I have a testimony that I KNOW that the LDS church is true.
I hope some day you will understand how wrong you are.... You have fallen away from
the ONLY TRUE CHURCH on EARTH.
When I study, I pray. I pray that I will be able to see the truth, not necessarily
that Mormonism will look good so I'll feel good. It is the truth I want. [And
when he prays and studies he finds what he's believed all along: God's truth = Mormonism.]
An intellectual or social conversion to Mormonism is apparently not good enough to endure
a lifetime. You need to know that it's true. You cannot know that it's false,
but you can know it's true, because it is.
Odd that I traveled much the same paths you did but came to completely different
conclusions. Joseph Smith was a true prophet. The Book of Mormon is true.
I hope you humble yourself and discover that you are fighting against the truth...
Don't believe the lies you heard from others or create for yourself.
You cannot contend with the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet and I
know that is too hard for you to handle because you just couldn't handle the guilt
associated with a religion that tells you to repent.
I can only pray that you will remove this web page. You are making a great mistake.
If you have left the Church, you have been deceived and someday I PROMISE you, you will
have to explain to GOD HIMSELF...
Joseph Smith said, and I quote "If you see the light and then walk away, you
can never stand on neutral ground again." He went on
to say (I do not have the direct quote, but something to the effect that) if you are a
member who has been given much light, and leave the church, you will fight it with all you
have. As I read your page I couldn't help but reflect on the above thoughts.
I know the church is true and that is enough.
Are you God? Only God can say the Book of Mormon is false.
Reading your information gives me an even stronger testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints. There is only one true church on the earth -- the one
that all others fight against. Thanks for helping the honest in heart find the
truth.
I know several people who are like you, and in each case they have committed serious sin,
and this is their (and maybe your) only way to deal with it.
[Reply from Eric: This is a typical reaction of a member of an
authoritarian group. He or she thinks a person leaves their organization because of
"sin." That is the most common rationale that believers have of those who
leave.]
You attack irregularities and personal human flaws, nobody is perfect not even
Mormons. Religious history, regardless of denomination, is always plagued by
"human" misjudgments and mistakes. Give me any religion and I can give you
a story three times as long as you gave about Mormons. Your story proves
nothing. The doctrine is the heart of Mormonism not the people or its leaders.
The doctrine is true and I hope one day you will the ability to overlook these small
oversights and discrepancies.
It is amazing that you finally figured out the secret of the Mormon religion when
thousands of scholars have tried to prove the Mormon religion false since the beginning.
I'm sorry that you feel this way about the church which I Know to be True. I
have a testimony of the gospel and that it was restored through Joseph Smith. I Know
the Book of Mormon is true and that it was written by prophets of old for our day.
The things you wrote made me sick to my stomach. Some things you wrote were twisted,
some were wrong, and some you need faith to have a testimony of them. I know that
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church. Not because it
is persecuted, but because Jesus Christ leads it.
I know this church is true, and I was not brainwashed into thinking this...
If you take ONE person away from the gospel [the Mormon religion], you will be damned to
eternity.
THIS IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH.
The priesthood is a true power.
The Book of Mormon is the only truly correct book.
Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God.
Who do you think you are? I think that you have lost your mind or were offended in
some way to cause you to leave the church.
I have been a member of the LDS church all my life. I know it's true! If you
have bad feelings towards the church you should keep them to yourself!
How can you believe the stuff you say? If you really were a Mormon, why
did you try to find ways to prove it wrong? I think that you didn't want to be a
Mormon, so you found ways to get out. Believe what you want. As for me, it
doesn't matter what anybody says because I know that this church is true.
I challenge you to read the Book of Mormon again and pray to see if it is wrong.
I have lived all over the world and seen all walks of people, both in the Church and
without. Your web page represents nothing more than an ax grinding forum....
As for your ax to grind? I can only speculate. It is more than likely that you
weren't able to live the standards of the church and because of that you have determined
the standards are wrong and bad.
For every person like you in this world, incapable of striving to live to the lofty stands
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are thousands trying to do their
best, and haven't rolled over and given up.
I feel much like Alma the Younger speaking to Korihor -- "Behold, I know
that thou believest, but thou are possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the
Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he
doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God."
You are wrong in your denunciation of the church. While your "facts" may
be supported by supposed scientists, you must face one ultimate truth. You were not
there -- so how do you know what animals, metals, or plants WERE there? You
are simply taking the word of common men (scientists) over that of the Lord.
