As always, my views do not necessarily represent those of this organization, but only my own findings of truth as found in the word of God and as he has chosen to make known unto me. I resigned from the LDS Church about 2 months ago, and my explanation will be put below. The following is the letter I sent to my bishop, requesting my leave. The real issue at heart, is the choice between holding to God’s word, or mans. Ultimately you will have to decide which is more important to you. My letter will demonstrate that I have chosen God’s word, while Mormonism at large has chosen mans. I don’t claim to be perfect at following it, but at least I have my priorities in order and know the path I am on. Unfortunately, many who suppose they are holding to the rod, actually despise it, and roam the great and spacious building, mocking the truly penitent who hold to God’s word, accusing the faithful of being prideful for not listening to false teachers. May all who read, choose to follow God more than any other.
To: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
From: Andrew Dayton Seymore
Date: 2 September 2018
Though I write this letter to you, Bishop Winegar, I write it as though it were to all who call themselves members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I respect you and believe you to be a decent man, but that does not change my stance on Mormonism.
I have been a member of the LDS church now for 16 years, baptized when I was 8 by my still faithful LDS parents. I have served in various callings including an elder’s quorum president, temple ordinance worker and a fulltime missionary, from which I returned from Kentucky with honor. On my mission, I learned to love scripture and to follow the words of God contained in there more than the words of any man. I learned to seek Gods face and to expect the miraculous. While on my mission I healed the sick, cast out demons, first saw an angel, began having dreams and visions, and first heard the voice of God. I experienced what I thought all missionaries were supposed to experience, that which the prophets of old and the saints in the early days of the restoration did. However, I learned that such was not the case, and I was ridiculed by supposed believers for doing things like seeking God’s face.
Also while on my mission, I first encountered wicked men serving as bishops and stake presidents and even in the higher echelons; men who despised the poor. I also experienced my first disappointment from hearing an apostle speak to me, and realize he didn’t have anything truly profound to say. I then met men and women not of the LDS church who had more contact with God and more miraculous experiences of faith than I had ever heard a living Mormon speak of. Near the end of my mission I was told by God that I too would be his apostle. The idea seemed so preposterous to me I tried to shrug it off. That however, was due to my ignorance because of the false things I was taught at LDS services.
After my mission, I studied the gospel more intensely than anyone I knew. I didn’t have many friends or much social life because almost all of my free time would be spent in study. I’ve now been home less than 3 years, but have read tens of thousands of pages of scripture, history, and teachings. From all I learned, it became clear to me that something was wrong with the LDS church. Not only do the current leaders constantly contradict the former leaders, but they also contradict those before them and so on. But more importantly, the scripture the LDS leaders claim to believe in, does not support their teachings and practices.
As I continued my quest for truth (for the truth shall set you free), I SAW THE TRUTH. In other words, I have seen Jesus Christ. I have spoken to him, and he to me. I have seen him now on multiple occasions, and he has even brought me before the Father. I have seen both the Father and the Son; THEY DO INDEED LIVE! The record of Joseph Smith and all the holy prophets is true. This is how I was to become Christ’s apostle. Not through men, nor the will of man, but through God alone; even as Paul. He has called me and given me a message to bear, and that message is to repent of your sins and return to that God who alone can save you. You will not be saved by following President Nelson. He is a false prophet just as are all of the 15 men who claim to be so. You follow prophets who do not prophesy, seers who do not see, and revelators who do not reveal anything but their own deceit. You will not be blessed for following him even if he is wrong. The blind lead the blind into the ditch (hell).
Perhaps these men have good intentions, but that is what the road to hell is paved with. God once revealed to me, when I thought that even though the LDS leaders are wrong about so much and their tithes do little to help the poor, and even though they excommunicate true prophets sent to help them; surely they must still have good and kind hearts. Thus said God to me, “You do not know how corrupt their hearts are”.
I know that you reading this probably suppose me to be some crackpot hooligan, to whom you will pay no mind; but be ye warned friend, for so too were the true prophets of old treated. I do not claim to be a prophet, only to have a message. I claim no worthiness of myself, for I sin far too much and war against the flesh constantly. Yet despite my weakness, this message needs to be declared.
