Yes, the LDS are the "breakaway" sect, they are the ONLY ones who abandoned the JST version. What i am trying to show is the pattern of deception they use. They left true Joseph Smith mormonism long ago, now they claim all the other branches are rogue. They are the largest and wealthiest so they get away with it. You will note if you watch these threads that very much of the time they do nothing but try to cover up the original sourced quotes of the original founders of mormonism that folks like myself post. The fact is they are so far detqatched from "mormonism" as it was restored, it actually embarasses them...And because they can plainly see the internet is destroying them, they are looking at Christianity as nothing more than a place to hide.
The problem is now in the last 20 years or so they have set their sights on Christianity. The same pattern will be repeated, they are not Christians, but first they will claim to be, and if they succeed they will use their MASSIVE wealth (Think Fortune 50, not 500 sized corporation) to run true Christians into the ground.
>> What i am trying to show is the pattern of deception they use. They left true Joseph Smith mormonism long ago, now they claim all the other branches are rogue.
Smith created the Mormon church and then decided he had to translate the Bible. Most mormons read his Bible and said, “No way Joe!” and split, effectively taking the name of his church with them when they left. I don’t believe that mormons are true Christians, but they are more Christian than most secular Americans who claim Christianity as their faith without ever setting foot in a church, reading a Bible, or praying (except when they discover they have cancer).
This isn’t deception. It is discernment.
Protestants could say the exact same thing about Catholics. Orthodox Catholics could say the same thing about Roman Catholics. Methodists could say it of Episcopals. Assembly of God could say it of Methodists. Paul’s church would say it of Peter’s. Christianity is a history of people thinking that they’ve found the One True Way and splitting from those who think the old ways are right. But, we share enough common history and common beliefs that we all still know who the real Enemy is...I hope.
You don’t steer people away from a bad church by telling them they are wrong, or that their church is evil. You draw them away by showing that your way to God is right and that your church is better. I don’t care about the mormons, except that they are evangelizing their faith and mine is sitting there with “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds” and empty parking lots!