Heart of the Matter Broadcast Recap

Introduction

LIVE! From the “Mecca of Mormonism” in Salt Lake City, Utah – THIS is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology., “Where Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity Face to Face.” Show 40, October Conference 09 Report, October 6th, 2009.

And I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.. 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! Segments are also available in mass on YouTube, and you can watch a number of our programs through our internet archives at www.hotm.tv.

I was a Born-Again Mormon is available for you to download through a PDF. Go to www.bornagainmormon.com to get it through this avenue. If you don’t have a computer, we are working on getting the hard copy version done.

Upcoming Alathea Ministries Production

In less than four weeks, we will be airing our third Alathea Ministries television production – the Grey Generation, which will air live for the first time on Saturday night, October 31st, 2009 at 10:30pm. Tell your family and friends as it is a show aimed at showing the flip side to the cultural depredations heaped upon our teens and young adults today. There is no topic too sacred, too touchy, too taboo that we will not address with head-on clarity – and then we will open the phones up to hear from you.

Here’s the introduction. Go to www.thegreygeneration.tv for more information.

Discussion on Mormonism's Stance on Other Religions

Last week, we got to talk with a highly emotional ________. I actually think he was weeping when he first called in. His whole premise was that Jesus would NEVER pick on another religion or religious people, and that Mormonism never picks on other religions. After some serious give and take, _____ sort of crumbled into a state of rabid histrionics, and I had to end the call.

I addressed the statement about Jesus never picking on other religions by asking _____ what Jesus called the leaders of the Pharisees and Sanhedrim. And then I partially responded to his cries about Mormonism never saying anything negative about anyone ever. Then, in the face of my responses, his hysteria escalated. For the record, I want to give you a laundry list of what Mormonism has said and done to or against other religions – from its onset to this very day.

Historical Quotes

Ready?

Joseph Smith said that in his first vision, God told him that “all the professors of religion were corrupt and that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight.” This statement is foundational to the LDS church, and it was here that Mormonism drew first blood against all of Christianity.

Joseph Smith then wrote in the Book of Mormon (1st Nephi 14:10): “there are two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God (which Mormonism all say is Mormonism), and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whosoever belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations, and she is the whore of all the earth.” So from the founding prophet's mouth and their most sacred book of scripture, we can hear the attitude Mormonism has had about any church which is not their own.

From this foundation, the attitude flourished over the years: Brigham Young said, “The people called Christians are shrouded in ignorance and read the scriptures with darkened understanding.” (JOD 7:333) There are many, many, many more quotes like this from LDS leaders over the years.

Modern Implications

Bob Millet, professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, was caught on video saying to a class of LDS students that:

“ “

And I can attest personally that there is a pervasive mockery of all Christians behind closed doors of their meetings.

Move on to the LDS temples. From back when I was going through ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1844, Satan is portrayed as being the employer of all Protestant pastors who teach his gospel. And any missionary who has ever gone out into the world to knock on doors for two years goes out having first been through the LDS temple to receive this indoctrination.

And what does the LDS missionary force of over 65,000 young men, women, and couples share with people the world over every single…

The LDS Missionaries and Their Doctrine

day for at least a year and a half of their lives? They teach the same foundational things Joseph said and taught. They teach what the Book of Mormon says. They tell Bible believing people that their faith is corrupted and that they need to hear the real full truth. They will infer diabolical intentions upon good, down to earth pastors of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, all in an effort to make anyone and everyone Mormons in their wake. This tacitly makes every conversation a Mormon has an affront, an attack, and an abiding example of religious distain for all faiths that are not their own.

Finally, as the coup de grau of all religious insults, the LDS disregard all other faiths so much they actually take the identities of people who have died and have them baptized into Mormonism once they are dead! Did you know that? How much disrespect can a religion have for others religious liberties and beliefs? So repulsive was this practice that a group of incensed Jews stood up and demand the LDS stop vicariously baptizing their victims of the holocaust. I think every single Christian ought to demand the same of their ancestors.

Continuous Attack on Christianity

From their origins, to their prophets, to their temples, to their missionaries, and their college professors, Mormonism is one living constant attack on Christianity. Mormons never attack or condemn people of other faith??!! Their very doctrine and practice exist solely to do just that!

(beat)

And with that, let’s have a prayer.

PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER

Commentary on LDS General Conference

Well, this past weekend was the LDS General Conference. Many things were said. I want to comment on three – two this week, and one next – the first is from one Ann Dibb and the second is by Jefferey Holland, a man the LDS call and “apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Ann Dibb,” who is the second counselor in the Young Women’s General Presidency for the LDS church and also happens to ne Thomas Monson’s daughter, spoke. Isn’t it funny that out of thirteen MILLION members the best person for the position of counselor in the General Young Women’s Presidency would be the LDS presidents own daughter? That, according to LDS belief, God himself called her through revelation to fill this high profile position. Hmmmmmm? (nothing like Nepostim). (Shake)

Anyway, Sister Ann Dibb told a story about some Canadian construction workers who, according to a Salt Lake Tribune article, were “left on the underside of a bridge after choosing not to wear their safety equipment.” The article said Dibb then compared that situation to contemporary dangers of life, and then she added: “The challenges and the dangers we live with today including societies tolerance of sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., . . . are just as precarious and real as the threat of falling 125 feet to certain deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. from a high bridge.” But she said, God has provided “the safety equipment needed to make it through mortality –

Now this is a religion that claims to be Christian. What would a Christian say God has provided to the world to “make it through mortality?”

Well here’s Sister Dibb’s list: “personal prayer, the scriptures, living prophets (meaning my Daddy) and the Holy Ghost.” No Jesus. No Jesus. No Jesus. Living prophets?! Her Dad – he’s mentioned. But no Jesus. She had an opportunity to list Him here – before millions. To praise Him. To put Him first. Didn’t happen. Because no matter how much they dance about His name, He is not on their hearts or in their minds.

But then we get to the mother of all October 2009 LDS General Conference quotes. It is so insipid, so indulgent, so full of inane logic that an entire book could be written to refute it. I’m not kidding. It comes from a man the LDS call an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jeffery Holland. On Monday October 5th, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that speaking of the Book of Mormon, Holland said:

“For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history – perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And it still stands.” He continued. “If anyone is foolish enough or mislead enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages . . . such persons, elect or other otherwise, have been deceived and, if they leave this church, they must do so by crawling over or around

Examination of the Book of Mormon

Before we go to the phones, let me speak to this quote line by line.

Holland said: “For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history – perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And it still stands.”

“If anyone is foolish enough or mislead enough to reject . . . teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages . . .

Can I add that for two hundred and thirty seven years the story of the Loch Ness Monster has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart perhaps like no other Loch-monster story in modern secular history – perhaps like no other lake monster story in any secular history. And that it still stands?

Let me remind ever single viewer right here and now – it is impossible to prove a negative untrue. Impossible.

Proof and Mythology

Why? There is no evidence to corroborate its falseness. When you begin with a myth how can you prove it wrong through evidence? How can you prove Santa DOES NOT exist? How can you PROVE there is no tooth fairy? PROVE it.

Let’s just pretend that all the nations of the world throw money into a pot and pay for the entire excavation of the entire state of New York – where trillions of tons of earth are sifted through for some archeological piece that will confirm the BOM history true. Even though they will find NOTHING, people can still say, “but that doesn’t mean that something was passed over.” And the myth lives on.

Where is Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the River Jordan, Judea, the Dead Sea, Calvary, Golgatha, he Salt Pillars of Sodom? And where is Zarahemla? The temples that were built? Just a stone? Just a coin? Just an onti, the bones of a Curelom? And this comparison is only the tip – the tip – of the giant, unprovable myth called the BOM.

In every single criticism against the Bible – which has received far more of a point by point critique of the BOM – it has proven itself real, based in history, based in actual events.

Holland’s hyperbolic hysterics about the BOM being examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history – perhaps like no other book in any religious history” – is not only laughable, it is a clear example of an LDS leader attempting to use his subjective Mormon opinion as proof of a world-wide fact.

Critique and Scrutiny

The BOM torn apart like no other book in any religious history! He has got to be joking! Does he have any idea how many billions of people have had access to Bibles over the course of the last thousand years and how many of them have scrutinized it! The ego centrism and fictitious persecution complex of this claim is amazing. But even if it WERE true, the fact would remain – you can’t prove a negative false.

Then he subtly begins to use some strong language of intimidation, saying: If anyone is “foolish enough or mislead enough to reject the BOM. . .”

What is this self-proclaimed Apostle of Jesus Christ saying? You are either a fool or you are mislead if you reject the BOM!

All the scholars in history who have read and renounced it, and the people who know their Bible who have read it and see it for what it is, and all the people who once accepted it as kids and then dove in and looked at it objectively and seen it for the fraud it is, they are either fools or are mislead . . . while all those who blindly trust in the unsupported, plagueristic, mythical contents of a book that was written by a convicted con-man who looked into a hat to bring it forth are wise and inspired?

