I grew up believing that the sacrament was instituted by Christ among his apostles just prior to His death. It was similarly instituted among the Nephites after his resurrection, as described in 3rd Nephi. Indeed, the LDS.org web site makes the following statement:
On the night before His Crucifixion, Jesus Christ met with His Apostles and instituted the sacrament (see Luke 22:19–20).
https://www.lds.org/topics/sacrament?lang=eng
Imagine, then, my surprise as I read from the Inspired Version of Genesis 14:17-18:
And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine; and he break bread and blest it; and he blest the wine, he being the priest of the most high God, And he gave to Abram, and he blessed him, and said, Blessed Abram, thou art a man of the most high God, possessor of heaven and of earth;
I find this information to be very interesting. For me, several questions arise. Why is this concept not taught in LDS study manuals? If the sacrament existed prior to Christ administering it to the apostles, where did it originate? Why is there no other specific mention of it in the scriptures? When did the practice die out, that it had to be restored?
Based on this discovery, I believe the sacrament is something that would have been practiced beginning with Adam. Although current LDS leaders now deny it is true, early LDS leaders believed that Melchizedek and Shem are the same person (http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Melchizedek). I find the argument that Melchizedek and Shem are one and the same to be persuasive, and therefore I will assume that they are indeed the same person. If that is the case, then based on the chronology outlined Lectures on Faith and in the Old Testament, there was an uninterrupted line of high priests (those who actually saw into heaven) going back from Shem to Adam, and that is the likely source of Shem's knowledge of the ordinance. Further, if Adam engaged in this practice, it was probably revealed to him by an angel. In other words, it is pretty important. I suppose you could say that the sacrament is one of the ordinances that has existed from the foundation of the world.
This calls to mind the quote by Joseph Smith - "Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed." If that is true, what should we make of the changes to the ordinances? What changes, you ask? How about:
* Water instead of wine (3rd Nephi 18:19)
* Blessed by young boys instead of the presiding authority (D&C 20:50)
* Kneeling is forbidden (Moroni 4:2, D&C 20:76)
* Tiny amounts of bread and wine/water (3rd Nephi 18:4)
When we read historical accounts of the administration of the sacrament in Joseph Smith's time, they look markedly different than what we do today. It has only been 171 years since Joseph died and we have seen many changes. Small wonder, then, that the ordinance was corrupted from the time of Abraham to the time of Christ. Or from the time of Christ to the time of Joseph Smith. It makes you wonder, at what point does the Lord look at our changes and say, this is no longer valid and I no longer recognize what you are doing. Fortunately, that can never happen today because we live in the last dispensation where we can never be led astray. Aren't we lucky!
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Monday, November 9, 2015
The Real Problem
Facebook, bloggers, and the rest of the internet have been abuzz lately with talk of the recent changes to the LDS church's policy on same sex marriage and the children of such parents. In a nutshell, the church's Handbook of Instructions has been updated to define same sex marriage as apostasy, and also disallows children under 18 who live in same sex households from receiving any church ordinances.
Here is a link to a discussion about the changes --http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640934/Elder-Christofferson-explains-updated-LDS-Church-policies-on-same-sex-marriage-and-children.html
This whole debate illustrates several problems that need to be addressed.
First, the church has long since lost sight of the fact that baptism and church membership are not co-equal. Baptism is not done to join a church. Baptism is done to fulfill the commandment of God that we repent and then witness before heaven and earth that we have repented. The method of the witness is baptism by water. Joining a church is completely separate. John the Baptist wasn't out baptizing people into the New Testament version of the Mormon church. He was baptizing for the remission of sins. If the LDS church were to separate baptism from church membership, many of the problems they claim to be solving could be avoided altogether.
Second, policies are a tool of compulsion used by corporations to force employees to behave in a certain way. The Lord does not deal in policies. He deals in commandments and agency, and men are always free to obey or not, and to receive or not. Policies inherently restrict agency and the Holy Spirit and are not of God. They are just another form of idolatry because they supplant God as a source of truth and direction. No policy is needed. Just empower people to act according to what they believe the Holy Spirit is telling them.
Third, in his "interview" (I use quotes because it is staged, this is not a disinterested third party interviewing Elder Christofferson), Elder Christofferson gives a number of reasons for the new policy. These reasons include:
-- Same sex marriage is sinful and participants need to be disciplined.
-- The new policy comes because of changes to the laws of the US and other countries.
-- The policy leaves no room for questions or doubt.
-- The new policy is family friendly because it frees children from learning one thing at home and another at church.
-- The new policy for same sex marriage is consistent with the church's approach to polygamy.
Conspicuously absent from the list of reasons given by Elder Christofferson is REVELATION. There is no claim that church leaders saw a problem and asked God what they should do. Instead, a list of practical reasons is given. Personally, if I saw a difficulty in my life that was caused by an outside factor, I would ask God what He would have me do to resolve it. This is yet another example of how the LDS church is led by corporate leaders and not by revelation.
Finally, the church is acting in a schizophrenic manner. They state that the primary reason for the policy is to free children from having to learn one thing at home and another at church, and yet if this logic were applied consistently, any situation other than a two-parent, fully active family should result in denial of ordinances. This is intellectual dishonesty. If the church is going to make an intellectual case for their position, then they should be consistent in its application
This policy change only serves to distract people from Jesus Christ and His atonement. The Lord came to this earth to redeem all those who would be redeemed. He came to offer salvation to those who would receive it. Policies, procedures, and unsanctioned requirements for baptism interfere with the ability of people to connect with God to receive His salvation.
The bottom line is that I believe the church's new policy to be a step away from Christ and toward chaos, confusion, and darkness. Baptism should be offered to all who desire it, not just those wanting membership in an institution. This policy is an affront to the Holy Spirit. We should compare the behavior of the church and its leaders to the standard of the scriptures. Where we find a divergence, we should ask ourselves who is out of the way, the scriptures or the church? You may be surprised at the answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those who desire baptism according to the doctrine of Christ (2nd Nephi 31), without man-made restrictions and without judgment, I encourage you to find someone with authority from God to perform the baptism. You can find someone here:
http://www.bornofwater.org/
Here is a link to a discussion about the changes --http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640934/Elder-Christofferson-explains-updated-LDS-Church-policies-on-same-sex-marriage-and-children.html
This whole debate illustrates several problems that need to be addressed.
First, the church has long since lost sight of the fact that baptism and church membership are not co-equal. Baptism is not done to join a church. Baptism is done to fulfill the commandment of God that we repent and then witness before heaven and earth that we have repented. The method of the witness is baptism by water. Joining a church is completely separate. John the Baptist wasn't out baptizing people into the New Testament version of the Mormon church. He was baptizing for the remission of sins. If the LDS church were to separate baptism from church membership, many of the problems they claim to be solving could be avoided altogether.
