Ex-Mormon roll call

[happyinhisgrace]

There already is one. It is called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Didn't they change their name to "Community of Christ"?

 

[A New Dawn]

Didn't they change their name to "Community of Christ"?

Yes, they did.

 

[jezusfreak]

OK, I've lost complete track of our ex-mormon posters. Can I get a shout from all whom God pulled from that organization?

Also, if you care so share how long you were mormon, and how long ago you came out?

Baptized LDS when I was 10...went to church some but didn't stay faithful as I always new that there was something wrong within that place. Lived with the LDS people all my life...care very much for most of them...the rest the Lord is helping me with that. Mom died almost 5 years ago at the age of 52....had her funeral in the Mormon church...requested the song.."AMAZING GRACE" to be sang at the services and was told by the Bishop..."There are much better songs than that"..that gave me another heads up. I am married to a man who practed the LDS faith...but Praise the Lord...he has been saved as well. We started to delve into the Bible and the BoM and the other books and they themselves showed us that the LDS religion is a fraud...by the doctrine of the church and the ENLIGHTENMENT of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us...we saw the light and the lies for what they are. The emptiness that was always within me...only went away after Jesus saved my sorry bottom. NOW I have peace from within that is abounding....nothing like I ever knew could be. The yoke of Jesus is so easy...for He is in control of it all...I find great peace and rest in that and in Him. I don't need the ever changing winds of doctrine that the LDS teach....it gets so confusing ...hmmm...what is that we believe this week? And as the Bible states "Satan is the Author of confusion"!!!!!!

 

[Ave Maria]

Yes, they did.

Hey, just curious but why is that a bad thing? Sorry, I just don't understand why.

Oh, and no, I'm not an ex-Mormon. I have always been a Protestant Christian and was raised Southern Baptist for the most part.

 

[Wrigley]

Baptized LDS when I was 10...went to church some but didn't stay faithful as I always new that there was something wrong within that place. Lived with the LDS people all my life...care very much for most of them...the rest the Lord is helping me with that. Mom died almost 5 years ago at the age of 52....had her funeral in the Mormon church...requested the song.."AMAZING GRACE" to be sang at the services and was told by the Bishop..."There are much better songs than that"..that gave me another heads up. I am married to a man who practed the LDS faith...but Praise the Lord...he has been saved as well. We started to delve into the Bible and the BoM and the other books and they themselves showed us that the LDS religion is a fraud...by the doctrine of the church and the ENLIGHTENMENT of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us...we saw the light and the lies for what they are. The emptiness that was always within me...only went away after Jesus saved my sorry bottom. NOW I have peace from within that is abounding....nothing like I ever knew could be. The yoke of Jesus is so easy...for He is in control of it all...I find great peace and rest in that and in Him. I don't need the ever changing winds of doctrine that the LDS teach....it gets so confusing ...hmmm...what is that we believe this week? And as the Bible states "Satan is the Author of confusion"!!!!!!

Cool.

What Reformed church do you attend?

 

[jezusfreak]

Cool.

What Reformed church do you attend?

Wrigley,
I unfortunatly live in a very small community where there isn't much to choose from. I live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere so every other weekend I attend a small Baptist church in a town about 70 miles from where I live. On the opposite Sunday's we go to a friends house about 30 miles from home and have a very small Bible study with a Pastor that comes from the other town that is 70 miles away. He also believes the way that you and I do. From what I understand there aren't many within the Baptist church that we attend that believe the same way. They are more into the theology of the the FREE WILL...not the soveignty of God. But I hold everything that I am taught up to scripture...I have to...I have been burned to many times. Where is it that you attend fellowship?

ysic
Sandy

 

[Wrigley]

Wrigley,
I unfortunatly live in a very small community where there isn't much to choose from. I live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere so every other weekend I attend a small Baptist church in a town about 70 miles from where I live. On the opposite Sunday's we go to a friends house about 30 miles from home and have a very small Bible study with a Pastor that comes from the other town that is 70 miles away. He also believes the way that you and I do. From what I understand there aren't many within the Baptist church that we attend that believe the same way. They are more into the theology of the the FREE WILL...not the soveignty of God. But I hold everything that I am taught up to scripture...I have to...I have been burned to many times. Where is it that you attend fellowship?

ysic
Sandy

I live in an area that has many Reformed congregations. I attend a United Reformed Church now.

