Creation and Emotion: A Contrasting Perspective

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 33 510
Creation – Part IV
August 16th 2016

Alright, a couple of reminders. One, we have books and workbooks and original music and films and tee-shirts and bumperstickers available at our online bookstore at www.hotm.tv. You can also watch old episodes of the show at the same place! Then, by going to www.campuschurch.tv you can go through the Bible verse by verse with us too. And if you want to join us live tune in 10AM mountain time every week for MILK and/or 2:30 PM for Meat. We’d love to see you.

From WENDY? From SETH? From DANNY? Also note three ministries we’d like to promote:

• Breakingbread with warren Pucket
• www.exmormonfiles.com with Bishop Earl, and
• AM 820 here in Utah airs my brother and friend Matt Slick at ______. You can also check Matt’s stuff out at carm.org

Now, we are looking to take 2017 and use our programs as a time to hear from the best qualified people from most of the major Christian or Christian-based religions around.

Series on Denominations and Theological Issues

Let me go to the board to show you what I’m thinking:

First 30 weeks on DENOMINATIONS

• 1 Hour Each
• Best Representative
• Same questions of each

Then I want to take the remaining 22 shows and focus on THEOLOGICAL ISSUES presented by the guests on the one on one shows. These will be

• two Hour Specials
• A panel of guests of
• The best Representatives possible

1
Catholic
31
Eschatology
2
Methodist
32
Eschatology
3
Presbyterian
33
Eschatology
4
Southern Baptist
34
Ontology of God
5
Calvary Chapel
35
Ontology of God
6
Salvation Army
36
Ontology of God
7
Eastern Orthodox
37
Soteriology
8
Seventh-Day Adventist
38
Soteriology
9
Jehovah’s Witness
39
Soteriology
10
Christian Scientist
40
Soteriology
11
Mormon
41
Afterlife Punishment
12
Fundie Mormon
42
Afterlife Punishment
13
Pentecostals
43
Afterlife Punishment
14
Lutheran
44
Spiritual Gifts
15
Episcopalian
45
Spiritual Gifts
16
Community of Christ
46
Religious Authority
17
Nazarene
47
Mandatory Commandments
18
Prophetic and Apostolic
48
The Bible
19
Non-Denominational
49
Who is Christian
20
Westboro Baptist
50
Heaven
21
Adventists
51
Jesus
22
Anglican
52
Jesus
23
Reformed

24
Congregational

25
Anabaptist

26
Plymouth Brethren

27
Charismatic

28
Neo-Charismatic

29
Oneness Pentecostal

30
And even Muslim

If you are or know of anyone who would make a good guest. We’ll see what happens.

The Question of Emotional Manipulation

I have a dear friend who came out of the LDS church (but not officially) and he works for an LDS owned company. His boss, a faithful Latter-day Saint, recently took him to dinner and after a lot of chit chat, did what he has done to him before – told my friend that he needed to come back to the Mormon church – especially to go through the temple. I’ll call my friend Bob and Bob is a very sensitive man and subject to emotional manipulation (in my opinion). This is the way God made him. Any way he gently told his boss that he loves Jesus asked him Why isn’t Jesus enough?

The boss asked him if he had ever committed any sexual sin and my friend said he had and the boss told him that Jesus “was not enough” in such cases – that such sins had to be confessed to a Bishop in order to be forgiven. This was bad enough, but what really bugged me about the story is my friend said over and over in telling it: He was really really kind, and sincere -he even shed tears, so it wasn’t like he was mean or anything.

I’d try and talk about WHAT the boss said but my friend kept going back to HOW the boss approached him. It boiled my blood. Why? I supposed I am a bit jaded when it comes to delivery systems people use to convince people of things. I feel like the truth doesn’t need icing to make it digestible or better. And when people appeal to any emotional methodology to teach or share it angers me.

On my Mormon mission I had a zone leader who was just a regular old guy until we started teaching someone and then all of a sudden he would slip into this persona of holiness – (IMMITATE) “You know, Mrs. Jones, the Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, loves you . . .” We hear this sing-song lilt over the pulpit of many organized religions too.

Mormons often believe these approaches “bring the spirit.” But the Spirit is NOT of this world and cannot be MANipulated. To recite the lyrics of a song I love:

There’s hope in the words And emotion in the eyes It’s so easy to be mislead By the sad and gentle guise And life fools we trust The delivery But its ALL Just drunk sincerity.

EMOTION . . . ALISM It’s a tool and often a counterfeit to the truth.

