Summary
Shawn McCraney critiques Mormonism for claiming Christian authenticity while diverging from biblical Christianity, highlighting his personal experience and knowledge of the LDS Church. He addresses polygamy's roots in Mormon history, especially criticizing its continuation in different factions, while arguing that current LDS efforts to control religious branding clash with their historical and doctrinal claims.
Shawn critiques the LDS doctrine by emphasizing that the true church must mirror the organizational structure of Christ’s original church as outlined in Ephesians 4:11-14, which includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, and he argues that many LDS titles and structures, such as bishops and deacons, do not align with biblical definitions. He asserts that the LDS church's complex hierarchy and additional practices, such as temple rites and tithing obligations, deviate from the teachings of Jesus, thus invalidating their claim to be the true church that mirrors Christ's original organization.
Shawn contrasts Mormonism and Christianity by highlighting that while Mormonism often prioritizes subjective feelings as a measure of truth, Christianity is founded on the belief in the Bible as the infallible Word of God, serving as a guide to test personal experiences and beliefs. He uses the Titanic disaster as a metaphor for Mormonism, urging individuals to question their faith's foundation and rely on the Bible's guidance, much like seeking refuge in the lifeboats during a crisis.
Shawn's teaching encourages individuals to disassociate from LDS membership records by utilizing resources like bornagainmormon.com and mormonnomore.org, signaling a rejection of certain teachings and promises. By abandoning "Ship," participants can access guidance through various online platforms and send a message of dissent to leadership.
Heart of the Matter: Mormonism and Biblical Christianity
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. . . .
Show 21 Seventeen Points – Part V PILOT SAMPLE FOR FAMILY NET TV The Same Organization – Point Four
And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host of the place . . . where “Mormonism . . . Meets Biblical Christianity . . . Face to Face!”
HYPERLINK "http://www.bornagainmormon.com" www.bornagainmormon.com
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Why Focus on Mormonism?
Many people ask us: Why a show specifically about Mormonism? Why don’t you pick on (or you would dare to pick on) Islam or Judaism or Buddhism! Let me offer two reasons: First, I was an active member of the LDS Church for forty years. I know Mormonism. Returned missionary, youth leader, Elders Quorum president, bishopric member, stake High council, married in the LA temple. I know Mormonism. My family is LDS.
Secondly, Judaism, Islam, and/or Buddhism doesn’t claim to be Christian! Mormonism does! I respect every group’s right to believe whatever they want! I’m not a religious despot! But listen – Mormonism claims that God told their prophet Joseph Smith in 1820 that all the Christian churches were wrong and all their creeds were an abomination to Him. And today Mormonism sends missionaries out to doorsteps around the world teaching that they are the ONLY True CHRISTIAN CHURCH! In other words, Mormonism thinks it has the right to say they are right and all the rest of us are wrong! But finally, and perhaps most importantly, Mormonism is NOT a biblically Christian faith – and we defend our right to defend God’s Word.
Mormon Identity and Criticism
A recent article by the editor in the Deseret News, a newsprint and E- publication owned by the LDS church, equates the use of the term “Mormon and LDS” by fundamentalist groups and media outlets to “identity theft.” Says Deseret News Editor Joe Cannon: “The LDS church has the right and expectation that the use of these terms will convey certain impressions to those who become aware of them – this is known in the business world as “brand equity.” So while Salt Lake City Mormons are fighting tooth and nail to control who can use the terms “LDS” and to define what “LDS” means, they have NO PROBLEM stealing a brand name that was established by the blood of Jesus and millions of others after Him – and demanding we apply it to them as well – Christian. When you officially announce that you are NOT Christian, Latter-day leaders, and we’ll pull the plug on this show that proves it.
On a related note, New York Times Op/Ed columnist Timothy Egan was berated by LDS Church Historian Marlin Jenkins on April 23rd for an article which said, in effect, that the FLDS in the polygamous compound in Texas are nothing more than a mirror of 19th century Mormonism. Historian Jensen replied: (READ IT)
First, I would like to remind the Historian Jensen where the FLDS obtained the doctrine of celestial marriage in the first place: (Show picture of their honored prophets above the blackboard).
