We read in Acts 13:46 that those who reject God’s word has judged themselves unworthy for eternal life:
Acts 13:46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” ESV
Not accepting the Word of God is rejecting the Word of God. Paul’s statement from Acts 13:46 is no less true today, those who reject the Bible as being God’s Word—are judging themselves unworthy. Every group and sect of Mormonism rejects the Bible as being a trustworthy communication of God’s word to humanity. They turn to other spiritual books which they believe completes where the Bible fails, fixes teachings that were lost. Their religion then adds numerous laws of works by which they must be saved, not realizing that those who rely on law will be judged by the law and will perish.
Mormon Fundamentalists rely on the “works of Abraham”, they call it polygamy, as a most important part of the law to be obeyed. But according to the bible, the works of Abraham was that Abraham “believed God.” Genesis 15:6. Believing God necessarily includes believing everything God has said. Jesus explained in the Gospel of John:
John 8:39-40 Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. ESV
We are grateful God has given us the privilege of bringing to polygamists, the truth of God’s grace, not law, through the saving work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.
We thank you for your support and prayers that enable us to continue
to bring Biblical truths to polygamists
MORMON POLYGAMY HISTORY
~ It all began with Joseph Smith ~
Taken from Expose’ of Polygamy in Utah by Mrs. T.B.H. Stenhouse:
“Long years of submission, and the receiving, without question, a prophet's teaching as divine inspiration, necessarily benumbs the soul and withers its life, till unconsciously the victim becomes an abject slave — a mere automaton.” Page 134
“The measures adopted by Brigham [Young] in the spring of 1869, for the purpose of controlling the commerce of Utah, as well as the faith of the people, caused great discontent. The teachings of the Tabernacle were wild and arrogant; Brigham assuming that it was his right to dictate in every thing, "even to the setting up of a stocking," (so he said,) or " to the ribbons that a woman should wear." What Brigham said, and the fanaticism that it created, aroused many of the people to opposition, and the more he observed the signs of the opposition, the more fierce he became in his denunciations, and harsh in his measures.“ Page 135
“That some men have practised Polygamy with honest intentions and a desire to "keep the commandments of God," I know well to be true... They err in blindness, and I believe they suffer while they are willing to make the sacrifice, (for to such men it is a sacrifice;) but it is only the first step that troubles them. They soon get over it. I know others in whom I had not this confidence — men who seem always ready and anxious to "live up to their privileges," as they call it, without regard to any sacred obligations.” Page 146
“I once said to a lady holding a high position in the church, when she was persuading me to give another wife to my husband, "What good will it do me to give him another wife? I cannot do it with a good feeling. I know that I should loathe both him and her; and how could I expect to get any blessing from God by so doing. She answered, "If you had a loaf of bread to make, what would it matter how you felt while making it, so long as you did make it. That is just what the church authorities have thought: no matter how many women were crushed, or how many were sent to their graves, in the effort to establish Polygamy, if only they could establish it.” Page 148
“When once a Mormon has entered into polygamy, he is no longer a free man; he is bound and cannot help himself, and this the authorities know. Where could a man go to outside of Utah with more than one wife He must remain where he is, or give up his family.” Page 150
March 2, 2024, the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper reported on an upcoming lawsuit that is being instigated against the Kingston polygamy group. The Kingston group is more secretive and tyrannical than the other Mormon polygamy groups. There are ten plaintiffs, and each is a former member of the group.
“Ten women have filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against the Kingston polygamous sect, alleging the Kingstons trafficked women and children “for decades” while acting under the pretense of a
religious community.” The Salt Lake Tribune, March 2 2024
The Kingston polygamy group owns hundreds of businesses and properties in Utah and neighboring states. It is their practice to “punish” people who violate their precepts to exile them to an isolated farm or ranch until they repent. They also transport people back and forth for marriage/sexual purposes.
“The 136-page federal complaint … names nearly 50 defendants — including at least 14 members of the Kingston family, the Davis County Cooperative Society, and Vanguard Academy, a public charter school run by the sect. The filing also lists 450 unidentified businesses as defendants that the complaint states the sect
operates.”
