as I lay my head to rest. Good night Dear Lord.</span> </span><em> </em></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-25543878364274988562012-06-18T17:43:00.000-07:002012-10-21T15:13:11.151-07:00A Tale of Two Cults<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."<br />
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I could not have picked a better beginning for this article than the first paragraph from A Tale of Two Cities.<br />
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This classic's opener paints the perfect picture for the dawning of two religious sects. The emergence of two life changing schisms. The start of, "A Tale of Two Cults".</div>
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The year was 1823. A troubled young man struggling with the truth of Christianity wandered into the dark and misty woods to ponder his future with the church of God. </div>
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The year was 1870. A troubled young man struggling with the truth of Christianity wondered about hell, the diety of Christ and the Holy Spirit and his future with the church of God. </div>
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These are the beginings of what are perhaps the greatest manipulation of minds in the history of man. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sQ1rt1s4nBk/T85yu7LfEII/AAAAAAAAAG0/g9LjUo7oZTQ/s1600/imagesCACQG4MT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sQ1rt1s4nBk/T85yu7LfEII/AAAAAAAAAG0/g9LjUo7oZTQ/s1600/imagesCACQG4MT.jpg" /></a>The young man from 1823 (left) was Joseph Smith Jr. who founded "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" The Mormons. </div>
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The other from 1870 (right) was Charles Taze Russell, who layed the foundations of what would become the "Jehovah's Witnesses". </div>
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As we delve into these "religions" and breifly look at their beif systems, as well as their regulatory system, we will see a pattern emerge that clearly falls into the catagory of cultism. So as not to miss the tale tale signs, let us first define the word cult. What is a cult or what defines it? </div>
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<strong>CULT</strong> - Any group which deviates from Biblical, orthodox, historical Christianity. e.i. They deny the Deity of Christ; His physical resurrection; His personal and physical return to earth and salvation by FAITH alone.</div>
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These are but a few qualifications that we will be looking for in this article.<br />
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Let us first look at Mormonism. What is it that would cause us to classify them as a cult? <br />
Joseph Smith taught, “God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!” Mormonism also holds to a plurality of Gods and contends that “as man is God once was; as God is man may become.” Additionally, the Latter-day Saints compromise the nature of the God-man, Jesus Christ. In Christianity, Jesus is the self-existent creator of all things. In Mormonism, he is the spirit brother of Lucifer who was conceived in heaven by a celestial Mother and came in flesh as the result of the Father having sex with the Virgin Mary. (That is a story within it's self.) <br />
Also, in sharp distinction to orthodox Christian theology, Mormons do not believe that the Bible is the infallible repository for redemptive revelation. In their view, the Book of Mormon is “the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion.” Two further revelations complete the Mormon quad, namely <i>Doctrines and Covenants</i> and <i>The Pearl of Great Price. Doctrines and Covenants</i> is a compilation of divine revelations that includes the doctrine of polygamy. Not until threatened by the federal government did Mormon president Wilford Woodruff receive a revelation relegating polygamy to the afterlife. <i>The Pearl of Great Price</i> is no less troubling. It was this extra-biblical revelation that was used by Mormonism to prevent African Americans from entering the priesthood and from being exalted to godhood. <br />
Now although these examples make it perfectly clear that Mormonism is not a Christian faith and contributes to the <strong>"</strong>cult<strong>"</strong> theory, lets look at what many would say <strong>REALLY </strong>makes Mormonism a cult. <strong><br /><br />CONTROL: </strong>Lets start with "The Keys of Priesthood". Perhaps the most power that the Mormon leaders have on it's members. What are the Keys fo Priesthood? Well, "President" Joseph Fielding Smith explained:<br />
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“<em>These keys are the right of presidency; they are the power and authority to govern and direct all of the Lord’s affairs on earth. Those who hold them have power to govern and control the manner in which all others may serve in the priesthood. All of us may hold the priesthood, but we can only use it as authorized and directed so to do by those who hold the keys</em>” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1972, 98; or <em>Ensign,</em> July 1972, 87).</blockquote>
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<strong>Who Holds the Keys of the Priesthood?</strong><br />
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According to Mormonism, Jesus Christ has always held all of the keys of the priesthood. When He first called His twelve Apostles, Jesus gave all of them the priesthood. John 15:16.<br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="12"></a>Before He was crucified, Christ gave the keys of the priesthood to Peter, James, and John. This was done on the Mount of Transfiguration. (See <em>Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,</em> sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 158; Matthew 17:1–9 However, in the centuries that followed the death of the Apostles, these keys were lost; and before men could exercise the priesthood again, these keys had to be restored. For this reason the Lord sent Peter, James, and John to the Prophet Joseph Smith<strong> </strong>to restore the Melchizedek Priesthood and the keys of that priesthood. D&C 27:12–13. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="13"></a>These sacred keys have been given to all the Apostles and prophets of the Church and are held by the prophet and Apostles of the Church today. </span><br />
Imagine the control this "religion" /cult<strong> </strong>has on it's members teaching this kind of herecy. It's members actually believe that the appointed President or "prophet" has the full power and authority of Jesus Christ. <br />
WOW!<strong> </strong>No wonder it is so difficult to convert or share the truth of God with these people. They actually believe that they are obeying<strong> </strong>Christ.<br />
