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July 2002 July 1, 2002 Tanners--Just received the books you sent me [in jail]. Thank you. You are a blessing to all of us here. The books are read and enjoyed by all of us. Bless you, July 1, 2002 Subject: YOU GUYS ARE NUTS!!!!!! To whoever is making this stuff up - I just came across you website and I have to tell you, I think you're pretty clever! I mean, it's amazing how you twist the truth around like that! Where's your conscience?!?!? We don't go around twisting about in your faith ... if you even have faith in God. Do you even believe in God, or do you just go around twisting the truth of His true church??? Like I said, YOU GUYS ARE INSANE!!!!! But, thanks to GOD, you have your free agency ... so believe what you want ... PSYCHO'S!!!!!!!!! July 1, 2002 Subject: AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST Matthew 11:18-19: outside criticisms of the church. No matter what you do, you cannot please some people. People rejected Jesus because he did not meet up with their impossible standards. It is the same today with the Mormon church. Some people will reject it no matter what (ie; YOU GUYS!!!!). - They said Jesus did not fulfil prophecy (John 7:40-43). Some people say
the same about the Mormons. July 1, 2002 hello, i did not grow up in the church. i was baptized a few years ago. my brother was also baptized. after researching the history of mormonism i find it very hard to believe. i talk to my brother about it all the time. i tell him many of the strongest points, but he just disregards them. he says that he receives his witness from god directly. it doesnt matter what happened in the past. you have to judge it by the fruits that it produces. really there is no way to talk to him because that is his only answer. it wouldnt matter what was in the past, most mormons disregard everything they hear. i believe that if joseph smith came back and said it was all a hoax it still wouldnt matter. how can i get through to him. i know you have books but they wont get read. how do i answer his argument that you judge it by the fruits. a good church cannot produce bad fruits. also his answer about receiving directly from god. thankyou for your time, July 1, 2002 Guys you are good people you know the LDS church is true, repent or you will feel the condemnation when you face the lord, because of drawing people away from his side. July 1, 2002 Subject: Sharing Dear Jerald & Sandra, I have recently been reading some of the materials that you have published online and just wanted to take a moment and thank you for your generosity and your commitment to the work you do. As a former Mormon, I'm finding that the road out is a little longer than I thought it would be. Although the church seems patently absurd on virtually all levels to me, it still remains solidly fixed as the structure I grew up with - it's a part of my past and therefore, undeniably, a part of my present. Materials and studies, such as the ones you have investigated and shared over the years, make it easier to understand why this move away from Mormonism was so important to me. Your work has merit and I hope you will have both the energy and the desire to continue it.... Thank you again for the work that you do and your willingness to share it with us online. It does help and it does make a difference. Sincerely, July 2, 2002 Hi, Spent many years reading many books about a multitude of sects and denominations. So few people do. Thus, their understanding of most religion is from what they were taught as children and the "face" the various religions present to the public. In my opinion most Americans accept the Mormons at face value due to their neat appearance and generally law abiding ways... civil law. I must admit that, on the whole, the Mormons are a harmless people in that seldom does one hear of them acting unruly, forming street gangs, etc. However, my studies did lead me to question the validity of the religion. Thanks to the Web information about the Mormon religion is much more readily available. Thanks to all who are responsible for your Web site. I will be ordering at least one of your books, for my own knowledge as well as a way to support your cause. When I discuss "religion" with others and Mormonism comes up the vast majority have NO idea of what Mormonism is about. Generally, when I relate the facts as I know them most folks voice astonishment and disagreement... even non-Mormons that know NOTHING about the, to me, cult. I do not proclaim to know what the "real" religion is. However, the evidence to me is overwhelming that Smith purposefully created a cult to enrich and empower hisself, akin to L Ron Hubbard's Scientology. Around the 1940s or '50s or so (going by memory) Hubbard is stated as mentioning to author/authors that the quickest way to become rich in America is to start a new religion. Hee hee..... look what he did later!!!!! Me thinks ol' Smith had the same intentions. I can only wonder what was the drawing power that made the masses muster to his call. Was it the polygamy aspect? The social security provided by the cult? A sense of belonging? I can't help but wonder. Thanks for taking the time to read this and thank you for your informative Web site. Your efforts are appreciated and perhaps will enlighten some who may otherwise have fallen to the propaganda used by the Mormon cult. ...you have a BIG Web site to run!!!!! July 2, 2002 Dear Friends at Utah Lighthouse Ministry-- Of the ministries to which I contribute, ULM holds the most special place in my heart. I have mentioned with each correspondence over the years that my sister and her family are in the grip of Mormonism. As your ministry reaches even one soul, bringing it out of this false religion, it is a victory and hope for all of us praying for loved ones. May God continue to strengthen you to do His work. In Christ, July 3, 2002 I have one question. Why do you have a whole Website focusing on answering other religions doctrine. If a person needs to know something about a belief, they can go directly to the source. At this point, they can receive the correct information and true beliefs. Just like in one of your 'testimonies', you don't even understand the LDS doctrine. If it is such a wrong religion, direct them to the LDS Website to get their answers and they can see for themselves if it is so wrong. Thank you [Sandra's Note: Even Mormonism teaches free agency and that people need to 'choose the right.' How can people make a decision unless they know both sides of an issue? People cannot make an informed decision on Mormonism's claims without knowing the negative as well as the PR side. Your statement assumes that the LDS Church will be forthright with honest answers. It reminds me of the Enron financial problems. People invested on the assumption that the business was being honest with the public. However, that trust was betrayed and many lost their life's savings. In the same manner we believe the Mormon Church has withheld important information that would show a potential convert that all is not well, that Smith in fact made it all up. In evaluating Communism did you read only the PR from Russia or critical studies done by former Russians and USA reports? How is that any different from studying Mormonism and examining the evidence supplied by former Mormons? If you find a specific error on our site we will gladly correct it.] July 3, 2002 I find it interesting that this organization cannot run on it's credits alone but in order to have any validity it must disperse negative material about another religion and its beliefs. You must ask yourselves if it is Christ like to tear someone else down in order to make yourself look or feel better? I am also very disturbed by the fact that while I was in the latterdaysaints.com web sight you have set up some kind of bug