Dear Praying Friends,
Isaiah 55:11: “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me
empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I
sent it.”
This verse communicates a lovely, dependable promise of God. His Word, its purpose,
its accomplishments, its success!
What does God want to accomplish through His Word?
Romans 10:14-15: "
How then will they call upon him in whom they have not
believed? And how will they believe in him about whom
they have not heard? And how will they hear about him
without one who preaches to them?
And how will they preach, unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How timely are the
feet of those who bring good news of good things.'"
God’s Word is powerful and purposeful. He has something to accomplish, it will succeed, it
will not fail because God is unable to fail. We are warned not to add to or take away from His
word, He has not appointed man to be its editor.
The Mormon faith has done precisely that—the word of their leader/ prophets are more
important to them than the Word of God. They have changed God’s revealed purpose and
diluted God’s salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, by requiring works,
including the works of polygamy, for salvation.
God removed Adam and Eve’s fig leaf aprons, Mormonism brought them back. God
destroyed the Jewish temple, Mormonism has brought them back, building hundreds of
temples around the world. God ripped the Jewish Temple veil in two from top to bottom, in
the Mormon temples they have put the veil back up. Jesus fulfilled all religious law and ritual,
Mormonism has reinstated law and ritual for salvation. God has prohibited polygamy and
blessed monogamy, Mormonism has blessed and exalted polygamy.
But despite all Mormonism’s efforts, God’s Word will not fail.
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 ~
Joseph Smith, the author of Mormonism and Mormon polygamy, claimed he received a direct revelation from God to restore the practice of polygamy into the Mormon church. Mormonism is said to be a “restoration of the lost gospel of Jesus Christ”. When restoring the alleged lost gospel, polygamy was to be part of the restoration. Below are some relevant quotes from the revelation Joseph Smith claimed he received from God:
CELESTIAL MARRIAGE: A REVELATION ON THE PATRIARCHAL ORDER OF MATRIMONY, OR PLURALITY OF WIVES. Given to Joseph Smith, the Seer, in Nauvoo, July 12th, 1843.
SECTION 132 OF THE MORMON DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS:
Verses 1-6. “Verily thus saith the Lord, unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have enquired of my hand, to know and understand wherein I the Lord justified my servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; as also Moses, David, and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives, and concubines: Behold! and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter Therefore. prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them. must obey the same; for behold! I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant, and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant, and be permitted to enter into my glory; for all who will have a blessing at my hands, shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as was instituted from before the foundations of the world: and as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof, must, and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God.”
VERSE 37. “Abraham received, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.”
FROM OUR MAILBOX
“Ohh, the polygamy doctrine of D&C 132.. or the 'virgin doctrine' or 'virgin in heaven' doctrine.. most TBM's (true blue Mormon’s) don't even know what their books say, or what was taught." --DD
“Oh I pray that the LDS leaders will confess the truth soon and save the people amen. MM”
“With all the new cable TV shows about polygamy, the documentaries, the books authored by survivors, the news of the cartel ambushing the fundamentalist Mormons down in Sonora, Mexico… it’s really informative to listen to your podcast to learn the lineage of all these polygamist leaders and the genealogy of all the different intertwining groups. It’s all kinda confusing to an outsider!!!! Thanks for this channel!" --SH
“For what spiritual, or practical purpose does Mormonism, and polygamy serve? Joseph Smith was reckless with the word of God. Thank you. As always, it is a pleasure, and a honour to listen to your message." --PB
THANKS TO ALL OUR VIEWERS WHO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS.
TERMINOLOGY DIFFERENCES:
AUTHORITY: Mormonism teaches they ALONE have God’s authority on planet earth. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is no partisan Church. It is not a sect. It is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the only one today existing in the world that can and does legitimately bear the name of Jesus Christ and his divine authority.” --Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church, pg 396.
However, the Bible tells us of a different authority on planet earth:
John 17:1-2 [Jesus prayed] “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, you have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him.”
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
No single church has all authority. Jesus alone can rightfully make that claim. 1 Timothy 2:5—Jesus is our ONLY mediator.
THEY SAID THAT?
“Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father— that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them” (The Book of Mormon, Jacob 3:5).
POLYGAMY IN THE NEWS:
Many of our readers may be aware by now, that Samuel Bateman was sentenced to 50 years in prison as penalty for marrying 20 wives, many of them minor children. We are grateful justice has been served. We pray his victims will receive
godly counseling and healing from his horrible abuse. Bateman has effectively received equivalent of a life sentence, as 50 years will make him a very old man.
