Freedom for the Latter-day Saint Soul

By Judy Robertson

Have you ever wondered what the main differences are between the Latter-day Saint religion and Biblical/historical Christianity? This book reveals them in a unique way. Come alongside Judy Robertson as she interviews those who have questioned their religion. Learn how the unique nuances in LDS teachings can help you understand what holds the Latter-day Saint heart. 
The  candid answers from those whose lives have been set free will help you be prepared now, with the answers you need. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Sep 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9780979558894

Book preview

Glossary

Preface

Fool’s Gold

G littering in the sunlight with a mellow golden hue, the rock, iron pyrite, rescued from a bubbling brook looks like the real thing: a nugget of gold. But on closer examination we discover it’s only a river rock called fool’s gold, disguising itself as precious metal.

Mormonism is like fool’s gold. Outwardly it looks like Christianity with its wholesome family values and beautiful buildings, but when digging beneath its sparkling crust we see it is an imposter. It’s a religion of man, not one that holds the precious treasure of Christ’s gospel message within it. Unfortunately, many have been fooled by the Latter-day-Saint church, including me.

As I reflect on the years I turned my back on the cross, I see the emptiness that permeated my being as I strived to gain by my own efforts, what can only be gained by the cross...eternal life with Jesus. What I thought I had, in the different way I followed, I now see as futile striving.

Following the Mormon way made me feel as though I had more than many, because of latter-day revelation and a sense of superiority over others. But today I recognize that during my years in the LDS church, my soul was starved because I didn’t know Christ. I knew the Mormon way but I did not know the only way to salvation, which is in Christ.

It’s obvious to me now that before my journey away from the Jesus of the Bible, I hadn’t fully grasped the most important aspect of Christianity. I thought I was a pretty good person and I was an active member of a mainline Christian denomination. But I didn’t know Jesus on the heart level. I had no clue my lack of friendship with Him and only secondhand knowledge of the Bible made me a prime target for many of Satan’s lies.

The Mormons who followed their religion’s teachings on a daily basis appealed to me. After taking the six lessons given by Mormon missionaries, at age twenty-seven, I joined, along with my husband, Jim, and became an active member. I followed the Mormon religion because it looked like the religion I had grown up knowing. It wasn’t until I opened God’s Word to research a question I had about Mormonism that God led me back onto the highway of His love, grace, and mercy.

The One I follow now is Jesus Christ, born of a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem. He died in my place to cancel my sin, was buried, resurrected, and is preparing a place for me and for you in His home on high. I no longer follow a god who is flesh and bone and a Jesus who was a spirit-brother of Lucifer in a place called pre-existence.

As Jesus patiently waited for me to see the error of my ways, He is also patiently waiting for our dear Mormon friends who have followed the wrong Jesus onto a dead-end trail.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:16).

To you who are reading this book, I hope to show how the life of a Mormon is lived out through the teachings of its present-day prophets; how fear causes many to cling to its doctrines even when doubt encircles their hearts; how the warmth of acceptance and belonging often overshadows truth.

My hope is that after reading about the power Mormon doctrine has over the lives I write about, you will understand on a more personal level how Mormonism destroys the spirit. You will be better equipped to pass on truths from God’s Word, and so armed, hopefully win for the Lord some who remain captive in the prison of Mormonism.

Introduction

In this book we will examine what the late Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, said about God and other precepts accepted in the Latter-day Saint church today. These are then compared to traditional/historical Christianity.

Is it fair to compare religions? Yes, I believe showing the contrast between religions enables a person to more accurately judge truth. First and foremost we compare the object of worship. Who we worship determines our destiny. Each of us has within us a hunger to know God. Who that God is becomes the cornerstone of our faith.

Where a person gains his knowledge about God is essential information. The primary sourcebooks for the Christian and the Mormon are compared in chapter twelve. From this comparison we will discover vast differences between Christianity and Mormonism beginning with who is God and ending with What is the Church and how will we know it’s true.