Contrast the experience of my friend with this email I received a few days ago from a man name Stanly. It was titled: Help me!! Now this man has trouble with spelling and putting sentences

Navigating Faith and Doctrine

together but he was able to see through the emotional guise of religion.

Shawn I really need your help. My name is Stanley. I grew up in a Christian family. A Roman Catholic. I too believe God and everything. But I didn’t understand Catholic doctrine and Bible. Plus, when I was twenty I never go to church. People rude – they judge me – so I don’t wanna go to church… but I still believe in God. I watch your show every night at YouTube. So now I'm married and have one kid. She’s a Mormon, and I was baptized to Mormon about 6 years now. I was blinded by their testimony and they cry… Shawn I fell for their lies… after they baptized me… they ask me if I feel the Holy Spirit. I straight tell my bishop no. By the way he ignored me and pretended everything is fine. Lol. Same when they gave something about blessings the water and bread… I told them I don’t feel the Holy Spirit. I know Shawn it is one greatest of sin to lie to the Holy Spirit and I talk to my bishops and I straight told him I don’t believe anything about Mormon but he still want to teach me. HE CRY. Shawn, I can never fall for it. How can I get out of Mormon?

I am so grateful when I get to see firsthand a person who seeks God so ardently in spirit and truth and just rejects the stuff that they are handed by religious men. Stanley calls it as it is – no matter what. May we all take a lesson from his relentless honesty for God.

Exploring Acts Chapter 10

And with that, how about a Moment from the Word?

(Run from the Word here please)

We are covering the Book of Acts in our Milk gatherings and are in chapter 10 where Peter is called to give the Gospel to Cornelius and his family – who are Gentiles. To preface the event and prepare Peter’s mind and heart for the assignment, God gives Peter a vision.

The Significance of the Vision

Now, let me ask you all a question – did Peter have a Bible or the scriptures? He did. In fact, if we allow ourselves to imagine it, if they had printed books in those days Peter would have been hefting around a leather-bound Bible that contained all the Old Testament writings to him, right? Genesis through Malachi – the Word, scripture. Would he have carried a New Testament? Nope. Didn’t exist.

Now, we frequently say things like: We go by every word. Sola Scriptura, and The Word of God does not contradict itself. We tell people that if they have a thought or insight that is contrary to what is written then they KNOW that that thought or belief is NOT of the Spirit because (ready) “God would NEVER, EVER contradict His written word.” Ever said that or heard that?

I wonder if that was how it was in Peter’s day and age? Because something interesting happens here in Acts chapter 10. In his vision, a sheet drops down from heaven full of wild creeping forbidden by the law animals and a voice from heaven tells him “to rise, kill and eat.”

What's interesting about that? In the book of Leviticus, right there in Peter’s leather-bound Bible, the written word plainly says that eating and even touching such things is forbidden. By God! What was Peter to do? He had always read that it was unlawful to eat unclean things but now He was commanded… from heaven… by God to… eat them.

How do we respond to this? How would Peter justify eating something that was utterly and absolutely forbidden in the written Word? First of all, Peter could and probably did say that he was able to do this because God told Him to. But is this acceptable in our day?

Modern Interpretations

For instance, the New Testament gives all sorts of commands and demands, right? For instance, 1st Corinthians 11:6 says:

“For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.”

There are those who insist that this must be kept and then there are those who insist that the Bible must be kept – but ignore this.

The Role of Scripture Versus Spiritual Guidance

All together – and then there are those who say that the Spirit tells them this is no longer necessary? Which is it? Maybe it's all of them? Hmmm.

What about what Jesus said about divorce?

Matthew 5:32
. . . That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

What is written always and only? Or what the Spirit says?

Paul's Direction on Women in the Church

And then regarding women again listen to what Paul wrote in 1st Timothy 2:11-12:

“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

What to do? Again, there are those who implement this teaching and believe they are more holy for it? That would be like Peter refusing to eat against the law and believing he was MORE HOLY FOR IT.

Should Peter have listened to the Word from heaven over the written word? I think so. And this is yet another blow to the Reformational stance of Sola Scriptura.

Living by the Spirit

The scripture is clear, my friends and followers of Jesus by the Spirit – we are now lead by the Laws written on our Hearts! We (believers and followers of the way) are His written epistles NOT written with paper and ink! If this is the case we have a built-in reason to support the gentle deconstruction of all brick and mortar religion (and all of its religious commands based on the written Word) and to turn and support the reconstruction of a subjective faith, one lead by the Spirit and not the letter, and one where we allow all believers the right to let the law written on their hearts to govern them from above.

