Response to Uchtdorf’s General Conference Speech

Heart of the Matter: Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity

Response to Uchtdorf

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 Biblical Christianity, face to face.

Show 32 362 Response to Uchtdorf
October 15th 2013

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

We praise the True and Living God for allowing us to participate in this ministry. May He be with you (and us) tonight.

I’m standing here with Lynn Wilder, former BYU professor, former Latter-day Saint, present Christian and author of a new book titled: Unveiling Grace Welcome and tell us about it Lynn. (Where can people get the book?)

Dieter Uchtdorf's General Conference Speech

Last week we said we were going to cover the contents of LDS Apostle Dieter Uchdorf’s General Conference speech so here it goes:

After opening with a story about the amount of dedication it takes to be a Mormon, Uchdorf asked a rhetorical question: Why Would Anyone Join Such a Church? Then he goes on and said: “At a time when many churches throughout the world are experiencing significant decreases in numbers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—though small in comparison with many others—is one of the fastest growing churches in the world.”

I keep hearing this – I have heard this claim for years. They act like it is occurring in a vacuum, as if people are just running to join Mormonism because it is “so true.” First of all, I don’t know what it means when a religion is said to be the “fastest growing” – is this good? Is this indicative of truth or error? Lady Gaga has been one of the fastest growing acts in entertainment but does this mean she’s good, or true, or right?

But even more importantly look at the efforts they put forth to BE the fastest growing – every active member constantly recruiting, media and internet efforts ad nauseam, and eight THOUSAND full-time missionaries spreading the deception! They had better be growing fast. And then there’s retention. While they might be able to look at baptisms and say “We are one of the fastest growing churches in the world,” what are the statistics of people walking out?

Uchdorf goes on and supplies his reasons for Mormonism being the fastest growing: He says it’s because:

• It’s the Savior’s Church.
• It’s an active faith.
• It provides treasured blessings.

Assessing Claims of Growth and Truth

The Savior’s church uses Masonic rituals to bind the sheep with covenantal burdens? The Savior’s church proposes a priesthood that He fulfilled in His person? The Savior’s church reinstitutes law, rejects saving faith in Him, says His Father was once a man, and admits that what He did failed, that the gates of hell prevailed over His work, and Joseph Smith needed to save it once and for all?

Uchdorf says it grows because it’s an “active faith?” Like other Christians are not active? Sure, you keep people busy, Uchdorf, but with what? Work that overwhelms rather than provides rest? Is that what Jesus came to establish? A church that wears people down with labors to build their brick and mortar institution? And then you claim “the church” provides treasured blessings bestowed through the disciplines it teaches to its members.

Believe it or not, this is just a system of institutionalized behaviorism – and many “institutions” supply it to their adherents including Shriners, the Communists, Masons, every branch of the Military, IBM, and working for Ben and Jerry’s. Big freakin deal. Take any group that has an established system for living and if people embrace it and follow it their lives will in all probability be “blessed.” But wherein lies life eternal – ONLY in what Jesus gives.

(Uchdorf then wrapped his speech up with what interests me most, saying): “The search for truth has led millions of people to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, there are some who leave the Church they once loved. One might ask, “If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?”

Notice that Uchdorf likens Mormonism with “the Gospel” when he asks: “If “the Gospel” is so wonderful why would anyone leave?” It is these little deceptions that flow from the mouth of handsome, well-dressed men who allow themselves to be called apostles that boil my blood. Mormonism, friends, is NOT the gospel. The good news is Not, and has never been, Mormonism. The Gospel is Jesus came, suffered for the sins of the world, was killed, buried, and rose again. This is the Good News and this, this phony institution with its false apostles of light have the audacity to reapply this simple beautiful meaning to itself! Ugh.

Uchtdorf, however, does go on and admit that people leave Mormonism for

LDS Church Historical Acknowledgment

All sorts of reasons and that it is not so simple as them being “lazy or sinful.” He also adds that “the Church” due to the restored truths of Joseph Smith, honors personal agency even if it means people leaving for various reasons, which, he admits, might include unanswered questions about “church history.” Now, you might think that this is a man being open and honest and trying to bring some light to the truth but the fact of the matter is they don’t have a choice – people – good faithful members of the LDS club – are walking and they have no choice but admit that the internet is full of issues about LDS history and doctrine that cannot be hidden any longer. So he says:

“We openly acknowledge that in nearly 200 years of Church history—along with an uninterrupted line of inspired, honorable, and divine events—there have been some things said and done that could cause people to question.”

