It is known, from the scriptures that many saints will fall in these latter-days. How the saints fall, I am sure will be by many ways. We see in these latter days members of this Church falling into apostasy and members who left the membership because they chose to take issue with other members or with the Church. When I read the many personal accounts of ex-Mormons on the Internet, I found that “taking issue” seems to be the dominate cause.
Recently, I read a blog belonging to an ex-Mormon. His blog is rather new and the content did not provide much detail as to why he left the Church. In fact it was rather vague with many generalized brief statements. He did not explain why certain things caused him to loose his belief in the Church, but what he did state was sufficient to see what caused his disbelief and it had nothing to do with the truth. It had to do his own personal distaste for things he read in the historic information about this Church.
After reading his short blog, the idea came for me to write and post some helpful hints of how identify turncoat Mormons, who became disgruntled and discontented. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but I hope that this list provides some help for members who seem to be caught in the “web” weaved by ex-members or failing members.
Is it Personal or is it God’s Truth?
This Church has it’s errors and difficulties in the past. Such as members who fell and became apostate, internal struggles and counter claims, personal choices that led to problems and questionable results, and so on. When reading a lot of the history of this Church, I am sure one person or another will find something that is “personally” distasteful or disagreeable. Everyone has their personal likes and dislikes, personal views of what they will accept and not accept, but whether this Church is or is not of God is certainly not determined by personal opinion or by personal acceptability. A person’s preference to one thing or another is by far, one of the poorest means to determine the truth of this Holy Church.
The Early Christian Church was racked with problems. Paul the apostle was constantly writing epistles about it and his epistles make up most of the New Testament. The truth Paul provided was that mortals are prone to error and misunderstandings. The truth provided by Paul were also answers to these problems and dilemmas and some of his answers were reproofs. What Paul showed us is that we are to expect problems and errors within the Lord’s Church. This Church is not perfect, yet the Lord who leads this Church is. Perfection is developed over time. After all, that is what the Atonement, with repentance, is all about. It gives each faithful member the power and freedom to deal with mortal shortcomings and work toward perfection.
Paul also showed us what depicts a true Church of God and that was “revelation”, referring to revelation to the prophet (leaders of the Church) and personal revelation for each faithful member. Paul’s counsels and teachings came from God’s revelations. This is because Paul learned the doctrines of Christ from the Spirit of God, not from man. Do you remember that passage? (Galatians 1:12)
When a member has problems with the Church, he/she may take those problems as their claim that this Church is not true. Some will proclaim and use historic information they have read, which apparently caused them to lose their belief in this Church. The question that needs asking is whether the account by that person is personal or is it God’s truth? With Paul it is God’s truth because he clearly shows divine inspiration. With disheartened ex-Mormon’s, will there be divine revelation or will there be personal preference and opinion?
Both the Bible and Book of Mormon clearly teach that God’s truth is obtained by revelation, by his Spirit that speaks to our minds and hearts. When we see the example of Paul and how he provided God’s revelation to address problems and concerns within the Church, so it is that each person who was given the Gift of the Holy Ghost can seek answers the same way, but only for themselves.
The Holy Ghost is ready and willing to provide to any humble and sincere member, teaching, guidance, understanding and direction. I can testify this is true, because I experienced it myself. This says that each member has the responsibility to take their doubts and concerns and make the effort to study the matter out and seek understanding to the best of their own ability and power. When this is exhausted and depending how urgent the concern, the member is then to take the matter to his/her bishop and seek proper address there, at the same time, praying to the Father for help to resolve the matter. If the member exercises faith and patience (I am not kidding, this is important), then the Lord will provide them clarity and that clarity may come after a test of their faith. That member will then receive understanding that will spur peace within them.
Do you see the pattern of self-address here?
To determine if the claims of an ex-Mormon are personal or spiritual truth, is to see if that member followed that same pattern above. Look for it in their personal accounts of the issue they describe. If they happen to be physically present, ask them.
If they claim they have followed that pattern and they still left the Church discouraged, angered, upset, resentful etc, then we know they have lied. This because the Holy Spirit does not answer with, does not cause, does not encourage or teach any form of contention. In addition, for a member to claim they have received answers from the Holy Ghost, but still decided to leave, is also a liar because then they are dangerously close to committing blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and that is an unforgivable sin. If they did that, they might as well remain out of the Church because they are guaranteed permanent condemnation and a place with Satan. Think about it. To act against the Holy Ghost is the act of rebellion against the testimony or witness of the Holy Ghost while in spirit with him, the light of God.
I have never met any person who has committed a sin against the Holy Ghost, but I believe that such a person will emanate the spirit of darkness in such a way that we would easily sense it.
If a member leaves with upset, confusion, anger, resentment, etc, then this belongs to their ”personal issue” and that has nothing to do with any spiritual truth. Therefore we can be assured that they have been misled by some ill spirit or at least by their own shortsightedness and foolishness.