Something that I believe will help explain this deconstruction/reconstruction is our latest book, Knife to a Gun Fight. Now, I have said that this is perhaps the most important book we’ve written to date.

But having enemies and detractors all around I wanted to see what an unbiased knowledgeable third party would say about it – so I submitted it to Kirkus, New York, a hundred-year-old, uncompromising even-handed book reviewing company would say.

Kirkus reviews all kinds of books – the biggest bestsellers, fiction, non-fiction in every category. They have qualified reviewers from the subject matter presented – scientists, Ph.D.’s, professors, doctors, theologians – who are assigned the book and question and review it.

I fully expected to get some harsh remarks back. What did the Kirkus Review of Knife to a Gun Fight say?

READ REVIEW HERE

Final Thoughts

Get this book – for your seeking family and friends who are trapped in religion. If you can’t afford one – there’s ten bucks – tell us and we’ll send you one for free. That’s Knife to a Gun Fight at the store at www.hotm.tv

And with that let’s continue on our discussion of creation. And tonight I just want to touch on the matter of time and age.

We are going to get into the subject more deeply next week but I wanted to get our feet wet tonight.

Let’s open up the phone lines: (801)

First of all last week . . . Last week read an email from my sister and friend Kay Brown.

Title: Republican Mitt Romney and the "Mormon Plan for America"
Subtitle: Before anyone supports Mormon Mitt Romney for President, they need to know the extremely unique Mormon "End of the Age" viewpoint and especially the "White Horse Prophecy"! Once properly understood, you will realize that no genuine Christian could ever support Mitt Romney for President.
Guest Column by William Schnoebelen – Former Satanist, Mason, and Mormon

The New World Order is coming! Are you ready? Once you understand what this New World Order really is, and how it is being gradually implemented, you will be able to see it progressing in your daily news!! Learn how to protect yourself, your loved ones! Stand by for insights so startling you will never look at the news the same way again.
YOU ARE NOW ON THE CUTTING EDGE
Copyright © 2007 Cutting Edge Ministries. All rights reserved. See full copyright notice below.
By William Schnoebelen
I spent five years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons). During that time I was highly active in church functions and priesthood offices. I held a “temple recommend” and went to the temple many times. This was from 1980-1985.

Examining the Intersection of Mormonism and Politics

time, I developed friendships with many LDS people. Mitt Romney, like most of the people I met, is a fine, upstanding man of apparently sterling character. If his religious faith is not taken into account, Mr. Romney is probably better qualified than most other presidential candidates in this election cycle, from whatever party. However, with the LDS church, things are never as they seem. When I was in the church, we were taught many things about the “Mormon Plan for America”. These were doctrines that were not so much widely discussed outside the Church, because they were somewhat radical or even revolutionary in nature.

At the time, I was a member of what was called The Freeman Institute. This was a group founded by BYU Professor and FBI Agent W. Cleon Skousen. This was not an officially recognized LDS group, but rather a quasi-political body of deeply conservative stripe. Skousen's name is well known among 20th-century right wingers. His conservative credentials are impeccable and he is the author of several highly regarded books, including THE NAKED CAPITALIST and THE NAKED COMMUNIST. He is well-known among groups such as the John Birch Society.

The Freeman Institute and Book of Mormon Influence

However, the name of the group “Freeman” comes from The Book of Mormon, of the three “standard works” of the LDS faith beyond the Bible.

1. There is a passage in the book of Alma (one of the “books” in the Book of Mormon) (2): And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge over the land?took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the division among them, for the?freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their?religion by a free government. Alma 51: 6-7

Now, there is nothing particularly sinister about that passage, except for the fact that it illustrates how strongly the Institute allied itself with Book of Mormon teaching. This should be disturbing to Christians. Because of this, in the later years the organization changed its name to the National Center for Constitutional Studies.

However, even that name has Mormon doctrinal implications. Mormonism is a uniquely American religion, embodying as it does many of the virtues of the frontier United States: self-reliance, individuality, and high expectations of morality. One of its more unique doctrines in this regard is their belief that the US Constitution is a divinely inspired document. They view it in virtually the same way they view the Bible or the Book of Mormon or other standard works of their church. Thus, the National Center for Constitutional Studies has – as its underpinning – the idea that the document they are studying is virtually holy writ.

Skousen, like most knowledgeable Mormons, believed this doctrine and viewed with grave suspicions the rise of Supreme Court decisions which seemed to chip away at a strict interpretation of the Constitution. This would be much like Christians who have little patience with liberal theologians who interpret the Bible very loosely and do not regard it as the very Word of God.

