Shawn McCraney discusses his advocacy for those within the LDS community who feel marginalized or disconnected from traditional beliefs, emphasizing a personal relationship with Jesus as the path to true spiritual fulfillment. He challenges the narratives of Mormonism and highlights his book, "Born Again Mormon," which is commended for its balanced insights into the LDS faith and is intended to facilitate understanding and conversation between Mormons and non-Mormons alike.
LDS theology posits that all spirit children, including Jesus and Satan, were created by Heavenly Father and Mother and that these spirits were assigned earthly circumstances based on their pre-mortal valiance, leading to the belief that societal disparities mirror eternal justice. In contrast, the Christian perspective attributes life's injustices, such as wealth and poverty, to the consequences of sin entering the world through Adam, entailing death and suffering for all humanity.
The teaching by Shawn emphasizes that God, as characterized in the Bible, is inherently good and not responsible for death, suffering, or inequality, which are a result of sin and fallen humanity. Furthermore, it highlights the biblical view of angels as messengers of God, originating as heavenly beings, and disputes interpretations that diverge from this, such as those found in certain Mormon teachings.
Angels are superhuman beings created by God, possessing high intelligence and power, serving as His agents in various capacities, including aid in His work of redemption, delivering messages, and providing protection, but they are not to be worshipped. The Incarnation marked a significant era for angels, who ministered to Christ, celebrated the salvation of sinners, and now serve and protect God's people, with future roles in the final judgement.
Reflecting on Ezekiel 28, this teaching discusses how Satan fell from his position as a cherubim and how, since Jesus Christ's incarnation, angels have been deployed to minister and support believers in their spiritual journey. Emphasizing a community approach, the speaker encourages participation in spiritual discussions and praises the strength found in Jesus, highlighting the importance of sharing one's faith and engaging with ministry efforts.
Heart of the Matter
Welcome to Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology.! A very old friend and neighbor (who goes by the name of Florene) asked her son (my good friend) to have me “button up my shirt.” Only for you, Florene.
Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host. Live call-in show
Website at www.bornagainmormon.com
BOOK (hold it up)
“I’ve read a lot of books on the Church and yours is the most fair and focused I’ve ever seen. Tremendous insights, Shawn.”
Reader Responses
From a Christian:
“My sister is Mormon. After reading your book I have a new understanding of why she joined this church and how to speak to her about her faith.“
From a woman in CA:
“I read it in one day straight. Fantastic job.“
From an LDS reader:
“I thought your book was uniquely informative and was surprised that at the kindness you showed to the Church. Thank you for portraying Joseph Smith realistically.“
GAMA: Book of Abraham
Where did the Book of Abraham come from? Only a few LDS responses to this one:
“Joseph received revelations as he was translating the book of Genesis. The book of Abraham was one of these revelations.”
AND
“From ancient scrolls given to Joseph Smith from a man hoping he could translate them.”
The fact of the matter is this:
In fact, some of the original papyri actually used by Joseph Smith to prepare the Book of Abraham were rediscovered in 1966 and translated by professional Egyptologists, who unanimously identified them as a collection of typical pagan funeral texts and have NOTHING to do with what the LDS book of Abraham says.
Don’t believe me? Good. Prove me wrong!
Okay, next weeks GAMA question is:
(LDS only)
“What does a person have to do to live with God again?”
Email your answers to: shawn@bornagainmormon.com
Heart in the Home
Number of responses from people wanting to host a “Heart in the Home” meeting with yours truly as the guest speaker.
What is Heart in the Home? You open your home up to neighbors and friends for an evening and I will attend, free of charge, and facilitate a night of questions, answers, and dialogue. The more the merrier. Christian, LDS, whatever.
If you provide food and drinks I will arrive early! ?
Interested?
shawn@bornagainmormon.com or write us at
“Heart in the Home”
314 South Redwood Road Suite 200 SLC Utah 84014
Finally, receive far too many emails – and now even snail mail letters – from people wanting to argue with me about the “minutia of Mormonism.”
Most of these communications defend the Church with rhetoric about how much “good” the Church does and how “good” the people are that are in it.