As we will see, this comparison becomes imperative in view of the fact that Mormons claim to be Christian, and by outward appearances seem to be exactly that. Freedom for the Latter-day Saint Soul unveils the unseen aspects of the LDS way of life and their religious practices. It shows how the doctrine of the Mormon church affects its members and causes more havoc in their behavior than anyone on the outside would ever imagine. How do I know? I was a Mormon and have experienced the life this faith offers. But beyond that, over the past thirty plus years with Concerned Christians, an outreach to ex-Mormons and Mormons and a teaching arm of the body of Christ, I have seen many worn-out Latter-day Saints. Those who have left this religion come to us for help with picking up the pieces of their lives. Concerned Christians is a safe haven to talk about how the LDS doctrine has imperiled their spiritual, emotional, physical and social well-being.

On the following pages I will reveal what has been hidden. If we are to touch the lives of Mormons with Christ’s love, we must know what they have experienced in their culture, and what values, doctrines, and emotions have affected their lives.

The Bible says,

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible (Ephesians 5:11-13).

And we are admonished in 2 Timothy to:

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (4:2-4).

The purpose of this book is for you to understand fully what takes place in the lives of your friends, neighbors, or relatives who are Mormon as a result of Joseph Smith’s unsound doctrine. You will see, too, how lives have been changed as biblical truth replaces the counterfeit. From this place of understanding, my prayer is that where formerly you may have experienced quarreling about words (2 Timothy 2:14), this manner will be replaced with kindness and love, as you are enabled to gently plant seeds of everlasting life in Christ.

I pray that what you find on these pages will someday be the key that sets free, a heart locked in Mormonism. The Biblical Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting...show your friend the Way.

Chapter One

The Only True Church

Two clean-cut young men ring a doorbell, offering a video about Jesus’ ministry and miracles. The back cover of the video says: Ponder these scriptural events, that you too may believe in Him and have everlasting life. How can a church that appears so good possibly be wrong? Before my husband and I became Mormon many years ago, this was the question I pondered.

Unfortunately, the well-rehearsed message presented by LDS missionaries to the non-LDS prospect contains borrowed terms from traditional Christianity. These are used in such a skillful way that people are convinced the message is purely Christian. Many nominal Christians over the years have bought into this message, including my husband and me.

As a new convert, I began following the laws and ordinances laid out by the Mormon church leaders. However, what I thought was a Christian message began to evolve ever so slowly into something quite different. In a multitude of activities including Sunday school, Sacrament (chapel) service, family home evening devotionals, relief society for women, and articles in the official magazines by LDS leaders—another gospel, one not found in the Bible, was presented to me. Like the frog in a pot of cool water that didn’t feel the heat turning up ever so slowly, I didn’t recognize the gradual deadening of my soul. And I, like all Mormons, anticipated receiving a temple recommend after proof of my worthiness. In the LDS temple I, too, participated in rituals that were anything but Christian and yet I remained Mormon.

Mormons Make Great Neighbors

The actions we see in Mormon members are the actions of a Christian. We see them helping their members when they’re down and out. Mormons participate in worthy community projects, often leading them. And no one could ask for better neighbors. How, then, can anyone say they are not Christian?

Certainly the outside of Mormonism looks good. But what of the actions we don’t see? What is happening in the Mormon heart where only God sees? What hidden lessons in the temple are only worthy Mormons allowed access? How do these and other unique LDS doctrines affect and direct the lives of Mormons?

Even though Mormons make great neighbors, and many people and communities have been helped in numerous ways by Mormons, we must examine the principles upon which their lives are based. In this way we will see the hidden side of Mormonism, the other dimension of the LDS life.

The Only True Church

I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that (the current LDS prophet)is the living prophet today. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. So say millions of Mormons when bearing their testimony to encourage other members and to convince themselves and nonbelievers of the truthfulness of the Mormon gospel.