Political Implications for Mormons

This would put most Mormons on the same page politically as the conservative wing of the Republican party. This is why many conservative Americans see Romney as a viable alternative to Rudy Guiliani, who has many socially liberal views and a somewhat less than perfect marital background. Romney, of course, has the “perfect” Mormon marriage. He has been married to the same woman for many years and does not cuss, drink or smoke or even drink coffee or tea. He is also an incredibly successful executive in the private sector – having managed to saved the troubled Salt Lake Olympics and then successfully govern the state of Massachusetts.

At this point, many would say: so what is the problem? The difficulty is this: Mormonism has a unique view of itself in American history. This is not like the “Catholic issue” when John Kennedy was running for president in 1960. Kennedy was able to look the press straight in the eye and tell them that if he were elected president, he would not be allowing the pope or his archbishop in Boston to dictate how he would run the country. That satisfied the press and pretty much quelled the Catholic issue. There was hardly a peep during the 2004 election about John Kerry's Catholicism (unfortunately!).

But Mormonism is different, and Mitt Romney's roots run deep into the LDS religion. It could be argued that Kennedy was a lousy Catholic. Both he and his father Joseph Kennedy were notorious philanderers and adulterers. But Romney takes his faith very, very seriously. Like

Mitt Romney's Priesthood and LDS Beliefs

His father, George Romney — who ran unsuccessfully for president a generation ago (1968) — Mitt is a high priest in the Church priesthood hierarchy. What cost George Romney the candidacy was the LDS Church's stand on race. Until 1978, the LDS Church taught that black people were “loathsome, filthy and lazy” (Mormon leaders' words, NOT mine) and that no black could ever hold the priesthood until all white men had received it. But, in 1978, the Church received a “revelation” changing that teaching. However, young Mitt Romney grew up believing this loathsome doctrine about blacks! That belief alone might be cause for concern.

(It should be explained that Mormonism has a somewhat odd and complicated hierarchy for its priesthood. Unlike virtually every other religion, virtually all adult males in Mormonism are “priests.” In fact, at the age of 18, most “worthy” Mormon young men are ordained elders. There are two priesthoods, the Aaronic, which is for boys under eighteen that includes deacon, teacher and priest. After 18, a worthy young man is ordained into the higher or Melchizedek priesthood. The offices here are Elder, Seventy and High Priest. Additionally, some elders are called to lead a ward [local LDS congregation] and they are ordained high priests [if not one already] and made bishops.)

Romney's Rise in LDS Hierarchy

As can be seen from the above explanation, Romney has risen to the highest levels of “local priesthood” power. He also served a 30-month stint as an LDS missionary, which is the “gold standard” for LDS young men. A successfully returned LDS missionary is the Mormon equivalent of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

In preparation for going on his mission, Mitt Romney would have had to “take out his endowments” in the LDS temple. While it is much too complicated to explain all that entails, suffice it to say that it involves much ritual and ritual drama that teaches certain “sacred” things to worthy LDS that “gentiles” (non-Mormons) are never supposed to know. These include tokens and words which permit them to enter the highest degree of heaven.

The Oaths and Their Implications

They also include what were (in the time when Mr. Romney first took them) dire blood oaths to observe certain secret “Laws” unknown to outsiders. These oaths were changed about 15 years ago and rendered less objectionable, partially in response to videos like THE GOD MAKERS and our MORMONISM'S TEMPLE OF DOOM. It is these oaths that are the problem for a Mormon President. There are several of these oaths, but the one of them that most concerns us is the oath of “Obedience to the Law of Sacrifice.” This is one all faithful temple Mormons have sworn. In part it says…

“As Jesus Christ has laid down his life for the redemption of mankind, so we should covenant to sacrifice all that we [I] possess, even our [my] own lives [life] if necessary, in sustaining and defending the Kingdom of God.”

The key point to understand is that to a Mormon, the term “Kingdom of God” means the LDS Church. There is no difference. This oath involved a penalty which was demonstrated thus:

"…by placing the thumb under the left ear, the palm of the hand down, and by drawing the thumb quickly across the throat to the right ear, and dropping the hand to the side."

This is called a penal sign, meaning it symbolizes the penalty for violating the oath. In simpler terms, this is a symbolic gesture for slitting your throat! It is also virtually identical to the penalty for the First Degree of Blue Lodge Freemasonry. This is not surprising because Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, put together the temple ritual very soon after he, himself, was brought through the Blue Lodge Masonic degrees. The resemblance between the temple rituals and the Masonic rites is so striking that for many years the Grand Lodge of Utah (Freemasons) regarded the LDS church as a clandestine Lodge (that is, a fake Masonic lodge operating without proper warrant).