Second, policies are a tool of compulsion used by corporations to force employees to behave in a certain way. The Lord does not deal in policies. He deals in commandments and agency, and men are always free to obey or not, and to receive or not. Policies inherently restrict agency and the Holy Spirit and are not of God. They are just another form of idolatry because they supplant God as a source of truth and direction. No policy is needed. Just empower people to act according to what they believe the Holy Spirit is telling them.
Third, in his "interview" (I use quotes because it is staged, this is not a disinterested third party interviewing Elder Christofferson), Elder Christofferson gives a number of reasons for the new policy. These reasons include:
-- Same sex marriage is sinful and participants need to be disciplined.
-- The new policy comes because of changes to the laws of the US and other countries.
-- The policy leaves no room for questions or doubt.
-- The new policy is family friendly because it frees children from learning one thing at home and another at church.
-- The new policy for same sex marriage is consistent with the church's approach to polygamy.
Conspicuously absent from the list of reasons given by Elder Christofferson is REVELATION. There is no claim that church leaders saw a problem and asked God what they should do. Instead, a list of practical reasons is given. Personally, if I saw a difficulty in my life that was caused by an outside factor, I would ask God what He would have me do to resolve it. This is yet another example of how the LDS church is led by corporate leaders and not by revelation.
Finally, the church is acting in a schizophrenic manner. They state that the primary reason for the policy is to free children from having to learn one thing at home and another at church, and yet if this logic were applied consistently, any situation other than a two-parent, fully active family should result in denial of ordinances. This is intellectual dishonesty. If the church is going to make an intellectual case for their position, then they should be consistent in its application
This policy change only serves to distract people from Jesus Christ and His atonement. The Lord came to this earth to redeem all those who would be redeemed. He came to offer salvation to those who would receive it. Policies, procedures, and unsanctioned requirements for baptism interfere with the ability of people to connect with God to receive His salvation.
The bottom line is that I believe the church's new policy to be a step away from Christ and toward chaos, confusion, and darkness. Baptism should be offered to all who desire it, not just those wanting membership in an institution. This policy is an affront to the Holy Spirit. We should compare the behavior of the church and its leaders to the standard of the scriptures. Where we find a divergence, we should ask ourselves who is out of the way, the scriptures or the church? You may be surprised at the answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those who desire baptism according to the doctrine of Christ (2nd Nephi 31), without man-made restrictions and without judgment, I encourage you to find someone with authority from God to perform the baptism. You can find someone here:
http://www.bornofwater.org/
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Doing What God Wants You To Do
It is not always easy to do what God asks of you. God asks one thing of me and another of you, and although those two things are not the same, if we do what God asks we are on the path of eternal life. In this way we are all on different paths but on the same journey. Nephi had to kill Laban, steal a book, kidnap a servant, and run away into the wilderness. Abraham had to sacrifice his son on an altar. Peter had to suffer crucifixion like the Savior. All did what Christ wanted of them to fulfill the purposes of God.
In my own life, I was recently asked to do something I didn't want to do. I was asked by God to resign as a member of the LDS Church. I have been a member my whole life, and this was hard. I expect that few will believe that the commandment I received came from God. I expect that few will understand how I could throw away salvation or lose my eternal family. But I must do as God asks, and so as of October 13, 2015 I am no longer a member of the church.
God asked me to do this for a number of reasons, but I think the most important reason is to testify of the idolatry and false teachings that are ever growing within the doctrines of the church. I want to be clear that I did not do this because I wanted to. I am not angry or disillusioned. This was not an act of rebellion but an act of obedience. Below is a copy of the resignation letter I gave my bishop:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 13, 2015
Bishop XXXXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXXX
Dear Bishop XXXXX,
I have been asked by the Lord to do something that I do not want to do. I expect that I will be misunderstood and judged to have been led astray, but I sincerely believe that what I am doing is what Christ wants me to do. And so, with great regret, I hereby resign as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, effective immediately. I understand that the church handbook states that such an action will nullify my baptism, priesthood, and temple blessings. I believe that this is in error, but I understand and acknowledge the church’s teaching on this matter, and want you to know that I appreciate the seriousness of such an action. I ask that my resignation would be processed immediately.
There are several reasons for this action, and I hope that by listing them it will not be seen as a list of complaints or grievances. I have listed my reasons so that you can understand my action better and to state that I have not done this because of sin, anger, or hatred. I appreciate my membership in the LDS church and am thankful for the good and truth that is in it. Through the church I have been introduced to the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith. I have a sincere testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet and seer and that he restored much truth to the world, including the Book of Mormon. Most importantly, through the church and through the Book of Mormon I have been introduced to Jesus Christ, my savior. I have a deep and abiding testimony that He lives. I have been baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost by Him and been cleansed of my sins by His grace and kindness. This was a specific event, a testimony from heaven to me about my standing before the Lord. I am unworthy of such blessings and do not consider myself to be righteous. I am just a fallen man who loves Christ and relies completely upon Him for my salvation and growth.
Despite the good that has come from the LDS church, there are a number of reasons why I must resign. First and foremost, the Lord has commanded it and I want to be obedient to Him. I would not do this if it were not for the commandment I received. Again, I list these things as an explanation. Please don’t take it as a list of grievances. I believe that the Lord wishes me to testify of truth, and the truth is that the church is filled with idolatry and doctrinal errors, and the current course of the church is taking it ever further from Joseph Smith and the truth.
The most grievous form of idol worship in the church is the tradition of “Follow the Prophet” that has sprung up in the last 50 years. Teaching men to follow other men fosters spiritual laziness and points away from Jesus Christ. Problems with this teaching include the following:
- We are taught that the prophet talks to God, and that because he does, somehow that is great for us. Supposedly each successive church leader speaks for God by virtue of their office. What if by “my servants” Christ meant anyone who is given a message from God, regardless of their church position? We are taught that the prophet speaks for God because we are to heed his words (D&C 21). But this scripture is about Joseph Smith. How can other men claim this same right simply because they have inherited an office? Because of our preoccupation with prophets, we are not taught to approach Christ to know him personally. Lip service is paid to this principle, but in practice the focus of the church is programs, ordinances, and leaders. When you do seek for a personal relationship with Christ, curiously it no longer seems to matter whether we have a prophet or not because you have your own connection with heaven. Church leaders no longer teach that men should seek to enter into Christ’s presence while in the flesh or to make their calling and election sure. Instead, we are counseled to rejoice because we have a man who talks to God for us so we don’t have to. This denies the Christ. It is hard for me to see how we are any different than the Israelites. They had a Moses to talk to God for them, and they were cursed for doing so. We are not different at all. We have a Gordon, a Thomas, a Joseph, or a Russell to talk to God for us. We have the scriptures right in front of us and don’t understand how they apply to us.