Let me make very clear what I said on one of our earliest shows:
Not out to try and convince stalwart LDS that they need Jesus. They believe they have Him, they believe they are in His Church, and they are not usually seeking or open to the biblical message of Grace.
Our ministry IS for those LDS who either can’t, don’t, and won’t ever measure up as accepted and valiant Latter-day Saints.
Maybe you don’t buy all the stories. Maybe you are a social outcast, rebellious, an artist or an intellectual. Maybe you smoke, or drink, or have coffee at the start of your day. Maybe you are poor or socially unacceptable.
Whatever the reason, we call out to you who long to really know God but do not, who really, really want to please Him but haven’t the strength. Who seek truth and have not been able to find it in Mormonism or other denominational gatherings.
And what do we offer? Jesus. A chance at new life through Him. Peace that comes through faith in Him.
Our message to you is Jesus is all you need and that all He wants is an unencumbered relationship with you.
Finally, and like it or not, I do serve as an unofficial “gadfly” against everything that Mormonism presents as normative “Christianity” with the hope of bringing this stuff to the surface for examination so it can be known and understood. OKAY?!
Let's have a word of PRAYER
Who is Jesus II
Last week we talked about the LDS theological foundations in materialism and eternal laws and principles.
I mentioned the Mormon idea that God cannot create something out of nothing. In review, listen to this quote from History of the Church, vol.6, pp 310-11:
Preaching in 1844 Joseph taught that “The mind of Man is as immortal as God Himself . . . God never did have power to create the spirit of man.”
The LDS Concept of Pre-Existence
We also discussed how LDS theology includes that Jesus was a created being, not God from the beginning, that Satan is His spiritual sibling, that we are His spiritual sibling too, and that we looked at Father and Mother in heaven and wanted bodies like theirs. This is where we left off.
Now before we get to the birth of Jesus, which will probably come next week because of tonight’s information, let me explain something important about the LDS idea of the pre-existence.
The LDS believe that Heavenly Father presented a plan to all the hosts of heaven so that we could progress and someday be like Him. The plan included: go to earth, get a body, learn to obey, be tried and tested and rewarded accordingly. Jesus was appointed to be our savior in the event that we sinned or transgressed.
Our spirit brother Lucifer, according to Mormon doctrine, didn’t like this plan because of his pride, and he rallied the hosts of heavens together and caused a rebellion or “war in heaven.” Lucifer lost the war in heaven, and along with 1/3rd of our spirit brothers and sisters, was cast out of heaven to became Satan and his angels respectively. Now God and His wife (or wives) created all these spirit children out of eternally existing matter, or intelligences.
Perspectives from LDS Leaders
Listen to what LDS Apostle McConkie says about this: “In the pre-existent eternity various degrees of valiance and devotion to the truth were exhibited by different groups of our Father’s spirit offspring. One third of the hosts of heaven came out in open rebellion and were cast out without bodies, becoming the devil and his angels (D&C 29:36-41). The other two-thirds stood affirmatively for Christ; there were no neutrals. To stand neutral in the midst of war is a philosophical impossibility. Of the two thirds that followed Christ, however, some were more valiant than others . . . those who were less valiant in the pre-existence and who thereby had certain restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are know to us as negroes.”
McConkie also said: (Now LISTEN): “Negroes in this life are denied the priesthood; under NO circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty (Abraham 1:20-27). The gospel message of salvation is not carried affirmatively to them (Moses 7:8-22).”
Brigham Young said: Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African Race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is DEATHSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. ON THE SPOT. This will always be so (Journal of Discourses, Vol.10 page 110).
McConkie also said: “The negroes are not equal with other races where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned.”
As recently as last week, I had an LDS women write me and say: “How could you NOT believe in a God who places each of us on this earth according to our valiance as spirit children in the pre-mortal life before? This is only way God could be considered fair and just! We are put on this earth in circumstances warranted by our behavior before we were born!”
In other words, in the LDS mind, the poor on this earth did something in the pre-existence to warrant their personal circumstances today. This includes the idea that people who aren’t born in the Mormon covenant were somehow less righteous than those who are born into the religion. Let me tell you something, viewers, they believe this.