Then Holland shows his logical infancy by referring to the book as “531 pages of a heretofore unknown text . . .” like the number of pages makes it more easier to believe it is God’s Word verses, say, the book of Titus in the Bible. Gosh!

Then he continues to say that those who are foolish enough to reject the BOM which is teeming with literary and Semitic complexity? Without HONESTLY attempting to account for the origin of those pages? Well, Jeff, I would like to honestly, Jeff, honestly account for the

Religious and Cultural Themes in the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon does, in fact, teach and emphasize many 19th century religious themes popular among Christian sects at the time. These themes include:

• need for spiritual rebirth
• the trinity (and a few other concepts on the ontology of one God)
• the incarnation of God as Jesus
• missionary zeal
• revivalistic worship themes (clapping hands in services, etc.)
• divine healings
• baptism of the Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ crucified
• traditional virgin Mary theology
• the Law of Moses

The Book of Mormon also teaches/expounds upon a variety of common 19th century cultural themes that were popular among many Christian Restorationists at that time. Religious Restorationists were men and women who believed that the primitive church of Jesus needed to be re-established on earth. Joseph Smith’s family were definitely restorationists.

Restorationist Platforms in Mormonism

Popular restorationist platforms found in the Mormonism include:

• A rejection of a paid clergy, titles, and denominationalism.
• A rejection of Calvinistic Theology.
• A Church using only the name of Jesus Christ.
• A belief that God’s kingdom was to be established in America (a process known as “building Zion”).
• The rejection of all Christian creeds.
• A belief in an apostasy and a need for a reformation.
• A faith AND works doctrine.
• A focus on sequential acts that lead to salvation.
• A frontier based “spirit of self-reliance.”
• A restitution of tithing.
• A refocus on Sabbath-day activities.
• A need for the Bible to be retranslated.
• The repulsion of secret societies and combinations.
• An agrarian attitude (meaning people should work with one's own hands).

All of these themes are woven into the story fabric that makes up much of the context of the Book of Mormon.

Sources Influencing the Book of Mormon

Much of the Book of Mormon came from borrowed themes found in a variety of sources available to Joseph Smith and his family at that time. These sources include:

• The Apocrypha (see particularly the Book of Maccabees)
• James Adair’s History of the American Indians
• Josephus’ War of the Jews
• Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews
• An article from the October 22, 1823, Wayne Sentinel
• Solomon Spaulding's Manuscript Found
• The preface to the King James Bible printed in 1769
• The Golden Pot by Eta Hoffman

Then, this book “teeming with literary and Semetic complexity,” as Holland put it, shows it is also teeming with several hundreds of direct plagiarized quotes and laughable anachronistic evidences.

Anachronistic Evidence in the Book of Mormon

My respected friend and scholar Michael Marquardt examined the Book of Mormon for its anachronistic problems. Of the hundreds he found, we’ve put one simple one the screen for you to see.

being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts (1 Nephi 2:18; 7:8)
being grieved for the hardness of their hearts (Mark 3:5)

Mark 3:5 being grieved for the hardness of their hearts

Mr 3:5 sullupoumeno epi pwrwsei kardia autwn

without transliteration, the Greek actually reads “grieved for porosis hearts of their”

EXPLAIN THIS!

To clarify, it would be like me saying I found a 600-year-old ancient book from Jerusalem in my backyard and translated it. But when you read through it, you come across phrases and words that belong to a completely different era, words like “microwave popcorn,” “Boeing 747,” and “McDonald’s Happy meal.” What would you say about the ancient book I discovered in my backyard? Immediately, you would know my so-called discovery is in the least constructed of borrowed material.

But even in light of these facts – FACTS – Latter-day Saints insist on maintaining the idea that the Book of Mormon is an ancient document.

Such persons, elect or otherwise, have been deceived, and if they leave this church, they must do so by crawling over or around or under the BOM to make their exit.”

Holland finishes his statement by saying that those people who reject the BOM, or . . .

Meaning, if anyone leaves Mormonism, they will, as fools or deceived individuals, have to circumvent a concrete, immoveable, non-contestable book called the BOM.

I would suggest that Holland is a deceiver, possibly well-meaning, who is using threatening rhetoric to support a negative proposition that, like Santa Claus, can never be proven wholly illegitimate.

Let’s take a minute and remind you of our Partner’s Program.

Join us next week where will examine the death of the practice of LDS plural marriage and take a look at where LDS allegiances lie – as exemplified by their living Prophet’s “Birthday request.” See you then, here on “Heart of the Matter.”