It is sometimes difficult and discouraging working with people who reject the God of the Bible. A great number of people in this culture have been deceived with false teachings of a false god, so if they walk away from their religion, they leave God behind simply because in their minds he is quite the ogre. Many never find out He isn’t an ogre. The false god of both the LDS church and the polygamy groups is just one of many gods, and he loves only those who do what they are told to do by their religious leaders, and more often than not, they have been taught errors about God’s will. Psalm 126:6 describes the Christian reaching out to people in a deeply cultic environment:
Psalms 126:6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
When planted seeds sprout and grow it is time for shouts of joy. We recently have seen that happen in a Utah polygamous community heavily bound by the polygamy-for-salvation religion. We thank God for every opportunity, for every seed planted and for every new growth He gives.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
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 ~
Last month we presented the Morrill Bigamy act of 1862—this time we follow up with the
Supreme Court case of 1879 dealing with the constitutional right to outlaw polygamy.
REYNOLDS Vs. The United States—1879 Mormon Church Doctrine: It was the duty of members of the church to practice polygamy. Male members of the church who failed or refused to practice polygamy would be damned for life.
George Reynolds was a member of the Mormon church in the Utah territory. He was charged with bigamy when he married a second wife while still being married to his first wife.
Reynolds was Brigham Young/s secretary, his polygamy was used as a test case against the federal government’s laws against polygamy. The early Mormons believed that the United States Constitution allowed freedom of religion as expressed in the First Amendment. Reynolds agreed to be the defendant in the court case that would be brought before the United States Supreme Court.
On November 14 1878 the case was argued before the Supreme Court. Reynolds' attorneys argued that his conviction for bigamy should be overturned. Among other arguments, it was his religious duty to marry multiple wives, that the First Amendment protected this fundamental duty of his religion.
January 6, 1879 the Supreme Court issued its decision with a 9-0 vote rejecting Reynolds arguments that the practice of plural marriage was protected by the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution. His previous conviction for bigamy was upheld. The constitutionality of the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was also upheld as being constitutional.
Some comments about the decision by the Supreme Court:
“‘Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of the government reach actions only, and not opinions, . . . thus building a wall of separation between church and State. . . .’
"Polygamy has always been odious among the northern and western nations of Europe . . . . At common law, the second marriage was always void, and from the earliest history of England polygamy has been treated as an offence against society…”
“Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices. Suppose one believed that human sacrifices were a necessary part of religious worship, would it be seriously contended that the civil government under which he lived could not interfere to prevent a sacrifice?”
“So here, as a law of the organization of society under the exclusive dominion of the United States, it is provided that plural marriages shall not be allowed. Can a man excuse his practices to the contrary because of his religious belief? To permit this would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect to permit every citizen to become a law unto himself. Government could exist only in name under such circumstances…”
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/reynolds-v-united-states
DAMNED; DAMNATION: According to Mormonism:
Just as there are varying degrees and types of salvation ... so are there varying degrees and types of damnation. In LDS doctrine, to be damned means to be stopped, blocked, or limited in one’s progress. Individuals are damned whenever they are prevented from reaching their full potential as children of God. Damnation is falling short of what one might have enjoyed if one had received and been faithful to the whole law of the gospel. In this sense, all who do not achieve the highest degree of the CELESTIAL KINGDOM are damned, but will be saved in some degree of glory. They are damned because they won’t have eternal marriage or eternal child bearing (D&C 132:4, 19). Damnation does not necessarily refer to eternal suffering in hell with the devil, for loss of blessings is in itself a type of hell and
damnation. ~ Encyclopedia of Mormonism
According to the Bible:
NT:2632 "to give judgment against, pass sentence upon"; hence, "to condemn, Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words.
NT:2919 "to distinguish, choose, give an opinion upon, judge," sometimes denotes "to condemn," Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words.
Mormonism’s “eternal increase,” “Celestial Kingdom” or “eternal family” is nowhere in the Old or the New Testament.
“Why is it ...that we should have a devil? Why did not the Lord kill him long ago? Because he could not do without him. He needed the devil ... just to keep men straight,
that we may learn to place our dependence upon God, and trust in Him, and to observe his laws and keep his commandments.”
