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LDS Missionaries

Last month I talked to the same Mormon missionaries I talked with the month before. They were walking in my neighborhood again. I asked them if they considered anything I told them the last time we talked. One told me as long as God keeps telling him that the LDS Church is true, he’ll continue believing it. I challenged them again on their feelings leading them astray. I asked if God could use facts instead of their feelings to speak to them. This time they only gave me a minute before they started walking away. So as they went across the street, I told them that they will never be gods of their own worlds someday, and to please check my site out: "JosephLied.com." They told me to read the Book of Mormon, and I said that I had and it was garbage. I think it’s time to “shake the dust off my feet” with these guys.

Gym Ministry and More LDS Missionaries

One day I got done at the gym, picked up the kids, and sat down waiting for Tara. An elderly guy next to me was reading some LDS book with Joseph Smith's picture, so I asked him if he believes Joseph Smith. He said, "Yes," so I asked him, "Why would you believe him when he's been proven to be a false prophet?" I listed off how he mistranslated the Book of Abraham, how he lied about us becoming gods contradicting what the Bible has taught, and how he lied about translating the Book of Mormon. He said he's been a missionary for 40 years, and I wasn't going to convince him since he has a testimony--God told him. So I challenged him on his testimony being from God and that the Bible says there's a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Prov. 14:12). I told him that his feelings are deceiving him and l love him and don't want to see him go to hell.

At this point, his angry wife came. She just wanted to leave, but said she "didn't care about the facts," since “facts can be twisted.” I told her that their testimony can be twisted. They know what they know and nothing was going to change that. I told them that the Bible says in 2 Thes. 2:11 that God has given them a strong delusion to believe a lie. They began walking out, so I followed them out, since Tara had already came by and got the kids and went out to the car. I then told the couple that they'll never be gods. She said, "That's for God to decide." I told her that God has already decided, since He said in His word, "Before me there was no god formed, nor shall there be after me" (Isa. 43:10). She said I was misinterpreting that. Some other things were said, but I really felt sorry for this old couple, since they're probably nearer to death and judgment than most of us.

It’s funny how God works things out. I had to come back to the gym after I got home, since I left my necklace in the locker. After I picked up the necklace, I pulled in the high school parking lot across the street, right in front of a couple LDS missionary guys. I rolled down the window and simply gave them the Jesus Christ/Joseph Smith DVD.

Taylor

Tara and I have been witnessing to this interesting guy named Taylor at this place we frequent. He’s been raised LDS, and continues to identify as LDS, but is aware of many of the historical problems of the faith. I gave him my card, and he checked out my site. I also later gave him the Jesus Christ/Joseph Smith DVD. He says that he’s got good friends who are atheist and evangelical Christian, and they have also been giving him a lot to think about. I’ve been trying to persuade him of the objectivity of religion and that it’s much more than a subjective enterprise like picking your favorite ice cream. He’s a very open guy for an LDS. So we’d appreciate your prayers for God to continue drawing him to Himself. 

At Temple Square
At Temple Square
Temple Square


I had more good conversations at Temple Square last month. A middle-age man named Michael came up to me and asked me if I had anything better to do with my time. He said it in a nice, joking way, quite unlike every other Mormon that asks me this. I was able to clearly articulate the differences with our faith and what the Bible teaches. Like most LDS I talk with, he claimed that one can’t say he’s saved and then commit idolatry or teach false doctrine, for example.

LDS are simply blinded to the born-again experience in which God creates new life and new desires to serve Him when genuine faith is exercised. That doesn’t entail that believers are perfect, but it does entail that they are saved and God works through them to make them more like Himself. LDS never get their foot in the door of new life to begin with, since 1) they are always trusting in doing all they can do before God accepts them into His kingdom, and 2) they are following a false god and need to repent. When new birth occurs, then we truly become children of God. LDS simply assume we’re all children of God, but some are more worthy than others to obtain His kingdom.

Michael asked what my problem was with the Book of Mormon, so I immediately went to the white-supremacist, racist passages where God curses people with “dark skin,” and as they repent their curse is taken and they get “white skin.” Michael told me that he understood that to be allegorical of an inward character, but admitted that this was his own personal opinion without any church backing. I told him that indeed his understanding doesn’t make sense of how the Church has always taught the Lamanites were the (now “primary”) ancestors of the American Indians, who have dark skin, and it also doesn’t fit with the context in which God *physically* separates them from the Nephites. God doesn’t want the races intermarrying each other! These are physical matters. 

