Heart of the Matter: Where Mormonism Meets Christianity Face to Face

LIVE! From the “Mecca of Mormonism” 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 Christianity Face to Face.” Show 42 Preface to the 10/08 General Conference October 7th 2008

And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.

Opportunities to Engage and Learn

Streaming Video Announcement HOTM.TV AM 820 The Truth! Listen to Heart of the Matter every Tuesday night from 8-9pm (hold up sign) 820 AM The Truth – Got Truth? Go to 820 AM KUTR The Truth Really have great programming for Christians seeking to know the Word, and for seekers seeking to know the Lord.

Christian Assemblies Meeting to Prayerfully Understand Scripture – CAMPU*S At the University of Utah Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 And Sunday evenings from 7-8pm Then at Weber state in Ogden and Utah State in Logan Sunday Evenings also from 7-8pm. Come join us. We pray together, we worship the Lord, and we study the Word. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! What else are you doing? Huh? Why not come and learn about the Bible. Go to www.lordsword.org for addresses and information on service locations and times.

Moving Toward Christian Authenticity

“I Was a Born-Again Mormon” Available at . . . UTLM.ORG or in the store itself. Oasis Books in Logan Christian Gift and Bible in Sandy New Life books in Layton Sam Weller’s downtown SLC Calvary Chapel Life Way Books in Murray Dolly’s Books in Park City Gift of Grace Bible in Springville . . . and at www.bornagainmormon.com The book talks about sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., Jesus, who I was and where I came from, and about the basics of Mormon doctrine in a straightforward but non-attacking manner. I do all my attacking here on the show – well, sort-of.

Hey, how are you doing on project “Abandon Ship?” We’ve received dozens of emails and letters from folks who have proactively asked the LDS church to remove their names from the rolls. Not one reports a dearth of blessings, a curse upon their families, a dark cloud overhead. In fact, quite the opposite. All have reported a great sense of relief, a giant load taken off their backs, and a peace that comes with trusting Jesus completely. Send a message, friends, and abandon ship now. Get them to ask why. More information on how to do this is available at www.bornagainmormon.com

Thoughts on the Recent LDS General Conference

This past week the LDS Church held their semi-annual general conference. We will do a review of the conference “highlights” next week right here on Heart of the Matter.

But I’ve received no small amount of feedback on a talk given by one Lawrence E. Colbridge of the Quorum of the Seventy about Jesus being the way, truth and the Life. Christians are responding hopefully, stating that the talk was incredibly focused on Jesus Christ, and that maybe it represents the LDS Church coming to the light of Truth relative to salvation. The LDS are writing and telling me that the talk is just another evidence that PROVES Mormonism is Christian and I should sit up and take notes. I didn’t hear or read the talk yet, but let’s say it was as good and as “on target” as people suggest.

I think there are two accurate responses to this. First, I would say, Praise God. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:15-18: “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” Anytime the Truth about the Living God is taught, I rejoice. ANYTIME. Who can say when, where, and how the truth of HIS will be received, right?

But the second response is just as viable as it takes the “context and setting” of the message into account. I’ve had people tell me they were saved while they were sitting in a bar drunk out of their skull while another drunk stammered through the gospel message – and it changed their life forever. To this I would again, praise God. But it doesn’t mean the saved individual should stay drunk or mistake the bar for the church and keep attending! The question I have to the gleeful responses to this speech is: “How many other talks were given at the general conference and what was their subject matter? Salvation By Grace? The Bible as God’s Infallible Word? The cross? God uncreated? The Trinity? I can tell you right now, without having listened to word one of that conference, that Jesus was not the center of the event – the Church was – and that there was far more added to the saving

Question of Salvation

Be careful, my friends. And with that warning, let’s have a prayer.

The Prayer

Love thee. Lift this program up to you. Open our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts to your truth. Thank you for the station and air time. For the volunteers. For those who pray for us and support us.

If you are LDS – and even if you are not – I want you to seriously search your heart right now. I’d like you to ask yourself, truly, “What is it I will take to the LORD, when I die, that will justify my receiving life eternal?”

Go on . . . ask yourself that. Close your eyes and ask yourself what you are going to carry with you before the throne of God, as it were, that He will look upon and say, “Come in to the place I have prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

On Sunday morning I drove up North Temple here in Salt Lake City to get to the University of Utah. The weather alternated between drizzle and rain, and I watched hundreds – thousands of well-dressed, clean-cut handsome people rush toward the magnificent granite conference center of the Mormon Church. I have to admit it was impressive. And if I didn’t know better, I am sure I would have been impressed enough to investigate this religion more.

As the suits and ties and modest but fine dresses flashed in front of my waiting car, I couldn’t help but notice a smallish man, sort-of straggly hair, standing in the rain in a green poncho with a small sign in one hand and a stack of papers in the other. The sign was damp and it read: “Are you saved?” The masses passed him almost without notice, save the occasional and confident smirk and nudge that were typically passed between two fast-walking priesthood holders. I thought about this man throughout the day.

I understood his cardboard question. I resonated to His drive to stand out in the rain and get passed by without a notice. I mean, here he was, a small frail man standing in the rain with the most recognized Utah landmarks at his back – temple square – and facing a swarm of certain people who filed like drones into a granite hive of enormous power.

