If you are not familiar with the history of Mormonism and its founder, Joseph Smith, you may not be aware that he is considered by today’s Mormons and polygamists as being next to God, equal with Jesus. Many in the Mormon religion experience spiritual ‘feelings” when they read about him or see pictures or statues of him. They get goosebumps, and a heart-burning sensation confirming to them that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. Many actually believe that he sits on the judgment throne of God and with God, deciding who gets into
heaven and who doesn't. Here’s a couple of quotes:
“...every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ .. I cannot go there without his consent. He holds the keys of that kingdom for the last dispensation-the keys to rule in the spirit-world; and he rules there triumphantly ... He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 7:289
“Hear it all ye ends of the Earth; if ever you enter into the Kingdom of God it is because Joseph Smith let you go there.” Brigham Young, The Essential Brigham Young, pg 99
We thank God for His truths and His sovereignty and for the opportunity to tell others that Jesus is God, and He alone is our Judge. Jesus is Savior and only Jesus can save. We thank God for His grace that saves us, and keeps us saved. We pray God will give more and greater opportunity to witness to this Mormon culture of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We thank you for your support and prayers that enable us to bring Biblical truths to polygamists.
MORMON POLYGAMY HISTORY
Sarah M. Pratt, legal wife of Orson Pratt who was a faithful follower and supporter of Joseph Smith, said this about some of her experiences with Joseph Smith in the early days of Mormonism:
"Next door to my house was a house of bad reputation. One single woman lived there, not very attractive. She used to be visited by people from Carthage whenever they came to Nauvoo. Joseph used to come on horse back, ride up to thehouse and tie his horse to a tree, many of which stood before the house. Then he would enter the house of the woman from the back. I have seen him do this repeatedly.” Pg 60
"You should bear in mind that Joseph did not think of a [plural] marriage or sealing ceremony for many years. He used to state to his intended victims, as he did to me: 'God does not care if we have a good time, if only other people do not know it.'
He only introduced a [plural] marriage ceremony when he had found out that he could not get certain women without it. I think Louisa Beeman was the first case of this kind. If any woman, like me, opposed his wishes, he used to say: 'Be silent, or I shall ruin your character. My character must be sustained in the interest of the church.'
When he had assailed me and saw that he could not seal my lips, he sent word to me that he would work my salvation, if I kept silent. I sent back that I would talk as much as I pleased and as much as I knew to be the truth, and as to my salvation, I would try and take care of that myself.
"In his endeavors to ruin my character Joseph went so far as to publish an extra-sheet containing affidavits against my reputation. When this sheet was brought to me I discovered to my astonishment the names of two people on it, man and wife, with whom I had boarded for a certain time. I never thought much of the man, but the woman was an honest person and I knew that she must have been forced to do such a thing against me. So I went to their house; the man left the house hurriedly when he saw me coming. I found the wife and said to her rather excitedly: ' What does it all mean? ' She began to sob. 'It is not my fault,' said she.' Hyrum Smith came to our house, with the affidavits all written out, and forced us to sign them. 'Joseph and the church must be saved,' said he. We saw that resistance was useless, they would have ruined us; so we signed the papers.'"
pgs 62-63, Copied from Mormon Portraits, The Truth about the Mormon Leaders from 1830 to 1886, BY Dr. W. Wyl, A German author. SALT LAKE CITY, Tribune Printing and Publishing Company, 1886
From a publication presenting reasons Utah should not be granted Statehood:
Utah was governed by men who seemed determined to build up in the heart of the American continent a polygamous empire. The statistics for 1880 will give an idea of how far they had progressed. The census found a population of 143,962, of which the strength of 60,576 were over 21 years of age; about 10,000 of these are estimated to be non-Mormons. The number of persons then living in polygamy was found ... to be about 12,000, and there were at least 3000 who had lived in polygamy, but a separation had been affected by death or otherwise, making a total of 15,000, 30 per cent of the adult Mormon population ... had entered into polygamy. While all did not enter into polygamy, all believed it right as a divine revelation and upheld it in those who chose to enter into the relation. The system was united by ties of kindred with nearly every Mormon family in the Territory.”