I really enjoyed Michael. I asked if I could pray for him and asked if he had any needs I could pray about. He couldn’t think of any, so I simply asked God to open his eyes and draw Him to Himself.

I also had a couple nice conversations in one day with a BYU student named Christina. The first was doctrinal—primarily on what the Bible teaches about monotheism vs. what Mormon scripture teaches in the Pearl of Great Price. The second conversation was basically a get-to-know-you one that happened after she got out from attending a wedding in the temple. We discovered that her brother had studied under my mother-in-law when he was at BYU. However, I also indirectly encouraged her to research information on the internet. She asked if I saw success doing what I do, so I explained to her how many people visit my site when I advertise it and that many LDS are leaving as a result of the internet.

Meet the Ex-Mormons Fellowship

We had Vicki Andersen share her story at last month’s fellowship. You may watch her story here and see the pictures here.  

Summer Mission Trips

In addition to the Philadelphia LDS temple opening this August, there is also an LDS temple opening in Ft. Collins, Colorado during that same month.  The former goes from August 5th - September 3rd.  The latter goes from August 19th – September 10th.  I am planning on flying back to Philly on August 10th and then taking a family road trip out to Colorado on August 27th.

Here’s a new video I made explaining “Why You Should Support My Mission Work at LDS Temple Openings.”

If you are interested in helping make this happen, we need to hear from you soon.  I need to make arrangements soon.  Praise God, I am now over half of what I need to make this happen.

We Need Your Partnership!

We not only need your prayers, but we need your financial assistance as well.  Keep in mind that your investment is not simply for us, but for the lives of others we reach with the gospel.  The standard way to financially invest is by writing a check to Courageous Christians United (CCU).  For more information on various ways to invest in this ministry, including online giving, please see our “Invest” page on any of our sites.  Please keep in mind we have no financial guarantees each month. Ministry partners come and go.  If you’re not a partner, please consider joining our team and let us know soon.  We’d love to be your missionaries here in Utah.  Many thanks to those of you who hold us up in prayer and in your financial giving!

We need 50 people to give $10.  We also need 50 people to give $25.  25 people that can give $50.  14 people that can give $100.  I'm asking you to commit to at least either 12 or 24 months.

We expect God to provide for our needs through you.  Why?  Because the Bible is clear: “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14).

 

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Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6)!

Rob Sivulka
President, Courageous Christians United
(801) 738-0539
CourageousChristiansUnited.org
MormonInfo.org
JWinfo.org
MuslimInfo.org

****ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS****

1.  Health and protection for our whole family
2.  Tara’s family to be saved
3.  Wisdom in all our dealings
4.  Strength to keep going

