TEMPLE

Reason 27

Christians believe our bodies are the temple. Mormons agree, but also believe the temple is a building to perform sacred ordinances.


     Acts 17:24
God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 


     1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

     1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

     2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

     Ephesians 2:19-22
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 

     Ephesians 3:17
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

The Old Testament Temple was actually used for animal sacrifice, not marriage, baptism, or other ceremonies. Christ fulfilled the OT use of the temple. We are now the spiritual temple of God.

     And article about Temples
mormonhandbook.com/home/temples

     A video about Temples
ldsvideo.org/2011/04/mormon-temple

Mormons claim they are the one true church as they have "the temple." They overlook the fact that God tore the veil of the temple when Christ died (signifying the entrance into the holy of Holies). Now a person can come to the throne room of God through faith in Christ who is represented as the veil. The old temple ritual is over! The Mormons are trying to sew the curtain back up. (Let the Scriptures Speak, p. 40, Suzanne Bishop)

     Mormon Doctrine, p. 779
Temples are holy sanctuaries wherein sacred ordinances, rites, and ceremonies are performed which pertain to salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of God. 

The temple is a necessity because they [LDS] believe that certain ordinances are only effective when performed in the temple. (Approaching Mormons in Love, pp. 45-48, Wilbur Lingle)

A few of these ordinances are

1. Celestial Marriage
2. Endowments
3. Sealings
4. Other Ordinances - where the living perform the ordinances for their dead relatives or others to help them achieve exaltation.

I attended the temple many times while I was lds. Every time was just as unsettling as the time before. I always felt extremely uncomfortable inside the temple. The clothes, signs, tokens, ordinances, prayers, etc. were very troubling to me. Friends who were also members continued telling me, "Just keep going back. It will begin to make sense if you attend often enough with a sincere heart." Well, it never began to make sense to me. It only brought up more questions that no one would answer.

My unanswered question was:

Since the Bible tells us in Acts 17:24 that God does not dwell in temples made with hands, why does the lds church build temple after temple to perform sacred ceremonies?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that the true God really does not dwell in lds temples, yet overjoyed to find the truth that He now dwells in my heart! I certainly do not need to attend a temple to have God with me.

GOD IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE

Reason 26

A major reason I joined the LDS church was the fact that it made so much sense. Everything was logical. There were no more mysteries about God, Heaven, or my purpose in life. The missionaries continued teaching how the Presbyterian Church was missing doctrines and important truths. In fact, they taught that all other churches were an abomination and were missing pieces of the Christian puzzle. The lds belief is: their church is the only church on earth that has the fullness of the gospel containing the complete truth. The lds church has God all figured out, and they are able to comprehend everything about Him.

However, the Bible tells us God's understanding is infinite and unsearchable.
     Psalm 147:5
"Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."

     Isaiah 40:28
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable."

     Isaiah 55:8
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
          (~ Chuck Smith ~ I will vouch for that. I don't understand so many times why God does the things He does. His thoughts are not my thoughts. Nor are His ways my ways. I would do many things much differently. I wouldn't do them more wisely; I'd just do them differently. But you see, the difference between God's thoughts and my thoughts, and God's ways and my ways, is that God knows the end from the beginning. Therefore, He doesn't do something and wonder if it's right. When He does it, He knows it's right. Now the way I do things, I do them and I hope it's right. And sometimes it is. But many times it isn't. But when I started doing it, I was sure it was.
So many times I think that this is the best way; and then I find out it isn't. There was a much better way. ~ Blue Letter Bible Commentary by Chuck Smith)

     1 Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

In contrary to the Biblical teaching of God, Joseph Smith taught the following:
     When we comprehend the character of God, we comprehend ourselves and know how to approach Him.....If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 39-41)

A good friend told me how sad she is that God is unreachable to me. It breaks my heart to know she misunderstands me entirely. Never in my Christian life have I said or felt God is unreachable. As a Mormon, I didn't even know who God really was, so I certainly had no idea it was possible for Him to reach me. As a Christian, I am now able to allow God into my life instead of constantly attempting to reach God myself. As a Mormon, I would strive so hard every single day to make sure God knew how hard I was trying to be perfect, or live a life free of sin. But somehow, I never ever felt good enough to receive God's love. I wasn't even sure I would end up in heaven when I died. I always felt I did not deserve God's love because I was not good enough nor was I trying hard enough. This was a never-ending battle I dealt with as a Mormon. I am so incredibly grateful for my time as a Mormon because it gave me the knowledge I have now. Just because our human minds are incapable of comprehending God, does not mean we do not have the capability of allowing God to reach us. We will never be able to comprehend God's wisdom, love, and understanding until we are in His presence.

I know God is omniscient. Webster's definition of omniscient: having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight; possessed of universal or complete knowledge.

In Christianity, God reaches down to man. In Mormonism, man attempts to reach God. ~ Suzanne Bishop

My unanswered question was:

If the Bible tells us God's understanding is infinite and unsearchable, why does the lds church insist to have Him all figured out?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that the lds church does not have the Christian God figured out, yet overjoyed to find the truth that no human has the capability to understand God. The flaws were not in me; the flaws were in the teachings I was receiving from the lds church. I finally know God, and I am extremely grateful to have Him in my life every second of every day! I am so Blessed to have gone on such a heartbreaking yet wonderful journey, because now I know God loves me despite my imperfections!

TITHING

Reason 25

Growing up as a Presbyterian, I was taught that Tithing is 10% of ourselves, not solely income. When we gave our time, our talents, our knowledge, our love, etc. it was all considered tithing. We were not required to pay 10% of our entire income as the lds church requires.

     D&C 119:3-4
And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people. And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.

