the mormon dilemma master word
TRANSCRIPT
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The Mormon Dilemma
Ed Decker
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Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Ted and Lorri Lindsey
Jim Stamper
Confrontation
Let's Talk
urnin! in the osom
"ideo Shock
#ootnotes
$hat is the Truth%
Searchin! for &nsers
The (eal Jesus
&ppendices
Creeds of Christianity
The &postles' Creed
The )icene Creed
LDS Support Documentation
#or More Information
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Preface
No one could have anticipated the shock waves which would
reverberate throughout the world of Mormonism at the publication of
the book The God Makers and the release of the Jeremiah film by thesame name. Released in early 1!"# the pair had an impact never before
e$perienced in the 1%&'year history of the ()* +hurch. ,t was an impact
from which they would never -uite recover.
+rowds backed up for blocks to attend early film showings# and case
lots of the books went from the book tables as fast as workers could
make change. The God Makers changed the way the world would viewMormonism. his scene was being repeated in over a thousand churches
per month. he book hit the +hristian Best *ellers list and stayed there
through the ne$t year and more.
()* apologists began challenging the film at every showing# standing
during the -uestion'and'answer times only to discover they were
defenseless against its charges and the research by its authors. Ma/or
news articles and follow'up letters to the editors appeared in
newspapers wherever the film and book showed up. he ()* +hurch
issued battle plans and sets of instructions for local priesthood groups to
use in trying to undermine the impact. he more the controversy grew#
the bigger the crowds at the film showings grew# and the books went out
by the tens of thousands.
he 0riona +hapter of the National +onference of +hristians and
Jews 2N++J3# operating under very liberal leadership and with
appro$imately a doen Mormons on their review committee#
condemned the film and book as scurrilous works. ()* periodicals such
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as Sunstone and Dialogue# Journal of Mormon Thought published
articles attacking the book and film# yet not a single unanswerable
charge was ever produced.
hose God Maker books that made their way into public libraries were
almost all immediately stolen# and numerous works by individual
apologists began to appear in private attempts to stop the impact. Many
personal accusations and charges were made public which attempted to
attack the integrity of the authors and those former Mormons involved
in the film showings.
4ventually# under the covering of the church# )r. 5ilbert *charffs of
*alt (ake +ity wrote the book The Truth About the God Makers# which
was broadly distributed by the ()* +hurch in an attempt to counter the
effect of The God Makers. he blatantly slanted and poorly researched
book had no effect on the power of The God Makers# e$cept for the
faithful few who could hold the *charffs work to their bosom in total
loyalty to the ()* +hurch.
By now hundreds of thousands of copies of he 5od Makers had been
sold and untold lives had been changed. he work of he 5od Makers
still affects the lives of those involved in Mormonism. ,t has truly
become a benchmark document in understanding Mormonism.
,t was the highlight of my own life to have been one of its authors.
6aving spent almost 7& years of my adult life involved in the heart of
the ()* +hurch system prior to becoming a 8new creature in +hrist8 in
19%#1 knew the problems of Mormonism from the inside out.
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0s Mormons we called ourselves true +hristians# although we really
felt superior to those of the rest of +hristianity because we had so many
written supplements to the Bible. :e had a living prophet and so much
more revealed information. :hen , was a Mormon , believed# as did my()* friends and our leaders# that the +hristian churches were led by
those who were in the employ of *atan. his story is an honest response
to those charges. ,t is written from the Mormon perspective# from the
eyes and hearts of a Mormon couple and their orthodo$ +hristian
neighbor as they are caught up in a small corner of this controversy.
his story# in novel form# is my adaptation of the video film The Mormon Dilemma 2*0,N* 0(,;4# P.<. Bo$ 1="9# ,ssa-uah# :0
!&793. he video is also available on 0maon.com.
>4d )ecker
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,ntroduction
,n the very -uiet town in +alifornia the worst fears of the Mormon
community were realied? 0 local church had sponsored the showing of
the film The God Makers.
here were newspaper and radio ads promoting the film# and the
presence of one of the people who appeared in the film# 4d )ecker 2head
of one of the leading anti'Mormon organiations# *aints 0live3# created
further controversy.
Needless to say# the showing provoked a lot of community uproar.
Mormons vigorously called and complained to the local newspaper and
local radio station for doing highly visible interviews with 4d )ecker.
Pastors of the sponsoring churches began receiving constant phone calls
from the local Mormon community. he emotions were high in both the
()* and the evangelical +hristian communities.
his story deals with one typical Mormon family caught up in the
Mormon side of the e$perience. hey were outraged by the controversy#
considering it an immoral condemnation of their faith. Matters became
even worse when they discovered that their ne$t'door neighbor was a
member of the @@offending8 church that sponsored the film showing.
hey were deeply hurt when it was determined that he actually attended
the events surrounding this 8attack8 on their religious rights.
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Ted and Lorri Lindsey
ed and (orri (indsey are the ideal Mormon family. 6appily married#
they live with their four children in a community in +alifornia where the
()* +hurch has had a recent e$plosion in growth.
hey are in their early thirties. ed is a returned missionary. (orri met
and married him at Brigham Aoung niversity. *he did not complete
college# but dropped out when she became pregnant with their first
child. Both went through ()* *eminary while in high school and ()*
,nstitute while at BA.
(orri was born and raised in rural tah. ed grew up in the same
+alifornia town where they now live# leaving only for his mission and his
studies at BA. 6e returned home with his wife and two children to
work in his family business. hey both hold active 8emple
recommends#8 although they attend irregularly# usually during :ard
emple visitation days. hey both wear 8garments8 regularly. :hile they
have never discussed it# there is something about the emple about
which (orri /ust doesn@t feel -uite right.
ed is a counselor to the Bishop in the local :ard and teaches a
*unday *chool class. (orri is an officer in the *take Primary and teaches
cultural improvement classes in the Relief *ociety. he local talk is that
ed is on his way up in the +hurch.
hey were married# while at BA# in the Provo emple. Both sets of
parents# other family members# and her grandparents attended. 6er
family was among the early pioneers. 6is family converted to the ()*
+hurch while he was /ust under five.
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Both husband and wife were raised in the +hurch within its traditional
boundaries. hey did everything e$pected of them and represent the real
backbone of the ()* +hurch. hey are asked to speak at church often#
and both give strong testimonies during most testimony meetings.
hey are good citiens# good neighbors# and loving parents# and they
have strong family ties. hey live a comfortable# upper'middle'class
lifestyle. 0ny ()* family would be thrilled to have their children end up
looking /ust like ed and (orri.
he overall appearance of this family is one of real sub'stance# the
ideal result of living the ()* commandments and being surrounded by
the ()* environment. hey are the kind of Mormons against which the
film The God Makers seems to be so braenly hurled# with such
destructive force. ,t is from their point of view that we must deal
with The God Makers.
,t is pretty easy to line up The God Makers against the +hurch
leadership and some of its apologists or against the real fruit of
Mormonism# which are the broken homes# the discouragement# and the
spirit of failure found in the 9% percent of ()* members who have never
made it to the emple even the first time>or that other 17 to 1% percent
who have lost their worthiness and cannot go back to the emple
without going through the steps of a +hurch'regulated repentance.
But this family isn@t in that group and is actually an e$ample of the
intended results of living the ()* faith> results by which other
Mormons are /udged. he (orris and eds really do e$ist throughout the
()* +hurch# although they are the result of far more things going for
them than /ust membership in the +hurch. Aet in a confrontation of this
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nature they will give 1&& percent credit to the +hurch for everything
they are and ever will be.
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Jim Stamper
Jim is their ne$t'door neighbor. Jim is in his mid'forties# with graying
hair. 0 recent widower# he is a mild'spoken# -uiet person who is more
comfortable in slacks and a cardigan sweater than he is in a suit. Jim is
an active +hristian and attends the church that has sponsored the film
and meetings.
6e attended the film showing and meetings with intent on learning
more about his neighbors@ religion# so that he might understand them a
bit more. 6e had come away from some earlier discussions with the
(indseys a little confused and somewhat wary of their doctrine. Jim is
soundly comfortable in the (ord# fully able to calmly present the 5ospel
to the lost.
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+onfrontation
Religion is something personal and something sacred. Cor most of us#
we live and let live. But every now and then we are faced with religious
confrontation# and we need to e$plain the reason for the faith that lies within us. *ometimes the challenge seems to take on the form of
religious persecution# but whatever name we give them# such challenges
usually take place in some other city and to some other people. :e read
about it and talk about it# but what do we do when it comes to our townD
here is no day in a small town that is more satisfying than a warm#
-uiet sunny *unday morning. 4verything is in slow motion. he streetsare free of the usual busy weekday hustle# and e$cept for the irregular
clusters of cars hurrying to and from the various church services# the
avenues remain empty and the stores at rest.
he ()* :ard building looks /ust like every other Mormon +hurch#
with its brick e$terior# well'groomed lawn# and simple spire fitting the
()* mold right down to the lettering of the name. his form of style
duplication is part of the inner core of Mormonism. ,t@s part of the ()*
comfort one and is found in such things as *unday *chool lessons#
manuals# missionary lessons# and even dress codes.
0s the people begin to pour out of the meeting# the (indseys seem to
be smiling and laughing as they walk to the car... but there is a troubled
look on (orri@s face. 0t church they have been discussing an attack
against their religion right here in town# and she is gravely disturbed.
6er dark mood throughout that day and into the ne$t week is one of
somber reflection and an$iety.
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(orri@s kitchen has all the charm and utility of a happy home and busy
mother# but there is no doubt that (orri is upset. *he is holding a section
of the local newspaper in one hand# using it as a baton# accentuating
each point as she speaks to one of her church friends on the phone. 0tthe same time she is trying her best to get dinner prepared.
8,@m so upset , can@t stand itE8 she cried into the phone. 86ow can
these people call themselves +hristianD hose vicious people are getting
rich attacking our churchE8
86ow could they do this to people who live right ne$t to themD Jim
*tamper has lived ne$t door to us for five yearsE hat film is being
shown in the church he goes toE ,@m going over there and tell him a thing
or twoE8
0s her friend responded over the phone# (orri reached over and
grabbed some salad dressing from the refrigerator# her face a study of
frustration and building anger.
(orri interrupted# 8, know# , knowE 6e@s on the radio this afternoon. ,
called them and told the station manager that if that evil man 4d )ecker
goes on the air... me# tooE8
8:hat will happen to us nowD8 she asked with a tremor of fear. 8ed
said we should /ust ignore it.8 *he impatiently tapped a mi$ing spoon
against the side of a bowl as her telephone friend tried to comfort her.
8, know# , know# but the +hurch has been my whole life#8 she
continued. 8he Bishop said whatD ... :ell# ,... who in the :ard would
go# anywayD8
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:ith a sudden grim look# (orri cried into the phone# 8, gotta goE
Joshua will never go to bed tonight if , don@t get him up from his nap.
<h... what kind of future can the kids e$pect if the persecution is already
like this... Bye... you tooE +all me if you hear anything new.8
*he stared at the phone as though it were still alive# still sharing her
fears. 8ed will make this go away#8 she thought as she headed for the
boys@ room.
)inner was ready and the surface of (orri@s life was back in order
when she heard the familiar sound of ed@s car pulling into the drive.
:ith a sigh of relief she hurried out to meet him. ,n the driveway# (orri
glared across the yard as she watched Jim *tamper getting into his own
car. *he stood with her hand on her hip# ignoring ed as he reached out
to greet her.
8:hat is it# honeyD Aou look like you@re on the warpath#8 he smiled as
he kissed her in that husband'who'/ust'got'home'from'work kind of
kiss.
(orri turned from her angry stare. 8,t@s that filthy movie they@re
showing in Jim@s church tonightE )on@t you even careD he whole town
is going to be thereE Just why isn@t the +hurch putting a stop to thisD8
ed breathed a deep sigh and with great concern answered# 8(ook#
(orri# we@ve already gone over this at church. ,t@s not the /ob of the+hurch to fight this persecutionF its /ob is to proclaim the 5ospel#
perfect the *aints# and redeem the dead. he *take President said we
shouldn@t get in a s-uirting contest with skunksE Now let@s go inside.8
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8,@m not putting it aside that easily#8 (orri said as they stepped back
into the kitchen. 8here is one thing we are going to do# and you can
mark it under the section called @Perfecting of the *aints#@ 8 she
e$claimed. 8here is one ne$t'door neighbor who is going to hear fromone very angry Mormon ladyE , hope his church believes in the laying on
of handsE8
Both laughed and ed pulled her close to him. 8<kay#8 he smiled# 8,@ll
be there to referee.8
hen ed turned serious. 8,@m not minimiing this# (orri. he +hurch
is facing a lot of controversy from antagonists all over the world. ,t@s /ust
hard when it@s going on right here in our own town# on our street.
Remember# the *cripture says to @pray for them who spitefully use you@
But let@s not let these people ruin the rest of the evening for us.
omorrow is *aturday# and then we will go over and have a talk with
Jim.8
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(et@s alk
Jim *tamper worked with concentration# intent upon dismantling a
well'bent lawn sprinkler head. 6e didn@t see (orri and ed somewhat
awkwardly approaching him until they were standing a few feet fromhim. (orri@s grim composure# her face reddened with a combination of
both anger and fear# was far from her usual countenance.
Jim# looked up with a broad smile as they approached. 86i# guysE Just
fi$ing this sprinkler head , creamed with the car last week.8
6is smile turned to concern as he saw the anger in (orri@s face. 8(orri#
is something wrongD :hat@s the matter# edD8
6er face wrinkled with hostility# she scuffed her shoe in the grass as
she cried out# 86ow could youD Just how could you do that to usD8
4verything seemed to be e$ploding in (orri@s head. *he felt diy as she
struggled to fight the tears# clinging tightly to ed.
Jim took a deep breath and asked# 86ow could , do what to youD8
ed responded in a controlled voice# his face taut and reddened? 86ow
could you bring in those apostates and all their liesD8
8:hat kind of +hristians are you# anywayD8 (orri added# giving Jim a
scathing look.
Jim stepped back a few steps and looked curiously from (orri to ed.
8:ait a minute. Aou@re talking about that film last night# aren@t youD8
Both replied# 8<f course we areE8
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8:hat did you think we would be talking aboutD8 (orri snapped. 8hat
film is no better than this garbage#8 pointing to Jim@s garbage can on the
walkway.
ed took (orri by the hand and hushed her gently. 8Jim# we thought
you were our friend# and a good neighbor. ,@m terribly disappointed that
you would be involved with such an attack against our faith.8
8Cirst# , didn@t order either the film or the speaker#8 Jim e$plained
with some hesitancy. 8,t was done through the local ministerial group. ,t
was only held at our church because we could handle a large crowd.8
8*econd# , went to see the film because even though you look and act
like an ideal +hristian couple# we don@t speak on the same wavelength. ,
went to see the film so , could understand Mormonism better# and
especially you twoE ,@m truly sorry if , have offended you in any way# but
,@m really glad , did see that film.8
(orri shook her head and stared at the ground before she looked up at
her husband with an e$pectation of him responding.
