<![CDATA[Vigilant Minds Blog]]> https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/ EN Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:11:00 +0000 Incomedia WebSite X5 Pro <![CDATA[Utah is no longer majority Mormon, new research says]]> imblog
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Source: ABC News 4

By: Jonathon Sharp - Posted:
Updated:
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  — Since Utah became a state in the late 1800s, most of its residents  have been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  But according to a new study, Utah isn’t majority Mormon anymore.
  
A paper published this month in the Journal of Religion and  Demography estimates that the percentage of Utahns who identify as  members of the LDS church, otherwise known as Mormons, is about 42%.

That’s markedly lower than previous media reports citing the church’s  numbers, which put the percentage of Mormons in Utah at around 60% as  recently as 2020.
The Method
 
To get their numbers, Cragun and his fellow researchers contracted a  survey of roughly 1,900 Utahns, with quotas for age, sex and ethnicity  aligning with official census data for Utah. This method is called  “quota sampling.”
 
Michael Wood, assistant professor of sociology at Brigham Young  University, who was not connected to the study, said quota sampling is  commonly used in the field with accepted limitations, which he noted  that Cragun and his co-authors acknowledged.
 
“It is a provocative study with compelling arguments,” Wood told ABC4  in an email, adding that “further research with a more robust sampling  method is needed to confirm the findings.”

In the survey, which was conducted in the summer of 2022, the nearly  2,000 participants were asked a variety of questions, and among them was  how they identified on religious grounds.
 
Initially, Cragun and his fellow researchers weren’t interested in  religious self identification but rather how Uthans thought about  science. But when the researchers got the results on religious self  identification, they were surprised.
 
“This seemed like a newsworthy little finding for us, because we  actually have data to show the state is not actually majority Mormon  anymore,” Cragun said.
 
The Church’s Numbers
 
According to the paper, the figures released by the LDS church are  not reliable for the purposes of determining the percentage of Utahns  who actively identify as Mormon.
 
This is because, so the researchers say, the church basically counts members as anyone who’s been baptized.
 
“Aside from a few who are excommunicated or formally ask to have  their name removed, members remain on church rolls until they die, or  until their 110th birthday if their whereabouts are unknown,” the paper  states.
 
ABC4 reached out to the church for comment on this story, but they declined.

Read Entire Article Here
]]> Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:11:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?utah-is-no-longer-majority-mormon https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000008C <![CDATA[Test of a Prophet: The Bible vs. Joseph Smith]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube



1,198,437 views  Oct 28, 2022
                                                     
In this unique documentary, produced entirely in Israel, a Christian and a Mormon sit down to dialogue about an important question: How do we know if a prophet is speaking the truth? Listen in on their honest discussion and follow along as they travel throughout the Holy Land in search of the facts. They will put Biblical prophets and Mormon prophets to the test in order to find out if their predictions actually took place in history. If even one prediction fails to come true, that prophet fails the test!

A Long Video but well worth the watch. Very informative!!



]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2026 02:50:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?test-of-a-prophet--the-bible-vs--joseph-smith https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000008B <![CDATA[The Gospel for Mormons]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube



420,434 views  Dec 7, 2015
                                                  
In this video, Jeff Durbin, of Apologia Church and Apologia Radio, gives the Gospel to Mormons.  He explains what Mormonism teaches and compares it to Scripture.  This video is a message of love for our Mormon friends and neighbors.  Have you ever wondered what Mormons teach?  Have you ever wanted a video to share with people to show them why Mormonism is not a Christian religion?  Have you ever wanted a video to share with Mormons that gives them the Gospel?  That's what we made this video.  We pray that God uses it to bring Mormons to the True and Living Christ.

We plead with our Mormon friends:  Be reconciled to God.

Watch Video Below


]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:28:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-gospel-for-mormons https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000008A <![CDATA[Three tests the Book of Mormon CANNOT pass!]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube


           
90,831 views  Aug 4, 2023  Topical Bible Studies
                                                     
I read the entire Book of Mormon to test it and find out if it is really God’s book!  Who are the Latter-day Saints? Who was Joseph Smith? Want to know a history of the Book of Mormon? Is the Book of Mormon true? Is it possible that the Book of Mormon is in harmony with the Bible? What do you do when you get that knock at your door? Find out all this and more as we put the Book of Mormon to the test.  Was M. Russell Ballard correct when he said to ‪@churchnewsroom‬, “Religious truth is always confirmed by what you feel”? Can you be a member of the ‪@churchofjesuschrist‬ (of Latter-day Saints) and truly believe the Bible?

