Our Websites:  www.shieldandrefuge.org | www.whatloveisthis.tv | www.hagarhome.org
October 2025

Dear Praying Friends,

Doris Hanson Director, Shield & Refuge Ministry

Humans tend to exalt each other – Mormonism especially looks to a special man to be God’s mediator and messenger for the people. They have determined they must have a modern day prophet to lead and mediate for God. For the LDS church its their president. For the polygamy groups, its their group leader or someone who has been appointed or earned high authority to speak for God, and that he will never lead them astray.

But God tells us to exalt only Jesus Christ. His is the name above all names. Acts 4:12, His is the only NAME by which a human can be saved. Jesus said those who are exalted will be brought down.

God has revealed Jesus Christ alone as mediator between man and God. We are all on equal ground before God, sinners needing a Savior.

Jesus is the only Savior, the only Prophet,
the only Priest and our only King.
Humans should never be exalted one above another. Jesus is EVERYTHING we will ever need.

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 ~

Copied from “Joseph Smith’s Polygamy”
by Jerald and Sandra Tanner.

According to Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith said the following to John C. Bennett:

“. . . why are you using my name to carry on your hellish wickedness? Have I ever taught you that fornication and adultery were right, or polygamy or any such practice? . . . Did I ever teach you anything that was not virtuous—that was iniquitous, either in public or private?”
(History of the Church, by Joseph Smith, vol. 5, page 72)

Ebenezer Robinson, who was at one time the editor of the Times and Seasons, claimed that Hyrum Smith told him to live in plural marriage and lie about it if necessary:

To whom it may concern:

This is to certify that in the latter part of November, or in December, 1843, Hyrum Smith (brother of Joseph Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) came to my house in Nauvoo, Illinois, and taught me the doctrine of spiritual wives or polygamy.  He said he heard the voice of the Lord give the revelation on spiritual wifery (polygamy) to his brother Joseph, and that while he had heretofore opposed the doctrine he was wrong, and his brother Joseph was right all the time.  He told me to make a selection of some young woman and he would send her to me, and take her to my home, and if she should have an heir, to give out the word that he had a husband who had gone on a mission to a foreign country. He seemed disappointed when I declined to do so. (Sgd.) E. Robinson

Revelation 21:8  But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

FROM OUR MAILBOX

“How can Christians believe that babies and people who have never been baptized go to hell? Wow. A still-born baby didn’t get baptized so goes to hell?  If you really believe that God is so mean and sits on his throne condemning unbaptized babies to hell, that’s really a sad doctrine. Mormonism believes that God loves all his kids and wants them all to have joy.” –MK

NOTE:  Christians do not and have never believed that God sends unbaptized babies or people to Hell.  Christians believe the Bible that teaches Jesus is our Savior, baptism does not save or have any merit in a person’s salvation. 

“I grew up in Pinesdale, answering exact same to many questions. I decided at 10 I had to escape after my dad sold me when I was 9, got out at 16 to an older man who was awful. Escaped that abuse at 22... will probably always be in therapy. It was horribly sad.” --DT

“Who teaches these young men to use rape as a weapon? God save these people from Satan's grip.” --BW

“Doris, you’re boring. This show was interesting when you interviewed survivors, but all this old lady religious BS is a turnoff.” -KD

THANKS TO ALL OUR VIEWERS WHO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS.

THEY SAID THAT?   
From the Book of Mormon:

Jacob 2:27  Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none:

Ether 10:5  And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and concubines . .

Mosiah 11:2  For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines.

The Book of Mormon does not support polygamy but prohibits and condemns it.

LIES THAT MORMONISM TEACHES FEMALES:

• You have a mother in heaven and someday - if you are worthy - you will also BE a mother in heaven.
• You must be married in this life in a special ritual in order to achieve Mormon’s celestial kingdom.
• You are not as worthy in God’s eyes as men are.  it takes a husband to bring you into eternal life.
• A man is the key to a woman’s happiness in this mortal existence.
• Mormon Fundamentalist females must share their husbands in plural marriage in order to qualify for the celestial kingdom.
• Your feelings authenticate truth or error.

RECENT VIDEO / PODCAST OF INTEREST:

Discussion of the Strange Mormon Teachings
on The Law of Sarah

Polygamy What Love Is This - Show No. 18.19 (July 16, 2025)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_68kfDe9qQ

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Verlan LeBaron had 58 children with ten wives.
The LeBaron polygamy group started September 21 1955; it was a breakoff from the AUB polygamy group.  (Apostolic United Brethren). Founder was Joel LeBaron. It was officially called the Church of the Firstborn. Their headquarters was located in Chihauhua, Mexico.   
They were dogmatic about polygamy and latter day priesthood authority, that they alone  possessed the “keys” of God’s authority to rule on the earth until the millennium.

MARY’S STORY, Part 4:

This is the fourth part of Mary Batchelor’s journey from a believer in polygamy to saving faith in Jesus Christ:

There are many women living in polygamy today who actively choose polygamy, and would choose it again (some who even aggressively pursue it), even after the abandonment of a husband, rejection of a sister wife, struggling to feed their children, or suffering horrible abuse.  They refuse to blame polygamy for their problems.

I did not blame polygamy either. I considered myself happy.  Unlike many women who have lived polygamy, I chose my husband and family. I enjoyed a loving and nurturing birth family (albeit not a polygamist one), as well as a loving husband and friends from varied backgrounds. It was very hard when my sister wife struggled, and that marriage deteriorated and ended in divorce.

Notwithstanding that failure, I did not blame polygamy.  I supported my husband through more than one extended courtship with several different women.  Deleted details.  Even with the hurt and jealous moments that arose, I wanted to love those women.

I often hear critics say that polygamists are “lying” when they say they are happy, but I think it’s more complicated than that.  They believe they are pleasing God, so they build their lives around it.  All their special, meaningful life events are blended into polygamy.  For them, the beauty in their family bonding moments becomes a testament to polygamy.  The laughter of multiple children playing from different moms becomes a testament of a happy home-life for children in polygamy.  The camaraderie of neighbors who trade garden fresh vegetables for eggs, or lend a hand fixing a flat tire, or pick up a neighbor child from school – all of these things become a testament of kindness of families in polygamy. 

But is it really because of polygamy?  Where these exist, are these fruits of polygamy or fruits of other choices that more fully align with Christ’s teachings? Because these are things that everyone can experience apart from polygamy, and without the emotional duress, financial strain, and in many cases predatory practices that often accompany polygamy. 

Praises and Prayer Requests:

• Pray for “B” who came out of an abusive FLDS polygamous family and has turned against God believing He did those things to her. Pray God will reveal Himself to her in a special way, that she would know about and accept His love for her.

• “M” has heard the Biblical Gospel but remains in the Kingston polygamy group. Pray for her and her husband and children.

 

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