Dear Mrs. A.,
Thank you for taking the time to write to express your view. Obviously, you hold your beliefs and church dear to you and felt a need to defend the values and religion you stand for. You're right about the world standing for very little. Sadly, according to scripture, things are going to get much worse. The most alarming part isn't that the world stands for so little, but that increasingly, more people are standing for the wrong things; for example, radical environmentalism, neo-Marxism, socialism, pantheism, and other worldviews that are antithetical to the gospel of Christ.
I understand your perspective; feeling like we’re denigrating what you believe is of God. If you read my testimony on our website, you would know I was a devout Mormon for 26 years and was serving as Relief Society President when I left the LDS Church. You would know I raised ten amazing, wonderful children I love dearly, three of whom are still LDS. If you read any of the Equipping Christians website in-depth, I think you would come to understand—although you might still disagree with our views—that we do NOT “bash” Mormons. In fact, one of our articles, entitled, “Myths About Mormons,” clears up negative misconceptions about Mormons. Another article about LDS missionaries encourages people to be kind and respectful to the missionaries when they come knocking on the door.
We have nothing against Mormon people! Most of my relatives (93 nieces and nephews, their spouses and children, my former brother and sister-in-laws (30 of them) are LDS. I hold them in high regard and have a great love for them. I think of my former bishops, their counsellors, the Young Men’s and Young Women’s presidents, and ladies I served with in Relief Society over the years, and have to say I loved them all.
The purpose of our website is not to poke fun, denigrate, or speak unkindly of Mormons as people. Disagreeing with Mormon theology shouldn’t be considered “Mormon bashing” any more than Mormons disagreeing with Christian theology (the Trinity, salvation by grace alone, etc.) should be considered “Christian bashing.” When LDS missionaries come to my door and essentially tell me that my Methodist baptism from childhood isn’t valid, I wouldn’t call them uncouth. When they tell me God is not Triune, but rather three separate gods, God the Father has a body of flesh and bone, and that membership in my church can’t get me to the Celestial Kingdom, I wouldn’t dream of telling them that if they would only stop “stealing sheep” (trying to convert Christians to Mormonism) their church might become a valuable asset to the world. I wouldn’t say this to them because 1) it would be uncouth of me, and 2) I realize that they are only doing what they do because they care, even though their beliefs run contrary to mine.
I strongly believe in the principle of “truth in advertising,” especially when it comes to matters of eternal import. When I joined the LDS Church at age 14 (began attending at 13), I knew nothing about the Bible or Christianity; I was biblically illiterate. If someone had given me a side by side comparison between Mormonism and traditional Christianity, showing me the facts and evidences, I very likely wouldn’t have become LDS. Not because they aren’t wonderful people, but because the Mormon gospel doesn’t line up with what God revealed in His word; the Bible.
I believe people seeking God or looking for a church have a right to know what the core doctrines of that particular belief system are. Truth is truth and shouldn’t be hidden. If Mormonism is true, then the LDS Church and its members shouldn’t fear comparison or scrutiny. Truth, if indeed it IS truth, doesn’t change. Truth can withstand scrutiny. If not, then perhaps it isn’t it isn’t what it claims to be. Investigators of any religion should be able to investigate its claims. Its history and teachings should be open for study and review. If an organization or group can’t be forthcoming and forthright with ALL its beliefs, requirements, and doctrines, then it can hardly be trusted with precious souls whose eternal destinies hang in the balance.
Devout Mormons do many wonderful things to improve their neighborhoods, schools, and communities. They’re thoughtful, good people who really want to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others. Those are certainly praiseworthy attributes, but I’m reminded of Jesus’ sobering warning in Matthew 7:21-23;
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
This should alarm any of us who profess Christ as Lord and cause us to examine ourselves and the doctrines we espouse to make sure we are grounded in truth and that our faith is founded on God’s word. I have no problem examining the doctrines, history, and accuracy of the Bible to see if they hold up under scrutiny. The only thing of value to any of us is the truth about God, Jesus, and salvation, because in the end that’s all that will matter.
I hope and pray you receive this message in the spirit in which it was written, one of genuine concern and compassion for your soul. While you may not agree with me as far religious views go, please know our website and its message is not meant to be one of antagonism, but one of information, concern for the eternal welfare of Mormons and non-Mormons alike, and love for the biblical gospel of Christ. I encourage you to investigate the origins and claims of Mormonism as well as the origin and claims of the Bible, weigh the evidence, and see which is supported by the facts.
It’s imperative to know who God is and what salvation is. Was God once a man who lived on another earth and earned godhood eons ago? Is he married to multiple wives, one of whom is our heavenly mother? Is Jesus our oldest spirit brother who had to work out his own salvation, as well as being your redeemer? Is a person’s salvation in part dependent on whether or not they accept Joseph Smith as a prophet of God? Must a person confess Joseph Smith, as Brigham Young taught?
“No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith” (Journal of Discourses 7:289 Oct 9, 1859)
“Whosoever confesseth that Joseph Smith was sent of God to reveal the holy Gospel to the children of men, and lay the foundation for gathering Israel, and building up the kingdom of God on the earth, that spirit is of God; and every spirit that does not confess that God has sent Joseph Smith, and revealed the everlasting Gospel to and through him, is of Antichrist (JoD 8:176 September 9, 1860).
Or, as the Bible teaches, is God eternal and never anything less than God? Isaiah 43:10 is clear; “Before me there was no god formed, nor will there be one after me.” Isaiah 44:6 “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:8 “Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.”
Is Jesus God incarnate, as we learn from Colossians 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”?
What of salvation? Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
1 John 4:2-3 teaches, “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.”
As you can see, there is a big difference between what the Bible reveals to us about God, Jesus, and salvation, and what Mormonism teaches about God, Jesus, and salvation. Knowing the difference and believing the true gospel will determine whether we spend eternity in heaven or eternity in hell! This knowledge is too important to mess up! Hebrews 10:31 warns us, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
For a short, thought-provoking presentation of the gospel, please go to http://www.livingwaters.com/good/ . It doesn’t mention anything about Mormonism. It’s a little self-introspection quiz that gives food for thought. It doesn’t take long and gives a clear, concise picture of salvation. Take the “Good Test” to see if you are good enough to go to heaven.
I read your short bio online. The work you do at your school is commendable and I have a great deal of respect for people like you who put their talents and abilities to use in behalf of disabled individuals. You don't look old enough to be the mother of four grown children. I'm sure they’re very proud of you.
If I can be of further assistance to you now or in the future, I’m happy to answer questions or help in any way I can. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Tracy Tennant