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Mormon missionaries are controled by strict rules and conditions. The following link will explain those conditions, for I haven't the room to list them all here. The list is quite extensive. <br />
<a href="http://www.equippingchristians.com/Mormon-Missionaries.php"><span style="color: black;">http://www.equippingchristians.com/Mormon-Missionaries.php</span></a><br />
Women are not exempt from the control of Mormonism either. Again, due to room constraints, I am forced to post a link that shares some incredible testamonies of former Mormon women. The tyranny they endured is heartbreaking to say the least. To say the most infuriating! <br />
<a href="http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_womeninmormonism_section2.html"><span style="color: black;">http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_womeninmormonism_section2.html</span></a><br />
As we can see, Mormonism fits the criteria of a Cult.<br />
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Let's now take a quick look at the Jehovah's Witnesses. <span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0">What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe? Close scrutiny of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the deity of Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and</span> the atonement shows beyond a doubt that they do not hold to orthodox Christian positions on these subjects. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God John 1:114, 8:58; 10:30. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. This contradicts countless scriptures which declare salvation to be received by grace through faith John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the concept of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Adam’s sin. As we can clearly see Jehovah's Witnesses, also fit into the little box called a CULT<i>.</i> But what about that control thing? Does the Johovah's Witnesses have any control on it members? Well, lets look at a few things..<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><strong>Blood:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to accept blood transfusions for themselves or their children, believing that this is the same as eating blood and is forbidden by the Bible. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have died because of this restriction the Watchtower Society has placed upon its followers. In the past the Watchtower Society has forbidden its followers to get vaccinations or accept organ transplants, many people died needlessly before the Watchtower Society changed its rules and allowed these procedures. They still hold fast to the prohibition of receiving blood transfusions. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><strong>Nationalism: </strong></span><span style="color: black;">Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to salute the flag of any nation, recite the pledge of allegiance, stand for or sing the national anthem, run for public office, vote, or serve in the armed forces.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">Holidays: </span></b><span style="color: black;">Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to celebrate Christmas, birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving, or any other holidays, claiming they all have pagan roots<strong>. </strong></span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">Associates: </span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to associate with non-Witnesses including family. Exceptions are made if the non-Witness family member is living in the same household. <i> </i>Well, it seems, though these are but a few of the controling factors of the Jehovah's Witnesses, that they too are in perfect alignment with the <strong>CULT </strong>definition. The control of the Jehovah's Witnesses leaders are in full force. Dictating ones personal lives is not faith in, or the gospel of, Jesus Christ. <br />The serpent has been decieving man since the begining and he had two major victories in the 19th century in the "Tale of Two Cults".</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-35111851909575675012012-06-06T17:39:00.000-07:002012-10-21T15:15:12.138-07:00Why Were We Created? Do Mormon and Jehovah Witnesses agree with Christianity? Why were we created? Do Mormon and Jehovah's Witnesses agree with Christianity? <br />
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Why were we created? The Bible is very clear as to why God created man, so Mormonism as well as Jehovah's Witnesses, both claiming to be Christian and correct, should agree with what Christianity teaches about this question. Right? Weeeeeell let's just take a look and see. Shall we?<br />
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In order to establish a basis on which to answer the question as to whether Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses agree with Christianity on why God created man, we need to know what the Bible says about this.<br />
1. We were created in the image of God to glorify Him.<br />
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. . . I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.<br />
–Isaiah 43:7</blockquote>
2. We were created for His pleasure.<br />
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Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour, and power: for<br />
Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were<br />
created.<br />
–Revelation 4:11</blockquote>
3. We were made for fellowship/relationship with God and with others.<br />
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"...our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. <br />
-1John 1:3<br />
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a helper for him . . . And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day . . . And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are thou?<br />
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–Genesis 2:18; 3:8 and 9</blockquote>
4. We were made to rule over and take care of His creation.<br />
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And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.<br />
–Genesis 1:26</blockquote>
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Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.<br />
—Psalm 8:6-8</blockquote>
<span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-1">It’s obvious as we read the above verses that we were created for <u><strong>God's</strong> </u><strong><u>Glory</u>. </strong>Numbers 2<strong> </strong>-4 all bring glory to God. </span>Now that we have established a base line on which to build our answer, let's look at what Mormonism teaches about this subject.<br />
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<span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0">Mormonism teaches that<em> before we were born on the earth we existed as spirits and lived in a spirit</em></span><em> world in the presence of God, our Eternal Father. We developed talents and gained knowledge. We created friendships and made promises. We also had our agency to choose.</em></div>
