Doctoral Studies

Last month, I was accepted in the doctoral program in theology with apologetics at North-West University, South Africa. I also received their bursary to cover all the costs. U.S. News & World Report ranks NWU as the 11th best university in Africa while uniRank's 2021 African University Ranking puts NWU as the 7th best! I am working from home on the dissertation. The tentative title is “Mormonism’s perennial racial problem is indicative of humanistic origins: A theological inquiry.” My supervisor Dr. Fohle Lygunda is Black and my assistant supervisor Dr. Raymond Potgieter is White, so I’m thankful for both their perspectives. Right now I have a lot of research on my plate as well as putting together a research proposal that will be incorporated into my first chapter. I also have to take some online ethics classes, apply for other matters, and keep in regular contact with my supervisor. The program is a maximum of 4 years, but I’m pushing to do it in a couple. I feel like, “What did I get myself into?” I have to keep reminding myself that God opened all these doors in His timing. But please keep me in prayer for this exciting though daunting adventure!

LDS Missionaries

I heard it again last month on my Zoom call with a couple LDS missionaries (you may watch that video here). I can't tell you how many billions of times I've heard it from Mormons. LDS missionary says, "Can you describe for me what salt tastes like?" Of course I've heard this from many Christians as well. The point is that they've experienced what they take to be goodness (in the case of Mormons, Joseph Smith and the LDS Church) and that's sufficient for it being true. But how does that follow? No one questions when one tastes salt and has their own experience of it. Most of the world, though, questions when one tastes the LDS Church and then assumes that this is identical to goodness. Sure one may experience Mormonism. That's descriptively true and happens all the time... even by non-Mormons! But how in the world does one get from that to the evaluative component, viz., that it is good? I may have an experience of tasting arsenic. Does it follow that I need to live off it and that it nourishes my body? Or perhaps I may not even taste the arsenic, but it’s still put into my food. My food may taste really good, but if the arsenic levels are high enough, it’s going to kill me!

So Mormon claims, "But Mormonism isn't arsenic; what I have is good!" Well, how do you know? Here comes the circle you've probably already foresaw... "Because I tasted it." Obviously that is persuasive for the Mormon, but hardly anyone else is persuaded by it. Of course it's LDS who have the Spirit and only those humble enough to be open for Him!

Please Mormons! Let me suggest to you that when you taste Mormonism, you aren't tasting goodness. You're ingesting a religious drug that is giving you a temporary fix, but the end result is hell.

MeetTheExMormons.org

We finally started up our Feast and Testimony meetings again! Last month we had our friend Jolene Phelps share her story of coming out of Mormonism and finding Christ. We had a great time having a lot of friends over, and hope you can make it some second Saturday of the month! Please check out Jolene’s video and see the pictures on the site.

We Need Your Partnership!

We not only need your prayers, but we need your financial partnership 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 tax-deductible 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 our sites. Please keep in mind we have no financial guarantees each month. Ministry partners come and go. If you’re not a partner and are blessed by these monthly updates, 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/or in your financial giving!

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).

Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6)!

Rob Sivulka
President, Courageous Christians United
P.O. Box 1374
West Jordan, UT 84084
(801) 792-6373 (leave message)
MormonInfo.org
MeetTheExMormons.org
JWinfo.org
MuhammadLied.Info
AbortionIsMurder.Info

Mailbag

How many people in here have actually read the whole Book of Mormon?

[I replied:] I have, along with the D&C and PGP. And I've prayed about all of them, and God told me they are false scripture.

[Another LDS replied:] really? what part did God say was false?

[I replied:] you can see that on my home page chart of differences on JosephLied.com.

[She replied:] ok the first thing you said was wrong, you have corrupted our teaching then compared them to others!!! do you even desire to be corrected?

[I replied:] what exactly was wrong when I'm quoting you? further if you guys can say God told you what you hold is true, we can do that as well.

