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Yah, if a person says “I am a Christian” and they are not openly living in a way that contradicts that statement, supporting things that a Christian clearly wouldn’t support politically, or espousing or supporting doctrine that is clearly false or contrary to the Bible — we have to take the person at their word. Phew. Long sentence. You said it better. We aren’t the judge of this issue. Has Fred said he is a Christian though?

Who annoited you as arbiter?

Gal 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Before one judges another they have to be righteous or they judge in vain!

If one is living under the Biblical Law the are subject to the Law!

And have no authority in judging who is or who isn't a follower of Jesus Christ!

One may read about what is or isn't but in their finite mind they are are not God and do not know the hearts and minds of others!

Gal 5
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

When one call another doctine of Satan that person is provoking and is not under the spirit of the Lord

1 Cor. 2:
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Enough is Enough!
by Paul Allen

Editor’s Note: This is a letter to the editor that appeared in a November, 2000 issue of a Santa Clarita, California newspaper called The Signal. Since in the last few weeks, it has been circulated widely on the Internet among members of the Church, Meridian confirmed its legitimacy with the newspaper editor who said with some puzzlement that he’d been swamped with calls asking the same question.

I have heard and seen enough! I have lived in the West all my life. I have worked with them. They have worked for me, and I for them. When I was young I dated their daughters. When I got married they came to my wedding. Now that I have daughters of my own, some of their sons have dated my daughters. I would be privileged if one of them were to become my son-in-law. I’m talking about the Mormons. They are some of the most honest, hard-working people I have ever known. They are spiritual, probably more than most other so-called religious people I have encountered. They study the Bible and teach from it. I have heard many times from the pulpits of others how evil and non Christian they are and that they will not go to heaven. I decided to attend one of their services to see for myself. What a surprise! What I heard and saw was just the opposite from what the religious ministers of the day were telling me. I found a very simple service with no fanfare. I found a people with a great sense of humor and a well-balanced spiritual side. There was no loud music, just a simple service, the members themselves giving the several short sermons. They serve their religion without pay in every conceivable capacity. None of their teachers, counselors, bishops or music directors receive one dime for the hours of labor they put in. The Mormons have a non-paid ministry—a fact not generally known. They urge their youth to be morally clean and live a good life. They teach the gospel of Christ, as they understand it. The name of their church is ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’ Does that sound like a non-Christian church to you? I asked them many questions about what they teach and why. I got answers that, in most cases, were from the New Testament. Their ideas and doctrines did not seem too far-fetched for my understanding. When I read their ‘Book of Mormon’ I was also very surprised to find just the opposite from what I had been told I would find.

Then I went to another church’s pastor to ask him some of the same questions about doctrine. To my surprise, when he found that I was in some way investigating the Mormons, he became hostile. He referred to them as a non-Christian cult. I received what sounded to me like evil propaganda against those people. He stated bluntly that they were not telling me the truth about what they stand for. He didn’t want to hear anything good about them. At first I was surprised, and then again, I wasn’t. I began to wonder. I have never known of a ‘cult’ that supports the Boy Scouts of America, but, according to the Boy Scouts, over a third of all the Boy Scout troops in the United States are Mormon. What cult do you know that has a welfare system second to none in this country? They have farms, canneries and cattle ranches to help take care of the unfortunate ones who might be down and out and in need of a little help. The Mormon Church has donated millions to welfare causes around the world without a word of credit. They have donated thousands to help re-build Baptist churches that were burned a few years ago. They have donated tons of medical supplies to countries ravaged by earthquakes. You never see them on TV begging for money. What ‘cult’ do you know of that instills in its members to obey the law, pay their taxes, serve in the military if asked, and be a good Christian by living high moral standards? Did you know that hundreds of thousands of Mormon youth get up before high school starts in the morning to attend a religious training class?

They have basketball and softball leagues and supervised youth dances every month. They are recruited by the FBI and every police department in the country because they are trustworthy. They are taught not to drink nor take drugs. They are in the Secret Service who protect the president. They serve in Congress and in the U.S. Senate and have been governors of several states other than Utah. They serve with distinction and honor. If you have Mormons living near, you will probably find them to be your best neighbors. They are Christians who try to live what they preach.

They are not perfect and they are the first to admit this. I have known some of them who could not live their religion, just like many of us.

The rhetoric which is spread around against them is nothing more than evil propaganda founded in untruths. Others had successfully demonized them to the point that the general public has no idea what they actually believe and teach. If you really want to know the truth, go see for yourself. You, also, will be surprised. When I first moved here some 25 years ago there were five Mormon wards. Now there are 15. They must be doing something right.

Paul Allen
Santa Clarita