And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host. If you have family or friends who cannot get Heart through television give them a call and tell them to go to WWW.HOTM.TV and they can watch through streaming video from anywhere in the world!

Hey . . .

“I was a Born-Again Mormon” The manuscript is available online through a downloadable PDF. Go to www.hotm.tv and you can have the book in your hands within minutes.

How about joining a weekly verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. never denominational Bible Study? Join us at CAMPUS every Sunday at either Utah State in Logan or at the U of U in Salt Lake City. Go to www.calvarycampus.com for more information like times and directions.

Christian Programming on KUTR AM 820

Listen up. Every Sunday afternoon from 1 to 2 you can hear this very program rebroadcast live on KUTR AM 820 – The Truth. Am 820 has absolutely fantastic Christian programming and we are so blessed to have joined their exceptional programming. KUTR The Truth 820 every Sunday from 1-2 pm.

We had a couple of innovative young men – Brad and James – come out to the program a few months back. They are making a film about Mormonism. Here is the trailer – and it is really looking good. It is called Religion and Redemption: A documentary on Mormonism. Take a look.

SHOW CLIP

You know, we have a lot of people who watch heart who are atheists. In many cases these people have become atheists because they were LDS first, came to find out they have been lied to all their lives, and are burned up when it comes to believing in God. Recently a viewer named _________ forwarded this short video clip that speaks to the atheists. Take a look.

RUN CLIP

And with that, let’s have a prayer.

PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER

As we have said many times over the years, one of the distinctive “aspects” of Joseph Smith’s Mormonism was that he supplied supposedly “inspired” information on a number of topics – many of which make Mormonism distinct from all other churches and religions– especially since most of the information he provided was unverifiable – at least, at the time.

The Significance of King David

Remember, Joseph claimed to know where the American Indians came from, he said that there were men on the moon and described how they dressed (like Quakers!), and he actually proclaimed that he had translated writings from Father Abraham – from a common Egyptian funeral text. Through an imaginative interpretation and application of a single vague biblical reference about baptism for the dead an entire ritual superstructure was built which today keeps millions of people pre-occupied for a good part of their lives with a . . . a . . . a . . . made-up ritual for the dead.

Our topic tonight? King David’s sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace..

The point or problem? Mormons claim, by virtue of Joseph Smith’s “revelations,” that David is in spirit prison to this very day and that will not ever go to their celestial kingdom because of his sins. Jews, and bible believing Christians say much differently. So while it may seem like a, “well, what’s the big deal about what happened to David?” what this LDS teach has great implications on the Good News.

Now to show the import this King has and had with the Jews and to the establishment of Christianity, let me talk for a minute about David. It is significant to know that the Bible mentions his proper name “David” 969 times.

Abraham? 230

Even Jesus? 26 times less than David at 943.

This, of course, is not to say that David was anything in comparison, but he was a picture of the Messiah and his impact on Judeo/Christian life was profound. The most oft quoted Old Testament passage found in the New was uttered by David, and it is the most oft Old Testament passage quoted by Jesus Himself!

David name means “beloved.” Speaking to a sorcerer in Acts 13, Paul clearly illustrated the type of man David was, saying God “ . . . raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.”:

David was the eighth and youngest son of

The Early Life of David

Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. As to his personal appearance, we know that he was red-haired and had beautiful eyes and a fair face (1Sa 16:12; 17:42). As a very young man he tended his Fathers sheep on the uplands of Judah. David – a shepherd of sheep born in Bethlehem. Out on the fields he seems to have perfected playing what is called the shepherd’s flute and out there on the vast plains of nature seemed to learn lessons of governance and courage.

According to 1st Samuel 17 his first recorded exploits were violent encounters with the wild beasts that sought to attack his sheep. With his own unaided hand he killed a lion and then a bear, beating them to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. in open conflict with his club (1st Samuel 17:34,35). Now while David was out with his flocks the prophet Samuel paid an unexpected visit to Bethlehem, having been guided there by divine direction (1st Samual 16:1-13). Once there, the prophet offered up sacrifice, and then called the elders of Israel and Jesse's family to the sacrificial meal. Among all who appeared before him Samuel failed to discover the one he sought. Eventually David was sent for, and the prophet Samuel immediately recognized him as the chosen one of God to succeed Saul, who was the peoples first choice for king. Accordingly, and in anticipation of His future kingship, Samuel poured anointing oil on David’s young head and David went back to shepherding.

