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“The more I encounter, read, and deal with the LDS church, the more disturbing it becomes.”

True followers of Christ welcome the light of truth. They do not try to hide tenets of their beliefs. They do not hide portions of the truth for certain people.

I just don't understand why humans want to take the truth that was given to us 2,000 years ago, and try to mangle it.

People have attempted to add to it, dilute it, mis translate it, start entirely new religions using a portion of of it.

Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 24:4
“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,[a]’ and will deceive many.”

Revelation 22:18-19 speaks of the penalty for those who try to twist the message of Christ:
“18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. “

I am not the smartest person in the world, but I know that the Bible is the inspired word of God.
It is my guide to use when I hear someone say they are speaking for God. I test what they say against what is in the Bible, it is the only true guide for us.

...I am not the smartest person in the world, but I know that the Bible is the inspired word of God.

That is the beauty of God's design. From the beginnings, He laid a tapestry to lead us to Him. He made it clear from the start. God gave us the ability to reason, and also gave us a choice. We know He made us the way we are, and we know He gave us a way to come back, when we realize our sin (missing the mark, the bullseye, the perfect Will of God).

As you read through the triumphs and tragedies, failures and frailness, throughout Scripture you are lead to His cross. It is only there, that we are made right with Him, once again. It is only there, that we can have hope.

I don't think it's about being a smart person. The trap that many fall into is that they use their minds to determine their faith. When someone promises fantastic rewards "if you only listen to me", then it is time to test the Spirit. Not by a "burning in your bosom", but by a clear exposition of the Word of God, with His Spirit as your guide. He promises He will reward your diligence, and faith in Him. Paul wrote quite a bit on that subject, to Timothy.

I get tired of the LDS apologists, who say "move along, nothing to see here". If they really studied the Bible, they would see the errors of Joseph Smith, etal. Milk before meat, is nothing more than lying, under any guise. They have been masters of disguise, since Joe said, "common baby, it's for the lord...".

There is no other God. There is no opportunity to become a god. There is only the opportunity to be with Him forever... thanks to the shed Blood of Jesus. It is the only way for reconciliation, and the only path to God's promises.

Jesus was tempted and tempted. He was promised the world. He knew Who already owned it... the rest was easy. God gives us the same mind, if we ask!

My dog, Spot and "Baby"..

I am not the smartest person in the world, but I know that the Bible is the inspired word of God. It is my guide to use when I hear someone say they are speaking for God. I test what they say against what is in the Bible, it is the only true guide for us.
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I just don't understand why humans want to take the truth that was given to us 2,000 years ago, and try to mangle it. People have attempted to add to it, dilute it, mis translate it, start entirely new religions using a portion of of it.

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Let me tell you something. You are not only smart, but you are wise. You have discernment given by the Holy Spirit.

My friends will tell you the same thing.

True followers of Christ welcome the light of truth. They do not try to hide tenets of their beliefs. They do not hide portions of the truth for certain people.

Oh YEAH???

Watch THIS!!!

True followers of Christ welcome the light of truth. They do not try to hide tenets of their beliefs. They do not hide portions of the truth for certain people.

Oh YEAH???

Watch THIS!!!

The clearest evidence of Masonic influence on the Nauvoo temple ceremony is a comparison of texts. Three elements of the Nauvoo endowment and its contemporary Masonic ritual resemble each other so closely that they are sometimes identical. These are the tokens, signs, and penalties. The two accounts which may be most useful for the purposes of comparison are those of Catherine Lewis and William Morgan. Morgan's 1826 account was an exposé of his local York Rite's "Craft" degrees (the same rite introduced in Nauvoo, though the wording differed from state to state).⁵¹ Catherine Lewis joined the LDS church in 1841 in Boston. After Smith's death in 1844, she moved to Nauvoo and was among those who received their endowment in the new temple. Lewis received the ordinance at the urging of Heber Kimball and one of his wives. Repulsed by Kimball's subsequent proposal of plural marriage, she left Nauvoo and published a book in 1848 which includes a description of the temple ceremony.⁵²

NAUVOO ENDOWMENT CEREMONY RITES COMPARED
TO CONTEMPORARY PUBLISHED FREEMASONIC RITES

Nauvoo Temple Ceremony Rites

I will now give you the signs and tokens of the priesthood . . . the first sign or token is to take hold of the right hand, placing the ball of the thumb between the two upper joints of the fore-fingers.

The second sign is to place the thumb on the upper joint of the second finger; —these tokens signify you have two names; one of which is a new name.

The third sign is called the Patriarchal grip, and has three names; the first, Patriarchal grip; second, the Son; the third, you will receive at the veil....

We then held up both hands above the head,

nd placed our right hand under the left ear, drew it across the throat,

the left hand was placed to the right shoulder, then drawn across the breast, and the right hand suddenly thrust down the right side.

We then raised our hands again, and were taught how to pray. This ceremony concluded, we proceeded singly to the veil, (which is a large sheet separating us from the upper part of the hall, having five holes in it—two for the eyes, one for the mouth, and two for the arms,) the person representing the Lord is on the other side of the vail, to take the signs and converse with us. Our Instructor tells us how to answer.

Then the Lord asks for the signs; we give them; our new name is whispered in his ear; he then whispers the third name of the Patriarchal Grip in our ear, viz:—"Marrow in the bones, Strength in the sinews, and virtue in the loins throughout all generations."

Freemasonic Rites

[The grip of the Entered Apprentice:] The right hands are joined together as in shaking hands and each sticks his thumb nail into the third joint or upper end of the forefinger . . . [After receiving the Boaz, the initiate is given a lambskin or white apron which is donned.]

[The pass-grip of the Fellow Craft] is given by taking each other by the right hand, as though going to shake hands, and each putting his thumb between the fore and second fingers where they join the hand, and pressing the thumb between the joints.

[The pass-grip of the Master Mason] is given by pressing the thumb between the joints of the second and third fingers where they join the hand.

[The sign and Due-Guard of the Master Mason] is given by raising both hands and arms to the elbows, perpendicularly, one On each side of the head, the elbows forming a square. The words accompanying this sign, in case of distress, are, "O Lord, My God! Is there no help for the widow’s son?"...The Due Guard is made by holding both hands in front palms down.

[The sign and Due-Guard of the Entered Apprentice] is given by holding your two hands transversely across each other, the right hand upwards and one inch from the left...[and] by drawing your right hand across your throat,

[Sign and Due-Guard of the Fellow Craft:] The sign is given by drawing your right hand flat, with the palm of it next to your breast from the left to the right side with some quickness, and dropping it down by your side; the Due-Guard is given by raising the left arm until that part of it between the elbow and that part above it form a square.

The Penal Sign is given by putting the right hand to the left side of the bowels, the hand open, with the thumb next to the belly, and drawing it across the belly, and letting it fall; this is done tolerably quick.

"He (candidate) is raised on what is called the five points of fellowship, which are foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back and mouth to ear. This is done by putting the inside of your right foot to the inside of the right foot of the person to whom you are going to give the word, the inside of your knee to his, laying your right breast against his, your left hands on the back of each other, and your mouths to each other’s right ear (in which position alone you are permitted to give the word), and whisper the word Mahhahbone. The Master’s grip is given by taking hold of each other’s hand as though you were going to shake hands, and sticking the nails of each of your fingers to the joint of the other’s wrist where it unites with the hand....He is also told that Mahhah-bone signifies marrow in the bone.


	The Endowment House in Salt Lake City, built in 1854-55 in the northwest corner of the Temple Block as a "temporary temple." By the time the Endowment House was razed in 1889, more than 54,000 men and women had received their endowments, 694 their second anointings.