Joseph Smith is Triggering Faith Crises Among Mormons

“So what happens when a believing Latter-day Saint finds out that Joseph Smith lied to the Church about his plural wives? What happens when a Mormon discovers that Joseph Smith coerced girls into polygamous unions? Or that Joseph Smith seduced his friends’ wives? Or that Joseph Smith couldn’t get his story straight when relating his First Vision? Or that Joseph Smith’s allegedly divine “translations” of LDS scriptures are fraught with problems? Or that Joseph Smith arrogantly taunted his critics, proclaiming, “If they want a beardless boy to whip all the world, I will get on the top of a mountain and crow like a rooster: I shall always beat them”? (See History of the Church, 6:408-412)”

The following article explains what is causing a crisis of faith among so many Mormons; they are learning the truth for the first time in their lives.

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By Sharon Lindbloom

22 February 2016

The Salt Lake Tribune recently conducted a survey, asking readers (Mormons) “if they have experienced a faith crisis, what triggered it and how they resolved it.” The newspaper received just over 1700 responses. The demographical breakdown was roughly in thirds: no longer members (538), inactive members (637), and still active members (532).

The faith-crisis triggers were also broken into three main groups: Joseph Smith’s history, historical polygamy/polyandry, and the LGBT policies of the modern Mormon Church. The first two categories really speak of the same issue: the troublesome history of Mormonism.

Joseph Smith’s instituting of polygamy, his own 3-dozen-plus wives, his marrying of women already married to other men (polyandry), his changing accounts of the First Vision, and concerns about his “translation” of LDS scriptures were cited by survey respondents as specific areas of concern to them. Learning Smith’s true history led to their crises of faith in Mormonism. And it’s no wonder.

The Church has long taught that Mormonism stands or falls on Joseph Smith.

“Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:188. Italics in original)

A current Mormon apostle conveyed the same idea when he wrote,

“Either the Book of Mormon is what the Prophet Joseph said it is, or this Church and its founder are false, a deception from the first instance onward…Joseph must be accepted either as a prophet of God or else as a charlatan of the first order…” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Christ and the New Covenant,” quoted in Ensign, September 2002, 14)

Joseph Smith is essential to Mormonism. The LDS Church cannot move away from the foundation laid by its first prophet. In 2005, when then-President Gordon B. Hinckley was asked why Joseph Smith’s teachings remain so important in this day and age, he said,

“Because they are the foundation of our faith. Everything we have is a lengthened shadow of Joseph Smith. He was the key figure in the restoration of the gospel as we have it, and our foundation of doctrine and practice and procedure all come down from him.” (“Moving Church forward with faith,” Church News, 3/19/05, 3)

In an Ensign article honoring Joseph Smith, Area Authority Seventy Tad R. Callister explained,

“The gospel is somewhat like a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. When young Joseph came on the scene, perhaps 100 pieces were already in place. Then the Prophet exercised his divine mantle and put most of the other 900 pieces together.” (“Prophet of the Restoration,” Ensign, June 2002, 64)

For Mormons, the gospel itself hangs on Joseph Smith. Without him and his contributions, only a fraction of God’s truth is available to mankind. Consequently, Mormons have been taught that Joseph Smith’s character and accomplishments rival those of Jesus Christ. Brigham Young said,

“Well, now, examine the character of the Savior, and examine the character of those who have written the Old and New Testaments; and then compare them with the character of Joseph Smith, the founder of this work… and you will find that his character stands as fair as that of any man’s mentioned in the Bible.” (Journal of Discourses, 14:203)

Continue reading at Mormonism Research Ministry

Random Articles About the LDS

I have just finished a post on “A Reference Blog,” which is a blog I started to be able to have links collected for various topics.  This new post is Links for Latter-day Saints Research.  I’ve been collecting these links over the years because they have been great for use in discussions where I can send people directly to them, and some are good for routine research (Utah Lighthouse Ministry is the best site in my opinion for researching Mormonism).  At any rate, any future links I find for which I’m not actually writing an article about will be posted on this reference post.  For those investigating Mormonism, start here and save yourself some Google search.

Okay, now for links I’ve already collected for THIS post:

This is a Test:  Joseph Smith and Deuteronomy 13.

Janis Hutchinson has posted part three of the series about the LDS practice of baptizing for the dead.

Should I pray about the Book of Mormon?  Short answer — NO!  That would be like praying if you should commit adultery.