A Friendly Smile with Contention, Discontentment or Confusion
This person is being deceptive. They took upon themselves a foul spirit that seeks to instill all sorts of upset. This type of person does not have any truth in them, for they are promoting evil. The contradiction between the smile and their actions speaks volumes. The most they are telling us is that they are taking issue with the Church and that is it. These persons were incapable of receiving the Holy Spirit, so any claims from them that the Spirit led them to their discontentment is a lie, even if they believe the lie as a truth.
It is All About Them
This makes their accounts 100% personal. There is no truth from God in what they claim or what they say. This is where ex-members speak volumes of how “they” found this and “they” found that, how “they” were upset and how “they” were apparently fooled or how “they” experienced this and that from the Church or it’s members. It is all about them, nothing spiritual in it at all, apart from the fact their spirit has turned wicked. Another part of this would be the “me versus them” mentality. Again it is all personal and these persons should be left alone in their own misery. That is the counsel from the scriptures.
Contradictions
This refers to contradictions between their claims they still have faith in God and at the same time they are speaking or doing contentious things. A person who has faith in God will not follow or abide in contention, for this is following the devil. Other contradictions are claims they still have a testimony or still have the Spirit with them when they are again, contentious, argumentative and so forth. Do not believe them.
It is All Historical
This is where they are focusing primarily on historical information as their prime reason for claiming this Church is false. They call it “facts” or “logic”. When you hear or read this, be assured that this person is closed to the Holy Ghost and their logic is what they put into it. A true faithful member knows, by experience, that the teachings and confirmations from the Holy Ghost is truth. The logic of the world has not been able to explain the workings of the Holy Ghost, let alone understand him. If they did, then the Holy Ghost would be with the world. All scriptures clearly say that faith is required for Spiritual truth, not worldly logic, or as the Bible calls it, “worldly wisdom” (see 1 Cor 2:6–7 / 1 Cor 3:19 ).
A person who wields the historical hammer has no spiritual logic and no spiritual sense at all. He/she is choosing to be a critic of Church History or using Church history to play the devil’s advocate game. They will speak volumes of historic data (mostly false or mixed false and true), but if you read carefully, there is nothing of faith in their words and tone.
A true faithful person knows that to gain a true testimony of the Lord’s true Church is by what means?
It is by revelation, there is no other way. As far as Church history is concerned, it is something a person must work with in order to properly understand with the proper spiritual logic and wisdom. This is also acquired from God.
Why is a spiritual testimony important?
Well it is not only God’s truth seeded within us, it is also the means by which a person can depend on when their personal “logic” and understanding fails (see Proverbs 3:5). A spiritual testimony is the great help that becomes the keeper of faith, but to be able to have that help and support, there must be a sincere acceptance of that spiritual testimony. A person cannot gain a testimony of Jesus Christ, the Father or the Holy Ghost, or of the Church, the restored gospel or the prophet without proper revelation from God. A person who rallies him/herself through history as their attempt to disprove this Church will find themselves confused and will loose their testimony. This is because they are using their “private interpretation” (2 Pet 1:20), calling on their own wisdom (Eccl. 8:17) and of course, seeking to be contentious or confrontational.
Accurate historical information is to help understand what happened, how some things and persons developed or what they did or did not do, but historic information will not provide a person with a proper testimony and witness. That is only gained by study of the scriptures, humble prayer and revelation from the Holy Ghost. There is no other way.
Reading the Bible, we have a very tumultuous history of Israel and of the Early Christian Church, but the Bible is filled accounts of faith and of great apostasy, where things done are far worst than what any person in this Church can ever do. These detractors of the faith fail miserably to see this “logic”, and fail to see that the Bible holds a far greater and darker history than this Church. Yet the history that applies to the Bible is a history that all Christian churches accept. Therefore, if a person tries to use history of this Church to discount it and degrade it, then they would, by the same principle and example they possess, would also have to deny and discount the Bible as the word of God.
Generally speaking, I found that these type of people are argumentative. Their whole testimony against this Church is contentious and therefore there is no truth in them. It is best to avoid arguments with these people. You will generally find they are quite zealous with their criticism of the history of this Church. Let them have their disbelief.
Others Have Opened Their Eyes
This is another trait of the misled. This is where they claim that others have opened their eyes to the falsehoods of the Church. Their claim is that they were blind before and now they see the Truth.
Do you see the falsehood here?
These lost souls claim they have found truth from other people who are generally contentious against this Church. There is no Spirit of God in this, it is all personal and worldly. They have been convinced by others that this Church fooled them. The method these others usually use to convince members is the method of “fear”. Using events or information to spur fear into the listener, which is the promotion of fear and confusion.
The Lord warns us against these people. This fear is not from God, it is not his way. Beware of fear mongers, for God is not the author of confusion or fear.
Promotion of Disorder
This is a sure sign of the devil. People who promote ideas and doctrines that breed disorder. Such things as claims against the tithe, or the government of the Church, or claim that a prophet is unnecessary, or against the idea that a Church is not needed and many more. I am sure there are many other types of disorder promoted by ex-Mormons. These people likely live in disorder themselves.
Amen
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