I read a recent August 2010 – Ensign article entitled, “Being Worthy to Enter the Temple”. It was a basic article on temple worthiness but the word “worthy” stood out in this article. As I focused on that single word, the word “exclusion” came into my mind.

I then began to pondered why many Non-Mormons attacked this LDS Church since the first day they heard the words from Joseph Smith speak about his First Vision and what God said to him. As I pondered, I began to see a pattern appear and the single word that would describe this pattern is the word “exclusion”. The word “exclusion” is to omit or to exclude.

What God said in the First Vision about other Christian churches was in fact, an act of exclusion by God and that appears to have triggered the sour resentment by others. There were others since Joseph Smith who claimed prophecy from God, but none have suffered the persecution and attacks more than this LDS Church, because none of the others have “excluded” other Christian creeds to the extent that God had in the First Vision and none received any visions equal to the First Vision by Joseph Smith.

From the single word “exclusion”, came the many complaints and accusations by those who were excluded from God’s acceptance. When God said that the creeds are an abomination to him, is an exclusion that was quite clear and strong. No wonder Satan spurred the hearts of many with resentment and anger, even hate that showed to be so vile, it lead to malicious and evil acts against the Latter-day Saints and the LDS Church. The same resentment and hate continues today.

Further pondering led me to see that those who left this Church and turned against this Church, denying the Lord’s doctrines to take up beliefs that God does not exclude anyone or take up beliefs that make it easier for them to gain salvation. False doctrines as “Baptism by Belief”, which is an extension of the Roman Catholic doctrine of “Baptism by Desire”. Another similar doctrine Born Again Christians have is “Baptism by the Word”. All of these deny and reject the Lord’s commandment of Baptism by Water. Denying any need of authority to baptize or to perform any spiritual works of God, claiming that all we need is the Bible to give authority. How these persons have acted against the exclusion that faces them to create a work around in their lives to be more acceptable to Salvation, but we all know what happens to any person who does not abide in the commandments of God, exclusion is guaranteed unless they repent and return to the commandments as they were given.

The idea and impact of that single word awakened the beast in so many other Christians because when faced with the Lord’s doctrine that this is God’s true Church and only Church on the earth, makes others outside this true Church, by definition, excluded from any entrance into the Kingdom of God. Even so, their lips are close to God, their hearts are far away because they deny the power of God. The power is that God clearly said we must enter the Strait Gate to enter his Kingdom. Many will try other means, but only by that Strait Gate can acceptance into God’s Kingdom occur.

The power of God is the setting of these requirements, rules and entrance restrictions, else if there were none, then the power of God is set at naught and made null and this would not be God.

Consider this. To other Christians, there are only two places to go, into heaven with God or to hell with Satan. Exclusion clearly exists in that doctrine of two places for those who reject Jesus Christ. By that doctrine, any who reject the Lord goes to hell and that includes children who are not able to choose on their own or people, such as the mentally handicapped, who do not have the mind to make such a choice.  Here the “exclusion” is far more harsh than what God said in the First Vision.

Interesting insights do appear when one ponders and compares the doctrines of the other Christian churches to the Lord’s doctrine within this LDS Church.

How hypocritical the “exclusions” played by other Christians against this Church, in accordance to their beliefs. Such as the belief that all who believe are saved and there is nothing else to do. Such a doctrine of such widespread acceptance automatically, by definition, applies to us as well, yet these other Christians do not provide that acceptance. They instead “exclude” those who they do not favour. They may retort saying that Mormons do not believe the same way as they do, but their doctrines of salvation by belief alone makes no such restriction.

Redefining God’s doctrine to suit their favour is the mainstay of others. That is what occurred in the Christian Creeds, which led to their exclusion as announced by Joseph Smith. The vicious circle continues as Satan breeds more resentment against this exclusion. That is what perpetuates more false beliefs and corrupt actions that will, by their very nature alone, cause exclusion from God’s Kingdom whether or not this LDS Church existed. Interesting to see how hate, anger, resentment and a complete lack of charity, alone, causes exclusion from God because God the Father will have none of that in his Kingdom and as these other people act in this manner, what faith is there in that?

Satan was excluded by God the Father and since Satan has worked his evil to cause others to be excluded. So any nature, trait or act that belongs to the spirit of Satan will produce the same thing – exclusion. Thus, no matter if this Church existed at all, exclusion remains a truth that many fail to see and bear.

So what have you done to exclude yourself in your life? All thoughts and actions you do to any person will include you with God or exclude. There is no such thing as a Christian Jihad, in any form or manner, yet many Christians commit such a thing in their lives toward others and even toward members of this Church.

Is it any wonder that God excluded so many in his First Vision?

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