I am a mormon in transition and…I think mormon faith is illogical. . . [I] converted to mormonism over 10 yrs ago.I am at a crossroads in my life and found a [Mormon] man to marry. He is still fighting me all the way with his illogical faith to me, and I just want nothing more to do with it. God and Jesus I believe in. I have only gone into the histories in the last year, and was completely disturbed by it since even the first truth that I found out to be backed up and documented. I would have never joined them in faith for so many years. And I had never been to the temple either, which if I had of I would have questioned such faith and devotion on that alone. When he read your story, he claims its not really you writing it, it's them (whoever they are) with an agenda.
Can you comment on this for me and personally reply to me?
Dear ___
Thank you so much for writing. I will be happy to help in any way I can. As for proof that I really wrote my testimony myself and am an authentic individual, I don't know what evidence it would take to convince your boyfriend (fiancé?). I could sign an affidavit, send a picture of me and my family, or give you phone numbers of people who know me. I could give you the name and number of some relatives who are still devout Mormons or the name and number of the bishop of the ward I was in when I left the Church. However, I think that no matter what evidence I provide, if someone does not want to believe it, they will find a way to deny it is real.
With that said, I tell you with all integrity and honesty of heart, that I am a real person with a real story. I wrote the account of my experiences with Mormonism myself. Unless the man you referred to hires a private detective or investigative researcher, he will need to determine the truth of a matter by the evidence available.
For example, tell your friend not to focus on the things that are hard to confirm (Did Tracy really ask Donny Osmond for a date? Is she really who she says she is, or is she reallya fat, bald, 60-year-old male conspirator pretending to be a woman, and involved in a worldwide plan to trick unsuspecting Mormons into leaving the Church?). Well, yes I asked Donny for a date; had I been a fat, bald, 60-year old conspirator I don't think he would have been interested in dancing with me (I am interjecting a little levity, by the way) and no, I am not pretending to be someone else, and no, I have nothing against fat bald men.
Instead, tell your friend to focus on the things that CAN be backed up with evidence. For example, did Joseph Smith actually take married women as wives? Well, you can log on to the official LDS Church website (www.lds.org), click on "Family History," click on "Pedigree Resource File," put in Joseph Smith's name and parents' names and that you are looking for marriages (1834, PLUS or MINUS 10 years) and a list of all his marriages comes up.
He can check the Journal of Discourses himself and see with his own eyes that Brigham Young and others taught that Adam is our god. He can also see with his own eyes the introduction to the volumes of the Journal of Discourses to see that the sermons were conference talks and were to be regarded as coming from God.
He can go to Deseret Book and thumb through "Joseph Smith Begins His Work," volumes 1 & 2, and see for himself that the "Lectures on Faith" (lecture five teaches that God is a Spirit) were part of the canon of scripture. Then, in 1921, it was no longer included in the Doctrine & Covenants. Maybe because in other places Smith taught God has a body of flesh and bone and this contradicted previous teaching?
With a little digging he can see for himself that for the first 50 or more years the church taught that NEPHI appeared to Smith with the gold plates and that it was later changed to MORONI. If your friend really wants to know the truth, all the evidence is available. But if he does not care about truth, all the evidence in the world will not convince him. There is actually a group of people that belong to the "Flat Earth Society" and they refuse to believe that the earth is a sphere. Many people are less concerned about facts than they are about preserving their own beliefs at all costs.
You might find some useful information on [our website]…It is geared more toward Christians trying to understand their LDS friends and neighbors, but it DOES explain the differences between what the Bible teaches and what Mormonism teaches.If I can be of any further assistance please let me know. Again, I don't know what would convince your friend that I am not a part of "THEM" with an agenda, but he should examine the message rather than attack the messenger. My goal is only to expose error and speak biblical truth. It is up to the individual to decide for himself.
Warm regards,
Tracy
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