- We are taught that the prophet somehow has “keys” that men need in order to be saved. We are taught that without such keys, even the dead who have repented are kept from salvation because we have not done certain ordinances for them. This is a false teaching and denies the Christ, and is also form of idol worship. This idea puts men in between us and God. Jesus is the way of salvation. We are repent and come to Him. Outward ordinances do not save. Baptism is required by the Lord for all who live on the earth, but other ordinances are meant to teach. Our ordinances are only types and symbols of the real thing, but this concept is not taught. We are taught that somehow the temple endowment and the marriage sealing magically seal in heaven as on earth. There seems to be no focus on the fact that every “temple blessing” is offered as a condition, and that we must obtain the real thing from God Himself. It does not happen by virtue of the “keys” of men. God does not wait on the keys of men before acting to save the souls of the repentant. Nephi condemned the latter-day church for teaching that God has given his power to men, and yet we completely overlook this scripture and cannot see that Nephi was talking about us.
- We are taught that the prophet cannot lead us astray. We deny that he is infallible, yet every word that comes from the church leaders is considered doctrine. How many times have we heard that General Conference talks are scripture? If the prophet cannot lead us astray, what need do we have for the Holy Ghost? The scriptures are the measuring stick for truth, not the words of the current church leader. The teaching that living prophets trump dead prophets is at odds with the scriptures. I cannot understand how it is that we accept a teaching that allows the leaders freedom to change doctrines simply because of their church office. Also, how is it that a leadership position qualifies a man to be a prophet? Prophets have fruits. The current leaders claim to be prophets, seers, and revelators, but they do not prophesy, reveal, or see. Joseph Smith did all of those things and produced evidence. I’m afraid that what we have in our church are men with church offices and not real prophets or apostles.
Temples have also become an idol. Members think that because they have “taken out their endowment” that somehow they are all set for the celestial kingdom. They have no understanding that the endowment teaches them to walk back to the presence of God in mortality, and that one of the first steps is to seek “true messengers.” Those true messengers are angels, not church leaders. Before the endowment changes in 1990, the ceremony taught about how preachers were false messengers and should be ignored. We now believe that the only way to find true messengers is to look at their church office.
The church itself is an idol. Supposedly the “good ship Zion” will transport us to the presence of God because it can never go astray. Yet, where are the scriptural accounts of such things? Nephi found God alone. So did Lehi. So did Abraham. So did Enos. Adam found the Lord’s presence with just a few family members. They did not have a church hierarchy or system to bring them back into the presence of Christ. Our journey is likewise solitary.
The church programs are idols.
There are other idols. The handbook is an idol. Church leaders at every level are idols. The church is filled with idols. We talk of Christ but preach a gospel that frequently points away from him and turns the pathway to God into a rigid program that has little room for the Holy Ghost. We have a changeable system that is subject to the whims of the current leadership.
Aside from the idolatry and the follow the prophet culture, I am also resigning because those who do seek the face of Jesus Christ in the flesh and teach others about this are cast out. I can give you several accounts of people who were excommunicated because they would not confess that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet, never mind that they have a deep and abiding testimony of Christ. Some even testify that they have seen Him, but they are dismissed because they don’t have leadership credentials. I think it is foolish to believe that one needs to be an LDS church leader to see Christ and publicly testify that He lives. Sadly, the apostles of the church who are charged with such a responsibility do not bear such witness. They openly claim that their “apostolic” witness is one from the Holy Ghost, and put down those who say that an apostle should be an actual eyewitness of Christ. I humbly submit that the church leaders who are called as apostles are not actually apostles until they complete their calling and become an eyewitness. If they claim to be apostles before then, they are false witnesses.
Finally, I am resigning because I am a hypocrite. I would not qualify for baptism given my current set of beliefs. If I don’t qualify for baptism, why should I be a member? By the current church handbook definition, I am an apostate. I associate with and agree with many who have been excommunicated. Given the new, expansive definition of “sustain” given by Russell Nelson in conference last year, I do not sustain the current authorities of the church. I do not pay tithing to the church anymore because they church uses the funds to….well, I don’t know what they use them for because they won’t tell me. But I sure see a lot of spacious buildings and nice malls. I have chosen instead to contribute my tithing funds to a small group where we support single mothers and assist with the financial needs of the poor among us. I have performed and will continue to perform ordinances that are not sanctioned by the presiding authorities of the church, such as baptism and the sacrament. I have not sought an LDS baptism for my children because I they are required to confess Thomas Monson as a prophet as condition for baptism. In 3rd Nephi and also in the D&C, Christ stated that all who desire to witness their repentance by being baptized should be baptized, and that this was his gospel, and that anything that is added or subtracted is not of his gospel. We have adulterated baptism as a result. We have also changed all of the other ordinances. Since they were revealed by Joseph, the sacrament, the style of priesthood ordination, and now baptism have all been changed, despite Joseph’s clear statement that ordinances revealed from heaven are not to be altered or changed. The temple endowment has undergone numerous changes, none of which have been done by revelation. It is my opinion that these changes and the fact that true messengers have been cast out (Denver Snuffer), the Lord does not recognize LDS baptisms as legitimate any longer.
Bishop, I love you and appreciate all you have done for me, my family, and our ward. I know that my actions will probably not be understood. I am just trying to do what is right. I think that what I am doing is right, but if I ever found that I was in error, I would repent immediately, in sackcloth and ashes, begging the Lord’s pardon. I hope that despite my status as a non-member, I will still be able to love and serve my friends and neighbors. I love the people of this ward and the church leaders. I consider you and President XXXX to be men who love the Lord. Thank you again for all you have done.
Sincerely,
Jake Mahan
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One interesting but discouraging thing I have noted - as I expected, my bishop shared the news of my resignation with the ward council, who in turn have shared the news with other members of their family. Of those who have talked with me since the resignation, including the bishop, none have been willing to discuss any of the doctrinal items I have discussed. I am afraid that they are scared of being corrupted by my apostasy. Why are people afraid to discuss doctrine? God is a God of truth. There is nothing to fear from a thorough, critical review of doctrine.
In my own life, I was recently asked to do something I didn't want to do. I was asked by God to resign as a member of the LDS Church. I have been a member my whole life, and this was hard. I expect that few will believe that the commandment I received came from God. I expect that few will understand how I could throw away salvation or lose my eternal family. But I must do as God asks, and so as of October 13, 2015 I am no longer a member of the church.
God asked me to do this for a number of reasons, but I think the most important reason is to testify of the idolatry and false teachings that are ever growing within the doctrines of the church. I want to be clear that I did not do this because I wanted to. I am not angry or disillusioned. This was not an act of rebellion but an act of obedience. Below is a copy of the resignation letter I gave my bishop:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 13, 2015
Bishop XXXXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXXX
Dear Bishop XXXXX,
I have been asked by the Lord to do something that I do not want to do. I expect that I will be misunderstood and judged to have been led astray, but I sincerely believe that what I am doing is what Christ wants me to do. And so, with great regret, I hereby resign as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, effective immediately. I understand that the church handbook states that such an action will nullify my baptism, priesthood, and temple blessings. I believe that this is in error, but I understand and acknowledge the church’s teaching on this matter, and want you to know that I appreciate the seriousness of such an action. I ask that my resignation would be processed immediately.