Anointed and Tested

According to 1st Samuel 16:13-14 "the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward," and "the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul" (1Sa 16:13,14). We never read of the spirit of the Lord departing from David, in spite of his failures, throughout the rest of his life. In fact, after many of his failures occurred, he continued to write holy scripture. As a young man David played the harp for Saul, and when he was about twenty years old he killed Goliath of Gath, who defied the armies of Israel. The result was a great victory to the Israelites, who pursued the Philistines and then defeated them. David's popularity from this kill made Saul jealous (1Sa 18:6-16). So much so that Saul tried a number of ways to kill him – but David stayed true to the King – and continued to prosper.

In the end, David by necessity became a fugitive to escape from the vengeance of Saul and while a vagabond experienced a whole host of wild adventures. But all the while David remained true to King Saul and proved himself a truly heroic warrior on behalf of Israel. When Saul was killed in battle, David was made King of Israel – at thirty years of age – and reigned from the place of Hebron. His throne was hotly contested over many times – yet David always prevailed.

King of Israel

When He was anointed king over all of Israel, he sought out a new seat of government, one more suitable than Hebron, and he discovered a Jebusite fortress on the hill of Zion. David conquered the Jebusites, and made this site the capital of Israel. This City of David is today known as Jerusalem today. David now resolved to bring up the ark of the covenant to this new capital (2Sa 6:1-23) and ultimately he was successful, placing it in a new tent which David had made specifically for this purpose. And then, according to (1st Chronicles 16:1-43) David carefully set in order all the rituals of divine worship at Jerusalem, with Abiathar being the high priest. Because of David’s heart for God a new religious era began for Israel. Because of his military conquests an enormous area of land was under his righteous and fair sway (2Sa 8:3-13; 10:1-19).

At the height of his glory, when he was ruling over a vast empire, and his capital was enriched with the spoils of many lands, David fell into temptation and sin and his character was marred with the sin of adultery (2nd Samuel 11:2-27). It is of great interest that while David’s immense military conquests are recorded in only a few verses, the sad story of his fall is given in great detail, making it a story fit for the ages as a great warning. Unfortunately this crime of adultery with Bathsheba, and the attempt to conceal it, led to another sin. And David was then also guilty of murder. God sent Nathan the prophet to David (2Sa 7:1-17; 12:1-23) to bring home the crimes to the conscience of the

The Legacy of King David

And David became a true penitent. Being a man after God’s own heart, David bewailed his sins before God in bitterness. The thirty-second and fifty-first Psalms reveal the deep struggles of his soul, and . . . and . . . and his certain spiritual recovery and restoration. Bathsheba became his wife after David had her husband killed and, according to the word of Nathan the prophet, their first born son died.

But it is also noteworthy how God restores and fixes the fallen – and uses our sin for good in the end – if we let him. For it was this very relationship with Bathsheba that produced a second son, whom David named Solomon, and who ultimately succeeded him on the throne and fostered the seed through which the Messiah would come. This lineage Jesus Himself even claimed when introducing Himself in Revelation 22, said:

Re 22:16 “I Jesus . . . am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

David's Reign and Personal Struggles

Life was both peaceful and, as a result of his sin, troubling for David – especially with regard to his own family. So where he continued to lead, and amass tremendous amounts of wealth and power, he also faced an extreme amount of personal pain, betrayal, and discomfort as an individual. After a reign of forty years and six months (2Sa 5:5; 1Ch 3:4) David died (around B.C. 1015) at the age of seventy years, "and was buried in the city of David." His tomb is still pointed out on Mount Zion.

David, in his prophetical and in his regal character, was a great type or picture of the Messiah. The book of Psalms commonly bears the title of the "Psalms of David," because he was the largest contributor to the collection (totaling about eighty of them) and many of them post the Bathsheba affair. With the exception of his failures as a human being, David lived in harmony with both the priesthood and the prophets, which was a sure sign that the spirit of his government had been completely loyal to the higher aims of God. The nation had not ever been oppressed by him, but had been left in the freedom of its ancient liberties. According to 2nd Samuel 8:15, and as far as his power went, he had striven to act justly to all. Any Jew and most Bible believing Christians know, and patiently understand, that his weak indulgence to his sons and his own personal sins had been bitterly atoned for and were certainly forgotten by God.

