Dear Praying Friends,
Doris Hanson, Director,
A Shield and Refuge Ministry |
As mentioned in another place in this newsletter, there is no law that can ever be passed that will stop the fundamentalists from practicing polygamy. Until they actually believe that God does not require it, polygamy will continue until doomsday. That is the purpose of A Shield and Refuge Ministry. We bring Biblical truths to polygamists so they can know that polygamy is an invention of man, not of God. So they can know and worship the Jesus Christ who died on the Cross for their sins, rather than trust their own works to gain eternal life.
Sadly, too many who ultimately reject Mormonism, but have been brainwashed in the Mormon faith— also take too many ideas from Mormonism with them, or they reject everything that has to do with God. Those are the ones who are so difficult to reach with Biblical truths. And being raised on the doctrines of Joseph Smith, they have an inherent distrust of the Bible, so that when they hear certain Biblical concepts they reject them refusing to continue to pursue Biblical truths. In a sense, some of them make up their own idea of who and what God and eternity is like.
One great tragedy, is that many of them spent their lives zealously loyal to the lie, but they will hardly exert the effort to follow or obey the truth.
This is a difficult culture with challenges that are unique to other Christian ministries. We covet and appreciate your partnering with us in prayer to bring so many Lost Sheep into the fold so they can be led by that Great Shepherd of the sheep, and reject everything that has the taint of Joseph Smith. Polygamists and LDS alike revere Joseph Smith as having already achieved the status of godhood and some believe that he will be our judge on judgment day.
Only truth can replace the lie that will bring ultimate, deep abiding peace and eternal life. We appreciate your support.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved..”
Our desire is to bring information about the mind-controlling, brainwashing Mormon polygamous culture to the attention of
Christian missions groups all over our great country. Few Christians realize that polygamy is THE lifestyle for tens of thousands of men and women who are born, raised, live and die serving the false god of Joseph Smith’s polygamy. They all go to their graves believing that their faithfulness and loyalty to their polygamy group has indebted God to them. Most of them are looking forward to waking up in heaven and being rewarded with the promotion to godhood.
We are available to speak to your group about Mormon polygamy. Just call Doris at 801-649-3103
“While I have no direct influence or history with either polygamy or mainstream Mormonism, I have been hugely affected by your show. I have been watching on YouTube for several weeks now and I just cannot get enough. The stories are heart breaking. I have been in prayer for your team and for those you are helping and trying to reach. Thank you for opening the eyes of so many to the atrocities that occur within polygamy.” WS
“I discovered your website and have been listening to your YouTube videos with great interest. I believe patriarchy is wrong and always leads to abuses. There are web sites which promote patriarchy and polygamy and claim that women and children are the slaves of the man.” CC
“I heard that the FLDS who were being prosecuted for SNAP fraud pled guilty and were let go with time served, no probation or restitution! I can't believe the precedent that sends. ..We know they'll continue to get the food stamps, which of course is needed for the kids, but... what if the welfare program told the recipients (which are the women), that they can only receive their benefits after a class that they have to attend and the class could help inform them of their rights and of your program so they can realize they’re not alone, even if it only helps a few it's better than nothing? Thank you for your show, I am not in polygamy but I am Mormon and trying to be de-programmed, all of the info you share is very empowering.” ST
During Utah’s 2017 legislative session, lawmakers passed another polygamy bill which in essence says “polygamy is illegal and this time we really mean it.” This bill contains penalties for those convicted of polygamy if they are found guilty of other crimes within the polygamous lifestyle.
Polygamists lobbied heavily against the bill, saying it unfairly targets their families and will discourage people witnessing crimes like fraud or abuse from speaking out. The bill is said to have been requested by the attorney general’s office to prevent a “constitutional challenge” to state law. He said that good families won’t be prosecuted, but it could help apprehend abusive leaders.
One representative who was against the bill said, “What we are really introducing here is a fear of government.” The bill protects from prosecution anyone who leaves a polygamous relationship because of fear of harm or in trying to help a child who might be harmed.
One polygamist husband of three wives said he was angry and disappointed at the bigotry and ignorance he saw that pushed the
bill through. He charged that the bill is really about control of a religious majority over a religious minority. One ex-polygamist wife said the bill likely “won’t change much,” but she likes the message and said it gives authorities another tool to prosecute underlying issues often found in polygamy.