There are several reasons for this action, and I hope that by listing them it will not be seen as a list of complaints or grievances. I have listed my reasons so that you can understand my action better and to state that I have not done this because of sin, anger, or hatred. I appreciate my membership in the LDS church and am thankful for the good and truth that is in it. Through the church I have been introduced to the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith. I have a sincere testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet and seer and that he restored much truth to the world, including the Book of Mormon. Most importantly, through the church and through the Book of Mormon I have been introduced to Jesus Christ, my savior. I have a deep and abiding testimony that He lives. I have been baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost by Him and been cleansed of my sins by His grace and kindness. This was a specific event, a testimony from heaven to me about my standing before the Lord. I am unworthy of such blessings and do not consider myself to be righteous. I am just a fallen man who loves Christ and relies completely upon Him for my salvation and growth.
Despite the good that has come from the LDS church, there are a number of reasons why I must resign. First and foremost, the Lord has commanded it and I want to be obedient to Him. I would not do this if it were not for the commandment I received. Again, I list these things as an explanation. Please don’t take it as a list of grievances. I believe that the Lord wishes me to testify of truth, and the truth is that the church is filled with idolatry and doctrinal errors, and the current course of the church is taking it ever further from Joseph Smith and the truth.
The most grievous form of idol worship in the church is the tradition of “Follow the Prophet” that has sprung up in the last 50 years. Teaching men to follow other men fosters spiritual laziness and points away from Jesus Christ. Problems with this teaching include the following:
- We are taught that the prophet talks to God, and that because he does, somehow that is great for us. Supposedly each successive church leader speaks for God by virtue of their office. What if by “my servants” Christ meant anyone who is given a message from God, regardless of their church position? We are taught that the prophet speaks for God because we are to heed his words (D&C 21). But this scripture is about Joseph Smith. How can other men claim this same right simply because they have inherited an office? Because of our preoccupation with prophets, we are not taught to approach Christ to know him personally. Lip service is paid to this principle, but in practice the focus of the church is programs, ordinances, and leaders. When you do seek for a personal relationship with Christ, curiously it no longer seems to matter whether we have a prophet or not because you have your own connection with heaven. Church leaders no longer teach that men should seek to enter into Christ’s presence while in the flesh or to make their calling and election sure. Instead, we are counseled to rejoice because we have a man who talks to God for us so we don’t have to. This denies the Christ. It is hard for me to see how we are any different than the Israelites. They had a Moses to talk to God for them, and they were cursed for doing so. We are not different at all. We have a Gordon, a Thomas, a Joseph, or a Russell to talk to God for us. We have the scriptures right in front of us and don’t understand how they apply to us.
- We are taught that the prophet somehow has “keys” that men need in order to be saved. We are taught that without such keys, even the dead who have repented are kept from salvation because we have not done certain ordinances for them. This is a false teaching and denies the Christ, and is also form of idol worship. This idea puts men in between us and God. Jesus is the way of salvation. We are repent and come to Him. Outward ordinances do not save. Baptism is required by the Lord for all who live on the earth, but other ordinances are meant to teach. Our ordinances are only types and symbols of the real thing, but this concept is not taught. We are taught that somehow the temple endowment and the marriage sealing magically seal in heaven as on earth. There seems to be no focus on the fact that every “temple blessing” is offered as a condition, and that we must obtain the real thing from God Himself. It does not happen by virtue of the “keys” of men. God does not wait on the keys of men before acting to save the souls of the repentant. Nephi condemned the latter-day church for teaching that God has given his power to men, and yet we completely overlook this scripture and cannot see that Nephi was talking about us.
- We are taught that the prophet cannot lead us astray. We deny that he is infallible, yet every word that comes from the church leaders is considered doctrine. How many times have we heard that General Conference talks are scripture? If the prophet cannot lead us astray, what need do we have for the Holy Ghost? The scriptures are the measuring stick for truth, not the words of the current church leader. The teaching that living prophets trump dead prophets is at odds with the scriptures. I cannot understand how it is that we accept a teaching that allows the leaders freedom to change doctrines simply because of their church office. Also, how is it that a leadership position qualifies a man to be a prophet? Prophets have fruits. The current leaders claim to be prophets, seers, and revelators, but they do not prophesy, reveal, or see. Joseph Smith did all of those things and produced evidence. I’m afraid that what we have in our church are men with church offices and not real prophets or apostles.
Temples have also become an idol. Members think that because they have “taken out their endowment” that somehow they are all set for the celestial kingdom. They have no understanding that the endowment teaches them to walk back to the presence of God in mortality, and that one of the first steps is to seek “true messengers.” Those true messengers are angels, not church leaders. Before the endowment changes in 1990, the ceremony taught about how preachers were false messengers and should be ignored. We now believe that the only way to find true messengers is to look at their church office.
The church itself is an idol. Supposedly the “good ship Zion” will transport us to the presence of God because it can never go astray. Yet, where are the scriptural accounts of such things? Nephi found God alone. So did Lehi. So did Abraham. So did Enos. Adam found the Lord’s presence with just a few family members. They did not have a church hierarchy or system to bring them back into the presence of Christ. Our journey is likewise solitary.
The church programs are idols.
There are other idols. The handbook is an idol. Church leaders at every level are idols. The church is filled with idols. We talk of Christ but preach a gospel that frequently points away from him and turns the pathway to God into a rigid program that has little room for the Holy Ghost. We have a changeable system that is subject to the whims of the current leadership.
Aside from the idolatry and the follow the prophet culture, I am also resigning because those who do seek the face of Jesus Christ in the flesh and teach others about this are cast out. I can give you several accounts of people who were excommunicated because they would not confess that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet, never mind that they have a deep and abiding testimony of Christ. Some even testify that they have seen Him, but they are dismissed because they don’t have leadership credentials. I think it is foolish to believe that one needs to be an LDS church leader to see Christ and publicly testify that He lives. Sadly, the apostles of the church who are charged with such a responsibility do not bear such witness. They openly claim that their “apostolic” witness is one from the Holy Ghost, and put down those who say that an apostle should be an actual eyewitness of Christ. I humbly submit that the church leaders who are called as apostles are not actually apostles until they complete their calling and become an eyewitness. If they claim to be apostles before then, they are false witnesses.