To me, in light of this stuff . . . Prince Charles – must have been close to the Elect of God! Rockerfellers – valiant! McConkie – the best of the best! And on the other hand, in my mind . . . Ghandi must have been a relative pre-ex failure! Helen Keller – a pre-exist reprobate! Mother Teresa was a spiritually lacking. And Jesus – Hmmmm?
Christian Outlook on Life's Injustices
Now what is the Christian response to the apparent injustices that occur in life? Why do Christians say some are born to poverty, woe, and misery while others arrive with silver spoons and boots? Here, my friends, here is the truly plausible answer. SinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace.. All injustice, death, deformity, ugliness, disease, and misery . . . . all unfairness, and inequality and political corruptness is the straight out result of sin!
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Now the LDS claim that Adams fall was a good
Christian Perspective on Suffering
thing, a fall upward! That death, disease, misery, woe, pain, and Amish kids gunned down is school rooms is all for “our benefit.” How philosophically astute. Just pass that on to the starving in the world, and the lame, and those who didn’t stand a chance from day one! Extreme debilitating suffering? God’s will? Part of the “goodness of Adam introducing sin into the world?” Pure garbage!
Christian’s know from the Bible that this is not the way of our grand and glorious God. God is not the author of death and woe. He is not behind disease, inequality, misery and unfair living conditions. He is a God of love, and goodness, and joy, and peace. This is why He is good. His desires for man was evidenced through our first parents condition – He gave them a beautiful garden and desired their fellowship, not their destruction. But sin had its way and the deed to the earth was handed over by fallen Adam to Satan, the ruler of dark chaos. Do you see the differences of perspective here?
Diversity in God's Creation
And as far as skin color, Christian knows that God is a marvelous and diverse creator and He gave the earth and all of His creations unique differences to beautify and give variety to the face of the earth – and to the faces of Man. Black is beautiful. So is yellow, and red, and white, and brown, and freckles, and port-wine birthmarks. These are not the curse of man, they are the blessing of a grand creator. But it is fallen Man who has made them ugly and evil in order to dominate and control others. God made each of us beautiful from the start.
The Origin of Lucifer
Before we go to the phone lines – which we’ll open up right now (801) 973-TV20 / 8820, let’s take a minute and examine the origins of Lucifer in the context of a pre-existence. As we mentioned last week, Mormonism teaches that Lucifer was the spirit brother of each of us, including Jesus. But the Bible teaches a very different picture of the Devil. And his beginnings were angelic.
Understanding Angels
Angels, a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14; 1Sa 11:3; Lu 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa 42:19; Hag 1:13), of priests (Mal 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Re 1:20). It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2Sa 24:16,17; 2Ki 19:35), the wind (Ps 104:4). But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world.
The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers. The appearances to Abraham at Mamre (Ge 18:2,22. Comp. Ge 19:1), to Jacob at Peniel (Ge 32:24,30), to Joshua at Gilgal (Jos 5:13,15), of the Angel of the Lord, were doubtless manifestations of the Divine presence, "foreshadowings of the incarnation," revelations before the "fulness of the time" of the Son of God.
The existence and orders of angelic beings can only be discovered from the Scriptures. Although the Bible does not treat of this subject specially, yet there are numerous incidental details that furnish us with ample information. Their personal existence is plainly implied in such passages as Ge 16:7,10,11; Jg 13:1-21; Mt 28:2-5; Heb 1:4, etc. These superior beings are very numerous. "Thousand thousands," etc. (Da 7:10; Mt 26:53; Lu 2:13; Heb 12:22,23). They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and power (Zec 1:9,11; Da 10:13; 12:1; 1Th 4:16; Jude 1:9; Eph 1:21; Col 1:16).
As to their nature, they are spirits (Heb 1:14), like the soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as "like the angels" (Lu 20:36), and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form (Ge 18:2; 19:1,10; Lu 24:4; Ac 1:10), and the titles that are applied to them ("sons of God," Job 1:6; 38:7; Da 3:25; comp. Da 3:28) and to men (Lu 3:38), seem all to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race.
Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures (Job 4:18; Mt 24:36; 1Pe 1:12). As finite creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of "fallen angels." Of the cause and manner of their "fall" we are wholly ignorant. We know only that "they left their first estate" (Mt 25:41; Re 12:7,9), and that they are "reserved unto
The Nature and Role of Angels
"Judgement" (2Pe 2:4). Angels never die (Lu 20:36). They are possessed of superhuman intelligence and power (Mr 13:32; 2Th 1:7; Ps 103:20). They are called "holy" (Lu 9:26), "elect" (1Ti 5:21). The redeemed in glory are "like unto the angels" (Lu 20:36). They are not to be worshipped (Col 2:18; Re 19:10).
Functions and Ministry of Angels
Their functions are manifold. (a) In the widest sense they are agents of God's providence (Ex 12:23; Ps 104:4; Heb 11:28; 1Co 10:10; 2Sa 24:16; 1Ch 21:16; 2Ki 19:35; Ac 12:23). (b) They are specially God's agents in carrying on his great work of redemption. There is no notice of angelic appearances to man till after the call of Abraham.
From that time onward there are frequent references to their ministry on earth (Gen 18; 19; Ge 24:7,40; 28:12; 32:1). They appear to rebuke idolatry (Jg 2:1-4), to call Gideon (Jg 6:11,12), and to consecrate Samson (Jg 13:3). In the days of the prophets, from Samuel downward, the angels appear only in their behalf (1Ki 19:5; 2Ki 6:17; Zech 1-6; Da 4:13,23; 10:10,13,20,21).
The Incarnation Era
The Incarnation introduces a new era in the ministrations of angels. They come with their Lord to earth to do him service while here. They predict his advent (Mt 1:20; Lu 1:26-38), minister to him after his temptation and agony (Mt 4:11; Lu 22:43), and declare his resurrection and ascension (Mt 28:2-8; Joh 20:12,13; Ac 1:10,11).
They are now ministering spirits to the people of God (Heb 1:14; Ps 34:7; 91:11; Mt 18:10; Ac 5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7; 27:23). They rejoice over a penitent sinner (Lu 15:10). They bear the souls of the redeemed to paradise (Lu 16:22); and they will be the ministers of judgement hereafter on the great day (Mt 13:39,41,49; 16:27; 24:31).
The passages (Ps 34:7; Mt 18:10) usually referred to in support of the idea that every individual has a particular guardian angel have no such meaning. They merely indicate that God employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples.
The "angel of his presence" (Isa 63:9. Comp. Ex 23:20,21; 32:34; 33:2; Nu 20:16) is probably rightly interpreted of the Messiah as the guide of his people. Others have supposed the expression to refer to Gabriel (Lu 1:19).
Lucifer was an angel created by Jesus.
LISTEN!
Ezekiel 28:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
In summary:
God created all things by Jesus – including matter, including laws and principles. God created angelic beings which are of a “higher order” than man, of a different order than man, and are made.
The Role of Angels and Their Assignments
In varying ranks of dignity and power.
According to Ezekiel 28, Satan was a cherubim that fell. And since the incarnation, angels came to earth on special assignment – first to cater to our joint Master, even Jesus Christ, and then after His resurrection, to be ministering spirits to the people of God.
Next week, we’re going to talk about the Fall, and the birth of Jesus.
Reflection and Gratitude
Okay, let’s go to the phones.
CONCLUSION
Last week, amidst all the complaints and argumentation, we were blessed by a call from Lucy, who stated that she had come to find strength in the Lord. I want you to know we pray for you Lucy, and are grateful for your taking the time to call in and share your heart.
Also, last week, while eating breakfast, a regular viewer of ours, Bryan, came to my table and shared with me some of his great knowledge regarding dinosaurs, among other things. I see firsthand what is happening out there when the Lord is put first and I publicly praise Him for His will and ways, and for each of you who take the time to pray for our ministry, and to share Jesus with your neighbors. With you, I am humbled and thankful for Jesus.
Community Engagement
Again, we hope you will take part in hosting your own Heart in the Home!
Email me at www.bornagainmormon.com
Lucy, stay strong!
See you next week on Heart of the Matter.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