The Utah Lighthouse Ministry has an on-line book available: “Mormon Claims Answered,” by Marvin W. Cowan.  Great information.

Mormonism Research Ministry has several videos available for free viewing on-line.  I own all but one of these and can vouch for the accuracy of the information provided, as well as recommending them for viewing by Mormons as well as by those who want to learn more about proving that Mormonism is a false belief system.

Lutheran Satire has some good videos questioning the LDS faith:

Mormonism and Islam compared.

Confronting Mormon missionaries.

Convincing Mormons in 40 seconds that they are bound for hell.

Enjoy the videos as you learn the truth about Mormonism.

Something To Think About

Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet claim that “God is the giver of he law, the author and maker of it.”  This statement could only make sense if the God of Mormonism was eternally God.  Since he was not, he cannot be credited with making laws that are eternal.

Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson, "Mormonism 101," pg.40

Unorthodox Teachings of Brigham Young

What many might not know is that [Brigham] Young is responsible for some of the most unorthodox teachings imaginable.  For example, in 1857 he taught that Jesus Christ “was more or less contaminated with fallen nature” and that Christ was “influenced by this nature that we have received” (Journal of Discourses 6:95-96).  In 1859, he confessed that his God was “once a man in mortal flesh” (Journal of Discourses 7:333), which had been taught by Joseph Smith in 1844

Young also taught that every person is required to “have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are” (Journal of Discourses 7:238.  See also Search These Commandments, 1984, p.133)

Unlike the more politically correct LDS Church of today, Young did not hold back in making it clear that those outside his church were not true Christians.  In 1863, he insisted that the reason Mormons “differ from other Christians, as they are called, is simply because they [non-Mormons] are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity” (Journal of Discourses 10:230)

In fact, he taught that “the Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the salvation of God” (Journal of Discourses 8:171)

While some would like to dismiss Young’s teachings, he did not allow for that option:  “If there is an Elder here, or any member of this Church. . . who can bring up the first idea, the first sentence that I have delivered to the people as counsel that is wrong, I really wish they would do it; but they cannot do it, for the simple reason that I have never given counsel that is wrong; this is the reason” (Journal of Discourses 16:161). 

From Mormonism Research Ministry’s “Temple Square Free Visitor’s Guide”

What Child Is This? The LDS Christmas Story

Posted at Mormon Coffee, on December 24, 2015 by Sharon Lindbloom, but definitely needs to be posted wherever possible!

It was long ago, two thousand years, when sweet baby Jesus was born. Although every baby is cherished by his parents and grandparents and siblings and cousins, this little boy was precious to all the world. The story began in Nazareth…

The Old Testament patriarch Noah, who had died long ago and been resurrected as an angel named Gabriel,1 was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. There he appeared to one of the noblest and greatest of all the spirit offspring of God the Father,2 a young virgin girl whose name–Mary–had been foretold in 124 B.C.3 Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.

The angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Hail, you virgin, who are highly favored of the Lord, the Lord is with you: for you are chosen and blessed among women.”4 But Mary was troubled and pondered about this salutation. Gabriel told her not to be afraid; she had found favor with God. He said, “Behold, you will conceive and bear a son,5 and shall call his name, in the ‘pure language,’ Son Ahman.6 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest. And you, Mary, will be the mother of God.”7

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

Gabriel answered and said, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon you and sanctify you, and make you holy, and prepare you to endure the presence of ‘the Highest.’8 Then shall your Heavenly Father, who was your literal father in the pre-existence, overshadow you. For you know that He is a Holy Man and Adam is His name. He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do. A personage of flesh and bone, He shall beget this Son in the same manner as Cain and Abel and all the other sons and daughters of Adam and Eve were begotten.9 The Christ Child shall be the result of ‘natural action’–flesh and blood, begotten of his Father as we were of our fathers.10 A miracle–though not in violation of natural law–the literal offspring of this ‘celestial Sireship’11 shall be called the ‘Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh.'”12

Mary was concerned because of her betrothal to Joseph. The angel explained, “You and the Father will associate together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence, you will be, for at least a time, the lawful wife of God the Father. After He is finished with you, the Father will give you to Joseph. God will be your first husband.13 Then shall it be said, ‘The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband.'”14