In fact, the first five prophets (leaders of the whole church) were Freemasons! So this resemblance is perfectly understandable. However, it gets worse. This “Kingdom of God” is believed by devout Mormons to be a theocratic kingdom run by the Prophet from Salt Lake City. They believe that ultimately they will head up a one-world benevolent dictatorship (or kingdom) run by the LDS Prophet. This will not only be a religious and political kingdom, but it will also be an economic kingdom.

Wealth and Influence in LDS Church Leadership

Leaders (9) are chosen from among hereditary LDS families (like Romney's) who are captains of industry and wealthy, self-made executives of extraordinary capitalistic skill. Most are millionaires before they even assume their callings. Because of this, the LDS church leadership has demonstrated remarkable skill in building an economic empire out of their small beginnings. Today, the LDS church is probably the richest church – per capita – in the world. Of course, the Roman church is much wealthier, but it has had 1700 years to amass its capital and has more than a billion members. The Mormons have only been around about 176 years and have only one percent of the members of the Roman church. Yet they would be in the top fifty of Fortune 500 companies if they were categorized as a business.

Part of the strategy of the LDS leadership is to invest in very powerful and influential holdings. Unlike most churches, they own TV stations (local network affiliates). They own power companies. Most worrisome of all, they have made a concerted effort to buy up thousands of acres of farmland, orchards, etc. under their many “dummy companies.”

Prophetic Beliefs and Their Impact

Part of the reason the Mormons are doing this, is because of their peculiar view of the end-times. Here is where Mitt Romney (or someone very much like him) comes in. Two separate Mormon prophecies impact this scenario. The first is a belief taught by many LDS leaders – including Brigham Young – that a time would come when the US Constitution would “hang by a thread” and that the elders of Israel (meaning the LDS leadership) would come in and save the day. (10)

Many LDS (and indeed many conservative Americans) believe that today the Constitution is indeed in peril, whether it is from the encroachments on civil liberties from the Homeland Security people OR from groups like the ACLU who seem determined to move through liberal courts to virtually outlaw religion (and especially Christianity) from the public square and public discourse.

How the “elders” would save the Constitution is not entirely clear, but it is presumed that there would be a restoration of the Kingdom of God (LDS church) over the whole nation and that the United Order (11) would be restored by a benevolent LDS Prophet who was also priest and king over America. Not many Americans know that LDS founder Joseph Smith had himself crowned king over America (soon before he was shot at the Carthage jail by a mob). It is believed that all LDS prophets since him believe themselves to be sovereigns as well.

Believe it or not, Smith established a highly secret “Council of Fifty” which was called the “Council of Ytfif” to outsiders (fifty spelled backwards). With these fifty men, some of whom were not even LDS, he intended to set up the foundations for a secret government of the United States with himself as its head. Ironically enough, one of the LDS splinter groups which broke away from Brigham Young after Smith's assassination established a similar council in rural Wisconsin. They called it “The Illuminati!”

The "White Horse Prophecy"

The other prophecy is even more controversial. It is known as the “White Horse Prophecy” or the prophecy of the “One mighty and strong.” Now, this is not public, formal LDS doctrine, but it was taught by many leaders of the Church and is still taught today. It is said by LDS leadership that when the Constitution is in dire peril, one will come who is mighty and strong. He will come riding (figuratively perhaps) on a white horse and will wield awesome political and spiritual power. This mysterious priesthood elder would somehow seize control of the US government to prevent the total abrogation of the Constitution. He would assume total power and create an LDS “Kingdom” in America. At that time, this “one mighty and strong” would be proclaimed the new “Prophet “ (First President) of the LDS church and would also be president of the United States. Thus, he would wield both supreme political power of the most powerful nation on earth and also be the “Prophet, Seer and Revelator” (12) of the LDS Church.

At the same time, through the vast corporate and agricultural holdings of the LDS Church (through its various subsidiaries), he would have the power to either feed the world or with-hold food from the world. The implication is that getting food would be dependent on being obedient to the United Order. Now, to a Bible-believer, all of this sounds chillingly like the description of the “man of sin” (2 Thess.