No freaking kidding! Wow, thanks for that admission! I especially like how you phrased it – “there have been some things said and done that could cause people to question.” Then he goes on, word SMITHING and says some things take time and patience to understand and others are just a matter of opinion on what is “fact.” Then, in a moment of what I would call, “forced transparency,” he adds

“to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine.”

Now, we have finally arrived at some truth – an admission that “Mormon leaders have said things that are not in harmony with LDS doctrine.” It is a great step toward the light which is one reason this speech is so important. Unfortunately, it is a statement that if left here will only serve to maintain church obfuscation.

Impact on Church Members

What I mean by this is the LDS will use this to say to anyone and everyone, no matter what the subject:

“Weeeeellllll, even Apostle Uchdorf admitted that LDS leaders have said things that are not in harmony with our doctrine,” hoping to be let off the hook when it comes to specifics. This is my point to Uchtdorf – he has admitted that in the past “Mormon leaders have said things that are not in harmony with LDS doctrine,” he needs to take it a step further and articulate what those “things” are. Until he does, the “church” remains protected, and the people who think, and search, and leave are left hanging, thinking they are the ones at fault, that they have failed because they have refused to buy into error and lies.

Uchdorf then spent four or five paragraphs justifying these errors as just mistakes of men, then makes an appeal, saying:

“To those who have separated themselves from the Church, I say, my dear friends, there is yet a place for you here. Come and add your talents, gifts, and energies to ours. We will all become better as a result.”

Huh? “Come add our talents, gifts and energies to ours? WE WILL ALL BECOME BETTER AS A RESULT?” What the ???? I want to come to church to learn about Jesus, to know God, to worship Him and your appeal for me to come back to church is so I can: “Come add my talents, gifts and energies to yours? WE WILL ALL BECOME BETTER AS A RESULT?” This is empire building folks! It’s not Christianity. It’s all about joining “the cause.” Listen closely – listen . . . and you will hear these very sentiments echoing through every man-made movement to ever exist.

(beat) Uchdorf then presents a series of rhetorical questions or statements members of the Church may ask or state as a sort of pre-emptive strike against all the reasons people may have for leaving Mormonism: These included:

“But what about my doubts?” and “I just don’t fit in with you people in the church,” and “I just don’t think I can live up to your standards.” and “I know a member of your Church who is a hypocrite. I could never join a church that had someone like him as a member.”

Responses to Members' Concerns

Each of these queries or statements are met with a typical Mormonitious response. To the question, “What about my doubts,” his response was “we all have doubts, they can be good, etc.” but then he quoted an actor from “Gossip Girl,” who said: “Doubt your doubts first, then your faith.” Freaking profound. To the comment, “I just…

Observations on the Church's Standards

“Don’t fit in with you people in the Church,” his response, once again, springs forth from a humanist heart, not the Christian as he said: “If you could see into our hearts, you would probably find that you fit in better than you suppose. You might be surprised to find that we have yearnings and struggles and hopes similar to yours. Your background or upbringing might seem different from what you perceive in many Latter-day Saints, but that could be a blessing. Brothers and sisters, dear friends, we need your unique talents and perspectives. The diversity of persons and peoples all around the globe is a strength of this Church.” Those with eyes to see and ears to hear, take note.

On Living Up to Standards

Then just listen to his response to the statement, “I don’t think I could live up to your standards.” “All the more reason to come! The Church is designed to nourish the imperfect, the struggling, and the exhausted. It is filled with people who desire with all their heart to keep the commandments, even if they haven’t mastered them yet.” Can you read through the lines here? It is an amazing admixture of words that in the end reveal that what He is saying is impossible. First he says the most odious sentence “The Church is designed to nourish the imperfect, the struggling, and the exhausted!”

First of all, Jesus is the one who does this, not your church, Uchdorf – your church is actually designed to do the exact opposite – it “nourishes the perfect, distances itself from those who “struggle, and exhausts the rest in the process.” And I can use your own words – the very next words you use to prove it – It is filled with people who desire with all their heart to keep the commandments, even if they haven’t mastered them yet.” Any people who, facing hundreds of commandments and laws, seek to live them will end up struggling, exhausted, and hailing the apparent perfect people. And your little remark of “even if they haven’t mastered them yet,” is a clear indication that mastery is the ultimate demand – which is sheer hypocrisy.

