Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon Translations

Growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints or other sects of JosephISM (Followers of Joseph Smith in any religion), how were you taught how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon?

Curtain Divider

In the AUB (Apostolic United Brethren) I was taught that Joseph sad behind a curtain where no one could see the plates during translation. There are many pictures. I'm sure many are familiar with these pictures that depict that.

Upon more research, I've found, the only people who stated a curtain/sheet was used are those who were not there first hand but heard it from another source. 

Non-eyewitnesses: Curtain Mentioned (Source: Fair Mormon.org)

Pomeroy Tucker 1867

John Gilbert 1877

William S. Sayer 1878

Sallie McKune 1880

Frederick G. Mather 1880

Eri B Mullin 1880

There was but one Non-eyewitness that states a Curtain was NOT used.  

W.R. Hine 1888

As opposed to the Eyewitnesses who state a Curtain was NOT used.

Martin Harris 1870

Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery 1870

David Whitmer 1870

Emma Smith Bidamon 1879

David Whitmer 1875-1881-1884-1885-1887 (David Whitmer had many versions of his story and they changed over time. We will look more into his stories a little later on.)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "OFFICIAL" Pictures.

No one.. NOT ONE person EVER said they sat at the same table as the plates, uncovered, in full view. Yet, here are two pictures the Mormon Church puts in their manuals, Magazines and other media. Pictures speak very loud. Children look at these every Sunday (And more if the Mormon Family has them in their homes) and they tell a story from them. This is pure propaganda. A picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, a thousand inaccurate words. These pictures are pure lies.

On the back of the first picture is a statement and a story about it. No where in it does it state how it was translated and leaves the viewer of the Picture to assume this was the manner in how it was translated along with the description stated below. (Source: LDS.org)

 D&C 20:8–11; Joseph Smith—History 1:34–35, 71 footnote
The Book of Mormon … [proves] to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old. D&C 20:8, 11
"Three years after Joseph Smith was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ, the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph and told him there was a record written on gold plates that gave an account of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. Joseph was to translate this record using two stones fastened to a breastplate, the Urim and Thummim. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:34–35.) Moroni taught Joseph about the work he was called to do for four more years and then delivered the plates and the interpreters to him in 1827.
Oliver Cowdery served as a scribe to the Prophet Joseph as he translated the Book of Mormon. In describing his experience, Oliver wrote: “These were days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom! Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to write from his mouth, as he translated with the Urim and Thummim, or, as the Nephites would have said, ‘interpreters,’ the history or record called ‘The Book of Mormon’ ” (Joseph Smith—History 1:71 footnote).

Summary

When the Prophet Joseph Smith received the gold plates from the angel Moroni, he studied the strange language written on them. With Heavenly Father’s help, Joseph translated the writing on the gold plates into words he could understand. Oliver Cowdery helped Joseph by being his scribe. As Joseph read out loud from the plates, Oliver wrote down the words. When the translation into English was completed, the book was printed. It is called the Book of Mormon.

Pure propaganda. Leaving the onlooker to decipher the Picture and create their own truth.

Eyewitness accounts 

Lets go to the eyewitnesses accounts and paint a picture by those who were with him when he was purportedly translating the Book of Mormon.

Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith

"In writing for your father I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting at the table close by him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us." (History of the RLDS Church, 8 vols. Herald House, 1951, Volume 3, page 356, "Last Testimony of Sister Emma.")

Martin Harris, one of the witnesses and scribes to the Book of Mormon

"Martin Harris related an incident that occured during the time that he wrote that portion of the translation of the Book of Mormon which he was favored to write direct from the mouth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that the Prophet possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone, Martin explained the translation as follows: By aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet and written by Martin and when finished he would say "Written," and if correctly written that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates, precisely in the language then used." (Edward Stevenson, "One of the Three Witnesses," originally Deseret News, Nov. 30, 1881, later in the Millennial Star, Feb. 6, 1882, pp. 86-87. Stevenson would later become a member of the First Council of Seventy).

 Isaac Hale, father of Emma Smith

"The manner in which he pretended to read and interpret, was the same as when he looked for the money-diggers, with a stone in his hat, and his hat over his face, while the Book of Plates were at the same time hid in the woods." (Affidavit of Isaac Hale, March 20, 1834, see Rodger I. Anderson's book Joseph Smith's New York Reputation Reexamined, Signature Books, pp. 126-128)

Michael Morse, Emma Smith's brother-in-law

"When Joseph was translating the Book of Mormon [I] had occasion more than once to go into his immediate presence, and saw him engaged at his work of translation. The mode of procedure consisted in Joseph's placing the Seer Stone in the crown of a hat, then putting his face into the hat, so as to entirely cover his face, resting his elbows upon his knees, and then dictating word after word, while the scribes — Emma, John Whitmer, O. Cowdery, or some other wrote it down." (Saints' Herald, June 15, 1879, pp. 190-191). 

Joseph Knight, Sr., early Church member, and close friend to Joseph

"Now the way he translated was he put the urim and thummim into his hat and Darkened his Eyes then he would take a sentance and it would appear in Brite Roman Letters then he would tell the writer and he would write it[.] then that would go away the next sentence would Come and so on But if it was not Spelt rite it would not go away till it was rite[,] so we see it was marvelous. thus was the hol [whole] translated." (Joseph Knight, Sr., "Joseph Knight, Sr., Reminiscence, circa 1835-1847"; see Dan Vogel's Early Mormon Documents, Volume 4, pp. 17-18.)