Finally, I am resigning because I am a hypocrite. I would not qualify for baptism given my current set of beliefs. If I don’t qualify for baptism, why should I be a member? By the current church handbook definition, I am an apostate. I associate with and agree with many who have been excommunicated. Given the new, expansive definition of “sustain” given by Russell Nelson in conference last year, I do not sustain the current authorities of the church. I do not pay tithing to the church anymore because they church uses the funds to….well, I don’t know what they use them for because they won’t tell me. But I sure see a lot of spacious buildings and nice malls. I have chosen instead to contribute my tithing funds to a small group where we support single mothers and assist with the financial needs of the poor among us. I have performed and will continue to perform ordinances that are not sanctioned by the presiding authorities of the church, such as baptism and the sacrament. I have not sought an LDS baptism for my children because I they are required to confess Thomas Monson as a prophet as condition for baptism. In 3rd Nephi and also in the D&C, Christ stated that all who desire to witness their repentance by being baptized should be baptized, and that this was his gospel, and that anything that is added or subtracted is not of his gospel. We have adulterated baptism as a result. We have also changed all of the other ordinances. Since they were revealed by Joseph, the sacrament, the style of priesthood ordination, and now baptism have all been changed, despite Joseph’s clear statement that ordinances revealed from heaven are not to be altered or changed. The temple endowment has undergone numerous changes, none of which have been done by revelation. It is my opinion that these changes and the fact that true messengers have been cast out (Denver Snuffer), the Lord does not recognize LDS baptisms as legitimate any longer.
Bishop, I love you and appreciate all you have done for me, my family, and our ward. I know that my actions will probably not be understood. I am just trying to do what is right. I think that what I am doing is right, but if I ever found that I was in error, I would repent immediately, in sackcloth and ashes, begging the Lord’s pardon. I hope that despite my status as a non-member, I will still be able to love and serve my friends and neighbors. I love the people of this ward and the church leaders. I consider you and President XXXX to be men who love the Lord. Thank you again for all you have done.
Sincerely,
Jake Mahan
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One interesting but discouraging thing I have noted - as I expected, my bishop shared the news of my resignation with the ward council, who in turn have shared the news with other members of their family. Of those who have talked with me since the resignation, including the bishop, none have been willing to discuss any of the doctrinal items I have discussed. I am afraid that they are scared of being corrupted by my apostasy. Why are people afraid to discuss doctrine? God is a God of truth. There is nothing to fear from a thorough, critical review of doctrine.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
My Witness - A Commitment To Follow Christ
Today was a special day for me. I entered the waters of baptism and was baptized by one having authority. I was also given the privilege of receiving authority from Christ to baptize a friend. We performed these baptisms in living water, at Inlet Cove next to Utah Lake. I am grateful to my Savior for His atoning sacrifice, for His example, and His love. I have partaken of His love and desire to receive more, and to bring others to Him.
I was baptized at 8 years old in the LDS tradition. I chose to be baptized again today as a symbol of a covenant I have entered into with the Lord, after the pattern of Mosiah 18. This token is also an expression to the Lord that I believe the words that have been spoken by Denver Snuffer and others are from God. I appreciate how God delivers His words through unexpected and unlikely places. I have been witness to this on many occasions.
This is my third baptism. I baptized myself (as Alma did) last year at Bear Lake, also as a witness to God that I would serve Him. I love how we can renew our commitment to God, and seal it by ordinance on earth as it is in heaven. This is a true renewal of covenants.
I praise the name of Jesus Christ. I look forward to the great day where the veil will part. I seek such a blessing in this life, in the flesh. I have been a recipient of the cleansing power of the baptism of fire, and I can testify with authority that Christ can and does forgive sins. He can and does give sacred promises and covenants to us, directly from Him to our ears, eyes, and minds, independent of any other authority or person He does show Himself to us in vision. He does give direction to us every day, every hour, if we will but humble ourselves and listen. All of these things I know for myself because they have happened in my life. I know that some will mock, some will disbelieve, some will think I'm crazy. But I say with authority that these things are true. Amen.
I was baptized at 8 years old in the LDS tradition. I chose to be baptized again today as a symbol of a covenant I have entered into with the Lord, after the pattern of Mosiah 18. This token is also an expression to the Lord that I believe the words that have been spoken by Denver Snuffer and others are from God. I appreciate how God delivers His words through unexpected and unlikely places. I have been witness to this on many occasions.
This is my third baptism. I baptized myself (as Alma did) last year at Bear Lake, also as a witness to God that I would serve Him. I love how we can renew our commitment to God, and seal it by ordinance on earth as it is in heaven. This is a true renewal of covenants.
I praise the name of Jesus Christ. I look forward to the great day where the veil will part. I seek such a blessing in this life, in the flesh. I have been a recipient of the cleansing power of the baptism of fire, and I can testify with authority that Christ can and does forgive sins. He can and does give sacred promises and covenants to us, directly from Him to our ears, eyes, and minds, independent of any other authority or person He does show Himself to us in vision. He does give direction to us every day, every hour, if we will but humble ourselves and listen. All of these things I know for myself because they have happened in my life. I know that some will mock, some will disbelieve, some will think I'm crazy. But I say with authority that these things are true. Amen.
Friday, September 19, 2014
It's True
I have a few thoughts to share today. My thoughts have been quite a whirlwind since September 9th.
Throughout this journey of faith, I have felt the Lord's guiding hand, and have continued to feel His hand and hear His voice. He even helps me when I am weak and when I fail, and for this I am immensely grateful.
Since reading Passing the Heavenly Gift in October 2012, I have heard the Spirit bear witness of the truth of the things Denver Snuffer has said in his books, on his blog, and in the Zion lectures. Perhaps the biggest bombshell of all came on September 9th, when Denver said this:
Section 121 is a warning to church leaders. It is addressing the powerful, not the powerless. It is addressing those who occupy the seats of authority over others. Only those who claim the right to control, compel, and exercise dominion, are warned against persecuting the saints, who believe the religion and practice it as I did from the time of my conversion. My excommunication was an abuse of authority. Therefore, as soon as the decision was made, the Lord terminated the priesthood authority of the stake presidency and every member of the High Council who sustained this decision, which was unanimous. Thereafter, I appealed to the First Presidency, outlining the involvement of the 12 and the 70. The appeal gave notice to them all. The appeal was summarily denied.
Last general conference, the entire First Presidency, the 12, the 70, and all other general authorities and auxiliaries, voted to sustain those who abused their authority in casting me out of the church. At that moment, the Lord ended all claims of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to claim it is led by the priesthood. They have not practiced what He requires. The Lord has brought about His purposes. This has been in His heart all along. He has chosen to use small means to accomplish it, but He always uses the smallest of means to fulfill His purposes.
None of this was my doing. The Lord's strange act, was not, could not, be planned by me. Was not, could not, have been controlled by me. It was not anticipated by me, or even understood by me, until after the Lord had accomplished His will, and made it apparent to me on the evening of May 1, 2014. He alone has done this. He is the author of all of this.
I have seen the problems and I have believed what Denver has said, but this was hard to swallow. And yet, is it really so hard to believe? Is it any crazier than the story of a teenage farm boy who saw God and Jesus in a forest, was told all the Christian sects were wrong and to join none, received a gold bible from an 1400-year dead guy, translated the gold bible by poking his head in a hat and not even reading the words, found an old Egyptian scroll and somehow conjured the writings of Abraham from it even though it doesn't say jack about Abraham, said that men can become gods, and was killed for leading so many people astray? So really, what is crazy?