Watch Video Below


]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:01:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?three-tests-the-book-of-mormon-cannot-pass- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000089 <![CDATA[Mormon Jesus vs Bible Jesus - Jeff Durbin]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube



203,167 views  Mar 30, 2019
                                                     
This is a Classical Bible-based Christian Channel dedicated to providing a reasonable defense for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).  

Jeff Durbin - Mormon Jesus vs Bible Jesus.

Watch Video Below


]]> Sun, 18 Jan 2026 02:01:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?mormon-jesus-vs-bible-jesus---jeff-durbin https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000088 <![CDATA[The Book of Abraham Translation: Egyptology in Mormon Scripture]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube



9,801 views  Premiered Jun 5, 2025  Mormon Discussion Podcast
                                                
For many Latter-day Saints, the Book of Abraham is a sacred and inspiring part of the Pearl of Great Price—one that offers profound insights into the cosmos, the priesthood, and the life of the prophet Abraham. And maybe more importantly the Book of Abraham is evidence of Joseph Smith's prophetic ability.  But have you ever wondered where it came from, or how it was translated and why some have lost their faith over it?

Today we take a thoughtful and respectful look at the history behind the Book of Abraham—its discovery, Joseph Smith’s translation process, and how modern scholars understand the Egyptian papyri it came from. Along the way, we’ll also explore how Church leaders have approached this text over time and why it’s become such an important topic for many who are studying Church history more deeply.

Whether you’re simply curious, seeking clarity, or looking to understand the past with a little more accuracy, this episode offers a careful, well-researched exploration of a subject that’s often misunderstood—but deeply worth understanding.

View Video Below


]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:01:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-book-of-abraham-translation--egyptology-in-mormon-scripture https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000087 <![CDATA[Why Mormonism Can't Recover from "The Book of Abraham"]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube


217,331 views  Jul 17, 2024

Here's everything you need to know about The Book of Abraham, and why it was such a disaster for Mormonism. The Book of Abraham debacle has affected Mormonism's claim to objective truth - and this fact will ultimately be self-destructive for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).   Christians should heed Jesus' words about false prophets—it's not a matter of if they'll come, it's a matter of who they are.

Joseph Smith's supposed "translation" of the Book of Abraham papyri is objective evidence that the foundational Mormon Prophet was false.

View Video Below





]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2026 18:23:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?why-mormonism-can-t-recover-from--the-book-of-abraham- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000086 <![CDATA[If You’re LDS, PLEASE Don’t Miss This in 2026]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube



2,672 views  Jan 7, 2026

A quick word to Latter-day Saints studying through the Old Testament in 2026. As an Evangelical, it's exciting that my LDS friends are studying through the Bible—especially given that they can use modern translations! I wanted to share a helpful tip that has revolutionized the way I read through the Old Testament. If you want to truly understand what God was doing in Old Testament times, you NEED to understand this simple truth.  May the Lord bless your studies in the Bible this year.

View Video Below


]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:30:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?if-you-re-lds,-please-don-t-miss-this-in-2026 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000085 <![CDATA[Auckland hotels near capacity as Jehovah’s Witness convention opens]]> imblog
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Source: NZ Herald

Samuel Sherry - Journalist - NZ Herald - 7 Jan, 2026 11:00 PM

Jehovah’s Witnesses have packed out Auckland hotels to near capacity for a major international conference, providing a major boost for the city’s economy.

The Special Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses will be held at Eden Park from January 9-11, with about 20,000 people in attendance, including 3500 delegates from 20 countries.

A spokesperson for the Jehovah’s Witness church said 38 hotels would be filled throughout the city and the gathering was estimated to boost the economy by $20 million, a figure confirmed by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited destination director Annie Dundas.

“Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the region’s cultural, events, and destination agency, has confirmed that the Special Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses is forecast to generate 60,500 visitor nights and contribute $20.6 million to the Auckland economy,” Dundas said.
She estimated hotel occupancy is currently at 85% based on STAR Market report analysis, considerably higher than the year-on-year occupancy at 61% for the same period in January 2025.

Hotel Council Aotearoa’s strategic director, James Doolan, was also optimistic about the impact of the event and told the Herald the event has been a positive for businesses in the city and further afield.


The Special Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses conference delegates and organizers have been spotted around Auckland, including at Mission Bay. Photo / Michael Craig

“A number of Hotel Council Aotearoa member hotels are reporting sell-out nights or occupancy in the high 90s for the Jehovah’s Witness conference,” Doolan said, “which is attracting both international and domestic travellers to beautiful Auckland.
“Major conferences like this one can be a real economic boost for host regions.


Special Convention of Jehovah's Witnessed is forecast to generate over $20 million for the Auckland economy. Photo / Michael Craig  

“As well as revenue generated by the conference venue and accommodation providers, delegates spend heavily at restaurants, attractions, transport providers and retailers.

