Heart of the Matter Broadcast

Introduction

“LIVE FROM THE MECCA OF MORMONISM”

• SALT LAKE CITY UTAH –

This is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology., where Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity, face to face. Show 23 BOM 49 – Peeling the Onion C June 5th 2012

And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host. We praise the True and Living God for allowing us to participate in this ministry. May He be with you (and us) tonight.

Church Events and Gatherings

Okay, listen up – especially you residents of Brigham City and the surrounding areas: Every quarter a group of eight pastors (who love Jesus and fight against organized religion) get together and have a public event that shows that while they are different denominations, they are NOT different churches – they are all of the Body of Christ. Their biggest event is this coming Sunday, June 10. They call it “Church in the Park.” And what they do is close their church doors and meet together in the largest park in town. They have an open worship service and afterward serve hamburgers and hot dogs for anyone who comes…free! I mean, it’s Baptists right alongside the Lutherans singing about Jesus God! Listen – EVERYONE is invited.

Here are the deets:

Church in the Park
Sunday, June 10
10:30 AM
Pioneer Park, Brigham City
(take the Forest Street exit off of I-15 and Pioneer Park is on your left at about 600 west)

Then, if you are female and interested in learning more about the Bible and meeting other female Christians, join our “all women’s Bible study” beginning Monday Nights from 7-9 pm at the Denny’s Restaurant located in downtown SLC. Security will be provided.

Also on Sundays, Heart of the Matter replays on AM 820 The Truth. So tune in. Friday Nights at 8pm (right here on TV20) tune in as Bishop Earl interviews people who were once LDS and are now born-again Christians. The name of the show? The Ex-Files. Want to be interviewed? Email Bishop Earl at www.mormonexfiles.tv

Upcoming Tour and Training

It is now June 5th, 2012. Our tour dates for the Summer Tour are closed. Where will we be? Take a look:

June 27th, 28th, and 29th
First Independent Methodist Church
Decatur, Alabama – 6:30 PM

August 17th
Hope Point Nazarene Church
Yuba City, CA – 6:30 PM

August 22nd
Blessed Hope Chapel
Simi Valley, CA – 7:00 PM

and

August 29th
New Life Presbyterian
Escondido, CA – 7 PM

If you live in these areas… please join us.

It’s the first of the month and we try and take the time to highlight churches that have been “Transitions Trained” in the State of Utah. So here they are:

Transitions is a program that helps equip Christians as they exit Mormonism and into the Body of Christ. If your church is not Transitions Trained, go to www.LDStransitions.com for more information.

Legal and Cultural News

It seems the “temporary and politically timely” scourge to root out and charge practicing polygamists in the state of Utah with a crime… is over. According to an article in the Trib:

“No charges to be filed in Utah 'Sister Wives' case” By BRIAN SKOLOFF?THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Posted: Jun. 1, 2012 | 2:06 a.m. SALT LAKE CITY – Criminal charges will not be pursued against a polygamous family made famous by the reality TV show "Sister Wives," a Utah prosecutor wrote Thursday in federal court filings. The case against Kody Brown and his four wives – Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn – stars of the TLC show, has been closed, Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman wrote. Brown moved his wives and 16 children from Lehi, about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, to the Las Vegas area in January 2011 after Utah authorities launched a bigamy investigation. (The article says): “Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff assured the Browns they wouldn't be prosecuted under his policy that “consenting adult polygamists won't be charged if they're not committing other crimes.” Makes you wonder if the fact that consenting adults who choose to engage freely in multiple marriage partners will not be prosecuted here in Utah if it is setting a precedence for all types… of consenting adult marriages? Stay tuned.

Idaho's Vodka Controversy

In an oddly related story, it seems the Idaho State Liquor Division has banned the sale of “Five Wives Vodka” from their state-run liquor stores. An article quotes Idaho regulators saying the product was banned because the concept is "offensive to a prominent segment of our population, and will not be carried." Hearing this you’ve gotta ask who the Idaho regulators think would or could be offended.

Freedom of Expression and Political Correctness

by the label?

Is it the practicing polygamists in Idaho? If so, why would they be offended? The label endorses their lifestyle? Is it the active LDS that have a history in polygamy? If so, what would the label be offensive to them? They don’t drink vodka and they claim to not believe in the practice any longer anyway? So what’s the real purpose of the ban?