that will bring me directly to your sight. If I was looking for negitive things about the LDS church I would look on my own and I don't need you tricking me into looking at your obviously hateful literature. It's interesting that you have to feed off a host in order to get anyone to look at your material. [Web-editor note: We do not own nor operate latterdaysaints.com, nor have we "set up some kind of bug." People are free to link to our site, as they are free to link to any site, as is their right.] July 4, 2002 Your ministry has been a turning point in my life and provided a pathway to my God and my Savior. May God continue to bless your mission in helping other misguided Mormon souls find the truth, and to lead them to a personal relationship with the real Jesus and God. Your brother in Christ, July 4, 2002 Subject: Recently Left Mormon Church Hello, My name is _____ ______. A friend of my daughter's sent us your site yesterday. I would like to share a little of my story and i will try to keep it short. My children and i were baptized in Feb. 1985 in Quebec, Canada. I was endowed in the Toronto Temple in April 1992. I have served in every calling available to me, some several times; including Stake Missionary and Gospel Essentials teacher. My children also served the Church with their whole hearts. The Church was our life in every sense of the word. I have loved the Lord Jesus Christ since i was a small child; He saw me through a very difficult childhood home; but i did not know the Bible. Oh i attended Catechism, but the Bible itself was never read. I made a decision about 3 years ago to make a study of the Bible. I was disturbed that the Savior was hardly ever mentioned in Sunday school classes and i wanted to know His scriptures for myself. I began my study; as i did so and was getting further along i would feel or sense a voice telling me the Church was not true. I have to say i really tried to fight those feelings. I fasted and prayed that i would be allowed to feel the way i used to feel; but i only doubted more. I was unable to share my doubts with friends because they were all members and i knew they would be aghast. I thought about going to my Bishop but i was Primary Pres. and i loved the children and i was afraid he would remove me from my calling. Then i started questioning if i could continue to serve in that capacity because i was so unsure of what i was teaching and was i doing harm to them. I finally found the nerve to share my feelings with my daughter; at first she was really upset with me but then we started to talk more and more. Three years went by before i had the courage to do what i knew i had to do. Just over a month ago i made the decision to leave. My daughter left also. My son was devastated by our decision. He fasted and prayed that we would change our minds and remove the blindfolds of deception. We prayed that he would come to know the truth. I approached him with my feelings and he told me to stop or he would cut us off; that broke my heart; but i backed off and turned to prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help me to know what to do. Two nights ago my son came over to our house and he asked me to tell him what made me do this, he wanted to know, as he knew there must be grave concerns for me to leave the Church. I shared my information and how i was led to come to my decision. We talked all night, literally. There came a point where i saw his face crumple and he then laid in my arms and cried. My son has walked away from the Church. This has been a very difficult time for us and my son is just beginning his journey out. There have been moments when we have felt that we have made a terrible mistake and then we have to shake those thoughts away. The Church does an exceptional job at indoctrinization. I now know the danger of not reading the Bible to your children when they are young. Perhaps had i known the scriptures better i never would have been led astray. I do not want to spend too much time blaming myself although blame has been felt. I am trying instead to focus on the love of Jesus Christ and thanking Him for leading me into light. I cannot undo the years of Mormonism i led my children into but i can do all i am able to do to insure my loved ones never repeat that mistake. In closing i would first like to thank you for reading my ramblings; it is very hard not having anyone who understands what we are feeling. Secondly i would like to say thank you for your site and to say that i believe you are both truly instruments of God. Regards, July 4, 2002 Subject: p.9, Introduction to 3913 Changes in the B. of M. Unless I've missed it somewhere else in the book, your reference to the deletion of nine words on p.538 (first edition of B. of M.) in the 1964 reprint (Mormon 9:34), "and because that none other people knoweth our language," does not include a reference to the fact that these same nine words were added back to the text of my 1985 edition. I looked for it on (p.18--if it were numbered) your page entitled KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS (it should be noted with an asterisk below Mormon 9:30) and it's not there. A possible explanation for its replacement back into the text (1981) is that its inclusion emphasizes the notion that no one else knows/knew how to translate reformed Egyptian (doesn't exist) and, therefore, Joseph Smith and King Mosiah were the only ones who could translate (via the urim and thummim--Ether 3:22-24) the B. of M. or any book in it (King Mosiah--B. of Ether). I believe that both Mormon 9:34, "... therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof." and Ether 3:24, "... shall magnify to the eyes of men these things which ye shall write." refer to Joseph Smith and King Mosiah since these are the only men mentioned who used the "interpreters" or "stones" to translate. If my interpretation of these scriptures is correct, this is an ingenious move on the part of Joseph Smith (assuming he is the author of the B. of M.) for if no one else can translate (no urim and thummim), then no one could validate his translation even if the Golden Plates themselves were available. Let me know what you think. I'm enjoying the 1830 edition with all the changes. Thanks, [Sandra's Note: Thanks for writing. Yes, the words were put back in. If you will look at 3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon, the page marked 'Key to Abbreviations', you will see that we were reprinting an article published by someone else. Mr. Faulring did not claim to be listing all the changes, only the ones he found most important. I don't know why he left that one out. You're right on Smith's handy way of dismissing any challenge to his 'translation.' Funny thing, though, all current Book of Mormon would have been translated by the stone Smith found in Chase's well, not by the magic means prepared by 'God' in the Book of Mormon. Seems 'God' went to a lot of bother for nothing. Not only did Smith not need the plates in the room, he didn't even need the Urim and Thummim.] [Web-editor: See: Introduction to 3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon.] July 6, 2002 Subject: Re: Book of Mormon and Amarna Letters Dear Jerald and Sandra, Hope you could help me on this. ...[Book of Mormon] Alma 7:10 --'He shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers.' Critics allege this is a grievous error. Even a child should know Jesus was born in Bethlehem! How could Joseph Smith, in 1829, have blundered so? According to LDS researchers "the famous Amarna Letters and the Tell El-Amarna Tablets (discovered in 1887) identify the "Land of Jersualem" as a district encompassing some 500 square kilometers, to include Bethlehem." Is there a truth in this Amarna Letters? I will wait for your response. God bless you both! [Sandra's Note: Here is a quote from a friend's answer to that.