Utah Statehood, Reasons Why It Should Not Be Granted pgs 17-18, Salt Lake City Tribune, 1887
Matthew 7:18,20 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Rulon Allred was the first “prophet/leader” of one of the largest and most powerful polygamy groups in Utah.
In some of our video programs we review some of his sermons , comparing them with biblical doctrine. We want to share some of this information with our readers to give a better understanding of the relentless grip he has had and continues to have on polygamists even to this day.
“..the prophet Joseph Smith in a revelation from God declared, that “in the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees. And in order to enter into the highest of these, a man must enter into this order of the Priesthood, meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. If he does not do this, that will be the end of his kingdom. He cannot have an increase.”” ~ Rulon C. Allred 1973, Treasures of Knowledge, pg 162
Having “an increase” in Mormonism means eternal reproduction. The new and everlasting covenant he refers to is polygamy aka plural marriage. A woman must protect her virtue yet her husband can and does have sex with multiple women called wives. Despite the fact that Jesus said there are no marriages after this life, that the law of marriage ends at death - the polygamists continue to teach opposite of what Jesus Himself taught.
Their view of heaven is not biblical. Jesus taught only two ways: salvation or perish, the narrow road leading to life or the broad road ending in destruction, heaven or hell - only two places to go after we die. But the polygamists, and Mormonism continue to reject what Jesus taught and rely upon their own religious myths as a guide to their lives.
God’s truth doesn’t change - false prophets and false teachers continue to lead people astray - and only those who believe and trust Jesus and the Word of God can and will endure to the end.
“Thank you so much for the work you do. I was not aware of the FLDS until I ran across your program ... Not only have you opened my eyes to this problem but you and the testimonies of the brave women on your program have helped renew my relationship with Jesus Christ and I thank you so very much for that. You are in my prayers daily and thank you for your ministry." --T.F.
“God bless you both. I left the church in 2015. It was a lonely journey, but I found your podcast, Doris. And the rest is history. Listening to you & Earl was & is such a blessing. My joy now is in Jesus. My dear mother, once a devout LDS, has chosen to change from Mormon Jesus to the Jesus of the Bible. This happened last year when she was 98 years of age! We are now, together, praying for the rest of our family still stuck in Mormonism! I love you both for all your precious hard work in helping bring lost souls to our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!" --C.A.
“But the bible is jam-packed with polygamy." --J.A.
RESPONSE: Not “jam-packed” but polygamy certainly is in the Bible. God did not command it EVER. Neither did He condone it. But please note that all kinds of adultery is in the Bible, and murder, and rape, and cheating, and stealing, and lying. The Bible proves we are all sinners who desperately need a Savior.
“Thanks be to Jesus: if we put our faith in Him (and not in men who claim they are religious group leaders), we will truly be saved …Hallelujah. A honor, and a pleasure to hear your message." --S.S.
8 Sep 1890 - Apostle John Henry Smith preaches from the pulpit that "married people who indulge their passions for any other purpose than to beget children, really committed adultery."
1 Oct 1890 - An apostle asks "how the Son of God was begotten," and Lorenzo Snow tells apostles, "that he was
begotten just the same as you and I were or as our sons today are."
2 Dec 1890 - Apostle Lorenzo Snow tells the Quorum of Twelve that "he expects to see the day when a man's blood is shed again for the crime of adultery."
24 Mar 1891 - Utah's chief justice Zane writes: "Polygamy has demoralized the people of Utah. I presume there are more sexual crimes here in proportion to the population than anywhere else."
D. Michael Quinn,"The Mormon Hierarchy : Extensions of Power
MORMONISM: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of salvation. It embraces all of the laws, principles, doctrines, rites, ordinances, atts, powers, authorities, and keys necessary to save and exalt men in the highest heaven hereafter. It is the covenant of salvation which the Lord makes with men on earth.
BIBLE: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you
received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures … (ESV)
- Thanking God for His faithfulness to always supply every need.
- Thanking God for His promise to bless His word that it will not come back void until it accomplishes His purpose.
- PRAY FOR many who doubt the doctrine of polygamy and the United Order, that God will remove their fear giving them courage to pursue Biblical truths.
- CONTINUE to pray for so many who leave polygamy but join the Mormon Church, they continue to reject biblical truths.
Just call Doris: 801-649-3103, or Email: doris@shieldandrefuge.org |
