Heart of the Matter: Comforted by Faith

Live from Salt Lake City, Utah, this is Heart of the Matter where we do all we can to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. I’m Shawn McCraney, your host.

Show 30 507
Creation – part II
July 26th 2016

Our prayer tonight will be given by

And with that how about a moment from the Word?

One of the key indicators of spiritual maturity in this world is by what means do we comfort ourselves in the face of trial, difficulties, despair, and disappointment. I was truly born a man of the flesh – like Esau. I used to mock the term faith (prior to my Mormon Mission) and quoting Nietzsche would say things like: “Faith means not wanting to know the truth.”

Like all things, in some ways Nietzsche was right – we are all liable to hide our blindness and refusals to see under the term, faith. What was interesting is that as a man of consummate fleshly ways I would console myself in times of distress and disappointment with every source other than God. There was never enough food, never enough women, never enough substances, never enough violence, never enough porn, never enough diversions – I clung to whatever diversion I could find to kill the pain. I really related to Esau in the Old Testament. In fact, in Genesis 27:42 after Jacob tricked Esau, Jacob's mother came to Jacob and said: “Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.”

Sources of Comfort

In other words with imaginations of murder and revenge upon his brother Jacob Esau comforted himself. Have you ever comforted yourself with wicked imaginations? I have. From people starving on desert islands dreaming of hamburgers to jilted lovers dreaming of murder, our nature is to comfort ourselves by and through the things of the flesh. It’s not that God is against us finding comfort in things of this world that He has provided us – we know wine has its benefits as do other human beings like friends and loved ones when we are suffering. After Isaac's mother Sarah died we read in Genesis 24:67 “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.”

But the question is what is our primary source of comfort and to what do we turn in the face of our daily and more strident difficulties?

The Ultimate Source of Comfort

Coming to know the Lord I realized that there is a better pain killer in the world than wine, women, and song (though I admittedly still love to drown my sorrows in a box of tacos) – and this supreme pain killer’s name is Jesus. Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 1:3-6

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.”

If you find yourself turning to the things of this world to comfort you, time and time again, and you are tiring of its wasting ways, consider looking to Him who suffered all things – that we might live.

And with that how about a minute from our Board of Direction?

You know this ministry is really heavily supportive of Christian artists. Not necessarily artists that create Christian Arts but Christians who are artists – there is a difference. The ministry in and of itself is about creating what I believe are works of art – from our programming, our sermons, our books, our music, and our films and other productions which we support we believe we are as much creators of art as anything else. Art is interpreted by the spirit within. So is most of what we present to you through the ministry.

Art and Spirit

(DERRICK)
On our walls here in the studio/church we invite believers to display their art. Over on the north wall, we have a painting by our sister Kelly which depicts women flying up from this world and into the flames and fire of God’s lake of fire.

Faith, Hope, and Love in Media Representation

I think is just a beautiful representation. Kelly also painted our window coverings with the three words FAITH HOPE LOVE – which make the scene here in CAMPUS studio/church in my estimation.

States of Grace: A Film by Richard Dutcher

In my hand I have a film by our brother Richard Dutcher. It’s called States of Grace. Richard is the writer/director of it and we give copies of it to people who are interested. Richard made this movie when he was an active Latter-Day Saint and there are certainly overtones of its influence upon the movies theme but far above this is an appeal to Christian love, Christian unity, Christian compassion for others in their plight and sin. Our family has for decades been film buffs – I mean we see everything (except some blockbuster action stuff) and I can say, from the bottom of my heart, that States of Grace hits the Heart of the Matter dead-on. I consider it one of the best (if not the best) movie ever made about Christian grace, love, and Jesus. It’s a movie every person of faith should see. One note – I know some former Mormons who have trouble watching this because it depicts a lot of Mormon Missionary Culture. But the movie is really true to what the culture actually is, and Dutcher clearly illustrates the faults in it without being heavy handed.

Watch this movie.

Shield of Faith: A Book by Brandon Peterson

We also have a book that we helped publish by a Christian police officer. It’s called Shield of Faith and it was written by Brandon Peterson. I have a friend who has read hundreds of books who says this book is the best book he has ever read describing:

Over on the wall we have five welded steel forms which were done by Aaron Wahlquist, a young man who came out of Mormonism and became a Catholic. These five forms all represent Christian concepts that are very important to me personally – so much so that I bear all but one of them on my skin (with the final one coming soon).

