Posted on 09/06/2010 9:57:54 AM PDT by Gamecock
My name is Jody Ormond Morris. Like so many other names, it tells a story. Mine is of a fifth-generation Mormon who was converted to Christianity and is now serving the Lord with his family as a pastor in the OPC. I'd like to share my story with you.
I'm named after my grandfather, William Ormond Morris, and my great-great-grandfather, Joseph "Jody" Smith Morris. He was named after the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith. My dad gave me his nickname—Jody.
From Wales to Utah
My Mormon history began in Wales during the earliest days of the Mormon church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). My dad tells a story about a missionary who was instrumental in our family's conversion to Mormonism. Dan Jones was a steamboat captain on the Mississippi River and a friend of Joseph Smith. He was with Joseph in prison on the day before he was killed. Dan went from there to Wales to be a missionary during the time that my family was converted. They must have known him, and were perhaps converted by him. In any event, Joseph (Jody) Smith Morris was a grandson of that legacy, and so am I. I once joked with my wife about naming our first son William after my grandpa—you know, to keep the legacy alive. Instead, we named him Calvin.
My family eventually emigrated from Wales and made their way to Utah. I grew up in the small town of American Fork, just south of Salt Lake City, past the point of the mountains.
Growing Up a Mormon
I had an insular childhood. Everything I knew and loved was bathed in Mormonism. My family was Mormon. I went to a Mormon church. My school was filled with Mormon kids, and my teachers were Mormon too. I attended Mormon seminary in high school during regular school hours. I can literally count on one hand the number of non-Mormon people I knew and non-Mormon experiences I had as a kid. My fifth grade teacher was Catholic, as was a nice lady who lived across the street. I remember a Catholic kid who moved in from out of town during the sixth grade. Not least of all, there was the children's book series that my fourth grade teacher read to us, "The Great Brain." It's about a Catholic family growing up in Utah in the late 1800s. I really loved that series. Everything else I knew as a child was Mormon, through and through.
I have many fond memories of my life as a Mormon. It was the time when I was closest to my family. I appreciate the emphasis that was placed on family life, and I miss that connection with them. For example, on Sunday morning, instead of hearing a traditional sermon, we would hear one family in the church present a topic on morality, such as tithing or honesty. The entire family—brothers, sisters, mom, and dad—would give a short talk. Throw in a few hymns and prayer, and that would be the service. The emphasis that Mormonism placed on the family was practical and effective. Whose heart wouldn't be warmed by listening to a six-year-old explain why honesty is the best policy? I also enjoyed family home evening on Monday. This was a night set aside by the church for families to be together in their homes. Each of us would have our assignment. My sister might be responsible for the game, and I might be responsible for dessert, while the other kids prepared a lesson and took care of cleanup. For the most part, we could count on the family being together that evening. But my favorite event was of course the father-and-son outing (if you were a girl, you would have the daddy-daughter dinner date). That was when we did fun things, like fishing and camping or going to the arcade.
As a child and even as a young teenager, the doctrines of the Mormon church were very simple. I and the other children in the church would recite them regularly to everyone in worship. We called it testimony meeting, and it replaced the regular worship service once a month. I remember it like it was yesterday. Standing up before the whole church with mouth pressed to the microphone, I would say, "I'd like to share my testimony. I know this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and I know that the Book of Mormon is God's word." It was simple doctrine. If we were older, we might add a statement about the living prophet and his apostles. For me that would have been Spencer W. Kimball, whose catchy slogan was "Do it." I think Nike stole it from him!
There were spiritual highlights too. I was baptized when I was eight, received the Aaronic priesthood when I was twelve, and began distributing the Lord's Supper when I was sixteen. For all the highlights, I don't think I fully appreciated the centerpiece of Mormon piety (especially for young people), that God would speak to me in a "still small voice." It's not that I didn't believe God could do it. I guess it was just hard to know if I'd really heard his quiet voice or truly felt a burning in my bosom. I talked to God all the time, mostly to confess my sins and promise to be a better person. The problem was that I never heard him talk back, at least not in any comforting way.
How I Heard the Gospel
By the time I was nineteen, a lifetime of solid Mormon teaching was telling me to go on a mission, but I didn't go. I had an opportunity to move to Washington, where my sister lived. Leaving the only life I'd ever known, I moved to the Northwest. I look back now and see the hand of God's providence. He was bringing me there to hear the gospel.
