Shawn McCraney encourages Christians, especially former Mormons, to participate in open baptisms and share their faith experiences, while also addressing perceived contradictions in biblical accounts such as those in Acts regarding Paul's conversion. He invites people to the "Day of Decision" festival to engage with Christians and explore faith, providing opportunities for dialogue, community, and understanding of biblical Christianity versus Mormonism, all hosted in a welcoming, festival-like atmosphere.
Shawn's teaching emphasizes that despite challenges, the doctrine of the Trinity highlights that there is only one God who exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each fully embodying God's essence. He contends that while some interpretations, particularly within the Latter-day Saints, seek to question this understanding, it remains biblically supported that no other gods will exist or have existed beyond the one true God described in scriptures, reinforcing the Bible's authority and eternal truths.
Understanding the Trinity involves recognizing the three distinct persons of God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—each possessing attributes of truth, omnipresence, omniscience, eternity, and holiness, yet existing as one God, not separate entities, refuting beliefs like Modalism or the LDS perspective. Humans, made in God's image, reflect this three-in-one nature having body, soul, and spirit, highlighting that God's portrayal in Christianity is distinctly different from pagan interpretations that anthropomorphize deity.
The teaching discusses how the apostles distinguished the practice of baptism among Jews and Gentiles based on their existing understanding of the true Messiah and the nature of God, emphasizing Jesus' identity and the concept of the Trinity. It further explains that each person of the Trinity has distinct roles in the plan of salvation—God the Father plans, the Son accomplishes through His earthly mission, and the Holy Spirit applies it to believers, highlighting the unity and uniqueness within the Godhead.
Heart of the Matter: Where Mormonism Meets 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., where Mormonism meets biblical Christianity face to face . . . . Show 30 Seventeen Points XII The Trinity – Part II
And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.
Streaming Video Announce & Website Review
“I Was A Born-Again Mormon,” available at:
- Lifeway Books in SLC
- New Life in Layton
- Oasis Books in Logan
- Gift of Grace in Springville
- Dolly’s Books on Main in Park City
- UTLM.org
- Christian Gift and Bible in Sam Weller’s in downtown SLC
- Deseret Book (JUST KIDDING!)
And of course, at our website at www.bornagainmormon.com. And look, we’ll mail it to you free of charge if you can’t afford it.
Weekend Events
What a weekend! On Saturday we held an open baptism for Northern Utah. Twelve people beautiful people professed their undying faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ in front of an audience of sixty and were baptized in a gorgeous cold river there in Cache Valley. I Praise God to have been apart of this important event in their lives! We then retired to “Lucy of Logan’s” beautiful home and socialized together with fantastic food, fun, songs, and prayer. I look forward to this event again next year.
Then yesterday, we interviewed nearly 30 people about their leaving Mormonism and why. People came from out of state by bus and plane and local people traveled by car and on foot to share their story. It was heartwarming and fair information. We’ll let you know when this special program will air. THANK YOU ALL for your participation.
They were: Brandon, Kara, Chris, Dan, Rose, Ireland, Angela, Audrey, Megan, Hank, Kevin, and Margaret.
In Joel 3:14 it says
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”
We want to invite everyone from across the State to attend and/or participate in our “Day of Decision – Burning Heart Festival this coming September 20 from 3 to 9 pm. If you are a confirmed Christian, ask your pastor about getting your church involved by everyone personally inviting one inactive or lost Latter-day Saint from your area to join us. They’re out there – we know it.
We receive a lot of email from people saying “they love the show,” “they support what we’re doing,” and/or they want to help in some way.” Well this is your chance – and we need it. Go to www.HOTM.TV and sign up to serve at our state-wide revival held especially for the lost LDS of the state. Now, if you are NOT a born-again Christian, we extend a special invitation to you to stop by and enjoy yourselves – especially if you’re LDS. We’ve got a number of excellent food booths offering grub at a deeply-discounted rate. We’ll have bounce-houses for the kids. Great – not good – but great music. And I will give the final address of the night regarding “a reason of the hope we posses in Him.” Heck, we’re even going to have a wading pool there for people who want to receive baptism!