The Z and the End Result

Let me explain the Z.

• Fitting that it is the last letter of the Alphabet
• Representative of the end-result God has for all who believe on Him.

And with that, let’s continue on with our discussion about CREATION.

Last week we talked about two phrases related to God’s creation of all things: Creatio ex materia and Creatio ex knee-ah-lo. We left off saying that initially, Mormon doctrine went hand in and with the Christian belief that God created everything (by Christ) “creatio ex nihilo.”

Early on in the Book of Mormon we read that God brought everything into existence by speaking. (Jacob 4:9) Even the JS translation of the book of Genesis has Moses mentioning nothing about preexistent matter in the creation of the world and an LDS owned newspaper called the Evening and the Morning Star ran articles up until 1832 validating the idea that God created all things out of nothing.

But as we said a few weeks back, thinkers of the Enlightenment saw matter and material as always having had to exist and Joseph Smith hooked into this thinking and then adopted it and incorporated it into his theological thinking. But he was not the first Christian thinker to do so.

In a Universalist publication of 1826 we read: “We are not bound to believe that all things were created out of nothing lest we should presuppose that all will return to nothing again in the final end, as we may safely believe that any thing which has a beginning of existence . . . can never have eternity connected with it.”

Translated? If something has a beginning it will certainly have an end but if it has always existed it will always exist. I believe ideas like this this lead Smith to teach many years later that everything that can be considered real is material or matter and has therefore always existed and is “true” and anything that has a beginning must be considered unreal and therefore untrue.

The first time anything appears in LDS writings related to the eternal material nature of all things is a revelation Smith had that is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 93:23 -33 that speaks of “element” (matter) and spirit being eternal. In 1839 Parley P Pratt affirmed (as did Theologian Joseph Priestly in 1777 some sixty years earlier) that matter and Spirit are two great principles of all existence.

Eternal Principles: Matter and Spirit

In other words, everything animate and inanimate is composed of one (or the other or both) of the eternal principles matter and Spirit. It was in 1842 that Joseph Smith introduced the doctrine that all spirit is simply refined matter. When this came out, what it winds up meaning (in the long run) is that since spirit has the same properties of physical matter, and physical matter cannot be created nor destroyed, then human beings, composed of body (material), soul (material), and Spirit (material), exist INDEPENDENT from God!

And it is from this very position that Mormondom has come to see things about “God, his Nature, His origins, and Jesus, and us as his brother – progressing on to becoming Gods,” took root. Once this was understood, the word “create” and “created” found in Genesis and in the Book of Moses became “organized” in the LDS book of Abraham.

Smith's Departure from Traditional Views

And it was here, at this point, that Smith made clear his agreement with thinkers of the Enlightenment in his day and age, which said: “The elements are eternal. That which has a beginning will surely have an end.” And it was here that Mormonism tore itself further away from a view that was not taught in Hellenistic Judaism, the Apostolic Church, the early church fathers, through the middle ages, or even in the Reformation.

Ignoring all that was once taught, Smith took his ideas from the Age of Enlightenment, from so-called science, and chose to side with materialism rather than scripture which says:

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17

And of course, Romans 4:17 where it says:

“… even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth into existence those things which be not as though they were.”

The Choice of Belief

To me, this is the departing signature step that moved Smith from organizing another Christian movement (with the use of his BOM) to the organizing of a non-Christian empire built on matter. As stated last week, either God created all things from nothing existing or matter has always existed (somehow) and God – and all other gods before and after Him are relegated to organizing matter that surrounds them.

Stepping away from apologetics and individual opinions, I think the stance taken is extremely important to the way a person chooses to see God. You see, God is either the originator of all things or He is not. You choose on how you are going to see Him.

Either God is incapable of creating something out of nothing or He is fully capable of creating – even speaking, things into existence . . . again, you decide the God you worship. Either God must submit to the demands of material and is subject to the laws of physics that manipulate them or He is the physics and controls and manipulates them. You choose.

Either God is glorified by the stance that He reigns supreme, capable of doing all these things or He is less than supreme, is simply a glorified man, and is limited by the material universe over which neither he nor the God’s before Him could create.

Based on the Biblical account and its descriptions of Him, I personally choose to believe that no matter what the world and the heavens were composed of, God created them out of nothing. He spoke into existence that which did not exist, that He is omnipotent and as a result is not subject to matter but matter both originates from Him and is subject to Him. In this, He receives all the glory, for which He and He alone deserves.