Washington was liberating in the sense that I was free to pursue life, and it was crippling because I had a growing sense of God's displeasure with me. I remember how truly afraid I was to die, because I knew that facing God would not be good. Still, this wasn't American Fork, and I was free to pursue life and religion in whatever way I wanted. So I began looking into other Christian faiths. My sister had been converted to Christianity many years before, and she was happy to indulge my eager questions about God and religion. In time I became a believer.
Looking back now, I'm not most thankful to Mormonism for the family values I mentioned above. I'm thankful to Mormonism most of all because it helped me understand that I was in serious trouble with God. It did not matter whether a six-year-old kid gave a talk on Sunday about the importance of honesty or a bishop preached a message on the importance of faith and obedience to the unique commands of the church. The duty-centered message of Mormonism always drove me to the same conclusion: I was guilty of sin. I'm thankful for that knowledge. The problem was that Mormonism never gave me a way to get clean, to find forgiveness for my sin.
Sure, Mormons have their version of an atonement and forgiveness. They believe that Jesus died for sin, but in my experience their version of the atonement was unable to make me right with God. It only made it possible for me to make myself right with God. I remember a recurring lesson in Sunday school. The teacher would draw a ladder on the chalkboard and say that our spiritual life was like being on it. We all stood on a ladder somewhere between the Celestial Kingdom and Outer Darkness. Confession and repentance would be met with forgiveness and bring me further up the ladder and closer to heaven. Sin and rebellion would bring me down to hell. On judgment day, I would go to whatever kingdom I had reached at the time of my death. Forgiveness was not full or final. It was just another part of what I must do to make myself right with God.
You can imagine how this affected my heart. I lived with a guilty conscience all the time. Christ's payment for sin only did part of what God required. It put me on a ladder that made salvation possible. It's true, that's a big part of what God required; one could even say that Jesus did most of what I needed to be saved. But no matter how much Jesus did, I was responsible for the rest. It's the being responsible for the rest that I remembered most. It was the part that held me captive to sin and God's wrath. I was stuck on a ladder that led to heaven, when what I really needed was a Savior who could get me all the way there.
The LDS church failed me most on that point. There are plenty of reasons to be critical of Mormon doctrine. The church has failed Christianity in many ways. They deny that God is one in essence and three in persons. They also deny that Jesus is God and that the Holy Spirit is God. They deny that God created the universe out of nothing, and believe that he was once a creature himself. The list goes on and on. They are deadly errors. Still, the LDS church failed me most at the point where my guilty conscience needed to be cleansed. I needed a true Savior and full atonement. I needed complete forgiveness and eternal salvation, but that was not available.
Embracing Biblical Christianity
When I began investigating the doctrines of the Bible, some things came easy, while other things were strange and hard to accept. With all the emphasis the church places upon The Book of Mormon, I should have had a hard time accepting the infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible. But it wasn't hard. Mormonism always taught me that the Bible was the word of God. It's true, they have many sacred books, and they have even rewritten key passages of the Bible. Still, I'm thankful that they were able to instill the simple truth that the Bible is God's word, despite their inconsistencies. On that foundation, other doctrines came easily too—such as the Trinity. I accepted it at face value because the Bible presents God that way. That was enough for me.
Other doctrines were strange and hard to accept. My brother-in-law must have shared the gospel with me a hundred times before I finally understood him. It just didn't make sense in my world. On one occasion, I finally understood him. As I was leaving his house, I asked, "So what you're telling me then is that I don't have to do anything except repent and believe in Jesus?" "Yes," he said. I laughed out loud. I walked out the door, laughing out loud. Obviously I had to do something; I had to be good to be saved! And yet the remote possibility of something different was exhilarating. My conversion was not immediate. Several months passed before I fully embraced the gospel and openly committed myself to Christ. But that was a time when God set my heart free from bondage to sin and wrath. I finally found true and complete forgiveness of my sin.
You may think my perspective on the gospel should be unique, since I grew up Mormon. It's not really. It's true that religions are different from one another in many ways. They define God and heaven differently. They prescribe a wide variety of paths that lead to heaven. And yet they also live by a common principle. They say, if you do this duty or you do that good thing, then you will live and will be accepted by God in heaven. Paul describes this principle and its manifestations as "the elementary principles of the world" (Gal. 4:3). For all the religious diversity we see and know about, the rule of salvation is always the same: "Do this and live." Mormonism made that rule loud and clear to me. Like the rest of the world, Mormonism says, "Be good and God will reward you." Some people are able to say "I am good," and that's enough for them. They're confident in that. But I never had that confidence. Paul lived by a completely different rule. He said, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rom. 10:4). He lived by the rule of faith. Now that's something I can do! I can believe, and I do! I believe I am righteous, not because of works that I have done, but because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to me.