Living outside the [LDS] religion is better for you because of one thing. It is now
easier for you.
I know that God lives, and that Jesus is the Christ....
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is the true and correct organization of Jesus Christ, founded by Him upon the earth
in these latter days, and that it represents the stone cut out of the mountain without
hands as described in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream as interpreted by Daniel, and which will
fill the whole earth.
I know that Joseph Smith, Jr., was a prophet of God,
that he did see God the Father and Jesus Christ, that they did commend the keys of the
kingdom to him through their servants, that he did receive the Book of Mormon plates at
the hand of the Angel Moroni, and that through the gift and power of God he did translate
the plates to bring forth the Book of Mormon.
I know that there was a council in heaven, at which
every soul who has lived, who does now live, or who will ever live on this earth attended,
and that we shouted for joy when the great Plan of Salvation was revealed to us by the
Lord Jesus Christ.
If for your shallow reasons you think the Mormon church is false then keep it to
yourself.
I suppose it is as Elder Neil Maxwell said recently, "People can leave the church,
but they can't leave it alone." I know why, and so do millions of others.
And you know why too.... Mormonism is the truth. Think about it.
I have been working with the hypothesis that those who leave the church and then profess
to have found greater truth, began their departure from the church because of a single
commandment or point of doctrine. Often this point is adultery, but not
necessarily. Then, after taking issue with the church on this point, and being
reproved, they acquire the spirit of the adversary and become obsessed with validating
their own beliefs. This pattern produces the kind of individuals whose comments
pepper this newsgroup. They have lost the companionship of the Holy Ghost and have
enlisted the spirit of the devil (although they usually state that the reverse is true:
calling the good evil, and the evil good and all that)....
[Eric's comment -- Many Mormons cannot comprehend
that someone leaves their group because it is not what it claims to be.]
I find your WWW page something between amusing and disturbing. I hope
that you come to your senses and disband this page.
I think you owe the Church and its members an apology.
Nothing you or I can do or say will change the truthfulness of the [LDS] church, and your
petty attempts at overthrowing it will be surely in vain. As the church grows in
influence and becomes one of the powers of the world, you will hopefully see the error of
your ways.
Eric, repent. Your Father in heaven is very sad with you. What can you
honestly tell Him in the final judgment? There are no excuses.
Short term lashing out at God and His Church may do minimal damage, but God will not be
mocked, and in the end all petty thing that pretend to stand in His way will be removed
and put in their proper place. Do not become a son of perdition (Alma 24:30).
You are dangerously close. Humble yourself and return to the fold. Christ is
waiting for you with open arms (Mormon 6:17).
What can you possibly gain from compiling a huge collection of stories from
disgruntled members. There are always going to be such instances of people becoming
offended or disenchanted, especially in the truth church I would think. That's
Satan's entire plan.
You know deep down inside that leaving the [LDS] church was wrong. But then
trying to bring others down with you is synonymous with Lucifer and the war in heaven.
I happened upon your website not certain what to expect. I knew there was a large
number of anti-mormon literature but this is shocking....
I don't feel sorry for you, you are a smart man and you are able to make your own
decisions. Many people who hook on to your page are weak and need direction.
And you like a hawk see your weak prey and pounce upon them with no remorse. You
want as many people to fall away and join you in denial. This has happened once
before. I think you might recall in the councils in heaven Lucifer broke away and
took many with him.
I don't know if it is too late for you but you have the opportunity to ask Heavenly Father
for guidance. He will guide you to know the truth: the truth I know you once
believed. Don't prove the book of Mormon wrong with your limited knowledge.
Don't put down the Prophet Joseph Smith, he would never judge you.
Here is a fact. Joseph Smith had a 3rd grade reading level. By the time he was
18 you're telling me he accomplished writing a volume of fiction that contained 1000 years
of an intricate civilization, with each book within the Book of Mormon having a different
writing style.
The Gospel is true and you will have no effect on that no matter how great the
attempt. Men much stronger and much smarter than you have put greater efforts than
yourself toward destroying the [Mormon] church. It is still here and it will stay
here.
What could have happened to you that made you turn away? Your testimony
of the church must not have been great enough.
I could NEVER think of denying the church, and cannot even FATHOM anyone else doing
so. Why did you??
... I only think to myself how when we die we will
all know the truth, so why don't you leave it at that?? Stop your page and wait
until you die to ridicule our church. If you end up being right (which I know will
NEVER happen) then you can watch me be damned. But if I am right (as I KNOW I am)
then, well, I will be right.
