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I keep seeing this used as if it were bad. It is one of the small sound bites many use to pretend this teaching is something that it is not, and to mislead people. You might find it interesting if you study the whole of the teaching for yourself and find it does not mean what your writings seem to imply it means. That is if you want to.

It means exactly what it says and is no small sound bite. Having spent 20 years of my adult life in the LDS church I was taught and studied much of former prophets doctrines. I know what was taught and what is in earlier church material.
I also know much that was openly talked about years ago no longer is openly talked about.
Having Joseph Smith waiting at the gates of heaven to let us in or deny us access is against all teachings in the Bible. It is NOT Christian.
By denying this was taught are you also denying that previous prophets of the LDS church were NOT real prophets but just spouting nonsense?? I ask that in all seriousness.

Having spent 20 years of my adult life in the LDS church

. . .

Having Joseph Smith waiting at the gates of heaven to let us in or deny us access is against all teachings in the Bible. It is NOT Christian.
By denying this was taught are you also denying that previous prophets of the LDS church were NOT real prophets

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I never said it is not taught. IT IS.

I said that this part is often used without the rest of the teachings. This makes it sound like something it isn't.

I have only been an ex-non-Mormon for 40 or so years.

I started out to prove this Church was wrong.
I had a closed mind, I did not need to study more, I “knew” the Church was wrong.

BUT

I found that with a little extra study, proving this Church wrong could not be done.

There are still some points the critics use that I have not found the answer to.

And if one of them turns out to prove my faith in Father's Church is wrong, I will admit it and change.

It just takes a little extra study to find out what the critics are leaving out, and how leaving it out changes what the real meaning is.

So, all I can say is to look deeper, past the easy answers, and see how Father's teachings come together as a hole.

Father loves all of us.