I wish Mormonism had been true to the gospel of God's saving grace, but they strayed far from the gospel. In my childhood experience as a Mormon, I cannot recall any reference to the gospel as salvation by grace through faith. There was never any explanation of the imputation of my sin to Christ or of Christ's righteousness to me. Today, I cherish this gospel. I love faith that looks out to Christ and to what he has done for me, rather than looking in at me and at what I should be doing but have not done. I love the gospel of God's grace that roots forgiveness for sin in my Savior and not in me! I love the verse that says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21). It tells me that Christ stood before the judgment seat of heaven and was counted by God as Jody the sinner, so that Jody the sinner could be counted by God as the righteousness of Christ. That's me, Jody Ormond Morris. I'm a sinner who is forgiven by God forever! I'm part of a new heritage in God's true family, and I pray that his heritage will be strong in my family for generations to come.
The author is pastor of Redeemer OPC in Carlisle, Pa. He quotes the ESV. Reprinted from New Horizons, June 2010.
Momonism according to a genuine ex-Mormon
The problem was that Mormonism never gave me a way to get clean, to find forgiveness for my sin.
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WOW
That "I had to be good to be saved" mentality is the mentality that will look a holy God square in the face and say, "Yup, I can withstand your judgment. Go and ahead & look at every nook & cranny of my motivations, my words spoken, my relationships, what I've failed to do, my emotions, my perseverence and all-out physical strength I've exerted, etc."
When God judges those in Christ, He looks at His Son and the cross, and says my wrath for those sins was already carried out upon the cross. Jesus became our Substitute in death, and our Substitute in life (His perfect righteousness became ours)
Whatever "goodness" we demonstrate is credited back to God the Holy Spirit working through us, and even then He's had to bring us to a new birth and re-create us.
yeah right. As a Mormon he never listened in church or read the scriptures. One can become clean through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I would only add that one truly does not need organized religion to find their own peace and solice. It comes in many different ways through good works and community involvement.
FReeper friends are all in agreement I believe with Brother Jody as many of us have felt that terrible guilt of never being good enough. He puts it in perfect context.
Being "worthy" is a common words Mormons use. Mormons constantly trying to establish their "worth" in God's eyes.
(We need to understand that the word "worthy" comes from the Old English word, "worthship" -- where we get our word "worship" from...so "worthy" = the value we place on something...and Mormons, via their works, are having to constantly establish their "value" in God's eyes).
It was eye-opening to this ex-Mormon that he didn't have to earn that worthiness.
When you look up "worthiness" (a key Lds concept) in the 1977 "Topical Guide to the Scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" published by church-owned Deseret Publishers, you find verses like Doctrine & Covenants 59:4: "And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time--they that are faithful and diligent before me."
"Commandments not a few"? -- sounds like a long checklist to me.
In Lds "prophet" Spencer W. Kimball's book, "The Miracle of Forgiveness," he said if Mormons "repent" of a sin -- but then re-commit that same sin...guess what? Well, that person never really repented of that sin in the first place! Imagine all the LDS "young people" who have "repented" of the sin of lust. But then they lust again. (Well, the LDS "prophet" said that then they never really repented of it to begin with -- they're all back to ground zero).
It's like imagining a spiritual game of Chutes & Ladders where most of the contestants always wind up back @ the bottom. Why? 'Cause it's a "game" based entirely upon the ability of somebody to self-will and self-repent once & for all from every single sin out there. Sins of commission. Sins of omission. All thousands of the types of sins out there. Catalogued 1 by 1.
Now that's depressing!
Brilliant.
And exactly WHY Mitt Romney will fail to lead us. He truly does not KNOW how. He is all by rote and going through the motions without any conviction.
I do know a few Mormons, who, I believe have found grace on their own, and yet have not walked out of the darkness that is the Mormon Cult. They are dimly reflecting lights. Saved, but no crowns, no gifts, just ‘barely’ Christian babes.
I am sure that in all the cults, there are a few who come to Christ on His terms but never fully see the Heresy in their doctrine.
I am overjoyed by this man’s full testimony!
“Chutes and Ladders” is also played by the Catholic Church too.
Very sadly so.
I wish Mormonism had been true to the gospel of God’s saving grace, but they strayed far from the gospel
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In his September 2, 2010 TV program Beck said, “We need a Jesus or a Buddha.”
Glenn Beck is far from the Gospel...
Mormonism is not Christianity...