“Many delegates will also venture further afield to other parts of New Zealand.”


Special Convention takes place at Eden Park from January 9-11. Photo / Michael Craig  

Delegates and organizers had been spotted around the Auckland this week, including groups at Mission Bay posing with signs promoting the special convention.

A spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witness church said the event would be the largest faith-based event in New Zealand in decades with the convention being free and open to anyone who wanted to attend.


Jehovah Witness cult block peaceful protestors

13,639 views  Jan 10, 2026  EDEN PARK
                                                     
Jehovah Witnesses are having a convention at Eden Park and Jonas Skogstroll are leading a protest for children’s rights.  Cult will always try to limit their members access to information.

It’s always good when they show their dark side.

Today we was contacted by a young man that wanted to leave.  I received a message from him later that said:  “I told my mother I don’t believe anymore. I guess I am POMO now.

View the Video Below


]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:30:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?auckland-hotels-near-capacity-as-jehovah-s-witness-convention-opens https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000084 <![CDATA[The Hardest Part of Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses (Wasn’t What I Expected)]]> imblog
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Source: YouTube



6,761 views  Nov 21, 2025
                                                     
Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses changes your entire life, but the hardest part wasn't what I expected.

It’s not the doctrinal debates or meetings with elders. It’s the people you lose along the way.

In this video, I share the emotional reality of leaving the Jehovah’s Witness organization, what surprised me most, and why the consequences are deeply personal... not just theological.  If you’re fading, disfellowshipped, disassociated, or just questioning the Watchtower, you’re not alone.

There's life — and even real faith — on the other side of shunning.


]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:30:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-hardest-part-of-leaving-jehovah-s-witnesses--wasn-t-what-i-expected- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000082 <![CDATA[Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Unrecognizable (Here’s What Will Change Next)]]> imblog
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Source: YouTube



29,811 views  Jan 4, 2026
                                                 
Jehovah’s Witnesses are changing — fast. Rules that were once treated as matters of loyalty are suddenly being rewritten, softened, or quietly abandoned. And if you’ve been paying attention, the pattern is impossible to ignore.

In this video, I break down the most likely Jehovah’s Witness beliefs and policies to change next, based on what’s already changed — including beards, dress standards, toasting, reporting hours, and higher education.

This isn’t wild speculation. It’s about recognizing a clear trajectory.  We’ll look at:

  1. Why Jehovah’s Witnesses look nothing like they did just a decade ago
  2. How hard rules are rapidly being replaced by "conscience matters”
  3. Which teachings are under the most pressure right now.
  4. And why beliefs like birthdays, shunning, and certain holidays may be next.  

Since the Governing Body claims divine guidance, you have to ask:

Does the truth really need constant revisions?  Whether you’re a current Jehovah’s Witness, PIMO, ex-JW, or just curious about Watchtower doctrine, this video will help connect the dots.

Commentary:
This 11 minute presentation is stating that the Watchtower is  starting to re-think banning things like Mother's Day & Father's Day  because there is no "religious attachments"! They already celebrate wedding anniversaries so what is the difference?

Will we see Kingdom Hall parking lots become tree lots this December????

Hopefully You will find the Video Below Informative


]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:50:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?jehovah-s-witnesses-are-unrecognizable--here-s-what-will-change-next- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000081 <![CDATA[The Temple That Never was Built!]]> imblog
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'Can We Trust the Prophecies of Joseph Smith?'



By - J. Warner Wallace - Published August 20, 2020

There is an unfortunate legacy of false prophecy related to Joseph  Smith, the “prophet” and founder of Mormonism. Just type “False Prophecy  of Joseph Smith” into any search engine and you’ll discover what I  mean. But there appears to be some confusion surrounding Joseph’s  prophesies, and neither Mormons nor non-Mormons seem to examine the  claims of prophecy fairly. Non-Mormons point to every prophecy of Joseph  in an effort to demonstrate he is a liar, and Mormons try to justify  Joseph’s unfulfilled predictions by twisting the laws of prophecy. Let’s  take an honest look at the different types of prophesy as they relate  to Joseph Smith. Before we begin, we’ll need to examine the different  categories of prophecy as they apply to the founder of Mormonism:

Open-dated Prophecies
Let’s begin with the easiest predictions a prophet can make.  Open-dated prophecies are given without a specific time frame for their  fulfillment:
Example:  Joseph Smith predicts in 1835 that, “The coming of the Lord, which was  nigh – even fifty-six years should wind up the scene” (History of the  Church, Vol. 2 p. 182).

