Experiences of Ex-Mormons

Witnessing to Mormons or to Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Rob, Doug & Christy
Rob, Doug & Christy at LDS General Conference Fall 2019

Conference time again!! Doug and I, along with Christy Darlington (YAY) hit the streets at the LDS (Mormon) Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City Utah on October 5th and 6th. Our usual witnessing spot is on the corner of South Temple and Main Street, where we catch people coming and going to the morning, afternoon and priesthood sessions held in the LDS conference center.

We all held signs that address critical subjects in the Mormon faith that drawn them into conversations as they are walking by or waiting to cross the street.

Doug’s sign states, “Is the Mormon Jesus the Same Jesus of the Bible?” and Christy’s states, “Are You Prepared to Meet God?” and mine states, “Why Don’t Mormons Believe in the Book of Mormon?” These signs are very effective, even if they won’t stop and talk, they still see a message, scripture verses, our website and a short counter response to the subject title on the sign.

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Mormon vs Christian Conversations on the Trinity

In 1967 the LDS Church started the Mormon Miracle Pageant on their Manti temple grounds in Manti Utah. This pageant is held for eight nights in the latter part on June and has gone one for the last 53 years. This year (2019) was the last year for the pageant due to orders from the new prophet Russell M. Nelson. The rumor around Manti is that the pageant is being shut down due to the rise in terrorism but we Christian think the reason is due to the evangelism efforts from Christian missionaries sharing the true gospel of Jesus Christ and the increase of people leaving the Mormon faith. Record numbers of Mormons attended this year’s pageant along with a record number of Christian missionaries.

The first night of the pageant was very busy, starting with thousands of Mormons lining up at the pageant gates to make sure they get a seat when the gates open at 6:00pm. The pageant doesn’t start until 9:30pm so this gives us Christian missionaries 3 and a half hours to converse with the LDS that wonder the streets around the temple or are coming and going to the food vendors whom are stationed on the main street and at a food court 2 blocks away.

I was wearing my shirt, “Why Don’t Mormons Believe the Book of Mormon?” when a guy named Matt approached me asking what I thought the verse on the bottom of my shirt meant. The verse is 2 Nephi 31:21 which states:

“…And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.”

I replied that it is speaking of the Trinity, that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God, not 3 gods in the godhead like the LDS Church teaches. He said that he had been watching me and already looked up the verse and agreed that this verse seem to be talking about the Trinity. He said that he had a Baptist friend that had tried to explain the Trinity so he understood that Evangelicals believed 3 persons made one God but could not grasp how they could be 3 separate persons yet one God.

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Explaining the Trinity to Mormons

When people begin to question Mormonism and consider biblical Christianity, the subject of the Triune God comes up. John 17:3 is part of Jesus' prayer to the Father for His disciples before Jesus went to the Cross.  He said; "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  Since eternal life comes only by faith in the true God and true Jesus, I have put together a teaching on our Triune God that I often use to help Ex-Mormons understand this difficult subject.

The Trinity: Father - Son - Holy Spirit = One God

Where Does The Word Trinity Appear in The Bible?

The word Trinity does not appear in the text of the Bible!

Where then do we get the word Trinity from?

The word Trinity is derived through scripture in the Bible that describes one Triune God.

What is a simple explanation of the Trinity?

Three distinct persons that make one God!

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Counting the Cost with My Family ~ Rob’s Experience

I remember shortly before I believed and confessed Romans 10:9-10, proclaiming that Jesus is my only Savior and source of righteousness before God, I struggled with the reality that if I made this confession it would surely bring division and possibly hatred in my relationship with my friends, co-workers, and of course, my LDS family.  Jesus addresses this struggle in Luke 14:28-33 when He said:

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish.  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.  So, likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

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Talking with the Spitting Mad Mormon

On the weekend of April 6-7th, Doug and I attended the LDS Semi Annual Spring Conference at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Let me correct myself, according to the new prophet Nelson, I need to address the Mormon Church as the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” and avoid using the term Mormon.  This new prophet Russell M. Nelson stated that calling Church members “Mormons” or “LDS” gives Satan victory so these slang terms or acronyms  are not to be used anymore. So from here on out, we are suppose to refer them as “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”

