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Ex-Mormon Shares Secrets From the Church of Latter-day Saints
Christian Post ^ | 8/19/2013 | Tyler O'Neil

Posted on 08/24/2013 11:24:16 PM PDT by reaganaut

A Christian professor and evangelist said that after 30 years in the Mormon Church, she came to a unique realization – the Bible is more accurate than the Book of Mormon, and God is bigger than the transcendent man worshipped by the "Latter day Saints" (LDS).

"I began to feel like somebody was pulling back the curtain in Oz," Lynn K. Wilder, associate professor of special education at Florida Gulf Coast University, former tenured professor at Brigham Young University, and author of Unveiling Grace: The Story of How We Found Our Way Out of The Mormon Church, told The Christian Post in a Monday interview. She contrasted the Mormon and Christian churches, unmasking LDS secrets – polygamy, racism, and a fundamental distrust in the Word and Power of God.

When Wilder and her husband, Mike, searched for a church home following their marriage, they found most churches "boring and out of touch," she said. She had also been reading the Old Testament thoroughly and became convinced that "these must be latter days," since Israel had returned to its homeland.

Mormon missionaries knocked on her door, spoke about the "latter days," and welcomed the Wilders into a close-knit community. "They take you in, they love on you, they began to supplant my biological family," Wilder explained. Joining the church gave her and her husband a higher status in the college and church communities. In 1999, Brigham Young University offered her a job.

Upon moving to Utah, however, the professor recounted new discoveries – the Mormon scriptures still preach racism and polygamy, despite LDS public denials. "The Bible doesn't teach that the mark of Cain was dark skin," she explained, "but the Book of Mormon does." She noted that the mark of Cain is in other Mormon scriptures, too, besides the Book of Mormon.

It wasn't until her son Micah left the Mormon Church, however, that Wilder considered questioning their doctrines, she said. Refusing to present him to the high council for excommunication, she and her husband sent him away, and he encouraged them to read the New Testament.

"Mormons believe that the Bible is often mistranslated and corrupt," the former BYU professor testified. Their scripture tells of a "great apostasy" following the death of the apostles, such that there was no true church until Joseph Smith founded Mormonism in 1830.

But when Wilder read the New Testament, she was mesmerized. "I became consumed with this God of love, the God of grace," she said, noting that Mormons believe in works-based salvation. According to the LDS church, your deeds get you into heaven, she explained, while "in Christianity, Christ did all the work on the cross."

The LDS church also teaches that Jesus failed to hold His church together, the professor noted. She quoted Joseph Smith's History of the Church, where the Mormon founder wrote, "I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man who has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam….Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it."

Wilder said she believed that God is strong enough to keep His church together and to preserve the message in the Bible. In Mormonism, however, God is not omniscient or omnipotent, "he is a man, basically, who is continuing to progress and I can be on that same journey," she said.

The former BYU professor explained that, according to LDS doctrine, the best Mormons will proceed to become gods like the creator. Women can only achieve this if they are married, and only apostates – those who reject the LDS church – will go to hell with Satan and his minions. Even Hitler and murderers, by contrast, will reach the bottom level of heaven, she said.

The ex-Mormon recalled that, when she turned to Jesus, she began to see signs of the personal Biblical God (the Mormon God is not personal, she alleged) touching many aspects of her life. Her book tells the story of a picture of Christ that survived a burning building, and of a Billy Graham sermon lodged deep in her memory.

Wilder testified that a buyer showed up at her house the day after she and her husband had decided to withdraw from the Mormon Church, and a college dean offered her a job for which she had never applied. "Christianity is wonderful because of God," she said. "He's created for all of us a new family, a new life, and the most amazing trust in Him because of what we watched Him do."

In addition to teaching, she and her husband run a ministry dedicated to "helping Mormons understand a bigger God, trust the Bible, and give a different Jesus a chance." She said they aim to reach the thousands of Mormons who left the LDS church – often to revert into Atheism or Agnosticism.