 

[A New Dawn]

Hey, just curious but why is that a bad thing? Sorry, I just don't understand why.

Oh, very long explanation, but I can try to do it in a nutshell.

In 1829, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon (through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit.)
In 1830, Joseph Smith and 5 other men organized the Church of Jesus Christ.
In 1833 or so, God directed Joseph Smith to change the name of the church to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
In the late 1830's and early 1840's, the church started practicing and believing many doctrines that were not Biblical, nor were they part of the church as organized in 1830.
In 1844, Joseph Smith was killed. Prior to his murder, he designated his son, Joseph Smith, III, to assume the leadership of the church. After his death, many people claimed leadership, including Brigham Young, who took the bulk of the church west to Utah, rebaptized everyone, and continued practicing the things that they started in Nauvoo, adding to them (openly) polygamy/celestial marriage, the endowment ceremonies, etc.
1844-1860 Many factions who claimed succession withered and died. In 1852, two men, independently from each other, had visions that stated that they should follow the commandments given to the early church, and God would provide a leader.
In 1860, Joseph Smith, III, presented himself to the church established in 1852 to be their leader, stating that God directed him there. (This was the faction that became the RLDS.)
During this time, all the factions continued using the name "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". The group that was to become the RLDS church also used that name, but several years later, in a court case which was decided that the RLDS church was the legal successor, they were denied the right to use the name because the Utah church had used it uninterrupted for 16 years. So the faction led by Joseph Smith, III, added reorganized to the name, but kept the rest the same since they believed that God gave them that name for the church.

The RLDS church today is well on the way to becoming a liberal protestant religion, and is laying aside all those things that defined it as a restored church, including the name. There are those of us who continue to believe that those things that were restored in the early 1830's were divine in nature, and that they should continue to be adhered to.

 

[happyinhisgrace]

Oh, very long explanation, but I can try to do it in a nutshell.

In 1829, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon (through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit.)
In 1830, Joseph Smith and 5 other men organized the Church of Jesus Christ.
In 1833 or so, God directed Joseph Smith to change the name of the church to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
In the late 1830's and early 1840's, the church started practicing and believing many doctrines that were not Biblical, nor were they part of the church as organized in 1830.
In 1844, Joseph Smith was killed. Prior to his murder, he designated his son, Joseph Smith, III, to assume the leadership of the church. After his death, many people claimed leadership, including Brigham Young, who took the bulk of the church west to Utah, rebaptized everyone, and continued practicing the things that they started in Nauvoo, adding to them (openly) polygamy/celestial marriage, the endowment ceremonies, etc.
1844-1860 Many factions who claimed succession withered and died. In 1852, two men, independently from each other, had visions that stated that they should follow the commandments given to the early church, and God would provide a leader.
In 1860, Joseph Smith, III, presented himself to the church established in 1852 to be their leader, stating that God directed him there. (This was the faction that became the RLDS.)
During this time, all the factions continued using the name "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". The group that was to become the RLDS church also used that name, but several years later, in a court case which was decided that the RLDS church was the legal successor, they were denied the right to use the name because the Utah church had used it uninterrupted for 16 years. So the faction led by Joseph Smith, III, added reorganized to the name, but kept the rest the same since they believed that God gave them that name for the church.

The RLDS church today is well on the way to becoming a liberal protestant religion, and is laying aside all those things that defined it as a restored church, including the name. There are those of us who continue to believe that those things that were restored in the early 1830's were divine in nature, and that they should continue to be adhered to.

Jenda, reading through your list, I had several questions pop up. Do you not believe that JS was a polygamist or that he started the lds temple ceremonies? It sounds like you think BY did that.

 

[Ave Maria]

Oh ok. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[A New Dawn]

Jenda, reading through your list, I had several questions pop up. Do you not believe that JS was a polygamist or that he started the lds temple ceremonies? It sounds like you think BY did that.

I know that all the things that were practiced in Utah after Brigham Young took them there were practiced in Nauvoo, either openly (like baptism for the dead), or secretly (like celestial wivery and the endowment ceremony.) I know that Joseph Smith was involved in them in some way, but I do not believe that he introduced them. In fact, there is evidence that Brigham Young brought the idea of polygamy to the church from a polygamous cult he was proselyting to shortly after he came to the church. I do believe that baptism for the dead, while practiced openly, was not a divine ordinance, as evidenced by the wording of RLDS section 107 (Utah section 124). And I believe that Joseph Smith realized the error polygamy shortly before his death because of the presence of a private letter he wrote to his brother. I know some say he proclaimed monogamy publically and privately encouraged polygamy, and maybe he did for a while, but this letter, which was private, leads me to believe that either that was a false observation, or he changed his mind. I believe that it was this changing of his mind that got him killed. I do not believe that there is sufficient evidence to say he practiced polygamy, as most of the "evidence" is hearsay. There is only one account that could possibly be true.