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<em>Latter-day revelation teaches the eternal nature of spirits, that all things (including us) were first created spiritually, before physically: </em><br />
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<em>"For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.... <span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-1">And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the</span> ground; for in heaven created I them" Moses 3:5</em></blockquote>
Well, perhaps it was to "till the ground" after we became "physical" beings. Let's keep looking.<br />
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<i>The plan of the parent gods goes like this: Life did not begin</i><em> here on earth. You lived before you were born you will live on in the spirit world after your mortal life is ended.” “We all once lived in the presence of God the eternal father. In the world before your were a spirit child of his. With this divine parentage,<strong> your destiny, through righteous living, is to become like your Father in Heaven</strong> and return to his presence</em>”<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (The Purpose of Life Pamphlet handed out at the Temple on BYU campus).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />By golly I think we have something here. "...<strong><em>your destiny, through righteous living, is to become like your Father in Heaven...". </em></strong>Ok, I think we have an answer. We were created to become gods. Hmm.<br /><br />Now, as we already know, The Bible teaches that we were created to glorify God, <strong>not become</strong> gods. Soooo, that is strike number one. Also it is not through "righteous living" that we "become like our Father" or more accurately, "Christ like" it is through the inputation of <strong>Jesus' righteousness</strong> that we are saved and become <em>like</em> him.<strong> </strong>Strike two. Strike three for Mormonism is that not one verse in <strong>their</strong> Book of Mormon tells us why we were created. You will only find such things in their <strong>other </strong>literature. </span> Well, it is very difficult to reconcile Mormonism to Christianity if they can't even agree as to why we are here. So let us now take a look at what the Jehovah's Witnesses say about it.<br />
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Jehovah's Witnesses say that <em>Jehovah, <strong>God</strong> created mankind as an expression of his love—he wanted to share life and happiness with humans. They go on to say, God experienced great joy in fashioning physical creations of all kinds, so that man would be surrounded by beauty and plenty. Above all, humans were to have a meaningful relationship with their Creator, knowing him and communicating with him. They were created to live forever under perfect, peaceful conditions.—Genesis 3:8, 9; Psalm 37:11, 29.</em><br />
<em>Jehovah also assigned humans fulfilling and meaningful work to do. God told the first humans: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28</em><br />
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Wow, not one mention of the "<strong>Glorification of God"</strong>. Hmm. What else do they have to say? Well, I'll tell you<strong>. Nothing</strong>! Their New World Translation apes the Bible, but unfortunately it has been "translated" so poorly (see my previous blog) it is not trustworthy. Even so, I have been unable to find a Jehovah's Witnesses web site or any writings (other than what was listed in this blog) out side their NWT that discusses why we were created. It is my contention that if we don't even know why we were created, then it is impossible to know what God's plans are for us is.<br />
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Christianity teaches that we were created to glorify God. And how do we do that? By putting our trust and faith in Jesus Christ and living according to his will. This pleases the Lord and glorifies HIM! Well, it seems quite obvious that Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses do not agree with Christianity on the subject of <strong>"Why Were We Created"</strong>. Your prayers for them are needed and appreciated.<br />
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May the truth of the Lord be your goal.</div>
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Ernest Eulenfeld</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-5754859717214728452012-05-31T23:54:00.000-07:002012-05-31T23:54:40.595-07:00My name is J.R. and I was NEVER MormonMinistries to religious groups such as the LDS or JW's isn't something that someone just gets involved with unless it somehow becomes a passion of theirs. Unlike ministries out to feed the homeless we are going out to a group that doesn't care to see or hear us. So in order to help you understand my heart I am more than willing to share my life's journey.<br />
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I was born in the great city of Kansas City Missouri but moved to a suburb of Sacramento prior to 1980. For those who know me they will often know that I often say that I'm such a Chiefs fan I bleed red and a Royals fan I bruise blue. It even goes as far for those who know their sports history that I'm such a Kings fan they followed me to Sacramento.... ha ha. <br />
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I came to know Christ at the age of 11. I had a feeling that Jesus was preparing me for something but didn't know what for. Apologetics wasn't even in the back of my mind. Very early on music was my passion. I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church where the music selection wasn't exactly all that great and found that God had blessed me with a singing voice where the church choir allowed me to use it. It became such a passion I was a part of the CMEA (California music education association) honor choir for both my sophomore and junior year of high school. During that time I went from singing soprano all the way to bass. <br />
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After my parents decided to move up to Oregon for my senior year of high school music started taking a back seat. Even though I grew up Southern Baptist I wanted to take a look at what others believe. Maybe it was just my teenage rebellion coming out but I decided to take a hard look at what the church I attended said and how it lined up with the Word of God. I also looked at what every other faiths believed. Very early on I knew through research that the Bible was without question the Word of God. At that point it became a matter of who interpreted it correctly. Just by studying the Word I could clearly see that Mormonism and the Jehovah's Witnesses were way off track. Yet apologetics still didn't seem like the direction God was sending me. It would be years before I would look at these again.<br />