Addressing Accusations of Hypocrisy

The final remark he suggests some might make as to why they left Mormonism is, “I know a member of your Church who is a hypocrite. I could never join a church that had someone like him as a member.” All churches are filled with hypocrites, so I’m not gonna say much about this except the greater the attempts to perfect the flesh the higher the rate of hypocrisy. What really was disturbing to me, was how he wrapped his speech up because he associated those who leave Mormonism with those who walked from following Jesus.

Uchtdorf notes that after many abandoned Jesus he asked the twelve disciples: “Will ye also go away? “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” And then he says: “There are times when we have to answer the same question. Will we also go away? Or will we, like Peter, hold fast to the words of eternal life?”

I want you to know that there is a gigantic difference between leaving Mormonism and leaving Jesus. Mormonism does NOT share the words of eternal life. They have overtaken Him and created a church using His name. They have pirated His simple message and turned it into a religious institution. Worst of all, instead of teaching the Words of Jesus which are life eternal, they do not, comparatively speaking, teach Him at all.

I was having a conversation with Bishop Earl the other day and he brought a really great insight to the table (which he had heard from a ministry on AM 820). Before we go to prayer let me share what he said in light of Uchtdorf’s remarks.

It is well known that many people who leave Mormonism leave God all together.

The Impact of Leaving Mormonism

When someone leaves Calvary chapel and becomes a Presbyterian, or leaves being a Baptist and becomes a Congregationalist, there is little of this. Because Jesus is Jesus, and they are founded on HIM – not the religious to which they belonged. But more often than not when a person leaves Mormonism they abandon God and organized religion all together, typically to atheism.

The reason is they never knew Jesus in the first place. They never learned about Him and His truths while being a Mormon – they merely learned Mormonism. This is a tremendous insight into what Mormonism is founded upon because IF it was founded on Jesus, people would stay.

Discussion on Faith and Beliefs

With Jesus (in one way or another) but the LDS who learn the truth about Mormonism typically drop Him and God all together.

Something to think about.

And with that, let’s have a word of prayer.

From: Linda Rowland Swails

Subject: Ancient Paths show three weeks ago

Message Body:

Shawn, three weeks ago on the show Ancient Paths, the host had a very staunch LDS attorney answering questions about the LDS church and of course polygamy came up. They were disputing polygamy when the host admitted that yes, in his own Presbyterian faith, polygamy is accepted and allowed if the person who joins the Presbyterian faith is already a polygamist; he just cannot marry any additional spouses as long as he is a member of the Presbyterian church !!! I was aghast; I never knew this of the Presbyterian church. What right do they have to speak against the evil of the LDS or any faith practicing polygamy, when they themselves allow it. I have only just recently left the LDS faith and am trying to find a new church to attend but when I hear of the secret practices of even older religions, how do I trust them that they are God-centered and following His word and commandments completely? I was a member of the LDS church for over thirty-six years and so many lies and practices were held back from the members; most of them are kept in the dark about many things. I know there is nothing on earth that is perfect and that goes for the churches and their members but I am very ”gun shy” now of any church. I do not want to fall back into following a religion again only to find that they have practices and beliefs that are being withheld from the general population. Thanks a lot. Linda 801-602-5515

Questions on Mormonism

Hi Shawn, I'm a 15 year old living in Utah, and I wanted to ask you, I am really curious as to why you are talking about the LDS church in such a negative way, especially after 40 years of being in the church. I am a Mormon, but I have genuine curiosity as to why you are doing all this. I also wanted to ask you if somewhere in those 40 years of being Mormon, you got your patriarchal blessing?

Aidan, Yes, I got a Patriarchal blessing. When I was 18.

Let me ask you a question, suppose that there in your town is a doctor who claims he can cure cancer. And let's say your Mom gets cancer. And the doctor tells her there are a number of things she must do, and pay, in order to be cured. And she believes him and does all he says and in the end the doctors promises fail and she dies. Let's say part of what the doctor told her she had to do was give him all of her money (which she does) but she still dies. Would you step out and try and tell people about this doctor in the face of what he was doing? Would you try and warn people, unsuspecting people, or would you just let the doctor go about and take advantage of others?

Concerns and Warnings

Something is happening more and more and it is really troubling. This letter from Jeff sort of sums it up in a way.