David Whitmer, one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon

"I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man." (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, 1887, p. 12)

See a pattern here? 

1: Stone/Seer stone/Urim and Thummim

2: Hat

3: Face in Hat

From these eyewitness accounts, wouldn't these pictures be more fitting and truthful?

What part is okay about of the LDS church misrepresenting the true translations of the Book of Mormon? Are they embarrassed that their founder used a Seer Stone or "peep stone" — a supernatural device that was commonly used by "money diggers" of the day that purportedly allowed the seer to locate hidden treasure or to divine other things of a hidden nature. Considering he was arrested and taken to court for 'glass looking' and 'peep-stoning'. Why would they be forthcoming about the true accounts? Joseph, himself, refused to state exactly how because of this court hearings and arrests, knowing the truth would sway anyone from following him. What else is the LDS Church White Washing and Changing?   

Giving it to God and Diving Deeper.

I know this shouldn't bother me but when 70+ of your so called Mormon Facebook "friends" (And yes, some family also) Unfriend/Block/Hid you because you left MormonISM, it really saddens me. Many of these people I spent the last 9+ years of my life with. I Loved the neighborhood AND the people. We never wanted to move. Shared major life events with most. It's almost like saying "I don't like Green Jello" and being cast out because of it. (Sorry, it's a Utah thing.. Green Jello, that is) What kind of an institution would cause someone to have such close minded thinking? Making it okay, in their own minds, to sever relationships because of a belief? It really saddens me to think our relationships were nothing more then an old holey sock that can be thrown out when they feel it has no more use. It really hit me hard when I had 2 family members pass away within 4 days of each other and I could count on one hand how many of these 70+ people sent their condolences. I even had to Private message one of these people who hid me from their wall to let them know of the passing of my Father In Law. That's what really made me look at who were friends that removed me. I realize there is more involved in them removing me. One being that I am now considered, in their eyes, An "Apostate". That's the problem. A HUGE problem. Our family is labled as Apostates and that instills fear to those still in MormonISM. How is that Christ like?

God is helping fill the holes, as I let him. Letting go of those that have chosen to let go of us. He's taken care of this hurt in his way by giving me more "friends" on FaceBook and Real Life then I ever have had through the Body of Christ and opening my eyes to acceptance and love for all men. Not fear for someones beliefs,  but compassion and understanding for them. MormonISM couldn't do that and it shows by the Multitude of close relationships that have been ended and some that I feel are crumbling.

When I Blog I am in no way attacking "Mormons" Mormons are a People. MormonISM is an Institution. That's why I'm choosing to write it as "MormonISM". I have more love and compassion for the people then I ever have. I am attacking the Doctrine of MormonISM. The false misleading teachings that the Bible warns about. Bringing up Historical facts that the LDS Church has chosen to not disclose or white wash. Thank you Lord for my upbringing in a Polygamy sect that chose to teach much of the true history of it's origins. I've purposefully avoided, thus far, blogging about the many contradictions in it's history and what's been removed and changed, Biblical contradictions, misconceptions and false teachings, till now. I will be focusing on these many subjects and will be using some strong words that may offend many of my Mormon Friends and Family. If it offends you, you may want to think about why. 

As my Sister said, quoting Elder Packer, “They [You] can leave the church, but they[you] can’t leave it alone.” These are the top 3 reasons why we who leave the LDS church can't or won't "leave it alone". 
1) Our family is still in it.
2) We know the church is hurting so many good people.
3) We have so many ex-Mormon friends that have been and are being hurt by it.

Suggesting that those who leave the Mormon religion should leave it alone, is only wishful thinking for the LDS leadership and their unofficial apologists. The huge number of outspoken ex-Mormons is having the most negative affect on their proselytizing and retention efforts. Documented truth is the enemy of the Mormon religion. 

The LDS leadership is unable to explain the phenomenon of there being a LOT more resigned ex-Mormons, un-resigned ex-Mormons, excommunicated Mormons and inactive Mormons in the world, than there are active members. They have lost so many members (And Tithing money from those faithful members, ours included) that they have been making it a priority to try and discredit those bringing forth the truth. Trying to scare their current members from looking at the truth through the talks and speeches and calling those who have left to "come back", regardless of the truths they've found.

We’re told that the LDS temple ceremony is secret because it is sacred. Well, annual statistics on the number of excommunications and resignations from the LDS religion must also be sacred, since not even the LDS faithful are allowed to know those numbers. Such stats are not published, and I have never known anyone to have requested those numbers, and received them. The only numbers published are the faith-promoting ones, because of the likelihood of a faster resignation snowball affect than there already is. 

But, what of those who have left MormonISM and have published and/or spoken out regarding its falseness? What is so unusual about people coming out a religious system that they have come to realize is false, and trying to help others to come out, and try to prevent others from being duped? Nothing, at all. It is an act of love. Leaving the ‘church’ alone, would be to condone the false prophets, apostles and gospel being promoted, and not care about those who are still entrenched. While it is not an exact analogy to what I've just pointed out, it is true that Christ and His Apostles exposed the falseness of Judaism, and Jews were converted to the truth of Christ. It was, and is, the righteous thing to do.