Religious Interpretations and Consequences

The writer of Hebrews includes David in his Faith Hall of Fame, Jesus repeatedly, even after His ascension, associates His very existence to David, but the Mormons say so what! David is in hell and will remain there because of his sins – one of which is unforgivable! And here, again, Joseph Smith’s Mormonism, runs roughshod over the beautiful Gospel of grace and truth.

While the Bible offers the repentant sinner forgiveness for any sin, including murder, Mormonism maintains a murderer cannot achieve eternal life. And they use David as an example. Joseph Smith Doctrine and Covenants 42:18 states: “Thou shalt not kill; and he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come.” It also says in another section (Doctrine and Covenants 132) that those who have been married "in the new and everlasting covenant" will be forgiven of any sin except murder "wherein they shed innocent blood." (verse 19 & 26) This LDS teaching on murder has led the Mormons to conclude that when King David arranged to have Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11:15-17) that he committed an unpardonable sin which would keep him from exaltation. Joseph Smith taught:
…no murderer hath eternal life. …

But in Matthew 12:31 Jesus said: “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” So what did Joseph do with this? He simply redefined what blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is, saying in Doctrine and Covenants 132:

(COPY TEXT HERE from page 198)

In two other places Joseph Smith reiterated this stance.

In Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith page 339, he said:

(PLACE QUOTE HERE)

And then, as recorded in Discourses of the prophet Joseph Smith, he added:

(PLACE QUOTE HERE)

Applying this to David, Joseph went on, and taking the Bible completely out of context, said “Now, we read that many bodies of the Saints arose at Christ's resurrection,… but it seems that David did not.

The Teachings on David and Forgiveness

In Acts chapter 2, we have the day of Pentecost, or fifty days after the Lord’s ascension when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. Gathered there were three thousand plus Jews listening. To these Jews, David was a very important figure. It is not by any mistake that first, they were gathered in the very city David conquered and that carried his name – the City of Peace, the City of David, Jerusalem. Neither is it accidental that Peter, in his preaching, would use David and his words to help the Jews see their need for the only true Messiah. Finally, and this is quite interesting, that in the Jewish writings (Hieros. Chagig. fol. 78) Rabbi Jose wrote: “David died at Pentecost, and all Israel bewailed him, and offered their sacrifices the day following.” So here is the background.

In an effort to convince the Jews that Jesus was the one to look to and no other, Peter has been using Old Testament scripture. And then he tells them that they have crucified the Messiah. This is where Peter brings David's words into the sermon, and he quotes David speaking prophetically of the Messiah. And the doctrine David introduced was that the Messiah must rise from the dead.

Peter’s Sermon on David's Words

So Peter quotes his words taken from Psalm 16:8-11: What is wholly revealing about these words NOT being about David is the fact that he wrote this Psalm before he sinned with Bathsheba!

Acts 2:25 "For David says concerning Him (Jesus): 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.”

Joseph Smith, the so-called Prophet of the LDS faith, said that David received a promise that his soul would not be left in hell, but these words were a prophetic utterance about the coming Messiah! In another place in the Bible (Acts 13), Paul clearly points out, when teaching another group of Jews, that David’s words in Psalm 16 had nothing to do with Him but the Messiah! “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: but he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”

Misinterpretation in Mormon Teachings

Going back to Peter at the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, he continues speaking to the Jews, who loved David, and he says:

29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 "Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.”

Joseph Smith said point blank that David was given a promise that his soul would not be left in hell nor see corruption, but it is clear this was a prophetic promise made about Jesus. Got all that? Now, this teaching about David is throughout Mormonism. When I was a kid and a teenager and was asked who my favorite Old Testament prophet was, I would always say, David, and I never really understood why this response was always met with crickets. I learned why later.

But think about this. Joseph and Mormonism thereafter said David’s sin of murder was unforgivable. But he only set it up. He didn’t actually shed the blood! He was just a conspirator. Why is this important? Because Paul, who calls himself “chief of sinners,” did the very same thing – many times over. He did it in the case of stoning Stephan, complicit and guarding the coats.