Another change that Nelson just made before conference, is that, church members who are gay or transgender will no longer be considered apostates and their children can now obtain baptism into the Church as well.  As a result of these changes, I had one young man approach me asking what I thought about these changes in the “LDS” church.  By the dress apparel of this young man, I assumed he was referring to the acceptance of gays and transgenders, so I answered by asking if he was referring to their new stance on gays and transgenders and he responded with a “yes.” I told him that I don’t agree with anything the “LDS” church says or believes. I continued to explain that their new change in policies contradicted God and His word in the Bible, that these sinful practices are an abomination to God and carry horrible consequence for those who practice such sins. He said that he wasn’t Mormon anymore, but was just curious what I thought about it. He then said he had to go and thanked me for talking to him.

Next, Doug and I were approached by a guy we will call “the spitting mad Mormon.” He approached us so mad that when he spoke, spit would fly from his mouth. He did not like our signs, “Is the Mormon Jesus the Same Jesus of the Bible” and “Why Don’t Mormons Believe the Book of Mormon?,” and was very arrogant and prideful as he spoke. As Doug explained that the Mormon Jesus was not the same Jesus of the Bible, Mr. Spit said that the Bible was corrupted by man and it couldn’t be trusted.  Doug kept explaining that the LDS church was the one that corrupted the understanding of who Jesus was by saying  Jesus was a created being and the brother of Lucifer, but this guy kept arguing that the Church was right and we were wrong.

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Answering Questions in Manti

Well, another year at the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti Utah has passed; a place where many Christians from around the country gather to reach out to the LDS pageant attendees and enjoy Christian fellowship in the name of Jesus.

Last year, the LDS Church purchased the street in front of the Mormon temple in order to keep Christians from witnessing to the LDS that were attending the pageant.  At first, we were all concerned how this would affect our witnessing efforts, but as it has turned out, all it did was scatter Christians out around the city of Manti, instead of being gathered into one place. Didn’t God do this once before in the early church?

Doug and I found a great place on main street at a cross walk to catch LDS as they walked to the temple grounds. It even comes with LDS crossing guards to talk with all evening long.  One night my crossing guard was a young man named Tim, who had just returned for his LDS mission. He was very eager to discuss topics in the Book of Mormon. I read Moroni 8:18 to him and asked why the LDS church taught differently about God than the Book of Mormon teaches The passage reads: “For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being: but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.” Tim replied that they believe in God the eternal father.  So, I asked him this question, “Since the LDS god was once a sinful man like us before he obtained exaltation and was appointed god over this world, didn’t that mean that God changed?”

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A New Mormon Convert Questions Mormonism

Doug and I attended this year’s LDS Spring Conference at Temple Square in Salt Lake City Utah. The weather was great with a larger than normal attendance, which I assume was due to the sustaining of the new LDS prophet/president of the church, Russell M. Nelson during the Saturday morning section. Russell M. Nelson replaced Thomas S. Monson who was the former prophet until his death.

The sustaining of Russell M. Nelson proceeded with a rare apposing of the sustaining by an LDS member who also yelled out for the church to stop sexual abuse by the leadership.  Because of the governmental and political influence of the LDS church, to put it mildly, this sparked a hotbed of news for the LDS and all of Utah.

When I first started going to conferences back in 2006, I was the only Christian on the corner of South Temple and Main Street. Then in 2007 Doug started coming with me and this conference we had as many as 10 Christians witnessing on the corner of South Temple. With this many Christian witnesses there was always a conversation or two going on.

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God Broke Through the Blocked Street

robDoug and I had another great trip this year to Manti Utah for the Mormon Miracle Pageant. With the closing of the street in front of the temple (where the majority of witnessing takes place), we were not sure of this new change in direction but trusted God for the results. As the saying goes, God is good all the time, and showed us that He is in control of all things, even the streets of Manti.