Secondly, I would also remind Elder Jensen that the FLDS more properly follow Mormon doctrine than the Salt Lake based LDS. Third, do you really expect us to buy the line that there is no comparison to the women in Texas and 19th century LDS plural wives? You say that the LDS women in early church history were not subservient? Who are you trying to kid?
Observations on Polygamous Practices
ANY woman who agrees to share her husband with one, or two, or fifty other women is tacitly subservient. Take off your myopic lenses, Jensen. You imply these women in Texas don’t teach school, can’t read or write or publish like the advanced women of early LDS history? Who teaches their children in the compound? Who does all the work on the farm, the reading, the writing? Have these women and the women of 19th century Mormonism been mislead? Yes. Lied to? Yes. Are all of them obediently following their prophet? Yes they are. And we could go on and on.
The point – the real issue – that Timothy Egan points out and Church historian Jensen refuses to acknowledge – is that polygamy – and the practice of it – is the same in any Mormon tradition – LDS, FLDS, what-the-heck LDS – it all originated from Joseph Smith. And that both the women, men and children in that Texas compound and Marlin K. Jensen here in Salt Lake City – continue to hail Him as a prophet of God.
And with this, let’s have a word of prayer to open.
The Organization of Christ's Church
We're going to take a couple calls before our first commercial break, so if you have a question or a comment, call now (801) 973-8820 or (801) 973-TV20.
So let’s continue our coverage of what the LDS call “The Seventeen Points of the ‘True Church.’” Tonight we’re going to cover number four of their “seventeen points,” namely, that “The True Church must have the same organization as Christ’s Church.”
Analysis of LDS Claims
So, point four reads: “The True Church must have the same organization as Christ’s Church.” Now when I read the SAME organization, I think of the same organization, don’t you? I would think that whatever Jesus truly established would be present now – nothing more and nothing less. I mean, this is what this rule implies!
In the last two weeks, we’ve talked about apostles and prophets, right? Both are present in present-day Mormonism and Christianity, though both are understood in very different ways. What else was present in the Church Jesus established? The LDS list Ephesians 4:11-14 as the basis for their claim. It reads:
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Interestingly enough, they don’t finish the thought Paul presents by reading verses 15 and 16 too – which we’ll do in a minute.
Biblical Offices in Church Organization
But let’s list the offices here that Paul says were in Christ’s original organization: Apostle and prophets (again in an order contrary to the LDS presentation) Evangelists – Pastors – Teachers.
Do the LDS have evangelists? In the Greek, the name is “Yoo-angel-eestays” which means a preacher of the gospel. Do the LDS have pastors? In the Greek, the name is “poi-mane” and it means a shepherd.
The LDS say this office is the same as a Bishop, but this is not so. A Bishop is an “episcope” which is the exact same office as that of an “elder” or “presbyter.” Biblically, an Elder, and a Bishop, and a Presbyter were all designated overseers of the church, but an Elder in the LDS church is not an overseer, nor is an Elder a Bishop or a Bishop an elder. Once again, this another point of their “seventeen” is rendered completely void of true biblical meaning.
Then one could ask, if the true church must be the SAME church as what Jesus instituted, what about all the additions Mormonism has made to the Lord’s original Church? Did Christ’s church have first and second counselors, elder quorum presidents, relief society presidents, wards, ward clerks, stake presidents, stake high councilmen, M-men and Gleaners, regional representatives, sun-beams, moon-beams, boy scouts, mia-maids, etc.. etc.?
Come on, Latter-day Saints? Pony up here. Answer this!
What does the Bible say about Deacons? It says that a deacon should be “found blameless,” that their “wife” should be “grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” That they should be “the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well,” that “they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
What is a “deacon” in the LDS church? He is a male child 12-13 years of age! How many of them are blameless? How many of them have wives that are “grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things?”
Does this sound like the same church Jesus established? We’ll, I’m not going to belabor this point any longer.
If there is ONE thing that was present in the Lord’s Church that is missing from Mormonism or there is one thing missing in Mormonism that is present in the Lord’s church, this fourth point is mute.
You see, my friends, when these missionaries come knock on the door, and they hand searching people pamphlets and cards like their “Seventeen Points of the True Church” they prey upon unsuspecting souls. They sell them a package of goods not at all part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And they bind them up with temple rites, mandatory tithes, special clothing, multiple wife doctrines, all of which have NOTHING to do.