The Controversial Belief on Sin and Forgiveness

Acts 26:10 recounts the actions of those doing the killing and shutting Christians up in prison, who were put to death. Acts 22:4 describes Paul saying, “And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” Is this not as complicit of murder as David? Is Paul in hell too?

Besides being absolutely wrong on the biblical status of David, Mormonism creates several other problems with their stance that the blood of Jesus cannot atone for all sin. First, they, once again, limit God’s ability and willingness to forgive all sin, which tacitly demeans the shed blood of the Lord. I want anyone out there – anyone and everyone – the men in prisons – Mark Hoffman, the Lafferty Brothers – anyone out there at the point of the mountain, that Jesus blood paid for all sin – all. Don’t let this pernicious lie based in human conformity keep you in chains.

Secondly, this stance places sin in a hierarchy relative to God. Sin certainly can be placed in a hierarchy relative to earthly laws and human living, but to God, all of it is filth, and it all only has one solution – Jesus. Finally, one of the supports Mormons use to justify their belief that sin cannot be forgiven is this erroneous idea that in order to truly be forgiven for sin, a person must truly repent. And to truly repent, a person must follow and complete all the LDS steps of repentance. To omit a step negates any and all repentance and calls it failing.

Steps of LDS Repentance

These are the steps:

STEP 1 Recognize you have sinned.
STEP 2 Feel sorrow for your sin.
STEP 3 Confess your sin to God and your ecclesiastical authority if it is serious.
STEP 4 Ask forgiveness from God and those you hurt.
STEP 5 Make restitution for your crime. If you stole something, you must replace its value.
And finally, STEP 6, forsake your sin forever.

If a Latter-day Saint does not complete all of these requirements for a sin, repentance has not been done and forgiveness cannot be given by God. This is one reason why murder cannot be forgiven to the LDS – because step 5 cannot be completed. How can you make restitution for the taking of another life? You can’t. So the LDS say, it’s bye-bye fathead. You are screwed. Enter one big slippery slope.

LDS Prophet Spencer W Kimball said in his literary piece of filth, The Miracle of Forgiveness: “One reason murder is unforgivable is that having taken a life, the murderer cannot restore it. Restitution in full is not possible! Also, (he adds) having robbed one of virtue, it is impossible to give it back.” So Mormon doctrine emphatically states that murder cannot ever be forgiven because a person can’t make restitution. And then guys like Kimball allude to the idea that having sex is in a similar vein. And people needing to be liberated, and set free by the blood of Christ, are doomed to trying to make restitution for their crimes for the rest of their lives!

The Irretrievable Nature of Sin

But aren’t most sins irretrievable and unrestitutionable? How do you make restitution for an abortion? How about for gossip, embarrassing someone? How do I make restitution for teaching people as an LDS missionary that Mormonism is true, and them joining, and altering their lives forever, only to now KNOW is it a lie?

Let me end with the whole point of the LDS doctrinal response to David’s sin: It is all a lie, and it leads to a premise that traps good, searching souls who could eternally be freed by the blood of Jesus. No matter what you have done in your life – and I want to say this too – no matter what failures you will have in your life in the future, all of it – all of it was paid for on the cross by the Lord. All of it.

Isaiah 61:1
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for…"

Main Topic: Personal Faith Journeys

mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

And with that, let’s open the phone lines: 801 973-8820 801 973-TV20

First time callers please LDS callers if at all possible. AND DURN TOWN YER TELEBISION SATS!

Let’s watch our promo for our HOTM Partners and get to your calls. And remember, this Sunday afternoon, right on AM 820 KUTR THE TRUTH From 1 to 2pm, you can hear this program all over again! We’ll be right back!