So in the Mesa lecture, Denver goes on to give some basic instructions from the Lord about how those who wish to establish Zion should proceed. He even states that the Lord appeared to him again to give this information. Upon hearing this, many have rushed out to be baptized and start their Zion communities. Others have cautioned against this, saying we have to watch and see what fruit is born out of this. Still others say that they are not ready to do anything, either because they haven't received confirmation from the Lord or because they have family and friends they don't want to be alienated from.
I personally don't feel like I fit well into any of those camps. I believe Denver. Crazy, improbable, and nutty as it sounds, I believe him. There have been too many times where I have received signs and witnesses from the Spirit to not believe.
God gives us conflicts to test us. I have been conflicted since last week. On the one hand, I believe Denver, but I don't think we ought to rush into these things. However, I don't want to fret and worry and wait for others before making my decision. I want my actions to stand on their own. So the other day I prayed about what Denver had said, and I also asked Him about another matter. This prayer was uttered just as I left for work. As soon as I was done with the prayer, I felt very strongly to listen to Pandora on the way to work, about an hour's drive from my house. The first song came on, and I suddenly wondered if this was to be the answer. I then proceeded to hear a total of 12 consecutive songs that gave me my answer about the church. Titles like No Light No Light, Sick of It, and Wicked. Songs with lyrics about pretenders who are full of themselves, people who deceive, and people who are satisfied with what they have and don't want more.
I could not help but see this for a sign. It was hard to hear. As frustrated as I have been with what goes on in the church, this was a hard truth to hear. But I feel it in my soul that it is true. It saddens me. The church is still full of good people, and I do not think God has abandoned good people. But things have changed.
I want to be clear. Denver has not said that the church has lost the priesthood. What he said was that the leaders involved in his excommunication have had their priesthood terminated and the church can no longer claim that it is led by priesthood. I think that is a significant difference. I think the LDS church is at least as far into apostasy as the Christian church was after the death of Christ.
By the way, God also answered my other question with a song. I appreciate the Lord. Sometimes he has a sense of humor. I know this sounds stupid or fanciful or deceived, but I have had too many other experiences with similar signs to not believe. Sometimes the Lord shows us these small signs and then expects us to act. Only then will we receive greater witnesses. Some things we can only know by experience.
So, what to do about baptism and Zion communities? I am still in the process of asking God. I realized just this morning that the Lord had answered my prayer EXACTLY as I had asked it. I realized that have not asked whether it is time for me to be baptized or whether I should join with any of these communities. So I have work to do, to ask, seek, and knock. I pray that these things will lead me to greater conformity to the will of God.
Each of us has a different path. Some, like Tim Malone, have resigned. I respect his decision. Were I in his shoes, I would do the same. Others have already been excommunicated. This offers them the chance for a new community of fellowship. Still others have done all this either in secret or without family approval and have much to lose. I feel for these people. I am not among them, for which I am grateful. Leaving the church would not bring as many consequences for me as for others.
My plan is to wait upon the Lord, but not wait passively. I want to get baptized as a sign that I accept this new order of things. I believe Denver's words. I am still parsing through the talk to see what is really there, but I believe him. It certainly is crazy. Only time and experience will tell if it is true. We have to be willing to take chances. We have to act in faith. I trust my God. If Denver is a liar, then I trust God to forgive me as I repent in sackcloth and ashes. But the unfortunate thing is that I don't think he is lying. I think he is telling the truth, as unbelievable as it sounds.
And that reminds me, the thought that started this whole journey out of the Matrix was that God is a God of truth and that anything true cannot be evil. Truth can be painful. It can be hard. It can be difficult. It can seem impossible. And yet, truth cannot be evil. And Truth is what makes God God! He is light and truth, and He offers us that same light and truth, if we will stop walking in the darkness at noon day.
So my journey of faith will continue. I have faith in God to act on the truth revealed through the most unlikely of people, an attorney in Sandy, Utah, who has been cast out of his church. I prayed some time ago that if Zion were to be established in my lifetime, could I be a part of it? And perhaps this is my chance to have my prayer answered in a most unlikely way.
Throughout this journey of faith, I have felt the Lord's guiding hand, and have continued to feel His hand and hear His voice. He even helps me when I am weak and when I fail, and for this I am immensely grateful.
Since reading Passing the Heavenly Gift in October 2012, I have heard the Spirit bear witness of the truth of the things Denver Snuffer has said in his books, on his blog, and in the Zion lectures. Perhaps the biggest bombshell of all came on September 9th, when Denver said this:
Section 121 is a warning to church leaders. It is addressing the powerful, not the powerless. It is addressing those who occupy the seats of authority over others. Only those who claim the right to control, compel, and exercise dominion, are warned against persecuting the saints, who believe the religion and practice it as I did from the time of my conversion. My excommunication was an abuse of authority. Therefore, as soon as the decision was made, the Lord terminated the priesthood authority of the stake presidency and every member of the High Council who sustained this decision, which was unanimous. Thereafter, I appealed to the First Presidency, outlining the involvement of the 12 and the 70. The appeal gave notice to them all. The appeal was summarily denied.
Last general conference, the entire First Presidency, the 12, the 70, and all other general authorities and auxiliaries, voted to sustain those who abused their authority in casting me out of the church. At that moment, the Lord ended all claims of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to claim it is led by the priesthood. They have not practiced what He requires. The Lord has brought about His purposes. This has been in His heart all along. He has chosen to use small means to accomplish it, but He always uses the smallest of means to fulfill His purposes.
None of this was my doing. The Lord's strange act, was not, could not, be planned by me. Was not, could not, have been controlled by me. It was not anticipated by me, or even understood by me, until after the Lord had accomplished His will, and made it apparent to me on the evening of May 1, 2014. He alone has done this. He is the author of all of this.
I have seen the problems and I have believed what Denver has said, but this was hard to swallow. And yet, is it really so hard to believe? Is it any crazier than the story of a teenage farm boy who saw God and Jesus in a forest, was told all the Christian sects were wrong and to join none, received a gold bible from an 1400-year dead guy, translated the gold bible by poking his head in a hat and not even reading the words, found an old Egyptian scroll and somehow conjured the writings of Abraham from it even though it doesn't say jack about Abraham, said that men can become gods, and was killed for leading so many people astray? So really, what is crazy?
So in the Mesa lecture, Denver goes on to give some basic instructions from the Lord about how those who wish to establish Zion should proceed. He even states that the Lord appeared to him again to give this information. Upon hearing this, many have rushed out to be baptized and start their Zion communities. Others have cautioned against this, saying we have to watch and see what fruit is born out of this. Still others say that they are not ready to do anything, either because they haven't received confirmation from the Lord or because they have family and friends they don't want to be alienated from.