8Jim# if you wanted to know about our church# we would have been
over/oyed to share with you#8 he began. 8:e did try a few years ago#
after *ally died# but you put us off pretty strongly. :e@re sorry# too.8
Jim replied with a bit of a smile# 8:ell# , /ust wasn@t ready to talk
about eternal marriage to *ally by pro$y. , /ust didn@t understand what
you really meant.8
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ed brought the confrontation back to the film. 8Aou know# don@t you#
that the film is filled with nothing but half'truths# misrepresentations of
our doctrine# and outright liesE8
8,t was done by e$communicated members of the +hurch#8 (orri
protested. 8,t@s /ust filled with hate and errorE hey hate us so much they
even mock our sacred ordinances.8
86ave either of you seen the film#8 Jim askedD
0s both vigorously shook their heads# Jim continued# 8:ell# , saw it
and listened to an hour or more of some very tough -uestions afterward.
,t certainly has given me some new understanding of what is e$pected of
you two.8
ed# offended# snapped back# 8:hat do you mean by that remarkD8
8:ell# it@s /ust that , have a deeper appreciation for the pressure that
your beliefs put on you both. ,t makes me... well# an$ious for you.8 (orri
interrupted sharply# 8Aou don@t have to be an$ious anymore# Jim
*tamperE :e can get along /ust fine without you worrying over usE8
Jim sighed# 8, guess ,@m not saying this right. , love you both. , want
you to have the same /oy in the (ord that , do. , /ust feel that... well#
you@d have to see the movie to understand how burdened , am. , sure
wish..
(orri broke in again# 8,@d sooner die than walk into a church filled with
people and have to sit there while some vile movie destroys what ,
believe is holyE8
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Jim looked at the young couple with great concern# 8ed# (orri... ,
have a lot of -uestions that need answering# and you could confront this
thing privately. , can get a video of the movie and we could watch it
together and you could help me to get a balanced picture of the realdifferences between Mormonism and my own faith. :hat do you sayD
Cor the sake of our common property line# we should be talking this
problem out.8
ed responded# 8here is no way my wife and , could sit through an
hour of listening to e$'Mormons lie about us.8
8(ook. , understand e$actly how you feel#8 Jim replied. 8(et@s do this.
here@s an eight' or ten'minute animation portion of the film that... at
least# , think it portrays the very basic ()* theology. 6ow about if , cue
the video to that and we only watch that sectionD hen we can play it
back piece by piece and you guys can straighten me out on it. ,t will
certainly put an end to any problem of misunderstanding between us.8
6e smiled broadly and waited as ed and (orri looked at each other.
8(et@s do it# ed#8 she said nervously. 8:e have the truth and we can
watch at least one friend see it stand up against those lies. (et@s do it
once and for allE8
ed nodded and turned to Jim. 8<kay# you@ve got a deal. But
remember we aren@t going to sit there and have you knock our church
while we don@t argue with you. :e will show you what we believe and
why 6eavenly Cather would have us believe that way. You can take it or
leave it.8
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8, wouldn@t want it any other way#8 Jim replied# smiling with obvious
relief. 8,@ll be over tonightE8
(orri tried smiling back with a grin that didn@t match her voice. 8Just
come after !?=&. , want the kids in bed so there@s no distraction.8 *he
turned -uickly and walked off# ed following behind. *he was glad the
confrontation was over but wary of the events to come.
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Burning in the Bosom
Jim stood silently for several long minutes# watching as (orri and ed
hurried up their drive and into the house. 6is thoughts drifted back to
that day when his wife was taken to the hospital for the last time. 6eremembered looking back through the rear window of the ambulance as
he an$iously held *ally by the hand.
Both (orri and ed had been standing at the foot of their driveway#
watching as they pulled away from the house. Jim remembered thinking
how odd it was that (orri was smiling with a sort of 8isn@t that nice8 kind
of a smile. ,t was a smile that still stayed with him.
,t was the beginning of the end for *ally# and as they prepared
together for her imminent death# Jim was daily reminded of that smile
as (orri would go out of her way to greet him with a solicitous entreaty
to wait until things were back to normal# when she and ed would share
some things of great importance to him and *ally. 6e realied even then
that they were waiting until after *ally died to spring their plan for
8eternal Marriage8 upon him.
,t was a pressure# an intrusion that began from the day of the funeral
and lasted for almost a year. 6e finally blew up one day and ordered
them from his home. his confrontation today was the first real
conversation they had had since that time.
8*ally would never have listened to that for a minute#8 he reflected to
no one in general but to the sprinkler head in specific. *he placed her
eternal faith in the (ord Jesus +hrist. Crom the day he met her until that
moment when she slipped away from him to be with +hrist# *ally never
wavered from the foundation of her faith.
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Jim looked back at his neighbors@ house. 6e shook his head as though
he were trying to shake away the thoughts of the pain and emptiness he
felt as he struggled to ad/ust to life without *ally at his side.
8,@ve set myself a real mess to deal with#8 he thought. 8, think , better
get myself down to the church# pick up a video copy of the film# and have
a talk with the pastor about this little visit tonight.8 (eaving the
sprinkler head for a better day# Jim gathered up his tools and ambled
back to his garage.
0n hour later Jim was an$iously sharing his dilemma with his pastor.
8hey are really ready to take a piece out of me tonight# om#8 he
e$claimed# waving his arms at the walls in the pastor@s study in an
unconscious effort to dramatie this increasing apprehension he was
feeling. 8, felt pretty confident this morning. , was in control of my
emotions and really felt a tremendous love for them. But# boy# ,@m not
sure what , feel right nowE ,t@s like ,@m mad at them for putting me in
this position with their strange doctrine and mad at myself for not /ustleaving them alone with it.8
om had been Jim@s pastor and friend from even before that day when
Jim# with great determination# walked down the center aisle of the
church and surrendered his life to Jesus. 0s long as he could recall
during this friendship# om knew Jim to be a caring# loving person. 6e
was never one to be upset like this.
8Jim# you@re suffering from the witnessing /itters#8 om smiled. 8But
in this case your neighbors have dumped a little guilt on top. :henever
you get this frustrated# you are either out of the (ord@s will or /ust plain
scared. :hat do you think is going on# JimD8
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Jim@s gae softened as he answered# 8, know it@s 5od@s will that these
two people and their family be saved. , know that their church@s doctrine
is far from orthodo$ and downright dangerous. Aet ,@m not sure ,@m
ready to declare war on them. :hat , really need is some good advice onhow to be an effective witness to (orri and ed. , want them to know
what , know about Mormonism# om# and , want them to e$perience
the /oy of a true relationship with +hrist. , guess ,@m /ust plain scared
that , can@t do it.8
om rose from his chair and came around the desk. 6e sat in the
second of the two visitors@ chairs and reached out# warmly thumping Jimon the arm.
he friends smiled at each other and om leaned back.
8, never knew scared was in your vocabulary# Jim#8 he laughed. 8,@m
pretty certain that you@re solidly in 5od@s will in this matter# and ,@m
e-ually convinced that you could give classes to the rest of us on sharing
+hrist>with anyone# anywhereE8
8, do think you need to review your motives# however. , think you
need to be a real friend to this couple. here are a lot of spiritual scalp
hunters out there who would love to win a Mormon soul for Jesus# but
are completely unaware of the person who is that soul. Aou need to have
an honest relationship with your Mormon friends before you try to
witness. ,@m sure you do# but how do you feel about it# JimD8
Jim leaned forward and sighed deeply# 8, have prayed about my own
motives# and , think my association with ed and (orri is a real one. he
last thing , want to do is argue theology with these folksE 0fter , get past
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the simplicity of the real 5ospel# what@s left for me to even discuss#
e$cept respond to their theological variationsD8
he pastor nodded as he replied# 8,t isn@t -uite that simple.
Remember# your neighbors have been taught that they will be
committing spiritual treason if they even consider your claims of the
simplicity of the 5ospel. 4ven so# you need to present it to them so that
they will hear it. 0gain# ,@ve got to go back to motive and how they
perceive your witness. ,s it from a friend of theirs or an enemy of their
+hurchD Aou are in tough territory wherever you stand.8
Jim thought for a moment and smiled. 8:ell# , guess it@s up to me to
show them ,@m not their enemy. But after seeing the movie last night#
,@m truly burdened for their souls. *omehow , /ust have to challenge
them to listen to me. *omewhere tonight , have to find the key to
reaching them.8
8,t has to be human interaction that makes the difference#8 om
replied. 8,t has to be the kind of intensive# person'to'person witness
through which Mormons are being won to +hrist# Jim. here is no other
way. 0s in every other kind of witnessing situation# what you are usually
speaks louder than what you sayE
8hen too# maybe you need to listen as much as you want to talk#8
om continued. 8,@ll bet that for every Mormon there is a different
reason for being a Mormon and a different key to unlocking that
mystery. (isten to them# Jim# until they@re ready to listen to you. )on@t
/ump at the first Mormon challenge to orthodo$y# no matter how
tempting it is# until they have shared fully from their hearts.8
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6e paused and then continued softly to his friend# 8Aou have to love
those two right now# /ust the way they are>unsaved# upset# angry
Mormon neighbors. ,n no way can you let them come to the
understanding that you only care for them as long as you might convertthem. Remember# they@re going to be looking to convert you# tooE8
Jim raised his hand to interrupt. 8, know , have to find some opening
to share my own testimony of +hrist# but how do you go about trading
testimonies with people who use them as their stock and tradeD ,t@s
their burning in the bosom that they use as their final evidence.8
8Aou can@t shy away from your own testimony /ust because they
misuse the process#8 responded om. 80 good place to begin is to tell
them specifically how 5od has answered prayer in your life# how the
(ord has changed you personally. But , suggest that you be careful in
talking about the peace and /oy you have in the (ord# no matter how true
that is.8
8Remember# those who follow 4astern religions or any number of the
new cults will give such a testimony# as well as many happy Mormons#
including your friendsE +omparing burning bosoms isn@t going to lead
anyone to the (ord. Aet your testimony needs to emphasie that +hrist is
the sinbearer for Mormon and 5entile alike# and that they don@t have to
relin-uish their Mormon heritage to accept Jesus.8
Jim leaned back and smiled. 8Aou@re rightE heir testimonies have
always been centered on how much the +hurch has done for them# their
marriage# their family# and their peace. hey don@t understand that
it@s hrist who does the changing of the natural man to the spiritual.8
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8, need to speak about those things the ()* +hurch can@t deal with#8
Jim continued eagerly>8the power of the shed blood of Jesus# the cross
and the nature of salvation by grace. , need to give them a good# clear
definition of the doctrine of the rinity.
8<ne other thing# Jim#8 Pastor om re/oined. 8onight when the
pressure is on# remember to answer their -uestions and ob/ections from
*cripture. But remember# you don@t have to answer every -uestion when
it is asked. )on@t try to bluff your way through anythingE Aou can say# @,
don@t know the answer to that# but ,@ll find out@ or @(et me think about it
a little more and ,@ll give you an answer the ne$t time , see you.@hen find the answer# be sure you understand it# and bring it backE8
8Aou don@t have to remind me to bring my Bible with me tonight#8 Jim
returned with a wave of his hand. 80nd ,@m not going to let them
concentrate only on the ()*G+hristian proof te$ts. hat@s the ground
where the Mormons are familiar# where they are prepared and trained
for challenge. , learned that when they tried to convert me the last time.here is power in all the *criptureE8
Jim rose slowly from his chair. 8, guess ,@m as ready as ,@ll ever be#
om. ,t@s really been helpful to talk the whole thing through with you#
and ,@ve been praying it through ever since this morning. , /ust ask your
prayers on their behalf as , meet with them tonight.8
he pastor rose and placed his hand on Jim@s shoulder with
unmistakable affection and concern. 8,@ll do better than thatE :e@ll get
the church prayer team on this before you even reach your carE8
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Jim could see the deep commitment in the eyes of his pastor# and it
strengthened him. 8Aou don@t know how much your prayer support has
always meant to me# om. Maybe the whole reason for this Mormon
film and speaker last night was to bring the situation ne$t door to thepoint that , can share the truth with ed and (orri. ,@m really confident
that it will be okay tonightE8
om smiled and said -uietly# 8Jim# let@s go over the basics here about
prayer. Always pray before any visit like tonight. 5oing into this sphere
of spiritual contact without the 6oly *pirit is dangerous to both you and
your Mormon friends. he *cripture promises us the power of the 6oly*pirit to guide and direct us at times such as this. Always ask the
intervention of the 6oly *pirit to draw the Mormon to the cross of Jesus
for salvation.
8Realie also that the Mormon is under spiritual bondage which can
only be lifted through intercessory prayer# from committed people like
you and our prayer team. ,f you have a burden for this couple# it@s vitalthat you be involved in persistent# aggressive prayer directed against the
principalities and powers of Mormonism.
8Pray according to the Bible that the strong man be bound so that the
captives can be set free. 0sk 5od to pull down the strongholds of
Mormonism and cast down vain imaginations and @every high thing that
e$alts itself against the knowledge of 5od.@8
om grinned broadly as he continued# 8hose are heavy instructions#
but you@re a warrior# JimE Mormonism@s bondage and power over this
couple can be broken through prayer in the name of Jesus. hey won@t
be the first ones who have been set free through the intercession of
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committed +hristian friends and they won@t be the lastE (et@s take a few
minutes and pray right now.8
he two men knelt at the chairs. :ith a sigh# Jim began to cry out to
the (ord as tears welled up in his eyes# 8< (ord# make me an instrument
of Aour salvation.8
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;ideo *hock
ed and Jim were sitting in front of the (indsey ; as (orri walked in
hurriedly from the hallway.
8<kayE he last of the litter is all tucked away#8 she laughed nervously
as she sat down on the sofa ne$t to ed. 8,@m sorry to keep you waiting
so long.8
Both men smiled as ed hugged her# 8hat@s okay# honey. *it down
and let@s see /ust what has everybody in such an uproar. ,@m /ust glad ,
didn@t have to do the bedtime /ob tonight.8
8, have the video all set to go# if you two are ready to begin#8 Jim said
with some hesitation. :ith their -uick nods# he clicked the remote and
the first scenes of the animation portion of he 5od Makers filled the
room.
hey were the longest few minutes Jim had ever e$perienced. ,t was
obvious that the screen held both ed and (orri in rapt attention. 6e was certain that there was a mounting fury building in his two Mormon
friends.
he video ended with stone silence. Both (orri and ed stared at the
; as though too stunned to speak. ed turned to look at (orri# who
continued her stare.