God lives, for I have seen him. Christ lives and atoned for our sins; I have seen it. He has risen again. I have felt his tangible body. They alone have the power to save. No man nor church apart from them have any authority to redeem. Joseph Smith was a true prophet who restored many lost truths, but never finished his work. The Book of Mormon is an authentic book of scripture, compatible with the Bible. You are condemned for treating both lightly. There is much truth in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, but there are also the interpolations of men. All who “follow the prophet” will be damned, unless they follow The Prophet, Jesus Christ. The LDS Church (which never fully was restored) has divorced itself from the gospel of Christ, and he who is the author thereof, and is no longer recognized by him as his true church. There are righteous among the saints, but the vast majority have sins and false traditions to overflowing which only Gods goodness keeps you from destruction. Repent, return to the word of God, and trust no more in the arm of flesh. For I say unto you, cursed is he that trusts in the arm of flesh. Return to God’s law. Care for the poor and needy. Love your neighbor as yourself. God’s church is those who repent and come unto him, seeking his face. It will be the people of Israel that will be saved, not one corrupt denomination or another.
Having delivered to you this message, I now respectfully request the withdrawal of my name from the records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, for it is no longer his church. Do not say, the temple! The temple! The temple of the Lord is with us! You trust in buildings of stone made with hands, but know not that the God of heaven does not dwell in such edifices. He desires through his Spirit to dwell in our hearts, as it is written by the prophets. I desire to be removed from the records of this church so that I do not have to give an account to God for why I chose to remain attached to such a corrupt institution. The list I will give below, details just 95 reasons why I will be departing this false religion (though since writing it I have discovered even more). My inspiration is of course Martin Luther, whose devotion paved the way for brother Joseph, though each still had a long way to go in returning to God’s word. I am grateful for their work though, as without them, I would not be where I am.
The iron rod which Nephi sees in vision is the word of God. Though we say we know this, our actions speak otherwise. It is Mormon culture (which is set by the elite) to not trust too much in scripture, but to be more trusting of the arm of flesh. The leaders of the LDS church who have claimed to be speaking God’s word have constantly abused and contradicted scripture and themselves. Luther’s cry was a return to scripture. Mine is the same. I love the Mormon people and the original Mormon teachings and what they sought for, but modern Mormonism is nothing but a shell of its former self.
I choose to worship the One True God, by obeying his word above all else. I place my bets with Yehovah my Father, as near as I can find his will. I choose to stand with scripture. Where do you stand?
1– Rebaptism ended: Rebaptism was an ancient practice which was had among the Israelites (Revelation 2:5) and restored by Joseph Smith (Comprehensive History of the Church, B.H. Roberts, 2:286-87), but was officially ended by Heber J. Grant (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5: Selected Chronology, 14 December 1922).
2– Priesthood garments changed: The garment has undergone many changes, though each time the hierarchy says they are not to be altered to fit our customs, though they do so whenever they feel like it (ibid. 17 May 1923).
3– Many endowment changes: even though Joseph Smith said they were NEVER to be altered (History of the Church, 5:423-27). To name a few- oath of vengeance (Reed Smoot Hearings 4:495), Adam-God teachings (L. John Nuttall Diary, February 7, 1877), Lecture at veil (1990 changes), change in covenant women make to husbands (ibid.), penalty oaths (Ibid).
4– Glory of God not in temples: Though his spirit is often there and people have had wonderful experiences at the temple, yet it is not fulfilling its purpose of being a place where people are to go and see God (Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-17). Nor is this ever taught.
5– Sacrament meal: The ancient Israelites and later Christians ate the sacrament as a full meal (3 Nephi 18:5), with at least a fist-full of bread and a glass of wine. Joseph Smith restored this (Zebedee Coltrin, Minutes of Salt Lake City School of the Prophets, 3 October 1883), but it is no longer done.
6– Sacrament wine/ wording: Jesus Christ commanded his people to ALWAYS use wine (3 Nephi 18:8-13), and said that those who do not administer it just as he did, are built on a sandy foundation. The wording of the sacrament prayers have been changed to “water” without any revelation (Moroni 5:2).