Although the Lord did not return by 1891, Joseph Smith only said fifty-six years “should” wind up the scene. The word “should” provides Joseph with an escape clause; it allows for the possibility  something could happen to upset the original time schedule. Therefore,  even though the prediction did not come true, this prophecy alone does  not necessarily make Joseph Smith a false prophet. Christians cannot  look at open-dated prophecies and judge the prophetic status of Joseph  Smith.


Close-dated and Unconditional Prophecies
Some prophecies are offered with specificity and must come true within a  particular time frame without any mitigating conditions. Although  relatively few of Joseph Smith’s prophecies are of this type, they are  extremely important because they allow us to test Joseph Smith as a  prophet.
Example: Temple in Independence. In this revelation given on September 22 and 23, 1832, Joseph Smith  foretold of an LDS temple to be built in Independence, Missouri.  (D&C Section 84):  Joseph Smith Said "This Generation"! Still NOT Built see video Below...

Commentary by Admin: One question, 'How many Prophecies does a Prophet of God need to get wrong to be a False Prophet??

Independence Missouri Temple Lot Visit

Check Out the Video...
A quick tour of the LDS Visitor's Center, the Community of Christ Temple, and the plot of land where the Lord's Temple will eventually be constructed. (1832 This Generation!??)


]]> Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:31:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-temple-that-never-was-built- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000007E <![CDATA[TILM - New Years Message 2026 - (LDS - Old Testament)]]> imblog
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Hi ALL,
Happy New Year! As  we move into 2026, we wanted to share what's happening and why it  matters to the Christian looking to point to Christ in their  conversations.

This year, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) will be studying the Old Testament—both  personally and in their weekly church and youth studies. This means  many of your LDS friends and neighbors will be spending a whole year  with some of the most foundational books of the Bible.

For Christians who care about sharing Jesus, this is an incredible open door!

Why This Is A Big Deal

The  Bible has real power. When people read the Word, the Spirit is at work.  Even when someone reads the Old Testament through an LDS lens, the  stories still point to our need for rescue and the hope found in the  promised Messiah.
This is a rare, natural opportunity to begin conversations about sin, grace, and the heart of the gospel.

In  other words, you don’t have to force these conversations. The Old  Testament will already be on their minds. So let’s get ready to talk  about it.

How You Can Walk Alongside Your LDS Friends This Year

You don't have to be an Old Testament scholar to begin meaningful conversations. It can start with a simple question:

“I heard your church is focusing on the Old Testament this year. Is that true?”

Then, every week for the rest of the year, you have an easy follow-up:

“What did you read in the Old Testament this week?”

This question shows interest, invites them to share, and opens the door for natural, ongoing faith conversations about things like:
  • Why the Bible matters
  • How they see God in these stories
  • How the Old Testament points to Jesus
  • How Christians and Mormons read the same text through different lenses.

Prepare Your Own Heart As You Read
As you read the Old  Testament this year—individually, as a neighbor, friend, co-worker, or  family member—you will be strengthened and encouraged by God's powerful  Word. As you read, ask yourself these simple study questions:

  • Law: What does this story reveal about human sin, failure, or brokenness? How does it show our need for the Messiah?
  • Gospel: How does this passage point to Jesus? What glimpses do I see of the Redeemer who was promised from the very beginning?

These simple questions will help you offer thoughtful, gospel-centered responses in your conversations.


Resources for You

You're not alone! All year long, we'll be posting shareable content to help you in your witness.

  • Sign up for weekly Old Testament devotions written specifically with LDS readers in mind at BeYePerfect.org.
  • Watch for shareable content on Facebook and Instagram designed to spark gentle, meaningful conversations with LDS friends.
  • Visit this page on TILM.org throughout 2026 for new articles exploring well-known Old Testament accounts and how they point to the coming Messiah.
  • Subscribe to the Witnessing Christ podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Our evangelist interns have launched a brand-new series called Christ in the Old Testament. In the kickoff episode, they dive into Genesis 1–2, asking a bold but biblical question: Is Jesus really present in the very beginning?

TILM Podcast Listen Here

Be sure to check out the Witnessing Christ from the Old Testament resource page for insights into reading the Old Testament, how your LDS friends might view it through a different lens, and why these differences matter.
May God bless you and your LDS friends this year as you walk through God's story together!

Also See Vigilant Minds Blog Article - Dated 11/07/2025 - Mormon Blog...
]]> Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:52:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?tilm---new-years-message-2026 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000007F <![CDATA[The BIG Difference Between Mormonism and the Bible!]]> imblog
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Source: YouTube

309,626 views  Jul 23, 2022
                                                   
Despite what Mormons say, Mormonism preaches a much different gospel than the Bible does—one that ultimately leads to Hell. In this video, Ray Comfort discusses what Mormonism teaches, and then shares the gospel with a Mormon. Throughout the entire evangelism encounter, Ray chalk-talks different segments to provide further insights on biblical evangelism.

