Christian Radio was recently broadcasting the story of a man’s conversion to Christianity. He said something that we found interesting and surely applies to our Mormon and polygamous audience.
He said that while studying the Gospels he realized that God is not about congratulating good people for a job well done, but is about mercy, grace and Jesus rescuing bad people from eternal disaster. How true!
Polygamists teach that the more you suffer poverty and misery for their gospel, the greater the debt God owes you for all your good works. He will then congratulate and reward you for all the pain you suffered in this life. Part of that pain for a female of course, is being made to share her husband with multiple women.
We want the LDS and Mormon polygamists to know, understand and believe that Jesus alone is the Savior. Good works are works done before men, not before God. Mercy and Saving Grace come from God alone, and Jesus, not polygamy, saves us from our sin and alone, qualifies us for Heaven.
We thank you for your prayers and support that make it possible for us to bring Biblical truths to polygamists.
Survivors and escapees from polygamy groups were asked the question, what was the worst thing you saw or experienced?
Here are a couple responses.
“Sexual battery/assault. From many angles. 13, 14, 15, even 16-year-olds being married off—despite Utah's laws— to adult men, statutory rape! Neglect.”
“Practicing as a medical professional when they are not. Denying medical care. Cutting someone up without a medical degree. Human trafficking.”
“Is it any wonder that the Lord of heaven, as he stood by his Father’s side on that glorious day in 1820, speaking of all the churches in all Christendom, told young Joseph ‘that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight’” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ, p. 117).
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has many beliefs in common with other Christian churches. But we have differences, and those differences explain why we send missionaries to other Christians” (Dallin Oaks, “Apostasy and Restoration,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1995, p. 84). Copied from, In Their Own Words, Compiled by Bill McKeever.
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS….
Isaiah 54:17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. ESV
Matthew 16:18 I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Ephesians 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Quote of Interest:
Joseph Smith said:
“I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoan [Quran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us —“Joseph Smith or the Sword!” 14 October 1838. Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, pg 230-231
MORMON POLYGAMY HISTORY
~~It all began with Joseph Smith~~
Excerpts taken from, The MORMON MONSTER ...A Full Discussion of the Subject of Polygamy,
by EDGAR E. FOLK, A.M., D.D. Editor of the "Baptist and Reflector," Nashville, Tenn. Copyright 1901.
“Now who are these Mormons? Where do they come from? What do they represent? What is their belief? Why are they here? How shall we treat them? These are questions which occur to every one to whose home they come or who anticipates their coming. A great many people, knowing little about them, are really a good deal troubled as to what they should do with these Mormons. ...I decided to write a few articles upon the subject ... I decided to go to Salt Lake City and see for myself this strange people and find out whether the things I had read about them were true and what kind of people they were, anyhow... I spent nearly two weeks in Salt Lake City. This may not seem a very long time. But I had been studying the subject from books for five months before going. My purpose as I said was specially to see from personal observation on the ground whether the things told in the books were really true and also to study the social conditions existing there. For this purpose, two weeks was long enough time. Pgs 12-13
He described Joseph Smith Jr. like this:
“He was born in Sharon, Vermont, Dec. 23, 1805. His family was poor and shiftless. His father was a kind of vagabond,
selling blessings at $3.00 each. His mother was a fortune teller. One who knew her well describes her as follows: ''She looked very vulgar. She was full of low cunning; no trick was too mean for her to make a little money. You could not believe a word of what she said. * * * Everybody's opinion of her was that she was a thorough liar." Both parents were ignorant and superstitious. It is said that " was as natural to them as drinking water." pg 20
“He was fascinated with the adventures of Captain Kidd, and with some young friends he would hunt at night for buried money in the fields about his father's house. He is said to have had a religious turn of mind, and during a revival he was exercised very deeply on the subject. His imagination, his superstitions and his religious excitement combined to create
wonderful visions in his untutored mind. At the age of about fifteen he began, as he claimed, to see visions and dream dreams. These experiences continued through seven years, four of which he spent away from home, seeking employment in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. His visions attracted attention. The newspapers began to talk about him.” Pgs 21-22
We like to keep you updated about current events regarding Mormon polygamy groups and their shenanigans.