Plan to join us. Get your pastors to get a booth. Invite your friend, family and neighbors to
Burning Heart 08 The Day of Decision At Sugarhouse Park September 20th
Addressing an Apparent Contradiction
Last week we had a caller ask about an apparent contradiction in the Word. I said I knew there was a viable answer to it, but that I couldn’t remember what it was at the time. Let me take a minute and explain now:
When Paul was traveling along the road to Damascus, Acts chapter 9:4 says:
Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
(Then verse seven continues)
Acts 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
The author of this account was Luke.
The same author (Luke), reciting Paul’s experience, wrote later in Acts 22:7-9
Acts 22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
So the apparent contradiction – written by the hand of the same writer – would be that in one place he wrote that the men “heard a voice but saw no man,” and the other recitation said that they “saw indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of Him that spake.”
The first thing to remember is that Luke is a tremendous intellect with a gift.
The Nature of Paul's Encounter
For writing history and he penned both accounts. It is doubtful that he would mistakenly – and certainly not purposefully – contradict himself in his expose. Additionally, the first passage says that those with Paul “heard a voice but saw no man.” This does not mean they understood what the voice said nor does it mean they didn’t see “anything.” All it says is they heard a voice, but saw no actual man. We are all familiar with the experience of hearing a voice or voices but not understanding what they are saying. I think this is the case here. Paul saw a man and heard His voice more than those with him who only saw light (and not a man) and heard a voice (but did not understand what it said). This is acceptable in light of scripture as there are instances where some hear thunder, and see lightning while others hear a “still small voice” amidst the tumult. To have ears to hear and eyes to see over the din surrounding us is the challenge. Where Paul certainly saw a man AND understood His message fully, those with him did neither in total – BUT did see something and did hear something.
Perhaps the most troubling part of this question – which was posed to our caller last week by a Latter-day Saint – is that its purpose is to cast doubt on the reliability of the Bible. We are dealing with some Orwellian double-speak here folks, because on the one hand, the LDS today – in defending and promoting their faith to the masses – claim to “just, just love the Bible! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.” But within the same ranks – especially behind the scenes – they disregard it and seek to lower its authority as God’s infallible Word. Never let anyone demean God’s Word for heaven and earth will surely pass away, but His Word will endure forever.
And with that, let’s have a word of prayer.
PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER
PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER
Understanding the Trinity
After the show last week – Part one on the Trinity – a faithful viewer said to me, “You’re a brave man.” “Why’s that,” I asked. “You are trying to explain an incomprehensible concept – GOD – the Trinity!” I sort-of just smiled, then someone added: “To an audience that has been taught to mock it!”
(beat)
Our subject presents some challenges, as evidenced by our caller Dorrell from last week. Whenever I said, “God,” Dorrell would automatically think “Father.” These disconnects make discussing the Trinity very difficult with Latter-day Saints. Having been one, I understand. But I also understand that the fog does clear, and eyes that really want to see, will. So we press on.
Biblical Doctrine of One God
Last week we established the Biblical doctrine that there has always and will always be just ONE God. We cited verses like Isaiah 43:10-11: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
The LDS suggest otherwise, both henotheistically by saying God (the Father) had a father, AND in their belief that they too, could someday become God's if obedient to all the Laws and Ordinances of the LDS gospel!
Nevertheless, Joseph Smith’s teachings do NOT trump the Bible and it’s safe, right, and supported by the Bible that there has always been One God, there will always be One God, and there will never be any other God. Tonight, we will endeavor to show that the Bible treats the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit with all the same attributes of God.
Attributes of God in Scripture
Let me point out some things that are mentioned on a website called ConcernedChristians.org: “There is ONLY one BEING – GOD. Within that BEING are three PERSONS.
In the Forgotten Trinity, James White writes: “When we speak of the Trinity we are talking about one WHAT (God) and three WHO’S (Father, Son and Spirit).
Bible scholar Norman Geisler said: “God is unity of essence with plurality of persons. Each person is different, yet they share a common nature.”
Furthermore, each of the persons within the ONE being that is God is fully divine. White wrote: “Each fully shares the one being that is God. The Father is not 1/3rd of God, the Son 1/3rd of God, the Spirit 1/3rd God. Each is fully God, coequal with
The Trinity: Understanding the Three in One
The three persons of God function differently, but this does not make them inferior to one another. The LDS often misunderstand the three-in-one nature of God, leading to questions like: "Well, if the Trinity is correct, who did Jesus pray to?" The answer is clear: the Father.