Let’s open up the phone lines:

(801)

While the operators are clearing your calls, take a look at this.

SPOT

EMAILS

Hi Shawn. I was flattered that you used my idea on why Mormons are nice people. My name is Judy and I live in Bradford Ontario Canada. I would like to tell you of why I left the church. Basically, I just got tired of nonsense. The more I knew, the more I wanted to leave. I hope I can enlighten others to see the false concepts that exist. However, I stayed longer than I should have for many reasons. What happened was amazing to me. I was concerned about my temple recommend which needed to be renewed. My granddaughter was planning to get married and I wanted to attend the temple ceremony. While I

Transition from LDS to Christianity

I was trying to figure out how I was going to get to church and pay my tithing, a still voice asked me if going to the temple was necessary to follow Jesus. I was surprised by this because I was not thinking along that line. But I went through the ritual in my head and discovered that Jesus was not the Centre of the rite; in fact, He was not mentioned. It was about God and man… the Mormon god… Again the voice said if it's not necessary, then it is not true. At that time, I was Molly Mormon, tried and true. So I set out to prove the church was true.

I studied D&C for six months. While doing that, I was prompted to write down any name I came across. When I finished, I had found no proof of the truth, and instead, I found that the doctrines fell into three categories. 1. How to run a church and govern the people. 2. Reprimands for those who were disobedient. 3. Just off the top of his head… Joseph Smith's explanations of things… like sermons. I was disappointed.

When I looked at the list of names, I discovered I had 60 names. I took out those who had died and those who had left the church. I had 47 names. I went to Wikipedia and found that all 47 were leaders or future leaders in the church. And it stands to reason that all 47 went to the Salt Lake basin with Brigham Young. Forty-six of those men practised polygamy. That answered a lot of questions. The main ones being… why did the saints leave Kirkland and Nauvoo? I was always told it was because of religious persecution.

LDS Church Doctrines

This did not seem right because, in the United States, it's against the law to do that. The real reason was… it was against the law to practice polygamy. They were fugitives from justice. Criminals. While I was studying, there was a TV program about the Knights Templar. It went to the mason and the masonic rites. I almost fell off the couch. The similarities to the temple rites were undeniable. I left the church. Truth is revealed if you look for it. I went back to my gospel roots and I enjoy your scripture teaching. I don't always agree, but what you say makes sense.

The only concern I have is that my son is in the bishopric and loves helping people. He does believe that people need to be told what to do. He's a good man but doesn't see the truth. Please say a prayer for him. Thank you for all you do.

Maintaining Family Harmony

16 years old and have a question for you. My mother is a true believer in the LDS church in Provo. My father is a born again Christian in Cedar City. I recently told my mother that I do not believe in the LDS church anymore and I don't want to go on a mission. For the past month, I have been receiving massive pressure with some religious threats. If I don't do this, this will happen to me, for example. I've told her the quote from President Hinkley about Mormons not believing in the traditional Christ and many other things I have learned on your show and on utlm.org. But, she won't believe or research a word on it. My question is, what can I do or say to keep peace with my mom, friends, and family, and to also help them see the truth? My Dad and I enjoy your show very much. Any advice you can think of will be greatly appreciated. It's cool if you read this on your show in case there are some kids with a similar story. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

Personal Struggles

I am at a stand still. I want to embrace Jesus Christ as my Savior… I want to believe I am born again. However, I am struck with fear and anxiety because I am not good at expressing myself to others. My husband sees my new beliefs as a way of telling him that I don't want Eternal Marriage, and he blames himself. My family thinks I am bonkers, watch too much YouTube, and it is the internet's fault. The other day, I was discussing deciding to apply for a job, and a friend in the faith told me… just listen to my husband, after all, God works through the Priesthood. I would have happily accepted that idea just 6 months ago, but now I understand what the Bible says about the Priesthood and that Jesus Christ is the last.