****MAILBAG****

I appreciate your info. I am so frustrated. I have been a lifelong LDS, (Faithful) member. However, my eyes are now open, but I don't have any real support to help me leave the LDS faith. I don't want to disappoint my family, especially my Parents and Husband. I have been searching for Christ and wanting to feel his love for a long time! And now that I have found him I feel so alone in my own little world. Although I am comforted and happy to finally feel loved by God. In that my Salvation does not depend on my husband. At least if I am to go to the highest degree of Glory... According the lds faith. I now realize that we are all equal in the eyes of the lord and I will not be a baby factory in the eternities. (Although I did love the idea of having spirit children.) But the sweet simple truth of Grace and that Jesus died for all my sins and does not require a lifetime of "WORKS" gives me such joy and happiness. I cannot express the joy I feel knowing that the Bible and Christianity is so pure and loving. I use to be the most judgemental. I still feel that I can be judgmental, out of habit! But I catch myself and I feel more compassion, love, and peace for others, especially those whose sin was visible! Mormonism is all about a LOOK, putting on the appearance of "Perfection." No wonder Utah is known to have the most people on Prozac and watch Porn. People are not happy in the LDS faith. Especially, Women. We feel that we have to look perfect, that if we don't keep our men in line, that we have not done our jobs. The LDS women strive to make everyone else think that they are good and holy. I don't mean to be bashful, but I went to church today and when I go, those old feelings come back to me. That I am not good enough and that I will never be good enough. I should not feel like crying when I leave church. I should feel uplifted and loved. However, I went because I felt pressured.. I have kids who have social groups, and a husband who has self guilt because he thinks I have left the church because he was looking at Porn! LOL.... So he thinks if he goes to church and demonstrates he is doing better, that I will put on the garments again.. What should I say! ?? I love him... I refused to go to the Bishop about his Porn, because I refused to force him to be good. Now I have forgiven him, don't feel upset about his sins, because after all I am a SINNER too! But he does not understand I am not leaving because I am mad at the church. I have come to the understanding that the "Garments" and Temple Ordinances are a mockery to Jesus's most precious gift of Grace! I have finally found Jesus Christ and I know he loves me! I finally understand Grace and it gives me great joy! So I go to church in order to keep the peace! It does not make me happy, but the more I read the Bible the more I know, God does not want me to leave my husband because we don't see things the same way. I truly believe that with time, he will find Jesus Christ too. That he will feel the love and know him. That when he finally knows Jesus like I do, he will be able to share the joy I know feel. However, I sometimes am afraid, and doubt my ability to be strong. So by coming to your website, I have found strength again today. If that makes any sense. Thanks for being a voice to people like me. Without groups like this, I would have never found the truth and would never understand Grace! I would have continued just silently doing what I was told to do. "Enduring to the END" Thinking that my reward would be eternal life as a Godly Wife having Spirit children for eternity!
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Thank you for accepting my request. When the Lord first lead me and my family out of the Mormon Church I enjoyed watching videos by you and others as you preached the gospel to the Mormons. They were very helpful in helping me replace the lies I learned in Mormonism with the truth of God. I still like to watch those videos, they're a reminder of what the Lord has saved me from and how lost the Mormons really are. :(
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I appreciate the website... but I absolutely LOVE the "bruised" Mormons trying in vain to defend their "church". Just a note to these people: these sites are NEVER going to go away... in fact, they are multiplying rapidly. The internet is destroying the church, and even the "Brethren" are baffled as to what to do to try and close Pandora's box. THIS "box" contains truth, not bogus gold plates.
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Really enjoyed the gathering at your home last month.  Thanks for serving Christ, and thank you for your generous hospitality.  It was a pleasure to have met you and your beautiful family.  God bless
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Why to believe in Jesus Christ? What is the only thing to be able to get by believing in Jesus Christ?

[I replied:] Not sure what your second question is asking, but I believe in Jesus for a number of different reasons.  Primarily, historians overwhelmingly agree He existed.  The New Testament gives eyewitness accounts of 1) how He fulfilled prophecy written about Him in the Old Testament concerning a number of circumstances, and 2) He worked miracles, especially raising Himself from the dead, which He prophesied He would do (Jn. 2:19-21).  The fact of the resurrection makes Christianity the most falsifiable religion.  If they would have produced the body of Jesus, Christianity would have been proven false.  The disciples lives were radically changed, as well as Western Civilization on the basis of these facts.

As a result, I hold to what Jesus taught.  He claimed to be God in the flesh and to be the only way to the Father.  He claimed to die as the Passover Lamb to pay for all our sin, since He loves us.  I don't know of anyone else who can sufficiently take care of our obvious sin problem we naturally have and know we have with the Creator.  Jesus saves from sin and ultimately hell.

He has fulfilled my life and is all I need, so I continue to follow Him as the Lord of my life, and I invite you to do the same.  Nothing else will satisfy you.

As a result, I don't know why I wouldn't trust Him.

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I've noticed the signs that read, "Joseph Lied.com". Yes indeed, Joseph lied. With that as the starting point I've pondered if there could be a better way to get the message out. Maybe we (ExMos) should state what the Book of Mormon is, when it was written, by whom, why etc. Would such a message be more readily received?

[I replied:] If you want to go after a mass audience, then no.  I don't know of a better way to get people to go into the privacy of their own home and do some research by checking a web site out.  The stats are clear that people remember the site easily and go check it out.  No doubt about it.  Now if you're in conversation with a friend or family member, then you obviously should try something else.  Also keep in mind that if their hearts are set against God, then nothing you say or do is going to matter.  There is no smoking gun that will bring LDS to repent.  I can tell you that God is indeed using the internet to bring many LDS out and to Himself.  Even emeritus general authority Marlin Jensen has admitted that the general authorities are worried about LDS leaving in droves due to the internet.
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I do thank the Lord so much for your continued work to enable the Mormons to understand the truth of Jesus Christ and so that they can be free from the believing the lies that they have bought into.  ...keep on keeping on in the face of the evil spirits which are present through that cult of Mormonism. God be with you brother; along with your family!


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