Shawn emphasizes his sincere concern for the Latter-day Saints, aiming to address non-Christian elements within their teachings out of love and a desire for them to know Jesus, particularly calling for the complete abolition of any form of plural marriage as endorsed in Doctrine and Covenants 132. Despite facing accusations and hostility, he clarifies that his confrontational approach is meant to challenge longstanding unchecked Church doctrines, using a personal anecdote to illustrate the value of criticism for growth and preparedness.
Shawn's teaching emphasizes the importance of Latter-day Saints being spiritually reborn through faith in Jesus Christ and suggests that knowing Jesus and experiencing spiritual regeneration is key to living with God again. He recommends resources like Living Hope Ministries and Utah Lighthouse Ministries for those seeking clarity on differences between Mormonism and Christianity, urging participants to prioritize a personal relationship with Jesus over their current church affiliation.
Heart of the Matter: 10th Show
Introduction to Romans Chapter 10
Live call-in show (801) 973-TV20 973-8820 Heart@tv20.tv www.bornagainmormon.com
Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. is rebroadcast every…
Event Announcement
HEART IN THE PARK – JUNE 25th 2006
4PM Sugarhouse Park
Barbeque Pits (bring your own food)
Fellowship
Praise and Worship
Meet you personally (Q&A)
(Assassins are not welcome.)
LDS are more than welcome.
Questions? www.bornagainmormon.com
If you're looking for a church, Standing Together Ministries has a listing. However, if you're in the Sandy area, I recommend you first visit Sandy Ridge Community Church, with Pastor Travis Mitchell.
Prayer and Paul's Message
Brief History of Paul – Jew among Jews, heart for His people.
ROMANS 10
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Brethren and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God is for Latter-day Saints is they might be saved.
Addressing Misunderstandings
Lots of emails (some of which we’ll cover later). Message board posts quadrupled. Received some very angry accusations. My well-being has been threatened. I have become a “bleeping-bleeping bleep.” Ignorant, fat, liar who is bitter and full of deception.
Forgive me for this anecdotal story, but it truly illustrates much of the misunderstanding people are having in relation to my intentions and this show. I grew up in Southern California… Junior Lifeguard Program, 15 years old final year, Mr. Bray, ocean life guarding legend, tough salty sea dog 20 years my senior, did not like me. Angry, insulting, ridiculed me about areas I was deficient. Hated him because I knew he hated me.
One afternoon… (tell pier swim story)
A year later, I stood with almost 400 men and women in a tryout to become a real ocean lifeguard. When the starting gun went off… (kicked, elbowed, punched, pulled-back, and nearly drown). I learned a few years later from those who interviewed me that Mr. Bray gave me a very high personal recommendation for the job. Instead of hating me, Mr. Bray was willing to be hated by me, in an effort to break those things apart that would hinder my preparedness for the job.
Clarification on Intentions
Now more than ever, people are accusing me of hating Mormon people. I want to say here and now that the Mormon people are my people. I seek to openly and honestly address those things that are NOT Christian to help these people I love know Jesus. I am not afraid to say those things you never hear, my LDS friend.
Last week I addressed one doctrinal point that needs to be removed from LDS canon. ANY aspect of plural marriage – spiritually practiced, in print, or thought – should be immediately and completely abolished. Had an eighty-year-old woman call this morning from Provo to teach me why polygamy is so important. She is an active Latter-day Saint! She said that in order for men to become Gods and to populate the worlds they create, they need many wives to bear these spirit babies.
This is NOT just from fundamentalist minds. It is from active LDS people. It is the basic teaching of D&C 132! What I do is painful. It is confrontational. It may even be insulting to you. But LDS Church doctrine and practice have gone uncontested in this state for far too long.
(LA TIMES ARTICLE)
Polygamy in this state today is a direct result of Joseph Smith’s doctrine and personal practices. There have been bombings, murders, lost boys, even kidnappings of young girls from the safety of their beds over the years! WHY? Doctrine and Covenants 132. Did you ever think of that?
Introduction to Viewer Feedback
So I say, out of love for my LDS brothers and sisters, that members should…
“Having nothing to do with 132!!!”
We’re going to open the phone lines now, but before so doing, I want to do some housecleaning follow-up with the viewers.
- On last weeks show, we had a caller named Natalie from Taylorsville who took exception to my saying that the Church promotes the idea that a living prophet trumps a dead one.
(READ BENSON SPEECH)
- Had a man named Steven post on our website that my reading/ interpretation of D&C 132 was a lie, that I read the Section out of context. He also wrote:
(READ #2)
- A woman called last week and when she couldn’t get me to agree with her point of view, began to attack me. This is a standard response. I got an email from another man that reads:
(READ #3)
- Another email, from billjane stated:
DOG VOMIT THEOLOGY.
However, we also received the following:
(READ #4)
Responses to Polygamy Feedback
Finally, we received dozens upon dozens of calls about my take on polygamy. These calls can be broken down into three camps.
Camp number one: LDS do not believe in polygamy. (RESPOND)
Camp number two: Polygamy is a great principle. The practice was evident and of God in the Old Testament. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. (RESPOND)
Camp number three: Why are you doing this? (RESPOND)
Event Announcement
Remember, Sunday June 25th, 4pm at Sugarhouse Park, we’re having an everyone is invited HEART of the MATTER gathering. Bring your own food, drinks, and questions. We will have a worship time, a short message, and a meet and greet. Latter-day Saints are always welcome. Christians, bring a friend.
Recommended Resources on Mormonism
Additionally, I’d like to make a comment about some excellent resources available by two groups who present excellent materials on Mormonism. If you are investigating the Church or if you are seeking to understand the differences between it and Christianity today, I would recommend these two.
Living Hope Ministries
The first is Living Hope Ministries in Brigham City Utah. They do a fantastic job of producing informative and yet viewable information. I specifically recommend The Bible verses the Book of Mormon for your viewing pleasure. If you are LDS, they will send you the DVD free of charge. You can reach them at (435) 723-6469
Utah Lighthouse Ministries
The second information ministry which I find very reliable regarding the facts about the LDS Church is Utah Lighthouse Ministries. They are the pioneers of information ministries to Mormons and I greatly respect their work and allegiance to the Lord. You can reach them at www.utlm.org
Core Message of Spiritual Regeneration
Finally, let me say this in no uncertain terms:
Our ministry is to help Latter-day Saints understand the importance of being spiritually reborn through faith in Jesus Christ. Our ministry is not about the church you attend right now. It is about Latter-day Saints giving Jesus a chance to rule their world.
Spiritual regeneration was commanded by Jesus. You must be born-again.
If you wonder if you have been born-again, if you wonder if you really know Jesus, if you wonder if you will live with God again, you HAVE NOT been born-again.
Go to the Lord. Confess your sins. Ask Jesus to take over your life. Tell Him you will do whatever He leads you to do – whatever. He will give you cert.