7– No central Stake high council/ Stake high councils no longer equal in authority with 12 Apostles: This existed in Joseph’s day, but was soon dissolved after his death to prevent competition of authority (Doctrine and Covenants 107:36).
8– Restriction on persons performing ordinances when desired: Members of the LDS Church (and converts) were once permitted to be baptized when desired as well as perform other ordinances (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 18:241). Now all must be approved of by a presiding authority beforehand (Handbook 2: Administering the Church 20.1).
9– Altering Baptism wording: The wording commanded to be used by Jesus in 3 Nephi 11:25 is contrary to Doctrine and Covenants 20:73. However, the original wording in D&C 20:73 was originally the same as that in the Book of Mormon, but was later altered.
10– Altering Church history: Leaders of the LDS Church have deliberately added to and taken away from original church history, to make it fit the current perspective (The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, D. Michael Quinn, Appendix 5: Selected Chronology, 30 August 1932).
11– Altering scripture, Doctrine and Covenants: The Doctrine and Covenants is by far the most corrupted book of scripture we own. There are at least dozens of additions and subtractions to revelations made after they were penned, significantly changing meaning (compare Doctrine and Covenants 8 with original Book of Commandments 7).
12– Altering scripture, Book of Mormon: Some have found there to be nearly 4,000 alterations made to the Book of Mormon from its original printing. Contrary to popular Mormon belief, these were not just grammatical errors, but contained serious doctrinal changes. Some changes were made by Joseph Smith, but others were made by James Talmage and others (compare 1 Nephi 13:40 current edition, with Book of Mormon, 1830 edition, 32).
13– Altering scripture, removal of Lectures on Faith: These lectures were made part of the Doctrine and Covenants by Joseph Smith, and were voted on and approved by the entire church to be received as scripture (Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 edition, preface). They were then removed without any vote from the church (Doctrine and Covenants, 1921 edition, introduction).
14– Altering church history, General Conference talks: on multiple occasions the LDS leadership has required major editing of talks from general authorities before allowing them to be sent to public, but make them appear is if they were the original (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology, 7 October 1984).
15– Treating the Book of Mormon as more important than the Bible: The Book of Mormon is always being heralded to be read, while the Bible is often distrusted and thrown aside (Thomas Monson, The Power of the Book of Mormon, April 2017 General Conference).
16– The most important prophet is the living president of the LDS church: The most important living prophet is Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 18), not whoever happens to be running the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Ezra T. Benson, 14 Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, BYU speech, 26 February 1980).
17– First only the president, but now the top 15 can NEVER lead you astray: Beginning with Wilford Woodruff (Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration 1) and expanded by Elder Ballard (M. Russell Ballard, Stay in the Boat and Hold on!, General Conference, October 2014), they claim a doctrine of infallibility which is not supported by scripture nor logic (Jeremiah 23:9-40).
18– Sabbath on Sunday: The Sabbath was from Friday to Saturday night, from creation (Exodus 20:8-11) until now. There is no scriptural precedent for this change. It was changed by the Catholics to conform to the worship of solar deities (Schaff’s History of the Christian Church, vol. III, chapter 75).
19– Polygamous adultery: Joseph Smith apparently & Brigham Young definitely and others married and had conjugal relations with already married women (John G. Turner, Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet).
20– Ending polygamy without revelation/ continuing polygamy afterwards: Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration 1 contains a quote from Wilford Woodruff which makes it appear that he was commanded by God to end polygamy. However, there is nothing in his daily journals nor private councils which indicates this. All available records show ending polygamy had been deliberately debated and planned in private councils of the First Presidency and the 12. The idea this was a revelation was created a year later to calm the confused saints. (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, chapter 2). Both Wilford Woodruff and most of the 12 continued to perform and enter into polygamous relationships after the Manifesto (ibid. Appendix 5, Selected Chronology, 19 August 1897).
21– Lack of spiritual gifts: Both the leaders and people of the LDS Church display a lack of the spiritual gifts promised believers in Moroni 10
22– Celebrate pagan holidays: Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day are all rooted in ancient paganism. God finds it disgusting for his people to worship him the way the pagans do (Deuteronomy 12:29-31).