As human beings created in the image of God, we too are three beings in one—we are body, we are soul, we are spirit. In 1st Thessalonians 5:23, it states: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Just as Jesus, the Son, was subject to the Father when he took on flesh, our bodies should be subject to our spirits.
The LDS belief that being made in God’s image means God resembles humans, with physical features and human attributes, cannot be supported scripturally. Pagan religions often depicted gods in human form, unlike the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Ask any faithful Jew or rabbi if God has a body of flesh and bones, and you will see scriptural evidence against such a claim.
Scriptural Support for Three in One
Three in one is never one in three, as in modalism, a belief where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are seen as one God moving into three forms. The Trinity is an established belief among Christians based on sound exegetical readings of scripture, not corrupt creeds as misinterpreted by LDS. All three—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—are truth, as described in different biblical passages. They are all called Lord, Everlasting, Almighty, and Powerful.
Attributes of the Trinity
Eternality is ascribed to all three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as referenced in Psalms 90:2, Micah 5:2, and Hebrews 9:14. Holiness is also an attribute of the Trinity, as noted in Isaiah 6:3: "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." Omnipresence—being everywhere present—belongs only to God, and is attributed to the Father in Matthew 19:26, the Son in Matthew 28:18, and the Holy Spirit in Psalms 139:7.
Omniscience, knowing all, is attributed to all three: the Father in Romans 11:33, the Son in Matthew 9:4, and the Holy Spirit in 1st Cor 2:10. Similarly, omnipotence is also an attribute given to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
Finally, in Matthew 28:19, Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." This expression emphasizes the unity of the three persons in one God. The apostles were careful to avoid any appearance of polytheism.
One God exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Understanding the Controversies Surrounding the Nature of God
Among the Jews, the doctrinal controversy was always about who the true Messiah was and among the Gentiles the doctrinal controversy was always about the true nature of God. The apostles of the Lord – who had the authority to decide this – thought it was therefore proper among the Jews to baptize in the name of Jesus alone so that He might be vindicated as the true Messiah and they might accept Him as such. They already acknowledged God the Father and His Spirit! They were therefore identified through baptism with the true messiah – Christ!
But among the Gentiles, they baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, so the gentile might be thereby instructed in the doctrine of who the true God is! When the Jews baptized proselytes they did so in the name of the Father, that is, into the profession of God, whom they called by the name of Father.
The Revelation of the Trinity
The Father hath revealed himself in the old covenant; the Son in the new through human flesh by his miracles, doctrine, resurrection and ascension, and the Holy Spirit in his gifts and miracles. So the doctrine of the ever blessed Trinity grew by degrees to full maturity. At Pentecost, the entirety of God was made manifest – and available – to all! Pretty cool, huh?
The Word also tells us that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all have special functions – which naturally leads our little minds to split them up into separate beings. The Father planned salvation, the Son accomplished it on the cross and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit applies it to the lives of people who believe in their heart in Jesus. There are also circumstances which make the oneness of God difficult – like why Jesus submits to the will of the Father and the Holy Spirit is here to glorify and testify of the Son.
But, in my limited scope, I see this as no different than my body subjecting itself to my spirit, and my soul pushing my body to go beyond my comfort zone. Finally, for tonight, each of the three persons of our One God are called God!
Scriptural References to God
The Father (Isaiah 9:6)
The Son (Isaiah 43:11 and Hebrews 1:8)
The Spirit (Acts 5:3-4)
Remember what Thomas said and did when he saw the wounds in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ?
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
And Jesus – a resurrected being, did not correct Him. But don’t believe me – really. Listen to what I have to say, but go to God and say: Lord, reveal yourself to me.
I want to know you.
Open my eyes. Open my ears. Open my heart. I want to know you first with my spirit, then with my soul, and someday in my body.
Let’s open up the phones:
(801) 973-TV20
(801) 973-8820
Please support us in Burning Heart 2008 “The Day of Decision.”
Go to HOTM.TV for more information. We’ll see you all next week, here on Heart of the Matter!