I personally don't feel like I fit well into any of those camps. I believe Denver. Crazy, improbable, and nutty as it sounds, I believe him. There have been too many times where I have received signs and witnesses from the Spirit to not believe.
God gives us conflicts to test us. I have been conflicted since last week. On the one hand, I believe Denver, but I don't think we ought to rush into these things. However, I don't want to fret and worry and wait for others before making my decision. I want my actions to stand on their own. So the other day I prayed about what Denver had said, and I also asked Him about another matter. This prayer was uttered just as I left for work. As soon as I was done with the prayer, I felt very strongly to listen to Pandora on the way to work, about an hour's drive from my house. The first song came on, and I suddenly wondered if this was to be the answer. I then proceeded to hear a total of 12 consecutive songs that gave me my answer about the church. Titles like No Light No Light, Sick of It, and Wicked. Songs with lyrics about pretenders who are full of themselves, people who deceive, and people who are satisfied with what they have and don't want more.
I could not help but see this for a sign. It was hard to hear. As frustrated as I have been with what goes on in the church, this was a hard truth to hear. But I feel it in my soul that it is true. It saddens me. The church is still full of good people, and I do not think God has abandoned good people. But things have changed.
I want to be clear. Denver has not said that the church has lost the priesthood. What he said was that the leaders involved in his excommunication have had their priesthood terminated and the church can no longer claim that it is led by priesthood. I think that is a significant difference. I think the LDS church is at least as far into apostasy as the Christian church was after the death of Christ.
By the way, God also answered my other question with a song. I appreciate the Lord. Sometimes he has a sense of humor. I know this sounds stupid or fanciful or deceived, but I have had too many other experiences with similar signs to not believe. Sometimes the Lord shows us these small signs and then expects us to act. Only then will we receive greater witnesses. Some things we can only know by experience.
So, what to do about baptism and Zion communities? I am still in the process of asking God. I realized just this morning that the Lord had answered my prayer EXACTLY as I had asked it. I realized that have not asked whether it is time for me to be baptized or whether I should join with any of these communities. So I have work to do, to ask, seek, and knock. I pray that these things will lead me to greater conformity to the will of God.
Each of us has a different path. Some, like Tim Malone, have resigned. I respect his decision. Were I in his shoes, I would do the same. Others have already been excommunicated. This offers them the chance for a new community of fellowship. Still others have done all this either in secret or without family approval and have much to lose. I feel for these people. I am not among them, for which I am grateful. Leaving the church would not bring as many consequences for me as for others.
My plan is to wait upon the Lord, but not wait passively. I want to get baptized as a sign that I accept this new order of things. I believe Denver's words. I am still parsing through the talk to see what is really there, but I believe him. It certainly is crazy. Only time and experience will tell if it is true. We have to be willing to take chances. We have to act in faith. I trust my God. If Denver is a liar, then I trust God to forgive me as I repent in sackcloth and ashes. But the unfortunate thing is that I don't think he is lying. I think he is telling the truth, as unbelievable as it sounds.
And that reminds me, the thought that started this whole journey out of the Matrix was that God is a God of truth and that anything true cannot be evil. Truth can be painful. It can be hard. It can be difficult. It can seem impossible. And yet, truth cannot be evil. And Truth is what makes God God! He is light and truth, and He offers us that same light and truth, if we will stop walking in the darkness at noon day.
So my journey of faith will continue. I have faith in God to act on the truth revealed through the most unlikely of people, an attorney in Sandy, Utah, who has been cast out of his church. I prayed some time ago that if Zion were to be established in my lifetime, could I be a part of it? And perhaps this is my chance to have my prayer answered in a most unlikely way.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Waiting
Waiting stinks. Let's face it. Lines, traffic, holidays, payday, we have to wait for a lot of things. I'm pretty sure there's a reason for all this waiting that is a part of our lives. It is made even harder by the instant gratification of the information age. Got two minutes? Then pull out your phone, check your email, look at Facebook, play a game, or whatever. Time marches on whether we use it or not.
I think the Lord sets up all this waiting for a good reason. We are to do things in the Lord's time and not on our time. Doing things too soon brings unhappy consequences. Just ask Adam and Eve. They were instructed not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But if they had just waited, perhaps when the time was right the Lord would have given them a commandment to partake of the fruit. They would not have fallen.
So it seems to be with all the good things we desire in life. I find myself aching to be in the presence of the Lord. I think back often to my baptism of fire. The love that poured forth from the presence of God was indescribable. I wish I could experience it forever and never lose it. I desire greatly to have such an experience again, but the Lord does things on His own schedule.
It seems to me that the Lord will give us all the blessings we desire, but waiting is part of mortality. Time is appointed only to men in the flesh, but in the eternal world it has no meaning. I yearn for the day when I am able to fully comprehend why and how this is.
As it is, I must wait for the Lord. For me, it is part of the test of mortality. I can't honestly say that I wait patiently, but wait I will. It is a test of my trust and faith in God to wait for Him. It forces me to seek him more earnestly, and to seek His will in what I should do while I wait. But I love Him and will wait my whole life if I must. He has promised me I would obtain whatever I sought in life, and I seek Him above all else. I look forward to His coming, whenever it is. I hope He will bless me to learn from my waiting.
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Just a note - I took down a couple of posts and edited a couple of others. I went back and read my posts and realized that a few things I had written did not have a spirit of love in them. Whatever unpleasant things are happening with the Church and its leaders, I still must offer love and kindness in return, and I will be trying to focus on more positive things. I think there is a place for pointing out errors and false doctrine, but I need to limit my role in that.
I think the Lord sets up all this waiting for a good reason. We are to do things in the Lord's time and not on our time. Doing things too soon brings unhappy consequences. Just ask Adam and Eve. They were instructed not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But if they had just waited, perhaps when the time was right the Lord would have given them a commandment to partake of the fruit. They would not have fallen.
So it seems to be with all the good things we desire in life. I find myself aching to be in the presence of the Lord. I think back often to my baptism of fire. The love that poured forth from the presence of God was indescribable. I wish I could experience it forever and never lose it. I desire greatly to have such an experience again, but the Lord does things on His own schedule.
It seems to me that the Lord will give us all the blessings we desire, but waiting is part of mortality. Time is appointed only to men in the flesh, but in the eternal world it has no meaning. I yearn for the day when I am able to fully comprehend why and how this is.
As it is, I must wait for the Lord. For me, it is part of the test of mortality. I can't honestly say that I wait patiently, but wait I will. It is a test of my trust and faith in God to wait for Him. It forces me to seek him more earnestly, and to seek His will in what I should do while I wait. But I love Him and will wait my whole life if I must. He has promised me I would obtain whatever I sought in life, and I seek Him above all else. I look forward to His coming, whenever it is. I hope He will bless me to learn from my waiting.