From here on out, I will be bringing out the TRUTH that the LDS Church chooses to keep hidden. The contradictions between the Bible and MormonISM and much more including the many questions I had, starting in Polygamy, dragging them with me into MormonISM that finally fell to the ground with my "shelf " after gaining a relationship with my Savior. 

I pray those who are quietly reading and coming to a knowledge of truth will have the courage and conviction to come to their Savior and allow him to loose the chains that hold so many in MormonISM and Polygamy, bound. Please pray for me that I will be able to write what the Lord would have me write to help open the eyes of the blind and cause them to search out their own questions without an agenda except for the end result being pure truth. Pray for those that would like to share these things with the people they love and give them the courage and direction to wait in Your time so You can touch them when they're ready. Thank you for your abundant blessings, in Jesus name, Amen.

 

No Bible, No Heaven?

A question I had never really had a reason to ask while being polygamist or Mormon. Where do those people go who have never heard of Jesus Christ or had the opportunity to read (Or have read to them) the Bible?

Being a Polygamist, you're taught that they are living "The Higher Laws" and are so focused on what they need to be doing they really don't want to think about others or where they will be going. They are also taught that the Mormon Church will take care of those who didn't have the opportunity, in this life, to receive their ordinances. The Polygamists are part of the "Father" Church and the LDS are part of the "Mother" Church.

Being LDS the question is answered in them doing the "Work for the Dead" in their Temples. You don't worry about it because 'everyone' will get their work done sooner or later and everyone will go to heaven.

What is the truth?

David was born before the Savior and knew he was "saved".
 Psalm 32:1-5
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

David was fully aware of the nature of God’s free gift of salvation, and Paul makes this clear to us when he describes the knowledge that David had in this regard:
 Romans 4:6-8
"Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

"Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account." Also goes Hand in hand with what Jesus said in Luke 12:48 "But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much of him they will ask the more."

David clearly understood that all of us are sinners who must be saved by the Grace of God (as Paul says, “apart from works”). David wasn’t the only ancient believer who knew that they were going to be saved by their faith, even though the Savior had not yet arrived. The New Testament tells us that all our heroes of faith understood the role that faith played in their salvation: 
Hebrews 11:13 
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

These ancient believers certainly knew that their good works couldn’t save them; like Isaiah, they knew that their ‘goodness’ wasn’t ‘good enough’: 
Isaiah 64:6
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
( All of us ·are dirty with sin [became like an unclean/defiled thing].
    All ·the right things we have done [our righteous deeds] are like ·filthy pieces of cloth [filthy garments/rags; or a menstrual cloth; 30:22].
All of us ·are [fade; shrivel] like dead leaves,
    and our ·sins [iniquities], like the wind, have carried us away)

Ancient believers also knew that God’s standard was impossibly high. They knew that when compared to God, they fell far short of the mark, and like David, they knew that even animal sacrifices weren’t going to ultimately please a Holy God:
Psalm 40:6"Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required."

For Unto Whomsoever Much Is Given, Of Him Shall Much Be Required:

Picture the tribes living in 3rd word countries. In most cases even they give thanks and praise to a higher power then themselves. It's engrained into each of us to distinctively know we have a Creator.

 Romans 1:20
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

 No one has an excuse for not knowing God. That knowledge comes to us naturally—much like the way we instinctively reach for water when we're thirsty. It's not something we have to learn.

And it's not just instinct that draws people to God. God uses visual aids too—his creation. We can see God through the divine design of nature.

They may not have a knowledge of Jesus Christ or a Bible but they know and accept that they have a Creator and a higher power then themselves. They don't give themselves credit for making it rain. They give the glory to the higher power they praise.  They will be righteously judged by a just, merciful, loving and perfect God. We can have people and things enter our lives that change that view. We can choose to reject it by putting more credibility on what "men" say and teach rather then Gods Holy Word.

We have been given so much, thereby much will be required from us. Do we have access to Gods Word, yet choose to listen to the teachings of men who discredit it and say it's not reliable? How will we be judged if we also lead others from the truth following the teachings of "men" and not God? Where do you stand?

My question was answered through Gods Word....again.

A Sufficient Faith Alone in the Messiah Alone

The Old Testament saints understood the role and importance of faith, and they expected a coming Redeemer and Messiah who would save them. That really shouldn’t surprise us, because according to the Bible, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was planned by God from the beginning of time.

Revelation 13:8
"And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain."

Those who loved God and lived before Jesus knew that their sins would be atoned by the sacrifice of this Savior.

Isaiah 53:6 
 ^"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Romans 3:25  
"...Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"

Just like us, these early believers were saved by grace alone, through the Savior alone, even if their understanding of the Savior may not have been as complete as ours is today. Now some might argue that their faith was incomplete; they did not understand the exact identity of the Messiah, and they did not know exactly how God would accomplish the sacrifice necessary to save them. But think about it for a minute. Who among us has a truly ‘complete’ faith? If you are a Christian, are you ‘completely’ knowledgeable regarding everything that could be known about God, his Savior and the plan of Salvation? How much of a theologian do you have to be to be saved? Must your faith be ‘complete’ or is there some level of ‘sufficiency’ required? How much do you need to ‘know’ to ‘know’ if you are saved?