And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Before Mary and Joseph came together Mary was found to be with child by God the Father. Joseph, not wanting Mary to be disgraced, planned to ‘divorce’ her quietly. But an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a vision15 and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which has been conceived in her, while it was not done without the aid of Man, that Man was God!16 And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will, by his perfect example, show the people how to fulfill the plan of salvation.”17 Now all this took place that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “A God with us.”18 The angel said, “Mary will still be called a virgin both before and after she gives birth19 because the Father of her child is immortal.”20 Therefore, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

It came about in those days that Caesar Augustus required a census be taken of all the earth and everyone was proceeding to each their own city to register. Joseph and Mary journeyed together to the land of Jerusalem,21 to the city of Bethlehem, in order to fulfill the requirement.

While they were at Jerusalem, on the 6th day of April,22 it was time for Mary’s baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son, who had been her elder brother in the pre-existence,23 and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was none to give room for them in the inns.24

Now, this was the second birth of Jesus, for He was already the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Parents.25 He had attained unto the status of Godhood while yet in the premortal existence.26 Whereas, at the time of His mortal birth Jesus was no longer an infant spirit, it was necessary that His spirit be compressed, or diminished in size, so He could be enclosed in His infant body.27 As a result, Jesus forgot everything about His former life.28 Nevertheless, He was the Son of God and the sign which had been promised came to pass: the sun set in America on the night of Christ’s birth, but there was no darkness; it was light as though it was mid-day even until the rising of the sun the next morning.29

But around Jerusalem/Bethlehem it was dark and there were some shepherds out in the fields keeping night watch over their flock. An angel of the Lord appeared to them causing them to be very frightened. The shepherds desired to determine what manner of being this was, therefore they requested he shake hands. For they knew they would feel the flesh and bone of a true angel’s hand; if they could not feel it they would know he was the devil posing as an angel of light.30 Thereby detecting that this was a messenger from God, the shepherds allowed the angel to proceed.

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you the God of this world.31 He will be called ‘the Prince of Peace, who is also the Prince of Glory and the Prince of Eternal Progress.’32 He will atone for the sins of all mankind in the Garden of Gethsemane,33 and through His gift will come resurrection for the dead for all, and a greater and more enlarged opportunity for eternal life for those who will walk in obedience to His commandments.34 And no one will do a greater work than Jesus until the advent of the Prophet Joseph Smith.35 But take care that you not be led astray. For the time will come when much that is believed and taught about the cleansing power of Christ’s blood will be such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it will be to lose your salvation. In that day many will believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept Him as our personal Savior, we will thereby be saved. They will say that His blood, without any other act than mere belief, makes us clean.36 Be not deceived. Each of you will have to work very hard to qualify for your eternal potential.”37 Suddenly there appeared a heavenly host of persons who had been resurrected from the dead38 praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest.” And it came to pass when the angels had gone away that the shepherds hastily found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Christ Child as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known everything which had been revealed to them about the babe. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

Dear reader, what child is this?

The LDS Christmas Story was gathered and compiled from the teachings of Mormon Church leaders. It speaks of a Father and Son who are not found in the Biblical narrative of Christ’s birth. It brings the sad news that our salvation depends upon our own righteousness instead of the perfect righteousness of Jesus. The gift God gave that night, according to the LDS Christmas story, provided resurrection to judgement for all the world and an example to follow in order to make oneself worthy of the highest heaven.

Yet God tells a different story. He says it is impossible for us to be worthy of heaven on our own merit; all have sinned and our righteousness is as filthy rags before Him. But the blessed Gift God gave to us on that marvelous holy night was no less than His Promise fulfilled. Jesus Christ–God incarnate–had come, not to show us the way, but to be the Way. He came to a world dead in sin to give us life eternal. Let all who are alive in Christ echo Mary’s song, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.”

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

1.  Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 157

2.  Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 471

3.  Book of Mormon, Mosiah 3:8

4.  Joseph Smith Translation (hereafter JST), Luke 1:28

5.  JST, Luke 1:31-32

6.  Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses (hereafter JD), 2:342

7.  Book of Mormon, 1 Ne. 11:18, 1830 edition, 25

8.  Orson Pratt, The Seer, Washington D.C. edition, 158

9.  Brigham Young, JD, 1:50-51. Though Young taught the Adam/God doctrine, the LDS Church officially denies it. It is not currently part of LDS theology.