The Concept of the Anti-Christ and Political Influence

2:3) or the Anti-Christ. He will be a great political leader (Rev. 13:2) but with a religious component (Rev. 13:4). He will control commerce and especially food distribution (Rev. 13:17). But most Mormons do not see that connection. They believe he will be a mighty spiritual and political leader who will save the USA from destruction and ultimately bring peace to the world. Now, many might say: this is fanciful or alarmist talk. No one could really do such a thing in this day and age! And Mitt Romney – he is such a nice, upstanding fellow! However, look at how many of our God-given liberties have been chipped away at by that “nice fellow,” George W. Bush, in the last few years. Our nation has been changed dramatically because of one man at the helm.

Mormon Influence in Politics

Please understand, we are not saying Mr. Romney is even consciously aware of all this. He is probably not running for president because he thinks he can become a super-Mormon dictator. He is just doing it for his country because he believes he is the best man to do the job. That is how Mormons are trained to think – that they can be the very best and usually ARE the very best. But remember, this guy has the LDS teachings hard-wired into his very DNA. He is the great-grandson of LDS polygamists from a Mormon colony in Mexico, Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt. There is a very real spiritual bondage there.

The Law of Consecration

On top of this, the temple oaths and obligations Romney has taken make his first allegiance to the LDS “Kingdom of God.” In the part of the temple rite called the “Law of Consecration,” he swore as follows:

13. You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion. Thus, he MUST do everything he can to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth and the “establishment of Zion” – which is the political form of the Kingdom.

LDS Presence in Government

You must also realize that Mormons have been positioning themselves in government for decades. A disproportionate number of FBI agents, CIA agents, State Department people and other government officials are loyal LDS. At one time, three of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were loyal Mormons. Whether or not any of this actually happens in this way is obviously up to the LORD, and to his prophecies concerning Anti-Christ. But well-trained temple Mormons believe it is literally their manifest destiny to rescue the United States and bring about the Kingdom of God on earth, with their prophet as its head.

We will end with one final eerie note which I cannot prove, but which I will share. When I was a temple Mormon and doing temple work in the Washington DC temple in Silver Springs, Maryland [c. 1983], I had a conversation with a fellow LDS priesthood holder. He was a member of the US Treasury department and a Secret Service agent. He was obviously very proud of the temple, which was indeed an awesome 20 million dollar structure (in 1970 dollars!) of white, glistening marble. He shared with me that very few knew what was on the fifth floor of the temple. I asked him what was up there, because even worthy temple LDS were not allowed on that floor. He told me that there was a council room up there which was an exact replica of the Oval Office of the White House. He told me they even had all the radio and telemetry equipment in place, hidden beneath a dome on top of the temple. He said that from this council room, the prophet could run the nation just as easily as he could from the White House itself. He also claimed that these electronic devices on the roof were so strong that airlines had to avoid flying right over the temple or their instruments might be thrown off. I cannot vouch for the truthfulness of this story. But Mormons normally do not lie, and this man seemed genuinely proud of this achievement – the setting up of a shadow “White House” within the confines of one of the temples.

Mormonism's Holiest Sanctuaries

I share this partly because it illustrates what LDS truly believe to be the destiny of their religion in this land. Just the very fact that this priesthood holder chose to share this story says volumes about the LDS view of their destiny. Whether the story is accurate or not, it shows that this man, who was in charge of protecting our president, believed that Mormons would one day rule the US (and thence the world) from the Washington temple. Right now, many of them believe Mitt Romney is their best and brightest hope for achieving that end. Would you really want a man in the White House who honestly believes he can become a god??

(14) Please bear that in mind when you go to cast your vote.

Footnotes

1 These are extra-Biblical books which are – of course – spurious by orthodox Christian standards. They are: The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. 2 The Book of Mormon has “books” in it, just as the Bible has the “book” of Genesis or Matthew. The names however, are quite strange to the Christian ear. One of the books is even called Ether. 3 “Worthy” means keeping faithfully to all the teachings of the Church, keeping the Word of Wisdom, which is a command to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea and also to be morally pure – no premarital sex and no masturbation and of course no homosexuality. 4 For more on the temple, see our ground-breaking book, MORMONISM'S TEMPLE OF DOOM (1987) by William Schnoebelen and James R. Spencer.

5 Mormons are taught that there are three degrees of heaven. First is the Telestial Kingdom, where spiritual slackers of all kinds go. It resembles earth as it is right now, in its fallen state. Then there is the Terrestrial Kingdom, where good people of all faiths go and also where mediocre Mormons go. It is like the Garden of Eden, a perfect world. Finally, there is the Celestial Kingdom, where Mormons who are true and faithful to all their covenants will enter into the presence of Heavenly Father and ultimately become gods and goddesses of their own planets and have an “eternal increase of seed” – meaning having billions of spirit babies with which to populate their planet. It is the lofty goal of every devout Mormon to achieve the third Kingdom and become a god. 6 By Ed Decker and Dave Hunt, Harvest House, 1984.