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After college I got married and it was during this time that apologetics started to interest me. I had a few encounters with LDS missionaries but not knowing what they believed having been a few years since I looked at it I didn't get into deep discussions. The Lord moved me into a position where I found a great church home for where I still attend today. He put me in touch with a lot of close friends that he knew I was going to need very shortly.<br />
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After serving some time in the Air Force Reserves I realized that my wife wasn't taking the vows we made to heart. After a time of council and prayer it was clear that her decisions weren't going to change and I had to protect both myself and my daughter. It was during this time that his Word had the greatest impact on my life. Yet I still had no clue what he was preparing me for.<br />
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After a while of trying to rebuild my life I met a wonderful woman whom was going through struggles of her own (<a href="http://ephesians2ministry.blogspot.com/2012/04/from-bondage-to-freedom-story-of-kassy.html" target="_blank">click here to read her story</a>). She was coming out of Mormonism and that re-stirred the desire for apologetics that had began a few years back. It was during her research and mine that the passion for apologetics took hold and he began the journey for which I am on today. We weren't looking to start a ministry by any stretch of the means. We were wanted to join one here in the northwest. With no options available we took what I call the Moses mentality (if no one else I'll do it but I by no means am the best person for the job). The Lord took this little ministry we started here in Vancouver Washington and has spread it global. <br />
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With what little interaction I've had with LDS apologist I've quickly learned that they have no desire for truth. In fact they will spend more time dancing around an issue than they do addressing it. Which has changed the main focus of my time to educating other Christians on how to talk with those LDS or JW friends, family, and neighbors they are so eager to talk to but don't know how. We have now become a part of the <a href="http://www.vancouverbible.com/" target="_blank">Vancouver Bible Institute</a> which is a part of <a href="http://www.truthinlovevancouver.com/" target="_blank">Truth in Love Fellowship</a> and therefor gives us a 508 tax exempt status. All of which has taken place in less than 3 years. <br />
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I praise God for allowing me the opportunity to serve both him and you. It is because of him that I continue on. For I know that there is no way I or our team members will be able to reach all those willing to hear the Gospel. We encourage you to study and research so that you will be prepared when they knock on your door. <br />
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May God bless you and keep you safe. Thank you for all your support.Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-60413294113874688272012-05-29T16:51:00.000-07:002012-05-29T17:12:02.836-07:00A Look at the Translators of The New World Translation <br />
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The following Wikipedia definition of the New World Translation is accepted as accurate by most people. So I have no reservations in using it. <br />
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The <i><b>New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures</b></i> (NWT) is a translation of the Bible published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1961; it is used and distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses. Though it is not the first Bible to be published by the group, it is their first original translation of ancient Classical Hebrew, Koine Greek, and Old Aramaic biblical texts. It was produced by the New World Bible Translation Committee, formed in 1947. This committee is said to have comprised unnamed members of multinational background. The New World Bible Translation Committee requested that the Watch Tower Society not publish the names of its members, stating that they did not want to "advertise themselves but let all the glory go to the Author of the Scriptures, God," adding that the translation, "should direct the reader... to... Jehovah God". The publishers believe that "the particulars of [the New World Bible Translation Committee's members] university or other educational training are not the important thing" and that "the translation testifies to their qualification". Former high ranking Watch Tower staff have claimed knowledge of the translators' identities.<br />
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We will be taking a good look at the translators of the NWT and their <strong>qualifications</strong> to translate "Holy Scripture". The following quote should send up an immediate <strong>red flag</strong> as to the qualifications of the translators.<br />
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"The publishers (of the NWT) believe that "the particulars of the New World Bible Translation Committee's members university or other educational training are <strong>not the important thing</strong>." Really? It would seem to me that the credentials of anyone attempting to translate the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Bible would be at the <strong>utmost</strong> importance. We will be taking at look at the credentials of those translators.<br />
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The publisher of this version may not have made public the names of the translators, but former members of the Governing Body of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization have identified the members of the committee as Nathan H. Knorr (President of the organization), Frederick W. Franz (Vice-President), George D. Gangas, Albert D. Schroeder Karl Klein and Milton Henschel. According to Raymond V. Franz, the "principal translator of the Society's New World Translation" was Frederick W. Franz. And M. James Penton said; "to all intents and purposes the New World Translation is the work of one man, Frederick Franz." We will be examining Franz shortly. But for now, let's take a look at the translators one at a time.<br />
First, Nathan H. Knorr (president of the organization). Knorr had absolutely <strong>no formal education</strong> to speak of. Infact there is no record, that I could find, of Knorr even finishing high school. <br />
At the age of 16, he left the reformed church in 1922 and was baptized on July 4, 1923 as a Bible student following a baptism talk by Frederick W. Franz, with whom Knorr became close friends. Knorr became a volunteer at the Watch Tower headquarters in Brooklyn on September 6, 1923, and became its factory manager in September 1932. On January 11, 1934, at age 28, Knorr was elected director of the Peoples Pulpit Association (now Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.), and was made its vice president the following year. No education, but yet he felt confident enough to assist in retranslating the Bible. The only thing certain is that Knorr knew the right people in the right places. What can certainly be attributed to Knorr is, the doctrine of not accepting <strong>blood transfusions</strong> was introduced during Knorr's leadership. What a great legacy. <br />