Get The Evidence Study Bible here: http://store.livingwaters.com/books/e...
Check out The Living Waters Podcast: https://www.LivingWaters.com/Podcast

Visit https://www.LivingWaters.com to view more free Christian videos, articles, and to get tracts and other resources by Ray Comfort and the Living Waters team.

Watch the Video "The BIG Difference Between Mormonism and the Bible!" Below...


]]> Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:11:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-big-difference-between-mormonism-and-the-bible- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000007D <![CDATA[President Jeffrey R. Holland dies at age 85]]> imblog
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Source: YouTube

Watch the Video Below from 'Church News' YouTube Channel. (Latter Day Saints YouTube News Channel)

57,401 views  Dec 27, 2025
                                                     
President Jeffrey R. Holland, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died Saturday, Dec. 27 at 3:15 a.m. MST, at age 85, from complications associated with kidney disease.

Known for his words and the way he expressed them, President Holland will be remembered for the love he shared in nations around the world, where he taught and testified of the reality of Jesus Christ. An educator by profession, he inspired generations with his general conference talks, devotional addresses, missionary messages and social media posts. In almost every corner of the globe, he declared that the “gospel of Jesus Christ is personally precious, everlastingly hopeful and eternally true.”


]]> Sat, 27 Dec 2025 22:55:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?president-jeffrey-r--holland-dies-at-age-85 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000007C <![CDATA[Pastor REACTS to Latter-day Saint View of the Cross]]> imblog
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175,330 views  Mar 19, 2023
                                                     
Why aren't there crosses in Mormon temples and church buildings? Pastor Jeff reacts to a talk given by Elder Jeffrey Holland explaining Latter-day Saints thoughts on the cross and cross iconography.

Watch Elder Holland's entire talk entitled 'Lifted Up Upon the Cross' at the October 2022 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: • Lifted Up upon the Cross | Jeffrey R. Holl...

Hello Saints! My name is Jeff McCullough and I'm a Christian Pastor. This channel is devoted to fighting criticism with curiosity as I invite dialogue between Christians and Mormons. Are Mormons christians? What do christians and Latter Day Saints agree and disagree about? Join me as I compare and contrast the lifestyle, culture and beliefs of Mormons and non-LDS Christians.

If you enjoyed this video, you might enjoy a similar video I made exploring Utah Mormonism in Salt Lake City: • Pastor REACTS to Utah Mormonism



]]> Sat, 27 Dec 2025 22:46:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?pastor-reacts-to-latter-day-saint-view-of-the-cross https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000007B <![CDATA[Christmas - 2025 - Potluck]]> imblog
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Our Annual Vigilant Minds Christmas Potluck!

Vigilant Minds had another outstanding Potluck to Celebrate the Christmas Season, it was held on December 4th at Don and Dianne's home. Dozens were in attendance, and we enjoyed a large variety of delicious food, and warm joyous fellowship! If you were not able to attend, we are sorry we missed you, and hope you can make it to the next one this summer. Please check out the photo gallery of pictures below...

God Bless You - Don, Dianne, and Vigilant Minds.



















]]> Sat, 27 Dec 2025 20:03:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?christmas---2025---potluck https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000080 <![CDATA[Merry Christmas - 2025]]> imblog
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Merry Christmas!

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV

Luke 2:1-20 NKJV - 2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made [f]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 2:1-20 NKJV

Watch Handel's Messiah Below



Wishing you a very Merry & Blessed Christmas from Don, Dianne & Vigilant Minds!!

]]> Thu, 25 Dec 2025 21:02:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?merry-christmas---2025 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000007A <![CDATA[HELL's Clearest Description In Scripture (DETAILED)]]> imblog
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A Very Important Christmas Message! Why Salvation is Vital!!
'HELL's Clearest Description In Scripture (DETAILED)'

Source: Youtube

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 NKJV...
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6...
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

This is for ALL Religions who mistakenly believe Hell does NOT Exist!! (Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses). Excellent Video well worth the watch. Like and Subscribe Bibilically Motivated!!


]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:51:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?hell-s-clearest-description-in-scripture--detailed- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000079 <![CDATA[The One Verse Jehovah's Witnesses Can't Explain]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube

This  is for our Jehovah's Witness Brothers and Sisters - just in time for  the Christmas they DO NOT celebrate!! Excellent Video well worth the  watch. Like and Subscribe Bibilically Motivated!!