Understanding the Transition from LDS to Christianity

I have been set free from worry of worrying if my husband's spiritual flaws, are not going to keep me from being saved. I love my Husband and I don't feel like it is my job to change him. I cannot express how this new expression of Love has begun to heal my heart, make me a LOT less judgemental, and more sympathetic.. But then comes the problem. I tried to wear the cross, but could not stand up and be strong and tell people. Jesus is my Savior. I stopped wearing it because of what some have said to me. I stay silent and don't speak about what I am feeling. I refuse to talk to those around me because I am afraid. I don't want my husband to be upset because he feels like I don't want to be with him for eternity any more. I LOVE him, and I don't know how to explain to him, that we will still be together, it just won't be the same or as he thought it would be? I hear the Bible verses that tell me NOT TO FEAR False Prophets… but I fear those around me. I am alone and feel like they don't understand me. I should be strong with Jesus, but I am weak! I want to be strong… but I don't know how to be? What would you suggest? Anyway. I appreciate your show. Thanks

Embracing Jesus Christ as Savior

I am at a stand still.. I want to embrace Jesus Christ as my Savior… I want to believe I am born again. However I am struck with fear and anxiety, because I an not good at expressing myself to others. My husband see my new beliefs as a way of telling me that I don't want Eternal Marriage and he blames himself. My family thinks I am bonkers, watch too much youtube and it is the internets fault. The other day, I was discussing about deciding to apply for a job and a friend in the faith told me.. Just listen to my husband, after all God works through the Priesthood. I would have happily accepted that idea just 6 months ago, but now I understand what the Bible says about the Priesthood and that Jesus Christ is the last Priest needed and that God Is Jesus, Jesus is the Holy Ghost, and that I can obtain direct direct guidance from God, through the Holy Ghost and in the name of Jesus Christ. I think?

Gaining a New Understanding of Love

The whole Trinity concept I am still trying to understand. However, this knowledge helps me to know that I don't depend on my husband's righteousness to gain salvation. I have gained a understanding of love that I never had before. I use to ask, why does God's church have no need for me? Why does God not like me? I must have messed up really bad. I was so upset at myself for being so imperfect. That I was fat, or bad at things because I could not seem to do anything right. I hated myself. I don't hate myself anymore. I feel loved. I feel that even though I am heavy, and imperfect, GOD loves me and accepts me and is helping me not only feel his love, but I also am beginning to love myself and seeing life through different eyes.

Struggles with Expressing Faith

Love has begun to heal my heart, make me a LOT less judgmental, and more sympathetic. But then comes the problem. I tried to wear the cross, but could not stand up and be strong and tell people, Jesus is my Savior. I stopped wearing it because of what some have said to me. I stay silent and don't speak about what I am feeling. I refuse to talk to those around me because I am afraid. I don't want my husband to be upset because he feels like I don't want to be with him for eternity any more. I LOVE him, and I don't know how to explain to him, that we will still be together, it just won't be the same or as he thought it would be? I hear the Bible verses that tell me NOT TO FEAR False Prophets… but I fear those around me. I am alone and feel like they don't understand me. I should be strong with Jesus, but I am weak! I want to be strong… but I don't know how to be? What would you suggest? Anyway. I appreciate your show. Thanks

Questions About the Bible and Mormonism

From: Thomas
Subject: Bible "Corrupted"
Message Body:
Hi there my name is Thomas and I love the information you share with everyone in regards to Mormonism and how it differs from Biblical Christianity. My question is: What evidence are Mormons standing on to validate their belief that the Bible has been Corrupted (Church fell into Apostasy)? Thank you for responding. God bless you.
– Thomas

Beliefs on Creation and Science

Hey Shawn, just got your message from 3 days ago. I remember sending that message, do wish I would of recommended a better video, regardless, it's the subject matter that counts. There are literally hundreds of videos now on the reality of the flat earth, like anything, one has to navigate down this road and search out what rings true and what does not. There's a lot out there, some designed to intentionally make it sound foolish. Like the future coming of Christ, many are just not willing to open their minds to the truth…it's a strange thing indeed. I put my trust in God and the Bible. When one allows themselves to truly investigate the subject, both historically and spiritually, using the common sense and the abilities to reason that God has given us, to me at least, it becomes crystal clear that God wants us to trust our senses and what we see and experience on this earth.

This is God's creation, this is our home, God created this world for us, we were meant to understand it, and learn from it, using our God-given senses. The simple fact that all of mankind believed (and knew) that the earth was flat all the way up to less than 500 years ago…really ought to say something. This included God's chosen people. The Bible says that the earth is stationary and that we have the firmament above…and above that is water. The sun, moon, and stars move around US. The evidence of a flat earth is everywhere, it is in our bibles, not to mention the countless videos of this truth on the Internet. This is one of man's simplest truths going all the way back to creation, just like the truth that God created the heavens and the earth, and that God created man.