23– Don’t celebrate Jehovah’s Feasts: God said to celebrate his holy days forever, but we have ignored him (Leviticus 23).
24– Starting and ending black priesthood restriction without revelation: If Brigham Young was right (Journal of Discourses (7:290-91), the LDS church has departed from serious doctrine and deprived itself of priesthood. If he was wrong, and subsequent LDS leaders after him, then an entire race of people was denied the blessings of priesthood and exaltation (according to the church) for over 100 years. Either way, it’s an uncomfortable position to be in for people who claim to be the only true prophets of God of his one true church. Official Declaration 2 in the Doctrine and Covenants was not received as a word from the Lord, but from council meetings (interview with D. Michael Quinn, Salt Lake City Tribune, 4 December 1988,).
25– 2 Thessalonians 2, refers to “Great Apostasy” that already happened: This letter from Paul describes that the 2nd Coming of Jesus will not return until after the Anti-Christ is revealed.
26– Using the Joseph Smith Translation as new translation instead of Targum (inspired commentary): This point has been made by some church members, but this is not commonly understood.
27– The 7 seals of Revelation are 7,000 years: This (Doctrine and Covenants 77:7) was not to the understanding of Joseph Smith, as he stated that the book of Revelation had only to do with things pertaining to the future (Revelation 1:1) & (Words of Joseph Smith, 8 April 1843).
28– Pay tithing before taking care of family: Modern leaders have frequently taught to pay tithing even if your family goes hungry (Aaron L. West, Sacred Transformations, December 2012). The revelations teach that we are to pay 10% of our increase (Doctrine and Covenants 119:4), which would be after providing basic necessities of family (The Joseph Smith Papers, Volume 2-The Histories). If we pay our tithing but don’t take care of our family, we are worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8).
29– Disagreement with leaders is apostasy: The LDS leaders claim that to be in opposition to them is to be in opposition to God. (Dallin H. Oaks, Boise Idaho, 17 June 2015) Joseph Smith said to be in opposition to scripture is to be against God, no matter what office the man holds (Times & Seasons, 1 April 1844).
30– Living President more important than scripture: (Ezra T. Benson, 14 Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, BYU speech, 26 February 1980) This contradicts what Joseph (point 29) and what Jesus taught (Hebrew Matthew 23:2-3). The standard works are the standard for measuring truth.
31– Speaking in tongues: It is currently taught that tongues are only for teaching the gospel in another language. The early LDS and ancient saints also spoke in unknown angelic and adamic tongues (Joseph Smith, Documentary History of the Church: 1:323)
32– Prayer circles not allowed outside temple: Prayer circle meetings were a common occurrence in members homes or other buildings. The First Presidency made restrictions on this through the years until finally discontinuing it in 1978 (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Prayer Circle).
33– The duties of the President of the Church: As B.H. Roberts famously lamented, “We have Prophets who do not prophesy; Seers who do not see, and Revelators who do not reveal” (Truth 18:3, page 83, August 1952). The President of the Church does not perform the duties he has been given (Doctrine and Covenants 107:91-92,100).
34– The Fall of the Church Patriarch: Contrary to revelation, we no longer have a church patriarch (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, 46-57).
35– Changing opinion towards homosexuals: This is best documented in my paper, From Sodomy to Sympathy: Evolution of Mormon Approaches to Homosexuality. In brief, whereas homosexuality was once denounced by LDS leaders as an evil abomination (as God says it is in scripture [Leviticus 18:22]), they now appease to it (Jeffrey R. Holland, Songs Sung and Unsung, April 2017 General Conference).
36– No more apostles as witnesses of Christ: Whereas the early apostles were charged to seek a personal visit from Christ and then declare to the world they had seen him (History of the Church 2:194-198), this is entirely unheard of today.
37– Discouraging spiritual manifestations: Some LDS leaders have warned that seeking certain spiritual experiences, such as seeing Christ, can lead to apostasy (Dallin H. Oaks, Boise Meeting, June 2015).
38– Women can’t heal/ bless: Joseph Smith taught and the scriptures affirm, that women through faith and by the Spirit, have just as much right to give blessings and healings (Nauvoo Relief Society Minutes, 28 April 1842). Today it is taught they cannot do so (Handbook 2: 20.6.1).