Can you answer every question about the Trinity, for example? Do you completely understand how it is that Jesus could be completely human yet completely God at the same time? Does your lack of ‘complete’ understanding disqualify you from Salvation? Each of us is expected to do the most we can with the information that we have. Someday, each of us will be held accountable for the information that we have received from God. We will be asked, “What did you do with what I revealed to you?” Just like us, the Old Testament saints did the most they could with what was revealed to them. They placed all their faith in all that God had given them. And this faith in God and His promise of a future Savior was sufficient for them to be included in the family of God.

(2 web sites have helped bring the words to my thoughts and I will give credit to. 
http://pleaseconvinceme.com/2012/how-were-people-saved-before-christ/ and 
http://www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/advice/faithdoubt/8c1046.html)

He Gave You Jesus! ~"JustJo"

He Gave You Jesus!

-an Internet discussion board post -by "JustJo"
(Used with permission from "JustJo")
http://www.mormondoctrine.net/He_gave_you_Jesus.htm

Counterfeit, fake, bogus, imitation, forgery, fraud, copy, reproduction, simulation, impersonation, deception, deceived, tricked, hoodwinked, hoax, dupe, mislead, delude, outwit, beguile, betray.... could we also include the word "clone?"

We all recognize these words, as well as understand their meaning.

We are faced with counterfeit money. Money that is so close to the real thing, no untrained or naked eye can detect it. These bills are marked with a magic marker in order to detect real from fake when received by a banker or cashier.

Some people are so good at forgery, it takes an expert to tell the difference in signatures.

To make a copy of the original, is still a copy, an imitation of the original. Depending on the copy machine, it can be very difficult to see the difference.

Clone is an exact duplicate of its parent. But it is still a duplicate that cannot be detected by the untrained eye, mostly by scientific methods.

Lets take a $20 bill. It looks like a twenty, feels like a twenty, even smells like a twenty.... but I get up to the register to trade it for my merchandise. The cashier marks it with her marker & it doesn't turn the color it's supposed to.... it's not a twenty...But! The other store gave it to me as change back! Look! I worked hard to earn my money, you can't hold me responsible for another store giving me a bogus 20!

I'm outta luck! Off to jail I go for trying to pass off counterfeit money.

What is it about the LDS faithful they think they are immune to counterfeits? It looks good, sounds good, best of all, it feels good, until you get to those pearly gates & your spirit is detected as false. A Mormon might say: It's not my fault the Mormon doctrines lied to me! I worked hard in the "church" and I gave God my all, even 10% of my income to cover church expenses. I gave fast offerings monthly to feed the hungry. Gave all my old clothes to D.I. so the poor could buy them at dirt cheap prices.... those were expensive clothes. Every time I prayed, I prayed in the name of Jesus. In just the last 10 years, I had 100% attendance. Kept my temple recommend current. Did my duty to all my callings. I followed the feelings in my heart that beckoned me. I can't help they led me astray, it's not my fault!

Too bad....you were told that only the Holy Spirit could testify Jesus as the Son of God... but even the demons believe the Son of God, they even testify of Him.... God warned you, He gave you His word.... but you turned to someone else because you just couldn't trust Him; you had to look for something that felt better; sounded better and looked good to others; gave you the feeling that God cannot be trusted, He cannot even keep His word holy...

Some of you hold a priesthood and claim to have authority He did not give. For this God gave you the book of Hebrews.

Some Mormons say that evidence destroys faith and that salvation is for everyone, but "exaltation" {ultimate Mormon salvation} is for those who've been baptized and have received secret handshakes (tokens and signs) to get there, so who needs evidence?! For this God gave you the book of Romans.

Mormonism would have us believe that one must be baptized in water by the proper authority, and this same authority is the only one to give you the Holy Spirit. For real baptism God gave you the book of Acts.

To receive Him, God gave you John 3.

All of these books, chapters and passages boil down to one thing.... He gave you Jesus.

There are many counterfeits out there. If they were easy to detect, they would not be called counterfeits. God gave us these wonderful books in the Bible to test these counterfeits. This is where we find our markers to detect them. The Holy Spirit does not contradict God's word. On this, you can stake your eternal life.

-Justjo

"Jesus: Lord, Liar or Lunatic" Pick one

Editor's note: Romans ch. 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

"Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers"

Paul said in  1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

We are being told to prove/test everything. Don't take anyone's word for it. Check the facts for ourselves to see if they measure up to Gods Word and Facts.

On the contrary, The prophets and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ say, Only read church approved material. DO NOT read "Anti-Mormon" material on the internet or any other place.

They are taught, from a young age, to not question the Prophets. https://www.lds.org/manual/aaronic-priesthood-manual-3/lesson-24-follow-the-prophet?lang=eng

 Do not immerse yourself in internet materials about early church leaders. "Can Ye Feel So Now?", Quentin L. Cook, General Conference October 2012

 "It's wrong to criticize leaders of the church, even if the criticism is true." Dallin H. Oaks, PBS Mormons Documentary, 2007

 Shouldn't always tell the truth "There is a temptation … to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful. "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than The Intellect", 1981, Packer

What is there to fear in a Question? Is the foundation of your beliefs so shaky that a mere question and answer session would cause it to crumble if it was answered with truth? Do you really want to be associated with an organization that can't be faced with a question and give a straight answer? I couldn't. Once God decided to open my eyes and show me his Truth, I couldn't be associated with it.