(orri turned slowly to Jim# her face a hostile mask# and spoke in a
tight# controlled voice. 8Jim# that is the most demeaning# vicious piece of
fantasy that , have ever seen. hat cartoon has about % percent truth and
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% percent misrepresentation. 0re you sure that it@s the Mormon +hurch
they@re talking aboutD8 she asked with biting sarcasm.
ed was no happier over the situation 8:ell# ,@m obviously appalled by
it#8 he said to his friend. 8hey have a lot of ()* theology all thrown
together with some real e$aggerations and sensationalism. ,f , were a
non'Mormon seeing that for my first look at the +hurch# ,@d stone the
first missionaries unfortunate enough to show up at my door.8
8,@m sure that is e!actly what they had in mind#8 (orri responded.
Jim didn@t have to be told that he was in dangerous waters. 8,@m so
sorry to be involved in such an offense to you#8 he sighed. 8:ell# at least
we have a place to start. ,@d like to go through it section by section and
let you folks tell me what your church really teaches# what you
both really believeE8
8,@m not sure if , can stomach another roll through that garbage
again#8 (orri snapped. 8Babies with diapers in the pree$istenceE8
But ed was determined. 8,@m game# Jim. hat film is a genuine
danger to our faith. 0t least we can set one misled friend straight.8
8(ook# if what you say is true#8 Jim said hopefully# 8, can promise that
,@ll be at my pastor@s door before he even gets out of bed tomorrow. ,
want the truth every bit as much as you doE8
ed@s mind was now ready to put these lies to the test. 8Rewind that
thing and let@s get at it. 6oney# could you run in the study and bring out
the *cripturesD 0nd get Mormon Doctrine# too. :aitE ,@ll go with you#8
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he said as he /umped up with (orri. 8here are a few other things , think
will be helpful too.8
0s ed and (orri left the room# Jim rewound the video. 6e was /ust
finishing as ed and (orri returned with a pile of books and looks of
strong determination. (orri held out a large white book and showed Jim
the cover.
8, found our Tem"le #re"aration Manual too. ,t covers a lot of the
same sub/ect# but it was prepared to bless people# not curse them#8 she
said with a dry laugh. 8,t@s what we really believe# not a bunch of liesE8
8<kay# honey#8 ed inter/ected. 8Jim isn@t our enemyF he@s our friend.
(et@s not let our anger at those people spill over onto him.8
8:ell# ,@m not sure he isn@t#8 she growled back.
8,@m not your enemy# guys. , really am your friend# (orri#8 Jim hurried
to reply. 8:hat you watched is the eight'minute illustrated section from
the movie The God Makers. (et@s go back to the start and take it step by
step.8
8:hat a title#8 (orri muttered sarcastically.
Jim -uickly hit the remote. 8<kay# now ,@m going to play /ust a bit into
the animation. ,@ll stop it when we get to the first break.8
heir attention turned to the television as the video began playing the
actual animation. 8 Mormonism teaches that trillions of "lanets
scattered throughout the cosmos are ruled by countless gods who once
were human like us.8
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Jim hit the pause button and turned to the (indseys. 8Now# is that
trueD8
8:ell# we actually do believe that we aren@t 5od@s only creation#8 ed
answered thoughtfully. 8:e do believe that there are countless planets
in the universe where children of 5od# like us# are working out their
salvation or have worked out their salvation and gone on.8
8he word @trillion@ bothers me#8 added (orri. 8But we do have a saying
in the +hurch that , think will help you understand where we@re coming
from. (oreno *now said it a long time ago? @0s man is# 5od once wasF
and as 5od is# man may become.@ ,t@s called the (aw of 4ternal
Progression.8
8<kay# then. hat kind of e$plains this ne$t part#8 Jim responded.
8They say that long ago$ on one of these "lanets$ to an unidentified
god and one of his goddess wives$ a s"irit child named %lohim was
conceived. This s"irit child was later born to human "arents who gave
him a "hysical body.8
(orri began leafing through the emple Manual as ed frowned.
8<kay# let@s get that statement de'sensationalied. :e do believe that we
were spirit children of our Cather in 6eaven>we call it the Pree$istence.
Aou know# 5od told Jeremiah 6e knew him before 6e formed him in
the womb. 6e said 6e even called him and ordained him to be a prophet before he was bornE 6ow did 6e know him before he was bornD 6e
knew him in the Pree$istence.81
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ed lifted a heavy black book and continued# 8<ne of our apostles#
Bruce R. Mc+onkie>in this book# Mormon Doctrine>says 5od had a
father# and he says that 6e also had a father.87
8Aou mean God had a grandfatherD8
8:ell# , guess you could say that.8
(orri handed the emple Manual to ed and gave Jim the first real
smile of the evening# 8,t says right here that 4lohim once lived on an
earth like ours.8=
80nd this is what you call he (aw of 4ternal ProgressionD8 Jim
asked.
8Aes. The #earl of Great #rice says everything is made spiritually
before it is made physically." hat goes for people# too.8
8Through obedience to Mormon teaching$ death$ and resurrection$ he
"roved himself worthy and was elevated to godhood as his father
before him.8
(orri picked up the manual again and turned toward Jim. 8,n our
emple Preparation Manual it says that 5od became 5od through
obedience to the 5ospel program%>, doubt that they called it
Mormonism# though. Mormon was a prophet who lived here on this
earth and kept the record of the people in the 0mericas. he +hurch got
its nickname from the Book of Mormon# named after him. here is a
whole section in the manual that talks about this.8
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8<kay# then let@s get the rest of this sub/ect out#8 Jim said with a
frown.
8 Mormons believe that %lohim is their &eavenly 'ather and that he
lives with his many wives on a "lanet near a mysterious star called
(olob. &ere the god of Mormonism and his wives$ through endless
elestial se!$ "roduced billions of s"irit children)8
8(et@s stop right hereE8 (orri protested. 8, don@t believe that 4lohim is
my 6eavenly Cather# , know he is. 4ndless se$# millions of wives# and
billions of children all running around on a mysterious star is what
drives me crayE8
ed took the manual from his wife and pointed it at Jim. 8he film
ridicules us# but we do believe that 5od procreated us as spirit children.
(orri and , went through the emple Preparation classes together.
(isten to this. ,t says? @... 5od is an e$alted man who once lived on an
earth and underwent e$periences of mortality.... 6is marriage partner is
our mother in heaven. :e are their spirit children# born to them in the
bonds of +elestial marriage.@ 8H
(ooking up from the pages# he continued# 8, guess if that@s what you
want to call @endless +elestial se$#@ so be itE 0nd# yes# we>without
apology>believe we have a high destiny# even 5odhood. (et me read
/ust one other thing?@... and you have got to learn to become 5ods
yourselves# and to be kings and priests to 5od# the same as all 5ods have
done before you.@ hat@s the Prophet Joseph *mith speaking# sharing
truth that +hristianity has long since forgottenE89
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8(orri#8 Jim asked# keeping his voice soft# 86ave all the people born in
this world first been conceived as spirit children>been fathered by
4lohimD8
8<f courseE8
8hen doesn@t it stand to reason that there must be at least more than
a billion spirit childrenD Aou didn@t like that term @billion#@ but look at the
world population and the number of people who have already lived and
died. , was wondering# ed>is polygamy a possibility hereD8
8Aes# you@re right. ,t does seem probable. The Doctrine *
ovenants does imply that we may have the opportunity to have plural
wives in the +elestial Iingdom>the *cripture that directed Joseph
*mith and Brigham Aoung to take more than one wife is still in my
)+.8!
8To decide their destiny$ the head of the Mormon gods called a great
heavenly council meeting. +oth of %lohim,s eldest sons were there$
-ucifer and his brother Jesus.8
8The +ook of Abraham# in the #earl of Great #rice# says that 5od called a council of all the leading
spirits. Joseph *mith said that the @6ead of the 5ods called a council of the 5ods@>,@m sure that@s where
they get that. My Priesthood Manual says that Joseph *mith was at that council as one of the choice
spirits.81&
8:hat about the part about Jesus and (uciferD8 Jim burst out. 80re
they literally brothersD8
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8:e were all brothers and sisters in the Pree$istence#8 (orri smiled at
him. 8Play the ne$t part. Aou have to understand about what the council
did. ntil that time (ucifer was e-ual to Jesus.8
8 A "lan was "resented to build "lanet %arth where the s"irit children
would be sent to take on mortal bodies and learn good from evil.
-ucifer stood and made his bid for becoming savior of this new world.
anting the glory for himself$ he "lanned to force everyone to become
gods. /""osing the idea$ the Mormon Jesus suggested giving man his
freedom of choice as on other "lanets. The vote that followed a""roved
the "ro"osal of the Mormon Jesus who would become savior of the "lanet %arth.8
8Aou seeE8 (orri e$claimed# 8(ucifer wanted the glory that belonged to
6eavenly CatherE8
Jim@s face melted into astonishment. 6e looked at them incredulously
as he asked# 8hen this really is what actually happenedD8
8he words are fine#8 ed said while still staring tightly at the screen.
8,t@s the science'fiction photography , ob/ect to#8 he added with a
measured voice. 85o ahead# ,@m waiting for something in the ne$t
section.8
8 %nraged$ -ucifer cunningly convinced one0third of the s"irits
destined for earth to fight with him and revolt. Thus -ucifer becamethe devil and his followers the demons. Sent to this world$ they would
forever be denied bodies of flesh and bone. Those who remained
neutral in the battle were cursed to be bom with black skin. This is the
Mormon e!"lanation for the 1egro race. The s"irits that fought most
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valiantly against -ucifer would be born into Mormon families on
"lanet %arth. These would be die lighter0skinned "eo"le$ or ,white and
delightsome$, as the +ook of Mormon describes them.8
(orri stared at him. 8,@m sorry# Jim# but that bit with people turning
into demons and turning black is /ust sickE8
8,t@s not only sick# it@s terribly inaccurateG@ ed responded confidently.
8Cirst# there were no neutrals in the battle. hose who rebelled were cast
from 5od@s presence and sent to this earth without bodies# although ,
doubt they went the way the cartoon shows us. oday# these same
demons continue to battle against the *aints. he +ook of Abraham#
the +ook of Moses# and the Doctrine and ovenants# all give a clear
picture of the whole thing.11
8he filmmakers are trying to show that the ()* +hurch is racist#
which is the farthest thing from the truth. Blacks have always been able
to be members of our church. he (ord forgave them any pree$istence
punishment in 19!# and now they too can hold the priesthood>which
actually was the real punishment# not the skin color. 0nd now blacks can
marry in the temple.
8he *criptures in Moses17 e$plain it. Bruce R. Mc+onkie said their
skin was marked through the lineage of +ain. ,t was so they could be
recognied as those who couldn@t hold the priesthood. But fortunately all
of that has now changed.81=
(orri felt on solid ground and confided# 8he emple Manual does say
that the choicest spirits are now coming to earth to ()* families.81"
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8)oesn@t it bother you a little that millions of blacks died with that
curseD8 Jim shot back.
8<f course not#8 she answered with a shrug. 86eavenly Cather loves
them. hey will get a chance in *pirit Prison to accept the 5ospel and
the Priesthood. hat@s why baptism for the dead is so important.8
8<kay# well# let@s wait till we get there. ,@ll go to the ne$t section if it@s
okay with you two.8 (orri and ed nodded in agreement.
8 %arly Mormon "ro"hets taught that %lohim and one of his goddess
wives came to the earth as Adam and %ve to start the human race.
Thousands of years later$ %lohim in human form once again 2ourneyed
to earth from the star base (olob$ this time to have "hysical relations
with the 3irgin Mary in order to "rovide Jesus with a "hysical body8
ed became gravely serious. 80gain# the whole presentation is totally
without taste and it@s meant to offend. he +hurch no longer accepts the
0dam 5od heory# even if Brigham Aoung did believe it. ,t@s /ust in there
to sensationalie again.
80nd regarding the physical conception of Jesus#8 he continued# 8you
/ust have to take it out of the gutter and put it into eternal
perspective. Mormon Doctrine again clears it up. ,t says that Jesus was
begotten by an immortal father in the same way that mortal fathers
beget children. Jesus was conceived and bornthe normal and natural way.1% :hat@s so strange about that# JimD8
8,@m sorry# but , have always believed in the virgin birth. his is far
from orthodo$ theology. )o you agree with ed# (orriD8
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8:e do believe in the virgin birth#8 she emphasied. 8Mary was
certainly a virgin before she was overshadowed by 6eavenly Cather. ,
know some people believe Jesus was conceived by the 6oly 5host# but
the 6oly 5host is a completely different personage and is still a spirit being and is probably incapable of fathering a physical child. :e studied
this in our 5ospel )octrine class# didn@t we# edD8
8Aes# we did#8 he assured her. @0t least five 5eneral 0uthorities#
including three presidents of the +hurch# have taught clearly that Jesus
was conceived through natural relations between 5od the Cather and
the ;irgin Mary.8
8By @natural relations@ you mean se$ual intercourseD8 Jim asked#
smiling faintly.
8+all it what you likeE8 she shot back.
ed sat at the edge of his seat# concern written across his face. 8his
whole conversation is a little speculative# like the idea that Jesus was a
polygamist.8
8hat@s coming up#8 Jim replied. 8(et@s look at
8 Mormon A"ostle /rson &yde taught that after Jesus hrist grew to
manhood$ he took at least three wives)Mary$ Martha$ and Mary
Magdalene. Through these wives the Mormon Jesus su""osedly
fathered a number of children before he was crucified. Mormon
founder Jose"h Smith is su""osedly one of his descendants.8
ed smiled thinly. hese were areas not usually discussed with
investigators# and for good reason. 8hat whole section is a"ostate
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doctrine#8 he said with authority. 8None of that is currently taught by
any authority in the +hurch. , do know from my BA studies that
Joseph *mith# through "ersonal revelation# told several of the early
leaders that they were descendants of Jesus. he rest comes from oldspeeches in the Journal of Discourses that we don@t accept as doctrinal
today. his section is in the film /ust to make us look strange.8
8But if Joseph *mith and 0postle 6yde taught it#8 Jim protested#
8then>8
(orri broke in# 8:ell# personally# , believe it. ,f Joseph *mith taught it#
then it@s trueE Besides# it makes sense. ,f 5od commanded polygamy for
early +hurch members# if 5od is married in heaven# if>8
8Aes# but this is e$actly where we get into trouble#8 ed scowled.