[She replied:] The LDS Church is the only true church.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church (Doctrine and Covenants [D&C] 1;30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, (((((with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually)))))) all other churches (Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists are specifically mentioned in Joseph Smith, History 1:9, Pearl of Great Price) are "wrong," "all their creeds were an abomination," and "those professors (((were all corrupt")))) (Joseph Smith, History 1:19). ////////that was in the 1800's///////Those of creedal or traditional Christianity have adopted "pagan beliefs" and are part of "false Christianity" (Gospel Principles [2009], 92).////and they still have pagan beliefs?//// One either belongs to "the church of the Lamb of God" or to "the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth" (1 Nephi 14:10).????there IS a real church of the devil and NO ONE who belongs to it is in His church. But all who profess HIM Lord and Savior DO belong to His church!

3 mistakes already in the 1st paragraph? who made this list? lol the devil?

toss the whole second chapter because our doctrine shows and opens the way for the salvation of ALL except for those sons of perdition.

third paragraph apostasy in the sense the true authority from God to act in Jesus Name was lost. There have always been true believers it was the doctrine that was corrupted and we still see corrupted doctrine today?

shall I continue? You already got 3 strikes in the 1st paragraph no need to go through the whole list if that was what you wrote in the 1st paragraph?

Obviously you dont have it right?

If you are happy trying to prove a point that has no point I guess I that is your prerogative? But I would want to be sure what I said derogatory about a church was TRUE!!!

we use this as a guide to know good from evil; Moroni 7:14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; ((((for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.))))
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. (((((This is how we judge others if they are good or evil))))

[I replied:] so there is nothing untrue in what I quoted. You have a false Christ and those who have a false Christ aren't part of His Church. Smith excluded Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists as all wrong, all their creeds are an abomination, and all their professors are corrupt. Your church is of the devil.

[She replied:] you dont understand much that is obvious!

[I replied:] and God told me that was true and you are headed to hell unless you repent of your false god.

[She replied:] God doesnt talk like that!!! lol Besides I can hear His voice He can tell me anything I ask Him.

do you hear His voice?

[I replied:] you are blind with your neo-pagan, sci-fi, polytheistic, fertility cult.

[She replied:] did the Lord tell you to say that too? lol

[I replied:] yep

[She replied:] thanks because I was able to discern your spirit because I know and recognize the voice of my Lord Jesus Christ and that was not anything HE would say!!! lol

[I replied:] "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (Jesus in John 8:44). You aren't listening to the voice of the Lord Jesus, but a false Christ who wasn't big enough to create matter or Lucifer or even your spirit. That's not the Jesus of the Bible (John 1:1-3, 14, Rom. 9:5, 1 Cor. 8:6, and Col. 1:13-18). You need to repent before you go to hell. I love you enough to warn you.

[She replied:] If my Jesus cant save; me what makes you think yours can save you? When you just testified against Him?

Jesus saves NOT doctrine He judges us by our heart and the doctrine we embrace yes and that false Christ doctrine is from the adversary meant to deceive and divide and to condemn the believer in it...

I testify to you now; There is only One Jesus Christ Son of God Savior and Redeemer of the holy bible no matter how you or I see Him He does not Change. Anyone who professes HIS Name is in HIS hands and HE is their Judge. He has told us not to judge each other what did He mean?

[I replied:] Jesus also said earlier in John 8 that "Unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins" (24). This is why Paul said to beware of those who teach another Jesus (2 Cor. 11:3-4), and why he also said to watch not only your life, but your doctrine closely (1 Tim. 4:16). And that's why, again, Jesus taught that we should beware of false Christs (Mat. 24:24). If you don't have a false Christ, then I really don't know who does. You are making things up and they are not according to the word of God.

All the cults think their Jesus is the Jesus of the Bible, but obviously they can't all be true. You have a false one, since you have devalued Jesus by making him a creation rather than the Creator of all things outside Himself. You need to repent. He told us not to make hypocritical judgements when we have a log jam in our own eye as Mat. 7 says, but then He went on to teach us to use our discernment and beware of false prophets who have bad fruit. Jesus taught not to judge by appearance, but to make righteous judgments in John 7:24. It is a righteous judgment that Mormonism is leading you to hell, and only one who loves you enough would warn you about it.


