Some Comments on Mormonism

I posted this originally as a comment following a long discussion by others on Mormonism. I felt it was worthwhile to repost it here. Please note that this by no means represents my entire testimony, as I was posting a comment on another blog, I had to sacrifice much to brevity.

The post:

I know that i'm johnny come lately to the conversation but I felt moved to share my short testimony at the end of this discussion/debate.

I was a member of the LDS church for 22 years. I come from a line of LDS back to one of the wives of Joseph Smith. I was baptized at 8 years old. I was a Deacon, Teacher, Priest, and Elder. I went through 4 years of seminary. I served an "honorable" mission in the Carlsbad California mission. I was a temple worker in the Dallas temple. My wife and I were endowed and "sealed" in the Dallas temple. I was active and in good standing with the church until the day that I submitted my resignation.

I know Brandon and Jenny. They have a very special place in my heart because their life and ministry, and others as well (Clayton and Stephan who have also posted here), that God used to begin to take the scales from my eyes to help me see the truth.Jesus is the Christ, God in the flesh, who came and absorbed the wrath of God for my sin. It is by grace that I have been saved, through faith in the real and true Jesus Christ. The God and the Jesus that is taught and believed on in the LDS church is not the God of the bible, it is not the real God of the heavens and the Jesus who walked the earth. It is a God created by Joseph Smith.

I have prayed the prayer in Moroni many times, but it was only when I opened my heart and was willing to accept that the answer might be "NO!" that God answered my prayer.

God does answer our prayers and He will lead us to truth. However, we know from the bible that some will be deceived. When we rely solely on "personal revelation", emotional or spiritual experiences, in order to discern the truth of God, we leave ourselves open to deception.

1 John 4 " 1.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God...6. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

There is a spirit of error. It is the one that leads people astray to believe in the Book of Mormon as the word of God and in Joseph Smith as a prophet. He also says that 'We (the original apostles) are of God' and that by comparing the spirit of error to the teachings of the apostles (which are recorded in the bible) we may know the spirit of truth from the spirit of error.

Galatians 1 " 6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

The LDS "gospel", which was brought by "angels" (Moroni) and a "spirit" (the visions and revelations of Joseph Smith), is different than the one that was preached by the apostles of the bible. The LDS "gospel" has perverted (as the above scripture says) the most plain, basic, and precious parts of the Gospel preached by the early apostles and recorded in the bible, namely who God is, who Jesus is, who we are, and how we return to God. It has removed those who are in the LDS church from "him that called you into the grace of Christ". If Satan can keep people doing "good works" or bearing some "fruit", and blind them to the truth of the true Gospel of the real Jesus, he has done his job well.

I am eternally grateful to my sovereign God for opening my mind and my heart, for tearing down the walls that 22 years of following a spirit of error had built up, for taking the scales from my eyes so I could see clearly, and for calling me into the grace of Christ - it is beautiful and sweet.

I invite all my LDS friends and family, to leave the shackles of deception in the LDS church, and embrace completely the freedom and joy of the real good news of the Gospel - That Jesus is God in the flesh, that the commandments are given so that we might have knowledge of our sin, and it is by grace that you are saved.

For anyone who wants to discuss further, please please please email me. chrismpray@gmail.com. For those in the DFW area, I would be happy to discuss face to face; lets get some coffee and talk (just kidding - you can drink hot chocolate) Please.

I will also be leading an LDS recovery group beginning on April 19th in Allen, TX. Please come, send your friends, send the missionaries, send anyone, come to my house, come to the group, anything. I promise it will be respectful (no "bible bashing") Email me for more details.

Grace and Peace to you.

and thank you Brandon and Jenny, for your life and ministry, I owe you more than you know (and the glory be to God).