I have just one favor. Tonight when you go to
bed, kneel down and pray with a sincere heart, I do mean the sincerest, ask God who is
right, and I PROMISE you that if you ask with an open heart and mind, and you REALLY do
want to know the truth, you will find who is right and it will be me. Thanx for your
time.
You are probably the most screwed up person I have ever come across on the internet.
The LDS church is so true ... One day you will regret your decision for
leaving ... this I can promise you.
You know, I am sure, that you will not be able to go to the celestial kingdom, for you
have denied the true, and only true, church. I am not lecturing, merely informing.
Search, Ponder, and Pray ... please.
Why are you doing this? Do you really think that you are leading people to the
"truth"? I suppose you never even gave the church a chance.
Of course you think you are so well read and right. So does Satan.
You're not led by God. You're led by the vain imaginations of your own
heart, and Satan has had his way with you. You know it, and so does God.
It is obvious you hadn't the intestinal fortitude to prove that it's doctrines are
correct. Do you think that you and your finite knowledge are any match for God?
You say that you did not leave the Church because of sin or anything like that. You
and I as well as God know that is your first lie. One does not fall away from the
Truth because of "findings." I would be interested to be the fly on the
wall when you lost your testimony. You once knew what was right and yes You KNOW
that it was something that you did for you to lose your testimony.
I know this religion is true.
Remember my name. Aaron Covey. When the Second Coming comes I will stand next
to Jesus Christ and will confirm the ridiculous things that you have said against His true
church.... Please, for your sake repent and ask for forgiveness. I would hate
to stand before you at judgment day and testify of the horrific things I have seen on this
page.
I am a 15 year old Mormon and I think what you say is a lie. You just
couldn't handle it could you?
Please write me back and tell me why you quit the church and why you say you are
"recovering" from Mormonism. It makes no sense whatsoever.
Because you have your own stupid feelings about the Mormon church you have to go tell
everyone. But the truth of the matter is all of you are wrong, and you do know the
truth. The Mormon church is the only true church, and you can't do anything about
it.
I just wanted to say that most ex-mormons had a strong testimony of the church. That
means when you bore it you KNEW and was told by the spirit that Mormonism was true.
I never knew Satan could trick people so bad. You'll find out when you're cast to
outer darkness. I am asking you one favor. This will help you prove that the
church isn't true as you believe. Just get on your knees and ask if the church is
true.
Anti-Mormon literature has corrupted your view. If you were a true member
you would have never been so easily drawn away.
I can write this as plain as I could ever speak this that I know without a shadow
of a doubt that this is the only true church. Not because that's what I was taught
all my life, but because I have found it out through my own experience.
You must not have had a testimony, because once you get it, there is no doubt that this is
the only true church.
I can guarantee it that if you read the Book of Mormon and really try to
understand it and pray about it you will know that it is true ...
No matter what evidence people drudge up against the prophet Joseph Smith, I know
he was a prophet of God.
I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true,
not because of authoritarian control, or fear, but because I have a relationship with my
Savior Jesus Christ, and I know He does not lie. I know that I may trust Him no
matter what. [And He tells this person that the Book of Mormon and the LDS are
true.]
You are so deceived by the teachings of the world!
You had the truth in your hands and left it by the wayside.
Your site has stories of people who have left Mormonism. I feel sorry for
that. What or where else would they go? What is the alternative? The
answer is NONE!!!! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is TRUE!!!!
If there be errors in it, they are but errors of MEN and doesn't change the truth about
GOD.
Most people leave the Church because they have sin in their lives. Were you ever
really Mormon you might have known the joy, love and happiness that comes from
within... Personally I can't believe that you were ever Mormon..
To "think your way out" is pretty pathetic. Do you think you can think
better than the Being that created you? Are you smarter than Him?
Just one question. Have you ever felt the Spirit? If you ever have,
how can you deny THAT?
I think you're jealous and upset because you couldn't keep your morals or word of
wisdom straight.
If you don't like the Church, why don't you just leave it without revealing
everything...? That would be the honorable thing to do.
With your action you are fulfilling prophecies that state that people that knew
the truth sometimes become the worst enemies of it.
You know deep inside that what you are doing is wrong.
The trouble with you is that you have too high of an opinion of your own
mind. You know absolutely nothing.