8Crankly# ,@m not into speculation. 0nd , don@t really care what early
+hurch leaders taught. ,@m interested in what the +hurch teaches today.
:hen everybody was upset over the blacks and the priesthood
revelation# Bruce R. Mc+onkie said>-uote>@,t doesn@t make a particle
of difference what anybody said prior to June Cirst# 19!>it@s a new day
and a new arrangement.81H
8his whole line of discussion is out of order#8 he murmured as his
face reddened. 8<ur 5eneral 0uthorities deserve better from us# (orri.8
Clustered# (orri began. 8But# ed# dear# , /ust felt that...8 0 look intohis eyes told her to stop. *he forced a smile# trying to stop the fear
inside.
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Jim was having a bit of a struggle. 8:ell# ,@m more than a little
uncomfortable with that kind of blind obedience...8 (ooking at the
couple# he knew he was on dangerous ground# and his voice trailed to a
stop. Pushing himself back into the chair# he turned to the television.8But# okay# let@s not dwell on it# then. ,@m an$ious to get into the Book of
Mormon material.8
8 According to the +ook of Mormon$ after his resurrection Jesus came
to the Americas to "reach to the 4ndians$ who the Mormons believe are
really 4sraelites. Thus the Jesus of Mormonism established his church
in the Americas as he had in #alestine. +y the year 567 A.D.$ the darkskinned 4sraelites$ known as the -amanites$ had destroyed all of the
white0skinned 1e"hites in a number of great battles. The 1e"hites,
records were su""osedly written on golden "lates buried by Moroni$
the last living 1e"hite$ in the &ill ummorah.8
ed perked up and grinned# 8:ell# this is pretty straight information.
:e believe that the people in the 0mericas were the @other sheep@ who were mentioned by Jesus in the New estament.8
(orri began to smile. 8hat@s the kind of thing you can only get from
reading the Book of Mormon and praying. Moroni 1&?" says that if you
pray with a sincere heart and real intent# having faith in +hrist# he will
manifest it to you by the 6oly 5host#8 she told Jim brightly. 8Aou will
get a burning in the bosom and know it@s true. 4ven though , was raisedin the +hurch# , didn@t get my own testimony until , went away to
college. , know the Book of Mormon is the :ord of 5od and , know that
Joseph *mith was a true Prophet of 5od. , bear you my testimony that ,
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know the +hurch of Jesus +hrist of (atter'day *aints is the <nly rue
+hurch.8
Jim studied her smiling face# and with a voice softened by e$treme
caution he replied# 8,@m sure you do know that# (orri. , can see how
important these things are to you.8
ed saw the same danger point in (orri@s still froen smile. 8:e have
some really bad stuff coming up about Joseph *mith that upsets me.
(et@s continue#8 he directed. Maybe this wasn,t the wisest thing to "ut
-orri through# he reflected as the video began.
87588 years later a young treasure0seeker named Jose"h Smith$ who
was known for his tall tales$ claimed to have uncovered the same gold
"lates near his home in u"state 1ew York.
&e is now honored by Mormons as a "ro"het because he claimed to
have had visions from the s"irit world in which he was commanded to
organi9e the Mormon hurch because all hristian creeds were an
abomination. 4t was Jose"h Smith who originated most of these
"eculiar doctrines which millions today believe to be true.K
8his is pure character assassination#8 ed groaned. 8Cirst# , know
about his @treasure'hunting@>everybody did it in those days. ,t was
called @folk magic.@ hen they take a mother@s offhand comment about a
young son@s storytelling and he becomes @a teller of tall tales.@ 6edidn@t claim to find the plates# he found them and translated them by
the gift and power of 5od.
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8hree witnesses swore to it and later eight more honest men also
testified that they saw them. hose of us who are believers call your
Lvisions from the spirit world Lrevelations.
86e didn@t originate these "eculiar doctrinesF it was 6eavenly Cather
who originated these true doctrinesE hey were only peculiar because no
church on the face of the earth was following them anymore. heir
creeds were all abominations to 5od.819
8ed@s right#8 (orri said easily. 8:e honor Joseph *mith /ust as much
as we do Moses and Jeremiah and Peter and Paul# and Jesus. Joseph
holds the keys to this dispensation /ust as they did in theirs. 0nd Jim#
how could a 1%'year'old kid write the Book of Mormon# anywayD8 *he
was back on top# the mysterious ashen look of moments ago erased# her
look one of vigor and determination.
8, understood that the Book of Mormon was not published until
Joseph *mith was 7%.8
8:ell# whatever#8 she answered. 8But he was seeing visions when he
was 1"E8
8,f it@s okay with you both#8 Jim asked# 8,@d like to get back to this after
we finish the review# because , have a couple of -uestions that may take
a little time# okayD8 hey nodded simultaneously.
8 +y maintaining a rigid code of financial and moral re:uirements$
and through "erforming secret tem"le rituals for themselves and the
dead$ the -atter0day Saints ho"e to "rove their worthiness and thus
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become gods. The Mormons teach that everyone must stand at the final
2udgment before Jose"h Smith$ the Mormon Jesus$ and %lohim.8
8:hat@s wrong with being moral and paying tithes and supporting the
work of 5odD8 (orri complained. 8,@ll bet your pastor would love to have
a congregation like thatE8
8Jim# what we do in the emple is not secret # it@s sacred . (orri and ,
were married in the Provo emple while we were at BA. hat was after
, spent several years of my life serving my +hurch in the mission field.
8Jesus went to the temple and so did all those who wanted to be closer
to 5od#8 ed continued. 8here is no difference in what we do today. :e
don@t show movies about it because it@s holy and you must be worthy to
participate in its sacred ordinances. he emple is the door to the
+elestial Iingdom and eternal marriage.8
8Aou have to have a emple recommend#8 (orri added.
8:hat about this business of Joseph *mith being your /udgeD8
8hat@s out of conte$t# Jim. Cirst# they purposely put it backward. ,t@s
4lohim# Jesus# and then Joseph.
8,n my Priesthood Manual there is a whole section on it. , remember
that we had -uite a lively discussion about it in Priesthood meeting. But
our Priesthood manual stated plainly that if we are to get our salvation#
we shall have to pass by Joseph *mith. ,f we enter our glory# it will be
through the authority that he has received. :e can@t get around him.
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8Joseph *mith holds the keys to this dispensation>he is its head and
will be throughout all eternity. <f course he will be at the /udgment bar#
but , can assure you that he is there as your friend to plead your case if
need be. But nobody will go to the +elestial Iingdom without hise$press approval.81!
8hat@s why it@s so important that you accept Joseph *mith as a true
Prophet. Jim# wouldn@t it be great to be sealed to your wife and spend
eternity with herD Right now you@re only married to her until death do
you part>your marriage is over. <ur church offers hope to you that you
can@t have anywhere else. hat@s how important Joseph *mith@srevelations are to you personally.8
0s they sat smiling broadly at him# Jim stared back without a word#
his e$pression dark and rigid. 0fter several moments of froen silence he
spoke in almost a whisper. 8(et@s continue.8 urning with some
deliberation# Jim flipped on the last section of video.
8Those Mormons who were sealed in the eternal marriage ceremony
e!"ect to become "olygamous gods in the elestial (ingdom$ rule over
other "lanets$ and s"awn new families throughout eternity. The
Mormons thank God for Jose"h Smith$ who claimed that he had done
more for us than any other man$ including Jesus hrist. The Mormons
claim that he died as a martyr and shed his blood for us so that we too
may become Gods.8
ed /umped in as the video ended. 8:e have already been given a
small picture of what heaven can be like. (orri and ,>and our children>
will stay in the family unit through all eternity. hat polygamy stuff is
real# all right. But why is it all so evilD 0braham and his sons had more
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than one wife. *o did *olomon# and probably so did the apostlesE :hy is
it okay for them and not usD8
(orri began reading from the emple Manual? 8 @,f we keep our
covenants and are faithful to the end# we shall come forth as gods and
receive a fullness of the Iingdom.@ ed will be a Iing and a Priest and ,
will be his ueen and Priestess#8 she cried out# pointing to the te$t.1
8:e thank 5od for Joseph *mith#8 ed pronounced defiantly# 8who
has done more for us than any man# save Jesus>hat@s in Doctrine and
ovenants# *ection 1=%. 0nd that is what the +hurch teaches.8
Pointing to the ;# he added# 8hey are -uoting from an obscure
statement made by Joseph *mith in The &istory of the hurch87&
(orri stepped to the ; and switched it off. *he was pleased and in
control. 8(ook# guys# the video is over and we@ve been at this ordeal
forever. +ome on in the kitchen and have some punch and cookies.8
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#ootnotes
1. Jeremiah 1?% IJ;.
7. Bruce R. Mc+onkie# Mormon )octrine# 7nd ed. 2*alt (ake +ity?
Bookcraft# 1HH3# p. =77.
=. Achieving elestial Marriage ;AMM<# Manual No. +)CR H&GH1
2*alt (ake +ity? he +hurch of Jesus +hrist of (atter' day *aints#
19H3# p. 17.
". #earl of Great #rice ;#G#<# Book of Moses =?%'9 2*alt (ake +ity?he +hurch of Jesus +hrist of (atter'day *aints# 1993.
%. AM # p. =.
H. AM # p. 17'=&.
9. Mormon Doctrine# p. =71.
!. Doctrine and ovenants ;D*<# section 1=7 2*alt (ake +ity? he
+hurch of Jesus +hrist of (atter'day *aints# 1993.
. #G# # Book of 0braham =?7='7!.
1&.ome =nto hrist # Melchiedek Priesthood Manual 2*alt (ake
+ity? he +hurch of Jesus +hrist of (atter'day *aints# 1!"G1!!3#
pp. 1='"%.
11. #G# # Book of 0braham =?7!F Moses "?1'=F )+ 7?=H'=9.
17. #G# # Book of Moses %?1H'"1F 9?!'77.
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1=. Mormon Doctrine# pp. %7H'79.
1". AM # p. 7=%.
1%. Mormon Doctrine# pp. %"H'"9# 9"7.
1H.Mc+onkie speech# @0ll 0re 0like nto 5od.8
19. #G# # J. *mith 7?1'7&.
1!.ome =nto hrist # he Melchiedek Priesthood Personal *tudy
5uide 2*alt (ake +ity? +hurch of Jesus +hrist of (atter )ay *aints#
1!='1!H3 pp. 1='"%.
1. AM # pp. 1=1'=7.
7&. &istory of the hurch# ;ol. H 2*alt (ake +ity? )eseret Book
+o.# 1H93# pp. "&!'&.
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:hat is the ruthD
Jim stretched as he stood. 8:ell# it@s been a very , interesting
evening.8
ed reached over and put his hand on Jim@s shoulder as they walked
toward the kitchen. 8:e@ve been glad to tell you how we really feel# but
,@m afraid we haven@t really changed your mind much.8
0s a matter of fact# you haven@t#8 Jim responded. 8,n fact# the things
you said sort of confirmed what the film was saying>at least as far as ,
can tell.8
84$cept that the film takes everything out of conte$t and distorts and
e$aggerates it.8
Jim smiled as he said# 8,@m sure both of us can@t escape the fact that
our backgrounds color how we view things. But , have to confess that
,@m troubled as much by your e$planation of your faith as , am by the
film. , mean you can strip away all of the>in your words@sensationalism@>and basically# you@re telling me that Mormonism
teaches some things that are very repugnant to me as a +hristian.8
(orri stepped back in surprise. 8(ike whatD8
Jim lowered himself slowly into a chair at the table. 8:ell# first# that
men may become 5odsE8
8, have to admit# that really is the bottom'line difference between our
positions#8 ed acknowledged. 80s , see it# one of us is right and one of
us is wrong.8
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Jim grinned broadly. 8:ell# we are in absolute agreement on one
point# anyway.8
8Now , know it@s a strange concept when you first hear it#8 ed
continued# ignoring the /oke# 8but if it is true# it@s one of the most
important revelations ever to come to man.8
8Aou@re right>if it is trueK Jim shot back. 8<n the other hand# if it is
not true>in other words# if Joseph *mith didn,t get that information
from 5od> if men can never become 5ods# then Mormonism is
teaching something that is# well>evil E8
ed glanced at (orri before he replied. 8, don@t see it that way at all. ,f
,@m wrong# ,@m simply wrong. ,@ve made a mistake. ,@m still a +hristian. ,
still believe in the *avior. , don@t see why it@s necessarily evil>not to
mention that it@s true.
(orri /oined in. 8:hy do we always have to be evil to you +hristiansD
:hatever happened to live and let liveD8
Jim ignored (orri and continued to address ed. 8Crom my +hristian
perspective# the concept that men can become 5ods is a very basic
doctrinal error that leads men away from the true worship of 5od in
pursuit of their own 5odhood.8
ed felt comfortable with the -uestion. 6is skills in dealing with these
life'changing -uestions were sharpened during his mission for the
church. 6e was on solid ground. 8Aes# Jim# it may be hard for you to
understand# but it is God,s plan. :e@re to become like our Cather in
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6eaven. )on@t you remember the *cripture# @Be ye perfect# even as your
Cather in 6eaven is perfectD@ 8
(orri leaned over the table as though to take Jim@s hand. 80nd isn@t it
natural to want to be like 6eavenly CatherD 0fter all# man was made in
6is image.8
Jim leaned away from the table and the intensity of the two. 8<kay#
hold on. Back off and let me take this one step at a time. Aes# of course# ,
think it is my destiny to become perfect>when , go to heaven# that is.
But ,@m going to become a perfect man# not a 5od. <ne of the things you
misunderstand is the basic difference between men and 5od>and for
that matter# angels. Aou have men and angels and 5od all mi$ed up.
hey are>at least according to the Bible>three entirely different
beings. 0 man can become a perfect man# if he is sinlessF but he can no
more become a 5od than a cat can become a dog.8
ed smiled as he replied# 8hat@s your interpretation of what the Bible
teachesE8
80ll right#8 Jim conceded# 8, think we can think this through rationally
together. )o you mind if , tell you a little of my philosophy about the
nature of 5odD8
8<f course not. ,@d be delighted to hear what you think.8
Jim leaned over into the center of the table# his eyes speaking to both
of them. 8<ne of the fundamental problems , see here is that
Mormonism has failed to think its theology through to its rational end.
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:hat , mean is that Mormonism>if , have understood you correctly>
teaches that 4lohim was once a man. ,s that rightD8
8:e have already said that he was.8
8<kay# so 4lohim was a man. But was he born as a @spirit child@ to
another 5odD8 Jim asked.