7 Www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/temple_ritual.htm 8 Ibid. 9 This higher level of the hierarchy is referred to as General Authorities and would be roughly analogous to the College of Cardinals in Catholicism. 10 See Journal of Discourses, vol. 7 p. 15. 11 The United Order was a socialistic economic system instituted by Joseph Smith in which every member of the LDS church would contribute their property and money to a common fund (the “bishop's warehouse”) and that it would then be disbursed by the Brethren to members as needed. It did not work very well and ended up being abandoned “because of the sinfulness of the people.” But LDS believe it will be restored in the end times by the prophet. The United Order would also include Plural Marriage (polygamy) and Blood Atonement – the LDS doctrine that certain sins cannot be atoned for by the blood of Jesus, but only by the spilling of the blood of the sinner on the ground. 12 This is one of the official titles of the First President of the Mormon Church. 13 Ibid., temple ritual.

Spiritual Preparedness

14 LDS are actually taught that if they are true and faithful they will become gods and goddesses. A popular LDS motto is: “As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become.” Are you spiritually ready? Is your family? Are you adequately protecting your loved ones? This is the reason for this ministry, to enable you to first understand the peril facing you, and then help you develop strategies to warn and protect your loved ones. Once you have been thoroughly trained, you can also use your knowledge as a means to open the door of discussion with an unsaved person. I have been able to use it many times, and have seen people come to Jesus Christ as a result. These perilous times are also a time when we can reach many souls for Jesus Christ, making an eternal difference. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but have been very lukewarm in your spiritual walk with Him, you need to immediately ask

Accepting Jesus Christ

Him for forgiveness and for renewal. He will instantly forgive you, and fill your heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible Study. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, but have come to realize His reality and the approaching End of the Age, and want to accept His FREE Gift of Eternal Life, you can also do so now, in the privacy of your home. Once you accept Him as Savior, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually. If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation Page now.

We hope you have been blessed by this ministry, which seeks to educate and warn people, so that they can see the coming New World Order — Kingdom of Antichrist — in their daily news. Finally, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us by mail or email.

Addressing Listener Emails

Catholicism Questions

From: joan L
Subject: catholicism
Message Body: love your show shawn. hopeing you could address some of the ways catholicism gets it right. for example what are your views about purgatory. also how do you feel about jesus literally consumed in the eucherust. both of those sacraments seem to be mentioned in the bible. appreciate your time.

Finding Truth and Support

From: Dallas Fraser
Subject: Finding truth
Message Body: Hi Shawn, I would like to express my frustration that causes me great suffering in every sense of the word and WORD, I suffer from chronic back-pain, Lyme disease and x-Mormon depression trying to get a real handle on God. I have found your information most helpful however, I feel a bit abandoned by God and wish I could clearly understand the Word but my mental state due to the Lyme disease which is both debilitating and severely painful makes this very difficult. if I could I'd like to just roll over and die but,, I don't think that is the answer! I have been deceived for 40 years and am not feeling I have a good relationship with God anymore. I get angry when I consider all the Morman deception that I openly embraced and feel spiritually violated! It bothers me even more when I consider all the others caught up in the deception of the Morman institution. As you are aware of the conflict in the Christian community and manipulation of the word, what does it take to get to the truth and find lasting peace because I am really tired of the misinformation that keeps me looking and coming up empty? I'm thankful for your support and wish I could be of more support to you. Sincerely Dallas

Seeking a Church Home

From: Cindy in Georgia
Do you have a recommendation for a church around the Atlanta area for someone coming out of the LDS Church? I have tried for months to find a new church home. Can't. I'm skeptical of denominations where you have to "join" and follow their by-laws, and the non-denominational churches I have attended are either so large I completely got lost in or the Pastor is yelling so loud I'm afraid he'd going to have a stroke. I went to one today where people fell backwards on the floor…I walked out. Honestly, I cannot find a church that teaches the Bible FROM the Bible and not from a motivational mini-series with a few scriptures thrown in. I NEED BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION AND A PERSONAL PASTOR to help me grow and mature in truth. I see exactly why your show went the direction it did. For now, you're the only "Pastor" I have and watch online daily with my scriptures in hand. Thank you and God Bless. p.s. please don't use my name on the air if this is read, my LDS family and friends have pretty much dis-owned me.