…the story “inside the story,” so to speak. I can’t help but think we are witnessing just another infringement on the freedom of speech and freedom of expression that has grown so popular in this country—guised in the false and fearful explanation of “we just not wanting to offend.”

I’ve come to discover that ANY group that seeks to legislate and enforce “political correctness” and/or to scrutinize, eliminate, or edit critical or even sarcastic parody is not only politically driven but typically represents something that cannot stand up to scrutiny. As a means to protect themselves and their agendas they try and impose restrictions on critical examinations, accusations, and even parody in a cloaked attempt to govern the world of free thought and expression.

True Christians have nothing to fear. Scrutinize our faith. Examine our claims and poke fun of whatever you want… Truth and honesty has NOTHING to fear… real history has nothing to fear. But show me a man who demands “kind, respectful dialogue” and in almost every case I will show you a man who fears exposure—either of his own personal life of his intentions, his business deals, or his ideals.

Geography and Faith

And in yet ANOTHER somewhat related story, our good friend Steave C. sent us the following article which was printed in the Church News Section of the Deseret News back on July 29, 1978, page 16. The article, which shares sentiments maintained even today among the rank and file Mormons is titled:

Geography Problems

Just listen to how the writer establishes the ground rules for possessing and maintaining what he calls FAITH. The article says:

THE GEOGRAPHY OF the Book of Mormon has intrigued some readers of that volume ever since its publication. But why worry about it? Efforts to pinpoint certain places from what is written in the book are fruitless because the record does not give evidence of such locations in terms of our modern geography.

Attempts to designate certain areas as the “Land Bountiful” or the site of “Zarahemla” or the place where the “Nephite city of Jerusalem” sank into the sea ‘ can bring no definitive results. So why speculate? To guess where Zarahemla stood can in no wise add to anyone’s faith. But to raise doubts in people’s minds about the location of the “Hill Cumorah,” and thus challenge the words of the prophets concerning the place where Moroni buried the records, is most certainly harmful.

And who has the right to raise doubts in anyone’s mind? Our position is to build faith, not to weaken it, and theories concerning the geography of the Book of Mormon can most certainly undermine faith… if allowed to run rampant. Why not leave hidden the things that the Lord has hidden? If He wants the geography of the Book of Mormon revealed, He will do so through His prophet, and not through some writer who wishes to enlighten the world despite his utter lack of inspiration on the point.

Some authors have felt ‘called upon’ to inform the world about Book of Mormon geography and have published writings giving their views. These books, however, are strictly private works and represent only their personal speculations.”

Faith and Reality

This article perfectly represents the mindset of the LDS as our caller from Afghanistan pointed out last week. They literally believe that accepting ideas and stories that are totally unfounded are a measure of good faith!

“Good Faith” begins with evidence and is substantiated by discovery of material fact. God has never expected anyone to believe in misty myths but has established His Word in reality, the incarnation of His Son in reality (Flesh) and His body of believers in Reality. Faith is not produced in a vacuum void of reality—it is based in reality.

Only charlatans—religious and otherwise—operate from the devious platform that says God wants people to believe and follow something for which we only have stories.

The Enduring Symbolism of Living Water

and promises from charismatic men.

Search the facts! Challenge the facts!

In the end, God will remain standing – in the heavens, in the Lord Jesus, and by and through manifest evidence endorsed by His True Spirit.

Jesus and the Feast of Tabernacles

How about a moment “From the Word?”

Moving into John chapter 7 we come to a place where Jesus journeys to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles.

John 7:37-38 says:

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

When Moses was leading the Children of Israel through the desert during the Exodus, they began to want for water. Moses went to the Lord and He instructed him to go to a rock in Horeb and strike it, and it would bring forth living water. He did as instructed, and the people were temporarily refreshed by waters which gushed forth. This was a picture of incarnate Christ, and the living water He would provide to the world during His ministry, which He said would provide constant refreshment to the human soul who receive it.