 

[neocon]

Yes, they did.

Trying to hide the Mormonism from the unwary until they are snagged I assume.

 

[A New Dawn]

Trying to hide the Mormonism from the unwary until they are snagged I assume.

Boy, are you out of the loop. I'll let you do your own research.

 

[Katzpur]

Hi grace-

I've tried to explain to other LDS friends that typically denomination doesn't matter that much, but separating Jesus, and the relationship, from the church is still a stumbling block. When one realizes you can have ALL of what He has without the "church", it is a big "aha" moment.

Christopher,

I realize you think we're all pretty dense, but there are many, many Christians for whom denomination matters a great deal. If it doesn't to you, that's fine. And if you choose to call yourself a non-denominational Christian, that explains your position pretty well to me. But I know of very few Catholics who would be choose to attend a Pentacostal church (or visa versa) just because the place and time of the service were more convenient. Mormons certainly aren't the only ones who feel that denominational differences are significant and who choose to belong to a specific denomination because they believe what they hear taught in its worship services. Millions never have that big "aha" moment you describe.

Kathryn

 

[christopher123]

Christopher,

I realize you think we're all pretty dense,

No not all, but if you feel the need to put on persecuted cloak, you aren't the first mormon to do so.

But I know of very few Catholics who would be choose to attend a Pentacostal church (or visa versa) just because the place and time of the service were more convenient. Mormons certainly aren't the only ones who feel that denominational differences are significant and who choose to belong to a specific denomination because they believe what they hear taught in its worship services. Millions never have that big "aha" moment you describe.

Very poor example because of Catholicism's "only true church" stand like the LDS.

Chris <><

 

[Katzpur]

No not all, but if you feel the need to put on persecuted cloak, you aren't the first mormon to do so.

That wasn't my intention. It just sounded as if you were kind of frustrated that we just didn't seem to get it. I apologize if I misread you.

Very poor example because of Catholicism's "only true church" stand like the LDS.

Okay, let's take two protestant denominations then. I know a lot of Baptists who are pretty convinced that what they believe is more correct than what the Episcopanians believe. All I am saying, Christopher, is that while I would agree with you that for some, denomination doesn't matter, for others it matters very much. Would you agree?

 

[calgal]

That wasn't my intention. It just sounded as if you were kind of frustrated that we just didn't seem to get it. I apologize if I misread you.


Okay, let's take two protestant denominations then. I know a lot of Baptists who are pretty convinced that what they believe is more correct than what the Episcopanians believe. All I am saying, Christopher, is that while I would agree with you that for some, denomination doesn't matter, for others it matters very much. Would you agree?

No. Because the basis of the belief the Episcopalian and Baptist share is identical: Jesus Alone. Unlike the mormons who venerate man, the reverence and awe is reserved in Historical Christianity for Jesus ALONE.

 

[Jason of Wyoming]

Doctrinal differences aside, Christians still believe in the same GOD.

 

[oldrooster]

I am equi-distance between Richmond, Va Beach, and Raleigh, NC.

Most everyone here is Southern Baptist. A lot of small country "family" type churches with a pastor having several on his charge. We attended one of the more conservative ones for a while. Don't know if I told you this or not, but a couple of the more fundamentalist families kept going around saying we were really still mormons and there as missionaries to lead everyone away. Freaking idiots! I got tired of it and right now we have the kids involved in the "big town" baptist church youth program. It is more social than bible, so we will see how it goes.

The closest Calvary Chapel is just over 1 hour away. Though not completely sold on the pre-trib issue (I don't think it really matters anyway), I enjoy Chuck Smith, the movement, and the praise/worship. Your mixing this with the Anglican structure sounds perfect to me. I am envious!

Chris <><

Calvary Chapel of SLC here.....

 

[A New Dawn]

Just out of curiosity, what is a Calvary Chapel, and what makes them so different from the other non-denominational (or inter-denominational, whichever you care to call them) churches like what we have out here call the Union Center Christian Church, or the Endwell Christian Church?