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Next, let's take a look at Nathan Knorr's mentor, Frederick Franz. <br />
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Frederick Franz attended the University of Cincinnati where he studied liberal arts and later (for <strong>two years</strong>) Biblical Greek. He learned German and could read Latin and Greek and in later years learned Spanish, Portuguese and French and a <strong>BASIC UNDERSTANDING</strong> of Hebrew. It would appear that Ranz's highest accomplishment of foreign languages was merely two years of Greek. He mastered <strong>NONE</strong>. Note his grasp or Hebrew was a "basic understanding". I wonder if these credentials would even qualify him to teach in today's high schools. Unrelated and having no part in translating the NWT, Franz's nephew Raymond Franz, a member of the governing body of the Jehovah Witnesses, had this to say;<br />
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"I had spent nearly forty years as a full time representative, serving at every level of the organizational structure. The last fifteen years I had spent at the international headquarters, and the final nine of those as a member of the worldwide Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. It was those final years that were the crucial period for me. Illusions there met up with reality. I have since come to appreciate the rightness of a quotation I recently read, one made by a statesman, now dead, who said: 'The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest — but the myth—persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. I now began to realize how large a measure of what I had based my entire adult life course on was just that, a <strong>myth</strong> — persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." He was<strong> DISFELLOWSHIPED.</strong>Since there is so very little to share about the four remaining "translators", we will look at them all at once. <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Milton G. Henschel: Had <strong>no training</strong> in biblical languages. He was the private secretary and traveling companion to N. H. Knorr from late 1940s until early 1970s. 4th president of WTS from 1992 to 2000. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Albert D. Schroeder: Had <strong>no training</strong> in biblical languages. He took 3 years of mechanical engineering, unspecified language courses in college. He dropped out in 1932 and soon entered Brooklyn headquarters. Registrar of "Gilead School" from 1942 to 1959. </span>Karl Klein: Had <strong>no training</strong> in biblical languages. He entered Brooklyn headquarters in 1925 and was a member of Writing Dept. since 1950.<br />
<span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0">George D. Gangas: Had <strong>no training</strong> in biblical languages. Gangas was a Greek-speaking Turkish national, who entered the Brooklyn headquarters in 1928 as a Greek translator from</span> English to modern Greek publications.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />So it would appear that the commitee (Frederick W. Franz) who assembled this team was not particular as to experience and qualifications. Infact we can clearly see that <strong>they were not</strong> properly educated for such a task. But yet an entire religion was founded and based off of this complete and utter misinterpretaion of the Holy Bible.<br /><br />"<span style="color: black;"><em>But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."</em> </span>2 Peter 2:1</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">John 1:1 is the most infamous translation error. Most of the scriptures that have been changed are scriptures that refer to the deity of Christ, a scriptural fact Jehovah's Witnesses try to deny<span style="color: #330099;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #330099; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">John 1:1<br />"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." <u><em>Remove this truth and all of Christianity falls apart!</em> </u> If Jesus is not God then there is no salvation. For only God is uniquely qualified to atone for the transgressions of man against the laws of a righteous and just God. If Jesus is not God then he would not have been the PERFECT sacrifice and he would have fallen short and failed at the cross. But he did NOT fail and all sins were atoned. Therefore JESUS IS GOD!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><strong><br /> </strong></span></span></span><br />
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May the truth of the Lord be your goal.</div>
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Ernest Eulenfeld</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-18350493086713405482012-05-24T19:00:00.000-07:002013-12-10T12:21:46.336-08:00As A Matter Of Fact I Am A Christian?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(<span style="font-size: x-small;">This article was written to compare Mormonism to biblical Christianity)</span><br />
I am certain that the second you saw the title of this blog your brain flashed back to your high school English class. "I'm sorry, but shouldn't a statement of declaration be followed by either a period or exclaimation point?" you asked. Well, under normal circumstances you would be right. However, these are not your normal circumstances. <br />
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The question of Christianity and/or its definition is passed around like a hot potato by some and bitten into like a Pitt Bull by others. The purpose of this article is to examine, however briefly, just what a Christian and Christianity is -- and to determine if Mormonism falls into that definition. Well, lets's take a quick look, shall we? <br />
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First, since this is an internet blog, it would only seem appropriate to start off with an "internet" definition. Wikipedia defines Christian/Christianity as follows:<br />
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<i><b>Christianity</b> (from the Ancient Greek: <span lang="grc" xml:lang="grc">Χριστιανός</span> <span lang="grc-Latn" xml:lang="grc-Latn">Christianos</span>, a term introduced in <span class="plainlinks">Acts 26:28</span> to describe those who followed the teachings of Jesus Christ) is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings. Adherents of the Christian faith are known as Christians.</i><br />