Contact Information

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A viewer from Georgia wrote:

I came across your website, and thus your message, via a friend of a friend on Facebook. I have been a member of the LDS Church for over twenty-five years. During that time I was married and became the father to four wonderful children. I also worked and went to school. I have been an active and faithful member of the church since I was baptized, having served in many Priesthood leadership callings including Elders Quorum President, Bishop's Counselor, High Councilman, and a Bishop. My world fell apart in 2005 when my wife of over twenty years divorced me and began to live a very carnal life (which resulted in her excommunication prior to our divorce being finalized). I then found myself totally alone and abandoned by my ward and stake family. I became a leper in the Church. I could not understand why I was being rejected by those who has once claimed that they loved me. False and hurtful lies were told about me. My faith took a beating. I am still struggling. I am still active in the Church (and hold a current Temple recommend). But one thing has changed for me in the past few years, and that is that I now see a distinct difference between believing (and having faith) in the Church and Believing (and having faith) in Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father. I have come to the stark realization that for too long all I had was faith in the Church, even though I professed faith in Christ. So, now I stand at a cross-road, unsure of where to go next. Maybe your book might help me figure things out. I don't know. What I do know is this– The Lord knows me. He loves me with a love that I can’t truly fathom. I am never alone. And most importantly, Jesus is my Savior, the One and Only Redeemer of my lost and wicked soul. Thanks for listening.

Viewers' Questions and Testimonies

ALAN from the Caribbean wrote:

Hey Brother,

Got a question about the Old Testament. Was just listening to your podcast from 2009 on Faith and Grace and your statement about our natural ability to fall back on The Law, and your poignant statement that 'any time you invoke elements of The Law into you're life, your ability to follow Jesus as He told us to follow Him, is reduced; it's not enhanced.' My question is, how much time should we invest in studying the Old Testament? My sense is that there are some great and impressive passages pointing to The Cross, but that there are also many temptations therein to fall back on comfortable territory: The Law. Is it a matter of priority? Study the New Testament first and then delve into the Old Testament? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Alan in the Caribbean

From Paulo in Brazil

Paulo

HYPERLINK "http://www.alatheamedia.com:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=pcavalcanti2005%40gmail.com" pcavalcanti2005@gmail.com

Hello Shawn.

My name is Paulo, i´m from the south of Brazil. I´ve been a member of the church all my life until i was born again. This is my testimony and i would like to share it with you.

I was born lds and my parents were very faithful. For many years during my childhood they would spend their entire weekend in stake meetings and trainings, so i had to babysit my siblings in church while waiting for them sometimes for 6 hours straight. My childhood was fine and i knew most of the primary songs by memory. My teenager years then came and my life turned into a hell. I was always insecure about my personal worthiness and my parent´s self righteous attitude added to that. They kept pressuring me to attend seminary and other activities i had no interest on. I could never find peace, i was depressed for the most part and thought that it was God's

Personal Transformation Through Missionary Experience

Will and that I had to wait patiently for his promises to be fulfilled and for the blessings to come. That never happened. Later, I went to the US on my mission. I followed every single rule there was and because of that, I became a very prideful missionary. Because of it, I thought myself to be better than my companions and other missionaries. I shamefully confess that because of my personal righteousness I thought I was the only one who could receive revelation for the work in the areas I served. In a way, I turned into some kind of a little power-hungry dictator and after my mission, I was able to recognize that and I felt bad for some of my companions.

The glory of man concerned me more than the love of Christ and throughout my mission, I would constantly think of all the praises I would get when I got back home and the promised blessings. I had a talent to speak in public and I presented the church message very well, but I was completely empty inside. Uninformed missionaries would say to me that one day I would become an apostle because of the way I kept the rules and how holy I looked. Even though I wasn’t the representative of Christ I should have been I still loved the people I taught and sincerely worked very hard to share what I believed to be the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I also made sure to not act like a robot and every time I taught a discussion I made an effort not to repeat the exact same words of the manual (preach my gospel) but rather to teach it in a more friendly way.

Returning Home and Facing Disappointment

The time came for me to go home. I got home and my family and friends were there to receive me. A few hours later my stake president released me and right after that, he interviewed me to be a counselor on the Elder’s quorum. I couldn’t believe that. They couldn’t let me rest for a day before giving me a heavy calling like that. The blessings I had worked for on my mission didn’t come. I heard all my mission that God blessed your family while you were out, but when I got home I found my family financially broke. I didn’t get the girlfriend of my dreams and I didn’t get a cool car. My entire life, in fact, fell apart and I felt empty and miserable. I thought God had abandoned me. Where were all those blessings I was promised? I was so empty inside that I couldn’t even get close to a Book of Mormon, let alone read it. I had to drag myself to church for the last 5 years only to hear my bishop say that you know when a missionary was good by what happened to him after his mission. If he is faithful and dedicated to the church that means he was a good missionary. I was a great missionary and kept all the rules, but when I came back the church just didn’t supply for my spiritual needs – but according to that bishop, that’s because I was a bad missionary.