Hope this helps.] July 7, 2002 Subject: Hey Thanks!!! As I was investigating your website, I was studying your facts on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The only problem I had happened to be that the majority of your facts were incorrect, not to mention pathetically inaccurate. Have you ever even discussed the principals of the LDS faith with anyone who was him or herself LDS? As an ex-Lutheran, and an investigator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I understood the basic principals of the Church very well. Your website cleared up any questions and apprehensions I had regarding whether or not I wanted to convert. I know with out a doubt in my mind that it is the Church for me. I realize your purpose of your website is to "save the souls of those crazy falsely guided Mormans", but in actuality it increased my testimony more to see how desperate you are to mislead and misguide those of the LDS faith. Thank you for showing me how ignorant your website truly is. [Sandra's Note: You failed to cite any example of our supposed inaccuracy. Where have we misquoted any LDS leader or book? Without a valid example I can only assume you are just emotionally upset and have not actually looked into the matter. All of the books we quote from are at BYU and the University of Utah. As for talking to someone who is LDS, evidently you didn't read about us on the web site. Jerald and I were both raised LDS and are from 5th generation LDS families. Also, I am a great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young. We left Mormonism after our research showed that it's history did not match up to the facts, and that the Bible teaches entirely different doctrines than Mormonism. We did not take other people's word on this. We researched in the Utah State Historical Soc. library, the University of Utah library, the BYU library, the official LDS Historical library, bought various early LDS books to compare with the current editions, etc.] July 8, 2002 Subject: basic information wanted Dear Friends, I moved to Carthage, Illinois, two years ago. Since that time I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know several Mormon missionaries in both Carthage and Nauvoo. I have learned bits and pieces about church history and doctrine, but would like to find one book, which would give me a basic, general, truthful and adequate understanding of the history and of the doctrine. Does such a book exist? I would appreciate any suggestions that you could make. Sincerely, [Sandra's Note: I would suggest the book No Man Knows My History by Brodie. Other good general books are Mormon America and One Nation Under Gods.] July 8, 2002 Subject: False Prophecy? Hi There I am in the UK currently witnessing to a couple of Mormons, this is the forth week they have been coming, I gave them a list of 50 false prophecies by Joseph Smith a few weeks ago which they say have all come true!!!. They have said tonight that will agree Joseph Smith is a false prophet if I can give them one concrete false prophecy by him. I am wondering if you have a prophecy by Joseph Smith that I can 100% verify, that the Mormons can take away and be in no doubt that it has not come true. Yours In Christ [Sandra's Note: D&C 111 God promises Smith he will find wealth in Salem to pay church debts (the church owed multiple thousands to merchants and landowners). Sec. 111:2—'I have much treasure in this city for you, for the benefit of Zion,...' v.5 'Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them.' This utterly failed. They found no treasure in Salem and were not able to pay their debts. Smith returned to Kirtland, Oh. and later fled in the night to avoid arrest. In 1842 Smith filed for bankruptcy (see the Wasp [a Mormon paper] May 7, 1842 and History of the Church, vol.4, p.594-5), Even the heading on the revelation shows it failed. "The brethren transacted several items of church business and did some preaching. When it became apparent that no money was to be forthcoming, they returned to Kirtland." You can get other false prophecies at www.irr.org and on our web site www.utlm.org (see chapter 14 of The Changing World of Mormonism).] July 9, 2002 Dear Mr & Mrs Tanner, ...I wanted to say thank you for your ministry and tell you I was blessed when I visited there with a "serve trip team" from my school there at your ministry. You are definitely right in the middle of the lion's den there! ...may the Lord encourage you as you press onward on what might seem like an uphill battle, but don't lose hope because with Christ the Victory has already been won! In His Hands, July 9, 2002 Subject: May God bless your lives! I just wanted to write you a little note to tell you how wonderful you all are! You are truly doing God's work there, and even though you probably suffer much persecution for it, you are doing the right thing. Keep up the great work! You are planting seeds of doubt about the LDS church in some of their hearts, I assure you. But then again, you probably know that. Praise the Lord for all He has done for us, drawing us away from / keeping us safe from the false gods! I pray for many mormons I know because I meet some very nice ones through my brother, who left our non-denominational church to become mormon. It has been hard for us, but I trust the Lord's plan. Thank you for the wonderful information, discussions and an all-around encouraging site that inspires me to fight the good fight and run the race set before me with patience. Until we all meet in heaven, July 10, 2002 Subject: Thank you and help... Hi there...I am a Christian living in Southern California. I wanted to thank you for your book. I read it several years ago when living in Arizona and being "courted" by many Mormon friends who wanted to convert me. Showing them your book and studying with them THEIR OWN materials, the Lord used me to actually win two over to the truth of Christ. Thank you so much!!...Blessings on you and your ministry! July 10, 2002 Its seems to me that you are very bitter about the LDS church and its doctrine. Am I correct to assume that there was maybe a disfellowship or excommunication that is involved? I have a testimony of the LDS church and its teaching. I have study several religions and found none of them to provide me with a spiritual witness that they are true. I am so glad that you have published this website and signed it because when you will be held accountable in the last days, for this your names will appear and there will not be any confusion on who wrote this abomination. I urge you to reconcider and pray for forgiveness. Remember what happened when Christ was here and this kind of thing was going on.. I let you decide what happened to them. You seem to tear down instead of uplift. I dont think that would be the kind of thing Christ would do. Please publish this. July 11, 2002 Subject: Question about Helaman 3:7,9,11 RE: CEMENT What is the standard Mormon defense for the fact that cement wasn't invented until 1824, yet the book of Helaman says the people became "experts" in it? Thank you, [Sandra's Note: I think you are confusing the invention of 'portland cement' with earlier types of material that could be referred to as a type of cement. Non-Mormon Mayan scholar Michael Coe wrote:
But this hardly sounds like Helaman 3:7—"...the people who went forth became exceedingly expert in the working of cement; therefore they did build houses of cement, in the which they did dwell." A number of ruins, some made of stone and covered by a layer of plaster, in Mexico and Peru, were written about in Smith's time. There were dozens of books out that speculated on the people who built the ruins and if the Indians were part of the lost tribes of Israel. People in Smith's day assumed such people must have had metal tools to work the stones (thus metal tools in the BoM). However, scholars today maintain that the early Indians did not have metal tools. Thus we see Smith picking up common assumptions of his day about the type of buildings the Indians had and how they were constructed, which are not supported today.] July 11, 2002 The B of M mentions 8 witnesses, i read somewhere that 5 apostasized, then i was told by mormon missionary's they went back. Can you help? [Sandra's Note: All of the witnesses, other than the Smiths, left Mormonism by 1838. Olive Cowdery denied the Book of Mormon for a time but then returned to Mormonism for a short period. Martin Harris left and joined several different religious groups, then returned to Mormonism. David Whitmer never returned to Mormonism, feeling that Smith was a fallen prophet. Several of the 8 witnesses went into various splinter groups. See Chapter 5 in our book The Changing World of Mormonism. For more on the witnesses, see our book Case Against Mormonism Vol. 2. There is also a little information in the online book: Mormon Claims Answered: The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. The witnesses were not scholars, and couldn't verify the authenticity of ancient writings. They were dabbling in magic in New York, along with Smith, so don't see them as informed, dependable witnesses.] July 13, 2002 Subject: Has Jesus always been God? I have a Mormon who I am in constant debate with online. He insists that despite...quotes that I have shown him, that the LDS have always held that Jesus has always existed and has always been God....Can you send me some citations proving that they teach such. Love, Truth and Courage, [Sandra's Note: The Mormon concept of eternal progression clearly teaches that God was once a man (who was not a god while he was a mortal) who then progressed to godhood. His spirit children, Christ included, must travel the same path. How can a Mormon maintain that God has not always been God and then insist that Jesus always was a God? It doesn't fit. Just read Smith's King Follett Sermon where he says—
Later on Smith explains that Jesus must do the same things as his father did, become mortal and give his life. His two most famous sermons on the nature of God are on our web site and can be found in the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp.345, 372. Here is a quote from Elder Milton R. Hunter, of the First Council of the Seventy, LDS Conference Report, October 1949, p.69:
And Apostle James E. Talmage taught:
In the LDS student manual, Doctrines of the Gospel, we read:
Milton R. Hunter, of the First Council of the Seventy, wrote: "In that spirit-creation, when we became children of God, Jesus was the 'first-born,' and so He is our eldest brother. He was the most intelligent, the most faithful, and the most Godlike of all the sons and daughters of our Heavenly father in the spirit world." (Gospel Through the Ages, by Milton R. Hunter, 1945, p.21) From these quotes we see a picture of Jesus as the oldest of millions of God's pre-mortal spirit children. But his godhood, as well as the godhood of his father, was achieved, not something he eternally possessed. Hope these quotes help.] July 14, 2002 I just learned that my mother and dad were both baptised by proxy in the LDS Church. They passed away 25 years ago. My father was a 32nd degree Mason and my mother was very active in her church (which wasn't mormon). This is the last thing they would have wanted done. Our family (cousins) and children are really upset about this. As I am also. The person who did this is a total stranger to our family. Is it impossible to get their names removed from the Church records??? I appreciate your help in this. [Sandra's Note: You could write a letter of complaint to the LDS Church, 50 E. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, or a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and complain about the Mormons disrespect for the families of the dead. Other than that, I don't think you can do much about it.] July 14, 2002 Well I took your thoughts as to why Mormons are such "bad" people as you belive, but you may not think that we are going to be saved enternally, but what makes you so sure that you are????? As I was reading all your qoutes I noticed something right away. You take bits and pices of quotes chop them up and change them around as you see fit. Not placeing them in there in fullness. You say that all you want to spread is the turthfulness about what you stand for and why the Mormons are so worng all the time. But yet you can't even place quotes from scpritures or from doctrines, talks ect in there fulness. So tell me what are you really trying to hide. You know all I have heard from what you belive in is that the mormons are wrong and that your belifs are right. .... You say that all you want people to know is how to be really chirst like, but do you really think our heavnely father would show such hatered toward another faith? I don't think so. He shows love for all of his children no matter what race,color , or faith. .... But what you have to understand is that what your spreading is hatred and untruthfulness. ...I think I'll stick to being a mormon. And it's not because I think or am told, it's because I KNOW it's right. And that's one thing you can't take away from me!!!! July 15, 2002 Dear Sandra, Thank you for all the wonderful work you are doing to spread the truth about Mormonism. ...I am a former Mormon and my journey to find truthfulness in the gospel was a long one. I converted to Mormonism in my early 20's. I was sealed in the temple to my former husband who is now deceased. I started to wean out of Mormonism several years after my joining because of bizarre practices and beliefs. I was unable to grasp truthfulness of the gospel because I was told that it was not interpreted correctly. I was unable to join other churches I visited because I was told they were false. I felt that I could not trust any organized religion, thus, my long sojourn. <sigh> To put this all into a nutshell . . . I have come to Christ and I hope to start a support group here...My goal is to help Mormons transition into Christianity through fellowshipping, sharing, helping them connect with a new church, ... Your sister in Christ July 15, 2002 Thank you so much Sandra. And thank you for the service and ministry you do... It seems to me the Mormon church is at sort of a cross-roads. On one hand they are now encouraging their members to engage the world in open apologetic debate, yet on the other hand they are very clearly incapable of winning an honest argument in support of their heretical beliefs. In light of the fact that their leaders are getting much older now, do you foresee a time when there might be a dramatic shift in the doctrinal positions of the Mormon church? ie, Do you think there may be a genuine revival among them sometime soon? Or is that a bit too optimistic. (I have heard it said that it takes about 10 years to "deprogram" an intensely indoctrinated Mormon.) Blessings, [Sandra's Note: I doubt it could happen any time soon. The LDS Church publications have softened a lot of their statements regarding their beliefs, but I don't think they have really changed, just gotten more careful how they explain their doctrine to the outside world. For instance, in the 1988 edition of the LDS publication Gospel Principles is a statement that says: "We can become Gods like our Heavenly Father. This is exaltation." (Gospel Principles, 1988, p.290). However, in the 1992 edition they deleted the word "Gods" (see p. 301 of 1992 ed.) This way it is not as blatant that they are hoping to eventually become gods of their own worlds. The concept is merely obscured, not dropped.] July 15, 2002 Hello, Who do Mormons say Michael and Adam are? Jehovah Witnesses say the Jesus is Michael the Archangel. We Christians don't believe any of these things.... [Sandra's Note: Joseph Smith claimed that Michael was the name of the pre-incarnate Adam. Doctrine and Covenants, section 27, verse 11, "And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days;" The phrase 'ancient of days' comes from Daniel 7:9. Since Bible commentators view the 'ancient of days' as a reference to God this could have led Brigham Young to his doctrine that Adam is the God over this world. (The LDS Church today does not teach Young's Adam/God theory.) Part of the Mormon temple ceremony is a reenactment of the creation story based on Genesis and the Book of Abraham [Pearl of Great Price]. The Mormon play depicts Elohim [Father God] overseeing Jehovah [pre-incarnate Jesus] and Michael [pre-incarnate Adam] in the work of creation. The Book of Abraham states:
It is only in the temple ceremony that the 'Gods' are identified as Father, Jesus, and Michael/Adam.] July 15, 2002 Subject: Celestial Procreation Dear friend, I have searched your website extensively before sending this question to you. Hopefully, you can direct me to some resources on this question: (1) If man is to become a god and goddess in the highest kingdom, how do they produce so many children to populate their world? Is just the one goddess suppose to do all this? or does the man-god have multiple wives? If so, how do they come by them? Single women? Thank you, Former Mormons for Christ [Sandra's Note: That was part of the justification for polygamy. If a man had one hundred wives it meant he could start his world one hundred times faster. Supposedly, during the millennium, worthy single women (or worthy married women whose husbands were not worthy) can be sealed to worthy LDS men. This may mean becoming a second or third wife, but she would at least get exaltation. LDS Apostle Orson Pratt, writing in the 1850's, proclaimed:
Although the LDS Church is currently avoiding any mention of polygamy in heaven, it is still a doctrine of the church (see Doctrine and Covenants, section 132). If a man outlives his first wife he can remarry in the temple and thus would be a polygamist, according to their teachings, in heaven. My own Grandfather (at the approximate age of 85) remarried in the temple (to a retired school teacher that had never married) after my Grandmother died. He stoutly believed he had an eternal marriage to both women. Another scenario would be if the couple were married in the temple, they divorced but didn't get a temple divorce, the husband could remarry and be sealed to another woman in the temple. Thus he would have two valid temple marriages on the books.] July 16, 2002 Hi there I just subscribed to the Newsletter ...I am really grateful for this. I am currently a member with a very active family, and am having a hard time with all this. It all started when I read the new book "One Nation Under Gods" and I would like to know more. It is hard to swallow that from birth you have been taught something that might not be the truth. Respectfully July 18, 2002 Dear Sandra, ... I must tell you that I admire you and your husband's work. I had been a very active Mormon for twenty-five years. I always had questions, but set my doubts aside through the years. Five years ago, my young adult son (raised as an active member of the Church) told me he knew the Church was not true. In trying to prove it was true, I began reading B. H. Robert's Comprehensive History of the Church, which my eldest son had acquired for his mission ten years earlier. Needless to say, I couldn't believe what I was reading! After reading this, my son introduced me to your work. Your books really opened my eyes with the actual facts! I lost my books in a home fire and find it very difficult to acquire these "old LDS" books in the LDS book stores around Idaho Falls. (Things have changed! :-) But I know you have made them available. Sandra, like many people coming out of Mormonism, I am agnostic....although spiritual, and completely content with my beliefs now. No more questions and doubts! I do, however, recommend your books and web site to anyone who is interested in learning about the "Church." People need to look at both sides, pro and con before making a life-changing decision. (The missionaries, like my wonderful grandson, don't have the truth to tell.) I do not attempt to change peoples beliefs, and never speak with anyone about Mormonism unless I am asked why I now believe as I do. But Sandra, that is why I appreciate your ministry so much. You have spent years gathering and verifying the facts and true history of the "Church." If not for you, I know that the true history will be lost forever.... July 18, 2002 Subject: thank you. Mr and Mrs Tanner, ...I wanted to express my gratitude to both of you. It is such a beautiful thing that you both are doing by bringing light to the darkness of that valley. I left the mormon church when I moved from Colorado to Utah to attend school at Utah State. I can partly attribute that to a book that my dad gave me called Mormonism—Shadow or Reality?, a book that you put together. You have helped me in more ways that you know, and I thank Jesus everyday for saving me out of my death. Thank you to you both, and continue what you are doing... it means that world to some!!! July 18, 2002 Dear Tanners, Thank you doesn't even begin to cover it, but I don't know how to say it better than that. The work you're doing is important and it's my prayer that you'll live long and healthy lives so that the work you're doing may be brought to its justified and obvious conclusion. Perhaps nowhere in recorded history has a greater fraud been perpetrated than that of the Mormon church. ....Thanks to your work and the work of others like you, the curtains are being pulled back finally and the wizard is being revealed for who he truly is. I wish I could write to you more coherently right now but after having just finished reading all that you have published online about Mark Hoffman, I'm more than a little dazed and struggling for words. I wish you every good thing that is necessary for your continued dedication to this work. It really is critical to the continuing evolution of our planet. Sincerely and with heartfelt thanks, July 18, 2002 To Whom It May Concern: I would just like to compliment your stupendous anti-Mormon work. I simply cannot express how deeply grateful I am to have such wonderful people (such as yourself) to find out important issues about those "Mormons". I would just like to ask you and all those who take on the task of ATTACKING the LDS Church, how is it that such bright-minded, so-called Christ loving individuals lie, criticize, and simply recycle the same, old, recycled anti-Mormon arguments that have long been settled and put to rest by the Church and many of its members? I am in awe at the manner at which such talented people, as you, simply copy and paste this garbage and spam it across the Internet (and talk radio if it applies). How is it that you all come up with this material as if it were your own? Is it very time consuming to diligently copy and paste so much information to your own website and act as if your own mind was inspired with such advanced ideas? Wow! You people are the greatest! What would society do without you to guide them! The cliché "blind leading the blind" is definitely most appropriate to describe your anti-Mormon cause. ...Well thanks again for your contribution to the world that offers absolutely nothing more than the traditional anti-Mormon, repetitive babble. Everyone attacks us (the LDS Church) but we have yet to attack Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, or anyone for that matter. If we did as others did to us, what would we be called then, considering all that we are already called today? But please continue your attack, for we know that the Church of Jesus Christ will be attacked and lied about from all sides. We know that many will try to find anything to harm us as they did to Jesus (Mark 2:15-17, 3:1-6, John 8:48-49). We know that we shall be a hated people just how many hated Jesus. Just as Jesus, Mormons were physically attacked, beaten, and killed in the 1800's and we know it will happen to us again in the future. We know that we will suffer much, for Christ told us so. But we will suffer all that you and