The man stood alone against billions upon billions of dollars of financial strength, great political genius, legal eagles, educators, businesspeople, doctors, and captains of industry – all passing him – and his question – by . . . without a second thought. They were going inside to sit at the feet of men and women who will tell them that their religion – this powerful, wealthy, politically motivated religion – represents all the religious truth on earth – and that they must give it their total and full allegiance in order to save themselves – and to save the world.

LDS Message and Salvation

In the July 3rd 1999 Church News on page 3, the late LDS Prophet and president of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley said: “Our message is so imperative, that, when you stop to think about the salvation, the eternal salvation of the world, it rests upon the shoulders of THIS Church. When all is said and done, if the world is going to be saved, we have to do it. There is no escaping from that. No other people in the history of the world have received the kind of mandate we have received. We are responsible for all who have lived upon the earth, and that involves our missionary work. And we will be responsible for all who yet live upon the earth.”

Filing into the conference center were thousands of people bent on saving themselves and saving the world. And outside stood one man, in the rain, with a wet cardboard sign that asked: “Have you been saved?” What do the LDS know that this poor man was missing?

Well, they knew that they needed to accept and believe in Joseph Smith teachings in order to receive salvation. Oh . . . your LDS and, and, and you don’t believe this? Do you believe Brigham Young? Not completely! Oh, okay . . . how about . . .

Joseph Fielding Smith? Apostle George Q. Cannon? How about Joseph Smith himself?

Salvation According to Joseph Fielding Smith

The Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith Said: “There is NO salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth . . . no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for

The Role of Faith and Salvation

"he cannot enter the kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future.!”
Doctrines of Salvation vol. 1, pg. 190

Apostle George Q. Cannon, quoted in the 1988 Melchizedek Priesthood study guide, page 142, said:

“If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him (meaning Joseph Smith); if we enter into our glory, it will be through the authority he has received. We cannot get around him (Joseph Smith).”

The Prophet and President Brigham Young said in JOD v. 7, pg 289:

“No man or woman in this dispensation will EVER enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith… every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith Junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are.”

Vernon McGee's Perspective

I remember when I was a very young Christian listening to Vernon McGee on the radio one afternoon, and he said something I didn’t really understand or appreciate then, but which I love and embrace today.

He said:

“Why… when I stand before God-almighty, he may ask me some kind of questions for all I know. Why, He just may say something like,

“Vernon, what do you have to offer me – what have you done to earn your place in my kingdom?”

“And I’ll say, why Lord, I’ve done nothing. I’ve got nothing. I’ve been nothin’.”

And then he said something to the effect that he would say, “Lord, I have nothing but my faith in you! Why, I’ve trusted you and your promises completely because that is what you told me I needed to do! I placed all my hope, all my fears, all my sins, all my failures at your feet – like you said.

Was this enough, Lord.”

And J. Vernon McGee said, “And then I will hear the Lord say, “Oh, Vernon, it is more than enough.”

Biblical Basis for Salvation through Faith

You see, the Bible is clear – clear – on what is required for our salvation and who or what it is that saves the world. First, we know that we cannot do anything to please God but by our faith!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

In the Gospel of John, the disciples come to Jesus and ask:

John 6:28 ¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Did they read Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, or Second Timothy at General Conference this year, my friends?

Did they read

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Or

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Did they expound upon

Roman 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Or did they reassure the people with
2nd Timothy 1:9, which says

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

Reflection on Faith and Action

These verses are NOT taken out of context friends, they are what caused the man to stand in the rain, they are what brings me to get in front of this camera week after week, they are what caused millions of people the world over – billions – to relinquish their lives and will over to Him who grants all things, all life, all hope.

(beat)

I received an email this morning which I have to read. I have never read an entire email on the show yet, unless they were exceptionally short. But this email, in full, is a must. Before I read it, let’s open up the phone lines

(801) 973-8820
(801) 973-TV20 (READ EMAIL)

In the book of Romans, Paul teaches a principle that is frankly revolutionary. Essentially, he says that if you are in the employment of someone, if you are working for someone, they are responsible for paying you the agreed upon

Understanding Grace and Debt

In other words, when we have done work for payment or reward, our employer is in our debt until the cash has been handed over. He teaches us that we are not paid by grace, but of debt. Grace, he explains, cannot be a debt or else it ceases to be grace. And earning a reward cannot be grace or else earning or works cease to be works.

Salvation and Grace

When the LDS understand that their salvation is based solely, completely, and exclusively on grace – God’s gift at Christ’s expense – they will completely dispense with adding things into the mix like:

• Needing Joseph Smith to enter heaven
• Allegiance to a man-made “Church”
• And empty, unprofitable and filthy works.

Faith as the Only Requirement

It is our prayer that when you now ask yourself: “What is it I will take to the LORD, when I die, that will justify my receiving life eternal?” Your only response will be FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Remember – NEXT WEEK – we’re going to do a review of this past week's General Conference – so tune in – and we'll see you then, here on . . . “Heart of the Matter.”