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Just a note - I took down a couple of posts and edited a couple of others. I went back and read my posts and realized that a few things I had written did not have a spirit of love in them. Whatever unpleasant things are happening with the Church and its leaders, I still must offer love and kindness in return, and I will be trying to focus on more positive things. I think there is a place for pointing out errors and false doctrine, but I need to limit my role in that.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
A Personal God
I don't think God is one to multiply many words. For that reason, when I read things in the scriptures, I try to understand why they are phrased the way they are. I find it interesting and significant that in many places, we read about "the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob." (1st Nephi 19:10, Mosiah 7:19, Alma 29:11, and many others) Why not just say God? Or perhaps Jesus? There is a reason why it is phrased this way.
We read in John 17:3 that "...this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." So to have eternal life is to KNOW God. We also read in John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Lest you think that this is somehow meant in a spiritual sense or something that is for the next life, don't forget what Joseph Smith said in D&C 130:3 about this verse - "The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false."
The concept that is being taught in these verses is that Jesus Christ will appear to men in the flesh, and that such an appearance is what constitutes eternal life. What does this have to do with "the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob?" It is referring to the fact that God appeared to each of these men, individually, and ministered to them individually, and loves each of them. He is a knowable, personal God, and desires to know each one of us.
The whole reason that the Book of Mormon was brought forth was to teach the knowledge of a personal God to mankind, knowledge that was lost but restored by Joseph Smith when God appeared to him.
I pose this question - How can we come to know God if we are not saved by the atonement of Jesus Christ? The obvious answer is that we cannot, for if we have not been cleansed by the power of the atonement, we cannot stand to be in His presence (Alma 12:14).
Since we are individuals and have agency, it is up to us to choose whether we will repent and turn to God and receive His mercy through the atonement. He offers it as a free gift for those who turn to Him with full purpose of heart. This mercy is not offered to a select group or to us as a whole; it is offered to each of us, individually, and if we exercise our agency to come to Him, He will give us knowledge that our sins have been remitted. Such knowledge is communicated to us in a heavenly ordinance called the baptism of fire, which I have previously written about.
Each of us must individually come to Him and be cleansed, and He will acknowledge us individually. He invites ALL men to come to Him, not just some, not as part of a specific group. Coming to Christ does not require you to be part of a specific religious group, ethnic group, race, or sex. He knows you as an individual, and has personally remitted your sins. His atonement was wrought for us as individuals. He didn't just suffer some nebulous agony of mind and body for us as a group. He suffered for each of our sins individually. How else could He know us or succor us in our times of need?
With this in mind, I read with utter incredulity the account of Will Carter, who was excommunicated from the church for teaching false doctrine. His account can be found at his blog, In 200 Words or Less.
If you read the comments on the post I linked to above, Will recounts the following exchange:
One high priest asked "Do you believe that Jesus Christ saves us personally?"
I said "Yes."
"That's false doctrine", he said.
No one in that room spoke up in my defense or refuted his statement.
False doctrine????!!!!!???? To teach that Jesus Christ saves us personally? I cannot understand such a concept and I do not believe it. I KNOW, in the literal, real sense of the word, that Jesus Christ DOES save us personally. He is a knowable, personal God who loves us as individuals, not as a group. I hope that the LDS church never acknowledges such a doctrine. I do not think I could affiliate with an institution that espoused such an idea.
It is sad and discouraging to read such things. To think that men who purport to be the Lord's servants are kicking men out of the church for teaching about Jesus Christ saving them personally is frightening. Thankfully, those who are willing to see falsehoods will be able to overcome such stumbling blocks.
I KNOW that Jesus Christ can and does save us personally. I know this because of my own experience with Him. He lives. I cannot claim certain knowledge of this, but the manifestations of Him in response to my faith are undeniable. I love Him and I know that He loves us beyond our ability to comprehend. I hope that people will not be deceived by those who teach anti-Christ doctrines.
We read in John 17:3 that "...this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." So to have eternal life is to KNOW God. We also read in John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Lest you think that this is somehow meant in a spiritual sense or something that is for the next life, don't forget what Joseph Smith said in D&C 130:3 about this verse - "The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false."
The concept that is being taught in these verses is that Jesus Christ will appear to men in the flesh, and that such an appearance is what constitutes eternal life. What does this have to do with "the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob?" It is referring to the fact that God appeared to each of these men, individually, and ministered to them individually, and loves each of them. He is a knowable, personal God, and desires to know each one of us.
The whole reason that the Book of Mormon was brought forth was to teach the knowledge of a personal God to mankind, knowledge that was lost but restored by Joseph Smith when God appeared to him.
I pose this question - How can we come to know God if we are not saved by the atonement of Jesus Christ? The obvious answer is that we cannot, for if we have not been cleansed by the power of the atonement, we cannot stand to be in His presence (Alma 12:14).
Since we are individuals and have agency, it is up to us to choose whether we will repent and turn to God and receive His mercy through the atonement. He offers it as a free gift for those who turn to Him with full purpose of heart. This mercy is not offered to a select group or to us as a whole; it is offered to each of us, individually, and if we exercise our agency to come to Him, He will give us knowledge that our sins have been remitted. Such knowledge is communicated to us in a heavenly ordinance called the baptism of fire, which I have previously written about.
Each of us must individually come to Him and be cleansed, and He will acknowledge us individually. He invites ALL men to come to Him, not just some, not as part of a specific group. Coming to Christ does not require you to be part of a specific religious group, ethnic group, race, or sex. He knows you as an individual, and has personally remitted your sins. His atonement was wrought for us as individuals. He didn't just suffer some nebulous agony of mind and body for us as a group. He suffered for each of our sins individually. How else could He know us or succor us in our times of need?
With this in mind, I read with utter incredulity the account of Will Carter, who was excommunicated from the church for teaching false doctrine. His account can be found at his blog, In 200 Words or Less.
If you read the comments on the post I linked to above, Will recounts the following exchange:
One high priest asked "Do you believe that Jesus Christ saves us personally?"
I said "Yes."
"That's false doctrine", he said.
No one in that room spoke up in my defense or refuted his statement.
False doctrine????!!!!!???? To teach that Jesus Christ saves us personally? I cannot understand such a concept and I do not believe it. I KNOW, in the literal, real sense of the word, that Jesus Christ DOES save us personally. He is a knowable, personal God who loves us as individuals, not as a group. I hope that the LDS church never acknowledges such a doctrine. I do not think I could affiliate with an institution that espoused such an idea.
It is sad and discouraging to read such things. To think that men who purport to be the Lord's servants are kicking men out of the church for teaching about Jesus Christ saving them personally is frightening. Thankfully, those who are willing to see falsehoods will be able to overcome such stumbling blocks.
I KNOW that Jesus Christ can and does save us personally. I know this because of my own experience with Him. He lives. I cannot claim certain knowledge of this, but the manifestations of Him in response to my faith are undeniable. I love Him and I know that He loves us beyond our ability to comprehend. I hope that people will not be deceived by those who teach anti-Christ doctrines.
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