“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”
~ Galatians 5:1, 4
In the U.S.A. the month of July is synonymous with Freedom. For Christians, God is the author of true freedom which we receive by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. There are many Bible passages describing our Freedom in Christ, here are a few:
Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
Psalm 119:32-33 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Isaiah 42:7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
1 Peter 2:16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Our purpose is to help those in polygamy fine their FREEDOM in Christ.
Most who are born and raised in Mormon polygamy groups go to their graves believing that their loyalty to their polygamy group has indebted God to them. They look forward to waking up in heaven and rewarded with the promotion to godhood. They believe that since the beginning—God was a polygamist who begat millions of spirit babies each with the potential of becoming a god in their own right through righteous living and polygamy. They need the truth!!
Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
God has rescued us, may He use us as POWER TOOLS to help rescue them. We are available to speak to your group about Mormon
polygamy. Just call Doris at 801-649-3103
EMAIL Comments:
I’m listening to all your past episodes of PWLIT... am finding encouragement & Biblical proofs to help me help others by using GODS WORD, since that is where the power is! Thanks for all you & the rest of the crew do to help all of us out here! I pray for God’s blessings on you all. I’m struggling with the wording of I John 4:2-3. I know what Mormons will say, “We believe in Jesus Christ...”. I’m wondering if reading it in the Greek would be helpful , but I don’t know which Greek study books would help best. I’d appreciate your input! God bless!! B
SHORT ANSWER: Regarding 1 John 4:2-3, every Mormon and polygamist will say they believe that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh but they do not understand what that actually means.
Christ is not Jesus’ last name, it is His Title, it designates WHO He is. The word Christ is the Hebrew word Messiah which means God's anointed. Understanding how the Hebrews of the OT time period understood Messiah helps us better understand how the Jewish Christians understood the word Christ and how this passage in 1st John can be correctly understood. Messiah is first used in Daniel but was first promised in Genesis 3:15 as the “seed of the woman” describing the virgin birth. Messiah designates that God would come in the flesh and save humanity from their sins, and was accomplished through the sacrifice of God Himself.
The Mormon religion does not believe that the Lord Jesus is Almighty God in the flesh, only that he is a ‘literal’ son of God Almighty. They do NOT believe that Jesus is God the Son, which is the requirement of 1 John 4:2-3.
In Canada, the maximum sentence for living polygamy is five years in prison. On May 15th of 2018, the sentencing hearing for convicted polygamists Winston Blackmore and Jeff Oler took place. The courtroom was packed while Blackmore’s lawyer asked the judge to consider all possible sentences including dismissing the case. He told the judge that Blackmore’s polygamy was not done with the intention of breaking the law, but because of legitimate religious beliefs. He stated that both men were law-abiding, hard-working citizens and honest men.
Special prosecutor Peter Wilson asked the court for a sentence of 90 days to six months in jail for Blackmore and 30 to 90 days for Oler. He stated that they must also denounce their crimes and deter others.
However, when convicted polygamist Tom Green was released from prison he was warned that he was no longer to participate in polygamy but he went back to his polygamous family and was never challenged. The same is true with David Kingston who was imprisoned for incest after marrying his niece as his 15th wife. He too went back to his life of polygamy with no challenge or accountability from the authorities.
The rule of law just doesn’t seem to apply to the criminals of polygamy groups.
In this space are stories of some of the people and families that A Shield and Refuge Ministry have helped escape from polygamy. Real names places and dates are changed to keep the privacy, confidentiality and safety of those we’ve helped.
In the spring a few years ago, I received a telephone call from a woman in the FLDS polygamy group, Colorado City, AZ. Her daughter’s girlfriend was wandering in a nearby town, homeless, lonely and penniless. She had been raised in a polygamous family, then was in a polygamous marriage which had turned sour. She "She wasn't happy with the marriage, so she was kicked out, and her parents disowned her. She needed help!" Would we help her? After getting necessary details we assured her that we would help her friend.