     The following link is from For the Strength of Youth, a small booklet given to all youth of the lds church.
lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/tithes-and-offerings

     From lds.org
lds.org/scriptures/gs/tithes-tithing
The Guide to the Scriptures
Tithes, Tithing
A tenth part of a person's annual increase given to the Lord through the Church. Tithing funds are used to build churches and temples, to sustain missionary work, and to build the kingdom of God on earth.


He that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming, D&C 64:23 (D&C 85:3)
Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.

It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God.
(D&C 85:3)
The Lord's house will be built by the tithing of his people, D&C 97:11-12
Yea, let it be built speedily, by the tithing of my people. Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto me for the salvation of Zion-


Tithing shall be disposed of by a council, D&C 120
Verily, thus saith the Lord, the time is now come, that it shall be disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen.

     Talk from October 2002 General Conference -- Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings, Robert D. Hales
lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/tithing-a-test-of-faith-with-eternal-blessings

Not one ounce of my being believes that a person who does not tithe 10% of their income will be burned at His coming. I also do not believe God would deny Heaven to someone who has not tithed 10% of their entire income during their lifetime.

My unanswered question was:

Why would I pay tithing first, even when I don't have enough money to meet my other needs?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that tithing should not be my first sacrifice, yet overjoyed to find the truth that I should sacrifice myself first and foremost. By taking care of my family, God will take care of us even more! My first priority as a mother is to take care of my husband and children. God does not need 10% of my "income." He needs 100% of ME!

SPIRIT

Reason 24

In a few words, the Light of Christ was not in me. I felt so numb as if I was only going through the motions. There was so much emphasis on all the extra things within the church when Christ should have been the number one focus. Those extra things were Primary/Young Women activities, Relief Society, Enrichment, the Temple, Home/Visiting Teaching, meeting after meeting, etc. I could go on. There were so many redundant activities and it just got SO stale. Christ certainly does not want us having stale lives. There was so much preaching on how to serve and when to serve that I was doing all those things because I was told to or because it was my calling instead of doing everything out of the kindness of my heart or because I actually wanted to.

CALLINGS

I did enjoy some callings, but for the most part, I dreaded them. I wanted to know before I accepted a calling "how much time is this going to take away from my family? Will I be working with the same age group I have for 40 hours during my work week?" These things were normally not considered by church leadership. I am not referring to all; however, the majority did not consider those things. They were just trying to fill an open position. I think we get more out of choosing to grow in certain areas ourselves rather than being called by church leaders into specific callings. I do understand members should pray about callings prior to accepting them. However, only the Lord and I know the areas I need strengthening in.

MOST IMPORTANT COMMANDMENT

The scriptures tell us to serve out of the kindness of our heart, not because we are told to or because it's our calling. I was doing "good works" for all the wrong reasons, as I believe many Mormons do. As a whole, I did not feel genuine, self-giving love in the church. There was way too much contention for me. So much bickering and complaining and competition...Love was certainly not the sole reason for the good works of many of the members. And since I have shared my blog with the world, it is very clear to me that many Mormons do not do or say things out of a love for God. Mormons are the ones who are bad mouthing me and putting me down, not the Christians. The Christians are encouraging and uplifting. There are a few Mormons who have been accepting of my decision to share my story. However, in general, the Mormons are the ones who disagree with my blog and my decision to share my life story with others. Temple attendance, home/visiting teaching and service were also not being done out of a Love for God. I was doing all these "works" because if I didn't, I wouldn't be good enough and ultimately would not make it to the celestial kingdom. And that's not how Christ and church should make us feel. The Savior would not say any one of us is not good enough. So why would a church?

     Romans 10:9-10
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

     Romans 13:8
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

     Romans 8:1-12
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

     Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

     Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself:' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

     Matthew 5:38-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

     1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

     1 John 4:20-21
If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Do as you believe. Love God and love each other, even if you disagree with their decisions. Those that love have fulfilled the law. That's all you need to do! And that's what He means by being rewarded by our works. How do we love? Do we love our enemies? Do we love those that disagree with our beliefs? Do we love those who have turned away from our church? Do we love those who have been open and honest about their true feelings of another's church?
I do, even those who have said hateful words to me. Just because I completely disagree with your church and your beliefs, does not mean I feel that way towards you. I still love you no matter what you choose to believe.

FORCING FAITH

A wise friend of mine says, "no church can force people to develop their faith." Well, no church should have to try to force people to develop their faith. If the church is teaching and doing what it should be teaching and doing, then people's faith will come naturally through their love of Christ. LDS preach so much about the importance of Joseph Smith, the temple, prayer, scripture study, selfless service, sacrifice, good works, what you should or should not be doing, etc., that they were definitely attempting to force me to develop my faith. The only thing I need and want to hear, as well as be taught to my children, is how much Christ loves us. That is the ONLY thing that needs to be preached endlessly, nothing else. If this is understood, then everything else will come naturally without having to be told or forced to do it again and again, over and over.

SACRAMENT

I felt as though sacrament was very stale, very boring, and very repetitive. My heart told me I need to really worship the Lord. My favorite way to worship the Lord is through music, and LDS music did not fulfill my worshiping needs. I am so blessed to finally be involved with a church that truly worships the LORD! Every song I sing is about One Person and One Person only; My Savior!

My unanswered question was:

If the lds church is the one true church, then why did I feel such a struggle within myself to try harder and study more and pray more and do more good works, etc.? Why did all those things not come completely naturally to me as they do now, with a desire to do them for myself and my relationship with Christ?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that the lds church is not the one true church, yet overjoyed to find the truth that my spirit and my relationship with My Savior are both much stronger without a denomination! All I need is my relationship with Him, and I am so very blessed to have that now! He is with me every step of the way, and unfortunately, I was unable to say that as a Mormon.
PRAISE GOD!