Supporting Ex-Mormons

From Mike in England
Hi Brother Shawn, I wonder if you know which type of Christian faith works best with ex-Mormons? A little while ago you made the point that the Christian churches needed to get their act together in helping ex-Mormons – by fixing and being honest with some of their own belief variations. My wife, ex-missionary son and myself are still having trouble relating to local churches. In fact both other than myself do not really even wish to try. Having been burnt by the Mormon faith, and being fearful of the diversity and expected beliefs of the denominations. All they really want is the truth and spiritual fellowship. That being the problem here in England without belonging to a recognised denomination or organisation. So are there any fairly correct denominations, and

Engaging with Faith and Community Challenges

If not, how does one engage with the various faiths for social purposes: so to fill the void, learn, and help each other as a more loving Christian community?

How do we get ex-Mormons to re-engage with Christianity when the faiths are still often stuck in their own traditions, dark-glassed biblical understanding, and believe they are always superior even when they are wrong?

May God bless and look after you,

Brother Mike.

Jan still watches CAMPUS as do I normally. But even Alathea Ministries currently has scope issues in including socially the broad diversity and inter-continental audience it generates. There still seems to be issues in including members socially and being able to support one another across the vast distances and despite cultural variations. Hopefully, this is something you may have some ideas on as your ministry further grows and develops – the need is there for something as many ex-Mormons probably fall between the gaps on leaving into spiritual neglect and isolation.

Community in Faith Practices

From: Richard Rawlings
Subject: "Love, Power, and a Sound Mind."
Message Body: Appreciate your topic this week. I'm at that same point with a church I had attended for years. Same sort of problems; I didn't come to every service, event, meeting, fellowship . . . therefore I wasn't 'righteous' enough. I took counsel with an elder (person). We agreed some of the churches practices were open to examination. But an angry rebuke was not an acceptable method. I've toyed with going back, but it would be only to confront. I find those pressures, and their implied judgements, intolerable. They show no signs of changing. And I see no reason to agree with them. I have dedicated the time to study, reflection, discussion, prayer. And a lot of time just saying, "Here I am." Often, expecting a bolt of lighting for my disobedience. But, that hasn't happened. I studied Dr. Leaf, Joel Osteen (I know your opinion, thank you), Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, John Hagee . . . some of them just didn't measure up. And, since I will eventually face GAWD alone, it's my decision. I also listened to a lot of what you have to say. I have to jump in and say the Person of GAWD, Jesus was compelling because of the way, the things, the thoughts, He shared. It had to be true. It 'rang' true. From there, life seems to teach you things you really did not want to know. And a lot of for-profit pastors will agree. You don't want to know.

So, here's how it's shaking out;

1. Person of GAWD in Jesus.
2. Gawd's plan that all would be saved.
3. Gawd's free provision to do exactly that.
4. Our position as needy recipients, not stalwart defenders (Peter, for example).
5. The bloody death by torture, beating, and crucifixion, which was necessary ransom for ALL mankind.
6. The victory, resurrection, and return of Jesus to mankind. The First of all Redeemed.
7. The ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
8. The teaching of the spirit in the hearts and minds of man, ASSISTED and AFFIRMED by the Word.
9. Constant communication and openness to GAWD in prayer.

Not exactly seven points of nine or eleven, but a decent start for an outline. I often don't follow (don't get) all the Mormon stuff. Just seems a bit off sometimes. Like, "Why would anyone ever think that . . .?" But that's part of your mission, not mine. I do appreciate your sharing on the 'Stream of Consciousness'. Oh, yeah. Some of the angriest sinners are closer to the Truth than you think. And their passion burns fiercely. Let it burn for God. They'll find Him ready when they are. Remember, it took the Israelites 40 years to get a foothold. We still have some time left.

Sincerely,
Richard Rawlings

Insights from an Irish Perspective

AND FINALLY FROM OUR BROTHER IN IRELAND

What's the craic lads?

It's about time someone on the inside started calling a spade a spade.

Have a read of this article that I've linked to below. The stand-out paragraph for me is this one, which the High Priest group leader blames on the LDS church's treatment of its members:

"The LDS church is a big part of it. I go to church every week and I see where the challenge is. They make people feel that they should be perfect and they feel inferior, like they can't live up to the standards of what they expect them to live up to. So they start using prescription painkillers not to address…"

Physical and Mental Pain

Pain, physical pain, but the mental issues that go along with feeling inferior. That you just cannot cope with all the things you're expected to be and to do.

1. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/utah-mormons-prescription-painkiller-addiction

Coping with Expectations

Hope yiz are keeping well.

Final Thoughts

Grá mór i gcónaí (graw moor ih go-knee)/Much love as always,