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<i>Christians generally believe Jesus is the Son of God, God having become human and the saviour of humanity. Because of this, Christians commonly refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah. Jesus' ministry, sacrificial death, and subsequent resurrection, are often referred to as the Gospel message ("good news"). In short, the Gospel is news of God the Father's eternal victory over evil, and the promise of salvation and eternal life for all people, through divine grace.</i><br />
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I would suggest at this time that you make at least a few mental notes, such as: According to this definition, Jesus is God and became human to die for the sins of mankind. Interesting. Moving on, let's take a look at how the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it. Merriam-Webster defines Christian/Christianity as follows:<br />
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<i>"The religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies."</i><br />
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I find this definition to be quite interesting because, besides being a follower of Jesus Christ, to be a Christian one must base their beleifs on the BIBLE as HOLY SCRIPTURE. No other!<br />
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Notice how that of these two definitions, no other books were mentioned. No other dieties. No mention of accepting a certain prophet in order to be a "saved Christian". {<i><span style="color: #107000;">Tenth article of Faith, LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith stated in his book, doctrines of Salvation, that there is "No salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. The word "salvation," used in this context, must really mean "exaltation" because former Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie stated in his book Mormon Doctrine that general salvation is given to everyone regardless of belief. Personal salvation or exaltation to the highest form of Mormon heaven comes only by accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of god and by following the laws of the LDS church.}</span></i> Wow, I'm pretty sure salvation comes through Jesus Christ and Him alone. Moving on.<br />
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And now, my friends, let us look at the true authority (The Bible) on what a Christian is and add it to our list. A true Christian is one who has had the blood of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death applied to him or to her—but only after having acknowledged and <b>repented</b> of their sins (toward God the Father) and accepted Christ as their personal Savior (Acts 3:19; 2:38; Ezek. 18:21-23). Repentance literally means a change of mind and attitude, as well as a complete <b>change of conduct. </b>In repentance, one literally <b>turns from</b> the way of sin (breaking God’s law) that leads to death (Prov. 14:12; 16:25; Matt. 7:13) and begins walking God’s way—the true, Christian <b>way of life</b> (John 14:4-6; Acts 16:17; 18:25-26; I John 2:3-6).<br />
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<b>Living in God’s Grace</b></div>
One becomes a Christian by simply believing, putting their trust and faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of sin, and asking God the Father’s forgiveness, and then one comes under God’s saving <b>grace </b>(Rom. 3:23-26; 6:23). This grace (which is so precious!) is a <b>free gift</b> from God—totally undeserved by anyone. No amount of effort by anyone could ever come close to earning this gift of God’s favor. Being a “good person” will not earn you salvation—for God does not “owe” salvation to anyone! <i>“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God” </i>(Eph. 2:8-9).<br />
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Once having received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit—what should the newly converted Christian then do? Can a true Christian continue living as before? Does being “under grace” mean that one can go back and continue practicing what he or she supposedly repented of? Absolutely not! The apostle Paul makes it clear that one is not to continue to <b>live in sin</b>—continually transgressing the laws and commandments of God. Notice Romans 6:1-3: <i>“What then shall we say? <b>Shall we continue in sin, so that grace may abound</b>? MAY IT NEVER BE!</i> "(James 2:17<i> "Even so faith,if it has no works, is dead,being by itself."</i>) <i>We who died to sin, how shall we live any longer therein? Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death?”</i><br />
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<b>A New Life in Christ</b></div>
Notice how Paul goes on in Romans six to describe the <b>new life </b>of a true Christian. <br />
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“Therefore, we were buried with Him through the baptism into the death; so that, just as Christ was raised from <i>the</i> dead by the glory of the Father, in the same way, we also should <b>walk in newness of life</b>. For if we have been conjoined together in the likeness of His death, so also shall we be <i>in the likeness</i> of <i>His</i> resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified with <i>Him</i> in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin; because the one who has died <i>to sin</i> has been justified from sin. <br />
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"Now if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from <i>the</i> dead, dies no more; death no longer has any dominion over Him. For when He died, He died unto sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives unto God. In the same way also, you should indeed reckon yourselves to be <b>dead to sin, but alive to God</b> through Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal body by obeying it in the lusts thereof. Likewise, do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin; rather, yield yourselves to God as those who are alive from <i>the</i> dead, and your members <i>as </i>instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom. 6:4-13, emphasis added)."<br />
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In both the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27) and the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) Christ makes it clear that once having received a gift from God, one is not expected to sit on it or bury it—but to <b>build on it</b>, to increase it. Christians are to grow spiritually to become ever more like Jesus and the Father (II Pet. 1:3-11; 3:18; Eph. 4:11-13; 5:1). With this goal in mind, the true Christian studies his or her Bible regularly (II Tim. 2:15) to learn to <b>follow the example</b> set by Christ when He walked the earth in the flesh (John 13:15; 14:6; I Pet. 2:21; I John 2:6). In this way, God leads one through the power of His Holy Spirit and creates in each Christian His godly character (Eph. 2:10) and the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5).<br />