(orri looked from ed to Jim. 8That,s what we@re trying to tell youE8
8hat@s what <rson Pratt and others taught#8 ed added. 8hat@s why
we can e$pect to become 5ods.8
8:ell# don@t you see that there is a philosophical flaw in that
thinkingD8 Jim probed.
8, certainly do notE8 ed shot back with vigor.
Jim took one of those long deep breaths and began# 8:ell# think about
it. ,f a 5od has to have been a man to work his way to 5odhood>thenhow did the first man come into e$istenceD :ho created himD 0ccording
to your theology# no matter how you slice it# if 5ods have to be men
before they can become 5ods# then the first man came into e$istence out
of nothing# since there was no 5od to create him.8
@0nd that@s logically inconsistent. Rational thought dictates that a
super intellect must e$ist at the beginning of creation. hat superintellect is described as 5od. 6e is the +reator. *ome call him the prime
mover# or the first cause# or that being beyond which no greater can be
imagined.
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8Now if such a being had a father# he can@t be that absolute 5od. 6is
father might have been# but he isn@t. 0s , see it# if you worship 4lohim#
then you are worshiping a being who is no greater than yourself may
soon become.8
ed wondered /ust how much of the Mormon 5ospel plan Jim was
ready to absorb. 8,n a sense that@s true. Joseph *mith said we were co'
eternal with 5od#8 he responded softly.
Jim seemed confused. 8:ell which is itD ,f you are co'eternal with
5od# then you have e$isted as long as he has# which would do away with
your having been procreated as a spirit child. hat@s what , mean when ,
say there is no satisfactory philosophical footing here. :hat you seem to
have is a collection of speculations.8
(orri was getting that defensive look again. 80nd do you have
something betterD8
8, sure doE8
8:ell# what is itD8
8he Bible#8 he answered softly.
8Aour inter"retation of the Bible# you mean#8 ed -uipped.
8No# , don@t think so#8 he answered. 8he Bible tells us very clearlyabout the nature of 5od. Cor 7&&& years the definition has served the
+hristian church very well.
8Aeah# but which +hristian +hurchD8 ed wanted to know. 8here are
hundreds of denominations.8
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8, take it that you assume all these denominations are in doctrinal
disagreement#8 Jim replied.
8hey certainly areE8 (orri inter/ected. 8:hy else would there be so
many different churchesD hat@s what Joseph *mith and the Book of
Mormon is all about>to bring an end to that confusion.8
ed picked up the cue from his wife. 8Joseph is the Prophet of the
Restoration. Because of the apostasy of the +hristian church# 5od sent
Joseph to restore plain and precious truths which had been lost. Jim#
don@t you assume that 5od would have order in 6is churchD8
0gain Jim studied their faces before replying# 8Cirst# ,
assume nothing that the Bible doesn@t teach clearly. here certainly is
authority in 5od@s church# but , see no evidence in the Bible for a
monolithic# authoritarian church with a man at its head. Jesus# the Bible
says# is the only 6ead of 6is church.
8Jesus said 6e would establish 6is church and the gates of hell would
never prevail against it. 0pparently you believe the gates of
hell did prevail# so that the authority of 5od was lost from the earth and
Joseph *mith had to restore it. ,s that rightD8
84$actly#8 ed smiled. 8:ell# maybe not -uite e$actly# but the
authority was lost and had to be returned.8
Jim rela$ed a bit and returned the smile. 8(ook# the authority in the
church of +hrist is the Bible. , think this might surprise you# but the fact
that there are denominations is evidence of the health of the +hurch# not
of division.8
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8hat sounds like double'talk#8 (orri grumbled.
8(et me put it this way#8 Jim replied. 8, go to the +hristian +enter.
hat@s my church. But ,@m a +hristian first. , could be very happy going
to a Baptist +hurch or a Presbyterian +hurch or a (utheran +hurch.
Cor me# the church is bigger than the group that meets in my building.
, get the impression that you think Baptists and Presbyterians and
Methodists are somehow divided on basic Bible truth.8
8:ell# aren@t theyD8 ed challenged.
80bsolutely not. 0ll of them subscribe to the authority of the Bible. <n
the important issues of the faith like the nature of 5od# the fall of man#
the incarnation of Jesus# and the remedy for sin# they are absolutely
united. hese doctrines were hammered out early in the history of the
church. ,n fact# the creeds# which you and Joseph *mith call
abominable# articulate those basic doctrines and are received by all
Bible'believing +hristians.8 2*ee 0ppendices.3
8hen why have denominations at allD8 (orri asked.
Jim smiled broadly. 8*ome +hristians have asked that same -uestionE
But seriously# denominations are very important. Aou need to think of
them as associations of +hristian churches that e$ist for the common
good of the member churches. hey perform very real functions# like
providing pastors for vacant churches# pooling resources for mission
pro/ects# establishing seminaries and Bible colleges# and e$ercising
discipline if pastors or teachers fall into sin or doctrinal error.
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8,@m not suggesting there are no differences# but by and large the
doctrinal differences among evangelical churches are minimal#8 Jim
e$plained. 8:e have a saying in my particular fellowship? @,n essentials#
unityF in nonessentials# libertyF in all things# charity.@
8he amaing thing is that the Bible speaks consistently to people in
every tongue and century. ,n 0frica you will find +hristian brothers who
believe what we call @orthodo!y#@ which is the very same body of
+hristian thought preached since the foundation of the church.
@0nd , might add that the Bible is full of warnings that false prophets
would arise# teaching @doctrines of devils.@ 6istorically# those doctrines
usually have centered upon the nature of 5od. 0nd from what ,@ve
heard# Joseph *mith# whether knowingly or unknowingly# got caught up
in doctrinal error. But you know whatD :e got off our discussion of the
nature of 5od. +an we return to thatD8
8*ure. But you@re not saying you believe that Joseph *mith was a false
prophet# are youD8 (orri asked with obvious worry in her voice. 8, mean#
the +hurch does so much good..
8, don@t want to be offensive# (orri# but if Joseph taught what you say
he did>and obviously he did>then , guess , would have to say he was
deceived.8
80nd , don@t want to be offensive either# Jim# but what makes you sosmartD8 she shot back.
8:ait a minute>we aren@t talking about me#8 Jim insisted. 8:e@re
talking about orthodo$ +hristianity. ,@m not telling you that orthodo$y is
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right because , believe it. :hat you and , believe has no effect on truth.
ruth e$ists independently of our opinion about it. But orthodo$y
represents the doctrinal minimums that have remained firm in the
church of +hrist for 7&&& years# in spite of fre-uent challenges frompeople like Joseph *mith.
8Basically# the Bible is a book about the relationship between 5od and
man#8 he continued. 8he central theme of the Bible is that in all the
universe there is only one 5od. he <ld estament is the story of 5od
calling the Jews back to the worship of the one true and living 5od. By
the way# the belief in more than one 5od is called polytheism.8
8Joseph *mith called it the plurality of 5ods#8 ed interrupted.
8+all it what you like# but the main thrust of the Bible is to call people
from polytheism to monotheism>the belief in only one 5od.8
8he Bible teaches the doctrine of many 5ods#8 ed said with
determination.
8Please show me where.8
ed reached for his Bible and began flipping through the pages. 8,@d be
glad to.8
(orri smiled and said philosophically# 8,t must be a little discouraging
to think that your destiny doesn@t include 5odhood.8
Jim grinned and returned her smile. 8, never thought ,@d make a very
good god. Besides# ,@m absolutely convinced the position is filledE8
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(orri@s smile broke into a wide grin as she laughed with Jim. 8<h# you
characterE8 she cried good' naturedly.
ed lifted his head from his search. 86ere it is> 1 +orinthians !?%.
(isten to this?
Cor though there be that are called gods# whether in heaven or in
earth 2as there be gods many and lords many3...8
Jim reached for ed@s Bible. 8+an , see thatD8
8*ureE8 ed responded with a grin# 86ave a go at itE8
8Aou only read verse %G@ Jim said as he peered over the page. 8(et me
read "# %# and H?
0s concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in
sacrifice unto idols# we know that an idol is nothing in the world# and
that there is none other 5od but one. Cor though there be that are called
gods# whether in heaven or in earth 2as there be gods many and lords
many3# to us there is but one 5od# the Cather# of whom are all things.
8Aou see#8 Jim protested# 8this passage is not saying that there are
many 5ods. :hat it is saying is that there are many demons# and you
can call them gods or lords if you want to# but in reality there is only one
5od.8
(orri felt a tight knot in her chest as her eyes met her husband@s. 8ed#
it does seem to say that.8
Jim handed the Bible back and held it open for ed to see. 6e reached
over and picked up his own. 80s long as we@re looking at *criptures#
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follow along and let me read a few other passages on this sub/ect. 6ere
is something from ,saiah# although , could go to almost any book in the
Bible for this point. his is ,saiah "=?1?
@Ae are my witnesses#@ saith the (ord# @and my servant whom , have
chosen# that ye may know and believe me# and understand that , am he?
Before me there was no 5od formed# neither shall there be after me. ,#
even ,# am the (ord# and beside me there is no *aviour.@
8*ee# ed and (orri# 5od declares 6imself to be the only 5od in the
universe. 6ere@s another passage in the ne$t chapter# ,saiah ""?H?
hus saith the (ord the Iing of ,srael# and his redeemer# the (ord of
hosts? @, am the first and , am the last# and beside me there is no 5od.
8, mean# he says this over and over again. 6ere# look at verse !?
Ae are even my witnesses? ,s there a 5od beside meD Aea# there is no
5odF , know not any.
Both ed and (orri were listening intently. Jim ventured on. 8he
story is the same in the ne$t chapter# in verses % and H?
, am the (ord# and there is none elseF there is no 5od beside me....
here is none beside me. , am the (ord# and there is none else.
ed was frustrated. Jim was /ust not grasping this. 86e is the 5odof this world#8 he e$plained# 8/ust like his Cather is the 5od of his world
>his earth.8
Jim looked at both ed and (orri and replied# 8, don@t think so#
because 6e says right here in ,saiah "%?17?
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, have made the earth and created man upon it. ,# even my hands#
have stretched out the heavensF and all their host have , commanded.
8he apostle John says that this 5od is the <ne who madeall things#
and that there wasn@t anything made that 6e didn@t make. he book of
Job says that 6e binds and looses the constellations. 5enesis says that
in the beginning 5od made the heavens as well as the earth.
8he 5od of the Bible is the +reator. Nothing e$isted before 6e made
itE8 Jim e$claimed. 8he Bible tells us that this 5od is all'powerful# all'
knowing# and all'present.8
here was color in ed@s cheeks as he felt anger rising in him.
8+hristians believe in more than one 5od too# JimE )on@t you believe in
the Cather# *on# and 6oly 5hostD8
8<f course , doF , believe in the 6oly rinity. But the rinity does not
teach three 5odsF it teaches one 5od who is Cather# *on# and 6oly
5host.8
8here@s the double'talk again#8 (orri muttered.
Jim ignored her and pressed on. 8he rinity is founded in our
knowledge of the 5od of the <ld estament. <nce we understand that
there is only one 5od# then we understand that all 6is attributes>6is
power# knowledge# and presence>are e$pressed in three ways as Cather#
*on# and 6oly 5host.8
Jim turned his attention back to (orri. 8)o you remember# (orri#
when Jesus said# @:herever two or three of you gather together in my
name# there , am in the midst of youD@ ,s that familiar to youD8
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8Aes# , remember#8 she responded cautiously.
8:ell# we are gathered here right now attempting to know truth about
5od. )o you think Jesus is hereD8
8, certainly doE8
8,f there were a meeting at your church right now# do you think 6e
would be thereD8 he continued.
(orri became hesitant and sighed# 8, suppose so.8
Jim nodded his agreement. 8Crankly# , believe if a prayer meeting is
going on in +hina right now# Jesus is there too. Now that@s all there is to
the omnipresence of 5od. Jesus>who is 5od>is here.8
8:ell# what about CatherD 6eavenly Cather certainly isn@t hereE8 she
cried out.
8:ait a minute.8 6e raised his hand to calm her. 8:e said there isonly one 5od. Remember what we /ust read in ,saiahD ,f Jesus is here#
5od is here.8
8hat@s ridiculousE8 she snapped. 85od is 5od and Jesus is Jesus...8
Jim leaned back in his chair and pondered for a moment. 8Aou know
what , think the problem is hereD Mormonism has not found the
omnipotent# omniscient# omnipresent 5od. :hat Mormonism has
found is a god you call an e!alted man.
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8,f your 5od is big enough you won@t have problems with how 6e
e$presses 6imself# even if 6e does it in ways that are not fully
comprehensible to you.
8Aou know# the nearest star to us is four light years away. ,t takes
light four years to reach us from that star. hat means if that star
e$ploded tonight# we wouldn@t know it for four years# because we
couldn@t possibly know it until the light reached here.
8But 5od is not like that. 6e is throughout 6is universe. Jesus>in the
fourth chapter of John>said to the woman at the well that 5od is s"irit .
)o you want to hear something that will really stretch your thinkingD8
ed answered thoughtfully# 8Aeah# sure# go ahead.8
(orri was skeptical. 8,@m not sure 4 do.8
Jim turned in his Bible as he continued. 8<kay# ,@m in the
third chapter of John. his is Jesus talking to Nicodemus at night.
Nicodemus is having trouble understanding about being born again. 6e
thinks Jesus wants him to return to his mother@s womb. Jesus chides
him by saying?
... 0rt thou a master in ,srael# and knowest not these thingsD... ,f ,
have told you earthly things and ye believe not# how shall ye believe if ,
tell you of heavenly thingsD
80nd then he tells him a heavenly thing?
... no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from
heaven# even the *on of man...
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8Now listen to this#8 Jim e$claimed# pointing to the page?
... which is in heaven.
8*ince Jesus is 5od# 6e can# at one and the same moment# be in
heaven while continuing to talk to Nicodemus in Jerusalem.8
ed reached for Jim@s Bible. 8(et me see that#8 he blurted out.
ed and (orri were not smiling. 0 look of fear crossed their eyes. hey
knew there was an answer for this# but it was outside their grasp. hey
looked at Jim with deep concern.
6e looked at them and spoke from his heart. 8ed and (orri# , really
love you guys. 0nd , know how committed to serving 5od you are. But ,
couldn@t claim to love you if , didn@t confront you with the fact that what
your +hurch teaches is foreign to what the <ld estament prophets
taught# what Jesus taught# and what the apostles taught.