Later on, as Moses and the children of Israel were again in want for water, the Lord told Moses to go to the same Rock . . . but this time to merely speak to it . . . and it would provide water by his verbal request. This was a picture of the resurrected Christ, who, having already been smitten, sits at the right hand of God and openly supplies living water to any who request it. But Moses was angry with the complaining Children of Israel at the time, and instead of just speaking to the Rock he smote it again! Being a loving God, water still gushed forth, but for this very act Moses was not allowed to enter into the Promised Land.

Have you spoken to the Rock? Have you been so thirsty for truth, so desperate for living water that you have humbled yourself and asked the Rock to save you? If so, were you filled? And if so, does living water now flow out from you?

Invitation to Reflection

Remember His words, NOT MINE:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

And with that, let’s have a word of Prayer!

The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith’s Unique Ability

Our study of the Book of Mormon begins with remembering the fact that the first 116 pages written were stolen and Joseph had to figure out a way to restart the book without having his new work compared to the 116 pages if they were to pop up again for comparison. As recorded in the LDS Doctrine and Covenants (Section 10) Smith claimed to receive a “revelation” on the matter where God told him to translate a second set of pages from “another portion of the record” which miraculously covered the same period of time (but from a more religious slant.) Where the first and lost 116 pages were a “record of kings,” the replacement Joseph would provide would included material from a religious perspective.

This replacement section would include all the pages of the modern Book of Mormon from 1st Nephi through a small book called Words of Mormon. What is important to realize here in our second look into the Book of Mormon is the fact that first time writers often make part (or all) of their work biographical – often unintentionally. This will be the focus of our examination tonight.

Now, if we are truly going to understand how all the elements came together in the Book of Mormon we have to plainly understand that Joseph Smith was not an ordinary man. He was a multifaceted personality who possessed an absolutely extraordinary ability to pull from and then incorporate all types of experiences, insights, and imaginations into a narrative or revelation. I have long described Smith as the greatest religious synthesizer of all time. It is a rare gift to possess a mind that draws from numerous facets of life but it is certainly not one that was unique to Smith. Such people are often known as polymaths with Leonardo Di Vinci being a tremendous representative of them as a whole. In modern art, watch most Bas Lurman

Parallels Between Joseph Smith's Family and Characters in the Book of Mormon

In the opening narrative of the Book of Mormon, we are presented with a family led by a visionary father, an occasionally complaining wife, older boys who possessed a faithless resentment of their father’s visions, and a young, almost perfect hero named Nephi. This Jewish family was on the move as the narrative begins, and faced with a lot of internal struggles as a direct result of their Father Lehi and his “imaginations” for them.

In 1st Nephi chapter 8, Lehi says:

“Behold I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.”

Later, Lehi’s wife complained about the “visions” Lehi claimed to have, calling him a “visionary man.” Lehi’s older sons rebelled again against their father’s spiritual manifestations, opposing what they called, “the foolish imaginations of his heart.”

Joseph Smith's Family Dynamics

We will remember in our early examination of Joseph Smith’s family that they were also a family that were constantly on the move. Why? The “foolish imaginations” of their own in-house patriarch, Joseph Smith Sr., which caused the Smith family to move from one location to another. We know from Church history (especially from Lucy Mack Smith’s own personal journals) that Joseph’s father was also quite the “visionary man.” In fact, he had a “vision” of a “Tree of Life” many, many years before the publication of the Book of Mormon that actually made its way into the text of the Book of Mormon itself (more on that when we come to it).

We also know that there was a great deal of friction between Joseph Smith Senior and his wife Lucy. The source of this friction seems to have been from a number of differences that existed between them. These included:

• Joseph Smith’s father penchant for consuming alcohol
• His distaste for organized religion.
• His belief in Universalism (which says everyone will be saved – something Lucy did not appreciate)
• And possibly included the fact that he was a poor provider, losing all their money in an investment deal gone bad and who then spent his days thereafter trying to locate treasure he would see “in visions.”

The Role of Nephi and Joseph Smith

In the Book of Mormon account, where Lehi’s youngest son (named Nephi) is the only one who faithfully stands by their “visionary father,” we also see in the Smith family history that it was Joseph Smith Jun. who remains faithful and supportive of their visionary patriarch. Adding fuel to this theory (and admittedly it is a theory), Nephi was the fourth son of his visionary Father, as Joseph was the fourth son to his. Additionally, where Nephi describes himself in scripture as being “large in stature” we find another parallel – a description often assigned to Smith himself.