The false science of Evolution, and the sphere of the earth are the two biggest lies poisoning the minds of men. This truth is real! and it's the kind of truth men are proving more and more every day…with "real" science, not brainwashing "theories" by non-believing so-called scientists. Look into it Shawn, unless you are willing to allow yourself to be deceived and to continue to live in denial…I have no doubt that you will see that this is indeed truth, and the spirit of God will open your eyes to the reality of the very earth we live on. Myself, I was never into the science of space and NASA, to me it has always seemed like the biggest waste of money imaginable, especially when people are starving to death all over the world. So for me…I've embraced this truth, it has truly confirmed many things for me that otherwise have been pushed away to the background of my heart and mind. This truth will completely change the way you see the world. Most are living in a bubble and simply refuse to have that bubble burst…they're trapped in a false reality created by the evil wickedness of men. People are not seeking truth in the spirit, nor do they even seem to care, this is the very world our Lord is asking us to come out of. They're spiritually disconnected from the spirit and glued to the TV, media, and movies instead.

Belief Systems and Deception

Know they say the earth is spinning at 1000mph…huh, wonder why I can't feel it? Did God create a spinning ball with no up and no down, no foundation…not only for the earth, but for our very minds? My mind is not capable of understanding the spinning ball "theory"…my mind is not capable of understanding the big bang…nor is it capable of understanding evolution? And I'm most certainly not capable of understanding the trinity! I believe this inability is because it is not of God…they are lies that fight against the spirit of man…and it's all by design, even to the point of separation, where one loses the ability to connect with the spirit and even to the reality of God all together.

Evil lies to separate man from creation and even God himself…this is the "world" our Lord speaks of…to not be deceived by the minds of men. Where I ask is the fruit of the spirit in this nonsensical pursuit of outer space? In the technology of money hungry tyrants of war…who seem to think they can penetrate the firmament of God and rocket their way to the heavenly realm…it cannot be done! And they know it!, they've known it for possible thousands of years…so what do they do? They lie and deceive, they are of their father the Devil..you could say.

Anyway Shawn, I'm glad you got back with me and I hope you find the time to look into this stuff, I realize it's the kind of thing that demands time, but it is time well spent. All the people looking into this all have something in common..we've all been deceived, the indoctrination into this man-made belief system is worldwide. The world is waking up on many different levels, most all the honest material on the subject is from honest people who are tired of all the deceptions and lies and just want to know the truth. They started out trying their best to debunk the whole idea, but soon come to the realization..that it's not that easy, in fact, it cannot be done!

The Truth and Awareness

Truth will simply not allow it. The truth sets us free, the reality of the very earth we walk on…it's a big one no doubt, but it truly sets you free from the biggest lie ever told to the human race…it will blow your mind…in a good way. At the same time it is extremely difficult to face the reality of the magnitude evil men and rulers have gone to to deceive us, to line their pockets with trillions and to have power over us!, we as a people, as christians, have been put under bondage due to our unbelief. Our ancestors second guessed the word of God and even their very senses and willfully chose to believe in the man-made fables of scientists. We on part, traded our God for science. It is truly sad.

Again, thanks for listening Shawn, I know you're busy, but it would be nice to establish some sort of communication with you, I'm a month or two behind on the heart of the matter, but I'll catch up…I like what you're doing as a brother, you do a great job of keeping it real…. Lord, if only we had more that would focus on the heart, and the truth.

Recommendations and Reflections

A while back I sent you an email recommending "the trinity delusion" website, I'd be interested to hear what you think about his understanding. If you haven't got around to it yet…check it out!, if ya Google it "the trinity delusion website" it comes right up, it's www.angelfire….something? God bless Shawn, take good care, Chad. Ps, you grew up on the west coast didn't you, were you ever able to see the water of the sea bend over the curve? Water does not bend!…Food for thought…? Take it easy, hope to hear from you soon. Chad.

Hey there buddy,

Really quick I know you're busy, I was listening to a podcast yesterday from a while back and it was about the Melchizedek priesthood and I heard you say something that I found fascinating!! It was about Melchizedek being Jesus?? I thought that was extremely interesting and really want to hear more about it… If you are ever taking requests for show topics I think that may be a good one!

God bless brother-

Clint

From: Dallas
Subject: Suicide
Message Body:
I have been wondering why euthanasia clinics are being promoted to let people die with some dignity when it is considered a serious sin and what your opinion is concerning the spiritual state of those who choose to go out that way?