Emails and Calls Recap
Hey, let’s read some emails and take a call or two.
Emails for NATIONAL Show:
(WRAP UP)
Alright . . . If you are part of our national audience through Family Net, we bid you goodnight and Godspeed. But if you are watching locally, online, or listening through podcasts, well be back after this short commercial break to continue with your phone calls!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Welcome back – my friends . . . and enemies.
Phone lines:
(801) 973-TV20
(801) 973-8820
While we wait for the operators to pass you along, let’s talk about a few things.
The Bottom-Line Issue
Last week we had two callers that perfectly summarize and defined the bottom-line issue between Mormonism and Christianity. On the one hand, we had an LDS caller named Aaron who stated that he knew – knew – that the Church was true by virtue of his feelings.
I asked Aaron why his feelings – his experience with feeling peace were of greater value or could be trusted more than the Muslim or the Catholic or the Jehovah’s Witnesses feelings and experiences were but all he could say in reply is he just knew they were.
So we have a precedent of knowing truth by subjectively “feeling.” Nothing that is proven, shown, illustrated, or examined to the contrary matters – all that matters is how a person “feels.” This is what LDS ultimately turn to when presenting truth.
On the other hand, we had a caller named Mike – from Boston – who passionately explained that the bottom line issue is whether a person or a people-group accepts the Bible was the infallible Word of God. If you do, all the feelings in the world do not matter in the least. What matters is what the Bible says.
The Role of the Bible
The Bible is God’s inoculation against human manipulation and persuasion. It is the manual by which anyone seeking to know the truth can test and check their feelings against. I could say that I feel having more than one wife is from God. I could say that I feel I have a heavenly mother – that such feelings comfort me. I could say I am certain – because I feel it – that there is no such place as hell. OR . . . I can turn to God’s Word and test my feelings against what He has to say about these things.
I’ve said this before, but the “liberals” of the world diminish God’s Word and ways. They reduce it, take from it, say that Jesus isn’t who He claimed to be, say the Bible isn’t an inspired book, say that the stories are merely mythical illustrations. And cultists and religious manipulators always add to God’s Word! They say it isn’t enough, we need more revelations, more writings, more “revealed truths of peace” to help us get along.
At the end of the day, at the end of all that matters, I think a very simple measuring stick can be applied to test your Christianity: Do you accept God’s Word or do you diminish it or add to it.
An Illustration and Invitation
As a result of this and many other conditions present within present day Mormonism, allow me to present to you an illustration and an invitation. When the Titanic set off into the Atlantic, the ships captain, a man named Smith proudly claimed it was unsinkable. The Titanic’s occupants ranged from the super wealthy and elite to a group of lower class passengers who traveled in the lowest steerage levels of the boat.
When the Titanic hit the iceberg, Smith reassured the elite class that there was “nothing to fear – that there was no danger.” He was so persuasive that many of the upper crust arrogantly and errantly refused to board the lifeboats – believing there was greater safety aboard the ship than in the small unassuming lifeboats.
As the situation became grim, and the band played, Lead Kindly Light, a hymn which speaks about Jesus and Jesus only leading the way, the steerage passengers – those folks without money or means – were pushed away, locked below, and even shot, so as to allow for the upper deck elitists to board the lifeboats first.
The Titanic disaster is a perfect illustration for Mormonism today. Captain Smith said it is unsinkable while it’s high society passengers have presently placed all their faith and trust in its thick hull. But to the steerage passengers – those who have never believed it, never understood it, and have never been acceptable in it, I say
ABANDON SHIP!
Get on the lifeboats now and say: Lead kindly light amidst encircling gloom Lead thou me on! The night is dark and you are far from home. Lead THOU me on.
Abandon
Main Topic: Leaving LDS Membership
Ship is the name we have chosen to get people to remove their names from the LDS membership records. Go to bornagainmormon.com for more information.
Send a message to the leadership! We’re not going to take your elitist attitudes, you non-biblical teachings, and you promises of godhood anymore!
Resources for Leaving
Abandon Ship! If you want help on how to board the waiting liferafts, there are an abundance of on-line resources that can help you out:
Online Support Links
utlm.org
bornagainmormon.com
mormonnomore.org
Send a message and abandon ship!