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: inman; ldschurch; mormon
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To: wardaddy

Weird.
There is no vitriol against mormons, there is great exposure of mormonISM, it is sad you are apparently are unable to see the difference.
No need to respond, I do not speak to self identified demons, as you have done.


121 posted on 08/26/2013 11:03:51 AM PDT by svcw (Stand or die)
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To: Elsie

When I said “Anyone else know about this?” I meant what some (generic) Christians believe about Noah’s son Ham and his curse. Have really heard other Christians say this and was not referring to Mormons.

Was asking if other FReepers had heard it and it appears some have.


122 posted on 08/26/2013 11:04:01 AM PDT by Morgana (Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: shotgun

Very good analysis of Joseph Smith’s words - demonic driven.


123 posted on 08/26/2013 11:05:20 AM PDT by svcw (Stand or die)
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To: zerosix

I wasn’t doubting you, but I was just trying to point out another silliness of their faith.

A good example was when their “elders” tried to visit my folks house. My dad being a retired Army officer who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, listened to this elder for about 5 minutes at the door before he asked him how much combat experience he had ever been through and how dare they send some kid to preach to him under the guise of them being elders, as if they have some experiences that they can relate to their true elders...


124 posted on 08/26/2013 11:14:18 AM PDT by shotgun
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To: Elsie

Well, hiya Els.


125 posted on 08/26/2013 12:13:30 PM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: wardaddy; Elsie; reaganaut; All

Actually I’m Presbyterian, not the USA liberal type. The PCA type, similar to the Southern Presbyterian before they blended in to Presbyterian USA.

What Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs are , within reason, are not my concern as to repairing the economy.
I didn’t vote for him for religious inspiration.
I voted for him because I believe he is financially astute. Exactly what the Country needed/needs at the moment.
As to Mormons being liberal, stashing a year’s worth of food for emergencies doesn’t sound liberal to me. They are self-sufficiency advocates.
Giving to the needy is part of every Christian sect. As is witnessing, missionaries.
Abortion? I don’t know Mormon stance on it. The presidents that have been against it haven’t made any moves to change it, and couldn’t if they wanted to.

During the Primaries I swore I’d never vote for Romney. But as the election came closer and listening to him expound on his ideas for economic recovery I changed my mind.
Not only that but the President’s real power, judicial appointment loomed large in my mind. Plus getting the rank amateurs out of the White House.

There is likely no potential candidate that I’ll agree with 100%, even Sarah Palin or Ted Cruz.
Yes, Romney is liberal on some issues, Dubya had a liberal streak also. Didn’t affect my vote. Waay better than the alternative.

I know some here are so anti-Mormon they didn’t vote for Romney.
The Country thanks you. /s


126 posted on 08/26/2013 2:18:14 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Vinnie; wardaddy; Elsie; reaganaut; All
There is likely no potential candidate that I’ll agree with 100%, even Sarah Palin or Ted Cruz. Yes, Romney is liberal on some issues, Dubya had a liberal streak also. Didn’t affect my vote. Waay better than the alternative.

(By this line of reasoning...Hillary could stay as liberal as she is; switch to the GoP...run for POTUS...and guess what? The Dems will ALWAYS run somebody to the left of the GoP as your "way better than the alternative" endorsement of Hillary would come in...)

Fact: Romney was way to the left of another Mass candidate...JFK...

If we're now voting for guys to the left of the Kennedy...count me out.

Mitt was pro-abortion to the very month he ran...beat Obama to socialized healthcare...etc.

It is of course a straw man to say, "There's no candidate in which I agree 100%"... as if that was THE call by truly conservative voters...Go ahead, Vinnie...PROVE IT that there was ANY great groundswell for "100% candidate agreements"...

Otherwise, put away this straw man...it's not very becoming for a truly conservative Presbyterian to toss out there.