John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 23:336
 |
"Doris, I would like you to know the powerful influence you have had on my life over the last 20 years. Because of you I was able to leave the Mormon church. It took a long time before I was able to stand on my own and face the fact that what I had learned about the L.D.S. from childhood was just not true. As time passed, I realized that it was a cult. Continuing to watch your show, I built up the courage to separate myself from this false church. Since then I have been a much happier, peaceful person and I have learned to truly love Jesus Christ. Thank you for being a wonderful person who has inspired and taught so many people to look inward, and to find the real loving, merciful Christ. God bless you!" --A
"Why do I enjoy “Polygamy; What Love Is This?” In short, it is Christian, and the people are of substance and grit. It is a pleasure, and a honor to hear your message. Thank you!" --S.C.
"…I am always amazed how many people have knowledge what god will do and how god thinks …..!?" --R.H.
ANSWER: We can know what God wants and how He thinks as much as He has revealed it in the Bible. We know He didn’t command polygamy because He reveals His will for monogamy throughout the bible.
“[You have] Very well explained what Mormonism believes and what Jesus teaches in the Bible. Our only guide should be the word of Jesus and no other book. Thank you.” --S.S.
We continue to share some of the sermons preached by polygamy group founder/leader Rulon C. Allred. Knowing what he taught helps obtain a better understanding of the relentless grip he has had and continues to have on polygamists throughout Mormon Fundamentalism.
This is an excerpt from a Sermon Allred preached about Jesus’ return:
“Christ cannot come in His glory until He has a people who will live the fulness of the gospel, because He says He will not come to those who are not living celestial law. We have the privilege of living celestial law. We are trying now to prepare ourselves for His advent.”
Rulon C. Allred, Treasures of Knowledge, pgs 335
Where did Jesus say He won’t return until His people are living celestial law - celestial law is Celestial marriage which was and is polygamy. Jesus actually said He will come when we DO NOT expect Him.
Jesus warned, “be ready” for His return. He never did say, get ready so He CAN return. The Father has fixed a time for Jesus to come back. It has been pre-determined when that will be - it is not predicated on the readiness of the polygamous people being prepared and faithfully living their “celestial law” of polygamy, so He can return.
Being prepared is NOT celestial marriage or any other law. Being prepared is making sure you have received God’s free gift of eternal life by grace through faith and not by works.
Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
A couple of months ago we asked for prayer for “M” who contacted us asking for help, advice and prayer. She had been in a polygamous community and also in a plural marriage. She has become a Christian and needs spiritual encouragement. We LOVE it when that happens!
A few weeks after her initial contact, she called again. We had made previous plans to meet and chat, but it wasn’t possible so we talked at length on the phone instead. We want to share with you some of the conversation, but cannot use names or places because of privacy issues.
This lady has been a pro-polygamist activist for years. She has written articles in pro-polygamy magazines, co-authored a book promoting the polygamy lifestyle. She was involved with other prominent Mormon polygamists in the attempt to legalize polygamy in Utah or at the least to decriminalize it. She herself was in a polygamous marriage actively promoting polygamy most of her adult life.
Several years ago she read a negative story about Joseph Smith—it upset her so much she put it aside and refused to look any further. God’s patience and perfect timing is part of every conversion testimony and is definitely part of her story. Years later she started looking into the life of Joseph Smith in detail. She read about his Masonic activities and other shenanigans and finally realized, “Joseph Smith was a liar.”
She started reading the Bible, she trusted Jesus, and started talking about Him to everyone. She visited a Christian church where she said some of them treated her very strangely when they discovered she had been in polygamy. However, the pastor mentored her with love and understanding. He gave her a bible, she asked how many the church would provide if she could give them away to polygamists. He said as many as she wanted. So far she’s given away 39 bibles!! She does bible study inside the community with some powerful pro-polygamy activists. Please continue to pray for her and for her protection. We will keep you updated about her journey.
Just call Doris: 801-649-3103, or Email: doris@shieldandrefuge.org |