Discovering a New Understanding

So, one day I prayed fervently to God asking Him to show me the truth (it was really that vague). The next day I found out on the internet about the Church building R$ 3bi. malls in Salt Lake City. I felt very clearly that something was wrong. I continued my research on the subject until I finally ended up at utlm.org and discovered that the church was a giant fraud. I was extremely confused and disturbed until I started searching about the church on YouTube and finding some Christian pastors speaking directly to Mormons. I then found you and so far I have watched 2/3 of all the episodes you have in the archive. Thanks to you I now have a personal relationship with Jesus and I understand that I’m saved by grace alone.

I would like to thank you so much for your ministry. I had never ever thought I could have a personal relationship with Christ, and, to be honest, after watching your shows on "who is Jesus" I realized that I had never even worshipped Him. Today I’m a born-again Mormon about to become a born-again Christian, and my life is changing so much! I don’t feel that awful emptiness anymore – it was replaced by the sweet joy of Christ. Now I know what Jesus

Reflection on Appearance and Faith

One of the greatest lessons shared in a recent broadcast is the importance of refraining from judging others based solely on their outward appearance. It is emphasized that wearing nice clothing does not make one person better or more worthy than another. As someone who transitioned from the Mormon faith to Christianity, it's clear that substance now takes precedence over appearance.

When individuals from the Mormon community express concern about the show's approach to discussing Mormonism, they are encouraged to focus on positive actions, such as home teaching, which benefits others. This advice aims to guide people toward a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ and His transformative power.

God bless you and your ministry!

Paul

Journey from Tradition

Hi Shawn,

I have contacted you before and wanted to express my appreciation. I'm a High Priest who served on a bishopric high council, and my wife was recently released from her role as stake primary president – a familiar story for those raised in the church. We have become seekers, disturbed by our church's history, and have begun reading the New Testament. It's concerning that I read the Book of Mormon 26 times yet never picked up the Bible. My wife and I watch your show weekly. We feel isolated in Scotland, as our friends and family are church members. It's a challenging time for us. Our 13-year-old son seems thoroughly indoctrinated (looks like we did a good job, ha-ha). He's a good kid, and we are protecting him until we make a final decision. We've tried the sinner's prayer a few times but have not felt anything substantial. However, there's a positive atmosphere in our home, and we had the most Christ-centered Easter ever with our three children. We love your show, and your Scottish sense of humor resonates with us. Take care, mate, and all the best with going national.

Paul

Salvation and Faithfulness

Phillip wrote:

I recently read online that you do not believe in "once saved, always saved." Is this true? How can you claim this if you say you are a Christian?

First of all, what is our sin since Christ came? Disbelief. Faithlessness. Denials.

Hebrews 10:26: For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

This is not speaking of the yo-yo-ing we do as humans in sin. It is the conscientious determined disbelief after we have believed. This is not a failure and then a success followed by a failure in our flesh – it is willful rejection. We don’t lose our salvation. We walk away from it, and it is a once and for all deal. Once we do, it is over, we’re done.

2 Peter 2:20: For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Assurance of Being Born Again

From Jim

Hey Shawn, I have a question for you: how do you know you are born again? I've wondered for years and have heard people describe experiences like those you share on your show, but I've never felt the overwhelming sensation myself. I do believe in Jesus and that He came and died for all our sins and that He is the only way back for us. I'm watching all of your past shows via my iPod and learning a lot. I recently read John and never truly started understanding it until now. I've listened to your question of what you would say if you died and stood before Jesus. I would fall at His feet and not feel the slightest bit worthy to receive His forgiveness, for I am such a sinner and fail to do what He wants me to do.

Personal Journeys in Faith

how could I accept his gift. I don’t drink and try to be kind to others and try to be honest in my life but don’t really thank him enough for all that he gives to me, just letting me wake up and breath is nice of him.