39– Adam-God: For decades it was taught in the LDS Church that Adam was our God (Journal of Discourses 1:50). Today that is denounced as false (Bruce R. McConkie, Criticisms of Factions). Either the second and longest serving president taught the LDS people to serve a false God, the penalty for which according to God is death (Deuteronomy 18:20), or the current leaders are rejecting their true God. Either way, it is an uncomfortable position to be in.
40– Baptism by water only is the gate: This is frequently taught (J. Devn Cornish, The Gate Called Baptism, February 2015 General Conference). However, the prophets of scripture teach that you do not enter the gate until after the baptism of fire (2 Nephi 31:17-18). The water is only 1 post of the gate.
41– Jesus is Jehovah: I have written 2 papers on this, Knowing Yehovah and Yeshua, and Objections to the Father as Jehovah. Simply put, Jesus is not the Jehovah of the Old Testament. Jehovah is our Father. This is taught by scripture (Acts 3:13) and Joseph Smith (April 1840 General Conference).
42– No guardian angels: This doctrine was taught by Joseph (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 6, 1843-44, page 368), but is now denied (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine: Guardian Angels).
43– The Law of Consecration: We covenant in the temple to keep this law, and have many talks on it, yet the leaders of the church are in no way actively seeking to live nor teaching this law to its fullest (Doctrine and Covenants 49:20).
44– Not seeking Zion: We speak of Zion, sometimes even calling ourselves Zion, but there is not literal (only figurative) effort to establish it as the early saints did (Doctrine and Covenants 6:6).
45– Gathering of Israel no longer literal: The early saints physically gathered together in a literal effort to build up Zion (Orson Pratt’s Works, 9). Today that is discouraged (Messages of the First Presidency 4:165).
46– Only Mormons have true prophets/ only hierarchy can be prophets: Whereas early leaders of the church taught that there were thousands of prophets outside the LDS church (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology, 23 February 1859), today this is not taught. God’s desire is for all his people to be prophets (Numbers 11:29).
47– The LDS Church is the only true church: This comes from Doctrine and Covenants 1:30, and was a true definition when the Lord spoke it. However, due to the reasons already covered and those yet to be, the apostasy is obvious. The LDS Church is no longer the one true church. God said his church is those who repent and come unto him (Doctrine and Covenants 10:67). That is not limited to one or another corrupt denomination.
48– The reliability of the Journal of Discourses: The early brethren thought of the Journal of Discourses as scripture; particularly Brigham Young of his own sermons (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 13:95). Today the LDS church denounces those as unofficial publications (even though they once were), non-authoritative in matters of doctrine (lds.org, Gospel Topics: Journal of Discourses).
49– Temple recommends: Mormons are told they must go through these buildings to achieve exaltation. Yet before doing so they must be questioned and confirm they are both paying money (tithing) and follow a man (LDS Prophet) to get inside. In other words, they must pay homage to a man and pay money to get salvation (2 Nephi 2:4).
50– Calling and election not taught: This doctrine is not taught nor understood by the vast majority of the LDS Church. The main problem is that the LDS leadership does not teach it to their people. Joseph taught this was the whole object of our religion (Kent P. Jackson, Joseph Smith’s Commentary on the Bible, 136). To magnify your calling is not fulfilling church callings, it is to make your calling and election sure.
51– Many false teachings: Joseph Smith apparently said and others promulgated, that people live on the moon (Journal of O.B. Huntington, book 14, 166) and the 10 tribes were taken into space (Robert W. Smith, Scriptural and Secular Prophecies Pertaining to the Last days, 211-216). Joseph Fielding Smith said man would never leave earth nor reach the moon (D. Michael Quinn, Elder Statesman: A Biography of J. Reuben Clark, 498).
52– Only the 12 can be Apostles/ Apostles don’t go on missions: An apostle can be anyone who is a witness of the risen Lord, and has been sent forth with a message from him (1 Corinthians 1:1). Also, many people were ordained apostles throughout the early church, who were never admitted to the 12 (Todd Compton [Winter 2002], John Willard Young, Brigham Young, and the Development of Presidential Succession in the LDS Church, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 35:111-12). The 12 no longer serve missions as the early apostles did.