Those who were born into the church are woven into its fabric by family heritage. Being an integral part of this unique organization, called by the faithful the only true church, sets Mormons apart from the rest of the world and instills in them a sense of pride. They know with an absolute certainty that their prophet will give them all the latest news from God. In fact, the prophet’s words are treated as though they come directly from God.

An official LDS magazine quotes a ward teachers’ message: "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan—it is God’s plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy" (The Improvement Era, June 1945, p. 354, emphasis added). As a result, Mormons have said, I believe what I’m told to believe.

In America, we are grateful for our freedom and, along with that, we do our own thinking. For most Americans, choosing to allow another to do the thinking, even though that person is highly revered, is out of the question. Why then do Mormons choose to believe, without question, everything their prophets tell them? How has belief in the only true church overshadowed most Mormons’ desire to think for themselves?

Carl, who was born and raised Mormon and had completed his two year LDS mission, said, "There were times I would doubt [the prophet] but I would say to myself that was the devil lying to me and quickly put it out of my mind. Bottom line, it was not okay to doubt."

Kelly, also a generational Mormon, when he returned from his LDS mission admitted that belonging to the only true church made him feel superior! I was full of arrogance towards any other church, religion, or opinions. I always felt I had something to hold over the heads of my friends who weren’t Mormon.

Wendy, whose entire family is still Mormon, agreed, saying that she felt like all other churches were evil. Mormon doctrine teaches this.

Lifestyle of the Mormon

The path toward only true church belief begins during childhood. As soon as a Mormon child is old enough to say his name, he is encouraged to stand at a child-sized podium before his Sunday school class and bear his testimony. This testimony is repeated numerous times throughout the maturing years so that by the time a Mormon reaches adolescence, it has become a part of his mind-set. Even converts who were not raised in the LDS church profess to know the Mormon church is the only true church.

LDS resources for children are professionally produced to capture a child’s imagination. Stories from the Book of Mormon are carefully written and illustrated in volumes for Mormon youth. The young people in the Primary organization hear stories that give glowing accounts of the admirable character traits and lives of the LDS prophets. The children, awed by these stories, hold these prophets in highest regard.

Children love to sing, and in Primary they’re taught songs with catchy tunes about Mormon life: Pioneer Children, I Hope They Call Me on a Mission, Choose the Right, I Love to See the Temple, I Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, We Follow the Prophet, and the Articles of Faith set to music to help in memorization.

Young people are actively integrated into church leadership at an early age. Twelve-year-old boys who are confirmed a member of the Church and worthy may be ordained to the office of deacon (Gospel Principles, 2009 edition published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, p. 75). Deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop are all offices of the Aaronic Priesthood. This, and a higher priesthood to be discussed later, is unique to the LDS church. Preparation for this priesthood begins in the LDS-sponsored church program for young boys at the age of eleven. At fourteen, a worthy boy may be ordained a teacher and prepare the bread and water for sacrament—an ordinance in which bread and water are blessed and passed to all members of the church (Gospel Principles, p.75). At sixteen he may be ordained a priest if he is worthy. At this age he may baptize. He may also administer the sacrament. He may ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons (Gospel Principles, p.76).

Teenagers, both male and female, may participate in the temple ordinance called baptism for the dead. The youth perform these baptisms in a separate area of the temple set aside for this purpose alone. They may be baptized hundreds of times per session, each time taking on the name of a dead person and by proxy perform sacred works for the deceased. This gives the young person a feeling of doing something very important.

LDS youth activities, viewed as fun

Sonya, an active LDS member up until her mid-twenties, remembers being excited about her first group trip as a twelve-year-old to perform the baptism for the dead ritual.

It was something you look forward to, getting to go into the temple. I felt grown up. At each step in my childhood I got to do something new and exciting. At fourteen it was the dances. At sixteen I got to date. Mutual was fun. Whenever we went on trips together we went out to eat—it was a social thing. All my friends talked about what we were doing. The idea of being with friends at all these events helped me feel accepted.

Wendy, from a