MARRIAGE

Reason 23

According to the Bible, there will be no marriage in Heaven.
Marriage is practiced only on earth.
Marriage is between man and woman.
Marriage is for multiplying and replenishing the earth.
Marriage is NOT for getting to heaven. In fact, marriage has absolutely NOTHING to do with getting to heaven. How reassuring is that for those that will never have an opportunity to be married!!!!!
The only marriage in heaven is Christ being married to His bride, which is the body of believers. In heaven, we will receive perfect love when we are reunited with our husband, Jesus. Our earthly marriages give us only a glimpse of the perfect love Christ has for each one of us. I am happy to say I will be with my husband in heaven; however, I will not be married to him. I will be married to Christ. The Bible also states Eternal Life is not limited to certain ones in Heaven. There is no parenthood or temple marriage in heaven, but eternal life is GIVEN to ALL Christians, or true believers.

     Matthew 22:29-30
Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

     Mark 12:24-25
Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

     Luke 20:34-36
Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

     Romans 7:4
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another-to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

     2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

     1 John 5:12-13
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

     godandscience.org/doctrine/marriageinheaven

Temple marriage is the most important teaching in the LDS church. This covenant is required to enter the celestial kingdom. The teaching is that no one will reach the celestial kingdom (highest degree of glory) without the most sacred of ordinances, or Celestial (eternal) Marriage. The belief is that LDS earthly marriages will continue in heaven.

Bruce R. McConkie made the following declaration, "Celestial marriage is the gate to exaltation, and exaltation consists in the continuation of the family unit in eternity. Exaltation is eternal life, the kind of life, which God lives. Those who obtain it gain an inheritance in the highest of three heavens within the celestial kingdom.

     D&C 131:1-4
In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

     The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, gave us His word on what would happen in eternity regarding the state of marriage. ~Suzanne Bishop, Let the Scriptures Speak, p. 66

     LDS Children's Hymn 188, Families Can Be Together Forever
I have a family here on earth. They are so good to me. I want to share my life with them through all eternity. Families can be together forever Through heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family, and the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can.


While I am in my early years, I'll prepare most carefully, So I can marry in God's temple for eternity. Families can be together forever Through heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family, and the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can.

However, LDS scriptures even state there will be no marriage in heaven.

     D&C 132:16
Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

I was SO incredibly confused as a member...Blessedly, I am no longer confused about anything spiritual!

My unanswered question was:

Why is marriage in heaven such a major tenet of the LDS church when God has very plainly told us there is no marriage in heaven?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that our earthly marriage will not be recognized in heaven, yet overjoyed to find the truth that I will be in Heaven will ALL my loved ones; Christ being my spouse! And how wonderfully amazing that will be!

PRE-EXISTENCE?

Reason 22

The Bible teaches life begins at conception, which means there is no pre-existence of life. Christ is the only Pre-Existent Being. According to the Bible, we were not in a pre-existence with Christ. There are no scriptures in the Bible stating we were in heaven and will one day return.

     Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

     Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
          As a member I thought this meant God literally knew us as spirit children. However, I did not take into consideration that God is all knowing. He knows all because He created all...in the womb.

     Psalm 22:10
I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God.
          If we were all living in the pre-existence with God in heaven, then God would have been my God before my mother's womb.

     Psalm 139:13
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.

     Isaiah 49:1
"Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
          These Bible verses tell us life begins in our Mother's womb.

     Matthew 10:30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

     1 Corinthians 15:45-47
And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.

The Bible also teaches Jesus is the only pre-existent Being ever and our existence began on earth.

     John 8:58
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

     Colossians 1:17
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

The Book of Mormon agrees with the Bible = no pre-existence of man.

     Jacob 4:9
For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?
          (this scripture does not even make sense to me)

     Alma 18:28 and 34-36
And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?


Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true; And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God. Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem.

Other LDS scriptures disagree with the Bible and the Book of Mormon = man pre-existed.
LDS scriptures also state Jesus is Firstborn of the many pre-existent children of God and everyone pre-existed. Another LDS teaching is that we will return to live with Heavenly Father, because we lived with Him before we came to this earth. This is a major teaching of the LDS church, but it is not a Biblical teaching.

     D&C 93:23
Ye were also in the beginning with the Father, that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;

     D&C 93:29-33
Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence. Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation. For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;

     Pearl of Great Price: Abraham 3:18
Howbeit that he made the greater star; as, also, if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning, they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are gnolaum, or eternal.

     PoGP: Abraham 3:21-26
lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3

     PoGP: Moses 5:16-41
lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/5

The same scriptures state Jesus and Lucifer (Satan) lived together in the pre-existence and Jesus is the Spirit Brother of Lucifer.

     D&C 93:21
And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;

     PoGP: Abraham 3:27
And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first.

Also see post MY SAVIOR, Reason 4
as well as the following websites.

     LDSvideo.org #23
ldsvideo.org/2011/06/preexistance-and-afterlife.html

     carm.org
carm.org/questions/about-doctrine/did-we-exist-god-we-were-born-earth

My unanswered question was:

If the Bible teaches Christ is the only person to pre-exist, then why does the LDS church teach everyone pre-existed?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that I did not live in a pre-existence, yet overjoyed to find the truth that Christ is the only person worthy enough to have pre-existed! He created me in my mother's womb. He knows everything about me...even the number of hairs on my head. I AM TRULY BLESSED!

GOD'S WORK

Reason 21

God's work is very simple - Believe in Christ! HE has already paid every penalty for ALL of mankind's transgressions. This assures eternal life to all who put their faith in His finished work. I'll reference the Bible.

     John 6:28-29
Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
     Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
     John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Christianity teaches Believers are Raised. This is more commonly known as: if you believe in Christ, you will be saved.
     1 John 5:12-13
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
          * Whoever has the Son has life and those who are Christ's at His coming will be raised. Biblical Christianity says, "once saved, always saved." It IS this simple. Once saved, always saved = Yes, we will be resurrected because we believe Jesus Christ is our Savior. Saving Grace goes to all who are in Christ. Good works and obedience are an entirely different topic and discussion as mentioned in previous/future blog posts; neither one has anything to do with being saved OR going to heaven.