51– Seventies are not apostles: Joseph Smith and Brigham Young originally identified the seventies as having the calling of an apostle (History of the Church, 7:308), and God declared they held authority equal to the 12 (Doctrine and Covenants 107:25-26). While these things are sometimes recognized in theory, they don’t seem to be in practice.
52– Divining rods: These used to be a known form of revelation in the early church, used by Joseph Smith Sr., Oliver Cowdery, Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young, and others (D. Michael Quinn, Early Mormonism and the Magic World View, 35-39). These are now entirely unknown and unused.
53– Seer Stones/ Urim and Thummim: Joseph Smith taught that everyone was entitled to own and use a seer stone if they lived worthy of it (Brigham Young, History of Brigham Young, Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, vol. 26, 20 February 1864). Heber C. Kimball said Brigham Young used the Urim and Thummim (Journal of Discourses 2:111). As early as 1969, Hugh B. Brown declared, “I do not know of any Urim and Thummim used in the Church today” (University of Utah Institute of Religion, 10 October 1969).
54– Book of Mormon occurred in Central America: All of Joseph Smith’s firsthand validated quotes, point to a North American heartland model to the Book of Mormon (Doctrine and Covenants 32:2). Despite this, the majority of LDS scholars have supported the Central American model with the unofficial support of the church (John L. Sorenson, Digging into the Book of Mormon, Ensign, September 1984).
55– High priests don’t commune with God nor direct others into his presence: These duties of a High Priest are not taught nor understood, nor does it seem likely that any but a few who have ever been ordained High Priests have actually fulfilled these requirements (Alma 13).
56– Repression of academics: Academics who explore church history and doctrine are often discouraged and even punished (Peggy Stack, Remembering the Mormon crackdown on the ‘September Six’, The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 June 2014)
57– Baptism of fire not an event: Whenever those recorded in scripture received the baptism of fire, miracles occurred and gifts of the spirit were manifested (Acts 2). All who receive this gift should expect similar outpourings. This is no longer taught. It is also taught that all Mormons have received gift of the Holy Ghost through their confirmation and that only Mormons can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (True to the Faith, The Gift of the Holy Ghost). Christ taught contrary to this (3 Nephi 9:20).
58– No preaching without purse and script: The Lord taught this as his pattern, but has been unheard of for missionaries for decades (Doctrine and Covenants 24:18).
59– No school of prophets/ no washing of feet: These vital aspects of creating a generation of prophets have not been practiced amongst the church generally for over 100 years (Doctrine and Covenants 88:127-141).
60– No council of 50: Joseph’s plan was for this to grow into a literal Kingdom of God, with himself as king. After Wilford Woodruff, all plans of LDS political sovereignty were abandoned (Hyrum L. Andrus, flyleaf, Joseph Smith and World Governement).
61– Second Anointing: This ordinance is no longer offered to general members, but is reserved for the Mormon elite. It is also falsely taught that receiving your Second Anointing is having your calling and election made sure (David John Buerger, The Fulness of the Priesthood: The Second Anointing in Latter-day Saint Theology and Practice, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (44)). This ordinance only points to it, just as the endowment points to receiving the Second Comforter.
62– Dietary laws: Nowhere in scripture does God say that it is no longer necessary to keep the dietary laws of Leviticus 11. People only get this idea from a misunderstanding of Acts 10.
63– Endowment days of creation contrary to scripture: The Bible, Book of Mormon, and Abraham, match each other precisely in how the creation unfolded. The modern temple endowment is not even close, and thus in conflict with the word of God.
64– No longer full washing for initiatory: The initiatory ordinance of the temple was once a complete washing of the body as performed anciently, but was subsequently changed (Emeline, Mormon Endowments, Warsaw Signal, 15 April 1846).
65– The 2 sticks of Ezekiel 37 are the Book of Mormon and the Bible: (Ezekiel chapter heading, LDS current version) Wrong. If the whole chapter is read in context, God is talking about the reunification of the nations of Judah and Israel.