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Now that we have gotten a good idea of what a true Christian is and beleives, let's take a quick look at just a couple of things the Mormon religion believes and compare them to the definitions we mentioned. First, Mormonism teaches "We accept Christ's atonement by repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeying all of the commandments," (<i>Gospel Principles</i>, Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979, p. 68.).<br />
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Whoa, stop the bus! Notice that "obeying all the commandments" is part of the atonement and is necessary for salvation, contrary to what we have learned from the Bible's definition . “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own selves; <i>it is</i> the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8-9).<br />
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Now in defense of their beliefs, many Mormons will quote the book of James, chaper 2 verse 20 to be exact. It says; "... faith with out works is dead". Well, they are correct. However, this verse is taken completely out of context. The verse does not say that one must ADD works to faith to be saved. It merely means that if one claims to have faith and is a follower of Christ, but their works do not show that faith, then their faith is dead thus their salvation is false.<br />
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The following verses 21-24 speak of Abraham WILLING to sacrifice his son for God. It was his willingness to obey the Lord, that His,(God's) righteouness was imputed into Abraham. Keep in mind that Abraham did NOTHING but SHOW his faith in God. His "works" reflected and justified his faith. <br />
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Next we are taught by Mormonism that Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (<i>Journal of Discourses</i>, vol. 3, 1856, p. 247). Again, contrary to what we have learned. "“Therefore, we were buried with Him through the baptism into the death; so that, just as Christ was raised from <i>the</i> dead by the glory of the Father, in the same way, we also should <b>walk in newness of life</b>." There is no newness of life if we are still in ANY part of our sin.<br />
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The Mormons arguement with this is based on what we just discussed. Since we are to <i>assist<b> </b></i>Jesus in our salvation by our good works, then we can not be completely atoned for all our sins. I have only three words to say about that, <b>Perfect Sacrificial Lamb</b>. Because of Adam’s sin, mankind became dead in trespasses and sins. It took a perfect, sacrifice to atone for that sin and to make it possible for believers to be reconciled to God. <span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-2 goog_qs-tidbit-hilite">It took a perfect sacrifice to be the <b>complete</b> atonement for you and for me and for</span> all people. But only God is perfect enough to apease a wrathful God. So who on earth was perfect enough to pay the debt owed to a perfect God? Only God him self. Immanuel. God with us. Jesus Christ.<br />
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Jesus Christ had to be that sacrifice. Jesus was a man from among men, a lamb from the flock, fully God and fully human. He had the same potential to sin as Adam had had, yet he did not. Thus he could be the final and perfect scacrificial lamb, the lamb without spot or blemish.<br />
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John 1:29: <i>"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."</i><br />
1 Corinthians 5:7: <i>"...For even Christ our passover is </i>[was] <i>sacrificed for us."</i><br />
1 Peter 1:18 and 19 <i>"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;</i><br />
<i>But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."</i><br />
Therefore since the perfect sacrificial lamb was slain for our sins then or sins have been indeed, <b>COMPLETELY </b>atoned. <br />
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Now as we learned earlier, the Bible is the only book used by true Christians/Christianity, but Mormonism uses the <i>Book of Mormon</i>, <i>"Another Testament of Jesus Christ"</i> which we are warned about in Galatians 1:8, the <span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-1" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="187"><i>Doctrine and Covenants</i>, the <i>Pearl of Great</i></span><i> Price</i> and the <i>Journal of Discourses</i>. Well, let's see what the Bible has to say about that. 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." By looking at this verse, it is obvious that the Bible is sufficient and complete. No other book is needed to receive the holy word of God.<br />
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Granted we have only covered but a couple of the things Mormonism teaches, (the list goes on) but compared to the definitions listed above, especially that of the Bible, it is very difficult to catagorize Moronism as being Christian/Christianity. In fact, it is enough to determine that we are comparing apples to oranges. Their belief system and doctrines contradict those of Christianity and the Bible. If the god you believe in differs from the God of the Bible, then I highly suggest you examine your religion and faith.<br />
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In John 14:6 Jesus said, <i>" I am the way the truth and the life, no one come to the Father but by me".</i><br />
Jesus is the only way to be reconciled with the Father. If your Jesus does not match the Jesus of the Bible, then there will be no reconciliation for YOU!<br />
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God bless and may the truth of the Lord be your goal.<br />
Ernest Eulenfeld<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Some information was taken from the Biblical Truth Ministries, carm.org and contenderministries.org)</span><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><br /><br /> </sup><sup class="reference"><br /><br /> </sup>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-45707211603734605442012-04-22T00:06:00.000-07:002013-12-03T14:23:40.216-08:00From Bondage to Freedom: The Story of Kassy Merilatt (Co-founder of Ephesians 2 Ministry)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs8Ldd7jdbw/T5OtQxdlKWI/AAAAAAAAAL8/DR2OA5iTMuQ/s1600/freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs8Ldd7jdbw/T5OtQxdlKWI/AAAAAAAAAL8/DR2OA5iTMuQ/s1600/freedom.jpg" /></a>As a team member of Ephesians 2 Ministry, I would like to share my story of how I came out of Mormonism and the impact Jesus has had on my life since then.<br />
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While I was still in diapers, my parents were meeting with Mormon missionaries and going through the discussions to become a part of the LDS Church. We were all sealed together as a family in the temple, and went to church frequently up until my parents divorced (when I was at a young age).<br />