The Blocked Street in Manti Utah 2017

Since we could not hang out at the Pageant gates, we picked a street crossing where the LDS would cross Main Street and enter the temple grounds. The great thing about this spot was that there where people handing out pageant programs and crossing guards to help the people cross the busy main street. These people were there from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, the same time that we were there witnessing so of course we got to witness to many of them. They also got to listen when we were witnessing to pageant attendees.

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Chatting with the Friendly Anti Mormons

robThe weather was perfect for evangelism at this year’s LDS General Fall Conference and when the weather is comfortable it seems to invite more people into conversations. This is exactly the way the conference weekend went.

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Discussing Joseph Smith's Claim to be Better than Jesus with Mormons

robIt was another great year at the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti Utah! The pageant ran 8 nights starting on the 16th of June through the 18th and the 21st through the 25th of June.

This year was the 50th anniversary of the pageant, so Doug, my evangelism partner and best friend, decided to help in the Christian witnessing efforts of the 50th anniversary celebration with a new shirt that read, “The Church of Joseph Smith of Latter-day Saints.”

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Why It is Important to Know Who God Is

Jeff - The "Friendly Anti Mormon - Let's Chat"

robOn April 2nd and 3rd, Doug and I attended the LDS 186th Annual General Conference at Temple Square in Salt Lake City Utah.  Every year, we stand on the corner of South Temple at the plaza entrance to reach out to the LDS that are heading to the conference center on North Temple.

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The Church of JOSEPH SMITH of Latter Day Saints

robDoug and I attended our 18th Semi Annual LDS General Conference at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 3rd and 4th. We always look forward to seeing how God will use us to reach the LDS people and proclaim His truth.

As usual, Doug had his sign that reads "Is the Mormon Jesus the Same Jesus of the Bible?" And I wore my shirt that reads, "Why Don't Mormons Believe the Book of Mormon?". Doug also wore a new shirt he just made that reads, "The Church of JOSEPH SMITH of Latter Day Saints" with 4mormon.org on the back along with "History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 408-409" which is the address to Joseph Smith's boasting statement he made on May 26, 1844 about a month before his death.

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Challenging Mormons with the Real Gospel

robDoug and I attended the 49th annual Mormon Miracle Pageant at Manti Utah during the 18th thru the 27th of June. Over the past few years we have noticed a decline in LDS attendance to the pageant and this year was no exception. Unfortunately, there seemed to be fewer Christian evangelist in attendance this year as well. Although, there were still plenty of Mormons that heard the truth of the Gospel and Jesus in contrast to the deception of Mormon doctrine. Even with the attendance being very low on some nights, we still had a lot of conversations and handed out hundreds of tracts.

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Would you allow a false prophet to influence your life?

robDoug and I attended the 185th LDS Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah at the LDS Temple Square on April 4th and 5th. This was our 17th General Conference sharing the Gospel and Biblical truth to the LDS people and exposing false LDS teachings. As the Gospel goes, it has bad news and good news. The bad news is about us and the good news is about Jesus.

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Mormons Don't Know the 2nd Part of John 14:6: "No one comes to the Father but by Me."

robOn October 4th and 5th, Doug and I attended the 184th LDS Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City Utah. The weather was very pleasant, around 70 degrees, making it more suitable for conversations and more comfortable for standing outside the Temple grounds each day.

Doug sign, "Is the Mormon Jesus the Same Jesus of the Bible?" usually draws in a number of LDS with their argument that the Mormon Jesus is the same Jesus as in the Bible.  But when they say that, it opens the door for us to share the real Jesus and why eternal life can only be obtained through belief in the Biblical Jesus (John 17:3).

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How to use the Book of Mormon to Prove the Trinity

Doug and Rob in Manti, UT

USING THE BOOK OF MORMON TO PROVE THE TRINITY

Doug and I have been attending the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti Utah for a number of years so it is like old home week seeing many of the Christians that have been coming year after year. Besides great fellowship, there is daily worship and witness training at the Ephraim Church of the Bible in the mornings and of course, witnessing to the LDS at the Pageant each night.

This year as part of the morning witness training, Tri-Grace Ministries presented a panel of pageant veterans to share their favorite witnessing technique and asked me to be part of that panel.