]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:11:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-one-verse-jehovah-s-witnesses-can-t-explain https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000078 <![CDATA['7 Gospel Conversations to Have with Mormons This Christmas']]> imblog
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'7 Gospel Conversations to Have with Mormons This Christmas'
Truth in Love Ministries Blog

Article Content:

Christmas is such a powerful time to witness. The Themes of the season match the truth of the gospel. The conversations are already starting. You simply get to guide them toward grace.

When Christmas Feels Heavy

Christmas is one of the easiest times of the year to talk about  Jesus. People are already thinking about light, gifts, joy, peace, and  the child in the manger. Conversations naturally go deeper. Hearts are  more open. And for many Christians, this season brings a unique desire  to share the good news with the people they care about most.
 
That includes our Latter-day Saint friends.

They are often surrounded by church programs and Christmas challenges  that encourage them to serve more, shine more, and do more. The LDS Light the World campaign fills social media feeds with reminders to be better and give  more. On the surface, it looks joyful. But for many, it creates a quiet  pressure that feels familiar to us, too. Christmas becomes another  season where worthiness feels out of reach. And right there, in that  shared heaviness, God opens a door.

Christmas gives us a natural, gentle way to point our LDS friends to  the real hope of the season. Christmas is not about producing light. It  is about the Light coming to us. It is not about proving ourselves to  God. It is about receiving what God has freely given in Jesus.
  
Christmas is such a powerful time to witness. The themes of the  season match the truth of the gospel. The conversations are already  starting. You simply get to guide them toward grace.

Here are seven simple gospel conversations you can have this  Christmas. They are warm, honest, and centered on the One who came to  give rest to the weary.

Please see the full Seven Gospel Conversations at the TILM Site!

The cradle leads to the cross.
The cross leads to the empty tomb.
And the empty tomb leads to peace.

God Bless you ALL and have a Very Merry Christmas!!
]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:01:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?mormon-jesus https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000077 <![CDATA[A former NFL quarterback keeps defending the Christianity of the LDS]]> imblog
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Source: NewsBreak

By Jacob Hess, 5 days ago
Earlier this week, Robert Griffin III, a former NFL quarterback from 2012 to 2020 (Redskins, Browns and Ravens), posted on X  about why BYU had earned its place in the College Football Playoff.  Punctuating his remarks, he said at the end: “Stop the persecution of  the Christians, man ... come on!”

His commentary became a social media magnet for naysayers ready to  recap their theological reasons for objecting to the label. But Robert  Griffin III (often called RG3 for short), has heard this pushback  before.

‘The battle of the Christians’

One year ago, on  the day of the BYU Baylor football game in Waco, Texas, on Sep 28, 2024,  Griffin posted on social media afterward, “BYU won the battle of the  Christians.” In another attempt to correct him, Cameron Kemp posted the  same day, “BYU is Mormon bro, not Christian.”
To that, Griffin responded, “Mormons are Christian.”

With that, the floodgates opened up, starting with Latter-day Saints expressing appreciation for the gesture:

Read Full Article

Commentary by Admin: Mr Griffin would be wrong, Mormons and Christians do NOT have the same Jesus, therefore Mormons cannot be Christians!! See the link highlighting many differences by Mormon Elders themselves, in Apologetics.
]]> Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:38:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?quarterback https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000076 <![CDATA[LDS Church makes sizeable donation to Hindu Temple in Utah]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube - NewsBreak

By MJ Jewkes, No media credit provided., 1 days ago

KEARNS, Utah (ABC4) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a large donation to support Utah’s Hindu community.

On  Nov. 22, 2025, Elder Matthew S. Holland of the Seventy said the Church  would be donating $50,000 to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, an  international Hindu organization led by His Holiness Mahant Swami  Maharaj.

“This gift is a symbol of the shared vision between BAPS and The  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — our mutual commitment to  strengthening family, uplifting community, and encouraging moral and  ethical living,” Kirtan Patel, a volunteer with BAPS, said.

The  group has a temple, or mandir, located in Kearns, Utah. The mandir was  originally used as a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse before Church leaders  presented the building to BAPS. In September, the building was reopened  as a sacred Hindu space.

Read Entire Article Here

]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 02:07:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?lds-church-makes-sizeable-donation-to-hindu-temple-in-utah https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000075 <![CDATA[The Secret Rituals of the LDS Temple]]> imblog
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Heidi Luv grew up immersed in the LDS church, living a devout Mormon life throughout her childhood, eagerly anticipating the day she would finally go to the temple. However, when that day arrived, the experience was completely different from what she had imagined. The temple rituals and ceremonies challenged everything she thought she knew about her faith. This eye-opening experience forced her to confront the true nature of the LDS church and question the beliefs she had held so deeply. In this interview, Heidi reveals everything she witnessed in the temple, sharing the sacred secrets that are hidden from the public.

