Are you one of the countless thousands of sincere individuals who have faithfully served a religious organization or church but still feel empty? Something is missing – but what? You fear God, you work hard, you try your best, but there is a nagging uncertainty!
Perhaps you have discovered hypocrisy or have come across doctrine that is troubling you? Maybe you are just plain tired – physically, mentally, or spiritually?
Our group exists to listen to your frustrations, encourage you with Biblical truth, answer what questions we can, and to direct and guide you towards a personal relationship with the Jesus of the Bible.
Please give us a try; you don't have to face your loneliness, frustration or abandonment alone.
We are concerned Christians, former Mormons, former Jehovah's Witnesses, and those who have escaped a controlling religious organization. Now we represent different evangelical church backgrounds that are united in the truth of the Bible only.
We understand that transitioning out of these groups is painful, confusing, and lonely, and we are sensitive to your feelings and what your decisions will mean to your family, friends, and co-workers. We are here to help your spiritual journey, as you likely know within yourself that you must follow Jesus and follow the truth.
We have come out of these groups ourselves and have experienced the fear, rejection, and internal conflict. We assure you that you will never be disappointed in making this step even though you are walking into the unknown with uncertainty. Remember, at the end of this ordeal is a loving relationship with the Savior that you likely have never experienced before.
We host a warm, friendly weekly Bible Study that is focused toward answering questions that arise. We also host a periodic (Feast and Testimony) potluck which is designed to fill the void of past friendships now severed.
If you are a pastor or church leader we would like to buy you a coffee and discuss the possibility of making a presentation to your congregation or community. We can tailor our seminars from a 13 week evening program to a one time Sunday school appearance. We can deliver lectures or be announced as a guest speaker. Vigilant Minds not only reaches out to those who deserve to hear the truth but also to educate those who want to know the truth.
Vigilant Minds is not in the process of re-inventing the wheel. Please find below good websites of ministries that have been helping people by answering their questions and nagging doubts.
Utah Lighthouse Ministry
www.utlm.org
Alpha and Omega Ministries
www.vintage.aomin.org/Mormonism.html
Watchman Fellowship
www.watchman.org
Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
www.carm.org/mormonism
Let Us Reason Ministries
www.letusreason.org/LDSdir.htm
H.I.S. Ministries International
www.hismin.com
Tower to Truth Ministries
www.towertotruth.net/index.htm
Always Be Ready Ministries
www.alwaysbeready.com/jehovahs-witnesses
Love to Share Ministries
www.lovetoshareministries.com
Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries
www.ronrhodes.addr.com
4Witness
www.4witness.org
Free Minds
www.freeminds.org/psych/psych.htm
Do you really think an Egyptian funeral text, for a man name Hor, is really the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price?
Have you ever questioned why Joseph Smith was a polygamist married to girls as young as 14?
Have you ever asked yourself, what does the tearing of the temple veil, from the top to the bottom, mean in regards to the Aaronic Priesthood? Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38
Do you ever question Pastor Russell's 1914 Armageddon prophecy? A hundred years and many excuses later and the Society still have not adequately addressed this question?
Do you ever ask what happened to the physical body of Jesus after He was resurrected?
Have you ever asked why Charles Taze Russell, the Anointed Class, and the Governing Body have all claimed to be "The Faithful and Discreet Slave?"
“Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test.”
“Convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by reason, by logical arguments, or by the Word of God.”
“Any organization that claims to be the way of salvation should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism.”
“And really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?”
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 9
Vigilant Minds views the Bible as the only authority in doctrine and practice and we are happy to take it up and compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it. We also feel free to scrutinize the Watchtower because they said "it is not a form of religious persecution for anyone to say and to show that another religion is false. It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion."
Jesus said "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." Luke 14: 26-27
This is your introduction to the cost of discipleship. You cannot serve two masters. Either you love your religion (and all the works that go with it) and hate a relationship with Jesus or you hate the religion and fall in love with Jesus – you cannot have it both ways.
Our guiding verse is Mark 12:32-34
"And the scribe said unto him, well, Master, thou has said the truth; for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou are not far from the kingdom of God."
Notice that Jesus was talking to a Scribe who was very religious, educated, respected, and honestly seeking the truth. But he still had not entered the Kingdom of God. But he was headed in the right direction because he answered [discreetly] – intelligently, sensibly, and prudently – he was using independent thought and not allowing religion to speak for him. We also encourage you to have a Vigilant Mind.