     Romans 10:4
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." 

In contrast, LDS believe quite differently. They believe man will be punished for their sins. They believe Christ paid the penalty for only certain sins. See Reason 19, Christ's Blood. LDS also teach that everyone will be saved, whether they believe in Christ or not. They also believe their good works are what will get them to the Celestial Kingdom; which allows them to live with God and rule their own planet. Unfortunately, all of these teachings contradict the Bible.

     2nd Article of Faith
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
          * My concern with this article is the word punished. Man will not be punished for his sins. According to the law, man will have consequences for his sins while on earth, but he will certainly NOT be punished by God in any way for his sins. I completely disagree with the 2nd Article of Faith. God is not a punishing God; He is a loving and forgiving God!

     carm.org
Justification is by faith. True faith is God's work (John 6:28-29), granted by God (John 1:29), and is concurrent with regeneration (2 Corinthians 5:17), which God works in us by His will (John 1:13). This result of this justification and regeneration is that the sinner turns from his sin and towards doing good works. But it is not these works that earn our place with God nor sustain it. Jesus accomplished all that we need to be saved and stay saved on the cross. All that we need, we have in Jesus. All we need to do to be saved, to be justified, is to truly believe in what God has done for us in Jesus on the cross; this is why the Bible says we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1). This true belief with justification before God and regeneration in the new believer, results in good works.

     John 20:31
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

IT'S ALL ABOUT FAITH

Our God is an Awesome God and there is no way He will separate me from my family because of my decision to remove my name from the LDS church records. He loves us so much no matter what. All we need is Faith in Christ. We do not need "keys, sealings, ordinances, covenants, or a specific church or religion" to live with Him. All we need is Faith in Him. That was His sacrifice for all of us. All that is required of us is Love and Faith, and I have plenty of each!

From this point forward in my life, I am putting all my trust in Christ and not a specific church, temple, teaching, interpretation, prophet, revelation, etc. As a member of the LDS church, I was never confident in my relationship with Christ; I never knew what that meant until I resigned from the church. This is extremely frustrating to me. My entire life I always believed I had a personal relationship with Christ. I even told others I did have that relationship. Now I know I never really knew Him, especially when I was a Mormon. As a Christian, I have no doubt I have a personal relationship with Christ. I know Him better now than I ever have before. And I know for certain I will live in Heaven with Him!

     Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

My faith was only strengthened when I left the LDS church. It took this drastic life change for me to be able to hear the word of God.
This is Christ working in my life and not a religion, not a church, not a pastor, not a bishop.

Biblical Christianity is the only religion in the world where God reaches down to man. Every other religion is man's attempt to reach God. ~ Suzanne Bishop

     Romans 10:13
For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

My unanswered question was:

Why would God ever punish me, or anyone else, for sinning?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that God is not a punishing God, yet overjoyed to find the truth that all I need to do is have faith in God and allow Him in my entire heart! Every work I do is for Him and Him alone. He created me. He knew I would not be perfect. He knew I would sin. He loves me despite my flaws! And I LOVE HIM!

GOSPEL

Reason 20

The Biblical definition of the word gospel is:  Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. This is also known as the Good News. The definition is found in the Bible.

     1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

     Romans 1:15-17
So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

The LDS definition of the word gospel is:  The doctrines, commandments, laws, ordinances, etc. of the LDS church. The true gospel of Jesus Christ was lost until Joseph Smith restored it in 1830.

     3rd Article of Faith
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
     4th Article of Faith
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are:  first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

     D&C 42:12
And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.

If the Book of Mormon is the fullness of the gospel as their prophet Joseph Smith stated, I do not understand why it does not include Pre-existence, Celestial Marriage, Baptism for the Dead, temple work, and many other doctrines of the church.

Many LDS hymns include verses about the gospel being restored. I have included the words to two children's hymns and one regular hymn. There are others, these are just a few I specifically remember singing often.

     Children's Hymn 148
I want to live the gospel, To know that its teachings are true, To follow the plan of my Savior And live as he wants me to do. I will try in all I do and say To live the gospel more each day. I will try in all I do and say To live the gospel more each day.
I want to live the gospel, To know I am heard when I pray, To know that I will be happy Because I have learned to obey. I will try in all I do and say To live the gospel more each day. I will try in all I do and say To live the gospel more each day.

     Children's Hymn 168
I want to be a missionary now. I don't want to wait until I'm grown. I want to share the gospel while I'm young. For I have a testimony of my own.
I want to tell my friends about our church And the happiness it brings to me. I'll tell them how the gospel was restored, Tell them how the Book of Mormon came to be.
Then I can be a missionary now. I don't have to wait until I'm grown. I'll live each day the best that I know how, And they'll see I have a testimony of my own, A testimony of my very own.

     Hymn 19
We thank the, O God, for a prophet To guide us in these latter days. We thank thee for sending the gospel To lighten our minds with its rays. We thank thee for every blessing Bestowed by thy bounteous hand. We feel it a pleasure to serve thee And love to obey thy command.
When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us And threaten our peace to destroy, There is hope smiling brightly before us, And we know that deliver'rance is nigh. We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness. We've proved him in days that are past. The wicked who fight against Zion Will surely be smitten at last. 
We'll sing of his goodness and mercy. We'll praise him by day and by night, Rejoice in his glorious gospel, And bask in its life-giving light. Thus on to eternal perfection The honest and faithful will go, While they who reject his glad message Shall never such happiness know.
          I have many, many disagreements with this hymn, and I sang it over and over while a member and never questioned a word of it.

The LDS teaching of the word gospel is extremely offensive to me. The gospel is not the laws and ordinances of anything; the gospel is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Since it is impossible for the gospel to fall away from the earth, I never understood why the gospel would need to be restored. According to the Bible, it never left and there is certainly no need for a restored gospel. Ever! HE is always with us.