John 18:19-21 where Jesus said he did everything in the open and nothing in secret and Acts 26:26 where Paul said he did nothing in a corner.

Interesting presentation of information, what goes on behind the scenes.... Check out the Video Below...



]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:55:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-secret-rituals-of-the-lds-temple https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000074 <![CDATA[Battle for .07 Acres: Judge rules in favor of pipeline to be built through polygamist church property]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube - ABC4.com

By: MJ Jewkes, Posted:
Updated:
]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:48:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?battle-for--07-acres--judge-rules-in-favor-of-pipeline-to-be-built-through-polygamist-church-property https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000073 <![CDATA[13 Excommunicated Mormon Apostles: From Chosen Servants to Cast-Out Rebels]]> imblog
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Source: Youtube - Mormon News Roundup

Video from Mormon News Roundup on Youtube, it is well worth the watch and contains lots of interesting information. Also you can subscribe to channel @ Mormon News Roundup for plenty of other interesting videos.



]]> Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:40:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?13-excommunicated-mormon-apostles--from-chosen-servants-to-cast-out-rebels https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000072 <![CDATA[Church of Jesus Christ announces women can serve missions at 18 years old]]> imblog
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Source: NewsBreak

By EastIdahoNews.com Staff,

SALT LAKE CITY (KSL.com) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says women can now serve missions starting at age 18.
The  First Presidency announced Friday that, effective immediately, young  women who wish to serve a full-time mission for the church can begin  their service at age 18 after graduating from high school.

“While  the Lord asks every worthy, able young man as part of his priesthood  responsibility to prepare for and serve a mission, we reiterate that  missionary service remains an optional opportunity for young women. We  recognize that for those young women who desire to serve a full-time  mission, the choice of age to begin service will not be the same for  everyone,” a statement from the church said.

This change comes just two days after the First Presidency announced the Saturday evening session of general conference will be discontinued.
Historically, men could serve missions at age 19 and women had to be 21, a practice that lasted from the early 1950s until 2012.

RELATED | Church of Jesus Christ announces women can serve missions at 18 years old


]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:56:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?church-of-jesus-christ-announces-women-can-serve-missions-at-18-years-old https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000071 <![CDATA[The Book of Abraham Controversy]]> imblog
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A CHRISTIAN REVIEW OF BAD RELIGIONS AND BELIEFS
by Truth and Grace

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 2:19-20

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10.


Lighthouse: Jerald & Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism



Lighthouse: Jerald & Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism

Ronald V. Huggins

While some may view Jerald and Sandra Tanner only as despised critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is impossible to trace the course of Mormon history over the past sixty years without acknowledging their contribution. Many both inside and outside of Mormonism respect them for their unflinching quest for truth no matter the cost, as when Jerald declared Mark Hofmann’s notorious Salamander Letter a forgery months before some experts declared it authentic. Their Utah Lighthouse Ministry has operated for decades only blocks from church headquarters, where their many works on Mormonism are still printed and sold. Jerald died in 2006 but Sandra continues to oversee the ministry.

The Tanners consistently challenged the church’s position on many historical issues. Utah Lighthouse was long the only source for Mormon scholars to obtain crucial historical reprints, which they still happily or begrudgingly purchase; for others, the Tanners’ writings have been the source of disillusionment with the church. Despised or beloved, the influence of Jerald and Sandra Tanner cannot be underestimated or ignored.

Go to the Signature Books Website

]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:43:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-book-of-abraham-controversy https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000070 <![CDATA[TILM Blog]]> imblog
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If you’ve ever tried to “do your part” for God and still wondered whether it was enough, I understand. I’ve been there too—wanting to prove myself, hoping my effort would bridge the gap. But over time, I’ve learned that the good news of the gospel doesn’t start with our effort. It begins with our helplessness—our complete dependence—and with a God who comes all the way to rescue us.

That may sound strange, but it’s the best news you’ll ever hear.

In the latest Jesus Is Enough article, “Why Being Totally Dead Is the Best News You Will Ever Hear,” I share stories that have shown me the depth of grace—stories about golf balls, fairy tales, and cave rescues—all pointing to one truth:

God doesn’t meet us halfway.
He comes all the way.
He doesn’t coach the “mostly alive.”
He resurrects the totally dead.
That’s the heart of grace.

For Conversations with Your LDS Friends and Family

Many of our Latter-day Saint friends think of grace as God’s help in becoming who we’re meant to be—partners in a process of growth and progress. This article can gently open up conversations about how Scripture describes grace not as partnership, but as rescue—a God who does for us what we could never do for ourselves.

