August 9, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

Tara, Renae, and Rob
Last month one of our members from the Dallas, TX Ex-Mormon Meetup Group was baptized. It has been very encouraging to watch Renae get her name removed from the LDS Church records as well as get baptized at her church. Afterwards, Tara and I went to Renae's Sunday School class and got to share a little about our ministry to primarily Mormons, and distribute the Jesus Christ/Joseph Smith DVD.

Tara and I also got to meet with a guy while his family was at the LDS ward. He has grown up LDS and now knows Mormonism isn't true, but is having a difficult time with his hardcore LDS wife. The biggest fight they now have is whether to have diet coke in the refrigerator! He told us that he was denied his temple recommend, not because he has doubts about God and Jesus, but because he has issues with keeping the word of wisdom (the LDS dietary health code).

This is the bondage of keeping up with the externals that Jesus continued to rail the Pharisees about. He taught, "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man" (Matthew 15:11). LDS have such a difficult time understanding the genuine freedom we have in Christ, who transforms the life from the inside through faith.

We ended our time with this guy by praying for him and his family, but he certainly needs much more prayer.

The Dallas, TX Ex-Mormon Meetup watching "Lifting the Veil of Polygamy"
At our last Ex-Mormon Meetup Group, we watched the new DVD by Living Hope Ministries called Lifting the Veil of Polygamy. This is a well-done video that takes a personal look at the subject through the eyes of Mormons, Fundamentalist Mormons, and former members of these groups. It is really heartbreaking to see all the oppression this doctrine has created, but it is also encouraging to see all those that left this lifestyle and came to Christ.

I have created a new tract that I will be taking door to door soon, and I encourage you to do the same. It's entitled Beware of False Prophets, and it specifically warns about Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses who continue to come to our doors. It also has relevance for other groups that continue to devalue our Lord and Savior.

Your financial contributions and prayers make this ministry possible. We need your continued support. Thank you so much for your concern and prayers for this ministry, and for those trapped by false religions and philosophies. We ask that you consider and pray about supporting us on a monthly basis, so we can return and stay in Utah. We would like to have enough of a support base that would enable us to move back in about a couple years.

Rob Sivulka
President, Courageous Christians United
[email protected]

****MORE PRAYER REQUESTS****

1. For more salvations through this ministry
2. For Tara's LDS family, and Jehovah's Witness friends Michelle and Jolee
3. For Rob's continued doctoral studies at the University of Utah
4. For Tara to finish her undergraduate studies soon
5. For our monthly ex-Mormon meetup group
6. For speaking venues
7. For guidance in developing JWinfo.org

****MAILBAG****

Your website is so wonderful. I live in Idaho where I am surrounded by those of the LDS faith. Your website is based so clearly on the very Word they try to manipulate, there is no refuting your arguments. I appreciate all you do, and I completely agree with everything you say - hate isn't the answer. :) Keep up the good work!
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If Jesus said love everyone, then wouldnt hating mormons kind of be breaking his rules? Thank you
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Hey, Thanks again to both you and Tara for the movie [Lifting the Veil of Polygamy] Fri....I'm so glad I was able to be there and see that. It just reminds me how fortunate I am to have gotten out and to be where I am.
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I've heard rumors about this so-called "New Mormon Exodus" where thousands of people have left the church in recent years. Have you heard about this & do you know of an official source? Thanks,

[I responded:] I wouldn't say recently, but for years now it's been becoming more difficult to retain their members... slowly but increasingly. Check out: HERE, HERE, and HERE.

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