10.  Brigham Young, JD, 8:115

11.  James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 81

12.  Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, 12/94, 4

13.  Orson Pratt, The Seer, 158

14.  Brigham Young, JD, 11:268

15.  JST Matthew 1:20

16.  Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:18

17.  Uniform System for Teaching the Gospel, 1-6

18.  LDS Bible Dictionary, 681, “God”

19.  The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 7

20.  Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 822

21.  Book of Mormon, Alma 7:10

22.  James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 104; see JD 13:127 for Pratt’s calculated date of April 11.

23.  Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, 43

24.  JST Luke 2:7

25.  Orson Pratt, JD, 18:290

26.  “What the Mormons Think of Christ,” Pamphlet published by the LDS Church, 1976, 25

27.  Orson Pratt, JD, 16:334

28.  Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:33

29.  Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 1:19

30.  Doctrine & Covenants 129

31.  Ezra Taft Benson, quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, 5/92, 89

32.  Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, 2/95, 77

33.  Gospel Principles, 1988, 58. Current LDS teaching suggests the atonement was accomplished in both the Garden and on Calvary.

34.  Gordon B. Hinckley, Church News, 7/1/95, 4

35.  Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:408-9

36.  “What the Mormons Think of Christ,” 19-20

37.  James E. Faust, Ensign, 11/95, 46

38.  LDS Bible Dictionary, 608, “Angels.”

—

This article originally appeared in the winter 1995 edition of A Word in Season.

Random Good Articles About Mormonism

As usual, most of these articles will come from Mormonism Research Ministry.

Mormons claim they don’t worship Joseph Smith, but their hymns prove that is a lie.  Smith is treated as a god.

Which “First Vision” story is correct?  NONE.

Can Mormon families be together forever?

Neither your neighborhood Mormon nor the ones who come to your door are useful for knowing what true LDS teachings are.

Sexual Morality in Old Mormon Nauvoo.  Just a small example of the history of the rampant sexual immorality caused by Joseph Smith’s teaching about polygamy.

How can one really “get past Joseph Smith’s history” when his history proves what a hypocritical false prophet he was?!?!

Salvation by grace?

What about the translating of the Book of Mormon?

Why is the Mormon Church not excommunicating Marriott?  Money, most likely.

When a Mormon tells you about their history and claims the Missourians were to blame for the Mormon war there, tell them the truth about what transpired.

What about the Mormon lie that Constantine decided what books went into the Bible?

Janis Hutchinson has a series on the doctrine of baptism for the dead:

MORMON BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD: AFTER YOU DIE WILL THE LDS CHURCH BAPTIZE YOU?

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD: JOSEPH SMITH AND THE GNOSTICS PT 2

My History In and Out of the LDS

I was raised with no religious belief system, although I had learned there was a God and was given a KJV Bible for Christmas 1959 when I was 7.  For a short time while I was elementary-aged, my mother sent us to Vacation Bible School, so I did learn some Bible stories, and the public schools back then still did Christmas programs.  So I learned about some guy named Jesus who was born to a virgin (whatever that was) and as he got old he carried around a lamb.  Some guy named Noah had a big boat full of animals and some guy named Jonah got swallowed by a whale.  Stuff like that.  The last time I saw a church I was about 11.  Then my parents divorced.  My mom got the 3 girls, my dad got us two boys.  So that was the end of my religious experience. 

My Dad met a Mormon lady when we moved to Colorado and she led him to join the Mormon church.  At that time I was 12, so I had no idea what it was except that my Dad talked about going to church.  Although he took my brother once or twice (if I remember right), he never took me to church, nor did he talk about what they taught or did there.

Because we moved from place to place and ended up in housing projects, where we were the only "Anglos" in a Mexican environment and so got ganged up on and beat up regularly, I often wondered if there was such a thing as God.

When I was in my 11th year of school (16 years old)  I read a new book by Erich Von Daniken titled, "Chariots of the Gods."  I sat with my KJV Bible and began looking at it  - as revealed to me in that book.  I accepted everything Von Daniken said (I had been a dedicated Sci-Fi fan for years) as the true interpretation of the Bible: God was a spaceman. This was my theology when I entered the Army at 18 years old in June of 1970.

During September 1970 I began training to be a Combat Engineer at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.  I saw one of my platoon members, Ralph Bennett, taking a shower wearing funny-looking underwear, so I asked him about it and he told me it was his temple garment.  From that point on he began teaching me about the LDS church.  