127 posted on 08/26/2013 2:35:47 PM PDT by Colofornian
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To: Vinnie; wardaddy; Elsie; reaganaut; All
What Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs are , within reason, are not my concern as to repairing the economy. I didn’t vote for him for religious inspiration.

(Oh, we didn't know that it doesn't phase you to vote for a guy who claims to be a literal "god-in-embryo" and would tell god to move over from his throne when he dies)

Does the God of the Presbyterians know that you endorse idolatry-worshipers...and just who was Romney supposed to turn for divine help ... which is indeed needed as POTUS? The Mormon god who was a man who worked his way up to godhood? That god?

A Jewish POTUS would at least likely turn to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... A Mormon POTUS trusting in a Mormon god equates the voter electorate also trusting in such a god to deliver their wallets...

And that's economic idolatry...substituting your bank account as the sole focus of salvific delivery ... even if you have to call upon the Mormon gods to deliver you!

128 posted on 08/26/2013 2:40:41 PM PDT by Colofornian
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To: Vinnie; wardaddy; Elsie; reaganaut; All
I know some here are so anti-Mormon they didn’t vote for Romney. The Country thanks you. /s

#1...Every blue state voter who didn't vote for Romney meant nothing...Obama would have won that state, anyway.

#2...Every FREEPER red state voter who didn't vote for Romney meant nothing...Romney wound up taking those states, anyway.

It really then only came down to the purple state voters.

Your carte blanche political condemnation doesn't hold political water.

129 posted on 08/26/2013 2:43:30 PM PDT by Colofornian
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To: wardaddy; svcw; All
The vitriol towards Mormons here goes a bit more than worrying about their souls...I mean really...you have a funny way of showing you care.

Wardaddy, is there some consistency here?

I mean...anybody reading Jesus' words about the Pharisees thruout Matthew 23...or the end of John 8 where Jesus labels them "children of the devil"... might likewise accuse Jesus by saying, "Hey, Son of man, your vitriol toward Pharisees goes a bit more than worrying about their souls...I mean really...you have a funny way of showing you care."

Now why would Jesus need to speak the way He spoke to the Pharisees?

1. Truth is truth; it doesn't always need to be dressed up in euphemisms and obscurities...

2. Jesus comforted the afflicted; and afflicted the comfortable...and the Pharisees qualified for the latter.

3. Tough love is still loving...even if some are squeamish about exercising it...

4. Jesus told the Pharisees that they would traverse land & sea to make a proselyte convert "twice the son of hell" they were. You see, Wardaddy, showing you care is ALSO just as much about...
...future cultists
...as it is about its present-day membership...

Jesus -- as did Paul (see Acts 20:28-31) -- cared about those who would be devoured by what Paul called "savage wolves"...

Those you don't like people being referenced as "savage wolves" should stop pretending they won't lecture Paul about that language (Acts 20) when they get to heaven.

130 posted on 08/26/2013 2:53:24 PM PDT by Colofornian
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To: Elsie

I assume he’s NOT Catholic!


No, he don,t belong to any denomination.


131 posted on 08/26/2013 2:59:32 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Vinnie

Apparently, you really do know nothing about mormonISM and why they do what they do.

I did not support Romney because he is and has always been a liberal.

If you knew about mormonISM, and it appears that you do not know, there is a question as to why someone as you declare as astute would beleive in such a thing as momronISM.


132 posted on 08/26/2013 3:00:10 PM PDT by svcw (Stand or die)
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To: Elsie

There is no need to merely believe it, as lot’s of his ‘prophecies’ can be clearly shown as false.


Yeah thats right, where did you think my belief comes from?


133 posted on 08/26/2013 3:10:58 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Elsie

Though some ‘religions’ have a lot more facts that can be checked to see if they are TRUE or not; it stills boils down to ‘faith’ somewhere along the line.


Mormonism is pretty obvious to me but it took me a long time to see the false doctrine in some other Churches and i credited it to the leaders just being naive but now i wonder.

‘faith’ somewhere along the line.


Faith yes, but not in any religion nor any church but only in Christ.