any others will throw at us, but you will not stop the work of God. It is growing today faster than ever and it will consume the earth (Daniel 2:34-35), then will our Lord and Savior return to take His chosen people into the clouds (1 Thessalonians 3:17) and establish His kingdom on earth (Revelations 20:4-6).... Sincerely, July 19, 2002 Subject: that is a sweet web site Hey Sandra, I'm supposed to be studying but I always start off the night by praying and studying a chapter out of the Bible. And when I finished I wanted to find your web site. That's cool that it's the first web page listed on MSN... It's great to read the Mormon letters their funny but not funny in a good way i.e. finding Christ. Anyway, after investigating and reading many articles contained on your website I just wanted to pass along a KUDOS. The newsletter and the articles are well writing and supported. You leave little if no room for argument. ...Oh, well apparently not everyone likes your page. All the changes to mormon books reminds me of 2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Yes, that is from the King James Version. It looks like every time they see something that could offend or prevent them for propagating their religion they just change their religion to fit the world or America. However, the both of you are like the verse preceding 2 Timothy 3 verse 2 reads "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." You both have remind faithful to the race that Paul was running; transforming yourselves and nonbelievers into Saints. Your work and your reach is extensive and when you reach Heaven you will receive your reward for being truthful and diligent in the work that God has called you too. Great job and thank you for your hard work, dedication and devotion. July 20, 2002 Subject: expand, breath, and refocus Having just reviewed some of you website, with interest, I couldn't help but respond. For those of us who have grown up in the church or in a fundamentalist community as I did, I find some of your arguments fascinating and tantalizing while others make little logical sense or have minimal impact on certain audiences. ....begin to explore the broader aspects of 'human organizations' in general. I believe you will find many, if not all, of the same patterns that you find in the LDS church....those ranging from doctrinal paradox and inconsistency to espoused but not practiced ideologies to power struggles and to the nature of 'myth' making and its role in societies in general. Replace the conventional historical/doctrinal settings most of us grew up with, with a more expansive view of the historical landscape that gave birth to this very 'American' religion....this compilation and redefinition of ideas that was bound to happen whether by Joseph Smith or by someone else. I believe that 'Mormonism in general is an outgrowth of the compilations of many of the early American Indian mythologies at the time, Protestant (interesting etymology for a whole religious movement) work ethics and ideals, and ideals of Masonic brotherhood, powers, and secrecy (and mythichistories), and for lack of better words, the spiritual ideals that predate the new age movement (e.i. hermeticism, channeling, and the occult)....and like any grand American ideal, it endeavored to be all inclusive. All in all, a marvelously grand experiment with inevitable inconsistencies, holes, dark spots, as well as some remarkable, if not unnerving possibilities ...With all that said, it seems humanity is both fascinated by and caught by idealisms of every sort. I watched numerous 'anti' movements when I studied Arabic in the army years ago....anti-Muslim literature, anti-Christian literature, anti-Jewish, anti-American, anti-communism.....a whole life, all that energy, like a loop of thread caught around the button of some particular movement...caught in every movement that button goes through or went through. ...One movement rising to counter another, to counter another, to counter another, to account for the abuses of the former only to inevitably re-embody them. For a good study on myths and society, look at the research of Joseph Campbell. And this is not to rag on what you see, its there, I've seen it myself...just the possibility of stretching out that landscape like you'd stretch a tight muscle. Best of care and good work and good ideas. July 20, 2002 Subject: Pearl of Great Prise or Doctrines And Covenants Many years ago I hired a a single lady age, about 22, to work in the office of my Auto Repair Shop, At that time the Mormons were trying to get her to join them and they had an older man with several children, lined up for her to Marry. At that time my knowledge of the Mormons was zero. She lent me one of the above named books. I only read a small part of it when I came upon this and I quote. [Adam is our god and the only god that we have any thing to do. When Adam came into this world he brought Eve one of his celestial wives.] Thinking that a church with -- Jesus Christ -- as part of there name must be Christian people, but this writing did not fit. I read it several times, thinking I must be reading it wrong. That is why I still remember it. I would like to know which book and where this quote can be found and purchase that book. Can you help. [Sandra's Note: It is a quote from Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p.50-51:
It sounds like the woman you met was talking to people who were part of one of the LDS break-off polygamist groups. Regular Mormons don't give people copies of those Adam-God talks by Brigham Young.] July 22, 2002 Subject: Her Majesty I am a Christian who recently went to a Mormon funeral. A relative of the deceased gave a "lecture" on Mormonism and said that no one knows who "God's wife" is. He referred to her as "her majesty". What about Mary? I thought I knew a lot about Mormonism but I'd never heard this. Do you know anything about "her majesty". Thanks, [Sandra's Note: The LDS concept of the Mother god is taught in an official statement by the LDS First Presidency:
Another LDS First Presidency statement says:
In the October, 1991 LDS Conference, Pres. Gordon Hinckley taught:
Past LDS President Spencer W. Kimball taught:
Besides the Heavenly Mother, some past LDS leaders have taught that God was also married to Mary.] July 22, 2002 Dear Sandra and Jerald Tanner: ...I am a new convert only of three months and I made a mistake joining the Church. I have quit going to Church these past three Sundays but the Relief Society President is starting to call and leave messages on my answering machine. Pretty soon she'll be showing up at my door unannounced trying to see and find out what happened to me. I'm also in the middle of moving and I would like to move and not let anyone of the church find out where I've moved and where I am going because I don't want a new group of people to try to proselytize and come over to get me to go to Church.... Thanks! July 23, 2002 Subject: very confused! I am a convert of 12 years. I have never been a good Mormon because of the garment issues. I just can't seem to wear them. I have tried to be faithful and I just can't get used to them. Because of this, I have not been able to hold certain callings. I truly have felt isolated from the church. I have 5 children who I have raised diligently in the Church. It has been heartbreaking for me to not be taken seriously. I am a great Christian! As far as their rules go. Many a woman have told me how I am "bound by Satan" and how I am missing out on blessings. Please, I am so tired of it all! ...When I study his [Christ's] mission, I feel love and acceptance, not persecution! ...I have found a Contemporary Christian Church that I love. With REAL music. I can clap and Praise the Lord out loud! ...Thank You! July 23, 2002 Hello! I have just recently started searching out the truthfulness of the LDS Church. The whole "Faith" thing just isn't working! I have to say though that I am so scared! I am a convert...I have