Ralph was a musician, and he and I were selected for membership in the 1st EAIT Brigade Soldier's Chorus, which performed in the protestant chapel.  Ralph had written a piano piece about the First Vision, which he taped for me and I kept for a few years.  Anyway, since I knew my Dad was a Mormon, I decided it must be a true faith.  And the idea of a god who was once a man, now living near the star Kolob, fit very well with my Sci-Fi theology.  So I readily accepted the faith and was baptized that November.  If I rightly recall, we had someone pick us up and take us to town for the ceremony, since there was no LDS church on post. 

From that point on I studied my Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl Of Great Price regularly.  I had been given two little pocket-sized books, specially made for military guys, which I kept in my ammo pouch during field exercises over the next year.  (I gave my pocket BOM to a Mormon lady almost 20 years later, and the other little book, "Principles of the Gospel," I still have - as well as my original D&C). It was very difficult to attend Mormon services while training at Ft. Leonard Wood, and I really don't remember much, except that Ralph and I regularly went to the Protestant Chapel but did our own studying together in our barracks.  He taught me much about the faith; he had been a missionary prior to joining the Army, and was probably the most devout Mormon I ever knew.  He had open heart surgery as a child, which prevented him from participating in a lot of activities, so he mastered the piano and learned his theology. 

Ralph and I transferred to Ft. Benning, GA, together for Jump School at the end of November.  Due to an Army foul-up, I got dropped from the class and was rescheduled for the next one.  When Ralph finished his three weeks it was the last time I ever saw him, although we kept in touch by mail for almost another year.  

I really don't remember my church life at Ft. Benning except that I continued studying my BOM, D&C and POGP.  My class was not to start until the first week of Jan 1971, so I had a month doing guard duty and KP.  I remember going to church with Ralph until his departure, but I don't think it was on post - those times of my life are sort of hazy.  I do remember taking the Sacrament.

On Christmas Eve, 1970, I was on overnight guard duty at the property disposal branch.  It was a very clear, cold night.  I had my cassette player in my field jacket with an earphone, and I was playing Ralph's tape which included the piece about the First Vision, and I got on my knees and prayed to God that he would reveal Himself to me like He did to Joseph Smith.  My prayer was answered the following year -- just not the way I expected. 

I also remember a Captain who was part of our group of Mormons (not that many) who helped me out during Christmas time.  I was flat broke as a private making about $100 per month and I had the week after Christmas off.  When this captain discovered I was staying on post because of my lack of funds, he had me over to his house with his family one night and then gave me money to pay for a round-trip bus fare to go home to Springfield, OH, to spend time with my mom. 

Jump school commenced in January with the largest class in history, beginning with 1500 and ending with 1000 of us graduating on the drop zone.  During this time Ralph had gone to Ft. Bragg for Special Forces training and suffered a heart attack, which led to a trip to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and then he was given a medical discharge.  I finished Jump School the last week of January and was sent to Ft. Bragg, NC, where I stayed until leaving the Army four years later.

There were no other Mormons in my unit, and I had difficulty getting transport into town for services.  I mostly just studied my books, practiced the Word of Wisdom, and communicated regularly with Ralph, while attending services was infrequent.
  

Late that summer/early fall - I think it was about September 1971 - I was in town on a Saturday with some friends and I went into a Christian book store.  There I found, in a tract rack, a tract that was titled "What Mormons Believe," and I believe it was by Walter Martin. This tract raised several questions in my mind, since the author was presenting passages from the Bible compared to LDS teachings on various subjects.  Two things that I remember as standing out were the fact that God had sex with Mary to provide the body for Jesus to take on, and that Jesus and Satan were brothers.  By logic, Jesus and Satan had to be brothers by the pre-existence doctrine, but I guess I had never given that aspect much thought and now it bothered me.  As for Mary, she was supposed to be a virgin when she conceived, since that is what I knew of the Christmas story.  

When I did talk to the men at church (ranks, positions I cannot remember), I was told to quit reading "anti-Mormon propaganda."  I was told that Mary was a virgin to mortal man, but that God was immortal.  This disturbed me greatly because I don't care how you slice it, once a woman has had sex, with mortal or immortal man, she is no longer a virgin and there is nothing miraculous about the birth.  I wrote Ralph with my concerns and got the same responses as the church leaders gave me - not much more than a brush off.   So I pursued the Scriptures more and more (thank God for that Gideon’s New Testament I got upon entering service, since my old Bible had been left home), and was more and more puzzled by what I found. 

