If anyone has read my blog posts and
perceives I am disaffected with the LDS Church, let me repent and clarify
myself.
I am a descendant of ‘Mormon’
pioneers (through my Mother). I have researched and read everything I can find out about my ancestors through some of their journal writings and contemporary history books. They’re not just ‘pioneers’,
they are part of me and I am part of them. I am also a descendant of
non-denominational ‘Christians’ (through my Father). While my Dad's family expressed
belief in God, they didn’t appear to exclusively embrace any denomination. Even
though I jumped into ‘Mormonism’ with both feet as a young man, I’ve never
forgotten my dual heritage and believe it has helped to balance my perception.
So, after 35 years in the ‘Mormon’
experience, what can I honestly testify is true?
1. I
testify the Book of Mormon is
the Word of God and its authors (Nephi, Alma, Mormon, Moroni, etc.) are real prophets. It is indeed a second witness (with the Bible) of Jesus Christ. Regardless of how it came
into existence, its content stirs my soul and has awakened my understanding of who I am and my place in this Universe.
2.The
Doctrine and Covenants chronicles the Lord’s attempt to gather his children ‘as
a hen gathereth her chicks’; 99.9% of its contents came through Joseph Smith,
who I testify is a true prophet of God.
3.The
content of The Pearl of Great Price came through a real prophet of God. Anyone
that dismisses its content loses treasures of hidden knowledge.
4. The
behavior of past and present ‘Mormons’ proves the truth of the teachings
contained in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great
Price. Anyone who doesn’t internalize the teachings is either not seriously studying or perceives the warnings pertain to ‘other people’ and not themself. The Adversary values either viewpoint.
Let’s not forget the Adversary claims this Earth as his ‘kingdom’ and vowed to use its wealth to influence his causes; he unleashed the fury of hell on Joseph Smith and the 'Restoration', and has not relaxed his design to destroy it by every means possible. Let’s not mistake the warning themes in the Book of Mormon (eg. ‘pride’, ‘priestcraft’, ‘idolatry’, ‘neglect of the poor’, ‘whoredoms’, ‘murder’, ‘believing all is well in Zion’, etc.), as being directed at those who will never read the Book of Mormon. Let’s not forget the book teaches ‘there are save two churches only’,
10 And he said unto me: Behold there are
save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other
is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the
Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of
abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth. (1 Nephi 14: 10).
Let’s not include ourselves among the ‘end time’ people Moroni was shown by the Lord,
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and afflicted.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies - because of the praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations - to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer. (Mormon 8: 35-41)
Do these warnings have bearing on someone that does not
believe the Book of Mormon is the Word of God? Yes, but more so on those of us
that do believe. I repent of taking the Book of Mormon lightly (D&C 84: 54-61) for most of the last 35 years and pray all of us will recognize the awful situation we are in.
5. And lastly, I testify the church of Lamb of God is true, and
the Book of Mormon teaches how to get there.
God bless.
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