Now some background info. I was born a Baptist and went to church every week until about 9th grade. I never did understand fully what it meant to be a Christian or really had the trinity explained to me. Now I understand better thanks to you.

I moved from Salt Lake in fifth grade to Bluffdale. It was a small Mormon community. Here I learned what it meant to be a non believer that when I die the other kids would come down to visit me. I didn’t understand what they were talking about until after high school when a friend told me I should take the discussions. Two years later I joined the church. I did have a testimony and started to grow in the church. I was never comfortable with some of the teaching particularly about becoming gods.

Anyway I married my amazing wife and we have 3 children. She has stuck by me through tough times and has helped me grow into a better person. Neither one of us is very active in the church, but her family is very active in the church. Shortly after our marriage I had someone witness to me on a business trip. This got me questioning the whole thing. Our kids have all been baptized by others in the church, except my youngest which I did, cause I wasn’t worthy enough at the time. We did get things in order a few years back and were sealed in the temple but have fallen out of the church again.

I was able to get my temple recommend even when I told the bishop that I will never accept the doctrine of men and women becoming gods, he said that was okay, anyway I can’t accept other doctrines as well but I want my kids to know the lord. But I have never had the born again experience so I am not sure how to move ahead.

Beliefs and Struggles

Let me tell you what I do believe I know Jesus came and died on the cross for everyone and you can’t work your way into heaven. I have always felt that the profits are sinners just like me and they need Christ just the same. I know god is the first and the last and none will come after him, I know that I better take it easy on the “I knows” cause you don’t like them very much. Before I joined the church my neighbors told me I was just an un-baptized Mormon because I was such a good guy. How nice was that?

Anyway if you could make some suggestions or have lunch sometime to explain how I might have the total knowledge and the reborn experience it would be nice. Also what could I keep telling my kids about Jesus that will help them know him better. They are teens and in seminary and sometimes go to church. Thanks for your time and sorry for the long email. Sincerely, Jim

Trust and Faith Concerns

Hi Shawn,
Thank you so much for the program and for what you are trying to do. I have one question for the upcoming show. I was raised an atheist and was seeking to find a faith for a big part of my life. When I finally came to the conclusion that God exists, I met Mormon missionaries. I was converted from a different country. Everything which they told to me, seemed to look as a truth. I became a very devoted member of the church.

After my moving from another country to the town full of Mormons, I thought that my faith will become even stronger. Unfortunately, for the last few years I've learned a lot of historical information about the church which shocked me completely. I am inactive LDS now. I can't trust to this church anymore. What scaries me the most, that I find a difficult to trust to any other religion. I am afraid to be lied all over again. Sometimes I feel that I even can't have anymore the complete faith in God I had becoming a Mormon.

My question is: How to learn to trust again and find a faith I almost lost during these last few years? Thank you. John

Personal Reflections on Mormonism

I have a girlfriend who was a good practicing Mormon, after some discussions I decided to look into Mormonism with an open heart and mind something I'd never done before. I truly opened myself up and listened and tried to understand and learn and grasp the missionary's position on Mormonism. I went through five or I think six little books went to several church sessions prayed and thought about it, tossed it around in my head, and generally tried not to argue but to accept the teachings of Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon. I just felt like I wasn't getting anywhere because my heart told me, my mind told me, and my soul told me, that no matter if I did embrace Mormonism I would never have the feeling that I was doing the right thing by Jesus.

The Challenge of Embracing Mormon Doctrine

I guess I don't know why but I kept trying and it didn't seem to work they just kept saying you have to read the book of Mormon! you have to read the book of Mormon! you have to read the book of Mormon!!!. My question to them was, I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and if Mormons are the way to heaven and a better understanding of Jesus then why do I have to believe in Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon?? I knew there were inaccuracies that were just too big to ignore in the book of Mormon, I finally quit wasting their and my time, and I guess my relationship with my girlfriend has never been quite the same since, (on the rocks to be more appropriate). While I was searching for answers to backup Mormon theology I ran across your show wow how uncanny someone that saw what I saw. The church for what it is pretty devoid of spiritual nourishment, I may have lost a very good friend and future mate over this but I feel that I would be living a lie if I went forward any further.