     Matthew 16:18
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The LDS meaning of the word gospel is very different than the Biblical meaning of the word gospel. The Bible has a very clear warning about any other teaching of the word gospel. We are warned of Another Jesus, Another Gospel, Another Spirit, and of False Apostles.

Biblical Gospel = Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as atonement for our sins. Any other is cursed. I don't understand why anyone would even claim to have restored the Gospel. You cannot restore Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

     Galatians 1:6-9
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

     2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

     Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

He is unchanging and therefore, would have no reason to remove the gospel from the earth. That would be changing, and God does not change.

It is clear that Salvation by Grace through faith was taught, and Paul taught this very same concept. He did not put up with any other teaching; I will not put up with any other teaching. Law has always been a completely separate concern. Human efforts have no part of salvation.

Christ + Nothing = Salvation

Grace + Anything = Different Gospel

Therefore, Grace + Law = Different Gospel

     Acts 20:32
"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Paul entrusted all to God and the word of His Grace, not to other human leaders or successors of apostles.

     Acts 1:22
beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."
          This means Apostles were men who saw Christ in Resurrection, and I am pretty sure Joseph Smith, or any modern day prophet, did not see Christ in Resurrection. Therefore, I cannot claim any of them to be a true prophet of God.

     From carm.org
Since we are sinners, we are incapable of removing the guilt of our sinfulness through our own efforts. Gal. 2:21 says, "...if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." The Law is the do's and don'ts of moral behavior. In other words, we can't become righteous by what we do. Why? Because we are dead in our sins (Eph. 2:3).
This means that since we cannot remove our own sins, God must do it.

     A few videos from ldsvideo.org (#15, 18, 30)
ldsvideo.org/2011/04/is-mormonism-another-gospel.html
ldsvideo.org/2011/05/restoration.html
ldsvideo.org/2011/08/gospel-to-mormons.html

     A couple of great articles from carm.org
carm.org/striving-for-perfection
carm.org/gospel-according-to-mormonism

I disagree with the LDS teaching that God would allow the gospel to be available in the latter days but not allow it to be available before Joseph Smith had his vision. I disagree with the teaching that the LDS church is the one true church with the fullness of the gospel. Christ is the gospel, not a church.

My unanswered question was:

Why would the gospel ever need restoration?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that the gospel never needed restoration - and will never need restoration, - yet overjoyed to find the truth that the True Gospel is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection!

CHRIST'S BLOOD

Reason 19

Christ's Blood was used to take away the sins of the world; all sins of the world. His blood has cleansed ALL sin, and that is enough for me. There is absolutely nothing I can do to cleanse my sins. I have given them all to Him, and He has paid the debt of my sins for me.

I will begin with the Bible.

Christ's Blood Cleanses All Sin


     2 Samuel 12:13
..."The LORD also has put away your sin..."


     Isaiah 53:3-10
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked-But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it please the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.


     Jeremiah 31:34
No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."


     Matthew 1:21
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."


     John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!


     Romans 3:23-25
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God has passed over the sins that were previously committed, 


     Romans 5:9-10
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.


     1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 


     2 Corinthians 5:14-21
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


     Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.


     Ephesians 2:16
and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.


     Colossians 1:14
in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.


     Colossians 1:20-22
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-


     Hebrews 9:15
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.


     Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.


     Hebrews 10:29
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?


     James 4:17
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.


     1 Peter 1:18-20
knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your father, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you


     1 Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.


     1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.


     1 John 1:8-2:2
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.


     1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


     from carm.org
Salvation, complete forgiveness of sins, does not come through obedience to the laws and the commandments. Complete forgiveness of sins comes by faith in Jesus Christ, the Jesus of the Bible.

The above is what I believe.

The following is from LDS sources.

     from mormoninfo.org
Christ did not die for all sins.
Christ did not atone for the murderer, since there is no forgiveness for him "in this world, nor in the world to come." Christ also did not pay for more than a one-time offense of adultery, since such violators cannot be forgiven either (D&C 42:18, 79 and 25-9). Actually, according to one apostle, Christ atoned simply for Adam's sin, and left "us responsible only for our own sins." This apostle goes on to quote the 2nd Article of Faith that claims "men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" (Le Grand Richards, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder [1976], 98). Other LDS prophets have taught that there are certain "sins" that one may commit that are beyond the atonement of the Son of God...

     2nd Article of Faith
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

Christ's Blood Covers Only Certain Sins


     D&C 42:79
And it shall come to pass, that if any persons among you shall kill they shall be delivered up and dealt with according to the laws of the land; for remember that he hath no forgiveness; and it shall be proved according to the laws of the land.

"Joseph Fielding Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf." (Doctrines of Salvation, v 1, p 135)

     D&C 132:27
The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord.

HIS Blood Covers Those Certain Sins AFTER All We Can Do

     2 Nephi 25:23
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

HIS Blood Covers Those Certain Sins As Long As We Have Repented Of Them

     D&C 42:25-29
But he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive; But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out. Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm. Thou knowest my laws concerning these things are given in my scriptures; he that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out. If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments.

LDS teach that true repentance means that we will not commit the sin again. There is no way I could uphold that philosophy that the LDS church preaches. After all, I am only human, and I accept Christ's sacrifice for me.

Another disagreement between my beliefs and LDS beliefs.

The Bible tells us every sin, even murder, can be forgiven.
     Matthew 12:31
"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgive men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

The Book of Mormon agrees with the Bible saying Murder can be forgiven.
     3 Nephi 30:2
Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel.

However, the Doctrine and Covenants disagrees with the Bible and the Book of Mormon. D&C tells us there will be No Forgiveness for Murder.
     D&C 42:18
And now, behold, I speak unto the church. Thou shalt not kill; and he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come.