Jesus told us what he would do and what we were to do, also Jesus, by his own words did not put no trust in religious leaders.

Jesus also must have not had too much trust in professors, he could easily have had a dozen of them but he chose Fishermen.

why do you think he chose ordinary working men instead of the schooled?


134 posted on 08/26/2013 3:37:36 PM PDT by ravenwolf
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To: Elsie

Sold 150 paintings during the last three days. A nice Sky Vodka with peach nectar on ice is now in my warm dry fist.

Whew!

I didn’t denounce I just stopped believing that day I first went to the temple at age 19 when I saw the same silly ceremonies that I had experienced as a frat boy when I went active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Utah State University.

I went on the mission anyway. Who in heaven wouldn’t go to Denmark for a two and a half year party with great beer and beautiful women?


135 posted on 08/26/2013 4:51:21 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Elsie
Meant to tell you that this piece was one of the winners.


136 posted on 08/26/2013 4:59:36 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Elsie
And this was the "Best of Show" winner. We had great fun with David Michaels, producer of NBC Sports, a true conservative as is his brother Al Michaels who plays golf with Rush.


137 posted on 08/26/2013 5:11:17 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: wardaddy
The vitriol towards Mormons here goes a bit more than worrying about their souls...

I'm sure glad them sweet MORMONs have NO vitrol for anyone else!



Questions put to Joseph Smith: "'Do you believe the Bible?' [Smith:]'If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do'. When asked 'Will everybody be damned, but Mormons'? [Smith replied] 'Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119).
Joseph Smith: "for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible" (from Pearl of Great Price 1:12). "What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270).
 
 
 
Brigham Young stated this repeatedly: "When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness" (Journal of Discourses 5:73); "The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" (Journal of Discourses 8:171); "With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:199); "And who is there that acknowledges [God's] hand? ...You may wander east, west, north, and south, and you cannot find it in any church or government on the earth, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.24); "Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Journal of Discourses 10:230).
 
 
 
Orson Pratt proclaimed: "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (The Seer, p. 255).
 
 
 
Orson Pratt also said: "This great apostasy commenced about the close of the first century of the Christian era, and it has been waxing worse and worse from then until now" (Journal of Discourses
, vol.18, p.44) and: "But as there has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of people Christian Churches, because they profess to be ...But there has been a long apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance" (Journal of Discourses , 18:172).
 
 
President John Taylor stated: "Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.167); "Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (Journal of Discourses , 10:127).
 
 
 
James Talmage said: "A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ". (A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.182).
 
 
 
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: "Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." (Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). "For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).
 
 
 
More recent statements by apostle Bruce McConkie are also very clear: "Apostasy was universal...And this darkness still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 3, p.265); "Thus the signs of the times include the prevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general" (The Millennial Messiah, p.403); "a perverted Christianity holds sway among the so-called Christians of apostate Christendom" (Mormon Doctrine, p.132); "virtually all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ whom they vainly suppose to be a spirit essence who is incorporeal uncreated, immaterial and three-in-one with the Father and Holy Spirit" (Mormon Doctrine, p.269); "Gnosticism is one of the great pagan philosophies which antedated Christ and the Christian Era and which was later commingled with pure Christianity to form the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the early days of that era." (Mormon Doctrine, p.316).
 
 
 
President George Q. Cannon said: "After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin. They all belong to Babylon" (Gospel Truth, p.324).
 
 
President Wilford Woodruff stated: "the Gospel of modern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stops all communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 2, p.196).

138 posted on 08/26/2013 7:45:20 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Morgana
I meant what some (generic) Christians believe about Noah’s son Ham and his curse.

Well; EXTRA things that 'christians' believe are all OVER the map!

I've found it a LOT easier to teach folks what's in the bible; than to UNteach them what AIN'T!

139 posted on 08/26/2013 7:47:11 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: reaganaut

Back at ya! ;^)


140 posted on 08/26/2013 7:48:27 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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