8onight you@ve told me that as Mormons you believe 5od was once a
man. Aou@ve said that Jesus was conceived through natural relations
between 4lohim# an e$alted man# and the ;irgin Mary. Aou@ve told me
that you yourselves hope to become 5ods.
8, must tell you that these are doctrines straight from the pit of hell.
hey didn@t originate with Joseph *mith# either.8
ed /umped back as if hit physically by the words. 8:hat do you
meanD8
8*ince you ask# ,@ll read it to you from the third chapter of 5enesis?
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ONow the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which
the (ord 5od had made. 0nd he said unto the woman# @Aea# hath 5od
said# Ae shall not eat of every tree in the gardenD@ 0nd the woman said
unto the serpent# @:e may eat of the fruit of the trees of the gardenF butof the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden# 5od hath said#
Ae shall not eat of it# neither shall ye touch it# lest ye dieG 0nd the
serpent said unto the woman# @Ae shall not surely die# for 5od doth know
that in the day ye eat thereof# then your eyes shall be opened# and ye
shall be as gods# knowing good and evil.K
8Aou see#8 Jim confided# 8the devil is the originator of the doctrinethat men may become 5ods. Joseph was wrong.
8he Bible says# @here is a way which seems right to a man# but the
end thereof is destruction.@ , know you believe that the Mormon +hurch
possesses truth that the rest of +hristendom has lost# but ,@m convinced#
after listening to your own profession of faith# that you have been
deceived. hat doesn@t make you dishonest or evil>/ust mistaken.
8he problem is that being mistaken can cost you your soul#8 Jim
e$plained. 8Aou tell me you have a testimony that you are right>that
Joseph *mith was a true prophet of 5od. 0nd you seem to think that
because si$ million Mormons believe it# somehow that makes it true. But
, tell you that over a billion Muslims believe that ,slam is the one true
religion and Mohammed its prophet.
:hat we believe about something doesn@t make it true. Aour burning
in the bosom really doesn@t prove anything. Joseph *mith@s doctrines
need to be /udged by the Bible# and nothing else# because no one can
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come along and undo thousands of years of biblical revelation with a
vision.
8, have only one final *cripture that , want to read. his is from a
letter that Paul wrote to the church at Rome. ,t@s from the book of
Romans# the tenth chapter# in the first four verses. Paul is writing about
the Jews>very religious people. 6e says?
Brethren# my heart@s desire and prayer to 5od for ,srael is that they
might be saved. Cor , bear them record that they have a eal of 5od# but
not according to knowledge. Cor they being ignorant of 5od@s
righteousness# and going about to establish their own righteousness#
have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of 5od. Cor
+hrist is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.
Jim gently placed the Bible on the table and looked up at his friends.
8ed and (orri# you have submitted yourself to the laws and doctrines of
Mormonism# but ,@m afraid you haven@t submitted yourself to the
righteousness from 5od. No matter how many good things Mormonism
may or may not accomplish# if it leads people to worship a 5od created
in the image of man# it has done mankind a great disservice.K
8he Bible tells the story of the one true and living 5od who made
man. ,t tells us that man separated himself from 5od through sin# and
that today sin rages within the heart of man. ,t says that this same 5od
@took on flesh and dwelt among us@> that this mighty 5od allowed
6imself to be crucified for the sins of all people who will receive 6im as
5od and bend their knee to 6im? confessing not that they will become
5ods but that they already have become sinners# desiring not to be 5ods
but to worshi" the one true 5od# crying out in agony of spirit over their
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helpless condition and throwing themselves upon 6is wonderful
mercy.K
8Paul said that @all have sinned and come short of the glory of 5od@ and
that all men are @guilty before 5od.@ 6e also said in the third chapter of
Romans that 8by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be /ustified#@
but that we may be @/ustified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in +hrist Jesus.@ O
8ed and (orri# , know what ,@m talking about. , was a very religious
person# but , didn@t know 5od. , went to church and worked day and
night to be righteous# but , didn@t know 5od. hen one day , met the real
Jesus in simple faith. ,n an instant , was born again. ,@m no longer
trying to become acceptable to 5odF , am acceptable to 6im>not
through any righteousness of my own# but through the covering of 6is
shed blood. , am one of those who was far away# although religious# but
who has been made near in +hrist.8
Jim looked from (orri to ed and softly spoke from the depths of his
heart. 8Jesus is here right now. 6e is 5od. 6e made you and 6e loves
you. 6e asks that you trade your religion for 6is relationship. ,t@s your
decision.8
*ilence settled like a heavy cloud over the three at the table. Jim
waited -uietly as ed stared at him across the table in some silent#
opened'mouthed demonstration of disbelief# his eyes crinkled up#
blaing with hostility.
(orri closed her eyes and held her head in her hands as she struggled
to respond. 8NoE NoE NoE8 she finally burst out# her voice cracking in
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pain. 8Aou can@t /ust drop that on us like thatE ,t@s too simple# too easy.
6ow dare youD Aou have no right to say that to usE8
8,t@s not that easy# (orri#8 Jim responded gently. 8,f it were# you both
could do that right now without any /eopardy to your faith. But ,@m
afraid that such a step of faith in +hrist being the full sin covering for
your sins takes you beyond yourselves# beyond your own righteousness#
beyond your own priesthood and your own godhood. hat@s why you@re
so upset right now.
8ed. (ook at me#8 he commanded as he turned back and forced ed
to make eye contact with him. 8Aou know you will never be righteous
enough in your own right. Aou know you lose that battle every day. 0nd
you are going to bow your knee to +hrist. he Bible says in Philippians
7?1 that at 6is name every knee will bow and every tongue will
confess that Jesus +hrist is (ordE Aou are going to do it one day>either
now or at that 5reat :hite hrone Judgment of those dead who
are not in +hrist# that /udgment of the damned.
8,@m not talking about that Jesus who is your elder brother# or the
Jesus who is the brother of (ucifer# or the Jesus who was appointed by
some council of gods# but the Jesus who was and is fully 5od from
before time began and who became flesh and shed 6is blood to pay the
penalty for your sin. That Jesus is the true +hrist. That Jesus stands at
the door and knocks. 6e is waiting for you. 6e knows you by your name.6e knows the number of hairs on your head and the number of your
days# and 6e understands the deepest burdens of your heart.8
ed spread his hands out slowly on the table# breaking his gae away
from Jim@s eyes to stare at his own hands. 8,@m pretty confused here#
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Jim. , feel like ,@m strangling. , can hardly breathe. , know the +hurch is
true. , know Joseph *mith was a true prophet and the Book of Mormon
is the>8 8*topE8 Jim cried out. 8No one is challenging thatE 4,m 2ust
talking about Jesus. 6ow could that possibly cause this kind of reaction#even if your +hurch were true# as you say it isD8
ed stood abruptly and pushed his way past (orri. Cighting his way
from the kitchen# he made his way to the television and leaned down#
removing the video from the ;+R. 86ere# please take this thing out of
my house. , think we@ve gone beyond what , had hoped for.8 6e shook
his head slowly# his face flushed.
Both Jim and (orri had followed him to the living room. (orri held
her eyes riveted to her husband# her face white# while Jim slowly walked
across the room# accepting the video in the outstretched hand.
@,ll be glad to take it with me# ed# but before , leave# something you
said a while ago may help us through a very awkward farewell. )o you
remember saying# one of us is right and one of us is wrong@D8
8, certainly do remember# and , believe it even more strongly now that
we have had this discussion#8 ed acknowledged# still looking e$tremely
uncomfortable.
8:ell# how do we handle it# thenD , think you can now understand my
own concern for you# and with your help tonight , have gained a fardeeper under'standing of your concern for meE
8,f we were all to die tonight# how could our grasp of heaven@s
promises have been enhanced by this time togetherD Aou see#8 he
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continued# 8if the basic beliefs we hold are not common enough to bring
all three of us into 5od@s presence# then one of us is truly wrong and
only the other right# as you said.
8+an@t we all three ask for spiritual understanding# that same James
1?% wisdom you say Joseph *mith asked for in the groveD *ince we can@t
seem to agree on who that one true 5od is# can@t we pray to 6im in that
way# knowing that 6e will hear and will answer and help the one who is
wrongD8 Jim looked to ed and then (orri# his eyes searching for that
key to understanding.
(orri spoke first# -uietly asking# 8ed# that is all right# isn@t itD , mean#
we can pray together# can@t weD Jim is seeking truth /ust as we have had
to ourselves.8
ed rela$ed visibly# a warm smile drew his wife to his side# and his
grin broke into a hearty# genuine laugh. 8Boy# , feel like ,@m back on my
mission. , haven@t felt this kind of pressure since , had to go out and do
this kind of stuff every day. Believe me# ,@m ready to call it a day.
8Aou really are a good friend and an honest seeker of truth# Jim.
Perhaps we should all chew on these things for a few days# and if you
still have -uestions about the 5ospel# we can get back again.8 6e was
back in control of things again. he pounding in his chest had stopped
and he felt a wave of warmth throughout his being. hat was the
difference# he thought. Jim doesn@t know about the power of the
priesthood# the strength that one has from it# the confidence that all will
be okay in the end.
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But Jim wasn@t going to be put off to some other discussion. 6e knew
that it was time to go directly to the source of truth# since ed and (orri
were as open right now as they would ever be. ossing the tape on the
chair behind him# he stepped over to the couple as they stood together inthe center of the room. Placing a hand on the shoulder of each of them
and without further consent# he began to pray. hey both immediately
dropped their heads in response.
8Cather 5od#8 he petitioned# 8Aou have observed us here tonight#
seeking truth and understanding. :e have realied that we have
confusion here regarding Aour very nature# Aoui very being. :e pray to Aou# the one true 5od# above all other gods# in the name of Aour one
true *on# Jesus +hrist# that Aou reveal Aourself to us# through Aour
truth# through Aour :ord# and through whatever form of personal
revelation Aou choose# that whoever of us is in error# it will be made
manifest# so that we may live in the light of Aour truth. :e three make
ourselves available to Aour instruction and pray this in the name of Aour
one true *on# Jesus +hrist. 0men.8
ed and (orri both sighed deeply and echoed a simultaneous 80men.8
(orri smiled broadly and picked up the videotape from the chair. 8Aou
weren@t trying to leave this thing behind# were youD8 she mugged in
mock repulsion.
8No#8 Jim laughed. 8, don@t think it would get as much use here as it will in the church library. hat is# unless you want it to take to your
church tomorrow morning.8
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8:e@ll pass on that offer#8 ed replied lightly. 8, still have to prepare
my 5ospel )octrine lesson for *unday *chool# and it won@t be your
video.8
he evening was over and the conversation turned to neighborhood
things as they worked their way to the door and said their goodbyes.
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*earching for 0nswers
ed sat at the desk# working at his *unday *chool lesson# as (orri
prepared for bed. 6is eyes wandered across the papers on his desk to his
wife combing out her hair at the dressing table. 6e could tell that she was troubled. his had not been the easiest of nights. 6e doubted that
(orri had ever had her faith challenged as severely as it had been today.
0t least he himself had gone through it often enough while on his
mission to know how to put his doubts behind him and trust in the
+hurch and the Prophet.
8<h# these darned knotsE8 she cried as she yanked impatiently at the brush. 8, swear ,@m going to get my hair cut short again and put an end
to..K (orri@s voice trailed off. Putting her head in her hands# she began
to sob. 8, /ust don@t know what to think anymore# ed#8 she cried
through her tears.
6e laid aside the manual and gaed intently at his wife. 80bout whatD
0bout tonight# the +hurch# about Jim# about meD Aou don@t know about
what# honeyD8
80bout any of itE ,@m completely confused. ,f Jesus is the head of the
+hurch and a member of our 5odhead# why did we both get so defensive
every time Jim *tamper mentioned his nameD8 she replied in little
bursts between the -uieting sobs. 8)on@t you ever have doubtsD8
8, don@t allow myself to doubtE8 he responded. 8, guess we were upset
because he tried to make faith in Jesus the center of our own personal
salvation# not what we do with our faith. :ithout the teachings of our
prophets and the instruction we have had in the emple# we might have
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to settle for such a blind faith# but we know better# (orri. :e know what
we have in store for us if we strive for perfection and endure to the end.8
(orri gave in to an immense sigh and slumped over onto the bed. 8,@ll
never be a goddess#8 she muttered into the pillow. urning to face her
husband# (orri brought something up from the deepest part of her
doubts# something she had never dared to e$press before.
8, still don@t understand how some of the things we did in the emple
are all that pleasing to 5od. , cringe every time , go through the
:ashing and 0nointing Room#8 she said with obvious revulsion# 8and ,
feel something terribly wrong at times when , embrace the worker
representing 6eavenly Cather at the veil.8 *he inhaled sharply as she
verbalied the last of her inner secret.
8:hat on earth are you talking aboutD :hat could you possibly feel
that@s so terribly wrongD8 ed whispered.
8, feel something# sometimes#8 she stammered. 8*ometimes when we
put our arms through the slits and embrace# he pulls himself against
me... too... tightly.8
ed leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling# rubbing the
palms of his hands against his temples# pushing back against the
throbbing pressure. 8:e are not supposed to talk about things that go
on in the emple. hat@s a sacred oath.8
6e sat back sharply# leaning over the desk toward his wife. 8:hen did
this first happenD :hat else don@t you like about the empleD8
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8ed# it happened the very first time# at the Provo emple# when we
were married. , was /ust too scared to talk about it. ,t only happens once
in a while. ,... /ust...8 (orri groped for the words# 8feel sometimes in the
emple like ,@m in some sort of foolish dress up game that someoneinvented to make us look ridiculous. , /ust can@t believe that Jesus
dressed up that way or swore any oath of consecration or obedience to
the Priesthood or the Prophet. ,t really is secret# ed and , wonder /ust
how sacred it really is.8
8(orri# your mother and dad went through the same ritual and so did
their parents before them#8 ed argued. 8Aour own mother was right at your side when you went through the veil when we were sealed. 0re you
saying that she would ever lead you into something that was bad for
youD8
8hat@s unfair and you know it# edE8 (orri shot back harshly. 8My
mother was every bit a product of her own upbringing. :hat other
choice did she have# living her whole life in the shadows of the Mormon+hurchD 0s a matter of fact# my mother did try to tell me... she did try to
warn me# but , didn@t understand it. *he hated wearing her emple
garments# but wore them anyway# like obedient Mormon wives are
supposed to.8
ed thought back to the first time he stood in front of a mirror#
realiing that he was going to be wearing those things under his clothesfor the rest of his life and then shuddering at the despair he felt as a
young man used to working in the yard dressed in gym shorts and
sandals. No wonder the brethren caution couples against talking about
the emple rituals.