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Equipping Our Meetup Members

Part of my role as hostess on our Colorado Springs and Worldwide Internet Ex-Mormon Meetup is to remind members of the wealth of information available to them at our website www.4mormon.org

Ex-Mormon Meetup

Taking into consideration that we actually have more activity from members interested in witnessing to Mormons than from ex-Mormons themselves, I try to find articles of interest to meet the needs of our most active members. In April, I posted a question from a letter titled “I’M FRUSTRATED! HOW CAN I GET THROUGH TO MORMONS?” which can be found on our website under the heading “FAQ about reaching loved ones.” I copied and pasted the whole letter into the post and invited our Meetup members to respond with this: Okay Meetup members, how would you respond? What could you share with the writer who is looking for a way to talk to their Mormon friend? What would you do?

One member responded with “I think this question is THE defining question when dealing with them. The problems outlined here are verbatim the same problems everyone with a heart for Mormons encounters. I'll be following this thread closely.......”

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Rocky and Helen Mormon Missions Midwest

Rocky and Helen

Rocky  and Helen

Rocky was raised as a 6th generational Mormon. When challenged by his wife Helen, who came to salvation in Christ through her research into Mormonism, he adamantly refused and set out to prove her wrong. Then in 1986, while attending the Bible Studies of a cowboy preacher, Rocky was saved. He and his wife have been exposing Mormonism and preaching the REAL Jesus ever since. Read Rocky’s Full Story Out of Mormonism.bullets

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Discussing Atheism with Mormons

Witnessing at LDS General Conference
Witnessing at LDS General Conference

Rob's Mission Trip to Utah - Witnessing to Mormons During the Spring LDS General Conference

robYes, it was LDS Spring Conference time on April 5th and 6th, and along with Spring Conference came April showers. Fortunately, it was only April sprinkles with mild weather, which didn't keep the LDS from stopping and talking. Doug, Jeff and I gathered at the corner of South Temple Square and the Plaza Strip so that we could reach out to the LDS that exit the Conference on South Temple. Most of the Christians gather at North Temple and in front of the Conference Center where they can reach out to the majority of the LDS that come to Conference.

Doug and I have been standing at the corner of South Temple and Plaza Strip during Spring and Fall conference for the past 9 years so it is not unusual for people that we have spoken to in the past to stop and talk again. A couple of years ago, I witnessed to two LDS guys, one of them being a LDS photographer/reporter. I spoke about the blasphemy of embracing the idea that God was once a man like us and that we can gain exaltation, becoming Gods ourselves. Every conference since then, this same LDS reporter has stopped to briefly talk and take whatever tracts I happen to be handing out each time. Doug got to talk briefly with an LDS guy from our home town of Winnemucca. He is a physical therapist who Doug had visited for a work injury several years ago. It is amazing to see how God is at work spreading His gospel with these "divine appointments".

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A Question for LDS Missionaries

rob

 

ROB AND JEFF WITNESSING TO MORMONS AT THE FALL CONFERENCE 2013


robA QUESTION FOR LDS MISSIONARIES

We handed out about 350 business size tracts and a few DVDs October 5th and 6th was the 183rd Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The opening comments by the LDS leadership stated that the Church membership was growing, not declining but I have been coming to the Semiannual General Conferences for the past 8 years I have noticed a decline in attendance at these General Conferences. The Salt Lake Deseret News posted an article sometime back admitting a decline in the overall membership of the LDS Church. So who says that we are wasting our time evangelizing the LDS people! Our God is way bigger than doctrines of deception and the craftiness of men!

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Witnessing to Mormons with my Evangelistic T-Shirts

sunset

HeavenrobIt was another wonderful, humbling, inspiring outreach trip to Manti Utah for the 169th annual Mormon Miracle Pageant.  At the Pageant, my friends Mark and Terry, Doug and I passed out about 550 business size tracts, 110 of my new "Why Don't Mormons Follow Jesus' teachings?" tracts and at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, we passed out over 100 Jesus Christ/Joseph Smith DVDs.