COMMENT: Polygamists believe living plural marriage brings exaltation in heaven — a legacy of the early Mormon church. Since their eternal life depends upon the practice, it’s not likely that any bill is going to stop them from living it. Any law is only as good as the enforcement of it. The problem with every law or effort against polygamy in Utah, historically, has been little more than words on paper. Abuses within polygamy groups have been systematically ignored, especially incest and underage marriages. Even though clear evidence exists, authorities have refused to protect those who need their protection the most.
In summary, while the Old Testament stories, teachings, and people are frequently twisted and stretched by proponents of polygamy in their efforts to support a doctrine of plural marriage, the fact of the matter is, when these passages are taken at face value, and in their proper context, we learn that:
1) Polygamy did exist, but it was not God’s plan or preferred arrangement.
2) Polygamy was never commanded by God; at best He endured it patiently in the same way He tolerated other sins.
3) Polygamy resulted in a great deal of unnecessary grief and heartache for everyone involved.
God’s purpose for the marital relationship from the very beginning is one man, and one woman, in a loving covenant.
POLYGAMY in the NEW TESTAMENT
While the Old Testament describes the polygamy of its day, and God’s design for monogamy, the New Testament is even more explicit about His marital relationship plan. Jesus is recorded as frequently discussing and interpreting the Old Testament, including marriage. Since Jesus is the One we can depend upon for all truth, He should be the One to whom we turn first for answers.
Matthew 5:31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Matthew 19:1-11 “The Pharisees also came unto him [Jesus], tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
Since Jesus said that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of men’s hearts, could it possibly be that God tolerated polygamy for the same reason, because the hearts of the men were hard?
continued next month....
I was now more than ever anxious about Polygamy... it had become the haunting spectre of my existence… The news which my husband brought with him by no means reassured me. He told me that he had heard ... from the... Elders that ... Brigham Young would publish to the world that Polygamy was a doctrine of the Mormon Church.
After all the prevarications and denials ... polygamy among the Saints was really a fact. As the truth became clearer to my mind, I thought I should lose my senses; — the very foundations of my faith were shaken, and not only did I feel a personal repugnance to the unholy doctrine, ..I began to realise (sic) that the men to whom I had listened with such profound respect and had regarded as the representatives of God, had been guilty of the most deliberate and unblushing falsehood, and I began to ask myself ... if they could do this ... to carry out their purpose ... might they not be guilty of deception upon other points. Who could I trust now. For ten years the Mormon Prophets and Apostles had been living in Polygamy at home, while abroad they vehemently denied it and spoke of it as a deadly sin. This was a painful awakening to me; we had all of us been betrayed; I lost confidence in man, and even began to question within myself whether I could even trust in God.... He handed me a copy of the Millennial Star, a Mormon paper published in Liverpool — and as I took it, I felt as if I were receiving my death-warrant: — it was indeed the death warrant to all my hopes of happiness. I rose from the table, asking them to excuse me; and overcome with agitation and conflicting emotions, I retired to my own chamber. There, for the first time, I read that document which has since brought such sorrow and misery to so many wronged and heart-broken women. [this would be Section 132 of the Mormon scriptures, Doctrine and Covenants, verses 24-25 below]
24. And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood: If any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent; and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery, for they are given him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him, and to none else; and if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, if they belong to him; and they are given unto him — therefore is he justified. But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; ...
25. And again, verily, verily I say unto you, if any man have a wife who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things; then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her;…
~ Fanny Stenhouse, Tell It All, pgs 130, 135
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There are several people who have exited the Mormon or polygamist religious system who have rejected the truth that is revealed in the Bible. Please pray for those souls. Some of them are hurting so badly and desperately need the peace and rest that only Jesus gives. They reject the very thing that they need the very most. We understand this, because they have been burned out on spiritual lies. They see God as mean and hateful and demanding. God knows their names, please pray for them.
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PLEASE pray for two young boys coming out of the FLDS through the efforts of another organization. These boys need lots of love and intense, long-term rehabilitation.
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We are available to speak to any group about Mormon polygamy. Just call Doris at 801-649-3103 to make arrangements.
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Tidbits from MORMON POLYGAMY HISTORY