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(orri@s voice brought him back to the present dilemma. 8Maybe you@re
comfortable in those things# ed# but , have to tell you that there are
days , want to rip this thing off my body. hey@re ugly and they make me
ugly tooE8 *he began sobbing again.
ed looked mournfully at his lesson manual and rose from the desk.
,n two strong steps he was at her side and holding her in his arms. 6e
silently stroked her head until the sobbing ceased and her breathing
became measured and calm. 4ven in his silence# (orri knew he
understood her fears. ,n a way she was pleased. 0t least he didn@t laugh
at her or argue with what she shared.
6ours later# as (orri slept peacefully by his side# ed lay awake#
staring into space# working his way in frustration through the events of
the night.
,n the frantic *unday morning race for church# (orri and ed barely
had time to say hello. 0s one of the +ounselors to the Bishop# he had
rushed ahead for the Bishopric meeting scheduled before the early
priesthood meeting. (orri and the kids would come to church on their
own. 6e was glad to get out of the house without talking about last
night# and he hoped the *unday services would help to get them back on
track. oo bad there wasn@t a estimony meeting today. hey always
lifted (orri@s spirits.
he Bishop# the :ard +lerk# and the other +ounselor were already in
the office when ed arrived. :ithin minutes they were caught up in the
administration of the daily affairs of the :ard while ed@s thoughts kept
wandering back to snatches of the video. 6e couldn@t shake the images
from his mind.
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0s the meeting worked its way to a finish# the Bishop closed the
notebook that was his constant companion and waited -uietly until he
had the eye of each of them.
8Brothers# we lost a family to the anti'Mormons this weekend#8 he
spoke in almost a whisper. 8he Bensons went to the film with her
mother and have become born'agains. 6e called me last night to ask
that their names be removed from the records of the +hurch. ed# ,@d
like you to go over there with me and try to straighten them out before
we have to go through with another e$communication.8
ed /ust couldn@t believe his ears. he Bensons were a great young
couple and (orri was really close to *ister Benson. hey were /ust
working on a *take Primary pro/ect together. 8, can@t# Bishop. , /ust
can@t. hey were at my house for dinner only a week ago. :e@re too close
for this kind of thing.8 ed was feeling a panic rising up within him.
he Bishop@s face lost its softness# and he acknowledged ed@s
response with a curt nod. 8Aes# you will# Brother (indsey. , want you
there because you are close. Aou@re the one who got him his /ob last fall.
Aou@re the one who wanted him on your welfare pro/ect# and you@re the
one whose class he attends every week. 6e owes you a lot and will listen
to you. Aou have to go# whether you like it or not. ,t is a responsibility of
your calling. , cannot handle this without your help. ,@ll pick you up at
si$.8 6e rose from his desk and walked from the room# ending themeeting without even a word of prayer.
ed fumbled through his class# asking several members to read
portions of the lesson and letting them ramble on at will. (orri kept
flashing some sort of warning signal with her eyes and pushed her way
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up to him as the class ended. 8ed# you@re not going to believe this#8 she
gasped. 8*ister Benson called...8
86ush this second# (orriE8 he hissed under his breath. 8, know all
about it. ,@m supposed to go there tonight with the Bishop. )on@t say a
word to anyone.8
(orri stepped back in bewilderment. Cor the first time since the night
before# she laughed. 8, can@t believe you knew about it already#8 she
cried. 8, get the scoop of the year and you@re there ahead of me.8
6e reached out and s-ueeed her hand. 8<nly because Brother Benson
called the Bishop last night.8 ed put his hand on (orri@s shoulder and
guided her toward the back hallway as the crowd of people moved
around them toward the sanctuary as the *acrament meeting began on
the heels of *unday *chool. 8:hat did she sayD8
(orri had the twinkling look of a conspirator. 8*he said that she and
*teve went to the movie with her mother and spent most of yesterday
talking things over. hey have been going through emple preparation
classes and had a lot of unanswered -uestions that they had been afraid
to discuss. , guess they decided it really is that easy.
8ed# they want to talk to us this afternoon. *teve really looks up to
you. 6e needs to talk to someone he can trust. , invited them over for a
barbecue. Aou and the Bishop can meet with them at our house.8 *hesmiled as she stared into his eyes. 8Maybe we should invite Jim over#
too.8
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ed stared back at her in a state of confusion. 8Aou@re a changed
woman from the lady , went to bed with last night# (orri. :hat@s
differentD , would e$pect you to be close to hysteria over the Bensons.8
(orri knew what was different. *he felt like some pressure had been
lifted off her spirit somehow last night. *he felt refreshed and
lighthearted this morning. 4ven when *ister Benson called# she was at
peace.
8, guess it was finding out that , could have doubts and fears and you
could understand and still love me deeply# without putting me down#
ed. , found out , could trust you all the way#8 she said softly# her face
close to his. 8,t didn@t resolve much of my dilemma# but it did strengthen
my love for you.8
ed took her face into his hands. 8, don@t know what kind of day we
have coming. , barely survived last night and you may have to shovel me
into bed before this is all through. , will ask Jim to come over and share
some of his thoughts with the Bishop# though. ,t should be -uite a time.8
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he Real Jesus
*teve and +arol Benson@s van turned into the (indsey driveway and
came to a stop. *teve slumped down in his seat as the two boys tore out
of the car and around the corner of the house toward the back. +arol@seyes were riveted on her husband@s face# searching out his eyes.
8,@d rather have my head amputated than to go through with this#
+arol#8 he said softly# with /ust the edge of a grin working its way into
the corners of his mouth. 6e rolled his head toward her and locked his
eyes on hers. 86ere we are# about to drop the bombshell of the year on
our best friends# and in true Mormon style you@ve brought a casserole.8
6is grin broke out and /oined her laughter as he reached over and
kissed her firmly on the forehead. +arol was still laughing as she led the
way around the house carrying her casserole like a trophy onto the patio.
(orri and ed were already involved with separating several of the more
energetic of the kids# and looked up in mock desperation at their friends.
8Cinally# backup troops have arrived to save us from this horde#8 (orri
shouted with glee as she turned one s-uealing little boy upside down
and lowered him gently to the grass# where he instantly scampered
away# chasing after the alleged horde which was now making its way
around the house. (orri took +arol@s proffered casserole and placed it
with appropriate honors on the table# already loaded with food. 8,@m so
glad you came# +arol#8 she continued lightly. 8, want to hear every single
thing that happenedE8
ed and *teve had stepped back from the skirmish and greeted each
other with a wary handshake# wisely leaving the opening remarks to
their wives. ed had become more than a little distressed while they sat
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waiting for the Bensons. he Bishop wasn@t thrilled with the
announcement that the Bensons were going to be at their house# and
heaven only knew what he was going to do when he found Jim *tamper
there too. 4ven that hadn@t gone too well# since Jim was obviously ill atease with the invitation. ed had had to pry an acceptance out of him
and then spent an hour in misery wondering why they wanted him there
in the first place.
Now seeing that *teve was e-ually uncomfortable# he was able to smile
warmly at his friend and rela$. 8,@ve been like a coiled spring all day#
*teve#8 he confided privately. 8,@ve been feeling like the anti'Mormonshave stolen your soul away and ,@ve been unable to fight for you. ,@m
really glad you came. , /ust pray that , can help. , never even dreamed
you were losing your testimony.8
+arol and (orri had stopped their chatter and were watching the two
men with great intent. 8, never lost my testimony# ed#K *teve replied
softly as he returned the smile. 8:e were searching for 5od@s intent forour lives before we became Mormons and while we were Mormons# and
, have to tell you# it got pretty confusing. he other night a lot of pieces
fell into place and the answer ended up pretty simple after all.8
(orri stepped over to the two and put her hands on her hips in her
best scolding posture. 8(ook# you guys are over here whispering and we
can@t talk and listen at the same time. his has to be one conversationand only one conversation#8 she demanded. :hile she spoke with a
festive bravado# ed knew (orri was deeply serious that they not get
divided into separate discussions# as was their usual practice. 6e saw
the wisdom in her words.
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8(et@s all sit down and talk# then#8 ed said as he motioned toward the
table. 8(orri and , want you to tell us what happened this weekend. :e
are truly in deep shock.8 6e stopped and studied the Bensons. >hat on
earth ha""ened?>
+arol took *teve@s hand as they sat before their friends and gripped it
tightly. 8My mom asked us to go see that film they showed at +hristian
+enter#8 she began. 8, was raised in the Baptist church# but by the time
*teve and , were married# , had pretty much stopped going.8 *he looked
at *teve and then back to (orri. 8:hen the boys came# , knew we needed
to get back into church# but the time never seemed right. :hen theMissionaries came to our house# , felt like it was an answer to our
prayers. , told *teve that 5od knew our needs and sent them to us.8
+arol stopped and caught her breath. 84verything happened so
-uickly# and when , told my mom that we were going to be baptied# she
really came unglued and said a lot of terrible things about the Mormon
+hurchE8
8Aet we met you two# and everyone in the :ard was so wonderful that
, couldn@t understand what was wrong with her. , thought# :ell if you
want to be that way# /ust be that way.K
8hings were pretty strained for awhile#8 she continued# 8but my mom
and , have always been good friends# so we /ust ended up agreeing not to
agree about religion. Aet there was always that wall. , wanted so much
for her to become a Mormon. *he would have been such a tremendous
Mormon.
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8(ast month she came over and told us that if we would do one thing
with her# she would never bring up the sub/ect of religion again. , could
tell that she was really under a great deal of stress.8 +arol was struggling
to smile. 8*o when we agreed# we found out that it was to go and see thatfilm.8 6er gae slowly dropped to the table and she fell silent.
*teve leaned forward and looked from (orri to ed. 8hat@s where ,
came in. ,n the midst of all our ob/ections about her methods and the
movie# , knew that , wanted to see the filmE , wanted to listen to that
guyE , have to tell you# ed# ,@ve been having a lot of doubts lately. 0 lot
of honest -uestions have been going unanswered around here and ,@ve been feeling that if we have all this truth we always talk about# it
shouldn@t be that difficult to get some answers.8
8Aou never came to me and told me you were having problems. Aou
never went away from me with -uestions unanswered#8 ed complained
sharply.
8,@m sorry# ed# but , did come to you more than once# but you always
had some -uick response that was the te$tbook reply for each occasion.
:hen , asked you about this business of me becoming some polygamous
5od# you told me to wait until we had been through the emple. Aou
said that we would have a clearer understanding of our destiny# even
though , told you that our need was more immediate.
8, didn@t want to share my eternal life with other women# and +arol
sure didn@t want for the kids and her to have to share me with a bunch of
other wives and kids. ,t was like you had this big secret# but /ust being
good Mormons# we still weren@t good enough yet to share it.8 *teve@s
voice had risen# and the kids were beginning to notice that the picnic
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was taking on a more serious tone. 8,@m not upset about that# ed. ,t was
/ust real frustrating trying to study things out for myself at times. Aou
were never the problem#8 he -uickly assured his frowning friend.
8(et@s toss the ball around with the kids#8 *teve bellowed as he
scooped up a nearby volleyball and ran into the yard. ed smiled
plaintively at (orri and lumbered slowly after him.
8his must be so hard for you# +arol#8 (orri cried# reaching across to
comfort her friend. *he was devastated by the intensity of the emotions
she had felt as they had spoken. 8ed was right# you know. hese things
all do become clear when you go through the emple.8
8(ook# (orri. ,@ve had the same frustrations when you and , have
talked about some of the same things. Aou haven@t always been honest
with me or even yourself. 4very time we@ve talked about the emple# ,@ve
come away with two different stories from you. he first is what you say
and the second is something down deep inside you# what , see in your
eyes. hey@re not the same.8
(orri sat back stunned. 6er thoughts flashed back to the look in her
mother@s eyes as she shared about the secrets of the emple and the
duties of a faithful Mormon wife. 8<h# dear 5od#8 she thought# 8,@m /ust
like my mother. ,@ve been doing the same thing to +arol that my mother
did to me.8 *he heard +arol@s voice droning on in the distance# but (orri
was consumed with the image of her mother sitting on her bed#
attempting to reassure her that it was 5od@s holiest purpose that she go
through the emple and take out her endowments so she could properly
fulfill her divine role. *he could still see that look of futility in her
mother@s eyes.
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8... the rest of the food and ,@ll get the men to start the burgers going#8
+arol was saying as she rose from the table. *omething had happened
/ust then# and +arol knew it was time to drop the discussion. *he had
opened up a door that had deeply disturbed (orri.
(orri shook the thoughts away and busily began to set out the platters.
8ed# please go and get Jim and let *teve start the burgers. here are
some hot dogs for the little kids.
8JoshE8 she yelled at a small culprit dragging away a bag of chips. 8Put
that back right nowE8
ensions eased as they prepared the meal# and they were soon
laughing again at *teve@s droll humor as he entertained the kids with his
outrageous efforts at the grill. ed returned with an awkward Jim
*tamper in tow# and they were soon rela$ing over a great meal.
he kids had finished and wandered down to the street with their
skateboards# bikes# and other weapons of transportation. he women
were closing up the food platters and Jim *tamper was wandering back
from his house sipping the spillage from a large# brimming cup of hot
coffee.
8Aou Mormons missed the boat with this one#8 Jim laughed. 86e who
controls the coffeepot controls the worldE8 he other four booed and
hissed with fitting disdain.
8ed tells me that you were at +hristian +enter the other night#8 Jim
smiled at the Bensons. 8:hat did you think of the e$perienceD8
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8:ell# you know we went there as Mormons prepared for the worst#
Jim#8 *teve replied# 8but we left in a totally different state of mind. <ur
eyes were really opened to a lot of things that had been troubling us for
some time.8
8hat film was filled with a lot of lies and misrepresentations of our
faith by a man filled with hateE8 ed cried out defensively.
*teve smiled sadly at the remark. 6is friend was so intent on
defending the faith# even from a film he had never seen and a man he
had never met. ,nstead of arguing# *teve turned to +arol. 8:hat
impressed you most about the evening# honeyD8
8he film was every bit the bombshell it was advertised as. , thought
the animation portion clearly put all the pieces together properly for the
first time# though.8
Jim glanced up and watched as ed and (orri locked eyes. 0 little
smile broke out as he responded# 8, thought so too. ,t may have been a
little sensational in its approach# but it clearly defined basic Mormonism
to me.8 6is twinkling eyes innocently met those of ed and (orri before
he looked back to *teve.
8:hat really opened my eyes was the -uestion'and'answer time
afterward#8 *teve said as he turned to ed and (orri. 8)id you know that
the Bishop was at the meetingD8
>hat are you saying?@ cried (orri. 8Aou can@t mean thatE :hat
happenedD8 ed was stunned at the news. he Bishop had never
mentioned it# even to his counselors at the Bishopric meeting.