Over the next few months I gave up going to church and spent more time studying the BOM compared to the Bible, and I had my mom send me my Bible so I would have the O.T. also.  I went to the library on post and found a book that you would label "anti-Mormon," and it gave what I considered solid evidence as to the history of Joseph Smith's necromancy, the fraudulent nature of his claims to have spoken to God, as well as problems with the BOM.  By March of 1972 I decided I no longer believed in the LDS faith and told Ralph as much.  I didn't hear from him again until much later when I got the announcement of his marriage in the Salt Lake City Temple. 

I never again attended worship at an LDS church, and in fact I gave up on religion altogether because I didn't want to be taken in by another false system.  I got drunk once (and it was really bad - a fifth of Southern Comfort Whiskey chased with a large part of a fifth of Vodka, and then prayed to a God I wasn't sure existed that if he didn't let me die I would never drink again. I lived and never again drank alcohol.), got into pornography, and became a foul-mouthed GI in rebellion against this God who would let me get suckered into a cult. 

Since my arrival at Ft. Bragg I had been in B Company of the 27^th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne) as a demolition specialist, and had excelled at all my duties, including graduating number one from a leadership academy, and winning Soldier of the Month at Battalion and Regiment levels.  This gave me a reputation for being a top-notch soldier.   My platoon sergeant was transferred to Headquarters Company as the Operations Sergeant, and when his clerk got out of the Army he asked me to replace him.  This job would relieve me of guard duty and K.P. and I would be given a “Top Secret” clearance, so I took the job and was attached to HQ as the Operations and Training Clerk in March of 1973.

My desk was by the front door, and everyone coming in had to pass by me.  The Battalion Training Sergeant was a young man named Daniel Cook, and he was a Christian.  Every morning he would pass my desk with, “Good morning, Chatfield” (and later “Good morning, Glenn”) and I would always respond with, “What’s so *%$^((*& good about it?”  To which Dan would kindly respond with, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

This would always irritate me to where I would mock him.  I thought he was some sort of Jesus freak, but he was a very nice guy nevertheless.  Sometimes I would take my lunch to my office and be alone reading a “girlie” magazine when he would come by and tell me how that magazine would “rot” my brain.

One day early in the fall Dan invited me to play soccer with a bunch of his friends on the weekend, and he said they’d teach me how.  So I went, and over the next few weeks became an excellent goalie.  The one thing that was strange was that they always prayed before playing, and Dan told me their group was called the Navigators.  

It was sometime in November that Dan invited me to a Bible study with the Navigator group.  I told him about my Mormon experience and that I wasn’t interested, but he convinced me that they (his Bible study group) could demonstrate that they had the truth, and that they were not a cult.  So I went to the meetings, and they were careful to show the context of everything.  I finally decided that what they were teaching was indeed true and I finally accepted Jesus as my savior, and was born again in January of 1974. 

Since that time my heart has been for the Mormons, to hopefully lead them to the truth as I meet them. I began studying the LDS faith in depth after leaving the Army, and have acquired a substantial library of official Mormon materials, let alone also lots of what you would label "anti-Mormon."

I was never excommunicated because I just quit going to church. I never asked to have my name removed from the records of the LDS church, although I suppose I should have - I have often thought about it but haven't bothered to go about the process. 

So, was I an authentic Mormon? Well, my experience and dedication would say that I certainly was. You may want to dispute that because of my short duration (about 1 1/2 years) and you are welcome to your opinion. 

Random Articles from Mormonism Research Ministry

I’ve been sort of busy with so many other things these past few weeks (such as with my apologetics blog) that I’ve not had a chance to post articles here.  I have, however, been collecting links to good articles which expose the Mormon Church for the fraud that it is.

Now, I know anyone can to to Mormonism Research Ministry’s web site or their blog site and read search for various articles, but to save time I want to point out specific subjects of interest so as to get more people informed for countering the false teachings of the LDS.

A story I had never before heard or read is “The Transfiguration of Brigham Young.”  The myths that the LDS develop can be quite amusing.  But then, the whole church is built on myths and lies.

There is not one bit of evidence from history or archaeology to verify the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.  Nothing.  But facts have never stood in the way of Mormons.