After joining the LDS faith, I questioned. For 4 years I questioned things that still didn't fit into the puzzle. Every year (Back when you had to go into the get your temple recommend renewed every year) I would ask the questions that bothered me, and every year I was given answers that made no sense. The 4th year, I was told by my Stake president "If you purse this course, you will be filled with the spirit of the Devil and fall away from the Restoration." Does God plant seeds of fear? Why would a question fill someone with the spirit of the Devil? When our children come to us with questions, do we not answer them to the best of our ability or do we tell them to shut up or I'm going to smack you? Well, my Stake president planted the seed of fear in me that sat, and festered for 10 years. My last stake Presidents wife asked me why I never asked them my questions. Simple enough, I was still scared to ask my questions for fear I would 'be filled with the spirit of the devil'. I was always so worried about how others looked at me.. and listening to the gossip about those that asked questions or left the church... I didn't need that at that time in my life. She also suspects that my history before Joining the LDS faith is at fault for my leaving. She's absolutely right. You KNOW church history in Polygamy. It's taught to you from a very early age. You are well aware that not only Brigham Young took many wives but Joseph Smith also took many wives well before the section 132 in the D&C was revealed.

So I kept my questions to myself. My husband knew I had them but it was kind of like the Elephant in the room no one ever spoke about. He had his own questions also. If you ignored them long enough, they would go away. If you told yourself enough times they don't matter, they will go away. If you think about the answers you were previously given enough times, they might start to make sense. None of this is true. My questions were alive and well. 

What do you think you would do if you questioned? Have you recently read or saw something on the internet that didn't quite sit right? Did it make you angry/fear? Has it caused you to completely shut out/block/remove that website/person/group? Did you ask yourself, why or did fear/anger cause you to act rash without thinking through your actions. Are these from God? Would God tell you to not ask a question? No.. but the Devil and his workers do. Don't let fear keep you from finding truth.

Yes truth fears no questions as truth is self-evident and is not threatened by our questioning. Truth can stand up to scrutiny on its own. It reminds me of a similar quote which goes something like "Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers".

The truth that sets us free fears no questions, and the truth of perfect love also casts out fear. There is no fear in love, just as there is no fear in truth. Truth and love goes hand in hand, and is always on our side. 

My Christmas Wish (And all year, infact)

This Christmas Eve, I would ask for only one thing. I know it's the Christian tradition to give and receive presents that can be wrapped and extend Love to one another, but this year I would ask for but one thing that can't be wrapped or really accepted by my hand.

God? I know this is a lot to ask, but this is something only you can do. It's something I pray for every day, but not like for my Sister Ruth to be blessed with a new liver. My Brother James to be healed from the Cancer. Our family to be safe and healthy. I know, through faith you can do all those things in your own time. What I ask may be a little bit more difficult. 

See, I have friends and family that are blind and def. It's not something permanent and can be over come, but only if you intervene and remove the scales from their eyes and unplug their ears. You see, They won't look or listen to truth because of what men have said. They look up to most of these men and hold them in high regard. These men have been following the traditions of their fathers who have set themselves above their fellow men, causing many to become blind and stumble. They follow these men through obedience and can't see your word and your promises. These men choose to ignore your word. They instead choose to teach and follow tradition.

These are wonderful spiritual, devoted, kind people, Jesus. What I am asking is for you to intervene in their lives. Give them the courage to look at the things they have been told not to look at, by men. Give them the wisdom to read and study things on their own and use their God given gift of discernment to see things as you would have them see it. Remove the fog that many have over their minds that cause them to stumble while reading your Word so they can see the clarity of it. Remove the scales from their eyes so they can see the wonderful, full gift of Grace you have extended to them. Not only to SEE it.. but to reach out and accept it. Accept it NOW and not hope they have done enough after their death to hopefully receive it. Help them, Jesus!

Ohh what Joy they will have when they can say they have been saved!! When they are asked "Are you saved" they will say, without any doubts, "YES!" As it is now the answers they give are, "It's what we are working for"......

But the most important thing I ask.. Help them find YOU! You know each and every individual and know when and where they will be ready to receive your truth, because you are our creator. As you chose to snatch Brian and I and our Children at the exact time when you knew we would be sensitive to your word. I ask you do the same for our precious friends and family. Help me be patient with you. It's not about my timing. You will know when they will be ready. I will do my best to prepare myself to be your tool and have you work through me.

Lord, I know this is a huge thing to ask, but if even ONE person comes to your saving Grace it will be worth it. Thank you God for all you've done in my life. I can never thank you enough for everything. I know you know I have so much more to write but I can't find the right words. If you see fit to help someone find you this Christmas Season, I will fully rejoice in you. If you see fit to not, I will still Rejoice in you!

God Bless all my Friends and Family, in Jesus name. Amen.

Question for my LDS and Polygamy family and friends. Thanks for taking the time.