And finally, the Bible tells us if we attempt to keep all the commandments and fail even on one, then we are guilty of ALL commandments.
     James 2:10
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

My unanswered questions were:

Which sins will HE forgive and which sins will HE not forgive? At exactly what point does HE fill in the rest after I have done "all I can do"? At what point will I know that I have done "all I can do" in order for my sins to be covered? What would happen if I were to die before I had an opportunity to repent of a certain sin or sins? Would I have to deal with the punishment in Hell? How can I possibly obey all 1,000 plus commandments that are in the Bible when I don't even know what all those commandments are? How do I repent of sins that I am not even aware of?

I was initially devastated when I received these answers, yet overjoyed to find the truth that I am a sinner no matter how hard I try to not be a sinner. All will be forgiven of me because He has died for ALL my sins! I willingly accept HIS sacrifice!

THE CROSS

Reason 18

I think this is my favorite reason so far! The Bible tells us to Glory in the Cross!

     Matthew 10:38
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
     Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
     Mark 8:34
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
     Mark 10:21
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
     Luke 9:23
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
          *Therefore, the cross symbolizes the way we, as Christians, should live.
     Luke 14:27
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
     1 Corinthians 1:17-18
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
     Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
          *There is nothing else that deserves boasting except the Cross.
     Ephesians 2:16
and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
     Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Bible points to the Cross as the place where Jesus atoned for our sins. The symbol of the Cross is central in Christianity and has been central since the first century.

I missed my Cross more than anything else when I was LDS. I was told over and over that the reason they did not Glory in the Cross was because it was a reminder of His Death instead of His Life. My disagreement with this is...the Cross is a remembrance of His Sacrifice. However, the Crucifix is a remembrance of His Death. And as a Christian, I do not Glory in the Crucifix; I Glory in the Cross!

Mormons do not Glory in the Cross. They have no crosses anywhere; not in their homes; not on their body; not in their temples; not in their books; nowhere.
     From mormonwiki.org/Cross
Mormons typically do not want anything to do with the symbol of the cross, stating such things as, "If they had shot Jesus with a firing squad, would they hang a gun on the church?"
"Latter-day Saints object to the use of a cross on their buildings and the wearing of the cross. They view the symbolism of the cross as having a pagan origin and that it symbolizes Christ's torture and death, not his resurrection." (utlm.org)
This is a precarious position Mormons take, as they have no problem with various pentagrams on Mormon buildings.

• The sectarian world falsely suppose that the climax of his (Christ's) torture and suffering was on the cross...-a view which they keep ever before them by the constant use of the cross as a religious symbol. The fact is that intense and severe as the suffering was on the cross, yet the great pains were endured in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 555)
• Many who join the [Mormon] Church who come from a Catholic or Protestant background while trying their utmost to live the gospel, and rid themselves of past, unconsciously bring some of the customs of their former environment with them. One of these is the wearing of the crucifix on a necklace, bracelet, or in some other form. The teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seem to indicate that this is improper because we do not hold any special reverence for the cross as such, nor do we have crosses in our chapels or homes or wear a crucifix as jewelry." LDS "Prophet" Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 4, p. 16.
• To many [Mormons]...such a custom is repugnant and contrary to the true worship of our Redeemer. Why should we bow down before a cross or use it as a symbol? Because our Savior died on the cross, the wearing of crosses is to most Latter-day Saints in very poor taste and inconsistent to our worship. Of all the ways ever invented for taking life and the execution of individuals, among the most cruel is likely the cross. This was a favorite method among the Romans who excelled in torture. We may be definitely sure that if our Lord had been killed with a dagger or with a sword, it would have been very strange indeed if religious people of this day would have graced such a weapon by wearing it and adoring it because it was by such a means that our Lord was put to death." LDS "Prophet" Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 4, pp. 17-18.

Since the LDS church believes Christ's greatest suffering took place in the Garden, it minimizes the importance of the cross. Simply because Jesus lives forever more is no reason to minimize the means by which He paid for our sins. The Bible does not teach that the atonement began in the garden; it teaches that the atonement happened on the Cross.

     1 Peter 2:24

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.

I have been unable to grasp why the LDS church considers the Cross to be a graven image. However, they do not consider their monuments and statues honoring prophets and other figures to be graven images. Why is it okay to Glory in these idols, but it is not okay to Glory in the Cross? I disagree with this.

I have been asked several times...if Christ had died in a burning building, would you wear that around your neck or hang that on your wall. My answer is, YES, absolutely! Since He loves me enough to have died for me, then I love Him enough to Glory in Him! My Crosses are my security. The Cross reminds me of the Savior's Life, His Love for me, what He has done for me, and why He did what He did for me! I have a new infatuation with Crosses, and they are extremely comforting to me!

My unanswered question was:

Why does the LDS church glory in other things, but they do not Glory in the Cross as the Bible tells us we should?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that I cannot be a part of an organization that chooses to not Glory in the Cross, yet overjoyed to find the truth that as Christians we are to Glory in the Cross, and I would be lost without The Cross!

FATE

Reason 17

The Bible says there is no chance of gaining salvation after earthly death. In other words, death seals man's fate.

     Psalm 49:7-8
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him-For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever-
     Proverbs 11:7
When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.
     Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
     Luke 16:26-31
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"
     Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed for me to die once, but after this the judgment,
     Revelation 20:12 and 15
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

LDS doctrine is very contradictory when it comes to this subject. In one book called the book of Mormon, the doctrine agrees with the Bible and teaches that death seals man's fate.
     Mosiah 2:36-39
And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved-I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples. Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.
     Alma 34:32-35
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

However, in another book called the doctrine and covenants, the doctrine teaches that everyone will have a second chance after death. This is one reason for the temple; those who were not Mormon on earth will die and go to spirit prison. The living LDS members do proxy work (baptism, etc.) in the temple for those who have already died. Once the dead have had their temple work completed by a living Mormon, they now have a chance to choose the LDS doctrines and transfer over to paradise with all the other worthy mormons. In other words, we will all be given a second chance to choose mormonism after we die.
     D&C 76:106-112
These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work; When he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. Then shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign forever and ever. But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore; And heard the voice of the Lord saying: These all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever; For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared; And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end.
     D&C 88:99
And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ's at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh.