More information about Joseph Smith’s use of a “seer stone.”  (Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry also has a short article on this topic.)

Mormons abuse the Bible (of course) to “prove” they are the one and only true Christian church.  A commenter on a blog I follow posted a list of items which if any other church fulfilled he would leave the LDS, but the list he gave was all done by abusing Scripture so as to fit only the LDS.  This article on Mormon Coffee has a similar list, which the blog addresses as to why they are abusing the Bible.

One of the earlier articles I wrote for this blog was “The Non-Virgin Virgin Mary of Mormonism.”  This article pretty much summed up all the teachings from various Mormon leaders about how Mary had sexual intercourse with “God the Father” in order to provide normal conception for Jesus.  Mormon Coffee posted a short article about the same topic, ending with a link to the same article I used as my reference.

One of the things I’ve pointed out in LDS teaching is their need to be humble for salvation, and yet the humility they are required to demonstrate is something really unattainable.  Just when are they “sufficiently humble”?

Mormons will always press you to read the Book of Mormon and the pray about it to receive a testimony as to its veracity.  If you don’t come to the right conclusion, it is because of YOUR lack of faith, YOUR lack of sincerity, etc.  It is NEVER, according to the Mormons, due to the fraudulent nature of the BOM.  Excellent article about this issue can be found here.

Random Articles About The Latter-day Saints

The first three articles for today are at Mormon Coffee, the blog of Mormonism Research Ministry.

First, here is a video which demonstrates the real differences between Biblical/Christian salvation and Mormon “eternal life.”  The former is real while the later is non-existent.

You really have to feel sorry for those deceived Mormons. They all look to their temples, and desire to be able to be temple worthy — especially those who want to be married “eternally” in their temples.  But, the list of requirements necessary to qualify makes it very difficult to get a “temple recommend”.  Consequently, a huge majority of LDS members will never have the opportunity to attend any service or work in a temple.  This is why there are HUGE numbers of Mormons who visit new temples before they’ve been consecrated (they are also open to the public for tours, and I toured the Nauvoo Temple in 2002).  The carrot is always there, but never able to be eaten by these people.  How sad for them never to fulfill their religious desires — and how sad that they don’t realize that this is just a part of their false belief system which keeps them from real salvation.

Very, very interesting story about the whole history behind the Book of Mormon plates.  It’s a 46-minute video, but well worth it.   How Mormons can watch this story and not understand the fraudulent nature of the BOM story and the entire lie of the LDS church is beyond me.  They remain deceived because they are invested in the lie and can’t admit they’ve been had.

The sad fact of the Mormon view of salvation is that it is extremely complex, and one can really never know if they are saved.  Midwest Christian Outreach apologetics ministry for many years has a good almost quarterly journal, one of the issues of which had an excellent article on the LDS salvation teaching.  It is now on-line here.

Of course for the LDS, the “First Vision” is the foundation of their belief system.  If that “First Vision” never happened, then their entire system is fraudulent.  I’ve give brief examinations into the “First Vision” story in previous articles, demonstrating how many versions of the “First Vision” there really are, which alone demonstrates it was made up years after the fact.  The Utah Lighthouse Ministry has a good synopsis of the “Evolution of the First Vision and Teaching on God in Early Mormonism.”

One has to wonder why the Mormon Church is now releasing photos of Joseph Smith’s “seer stone.”  I guess they don’t see a problem with Smith needing an occultic device for “translating” the Book of Mormon.  I’d sure like them to give a biblical example where a seer stone is used by any of God’s people.

Mormons are always asking people to read the Book of Mormon and then pray to God about it to see if it is true.  I’ve always said that is analogous to praying to God to see if it is okay to commit adultery.  This article tells you why we should NOT pray about it.

How To Handle Demons

Now I will tell you, I have about a hundred shots on hand all the time -- three or four fifteen shooters and three or four revolvers, right here in the room where I sleep; and the Devil does not like to sleep there, for he is afraid they will go off half-cocked.

If you will lay a bowie knife or a loaded revolver under your pillow every night, you will not have many unpleasant dreams, nor be troubled with the nightmare; for there is nothing that the Devil is so much afraid of as a weapon of death.

President Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p.164.  Cited in “Mormonism, Mama & Me,” by Thelma “Granny” Geer, p.190


Wow, Satan is easily overthrown by mere pistols and knives!  Who'd a-thunk!