66– Reading talks at conference: God said to take no thought beforehand what you should say, but to rely on the Spirit (Doctrine and Covenants 84:84). All modern conference talks are written and read verbatim.
67– Little of tithes are given to the poor: It is estimated that around 1% of tithing is used to help the poor (Peter Henderson, Mormon Church earns $7 billion a year from tithing, analysis indicates, NBC News, 13 August 2012), though that was the original purpose of tithing (Joseph Smith Translation Genesis 14:36-39).
68– LDS say their leaders aren’t paid: “The Church has no full-time paid clergy” (Doug Anderson, The Church’s Unpaid Clergy, Mormonnewsroom.org). Awkward for this writer of the church’s official news site, is that leaked documents later showed that the highest echelons are paid at least $120,000 a year (Tad Walch, MormonLeaks dumps four new documents about LDS Church, Deseret News, 9 January 2017).
69– Blood atonement never practiced: This is the common explanation (The Encyclopedia of Mormonism: Blood Atonement), but vast historical proof shows that it was actually practiced at least in Brigham Young’s time (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, chapter 7. Post-1844 Theocracy and a Culture of Violence).
70– Law of Adoption ended and endless genealogy: The Law of Adoption was the original purpose of the sealing, but was ended by Wilford Woodruff (ibid. Appendix 5: Selected Chronology, 5 April 1894). In its place, Mormons now do endless genealogy research, which the Prophet Joseph warned against (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 367).
71– Transgression is not a sin: Many LDS leaders have taught this (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:114-115), that somehow a transgression is a lesser offense than a sin. However, the scriptures teach just the opposite. Sin can be done in ignorance, for it is any breaking of the law (1 John 3:4), but to transgress usually denotes intentional crossing over of God’s law (Leviticus 4-7).
72– Healing objects: Both Joseph Smith, Lorenzo Snow and others used objects such as handkerchiefs to heal people (History of Wilford Woodruff, Millennial Star, vol. 27:1, 27 May 1865, 326), but this is unheard of today from LDS leaders.
73– Sealings can’t be done outside temples: Today it is taught that only in the temple can the necessary ordinances be performed, but the early saints understood that it was the priesthood which sanctified the building, not the building which sanctified the priesthood (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 25:355-56).
74– Polygamy required for exaltation: The early presidents of the church taught polygamy was required for exaltation (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:269), but then later leaders deny this (James Talmage, Story and Philosophy of Mormonism, 101). Only one is correct.
75– LDS leaders knowingly rented property to be used for whore houses: Mammon triumphs over morality (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5: Selected Chronology, 15 January 1897).
76– Jesus was married/ a polygamist: This was taught extensively in the early church (Joseph Smith, Journal of Wilford Woodruff, 22 July 1883), but is now denied (Letter from LeGrand Richards to Morris L. Reynolds, 11 May 1966).
77– Don’t study mysteries: God invites us to do so (Doctrine and Covenants 6:11), but man forbids it (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:305-306).
78– Biblical morality not taught: Sex on period forbidden before entering the temple (Leviticus 20:18). Brother raises seed to brother (Deuteronomy 25:5). None of these commandments are taught in church.
79– Joseph Smith/Brigham Young and others broke Levitical marriage laws: God does not change (Malachi 3:6), therefore these things must still matter. They married women and their sisters and mothers (Leviticus 18:17-18).
80– Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and others had false prophecies: In Doctrine and Covenants 111, Joseph Smith was promised to find treasure in Salem, Massachusetts to pay his debts. No treasure was ever found (Fawn Brody, No Man Knows My History, 192-193). According to Deuteronomy 18:22, God says to not respect prophets whose prophecies do not come to pass.
81– The Mormon church will never fall away: This is one of the most oft repeated phrases of LDS leaders (Claudio D. Zivic, Avoiding Personal Apostasy, Ensign, June 2009), which is just another way of saying “All is well in Zion” (2 Nephi 28:21); even though Jesus Christ warned us there would be a latter-day apostasy (3 Nephi 16:7-10).
82– The Correlation Committee: The over-centralization caused by the creation of the Correlation Committee has caused shallow and dull lesson manuals that do not fit the depth nor needs of members.