A Personal Quest for Spiritual Clarity

I have always craved being hooked up with God in a very literal spiritual sense, questing out the purest source of spiritual water, in that religion, there is water alright but its brackish foul protozoa-infested backwater swamp stale and ya I guess its better than nothing on a spiritual level but not, what I think, the kind of purity that God wants for his people. So in short thanks Shawn for being there at the right time to remind me of what I already knew, and strengthening my resolve to stand firm and Just Say No!!! Thanks ever so much you helped to stop me from entering that mess!!! Thanks for your resolve Johnny.

John

Dude, watched a few programs. Love your hair (grin)> However, you misconstrue the doctrine of the Mormon church with regards to Christ, faith, and works. It's true many members can get lost in works and forget grace. It's true some talks and statements by church leaders make it seem like all we've got to do is just check off all those little commandment boxes, and Christ, what?, oh yeah, he's there too. It's true many Mormons feel great pressure to be ye therefore perfect and, therefore, a great lack because we obviously don't measure up in oh so many ways. All true. But you can't accurately understand the doctrine by considering only a part of what's said on the matter. I don't mind that you find fault with Mormonism and Mormons. Or point out where we differ from mainstream US Protestantism and what you feel is the truth. But wouldn't it be more helpful to find fault with the actual doctrine instead of a misunderstanding? Wouldn't it be more accurate to respond to the real deal instead of a caricature? Happiness, brother.

Sincerely,

John Brown

Jamie Dennison

Here's something that I wanted to pass along, but I just forgot. The late Elder Bruce R. McConkie called the RLDS and the Polygamist Fundamentalists cults in his Mormon Doctrine book. Yet, Mormons object when the Mormon church is called a cult. One would think that the Mormons would have no right to object at their religion being called a cult when they're calling their schisms cults. Just passing that observation along.

Robert

Viewer Feedback and Show Engagement

Thoughts from Viewers

From Gorman
peterude41@yahoo.com

u r not christlike. all u do is bash us and laugh as u do it. u know, we beat the government and guys like u after we were chased out of misouri. u guys chased us to utah and then we fought back. and guess what. we won. Heavenly Father also saved our crops from Locusts with seagulls. I will pray for you.

From Australia – Sheldon
zshelf@hotmail.com

Hello there, Shawn (I guess?) I'm Sheldon, a 16 year old viewer from Australia. I'd just like to say that the past few years I've been pushed into a lot of experiences with religion and I've been seeking for the truth and watching your show has helped me so much, I thank you a lot for the help you give so lovingly to everyone. I wish you well with your Church and your TV show.

Viewer Suggestions and Requests

From Marc in Hannover, Germany

Hello Shaw,

Marcelo here, from Hannover in Germany. I've just found this very interesting video at YT about Joseph Smith's Jupiter Talisman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v³lmWszMRTU&feature=related

I would appreciate your comments on this in a future broadcasting from HOTM in case you decide it would be appropriated. Thank you my brother and God's abundant blessings for you and the whole HOTM ground crew, Yours in the Lord,

Stephen Dunn
stephendunn@gmail.com

Dear Shawn, I'm a big fan of the show. I thought that you showed great patience in dealing with steve, the atheist on your show. As is often the case with your garden variety atheist, he showed almost no understanding of Christianity. He didn't really have enough information to debate you about anything. It seems to me that Heart of the Matter could definitely use a page of recommended resources, to which you could point callers who (such as the last two on your most recent broadcast), who don't necessarily agree with Christianity, but who don't have enough knowledge to know what they disagree with.

I know that you are probably thinking that the internet would have so many such lists of resources that yours might not be necessary, but God has blessed your ministry, and people are turning to it for guidance. If you were to add just one more page to your site, this recommendations page would be an enormous blessing to many, I believe. To help start the process, I have mailed you a copy of "The Christ Files" with John Dickson. It comes as a book and as a DVD. I have sent you the DVD. I know what human nature is like, you may intend to read a book, but never get around to it. It is easier to make time for a DVD. One word of warning. If you watch this DVD, your Hollywood good looks are in trouble, because it will rock your face off, its that good.

Blessings in your ministry,
Stephen Dunn
Tweed Heads, Australia

David’s Sin

From the "Mecca of Mormonism"

Show 15 David’s Sin