The federal complaint filed this week describes the plaintiffs as 10 young women who, “from their earliest memories until their eventual escapes, were victims of economic and sexual crimes perpetrated by ‘the Order,’ a criminal enterprise and polygamous religious sect.”
Some plaintiffs were forced to marry close relatives who beat and raped them, the complaint alleges. Others fled before “the Order” could “lock them” into similar marriages, it states.
“Almost all were denied an ordinary education, physically abused (or threatened with abuse), taught to fear outsiders, and forced to work for years of their childhoods,” the complaint states, “often in grueling jobs, with little or no pay.”
The list continues with allegations of sexual battery and abuse of children; sexual battery and rape of adults; negligent sexual battery and abuse of a child; conversion — defined as when someone intentionally deprives another of their money; and infliction of emotional distress.” The Salt Lake Tribune, March 2 2024
No court schedule has yet been determined.
VIRGIN BIRTH:
“A concept negated by the view that God, a resurrected man with flesh and bones according to Mormon teachings, literally fathered Jesus in the flesh in the same way in which earthly men father their children. Despite the documented position of previous Mormon prophets, presidents, and apostles about the nature of Christ's conception, modern LDS apologists maintain that "Christ was born of a virgin". How can that be? By changing the definition of the word "virgin". The reasoning goes like this: since Mary had sexual relations with an immortal man, not a mortal man, the phrase "virgin birth" still applies.”
https://www.leaderu.com/offices/michaeldavis/docs/mormonism/definitions.html
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS:
Isaiah 7:14 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ESV
Matthew 1:21-23 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Luke 1:34-35 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
“We could be saved without the Bible, but we cannot be saved without latter-day [Mormon] revelation” (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Bible: A Sealed Book,” a BYU speech given to LDS Seminary and Institute teachers, August 1984).
Copied from “In Their Own Words” compiled by Bill McKeever
“Thanks for explaining and exposing the truth by using the Bible.” --S.S.
“Doesn't make any sense that we are born in sin… Isn't Adams sin Adams sin? If my father sins, it's not my sin… if he steals from someone, I'm not the thief...I don't believe it, because it makes No Sense.” --M.Y.
Answer: Every human is born with a sinful nature. There is no one who doesn’t sin. God judges each person accordingly. We are not judged or punished for someone else’s sins, but we all have plenty of personal sins by which God can judge us.
“Mrs. T.B. Stenhouse wrote in her book that she read the [polygamy] revelation given to Joseph Smith (D&C 132) in the Millennial Star, the Mormon newspaper printed in England, date of the revelation July 12 1843. That's quite a big disconnect with the RLDS and others who say Joseph never gave the revelation at all. Big disconnect too, with the Nauvoo Expositor, who printed the revelation as an expose’ in 1844.
P.P. The Nauvoo Expositor is online.” --L.S.
Answer: Your conclusions are correct. There is a new and growing movement claiming Joseph Smith did not preach or practice polygamy it was all Brigham Young’s doing. History does not support those claims at all.
- Pray for “K”. She has been terribly abused by her polygamist father and family, she escaped but has deep wounds that can only be healed by Jesus, yet she hates and rejects any conversation about God.
- Pray that the lawsuit against the Kingston polygamy group will bring justice for the abused, intimidated and exploited members in the group. Pray God will stop every attempted payoff by the leaders, and that the power of the Holy Spirit will convict and bring salvation to many.
The Book of Mormon claims to be "another" testament of Jesus and that along with the Bible they both contain the fullness of the Gospel. Actually, it is a testament of another Jesus and of another Gospel and the Bible warns that God has cursed any other alleged gospel. And why do we need the Book of Mormon if the Bible holds the fullness of the Gospel?
Fullness means complete, needing no more. Like Jesus said on the Cross, “It is Finished”! There’s no more to do, we cannot add to completion. The BoM condemns polygamy and forbids it - so why did Joseph Smith later claim that God reinstated polygamy and that it was necessary for eternal life and eternal lives - eternal lives means eternal sex. Not at all a biblical concept.
Just call Doris: 801-649-3103, or Email: doris@shieldandrefuge.org |