But the parallels continue.

Similarities in the First Verses

In the first verse of the Book of Mormon we read:

1 Nephi 1:1.

I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.”

And in his own history, written in 1832, Joseph Smith said:

“I was born in the town of Charon in the [state] of Vermont North America on the twenty-third day of December A D 1805 of goodly Parents who spared no pains to instructing me in [the] Christian religion.”

Joseph Smith’s father was named Joseph just as “Lehi and Nephi” have a similar ring. And both sets of fathers and sons are noted as being very similar in spirit. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi wants to have the same visions and dreams as that of his father.

Spiritual Gifts and Leadership in Joseph and Nephi

In time, he is not only granted the same spiritual gift but his capacity for them far outweighs his father's. Same with Joseph and his own father. And because it was his father’s visions and dreams that served to divide the family, it seems Joseph was able to validate their existence by having his own. In time, like Nephi, Joseph’s capacity for revelations, visions, and being good far exceeded his own father's.

In other words, to defend and support their visionary fathers, both Joseph and Nephi were able to effectively endorse them by validating their existence through having their own. As a matter of fact, Abner Cole, editor of the Palmyra Reflector, the local newspaper for the Smiths, claimed that the existence of the Book of Mormon itself was in part an actual fulfillment of one of Joseph Smith’s father’s dreams. Cole reported that the published Book of Mormon:

“corresponded precisely with revelations made to, and predictions made by, the elder Smith a number of years before.”

If people just take the book and read it they could be influenced as it being historically based. But any amount of serious investigation reveals the sources and drivers that put the thing together.

Nephi and Joseph in Family Dynamics

Amidst the travels of Lehi’s family into the wilderness, Nephi becomes the spiritual leader in the family, even though he is youngest. Same with Joseph in his family. Nephi’s spiritual strength created jealousy in Lehi’s other older sons, particularly Laman and Lemuel, which got so bad that “an angel” appeared to them early in the text and said to them:

“Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen Him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities?”

From these events, I would suggest we get autobiographical insights into the mind and self-perception of Joseph Smith himself. You see, Nephi is an ideal character – “an archetype of perfection” while the rest of the family ebbs and flows between moments of some strength to long stretches of human weakness.

When Lehi has a vision and the Lord tells his sons they have to go back to Jerusalem, everyone complains . . . except Joseph . . . I mean, Nephi. And the story of Lehi’s sons being instructed to return to Jerusalem to a man named Laban who has possession of brass plates containing inspired scripture serves as yet another insight.

Nephi, Laban, and Joseph Smith’s Connections

After two failed attempts by the brothers to obtain Laban’s plates of brass through different strategies, Nephi resolves to go in and get the job done. In this attempt, Nephi locates Laban, who is drunk and passed out on some steps. After some internal warfare with his own conscience as to whether kill Laban or not, Nephi beheads him with his own sword.

Here we find one of the first examples of Joseph Smith's ability to justify lesser evil for the greater good. From this philosophy written into the earliest pages of the text, Mormonism today maintains its own version – they call it “Lying for the Lord.”

The action of using Laban’s own sword to behead him is anything but original as we find David beheading Goliath with “his own sword” (1st Samuel 17) and Judith beheading a “drunken Holofernes” in the apocryphal book of Judith 13. (We’ll cover the plagiarism from this story next week.) And perhaps Joseph pulled from his own treasure seeking days (with dad) in his creation of this murder.

Historical documents have witnesses state that in his attempts to free buried treasure from the grasp of spirit-guardians and ghosts it was sometimes necessary to attempt three courses of action AND to shed the blood of a dog, chicken, or sheep. Is it possible that these very same elements wound up in these early pages of Joseph’s narrative, where after two attempts, the third was successful only after the blood of Laban was shed?

I would not count it out in the least, knowing Joseph Smith’s mind and ability to synthesize information into wildly imaginative narratives.