This update is about Samuel Bateman, he seems to be a wannabee Warren Jeffs. As of the end of May 2023, he has been charged with 51 felony accounts by the FBI.
Samuel Bateman is a product of Warren Jeffs and the FLDS polygamous communities which are situated in Colorado City, AZ and Hildale, Ut - twin cities on the border of these two states. Since W Jeffs was imprisoned, the FLDS polygamists have scattered elsewhere in Utah, Arizona and other western states. But Bateman had ideas of his own as stated in a Salt Lake
Tribune article: "But since 2019, Bateman had been trying to recruit members back by telling them that Jeffs died in prison — which is not true — and that he is Jeffs' successor. In that time, Bateman amassed roughly 50 followers who call themselves "Samuelites." https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/05/25/53-felonies-polygamist-leader/
Bateman claimed his first wife in May of 2020 when she was only nine years old.... and he has since engaged in pedophile activity on a regular basis. The indictment against Bateman alleges he took 20 women and girls, 10 of whom were legally underage when he married them as plural wives. And why not?
Joseph Smith did the same thing, as did Warren Jeffs, and all the other Mormon polygamy groups marry underage girls with the promise of heavenly exaltation to those who comply. This is nothing less than human trafficking for sexual purposes.
More from the Salt Lake Tribune article:
"For two years after that, he traveled across Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska … to collect child brides — who were the daughters of his followers. He allegedly told members that to be faithful they needed to offer up their daughters to him or face punishment. He often "rebuked" them in harsh ways, according to the court filing, if they refused. And the male followers offered up new Bentley cars and other favors to stay in his good graces or to trade for a night with one of Bateman's young wives.
The alleged assaults of the girls occurred in all four states. Bateman later directed and participated in group sex acts with the girls, women and other followers, the indictment states. Children cannot legally consent to sex acts with adults."
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/05/25/53-felonies-polygamist-leader/
Bateman is in prison in Arizona, he has pleaded not guilty, the legal counsel who were representing him withdrew when the new charges against him were filed, and as of this date, he has no new legal counsel representing him. His trial is set for 2024.
“I am so surprised that this happens in the USA. I always thought it was a civilized country. S.G.”
In response to our programs discussing Gaslighting in Mormonism and polygamy groups we received these comments:
“...gaslighting's happened on every level possible. This terrible situation is opening up the Church to such dysfunctions and realities of how things are done, it's revealing truths no one wants to see. Thank you for the great job you continue to do exposing all the darkness surrounding us. KT”
“Sadly, those that have been gaslighted often pass on the gaslighting to others and it becomes a culture of gaslighting. KK”
“I like the approach of this video -- it is a very creative way to look at this -- also, this is very well-thought out. What an ugly, ugly religion. GW”
Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith said:
“I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin...This was a transgression of the law, but not a sin in the strict sense, for it was something that Adam and Eve had to do!” (Doctrines of Salvation 1:114-115.) While some have called it a “fall upward,” others called the disobedience of Adam and Eve a “blessing.” Properly understood, it becomes apparent that the fall of Adam is one of the greatest blessings ever given of God to mankind. It is the way and the means whereby the spirit children of the Father go forth from their celestial home to gain mortal and then immortal bodies. And it provides the way for the experiences, tests, and trials that prepare the faithful for eternal life. (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 87. See also Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon 3:310). See also https://www.mrm.org/sin-transgression)
- PRAY for “A”, she wants to leave polygamy but afraid of losing everything she’s worked so long and so hard for.
- PRAY for “LS” to be safe and to have the courage to escape the FLDS with her children.
- PRAY for “L”, her husband left polygamy years ago, but is now in bondage to other sexual problems.
- PRAY that the crumbling HOUSE of Mormonism will collapse, and that God would have hearts prepared for the Biblical Jesus.
Just call Doris: 801-649-3103, or Email: doris@shieldandrefuge.org |