This has been on my mind a lot lately and I feel to reach out and ask those of my family and friends, in Mormonism and Polygamy if you could, give me your take on this situation. Any others are welcome to chime in as well. It's not only Mormonism and Polygamy that have made me really think about this issue but also those that are not Jewish that feel they have to live under the "Law of Moses" when It's all been fulfilled through Christ. Are we really truly understanding the Bible and it's teachings, in context or are we picking and choosing what we want to follow what fits into our own agendas and tossing the rest.

 How important is it to know the Word of God? Is it enough just to have the Bible in our home and not study or even read it or just read it sometimes without study? One thing you must understand is things can be lost in translation. This does not mean the Bible is not translated correctly. It simply means the translations between languages loose their full effect. It's messages and what God wants to relay to you, remain intact. You can't expect less from a perfect God. Words and meanings loose their full effect when translating from one language to another.  For Example.. the word "Love" in the ancient Greek has 4 meanings.

Storge (στοργή storgē) means "affection" in ancient and modern Greek. It is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant.

Philia (φιλία philía) means friendship or affectionate love in modern Greek. It is a dispassionate virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philos denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.

Éros (ἔρως érōs) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "intimate love;" however, eros does not have to be sexual in nature. Eros can be interpreted as a love for someone whom you love more than the philia, love of friendship. It can also apply to dating relationships as well as marriage. This word is not found in the Bible

Agápe (ἀγάπη agápē) means "love," such as in the term s'agapo (Σ'αγαπώ), which means "I love you." In Ancient Greek, it often refers to a general affection or deeper sense of "true love" rather than the attraction suggested by "eros." Agape is used in the biblical passage known as the "love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13, and is described there and throughout the New Testament as sacrificial love. Agape is also used in ancient texts to denote feelings for one's children and the feelings for a spouse, and it was also used to refer to a love feast. It can also be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard. Agape was appropriated by Christians for use to express the unconditional love of God.


The difference between agape and phileo becomes very clear in John 21:15, but unfortunately it is obscured in almost all English translations. After being raised from the dead, Jesus met Peter. Here is the short version of what they said to each other.
Jesus: Simon…do you love (agape) me more than these [fish?].
Peter: Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you.
Jesus: Simon…do you…love (agape) me?
Peter: Yes, Lord, you know that I love (phileo) you.
Jesus: Simon…do you love (phileo) me?
Peter: [Grieved] “Lord…you know that I love (phileo) you.”

Why the difference in words for “love” in this conversation? Why did Jesus use agape and Peter use phileo? Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him with the love of God, a love that may require sacrifice. After all, Jesus had just gone through horrendous torture for Peter’s sake (and ours), something he did not want to do but did anyway because of his agape love. In contrast, Peter avoided possible torture by denying Jesus.

Jesus twice asked Peter, “Do you agape me? [That is, are you willing to do things for my sake that you do not want to do?]” Peter, on the other hand, still felt the sting of having denied Jesus, and was hopeful that their friendship was intact. Did Jesus hold Peter’s denial against him? Would he still treat Peter as a close associate and companion? Peter was not sure where he stood with Jesus, so he was trying to let Jesus know that he was still a true friend, and had phileo love for Jesus.

The third time Jesus spoke to Peter, he came to Peter’s level and asked if Peter were indeed a true friend (phileo), which grieved Peter. Nevertheless, it was important, because Jesus knew what Peter did not know—that Jesus would ascend into heaven, and Peter and the others would be left to carry out his work on earth, which would require that they all be his good friends and do his will even when it meant hardship.

 As you can see by this interpretation of the Word Love, meanings can get lost in translation and the true meaning be overlooked.

 We are so blessed to be able to have a Bible in our home. In many countries, it's illegal to have one and the punishment for having one is very severe leading to imprisonment and even death.

Why is it important to know the teachings in the Bible? What does the bible teach us that's so important to our lives? "The Gospel". What is the Gospel? To put it short, What Jesus did for us and the "Good News" of salvation for all. Granted, the Mormon definition is different from the True Christian definition. I won't go into that today.

Let's say, you have a question or had an experience and you wanted to test and make sure it was what you should be doing to not be lead astray. The Bible helps keep us on the right path.

You feel your in a place in your life where nothing is making sense. Your questions are being deflected and not answered. Your parents can't help you. Your siblings can't help you. The things you've been taught most of your life don't fit or feel right. You open the bible one evening and read...(KJV) "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Simple enough... God is stating in his Word,  (NIV) "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." We are being told to ask for "wisdom" if we lack it. What is wisdom? Some would have you believe wisdom is anything you pray about that gives you a warm feeling of reassurance. Is that truly wisdom?

Wisdom : 1. the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight. (Dictionary.com)

One thing the Bible, Gods Word, has frequently warned of is following our feelings when it comes to seeking truth.
Jeramiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Proverbs 28:26 - "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."
Jeremiah 10:23 -"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps"

How would someone go about asking God? Prayer would be a good thing to do. Where else can we go to ask God?  Why not the Bible? The stories and lessons taught cover every known situation we have to work through here, for our lives. It's how God designed it.

Think about the following situation. I've already drawn my conclusion to it.

You decide to use prayer to search your answer and go into the a quiet secluded area to pray. You are met by an angel, a spirit, a messenger... someone or something.. and they tell you an answer to your question. You are overwhelmed and happy to have got an answer, then go home and tell your parents about what happened. If you, and the people you tell, really know the Bible, huge questions should arize when you go through the events of the experience.