[She replied:] You dont know who has a false Christ? Have you ever heard of Islam? 1 Corinthians 4:4
New Testament
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Who justifies us? Who died for us?

1 Corinthians 4:5
New Testament
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

How does Jesus Christ judge us? By our hearts? and our doctrine that we embrace reveals our hearts doesn't it? What we believe about God and Who we perceive Him to be reveals our hearts doesnt it?

It seems to me that you believe in an unjust God who sends people to burn for eternity, in a hell He created for just such a purpose, because they didnt believe correctly? Isnt that to say my doctrine saves not Jesus saves? Asking for a friend.

[I replied:] Yes, you may also check out my other sites: MuhammadLied.Info and JWinfo.org. God has spoken very clearly, and anyone who goes to hell goes there because of their own rebellion against the Good Shepherd in not listening to His voice (Jn. 10:27-8).

[She replied:] who does the bible tell us to turn to for corrections? Men or ourselves or who?

[I replied:] Are you trying to correct me? If so, should I listen to you?

[She replied:] I only listen to God myself I would advise you to do the same? also I am trying to correct your approach to the way you teach yes I think you are teaching without the understanding? about my church anyway I havent seen everything you have shared. things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2:11.
no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12:3.

Are you trying to correct me? If so, should I listen to you?///Do you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit reflected in my words? If so then listen if not dont listen? That is how I decide who I will hear and who I will not hear? I believe that is the way the bible shows us how to discern am I incorrect? If so correct me please?
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Good morning!  I am sending you a message to ask if church sessions are back in service.  For a few weeks the meetings were not held because of concerns about the Corona virus.  Is that still in effect?

[I replied:] Which church are you referring to? We have a monthly fellowship at our home that we just started up again last week after taking off 3 months. If you want the updates on that, then please sign up on MeetTheExMormons.org.

[He replied:] The church I have been attending is called The Eastridge Ward.  I do not have a car and this church is easy walking distance from my home.

[I replied:] So how did you get my email? I mean, I'm not a Mormon. I am a missionary who works at getting Mormons to convert to traditional Christianity. My main site to point out the errors of Mormonism is JosephLied.com. We are in West Jordan, UT. If you're around the Salt Lake area and would like to attend one of our meetings some 2nd Saturday of the month at 5 PM, we can arrange for someone to pick you up. But please sign up for the updates on the bottom right of MeetTheExMormons.org. Hit "Follow this site" and fill it out.

[He replied:] I am pleased with the Mormon church and have no desire to change religions.  I'll take a look at your web site.
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I you made me laugh when the picture of you in your New Year's hat was flipped over making the 2021 backwards.  Ha.  I really enjoyed your newsletter and to see your dad recover so well is great.

The book review of the Baptist who converted to LDS was superb, well-written, and well-documented.  I liked it.

Love and peace in Jesus,
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I didn’t read the book review [Wain Myers, “From Baptist Preacher to Mormon Teacher”] super-carefully, as I’m in a rush trying to do a bunch of stuff these days, but it looked well done, and the tone was such that I think the author could read it without taking offense – generally a good thing! I hope and pray that he reads it.
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It's just a small amount to let you know people are praying for your ministry. It comes from a Wed. night Bible study group that takes up small offerings for the month & then sends it to a chosen ministry that month. People in that Bible study remembered you coming to speak that time & added your ministry to the list. I pray your family is doing well and you are fighting the good fight as always.
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your disgusting excuse for a human (trump) lost in embarrassing fashion. The man who embodies all seven of the deadly sins (that you literally worship) lost in embarrassing fashion. How about being pro human and not just pro life? You would be taken more seriously if that were the case. As it stands now, you are just an embarrassment.
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Praying for you and yours. Utah has a special place in my heart. Long history.


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