83– Catholics are not great and abominable Church: 1 Nephi 13 makes clear Nephi is referring to the Catholic Church, at least in part, and this was taught in the early days of the Restoration (Orson Pratt, The Seer, April 1854). It is now denied.
84– The LDS Church is the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy: (Daniel 2) Joseph Smith taught that the Kingdom of God, an entity separate from the church (Council of 50), was the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy of the mountain filling the earth(Brigham Young, Deseret News, August 1854). But this did not come true as the Council of 50 no longer exists.
85– Only LDS can have Priesthood: The priesthood of God is independent of any institutions of man and can act before, after, without, or in spite of any mortal organizations. Joseph Smith held priesthood before any formal church existed (Doctrine and Covenants 13), and Jesus held his priesthood despite his excommunication from the synagogues.
86– Eve knew what she was doing: The modern temple endowment depicts Eve is if she were making a rational decision, but scripture teaches she was deceived (1 Timothy 2:14).
87– The name of Father is Elohim: Elohim is simply Hebrew for “god” or “gods” and is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to signify both the one true God and the pagan gods. The name of the Father is Jehovah (Numbers 27:16).
88– Temple ordinances are tickets to heaven: (Allan F. Packer, Spiritual Passport, lds.org). Wrong. Jesus Christ is our ticket to heaven (John 14:6), and the ordinances teach us how to grab hold onto him.
89– The testimony of Jesus is just believing in Jesus: Joseph Smith taught plainly that the testimony of Jesus (Doctrine and Covenants 76:51) is to have your calling and election made sure. It seems a lot of people who think they qualify for the Celestial Kingdom, actually do not (Joseph Smith, 14 May 1843)
90– Jesus’ birthday April 6/ Jesus’ ministry 3 1/2 years: The first comes from misunderstanding the history behind Doctrine and Covenants 20:1. According to textual evidence in the New Testament, Jesus was actually born in the fall on the Feast of Tabernacles. The second was invented by Eusebius after hundreds of years of early church fathers stating Christ’s ministry was about 1 year, which coincided with Daniel’s prophecy that the Messiah’s ministry would be 70 weeks (Daniel 9).
91– Word of Wisdom a command/ beer not ok by Word of Wisdom: Doctrine and Covenants 89:2, specifically states this revelation is not a commandment, which is where this revelation got its name. Doctrine and Covenants 89:16-17 states that beer is useful to man.
92– Not seeking God’s face: One of the most oft repeated invitations of God is to seek his face, and he promises the faithful, they will find it (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1). The doctrine of the Second Comforter (having Christ appear to you), is no longer openly taught.
93– Using tithing for investments/ Church finances not public: The LDS Church “spent more money on a mall in three years than they did in [25 years] on humanitarian aid” (D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Wealth and Corporate Power, chapter 3). The church used to give reports of its use of finances until 1959 (ibid.).
94– The Gentiles in the Book of Mormon doesn’t refer to the LDS people: This was spoken against by Boyd K. Packer in August 2010 (Finding Ourselves in Lehi’s Dream, Ensign), but the belief still persists.
95– Tolerance of evolution: The early leaders of Mormonism spoke against the evils of believing in this false religion, but today it is taught in their universities as fact. Ironic, because Brigham Young stated among his primary reasons for founding what became BYU was to combat the ideas of Darwin (Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion). Today Brother Brigham has been rejected and Darwin is Provo’s local favorite.
Why does any of this matter? The God of heaven desires to be known and worshipped a certain way. When we go outside of those bounds, we become as Cain who offered a sacrifice of fruit when God wanted blood (Genesis 4:2-5). To know God is life eternal (John 17:3), and those who know him, know how to worship him (Doctrine and Covenants 93:19). I don’t worship you or the LDS Church, so I don’t care what either of you think. I worship God and rely on him to save me (Jude 1:25). Therefore, I care and will do what he wants, regardless of where that places me before men who ignorantly worship him, or do so willingly opposed to his ways. God’s mercy is upon those who keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9). So, we better learn what his commandments are and keep them.
I pray the God of heaven softens your heart to the truth of his word, that you might be saved also. In the name of Yeshua haMeshiach, through whom alone is salvation, Amen.