Galations 1:6-9
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

This is a warning, in Gods Word, to help us stay on the right path.
and another....

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

Are you sure those were Angels from Heaven you were conversing with? Are you absolutely SURE? Satan, himself and his "ministers" can transform themselves into something pleasing to the eye.

If anything, a true, bible believing , studying person would have picked that out in a hurry and cast it out, at best, as a made up lie by a child. Or at worse, as a satanic experience. It should have stopped right there.. but it was made to continue.

In the end, it was a new Gospel. One that had an explanation for all of the mysteries of God. It placed a false god and savior, into a pretty box. Making it possible to hold and comprehend all things... yet.. causing those who accept the pretty box to put aside common sense and say the scientific, rational things, are the mysteries of God. It brought God down to a human level, degrading his power and majesty. Bringing him down to the level of his creations and saying he was once a man. It puffs up men.. to think they could become a god themselves when the Bible clearly states, there is but one God. It takes the focus off the true Savior in the impossible quest for their exaltation. It's so centered around "Works" that they focus on what they should be doing instead of what's already been done FOR them. They do works to save themselves, not because they love the Savior and His Atonement. They puff themselves up with pride as the Pharisees did in the Bible whom Jesus, himself rebuked. Setting themselves above others because of their "Works". Stating they are the one and only true way to salvation. They have a higher calling to save mankind through their temple ordinances. This "Religion" started with Joseph Smith Jr. and has rolled on for the passed 180+ years , evolving and changing as it goes. It's name is Mormonism.

Who were Joseph Smiths parents, really? Did they truly know the Bible? What kind of life did they live, really? What did they really believe? Where do you get your information? Is it from those that have an agenda? Have things to protect? Or are you getting your information straight from the unbiased, unadulterated, unchanged, Non-whitewashed source?

As stated earlier, I was asking my Mormon and Polygamy Friends and Family and their take on the situation mainly because you still Hold Joseph Smith as your Prophet and founder of your churches. As you've read my observations and conclusion on this one area, I would like to hear yours.

 

God in Everything

Having grown up under the veil of Polygamy and later in my early 20's joining the LDS church, I was taught to look at the Cross as something that should be shunned. Many of my Mormon/Polygamy family and friends would relate the cross as a means of murder, like a gun, and urge everyone to distance themselves from it. It wasn't something to place on your body or in your home. "Why would you celebrate the object that killed your Savior?" 

Did the cross kill Him or was it the Jews? It's like saying Guns kill people instead of people kill people.

The Cross and Crucifixion  have been a large part of history, and, we are finding, our future. All things point to it.  From early Biblical verses, prophesying more then 1,000 years before the event to, with our advanced technology today, finding patterns of the exact cross shape holding our very bodies together, and more.

Let's look at Numbers
In Numbers 21:8-9 we read, "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived".

This is a most unusual story! The tribes of Israel used to carry around a wooden standard, about 9 feet high, with an insignia of the tribe written on material hung on the Crosspiece. God told Moses to hang a bronze serpent on this wooden Cross bar instead of the standard. Bronze indicates judgement in the Bible, as also does a serpent. The Serpent on a Pole is the Holy Spirit's picture language for God's judgement on Jesus Christ on the Cross.

If an individual was bitten by a snake (which is a type of Satan), there was a way to be healed. If the individual looked up to the bronze serpent on the pole they would be healed. Jesus Himself indicated the connection between the Crucifixion and the Serpent on the Pole in John 3:14-16:
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life".

In Psalm 22 there are many verses which clearly look forward to the Crucifixion. The following are a selection of such verses:

vs. 1: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
vs. 6: despised of the people.

vs. 7: All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
vs. 8: He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"
vs. 13: They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.
vs. 14: I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it has melted within Me.
vs. 15: My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; you have brought Me to the dust of death.
vs. 16a: For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
vs. 16b: They pierced My hands and My feet;
vs. 17: I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
vs. 18: They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

 

Let's skip ahead to today, with our advanced technology, and talk about Laminin. 

 

 Laminins are major proteins in the basal lamina (formerly improperly called "basement membrane"), a protein network foundation for most cells and organs. The laminins are an important and biologically active part of the basal lamina, influencing cell differentiation, migration, adhesion as well as phenotype and survival. Fourteen other chain combinations have been identified in vivo. The trimeric proteins form a plus sign with one long arm, giving a structure that can bind to other cell membrane and extracellular matrix molecules. The three shorter arms are particularly good at binding to other laminin molecules, which allows them to form sheets. The long arm is capable of binding to cells, which helps anchor organized tissue cells to the membrane. source - Wikipedia

..... in short... Laminin is LITERALLY the glue that holds us all together.

Colossians 1:15-17
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth , visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER. "

 

Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another....by the cross.

 

 

 

We focused on something small.. Lets change gears and look at something LARGE! 