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When my parents divorced, my dad left the church and my mom had decided to stay a member. My younger brother and I lived with my mom most of the time, therefore went to church with her on a consistent basis. We were very involved with the church, going to Young Men and Young Women meetings, and also having the missionaries over for dinner at least once a month. My mother is the only one in our family that is still a member today.<br />
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When I was 20 years old, I had met a man named David while attending LDS Business College. We had started dating and became engaged soon after. Later that year, we were married and expecting our first child, a little boy. We named him "Junior", after his dad. When "Junior" was born we lived in Ogden, Utah, in the Northern part of the state.<br />
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While we lived in Ogden, I worked at a theater just down the street from our home. My whole world came crashing down on me -- while I was at work, I received a phone call saying that I needed to come home due to an emergency regarding my son. I rushed home, and my son was rushed to the hospital not breathing. I was asked to go to the police station to talk to a detective. While there, I was notified that my son had died on the way to the hospital -- the paramedics were not able to revive him. At this point I had headed to the hospital to see him and found out that my husband, "Junior's" father, was being booked after confessing to hurting my son and causing his death.<br />
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During this time, I was under a constant watch with friends and I also had family support -- along with the support of David's family -- until I read the confession statement three days after my son had died. When I read his confession statement, I asked for a divorce and a restraining order to protect myself in case he were to be released. <br />
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The week that I was planning my son's funeral and figuring out where I was to live, I had a lot of support from many members of the church. I was also was just trying to get through this difficult time and trying to not let the media take control of the situation. My son was put to rest a week after he passed away. Shortly after, I had many members tell me to stay active no matter what the circumstances and also say that if I did not stay true to the standards of the church, I wouldn't see my son again. This upset me dearly, so much so I ended up not going back and doubting what I had been taught for 20 years. </div>
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While I growing up in the Mormon Church, I felt that I wasn't getting all of the information a lot of Mormons at my age would have already had put into their minds. I did have a testimony of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, which at the time was Gordon B. Hinckley and of the church. I don't think I truly understood what having a testimony meant until much later when I came to the know my Lord and Savior.<br />
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While a Mormon, I was accepted into LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. I left the school, however, because I was not doing things that the church agreed with. This is when I first started having doubts; but, having been engaged to a Mormon and connected to his Mormon family, I knew that I needed to try and move beyond all of it. I attended church occasionally and then very regularly after my son was born - up until he passed away.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccAv2HBPbMk/T5OtR0Ry14I/AAAAAAAAAME/ZPCRjoTQYy4/s1600/ward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccAv2HBPbMk/T5OtR0Ry14I/AAAAAAAAAME/ZPCRjoTQYy4/s1600/ward.jpg" /></a>Four months after I had stopped going to the LDS Church, I was invited to a church (by the man who is now my husband) that was very different from what I had been used to. I was incredibly overwhelmed with the love and passion displayed when I walked into that church and after I walked out. I continued to go to this church for a month and finally took the steps of what it meant to have a true relationship with Jesus Christ.<br />
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At this point, I began to research and became aware of many things that most Mormons aren't aware of, and soon developed the desire to share with them how to develop a relationship with Christ as I did. Soon after, my husband and I decided to start <a href="http://www.ephesians2.net/" target="_blank">Ephesians 2 Ministry</a>.</div>
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I have now been Christian for a little over three years, and I am glad to put my faith in Jesus alone -- knowing it has nothing to do with anything I have done, or am supposed to do. Through a relationship with Jesus, I've been able to overcome so many obstacles with losing a son, and I have learned the true meaning of love and forgiveness in God's eyes. To include knowing that God is the judge of my ex's actions, and that me harboring any anger, will only affect my relationship with God. No matter what obstacles I go through, God is there every step of the way, and will not give me anything that I can not handle -- He will always help me find the right path to go down.</div>
Living for Godhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13594623354773725112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793706219779491123.post-50088454026559746482012-01-31T21:35:00.000-08:002013-12-03T13:54:16.957-08:00Did he just say that? (Joseph Smith)<br />
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A Mormon Facebook page posted the following statement...<br />
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<i>"All the religious world is boasting of righteousness; it is the doctrine of the devil to retard the human mind, and hinder our progress, by filling us with self-righteousness. The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs. My talk is intended for all this society; if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another."</i> -- Joseph Smith<br />
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Now the ironic part about that quote is that this is EXACTLY what groups such as ours try to get them to understand -- everyday. Joseph himself boasted about all he had done. The LDS church is all about self righteousness and their doctrine reflects that. <br />
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Now, I'm all for having mercy on one another. That doesn't mean, however, that we have to sit back and put up with religious lies intended on keeping people in bondage. We love our Mormon friends and family. May God shed His light for all to see before it becomes to late.Ephesians 2 Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077660724187275344noreply@blogger.com