Insights and Symbolism in the Story of Laban

Author Dan Vogel, in his outstanding book, "Joseph Smith: The Making of A Prophet," makes an astute observation regarding the Smith family history and the murder of Laban, saying:

“On a deeper level, the story of Laban perhaps reflected an aspect of Joseph’s relationship with his father. Whereas Lehi represented the idealized Joseph Smith Sr, the drunken Laban personified the side of Joseph Sr. that the son most hated – the back-sliding Universalist and sword-bearing treasure seeker that Joseph Jr. wanted extinguished. With God’s permission, (writes Vogel) the son symbolically slays the evil father with his own weapon, that it…”

Examination of Joseph Smith's Sources

Through the belief in magic, hidden treasures, and inspired dreams, thus allowing the good father to emerge.”

Is it possible that in and through this Book of Mormonion narrative, Joseph has himself (in the person of valiant Nephi) behead the drunk, difficult father, remove “the Holy Scripture” from his possession only to then pass them on to the good spiritual leader and father awaiting his return? More importantly, are the similarities pointed out tonight evidence that Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon actually came from a legitimate historical source . . . or from the mind of an imaginative religious charlatan?

Hang with us. Lot, lots more a coming.

GRAPHIC

GRAPHIC

GRAPHIC:

Dan Vogel, “Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet”

Callers and Queries

And with that, let’s open the phones:

(801) 973-8820
(801) 973-TV20

Listen, we want first time callers. And LDS callers if at all possible. If we don’t get quality callers, we will wait and I will cover an ABUNDANCE of information to inform and enlighten the seeking mind.

Speaking of callers, we thought we would let you all in to the joy of what we receive over the phone lines.

We do not know this fellers name, but his message is . . . well, you decide:

PLAY CALL

(PLAY CALL)

While we wait on the operators, I want to explain something to you all that I believe will help answer the question about how Christians discover and discern truth as compared to the LDS.

(DRAW CHART HERE)

Emails

SPOT FOR PARTNERS

Conclusion . . . use recording in the last twenty seconds – I’ll talk over it and say goodbye.

Got an email from a woman code named Dotty who said the LDS are using these passages to prove the Bible supports Mormon doctrine. Let me address them one by one.

Scriptural Support Analysis

We Were Spirit Children

Deuteronomy 32:8
“When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.”

Job 38:4
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.”

Job 38:7
“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Ephesians 1:4-5
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

1 Peter 1:19-20
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

We Were Literal Spirit Children of Heavenly Father

Numbers 16:22
“And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?”

Acts 17:28-29
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.”

Romans 8:16
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

Hebrews 12:9
“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”

Potential to Become Like God

Psalms 82:6
“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”

Romans 8:17
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Galatians 4:7
“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

1 John 3:2
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Revelation 3:21
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

Priesthood/Laying on of Hands

Hebrews 5:1
“For every high priest taken from

Priesthood and Temple Rituals

"Among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.”

The Calling of God

Hebrews 5:4
“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”

Numbers 27:18
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him.”

Acts 8: 14-17
“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”

Temple Rituals

Exodus 39:1
“And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.”

Exodus 40:12-16
“And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

1 Corinthians 15:29
“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”

Accountability and Legal Obligations

Most Americans comprehend that when two parties enter into a contract, they are legally bound and committed to its promises and must follow the terms explicitly, and if one side fails to meet their obligation, the agreement is broken. There are laws to ensure parties entering into an agreement with the U.S. government abide by the rules, and if they choose to break the agreement, it is breached and the government is obliged to collect damages and take punitive action against the offender if they are a congressional representative, president, or a religious organization. Four years ago, one of the richest religious organizations in the country broke their agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, and they deserve nothing less than revocation of their 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization, and the IRS is bound to collect taxes that were lost retroactively by virtue of Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Further actions suggest that the Department of Justice must investigate and prescribe a comprehensive audit to determine the amount of back taxes owed the United States by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; the Mormons. In June 2008, the First Presidency of the Mormon church sent a letter to church leaders in California to be read to all congregations on 29 June 2008 regarding California and Same-Sex Marriage, instructing cult adherents to “do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.” The First Presidency said church teachings are unequivocal and that “local Church leaders will provide information about how you may become involved in this important cause.” The cause, Proposition 8, discriminates against LGBT couples, and in keeping with their belief that the U.S. Constitution is secondary to Mormon edicts, broke their agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and should have lost their tax-exempt status immediately.