  

Sometimes known as the Hubble Cross or Cross of Hubble

This image of the core of the nearby spiral galaxy M51, taken with the Wide Field Planetary camera (in PC mode) on NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, shows a striking , dark "X" silhouette

d across the galaxy's nucleus. The "X" is due to absorption by dust and marks the exact position of a black hole which may have a mass equivalent to one-million stars like the sun. The darkest bar may be an edge-on dust ring which is 100 light-years in diameter. The edge-on torus not only hides the black hole and accretion disk from being viewed directly from earth, but also determines the axis of a jet of high-speed plasma and confines radiation from the accretion disk to a pair of oppositely directed cones of light, which ionize gas caught in their beam. The second bar of the "X" could be a second disk seen edge on, or possibly rotating gas and dust in MS1 intersecting with the jets and ionization cones.

The size of the image is 1100 light-years.

 

 

God, who has always been and always will be, shows us He is everywhere. We would be nothing without him. Literally falling apart in all aspects of the human existence. He is our Creator. He created us and knows every part of us. Do we turn our backs on our Creator or embrace him and his saving GRACE. 

 

I wear a cross on a necklace close to my heart  because he changed my heart after I accepted him. He lifted the burdens and removed the chains that held me bound to slavery and death. Through Him and his saving grace, that were performed on that cross, He has set me free. He was born and remained sinless so he could take upon him all the sins of the world. Only someone who was pure could have done such a thing. Jesus, my God, who came down in the flesh to descend below all men, taking upon himself every single sin that was ever committed and then laying down his own life for me. (Yes, no one could have taken his life. He, willingly gave it for everyone who will accept his free gift of GRACE) Died by his own will to save a sinner as myself. I believe him when he said "It is finished" ~John 19:30. I accept his true Gospel. The One and only true Gospel taught from the Bible.

 

 Galatians Chapter 1

 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

Mormonism and the ever changing Gospel that started with Joseph Smith has so many confused as to what it is they actually believe. Talking with many of my family and friends that are still blinded by the Mormon faith, frequently say when I bring up known doctrine or church history, "I don't believe that." When I ask what it is they do believe, I'm not ever given the same answer for the one question or I'm just blown off and the subject is changed. 

 

Is it ever a wonder why Mormons don't take head to 1 Corinthians 1:18

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." It is indeed the Power of God in every aspect of the Word. Without it none of us would be here. None of us would have any hope to save us from our sins. None of us would ever taste freedom. 

 

Praise to my God! I will praise you every day and give all glory to you! You are Great! You are my Savior! Thank you for saving me from that awful bondage that held me tight for so long. 

House - Car - Salvation

Let us suppose you were going to be buying a home. What kinds of questions would be asked and what kinds of things would you want to look into.

Location. You want to make sure the location is where you need it to be for your commute for work.

Schools if you have children. How are the schools in the area?

Is the neighborhood where you would want to raise your family?

What would the yearly taxes be and the cost of the utilities each month?

Who do you ask? You would probably ask the owners of the home.. but I wouldn't stop there. Talk to neighbors also. They live there and would know what it's like and don't really have an agenda like the sellers do.

You would then ask the sellers how the house was and if there were any problems or special maintenance issues that needed attention. Would you stop there and take their word for it? I hope not. I would then call in an inspector to double check everything with the house. Foundation, water damage, structural integrity and more. Chances are he will find things the home owners didn't mention, then you can make an informed decision based on an unbiased opinion.

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Let's pretend your going to buy a car.  Again, what kinds of questions will you ask?

How does it run?

Has it been in any accidents?

How much millage does it have on it?

Does it have any fluid leaks?

How are the tires?

Does it have a clear title?

Again, would you take the persons word for it, hand over the cash and drive off? I would hope not. A test drive is in order and either you looking over the engine exterior and interior or taking it to a mechanic you trust. Check and make sure it's even theirs to sell in the first place.

_________________________________________________________

These are 2 simple examples you need to follow when investing a large amount of money before buying. These are things you need to know will work for your family. Don't want to invest a large sum of money into something that is already broken and will leave you stranded on the side of the road or falling down all around you without a moments notice.

Why then would you do anything less about your salvation?

Before you go and join any religion, don't you think it would be a smart thing to investigate the foundation of that religion? After all.. this is something that will be affecting you for eternity. Shouldn't you be putting much more effort into it then you would a house or a car? Sadly, some people don't. They choose to carry out family traditions when their own parents didn't do their research either. It's handed down from one generation to the next till it's become ingrained into the family dynamic.

Some choose to follow a feeling rather then facts when it comes to religion. Others choose to follow those who have already joined without they themselves first investigating it. Listening to only one side of the discussion instead of getting a broader view of it themselves. After all, those who have already invested so much time and energy into their religion have an agenda and something to protect.

How would one go about asking the hard questions that need to be asked. Sure, you can ask those who have already accepted one religion over another but keep an open mind and study the other side as well.

How does the foundation look? Who were the people it first started with and what was their character? How did they live their lives and did they practice what they preached? Is there enough evidence for the facts to stand on their own and to handle some scrutiny? Do all the facts match? Are the teachings consistent? Does anything seem off or do all the pieces fit?

These are some very important questions that need to be asked and given answers that are not excuses for behavior and lifestyle.

Remember, this is forever. Can you afford to be wrong when it comes to salvation?  Are you one that wants to be standing across from the judgement bar and being told. "... I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Mathew 7:23. Are you willing to take that chance?

I am pleading with you to search out the Foundation. Is it strong and will it be able to stand strong when the storms come.  Where have you chosen to build your house?