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A news story dated the first week of December of 2024, tells of a group of polygamous sympathizers are fencing in U.S. Forest Service land in Colorado. The group seems to be led by a man who was formerly associated with the FLDS polygamy group. The Forest Service met with them and told them, in writing, that "the fence is in trespass and must be removed immediately." They hold that they have the right to homestead, that they have the right to exercise authority over the public's use of the land. This is the same location that the FLDS, under Warren Jeffs, had a secret hideaway, where wives and children were often relocated, hidden away and abused.
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An update on the FLDS polygamous community in British Columbia, Canada where Winston Blackmore is bishop and leader of the community, he is facing court on allegations of sexual abuse, sexual battery and sexual assault on a woman when she was a child. Blackmore himself is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and the allegations are not yet proven. Part of the allegation are that around the years of 1968 to 1981, the perpetrator used the position of power to prey upon the plaintiff, was a party to sexual and emotional assault of the plaintiff, and/or direct, aid, and abet other members of the church to sexually, physically, or emotionally abuse the plaintiff. The suit says the alleged abuse was repeated and increased in frequency, in nature and intensity as time progressed and that Blackmore used his position of authority and trust to ensure the child kept quiet.
More information at this link: https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/518910/B-C-fundamentalist-Mormon-polygamist-Winston-Blackmore-named-in-child-sex-abuse-case
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Why is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon church) planning on teaching polygamy to their children?
A recent LDS church study manual for children focused on their D&C 132 polygamy section called Celestial marriage which in the days of its alleged revelation was plural marriage. The teaching agenda was posted on their website. Many people are upset that the Mormon church would begin teaching lessons glorifying Joseph Smith's polygamy to their children. There is an abundance of criticism of their perceived agenda to “groom” their children.
For decades the LDS church ignored and often denied that Smith was a polygamist having at least 34 wives. Because of the internet, they finally confessed it was true, but along with their admission they made false statements designed to justify polygamy.
The children’s lessons on the website merely prove the deceitful explanation of early Mormon polygamy. Here is an example:
"… sometimes God may ask us to do things that seem uncomfortable and unreachable. For many early Saints, plural marriage was one such commandment. It was a severe trial of faith for Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and almost everyone who received it. To make it through this trial, they needed more than just favorable feelings about the restored gospel; they needed faith in God that went far deeper than that. The commandment no longer stands today, but the faithful example of people who lived it still does. And this example inspires us when we are asked to make our own "sacrifices in obedience."
They teach God required the early Mormons to be polygamists and that He had required Biblical characters to live polygamy which simply is not true. God instituted and blessed monogamy, not polygamy. They are teaching the children that “sacrifices in obedience” include obeying their leaders. Even if it’s wrong, they will be blessed because of their obedience. Are they ‘planning’ on soon reinstating polygamy for LDS church members?
Praises and Prayer Requests:
- Thanks to all who prayed for “A”. God got ahold of her heart, she was baptized in a Christian church, and is making progress getting out of her polygamous marriage.
Continue to pray for her victory over the darkness of Mormon polygamy. Pray also for her polygamist husband.
- Continue to pray for “S”. She and her husband left a small polygamy community. She has become a Christian, but her husband is lost and disconnected. He left his family the day before the New Year. Please pray God will meet him at his deep spiritual need, that he will turn to Jesus and go back to his family.
NTERNET BROADCAST:
ALL of our programs (past and present) are available for viewing online directly from our website, (www.whatloveisthis.tv) or they may be viewed on your TV via a Roku device (If you have a Roku account, you can add Polygamy What Love Is This to your channel list at this link). Other Internet-to-television devices (Chromecast, many wi-fi-ready Blu-Ray players and gaming consoles) may also stream our programs directly to your TV from our YouTube or Vimeo channels.
Donor Options:
General Donations to A Shield and Refuge:
For other donation options, or to contribute to specific needs, visit: www.shieldandrefuge.org/support
If you would like to support A Shield and Refuge through automatic bank withdrawal, you can download the necessary form at the above link, print it out, fill it in, and either fax or mail it to us per the instructions on the sheet.
Checks can be made out to:
A Shield and Refuge Ministry
and mailed to:
PO Box 651292
Salt Lake City, UT 84165
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us!
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