I am always amazed at seeing so many Christian Missionaries on the street in front of the Manti Temple each pageant night and how God uses us to be His witnesses to the LDS people. I enjoy watching the expressions on the faces of LDS as they watch while we sing praises to our God. The pageant gates open at 6:00pm and the pageant starts at 9:30pm.  So at 6:00pm we, Christians, gather on the pageant street and sing a few praise songs and pray before the evening starts.

One night as I was handing out tracts before our worship time started, I noticed a young lady watching us and reading our ministry shirts and when worship started, she was glued to what she saw. I asked a young Christian lady next to me if she was interested in witnessing to this young LDS lady and she jumped at the invitation, walked right up to this LDS gal and had great conversation for over an hour.

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Why Don’t Mormons Follow Jesus’ Teachings?

Heaven

Jesus taught there would be no marriage in the Kingdom of God:

“And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:” Luke 20:34-35, Matthew 22:29-32

 

Jesus never taught we are saved by doing good works:

“Many will say to Me in that day [judgment day], Lord, Lord,...and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:28-29 see also Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7

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An Ex-LDS Testimony - "All I want is to love my Savior, but I feel something missing..."

Witnessing Spring 2013

ROB AND DOUG WITNESSING TO MORMONS AT THE SPRING CONFERENCE 2013

Well, another LDS General Conference has come and gone and only God knows the full impact from all the conversations and tracts handed out during the 2 day conference. For all of you that have not been to an LDS Semi-Annual General Conference and experienced the masses of LDS in attendance and the sorrow of seeing so many deceived and unwilling to talk about their faith, let alone hear the true Gospel Message, it is quite heartbreaking, to say the least.

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The Real Story Behind the Mormon Nauvoo Pageant

Rocky and HelenTHE REAL STORY BEHIND THE MORMON NAUVOO PAGEANT by Rocky Hulse

The Nauvoo Pageant is a yearly event here in Nauvoo put on by the Mormon Church.  It is a grand outdoor production that is very well done and draws thousands of Mormons and non-Mormons alike.

The performance and choreography are first class; however, the story line is pure “Faith Promoting” Mormon History.  Many half-truths are portrayed and some downright deceptions as well. In this issue of “The Midwest Expositor” I’ll attempt to address some of these items.

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Eternal Marriage and Polygamy: Part of the fullness of the gospel?

Julie

bullets WHY WITNESS TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

We’ve been exploring the “top ten questions for Mormons” on our Meetup group for former members of the Latter Day Saints. Since LDS members generally recognize other churches as teaching “some truth” yet claim Mormonism gives people the “fullness of the gospel,” I asked for suggestions on how to respond to that. One member wrote, “ask them about being sealed together for eternal marriage and how this is in direct contrast to Luke 20:34-36.”

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If Mormonism isn't true, What is the Truth?

bevHi I am Bev.

If you’ve recently left the LDS Church, you may be asking this very question.  My dear beloved one.  You are not alone!   I have been where you are now.  I remember about the time I was in High School, I began to have serious doubts about the Mormon church.  Some of my questions were:

Where are the places in the Book of Mormon and why can’t I go and visit them?

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Do Not Be Deceived

bevHi I'm Bev.

“Do not be deceived.”  Does that sound familiar?  It probably does; but, let us remind ourselves.

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God’s Word is Passionate Promises – Trustworthy and True

bev

Hi I'm Bev.

GOD'S WORD IS PASSIONATE PROMISES -  Trustworthy and True

Rejoice everyday in the precious promises and Sanctuary of God’s Word.  Every believer can receive His Word as personally their own. Our God is trustworthy, true, and His passion for His people radiates through His Word.  Never doubt theses promises.

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My View of the Three Kingdoms of Heaven

Heaven

robMY VIEW OF THE THREE KINGDOMS OF HEAVEN

Mormonism says:

Doctrine & Covenants section 76 states that there are three glories or kingdoms of heaven, the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial. Those who are received into the celestial kingdom by fulfilling all the laws and ordinances are of the church of the Firstborn.

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The Mormon View of the Bible Exposed

robThe Book of Mormon says:

2 Nephi 29:3,6,8,10,12:

And because my words shall hiss forth-many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.

Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

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