I fear Mormons will be in for a surprise when they die and realize Joseph Smith deceived them, they don't get a second chance, nor will their family members get a second chance, even though they did the temple work for them...
I will go with the Bible on this one and put my entire Faith and Trust into Christ instead of a church or modern day prophet. I am going to live my life as if I have no second chance. I would rather fall away from the 'one true church' and end up in the 'second level of heaven' than remain in the 'one true church' and take a chance that it could be false.

The Bible is very clear that we will all end up in one of only two places; Everlasting Punishment or Eternal Life. We have no other option and no other chance; it's Heaven, or it's Hell.

     2 Thessalonians 1:9
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

The Bible is also very clear that people do not get out of Hell, and the LDS doctrines are contradictory to this as well.
     Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
     Matthew 13:24-43
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
The Parable of the Leaven
Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
Prophecy and the Parables
All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
The Parable of the Tares Explained
Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

     Matthew 13:47-50 The Parable of the Dragnet
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." 

According to LDS doctrines, Hell as an institution is eternal, but those in Hell serve sentences of various length, similar to those in a prison. Inmates come and go as in jail, but do not spend eternity there. It is temporary. Most of them will eventually leave Hell once their debt has been paid to God and they will then go to the telestial kingdom. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 349-351)
     *And this is also contradictory to what the Bible says about Hell.

     Matthew 25:46, one of the clearest Bible Verses there is.
And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

My unanswered question was:

Why would I take a chance at living my life as if I may have a second chance after I have died?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that I cannot take this chance, yet overjoyed to find the truth that I will receive Eternal Life!

TREATMENT

Reason 16

Also see Posts "WHAT KNOW?" April 27 and "Mormons v. Mormon Church" May 2

This is a fairly new reason. I left the church in March 2010. I resigned in July 2010. I began my blog in March 2011. Everything was just fine when I was quiet about my journey out of the church. Everything was just fine as long as I did not discuss my decision to resign or my reasons. It was not until I began sharing my journey that I lost many of my mormon friends, and I now have very few left in my life. Those few still love me even though we disagree about the LDS church. Those few still love me even though I am openly stating my Reasons for resigning. Those few understand I had to resign in order to salvage my life and gain a personal relationship with Christ. I am actually surprised and grateful I still have a few LDS readers following my journey.

     Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Once I began blogging about my journey out of the church I have received lots of horrible comments as well as hate email. Before I began writing about my journey I had no enemies that I know of, and then...I decided to share my story. It is very upsetting that some have the requirement that you must be mormon or agree with mormonism in order to be their friend. It is becoming clear to me who has Christ in their life and heart and who does not. I am very sad by the way some have chosen to treat me through this entire ordeal. Do not get me wrong, I am happy they are happy and they believe they belong to the one true church. But don't tell me I am wrong or that I spent seven years in a lie or that you are sad for me. I am not wrong for me. I did not spend seven years in a lie. I was definitely, without a doubt a TBM (True Believing Mormon). There is absolutely no reason to be sad for me. Just be happy that I am finally happy!

     Colossians 3:13
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

I can categorize my LDS friends into two groups...true mormons and true friends who just happen to be mormon. Here are a few comments I have received from those I believe to be true mormons...

• I am not only much older than you, I am wiser.
• I have lost some respect for you.
• You have all the answers after just a few short years?
• I will respect your opinion on something like education or the virtues of living in Texas, but don't count on me respecting your opinion on issues of religion, because I've got years on you when it comes to that subject.
• I can't believe you would write something like this.
• What a load of crap.
• I don't believe you "resigned" from the LDS church, I believe you ran away.
• It's clear that your parents and siblings made it difficult for you, so you chose their good opinion of you over God, Jesus, your husband and your life with him and your children.
• I'm sure you have driven a huge wedge between you and Ken (and you don't care that you did) simply because you found that your parents' objection to your membership was too much for you to bear.
• I just feel sorry for you!
• It's clear to me that you are so far from the mark and chose this path for all the wrong reasons.
• It's [choosing the LDS church] not for me to find something that fits into my life choices and makes me feel good about myself the way I am.
• You say you're a Christian? Act like one.
• It's [the church] definitely NOT supposed to "give" us something; it's supposed to help us lose ourselves in what HE wants.
• You have made a very selfish and self-serving decision, and I would appreciate you not trying to make yourself feel better about it by trying to indict the LDS church and me along with it.
• I, unlike you, am not easily swayed by the fear-filled comments of the haters of this religion.
• Act like an adult. Take your pride, or whatever you have, in silence.
• I believe that you, and others who seek to pull others away from it [the church], only do it because they have taken the coward's way towards finding God...and that is to join a faith that says all you have to do is believe and you're saved. And because you are cowards, you want to bring everyone down to your level.
• You want to follow a religion that asks nothing of you in order to be worthy of His blessings, and you can go about living your selfish life as you please.
• This decision of yours is clearly drenched in bitterness, and no decision should be made when your heart is this bitter.

I still love all of these people with all my heart. In fact, I could say I love them more now since they have shared their true feelings towards me and have held nothing back. I pray for their pain and animosity to be washed away and their hearts to be filled with love and understanding.

     Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself

     Matthew 22:39

And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

* The law was set forth in negatives. Thou shalt have no other gods. Thou shalt not, thou shalt not. Jesus put it in a very positive way, just love God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength, love your neighbor as yourself. And this is the law. This is basically what the law is declaring, that we should have a loving relationship with God first; that is reflected in a loving relationship with fellow man. ~ Chuck Smith, Blue Letter Bible Commentaries

I was able to abide by the "thou shalt nots."  It was the love commandment that I was not fulfilling as a mormon. Since resigning, I have unending love, and that is nothing for anyone to be sad or angry about.