questioned whether or not there is a God! I feel so betrayed...So isolated! I can't stand it! ...My children attended a Contemporary Christian Bible School this past week. I went to their worship service where I just cried and cried. I couldn't stop! The people there were filled with so much happiness. Unlike my ward and the other wards I had attended! I have been questioning the Church for sometime which is probably why I can't seem to grasp the whole Temple thing! I am so scared though! I have been on you Web-Site and have been reading everything! My husband does not want to hear anything! ...Have a wonderful day! July 23, 2002 Please tell the Tanners 'thank you' for this ministry and thank you to all other volunteers July 23, 2002 Sandra: ...I received an email the other day from a Lutheran pastor who showed our video, THE MORMON PUZZLE, to his congregation. At the conclusion a young Mormon missionary who was present stood and claimed that you had been excommunicated for adultery and was once sued for slander by Gordon B. Hinckley. I told him the charges were ridiculous and that either the missionary is misinformed or has you confused with someone else. I told him you and Jerald are two of the most honest people I have ever met and that, on occasion, you have even defended the LDS church against unsubstantiated attacks. [Sandra's Note: Sorry, the shoe is on the other foot. We voluntarily resigned from the LDS Church, they turned around and excommunicated us for apostasy. As for slander, look who's talking!! According to various LDS, we have been exed for drugs, child abuse, polygamy, adultery, homosexuality, etc. They will say ANYTHING to discredit us. The letters from our bishops are printed at the back of Mormonism—Shadow or Reality? and prove that there were no moral charges brought against us.] July 23, 2002 Subject: Internet Message Boards I sometimes correspond in MSN's Christian Women community on their message boards. In a discussion on Mormonism at least two of us brought up the name of your ministry as having been personally helpful. I thought I'd just let you know. It's been a few years since I've received info from you, but you sure were there when I needed you. You are making a difference. July 25, 2002 Hello! Can you tell me where Brigham Young said to "take up the Bible and compare the LDS religion to it to see if it will stand the test"... I was looking for that quote and wasn't sure if it was in a newspaper, online documentation of the church somewhere, etc. I don't like to repeat anything unless I know just where I can refer them to see it for themselves (if possible), so they don't just think I made it up or something - I never know what their reaction will be. Thank you so much for your great website, books and all the info you put out. It is a huge help to me as I share my faith with my Mormon relatives. Thank you! [Sandra's Note: Brigham Young said: "Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test." (Journal of Discourses, vol.16, p. 46)] July 25, 2002 Hi! Thank you for the information. I found that to access the LDS Church News it costs $20.00 (for either online only, or both online access and a printed copy it's $20.). Also, I can access the Deseret News online, but to access archives older than 6 mos. I would have to pay a yearly fee. Is there any other way that you know of to access this information? I would like the access but really don't want to pay the LDS church for it! I am interested in reading information and quotes that I have gotten second hand but would like to be able to tell my Mormon relatives that I have read it for myself and where they can go to find it, etc. I feel like I always need to be able to go directly to the source and be able to show them, etc. because they seem to not believe me and "minimize" many things that their own authorities have said. I hope this is making sense! Well, I just wondered what your opinion was on how to go about looking at this stuff, if you subscribed to the newsletters, etc. [Sandra's Note: If you were in Utah you could go to the library and read them on microfilm at the public library. Not sure where you live, check with your library about getting the Deseret News on film. Otherwise, I'd just pay the money. I have to buy things from the Mormons all the time to do my research.] July 26, 2002 Subject: Happily a Mormon again! Twenty years ago, led astray mostly by your perverted view of Christianity in general, I asked for and received excommunication from the LDS Church. After twenty more years of searching and trying to find, or make myself, the "authority" over what the various sects, cults, and versions of the Bible say, I humbly found the Lord Jesus Christ and true Church authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of of Latter-Day Saints after all. I now know both sides of the issue and have decidedly found the truth in, rather than out, of the LDS Church. I am sorry for you and those who take you as the authority for Christianity. The deeper I go into "Mormonism" the more convinced I am that Heavenly Father gave us His Son and the (LDS) Church for our eternal progression. Who or what gave you authority to interpret true Christianity for yourselves or others? Don't bother to respond. The answer is clear as sunshine. You have no authority and nothing better to offer those who are thirsting for the love of our Heavenly Father. May God have mercy upon your eternal souls! July 28, 2002 WOW! I was trying to find information on how we could find out about our Tanner family tree and ran across you!!! PRAISE THE LORD! It is sad to know there have been, and probably are, Mormon Tanners, but I want you to know that their is a godly line of Tanners - my husband is a pastor with a shepherd's heart at First Bapt. Church...and we have two sons and a son-in-law all in some form of ministry or preparation for it! I have prayed all their lives that God would raise up a godly line. Maybe you could share some more about your Tanner branch. I ran into a dead end as far as family history (German) is concerned, but ran into a brother and sister in Christ!!! [Sandra's Note: Great to hear from you. Here is a brief outline of Jerald's family. My husband is descended from-- John Tanner (born 8-15-1778) of Hopkinton, RI. He married Elizabeth Besswick. John joined Mormonism in the early 1830's, in Bolton, NY. He moved his family to the Mormon community in Kirtland, OH in 1835. The family then moved to Missouri in 1838, and to Salt Lake in 1848. John died in 1850. John and Elizabeth had a son, Myron (6-7-1826) in Bolton, NY. He married Jane Mount in 1856, in Salt Lake. He settled in Provo, Utah and in 1866 he took a second wife, Annie Crosby, from England. This was a plural marriage. Myron had seventeen children by two wives. Myron and Annie had a son, Caleb (9-3-1868 in Provo). Caleb married Esthma Curtis. They had two children, George and Ida. George was born 8-27-1907 in Provo. George married Helen Strong (born 1913 in Springville, UT.) They had four children, three girls and a son, Jerald (6-1-1938 in Provo). Jerald married me, Sandra McGee (born 1-14-1941 in Salt Lake City) in San Fernando, Calif. on June 14, 1959. We moved back to Salt Lake in 1960 to do research. We are both from fifth generation LDS families. My mother's maiden name is Georgia Young, great-granddaughter of Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angel Young. We have three children, April, Dennis and Teresa. All married and doing great. We left Mormonism the year we got married and have spent our lives trying to reach our families and friends for Christ.] July 28, 2002 To the Tanners: Thank you for your wonderful efforts to spread the true word of Jesus Christ! It has been my experience that the majority of Mormons are severely brain-washed individuals who have been duped into the Mormon church either by familial history or by zealous church missionaries who do not fully explain the theology of the Mormon religion and, instead