A few hours later the woman called again and explained that her own daughter needed help. She was confused, unable to get a grip on every day life and her mother thought if she got away from the community into a safer environment, perhaps she could gain some stability.
I explained that we were always willing to help anyone from a polygamous situation but only if the person getting our help actually wanted it. I talked with the daughter and was assured she wanted to come with her friend. So we made arrangements for both the young ladies to come to Salt Lake City where we would do all we could to help them have a life outside of the confines of the polygamy community. As it turned out, they arrived on Easter Sunday—and what interesting stories they had to tell us. They had been deprived of most of the incidentals that we normally take for granted, including toiletries and other ‘needs’ that young ladies have.
During our many conversations a friend noted that Mother’s Day would soon be here, she asked what they were going to do for their moms. They looked at her like she was from outer space. They had never celebrated Mother’s Day. What in the world were they supposed to do? They didn’t celebrate Easter, Christmas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving or other holidays. One of them only had a 3rd grade education.
We placed them in a loving Christian host home, arranged for education for the one, and the other one went out looking for a job. As it turned out, she wasn’t accustomed to the freedom she found outside the group, and went somewhat wild, eventually left the host home. The other young woman found friendships, improved her education, and also found employment. She became a Christian, got baptized, met a young man who had also left a polygamy group, and two of them hit it off in a very big way.
They are now living in a different state, have had a beautiful baby boy—and we remain in touch with her from time to time.
There are many details in stories like this one, that we don’t have the space to write down or are too confidential. These are examples however, of the lives that our ministry touches as we strive to reach out and help those who desire to get out of polygamy. Your prayers for opportunities, wisdom and provision are very much appreciated.
“… [polygamy] is a pure and holy institution; not to bring women into bondage, but to place them in that position for which they were created—to give them the opportunity to become honored wives and mothers…”
Charles W. Penrose, Salt Lake City, July 26, 1884; Journal of Discourses, Vol 25 pg 228
“It is the word of the Lord, and I wish to say to you, and all the world, that if you desire with all your hearts to obtain the blessings which Abraham obtained, you will be polygamists at least in your faith, or you will come short of enjoying the salvation and the glory which Abraham has obtained. […] The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.”
Brigham Young, August 19, 1866; Journal of Discourses, Vol 11, pg 269
“I heard the revelation on polygamy, and I believed it with all my heart, and I know it is from God – I know that he revealed it from heaven; I know that it is true, and understand the bearings of it and why it is. Do you think that we shall ever be admitted as a State into the Union without denying the principle of polygamy? If we are not admitted until then, we shall never be admitted.”
Brigham Young, August 19, 1866; Journal of Discourses, Vol 11, pg 269
"How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. - Deuteronomy 18:21-22
NOTE: All Mormon church presidents are supposed to be ‘prophets’. Brigham Young was the 2nd Mormon Church president and “prophet”, but true prophets make no false prophecies.
We are always interested in what our readers and supporters find interesting regarding the topic of polygamy.
If you have a particular question, or would like more information on a news event or topic relating to the practice of plural marriage or have a concern, we invite you to send your request to us via email: doris@shieldandrefuge.org
We also like to receive suggestions for topics to cover on our weekly internet and Roku broadcasts. Feel free to let us know what’s on your mind.
Also, if you know anyone who is in polygamy who has questions or may want to escape, they can contact us at: Toll free 1-877-425-9993
Pray for a lady who is has come to understand that God’s will is not polygamy and is in the process of getting out of her polygamous marriage but wants to keep peace between herself, her children and the children’s father.
Pray also for a Christian woman who is delicately reaching out in Christ’s love to a woman in her workplace who is in a polygamy group.
to the gracious people at Valley Bible Church in Spokane Valley, Washington who invited us to come and share the outreach of A Shield and Refuge Ministry. As we presented details of the contemporary polygamous lifestyle, we encountered the usual gasps of shock and horror throughout the audience when they heard for the first time, the reality of life in Mormon polygamy. If you are interested in having us share with your group, please call Doris at: 801-649-3103.
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