What you refer to as blind acceptance of teachings without basis on scientific or
archeological facts is in all actuality the enlightenment received through the Holy Ghost
that allows any who are willing to listen the ability to know and discern truth from
error. I am by no means a seasoned veteran of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, but I do know that it is not necessary to have a lengthy explanation of
Church Doctrine in order for you to know it to be true. Perhaps during your
membership in the church you at no time fully understood what a testimony is and how to
receive one. A testimony is the ability to know of a surety that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, that He and Heavenly Father both live today, that they did appear
to Joseph Smith, that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God, that the Bible and the Book
of Mormon, as well as the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price are
Holy Scripture ... You will probably dismiss my testimony as merely the church's
teachings being shoved down my throat, but rest assured that is not the case. I have
acquired this knowledge through placing my faith in God to make these things known unto
me.
I've been raised in the world and do have a testimony from many years of study and
prayer, unlike your obvious pattern of following what others believe and say. I
believe the best example in the scriptures of your type of thinking is "swayed by
every wind of doctrine."
I find it very disturbing that this kind of garbage can be found on the
internet. Fortunately, I do not rely upon things that can be proved or disproved by
your so called evidences.
I have learned that for the most part, ex-mormons become that way due to
transgression. Ed Decker got the way he did because he was excommunicated for
adultery. And the more that I run into people of that caliber, I find that they have
left for similar reasons. I know that this is the first part of where you go
wrong. The second part is that you allow yourselves to get caught up in the academic
search for proof. It doesn't surprise me that you come up with things that disturb
you. If all you expect to find is fault, you will find it. If you want truth
on the other hand, you will find that also. You must rely on faith and prayer.
If you believe in a God that answers prayers, then surely you petitioned the Lord for an
answer to this challenge that you have. This is all that we ask, if you want to know
the truth, don't look at man and his works for an answer, look to God who cannot
lie. If you believe in a loving God, then surely you believe that He will answer
your prayer. If you go to the Lord with an open mind, instead of going to Him and
saying, I have found that this is all wrong, I know that it is wrong, what is the
answer?", then He will not try to affect your mind in any way if your mind is already
made up. You must go to Him as a child, ready to be taught, not ready to teach
Him. Look into your heart beyond all the garbage that you have allowed to enter and
pile on top of it. I feel that if you are honest in heart and really want to learn,
then the answer will come, and you will find that you have been wrong in promoting these
[anti-Mormon] lies on the internet.
I suppose you will think that I am just ignorant and just refuse to look at the
facts. Believe me, after serving a mission in Utah, I have been hit with every kind
of anti-mormon idea. I have questioned my faith. I have questioned if I was
following the right path. I have been scared to find the truth. But I have
always relied on the one constant: prayer to my Heavenly Father! For I know that He
will no lead me astray. [And God has impressed upon his heart that the truth is to
be found in the Book of Mormon.]
I simply cannot find a reason why ex-mormons must continue to attack the church.
Does this just happen or does Satan have a special desire to see our church not go forth
as prophesied?
Our missionaries are going forth to different nations ... the
Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;
persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the
truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every
continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the
purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
History of the Church, Vol. 4, Ch. 31, p. 540.
I personally know for a fact that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
is the restored gospel of the Saviour. There is no doubt of it. There are some
aspects of the gospel that require a great depth of spirituality to fully
understand. And until that level can be reached, one has to depend on faith.
I have come to a firm knowledge that this work [the LDS Church] is true. And I am
very thankful that I was persistent in following the promptings of the spirit, which
brought me to the testimony that I have today.
I have to ask myself, why would a former member of the Church put a page like yours on the
world wide web. It has become clear to me that the answer is, insecurity. I
hope that you will think about your actions more clearly, and come to a realization that
an understanding comes from faith and prayer.
Always remember ... There is a living prophet on the earth today [Gordon B.
Hinckley]. That is a great blessing, and we should all be thankful, and listen to
his words.
The funniest thing about your web site is while it does make me question and ponder my
beliefs, the answer I always come up with is that the LDS Church is true and that's that.
How can you rely on your reasoning to justify wanting to leave the church? Or maybe
you always had the desire to leave the church,
and so the easiest way is to look for faults and errors to justify your actions.
I know that the LDS Church is true and that today more than ever we need to be part of
it. Remember that there's only two sides, building or destroying the [LDS]
church. There is no middle.
It upsets me that you never had enough sense to ask God yourself, and if you have, to deny
the manifestations of the Holy Ghost. Please, I would ask you to re-think what you
have done by putting a document like this over the internet.