emphasize its social attributes. The "Holy Bible" is the Word of God and his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus established His church, not Joseph Smith. Jesus said that "the gates of Hell will not prevail against it". That means exactly what it says! Attention Mormons: That means that [total] apostasy [of] the Church established by Jesus is not possible! Jesus said to be aware of "false prophets". Has it ever occurred to the followers of Joseph Smith that he could be a false prophet? The Book of Mormon is not documented anywhere. All belief in its authenticity lies in the word of one human being. Wouldn't God reveal something as important as a new addition to "His Book" in such a way that it could be authenticated and revealed to more than just one individual? Imagine if the Bible had only been revealed to one prophet? God did a pretty good job of establishing a system of 'checks and balances' for the documentation of the Bible. Where is such a system for this Book of Mormon? If you dissect the origins of Mormonism, you will find many contradictions and untruths. Go to the source-- to Jesus Christ-- to find His church and to find THE TRUTH. July 28, 2002 To the Tanners: Thank you for your wonderful efforts to spread the true word of Jesus Christ! It has been my experience that the majority of Mormons are severely brain-washed individuals who have been duped into the Mormon church either by familial history or by zealous church missionaries who do not fully explain the theology of the Mormon religion and, instead emphasize its social attributes. The "Holy Bible" is the Word of God and his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus established His church, not Joseph Smith. Jesus said that "the gates of Hell will not prevail against it". That means exactly what it says! Attention Mormons: That means that apostasy against the Church established by Jesus is not possible! Jesus said to be aware of "false prophets". Has it ever occurred to the followers of Joseph Smith that he could be a false prophet? The Book of Mormon is not documented anywhere. All belief in its authenticity lies in the word of one human being. Wouldn't God reveal something as important as a new addition to "His Book" in such a way that it could be authenticated and revealed to more than just one individual? Imagine if the Bible had only been revealed to one prophet? God did a pretty good job of establishing a system of 'checks and balances' for the documentation of the Bible. Where is such a system for this Book of Mormon? If you dissect the origins of Mormonism, you will find many contradictions and untruths. Go to the source-- to Jesus Christ-- to find His church and to find THE TRUTH. July 29, 2002 Subject: balanced information If your site bookofmormon.com is going to present information that is obviously detracting from the Book of Mormon, or "provide material and research that normally would not be available," it only seems right to present an opposing view, or at least a link to opposing views. I use your example of the Mayas as being pagan as proof that their ruins are not those of the BoM peoples. When in truth, the BoM clearly indicates that the Christians of ancient America became pagan, as well as the common understanding that what could be construed as pagan, ie quetzalcoatl, the flaming serpent, is actually a representation of Christ. To be taken seriously, your facts need to be more solid. I think you might do a better job of causing people to ask questions if your information at least tried to be more balanced and solid, or at least points that create a debate. Best of luck. July 29, 2002 I obtained one of your books Mormonism—Shadow or Reality?. I wanted you to know that I have been reading and studying it for several years now along with my Bible too and verified your information to be very true and accurate. I was dumbfounded when [I] went to my local library and started looking through the Journal of Discourses (someone had beat me to them and had marked all throughout them, pointing out contradictions and so on). Anyway to make a long story short because I was prepared (your book helping) I was able to witness to a dear friend of mine and now this friend has a RELATIONSHIP with the Lord and Savior (the "real Jesus"). And realizes just how he was so deceived in the Mormon religion. He studied what you pointed out in your books for himself and researched with me. I just wish ALL my Mormon friends would do the same. And most important he reads the Bible (New King James-realized they were all pretty much the same just a different lingo)!!! I just wanted to say thank you and I really appreciate all the energy you invested in sharing "the Truth" with others!!! Thank you and may the Lord bless you and your family, July 29, 2002 Subject: Book of Mormon Greetings. I was just curious as to if you have ever seen an original Book of Mormon. Their missionaries claim that the BOM is more accurate than the Bible because it hasn't been altered, claiming that the Bible has. Thank you and God bless you. [Sandra's Note: Yes, I own an original (keep it in a bank vault) and yes, there have been changes since the first edition. See our book, 3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith Begins His Work, Vol.1; both are photo reprints of the first edition. The Introduction to 3913 Changes in the Book of Mormon is on our web site. However, the changes Smith made to his revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants (another one of their books of scripture) has had even greater changes. See Joseph Smith Begins His Work, Vol.2 and our book Case Against Mormonism, Vol.1 for more on this.] July 29, 2002 Hello! The Mormon missionaries seem to be out in droves in our neighborhood. I was just wondering if you saw 2 missionaries out at a restaurant or somewhere where you didn't have much time to talk, what would you say? I have been thinking and praying about what to do if the opportunity should arise again, because when it did the first time (I saw them a few tables over at a restaurant), I just froze and didn't approach them. I had a pit in my stomach. Should I just ask their names to pray for them, give them a tract, or tell them that Jesus Christ is God from all eternity and loves them and died for them? I know there is nothing I can say in 2 minutes that would win them to Christ, but is there anything you would suggest that I could say to at least make them think about it? Thank you so much for your ministry. I cannot tell you what a blessing you both have been to me, as this matter is so close to my heart because I have relatives who are Mormon. In Christ, [Sandra's Note: You could hand them a tract with a brief statement that you noticed they were LDS missionaries and you just wanted to share this tract with them. We have a set of tracts--'Tract Pack', that contain several you could give a Mormon. A few good tracts for a Mormon are I Bear You My Testimony (www.ATStracts.org), Is Mormonism Christian? and Are Mormon Temples Christian? (www.irr.org)] July 31, 2002 Subject: Mormon Elders healing all sickness on the journey West? Can you point me to some evidence to refute this claim? My Mormon friend is adamant that this actually occurred. thanks [Sandra's Note: Evidently the missionaries have not read their own history. In the LDS book The Story of the Latter-day Saints, we read about the great amount of sickness and death in the Mormon groups fleeing Nauvoo from 1846 to 1848:
Even the first group sent to the Salt Lake valley experienced illness. In fact, Brigham Young was not able to enter the valley with the first group due to illness. In the same LDS history book we read:
The book Encyclopedia of Mormonism also tells of Brigham Young's sickness:
The same book recounts the death toll of the Mormons in their trek to Utah:
Thus we see that not only were Mormons not healed, even their prophet was stricken with illness.] |
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