     James 2:8

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;

Some still think I am writing to convince myself I have done the right thing. Some feel I am writing to try and prove them wrong. Both of these reasons are incorrect and I wish these people knew how wrong they are. I need absolutely no validation that I have done the right thing by resigning from a false church. Just take a moment to look into how many blogs or support groups there are from ex-mormons. Then compare that to how many blogs or support groups there are from ex-Baptists, ex-Methodists, or ex-Presbyterians; not too many. There is an overwhelming pattern here with people turning away from the mormon church and having to journal about their story. It is very sad that some people refuse to see the truth for what it really is. As far as trying to prove anyone wrong, I have no reason to do that. I have no reason to try and talk you out of your beliefs just as you should not tell me I am a coward or wrong for my beliefs, whatever they may be. This blog is for me and me alone to try to heal from the pain I have been through. If I can help just one other person by sharing what I have been through, then I have done what God has asked me to do. God did not ask me to try and "save people from mormonism." God has asked me to share my story for those who need to hear it; not for those who are attempting to chastise it.

A few others have decided to journal about their journey as well; I am not the only one. Here is one website with just a few other Former Mormon testimonies. The links take up the bottom half of the webpage.

     mormoninfo.org/testimonies

     Romans 14:13

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.

And here are a few comments from my true friends who just happen to be mormon...

• I can respect your decision, and I fully understand where you are coming from in this decision.
• Since I still consider you to be a friend, I wanted to understand where you are coming from. I am just trying to understand your view. Not promote confrontation. I hope that I have not offended you in any way by asking, that is not my intent. If it's none of my business, I accept that.
• I love you.
• Know that we love you!
• Love you guys.
• Good luck on your journey. I wish you all the best!
• We have never talked about your religious decision, but I will tell you I have always supported you in your decision.
• Please don't feel awkward around me because you aren't going to church anymore. I loved you before. I still do.
• I don't think less of you for your decision.
• Very proud of you for standing up for yourself!
• I hope your message box is being filled with some apologies.
• Y'all will continue to be some of our best friends despite any differences on faith.
• Obviously, what you choose to do is your choice, and I have no judgment towards you.
• I have not felt contention with you, just so you know.
• I don't think anyone should be involved in a religion that doesn't bring them happiness and closer to Christ.
• I'm sorry that you felt burdened and inadequate. That's definitely not how it should be.
• It is good that you've been lead to study the Bible more and pray more and lead you to have a closer relationship with Christ. That is so important.
• I saw your facebook and want you to know that I love you as a sister and am supportive of you regardless if I agree with how you feel about the mormon church.
• You have always been someone I have looked up to in the church and now out of the church!
• I share this in love, and I will respect your decisions and opinions regardless of the path you choose.
• I am sorry that anyone would have implied that this was easy for you, that is just obviously wrong.
• I have read your blog. It's exactly what you had told me when we talked.
• Hope things have gotten better.
• You and Ken have to make choices for yourself and your family.
• It's good also to follow the spirit...as you are doing.
• I still like and respect you as a human being.
• Thank you for being so honest with me.
• I do not want our relationship to change.
• You will always have a friend in me and thank you for sharing your story.
• I have the utmost respect for your decision, I value your opinions, and I will not stand in the way.
• Despite what will ever be said to you know this, you are a good Christian, a good mom, and a good friend, and I sure love and admire  you.
• When I just read your most recent post, I felt a sense of love for you. I just want to give you a hug. Not because I think ill of you or anything like that, but I just have compassion on you for what you are going through. You said you are a lost soul looking for your path. I really hope you find what you're looking for. I do. Whether in or out of the church, I hope you find your peace.
• Let us know if there is anything we can do.
• Take care and know that I'm always here for you. Love you!
• I hope that you will find peace, and I hope that you will continue to leave your heart open to the spirit.
• This is simply your test.
• I do not know what others have said to you. I just wanted you to know that nothing has changed with me.
• I will be following your journey! 
• I am always happy to discuss any of these items with you, and I would always do so in a manner that is respectful on elements of faith that you hold dear.
• I am sure this has been quite an ordeal for you. It seems that religion can get people in conflict real fast. It becomes this great debate (or argument) about who and what's right. That's exactly what I don't want to get into. People will feel threatened on both sides. I don't quite understand the contention but it does exist and is very tangible. As I'm sure you have felt recently.
• I am always willing to talk with you. Give me a call if you want.
• I agree with you about it being more important to be a disciple of Jesus Christ than anything else. My husband and I are always annoyed at some of the people who are "mormons" but not disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Everyone is free to choose and I understand that.
• As your friend, I hope that you find peace. I hope that you discover that you do not have to be perfect. I hope that you do not feel the need to 'measure up' to anyone else's standard but to be content with who you are. To be happy in your daily pursuits and to just be the best, and the only you! You have something wonderful to offer.
• I'm sorry about the negativity and all of the stress that was caused because of it. It's just not how it should be.
• I still think you are a wonderful person and still want to be your friend.
• I enjoy seeing your posts.
• I love you like a sister. You know that.
• Thank you for being honest with me.
• If you ever need a shoulder to cry on or someone to vent to, or someone to laugh with, you know I'm always here. I wish you happiness and peace and more happiness and more peace. Love you!

Thank you, friends, for your encouragement, love, and support! I love you all, and I am blessed to call you a friend!

My unanswered question was:

If mormons are Christians, then why are so many treating me in a non-Christian manner, saying hurtful words and telling me I am wrong?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that no matter what "religion" someone claims to be, they might not ever be a true Christian; yet overjoyed to find the truth that my true friends will remain my true friends no matter what I believe or what information I share. My true friends will continue to love me through this difficult and painful journey.