Ex-mormons write these things because they are scared. They write these stories so
they can make themselves think Mormonism is not true, when they know that Mormonism really
is true.
All of the stuff that you are telling people at this site is untrue and you are leading
people astray. I hope and pray that people will realize that you are a very
deceiving person.
I am offended and appalled that you would put this kind of nonsense on a
web-site. The only time you are going to realize how wrong you are is when you die
and return to the God that created you. [Then, when it's too late, he will see that
Mormonism was true.]
I find it odd that you must have a website devoted to the defamation of Mormons.
Could it be that you are so scared and paranoid of the truth that you must develop this
website for your own insecurities? Satan's armies truly are working hard in these,
the last days. I must give my deepest sympathies for you and those like you when the
final judgment rains upon you.
I've read all the anti-Mormon arguments there are. They are all irrelevant.
My biggest reason for believing in Mormonism is that in 1985 the Lord answered my prayers
concerning Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. What you are asking me to do is turn
my back on that answer. Pretend that it didn't happen. God gave me the answer,
and I can't and won't deny it.
I just wanted to let you know that I just finished reading some of your articles about
Mormons. Never have I read such things farther from the truth. You have no
basis for the accusations made and probably are just irritable from an experience you once
had.
I don't mean this in a bad way ... but I pray that you can stop pulling people away from
the church. I bet thousands of helpless people that were looking into the church
have turned away from the gospel [Mormonism] because of you. Please don't continue
this. I pray for you that you may somehow be forgiven of this horrible sin, and if
at all stop your anti-Mormon preaching. I know that you know that what you are
preaching is false and that you just have hard feelings toward the church. I pray
for you, for the Lord's mercy on your soul, and that you can reverse your actions.
Dear Bro. Kettunen,
I accidentally found your website when I
was looking for uplifting sites that could help me become a better person. I know
that nothing I can write can change your mind about the church, but I felt I just had to
tell you a few things.
I know the gospel is true. I know
that Jesus atoned for us. I know that there is a God. I know Joseph Smith was
a true prophet and he established the true church on this earth. I know there is a
prophet on the earth today and his name is Gorden B. Hinkly. I know the Book of
Mormon is a true testament of Jesus Christ and it is the most correct book on the
earth. I know God loves you and he is sad because you don't believe in him or his
gospel. The angels are crying for your soul and so am I.
dear eric, i was just wondering, how could you go on a mission and know what it is like to
bring a soul into christ and then turn around and say that there are wrongs in our
beliefs? i find it very sad that a person like you who has tasted the fruits of the
lord could turn out to be like you.
I know you probably won't post this, but I know you'll read it.... Now I don't know
about all the stuff that Mormons don't tell you, I haven't investigated it, and I don't
plan on it. But I think its pretty lame that you went on a Mission, and you never
felt the spirit. What's up with that? I like my life as a Mormon. I've
had my own experience that has helped me build a testimony of the ONLY true church.
I've read some of the Book of Mormon, and I've compared it to the Bible, and there are so
many things in the Bible that only Mormons practice. I find it funny how you leave
out that stuff (like the third heaven, and baptisms for the dead, and when Jesus said he
had other sheep). Also, I feel that you're not telling the whole story. Joseph
Smith told his parents about the first vision. And the stuff about him going to
jail, well all that stuff was Satan trying to stop the spread of the church, so they made
up lies to put him in jail. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. But as for me,
and any other Mormons who come across this page, If they have any questions they should
just pray about it. And I think it's pretty lame your trying to bring people down to
your level.
Thought I'd drop you a quick line and give you my take on your site. I only briefly
visited each section but I have a few comments. First of all, I am 19 years old,
Mormon and leaving on a mission in about 5-6 weeks. I know for a fact the church is
true. Not because I studied modern critical works, not because my parents told me it
was, but because I read the Book of Mormon, including Moroni's promise and I prayed and
received a witness of the Spirit that it was true.
I am no scriptorian, historian or anything else. But one point I would perhaps
suggest more research on is your statement that the Gold Plates were never viewed by a
third party. Actually they were taken to an expert on ancient Egyptian, a form of
which they were written in; he studied them and gave the prophet a certificate of
authenticity. As the prophet was leaving he was asked where he got the plates.
He told the expert that he received them from the angel Moroni. The expert asked
Joseph for the certificate and proceeded to tear it up.
I challenge you to honestly reread the Book of Mormon and really pray and ask God if what
you read and believed for 22 years is true. If you do it in all sincerity, I know,
and I think you know too, that you will receive that witness.