Where is the Christian Church in America when a non-Biblical believer like Glenn Beck can entice 100s of 1000s Bible believing Christians to go and hear him pontificate on mormon doctrine and mormon revisionist “history” of America...
even realize something is wrong with the message..
And not stand up right there and object and say..
“Glenn. thats not the true Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ of the Christ Bible...”
You are right Glenn...
Something was started on Saturday...
But not what you in your Humanistic/Socialist Theocratic mind thinks...
The shaking up of the true Churches of God has started..
The judgement has begun in the House of the Lord...
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Hebrews 12:26-28
For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed the Gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
From the article: I had to be good to be saved!
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Well I personally cannot ever be good enough...
Thank God I have a Savior whose Righteousness is more than enough...
Pinging myself for later reading. Thanks for the post.
Or perhaps he did pay attention when he sang such self salvivic Mormon hymns as In Humility, Our Savior:
Then, when we have proven worthySo let me get this straight. Jesus saves those are worthy by their own works.
Of thy sacrifice divine,
Lord, let us regain thy presence;
Let thy glory round us shine.
That is not Good News.
So let me get this straight. Jesus saves those are worthy by their own works.
That is not Good News.
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As I said up thread...
I personally cannot ever be good enough...
Thank God I have a Savior whose Righteousness is more than enough...
Free Grace Salvation bump
Possibly the most extreme fallacy of mormonism is the "Calling and Election Made Sure", the epitome of man controlling his own salvation.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 305:
Calling & Election To Be Made Sure
Contend earnestly for the like precious faith with the Apostle Peter, "and add to you faith, virtue," knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity [D&C 4]; "for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Another point, after having all these qualifications, he lays this injunction upon the people "to make your calling and election sure." He is emphatic upon this subject--after adding all this virtue, knowledge, etc., "Make your calling and election sure." What is the secret--the starting point? "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." How did he obtain all things? Through the knowledge of Him who hath called him. There could not anything be given, pertaining to life and godliness, without knowledge. Woe! woe! Woe to Christendom!--especially the divines and priests if this be true.
Salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies; for until a man can triumph over death, he is not saved. A knowledge of the priesthood alone will do this.
Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:325-353.
But in the most express and proper usage of the terms, "The elect of God comprise a very select group, an inner circle of faithful members of the Church.... They are the portion of church members who are striving with all their hearts to keep the fulness of the gospel law in this life so that they can become inheritors of the fulness of the gospel rewards in the life to come.
"As far as the male sex is concerned, they are the ones, the Lord says, who have the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred upon them and who thereafter magnify their callings and are sanctified by the Spirit. In this way, 'They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.' " (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., 217.) See Commentary 2: 267-269, 271-278, 283-285.
[4] What is meant by making an election sure?
It is with election as with calling: the chosen of the Lord are offered all of the blessings of the gospel on condition of obedience to the Lord's laws; and they, having been tried and tested and found worthy in all things, eventually have a seal placed on their election which guarantees the receipt of the promised blessing.
[5] What is meant by having one's calling and election made sure?
To have one's calling and election made sure is to be sealed up unto eternal life; it is to have the unconditional guarantee of exaltation in the highest heaven of the celestial world; it is to receive the assurance of godhood; it is, in effect, to have the day of judgment advanced, so that an inheritance of all the glory and honor of the Father's kingdom is assured prior to the day when the faithful actually enter into the divine presence to sit with Christ in his throne, even as he is "set down" with his "Father in his throne." (Rev 3:21.)
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SECOND ANOINTING or SECOND ENDOWMENT
SECOND ANOINTING or SECOND ENDOWMENT
This ordinance is so rare that many good Mormons do not even know that it exists. It is done only by invitation from the president of the church, to one married couple at a time. It is performed in the Holy of Holies room of the temple by one of the apostles of the church. Those who receive this ordinance are guaranteed of their salvation and exaltation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom. The man is anointed as "priest and king" (the wife is anointed "priestess and queen") and their "calling and election [to exaltation] is made sure." Part of the ceremony is performed by the couple in private in their own home, following instructions given during the temple ceremony, and includes the ceremonial washing of feet. One implication of the ceremony is that the recipients will have a personal visitation of Christ. In earlier days many devout Mormons received this ordinance, but since the 1920s it is extremely rare, and probably only given to those in high leadership positions in the church.
For a detailed description of this ceremony, click here.
YIKES !!!
The Gospel of Grace is also for Mormons who come to Christ.
To do so involves leaving the false gospel of mormonism behind.
Placemarker
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