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80t the end of the movie he was the very first to stand at the -uestion'
and'answer period. , didn@t even see him until then. 4 mean we almost
died$K +arol e$claimed. 86e said that the film was nothing but a filth3
pack of lies and if the people wanted to know about Mormonism theyshould ask a Mormon# a decent person# not someone e$communicated
for failing to live the 5ospel.8
8, thought it was all over for the speaker# 4d )ecker. Aou could hear a
pin drop#8 *teve added. 8But he /ust smiled and asked the Bishop what
lies he was referring to and the Bishop said# @ All of them.@ 6e asked him
again to be a bit more specific and again the Bishop said @ All of them.@
8he speaker said that the Bishop should pick his very best lie from
the movie and that he would document it right then completely from
Mormon documents or fold his tent and leave town. 6e said# @ 4f 4,m a
liar$ call my bluff right here in front of the whole town and 4,ll be out of
business.@
But the Bishop /ust stood there. 6e couldn@t name one single lie in the
whole movieE ,t was then that some scales fell from my own eyes. ,t was
like we have been playing games with 5od. (ike , said before# if what we
have is truth# what should we fear from any manDK
86e started to call on someone down front# but the Bishop shouted out
that the parts about the emple ritual were all lies. hen )ecker asked
him if he had ever sworn blood oaths like we saw in the film and the
Bishop shouted @ 1ever@ )ecker said that when he was a Mormon in the
emple# he had done so. 6e asked the Bishop# @ Did you "ut your thumb
across your throat and swear an oath dealing with having your throat
slit from ear to ear? @ he Bishop shook his fist at him and ran from the
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meeting. , mean he ran out the door. , couldn@t believe my eyes. , mean
it was like the Bishop was the liarE
8:e sat there for over an hour while )ecker fielded every -uestion
thrown at him. 6e had the answersF he did his homework. he guy
probably knows Mormonism better than anyone , ever met#8 *teve
continued. 8But you know what , sawD 6e never ridiculed us or said
these things to mock us.
4very time he gave the Mormon doctrine# he compared it with the
orthodo$ biblical doctrine# and , began to see that the 5ospel of +hrist
was really simple and clear# without all these frills that have had us so
bogged down.8
+arol had difficulty speaking# but slowly she sobbed out the rest. 8,t
was what he said about the crosses being missing in our church
buildings. 6e said that people who want to be their own gods couldnt
deal with the cross and the blood shed at +alvary on our behalf. 6e
talked about the water we use for sacrament>that it washes away the
reality of +hrist@s shed blood.8
*he was silent for a moment# gathering her words carefully. 8, looked
behind him at the cross on the wall and knew what was missing in my
life. , took one look at my mom and we both began to cry. 0t the end of
the meeting# when the pastor had an altar call# Steve and 4 went
forward and gave our lives to the real Jesus. Not the one who is the
brother of (ucifer# not our 4lder Brother# but Jesus who was 5od
become flesh for us.8 Both *teve and +arol@s faces were wet with tears as
they relived the emotion of their e$perience.
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Jim sat -uietly in the background and listened as the Bensons
continued to pour out their hearts to (orri and ed. ears had begun to
stream down (orri@s face and he could see the tiny -uivers darting
across the face of ed as the 6oly *pirit began to break through the wallof his heart.
6e thought on the wonderful and perfect steps of the (ord and how
6e had brought these two people to such a place at such a time to be 6is
ambassadors to this other couple whom 6e loved and for whom 6e
died. 8, could never have touched their hearts this way#8 Jim mused as
he began to silently intercede for ed and (orri. 6e rose and walked intothe house# leaving the friends alone to touch each other.
6e was leaning against the kitchen counter# sipping on his now'cold
coffee# when the phone rang. Jumping at the sound# Jim grabbed the
phone as though it were an intruder breaking into the special things of
5od taking place outside. 8ed#8 barked the unseen voice# 8this is the
BishopE8 he voice sputtered over Jim@s attempts to correctly identifyhimself. 8, have absolutely no intention of meeting with those apostates.
ell them that their names will be off our records as -uickly as , can act
on it... and ed# if you know what@s good for you and (orri# you better
get them off your property and out of your lives... for goodE8 he phone
went dead as Jim stared at it in amaement.
8:ho was thatD8 called (orri from the patio.
8Just the Bishop#8 Jim smiled broadly. 86e called to say that he won@t
be able to make it tonight.8
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0ppendices
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Creeds of Christianity
The Apostles' Creed
, believe in 5od the Cather 0lmighty# Maker of heaven and earth# and
in Jesus +hrist# 6is only *on# our (ord# who was conceived by the 6oly
5hostF born of the ;irgin MaryF suffered under Pontius PilateF was
crucified# dead# and buriedF 6e descended into hellF the third day 6e
rose again from the deadF 6e ascended into heaven and sits at the right
hand of 5od the Cather 0lmightyF from thence 6e shall come to /udge
the living and the dead.
, believe in the 6oly 5host# the holy +hristian church# the communion
of the saints# the forgiveness of sins# the resurrection of the body# and
the life everlasting. 0men.
The Nicene Creed
, believe in one 5od# the Cather 0lmighty# Maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible# and in one (ord Jesus +hrist# theonly'begotten of 6is Cather before all worlds# 5od of 5od# (ight of
(ight# ;ery 5od of ;ery 5od# Begotten# not made# being of one
substance with the Cather# by whom all things were madeF who for us
men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by
the 6oly 5host of the ;irgin Mary and was made manF and was crucified
also for us under Pontius Pilate.
6e suffered and was buriedF and the third day 6e rose again according
to *cripture and ascended into heaven# and sits at the right hand of the
CatherF and 6e shall come again in glory to /udge both the -uick and the
dead# whose kingdom shall have no end.
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0nd , believe in the 6oly 5host# the (ord and 5iver of life# who
proceeds from the Cather and the *on# who with the Cather and the *on
together is worshiped and glorified# who spoke by the prophets. 0nd ,
believe in one holy +hristian and apostolic church. , acknowledge one baptism unto the remission of sins# and , look for the resurrection of the
dead and the life of the world to come. 0men.
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LDS Support Documentation
)ature of *od
Achieving elestial Marriage Manual
;AM<# 19H# page17(GR
5od was once a mortal man. 6e lived on a planet
like our own. 6e e$perienced conditions similar toour own and advanced step by step.
Bruce R. Mc+onkie# Mormon Doctrine ;MD<#1HH# =77R
8Curther# as the Prophet also taught# there is 8a godabove the father of our (ord Jesus +hrist.... ,f Jesus+hrist was the son of 5od# and John discovered that5od the Cather of Jesus +hrist had a father# you may suppose that he had a father also. :as there ever ason without a fatherD8 2uoting Joseph *mith3.
AM page = :hat you are saying is that 5od became 5od byobedience to the 5ospel program# which culminates
in eternal marriage. Aes.8
Doctrine and ovenants;D*< 1=&?77
5od has a body of flesh and bones as tangible asman@s.
AMM page 17(5od is now an e$alted man with powers of eternalincrease. 6e lives in an e$alted Marriagerelationship.
AMM 17R# 1=&( :e are the literal +hildren of 5od# a part of hisfamily unit. :e lived with our heavenly parents before coming to earth.
AMM page "R(... 5iving birth to spirit children and setting them onthe road to e$altation. 0nd if this is to be done# youmust have an e$alted man and an e$alted woman.
MD page 7=(5od continues to progress# as his own creationse$pand and his spirit offspring multiply.
Pree+istence and ,ur #irst Estate
Moses =?%'9# #earl ofGreat #rice ;#G#<
4very form of life was created spiritually in Iolobfirst.
0braham =?77#7= #G# ,n the beginning we were all spirit children# living inthe presence of 5od# our heavenly father.
Jesus the hrist # Jamesalmage# 1H!# pages 1%'1H
James almage@s detailed e$planation of theprimeval council of the 5ods.
0braham =?7='7! #G# +ouncil called of all the leading spirits.
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0braham "?7%#7H #G# 5od proposed a plan for our progression.
0braham =?7"'7H #G# # D* 7?=#John 1H?7! IJ;#
Jeremiah 1?% IJ;
hat plan was for us to come to earth# and gainphysical bodies# to learn good from evil and to havethe free agency to choose which path we each
wanted to follow.Moses "?1'" #G# # 0braham =?79#7! #G# F,saiah 1"?17'19 IJ;
(ucifer# our elder brother# who desired glory# stoodup and proposed his own plan.
*pencer :. Iimball#8Jesus of Naareth#8 in %nsign# )ec. 1!& 2Cirst#Presidency message3#pages ='%.
6is trials were continuous. Perhaps his brother#(ucifer# had heard him say when he was still but alad of 17# 8:ist ye not that , must be about myCather@s businessD8 2(uke 7?"3.hen came the time when *atan thought to trip him.heir encounter in the previous world had been on
more e-ual terms# but now Jesus was young and*atan was e$perienced.
Moses "?1'= #G# (ucifer@s plan was to take away our free agency#force us to obey all the law. 6e wanted us to worshiphim.
Moses "?7 #G# Jesus stood and offered himself as our sin offering#giving man his free agency and the chance to attaineternal glory# or godhood with heavenly father.
0braham =?7! #G# 0ll the council voted No to (ucifer and Aes to Jesus.
0braham =?7! #G# # D* 7?=H'=9#Revelation#17?9'
(ucifer# very angry# persuaded one third of the spiritchildren to follow him and rebel against 5od andthe plan of Jesus. hey were cast from 5od@spresence and sent to this earth without bodies offlesh and blood.
MD page !7!# D* 7?=H'"1
)escribes the war in heaven# (ucifer sent here where he continues to battle against the saints.
Moses %?1H'"1 #G# # MD pages %7H'7!Moses 9?!'77 #G#
hose who were least valiant in pree$istence areknown in mortality as negroes. hey came to earththrough lineage of +ain# with black skins.
Creation of the Earth and ,ur Second Estate
D* 99?17#Moses 1?= #G# 0braham =?1 #G#
he earth was created# in the same fashion of many worlds# populated by intelligent people# in hisimage. Man would always be learning and growing.
0braham =?7'! #G# 5od tells 0braham about the control center# Iolob.
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Moses H?%1'H! #G# Moses =?19 #G# 5enesis =?"#% IJ; Moses "?17#1= #G#
he 5arden of 4den story. ells of the many godsinvolved.
Private letter dated Ceb.1# 1!1# page H
0postle Bruce R. Mc+onkie to Mr. 4ugene 4nglandat BA? 8Aes# President Aoung did teach that 0dam was the father of our spirits# and all the relatedthings that the cultists ascribe to him.8 Mc+onkiethen denies it is true# even though it is documentedin church records.
7 Nephi ?7%#7H +ook of Mormon# 0lma "7?19'71 +/M
he earth is controlled by laws. ,f we break one ofthem we must be punished.
Moses "?7'=1 #G# 0dam and 4ve are cast out of the 5arden.
Moses %?H' #G#
hey learn that their transgression was necessarythat man might live. 0dam is baptied# receives6oly 5host and the priesthood. 6e becomes the firstpatriarch.
MD %"HR'%"9(
<ur (ord is the only *on of the Cather in the flesh.4ach word is to be understood literally.... +hrist was begotten by an immortal father in the same way thatmortal men are begotten by mortal fathers.
MD 9"7(
5od is an immortal personage. +hrist is his literalson. here is nothing figurative about his paternity.
6e was begotten# conceived and born in the normaland natural course of events.
AMM page 7=%(
he (ord is now sending the +hoicest *pirits toearth. 8, see an improvement each few years in the young people of the +hurch. , believe that you arethe cream of all the spirits in the hosts of heavenand 5od has sent you here to do a great work82Mark 4. Petersen# BA address on Cebruary =#1%=3.
*odhood and ,ur Third Estate
MD =71(hat e$altation# which the saints of all ages have sodevoutly sought is 5odhood itself.
MD =71R Aou have got to learn how to be gods yourselves...the same as all gods have done before you 2-uotingJoseph *mith3.
&istory of hurch# ;ol. H# My Cather worked out 6is Iingdom with fear and
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page =&H
trembling# and , must do the sameF and when , getmy kingdom# , shall present it to My Cather# so that6e may obtain Iingdom upon Iingdom# and it wille$alt 6im in glory. 6e will then take a highere$altation# and , will take 6is place# and thereby
become e$alted myself.
AMM page =R
,f 5od became 5od by obedience to all of the gospellaw with the crowning point being the celestial lawof marriage# then that@s the only way , can become agod.
AMM 7&=(
he endowment is the celestial course ofinstruction# being enabled to give them the key words the signs and tokens# pertaining to thepriesthood and gain your eternal e$altation in spiteof earth and hell.
D* 17"?7!'7H#179?17!#17!?1%ff.
Baptism for the dead? the keys to the holypriesthood#ordained so you may receive honor andgloryF for their salvation the deadQ#is necessary andessential to our salvation.
D* 1=1 hree degrees of glory with celestial the highest.
Moses 1?= #G# his is my work and my glory>to bring to pass theimmortality and eternal life of man.
D* 1=7?1#7&hen shall they be 5ods# they shall have all power#the angels are sub/ect to them.
MD %7R# %=&(+elestial Marriage is the new and everlastingcovenant of marriage.
Newell and 0very# Mormon %nigma#2)oubleday# 1!"3
Book relates the aversions that 4mma *mith#Joseph@s wife# had to the law of plurality of wives.
Joseph Smith
ome =nto hrist # heMelchiedek PriesthoodManual# 1!"G1!!# pp.1='"%
,f we get our salvation# we shall have to pass by himFif we enter into our glory# it will be through theauthority that he has received. :e cannot getaround him.
D* 1?19#1! D* =%?19
5od called Joseph *mith and commanded him toproclaim the gospel. Cullness of gospel sent forth byJ*.
&istory of thehurch ;ol. H# pages "&!'
, have more to boast of than ever any man had. , amthe only man that has ever# been able to keep a
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& whole church together since the days of 0dam.....Neither Paul# John# Peter# nor Jesus ever did it. , boast that no man ever did such a work as ,.
Joseph *mith 2J*3 7?=&'
% #G#
he story# in Joseph@s own words# of Moroni@s visit#
the uncovering of the gold plates# and the eventualtranslation of the Book of Mormon.
J* 7?%%#%H #G# Joseph involved in treasure'seeking.
J* 7?19'7& #G# 0ll +hristian creeds were an abomination in hissight.
D* 7&?1#7 Joseph *mith commanded to organie the church.
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