“Mormonism” For Sale

The LDS Church has a product they call “Mormonism” and is trying to sell it to the world. The target market of non-members or those who have not yet been converted are becoming ever more disinterested in it. As saving doctrines, ordinances, and the “living” church fades away, sincere interest declines and genuine wonder and involvement progressively perishes.

Currently, LDS members, who are “active” and represent the key customers that produce cash-flow for the corporation, are experiencing drastic doctrinal changes. Some of these radical moves include altering temple rites, twisting the doctrine of polygamy 180 degrees, and changing and removing scriptures. Here's a few quick details:

Major changes, including penalty removal, were made in 1990 to the temple ordinances and additional significantly important alterations in 2005 and 2016. In addition to the revised temple ordinances, the sacrament ordinance has been changed and contradicts Christ’s instructions and example given in three books of scripture.

During Brigham's presidency and into the 1900's, practicing polygamy was taught as a hinge upon which salvation was connected. Today, on the other hand, the church teaches that those who practice polygamy are living in apostasy and may likely face excommunication. Interesting change?!

The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants included the Lectures on Faith, which represented the “doctrine” portion, and were accepted as scripture by common consent of church members. In 1921, a committee of six apostles chose to remove the Lectures on Faith from the Doctrine and Covenants WITHOUT common consent of the members. These six men, on their own accord, left the covenants to remain, but took away the entire doctrine portion, which teaches a man how to attain sufficient faith to claim eternal life, literally know the Lord, and see His face.

Other changes include revamping the doctrine of Christ and the qualifications for baptism (Children of same-sex couples are currently being denied baptism by the Mormon church until they are 18 years old and meet church requirements.) and using tithes and sacred funds to finance Babylon in all its glory, including the City Creek Mall adjacent to temple square, high end developments, real estate, investments, high rise condominiums, universities, ranches, and a 290,000 acre self contained city in Florida planned to house 500,000 people, which is in process.

Some members are disturbed by these jarring moves and measures executed by the “Brethren” and feel somewhat discouraged and lost. Some are angry, feel betrayed, lied to, and rejected. Others have noticed very little, if anything. Despite all the major adjustments to LDS doctrine and the troubling history that clearly shows the LDS church is riddled with contradictions, many true-blue “Mormons” are still “hanging on” and remain loyal customers to the corporation.

Although damaged by mistakes, errors, and foolishness, while trying to hide and cover the real but often embarrassing history, the LDS institution has maintained some control and order and has managed to convince many of their loyal followers to stay, pay, and obey.

Perhaps this is accomplished as the church cuts back to very basic tenets, drastically dilutes its teachings, changes ordinances, and “guarantees” the loyal tithe payer that the radical changes were inspired by God and the church cannot lead its faithful customers astray.

The remote possibility of the LDS church being in apostasy, at least from the institution's point of view, is out of question, not possible, and should never even be considered. That would not only be “blasphemy”, but it could be devastating to our clever plan and confiscate our “sacred income”. If the majority of church members were to wake up and began to actually believe and see that the LDS church is presently under condemnation (D&C 84:54-58) and is currently experiencing an increasing state of apostasy, then the church population and loyalty to the institution could essentially evaporate over night. Church leadership is well aware of the potential near approaching "tipping point" and concerned that if too many members begin to fully comprehend the fact that the LDS church and Christ are not the same thing, but instead are rapidly becoming complete polar opposites, it would prove to interrupt and sever cash-flow and to threaten and possibly destroy the entire conglomeration; investments, profits, and “prophets” alike!

That being the case, there are two key LDS tenets that have and, from the church leadership's point of view, must continue to supersede all others: 1) the church is led by a “living prophet” and 2) the “Upper Hierarchy” of church leaders have a standard of infallibility and “cannot lead you astray.” During the past century, these particular LDS beliefs have overgrown excessively and turned into traditions of men, which has taken away light and truth from the children of men. These false traditions, which have been embraced for an entire lifetime by some individuals, appear to be right and good rather than incorrect and in error. Therefore, these untrue traditions are certainly difficult to overcome because they are “set in concrete” and run deep and cold. They are seldom challenged, but if someone begins to question or “rock the boat”, shunning and discipline surely follows!

To show a real life “shifting of sand under our feet” example of several “prophets” declaring doctrine on a specific subject at different periods of time, I have gathered various official statements concerning “racism” and “priesthood” from the LDS church leaders in three different time frames, including the early days 1800's, semi recent past 1900's, and current statements found on the church website. Coupled with the statements below are a few questions that you may want to consider and ponder:

"We condemn racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church." (Official Church Statement)

In 2006, then Church president Gordon B. Hinckley declared that “no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ."

"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Volume 10, page 110)

"And if any man mingle his seed with the seed of Cain the only way he could get rid of it or have Salvation would be to come forward and have his head cut off and spill his blood upon the ground- it would also take the life of his children." (Wilford Woodruff Journal)

"Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race. A curse placed upon him and that curse has been continued through his lineage and must do so while time endures. Millions of souls have come into this world cursed with a black skin and have been denied the privilege of Priesthood and the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. These are the descendants of Cain. Moreover, they have been made to feel their inferiority and have been separated from the rest of mankind from the beginning.... we will also hope that blessings may eventually be given to our negro brethren, for they are our brethren-children of God-not withstanding their black covering emblematical of eternal darkness. " (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, pages 101-102)

"Negroes in this life are denied the Priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty. (Abra. 1:20-27.) The gospel message of salvation is not carried affirmatively to them... negroes are not equal with other races where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned, particularly the priesthood and the temple blessings that flow there from, but this inequality is not of man's origin. It is the Lord's doing, is based on his eternal laws of justice, and grows out of the lack of Spiritual valiance of those concerned in their first estate." (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, pp. 527-528) 

Considering these disparaging remarks made by Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, Joseph Fielding Smith, and Bruce R. McConkie (and many others not quoted here) concerning those of another race (blacks), should these men be considered true disciples of Christ? Are these men considered to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church? Did they even know what they were talking about or just going with the flow of their day? Or, on the other hand, are they correct and therefore, those who claim to be and speak as prophets today are actually wrong, mistaken, and thereby suffer in latter day apostasy? 

This may be something to seriously consider since they definitely contradict each other while claiming it all came from God. Some of these “prophets” must necessarily be in error, therefore this belief that they CANNOT lead you astray obviously is bogus indeed. So, among the latter day “prophets”, who do you believe and trust? How do you find out?

We'll pick up here in the next post :)