In June 2011, a member of the Mormon general authority used LDS Church email to solicit campaign contributions for Willard Romney’s run for president. W. Craig Zwick, who is a member of the church’s First Quorum of the Seventy and father of Romney’s finance chairman wrote, “How much can you contribute to the Romney for President Committee today? You can only give $2,500 max for you and your wife. Let me know — let’s take back America!” According to Revenue Ruling 2007-41 of the IRS, the law “prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign.

Churches and Political Involvement

In 2004, the “IRS selected 110 cases for examination, issued 69 written advisories, revoked the tax-exempt status of five organizations and proposed revocation for two others,” and every election cycle sends out reminders to Charities and Churches of Political Activity Ban. The Mormons, like every listed 501(c)(3) religious organization, received the IRS reminder and they ignored the rules because they believe church law supersedes U.S. law and the Constitution. Interestingly, the Mormon hierarchy admonished “authorities and general officers of the church and their spouses and other ecclesiastical leaders serving full time should not personally participate in political campaigns, including promoting candidates, fundraising, speaking in behalf of or otherwise endorsing candidates, and making financial contributions.” Apparently, even though the church leadership sent out a letter stating its policy on political participation, it was only for show. These are egregious violations and typical of religious fanatics who have inserted their dogmata into legislation and political activism, and it is high time all churches lose their tax-exempt status. However, like the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and evangelical extremists, the Mormons are blatantly thumbing their collective noses at the letter of the law and they are profiting handsomely from their illegal activity.

Financial Implications

Willard Romney gives a substantial amount of his investment earnings and large stock donations to the Mormon church from deals with Bain Capital, and there is nothing wrong with funneling money and stocks to the Mormon church. However, not only does the church avoid paying tax on the income, but Romney deducts charitable donations from his income tax returns and it is in part why he pays a lower tax rate than his secretaries and groundskeepers. American taxpayers have given entitlements to churches for too long, and religious organizations are no better than any other American regardless if they are the Mormon cult, Catholic anti-contraception advocates, or evangelical homophobes. There are those who trumpet all the good work churches do in the communities, but their work is no better than teachers, firefighters, community volunteers, and police officers who pay their fair share in income and property taxes. Every church benefits from every other American’s fuel, sales, income and property taxes, and the entitlements must stop. States, cities, and rural communities are struggling in a slowly-recovering economy, and regardless if it was thriving, it is time to stop welfare to churches, the clergy, and religious-oriented PACs.

The Call for Fair Taxation

The majority of Americans believe the wealthy should pay their fair share in taxes, and churches are in the same league as the 1% who receives subsidies and entitlements from American taxpayers. Many of these so-called “non-profits” sit on expensive real estate and use the roads, police, schools, and fire protection that other Americans are funding with their tax dollars. Many people of faith complain that there are small congregations that are poor, but if they are poor, then they should pay the same rate as a poor family. Fair is fair, and the proselytizing entitlements have gone on long enough; especially in light of interference with women’s health and discriminatory legislation imposed upon the gay community by Mormons, Catholics, and evangelicals.

Political Manipulations and Religious Influence

Republicans claim America is broke, and yet these mega-organizations are living off of government entitlements while they use the GOP to impose their religious dogmata on every American whether they adhere to their religion or not. The clergy “double-dips” on their earnings that drastically reduce their tax liability, and by paying next to nothing in taxes are robbing communities, states, and the federal government of much needed revenue while they support cutting social safety nets and giving the wealthy larger tax cuts. The Mormon problem is especially egregious because they flaunt their total disregard for the law and their agreement with the IRS with impunity, and the public suffers loss of revenue as well as discrimination based solely on the First Presidency’s edicts gleaned from the Christian bible, golden tablets, seer stone revelations, and Book of Mormon. The IRS and DOJ must investigate, audit, and revoke the Mormon church’s tax-exempt status and end their entitlements that fund discrimination against gays, Willard’s plans to privatize education, Veteran’s Healthcare, and worst of all, increase taxes on the poor. If Romney thinks the poor’s taxes should be increased sixty percent, then it follows that the Mormon church’s tax increase 60% to repay Americans for the subsidies that has allowed them to amass considerable income and mammoth land holdings as tax-exempt, non-profit proselytizers.