If you choose to share this with an LDS loved one, here are a few gentle, reflective questions you could ask:

·       “What does it look like for God to come all the way to us instead of meeting us halfway?”
·       “How do you see God’s grace at work when we reach the end of our own strength?”
·       “How might our choices fit inside a story where God is the One who brings life out of death?”
·       “What kind of freedom comes when we trust that God’s work, not ours, is what truly changes us?”
·       “How might this view of grace shape how we see our potential and purpose?”

These kinds of questions don’t challenge someone’s sincerity; they honor it while gently pointing toward the beauty of grace that saves completely.

👉 Read (or listen to) the full article on Jesus Is Enough

My hope is that this story reminds you, and those you share it with, that Jesus doesn’t make the mostly dead slightly alive. He makes the totally dead truly alive.
And that’s why Jesus is enough.  

For his kingdom and glory,


]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:32:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?tilm-blog https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000006F <![CDATA[HIS Ministries]]> imblog
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HIS Ministries is operated by a former LDS - (Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints couple); Dennis a sixth generation Mormon, and his wife Rauni an LDS Church Translator. Together they saw problems in Church doctrine which became too much for them to accept, and Rauni suggested to Dennis that they check them out, once and for all and  compare Mormon doctrine to the doctrine of the Bible to see if they  matched.

Their conclusions can be found in the article What the Truth Is About Mormonism – What You Have Not Been Told.

Together they run HIS Ministries bringing to light the Truth about Mormonism. On the website they also publish a monthly newsletter which highlights the issues of Mormon Doctrine versus Biblical Understanding. The November 2025 is no exception it addresses at least a half a dozen such issues. We invite you to check it out, it is well worth the read!!

To View and Read November 2025 HIS Ministries Newsletter
]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:05:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?his-ministries https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000006D <![CDATA[Blog - When Every Mouth Is Silenced!]]> imblog
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Blog - When Every Mouth Is Silenced!



Article Summary

In a world where we strive and try and still feel short, the law silences every excuse—only to make way for the gospel’s whisper: you are justified freely by God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

The message below was inspired by the 1517.org Conference titled Free Will Is Fiction, which marked 500 years since Martin Luther’s The Bondage of the Will.  That work challenged the idea that we can choose our way to God and  showed instead that salvation rests entirely on God’s grace, not our  effort.

In this sermon, “When Every Mouth Is Silenced” (Romans 3:19–28),  Mark Parsons explores that same freeing truth, that when the law leaves  us speechless before God, the gospel gives us peace through Christ,  whose blood has covered it all... Well worth the READ...

Read the Entire Article Here
]]> Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:43:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?blog---when-every-mouth-is-silenced- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000006C <![CDATA[New Mormon Sacred Underwear!]]> imblog
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Commentary by Admin:

Just a few basic questions??

  1. Can anyone please direct me to the chapter and verse in the Bible where God instructs us which 'sacred underwear' we are supposed to wear, and which 'Masonic Symbols' should adorn it?
  2. Does God exempt Celebrities from wearing this sacred underwear; Derek & Juliane Hough, Donny & Marie Osmond, 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives', and so on??
  3. If I wear 'Fruit of the Loom' can I still be saved??


Undergarment upgrades bring many Mormon women comfort and joy




Multiple Sources: NewsBreak Not the Bee

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Sleeveless versions of the sacred undergarments worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  flew off the shelves on their first day available in the U.S., marking a  momentous occasion for many women in the faith who say they no longer  need to trade comfort to feel close to God.

Social media was abuzz  with pictures of long lines of mostly women waiting for their chance to  get inside specialty clothing stores to try on the new items Tuesday.

Enthusiasm  for the new garments, worn under modest street clothes by members of  what is widely known as the Mormon church, is not just about all the  outfits they can more easily wear over a tank top. The introduction of  more breathable fabrics and styles for the typically two-piece white  garments is key, especially for those who struggle to wear them for  medical reasons or live in warmer climates....

Continue to Read Full Article Here

Mormon Women Wait In Long Lines For Debut Of Sleeveless Sacred Undergarments



By John Knox - Oct 29, 2025

This would be a peak Babylon Bee joke, except this is REAL.



Continue to Read Full Articles Here
]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:30:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?new-mormon-sacred-underwear- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000006B <![CDATA[The Silver Bullet!]]> imblog
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Source: YouTube

The following Video is about John 14:21 a very important scripture when witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses, it's quick, thorough, and one argument they have trouble explaining!



]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:28:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-silver-bullet- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000069 <![CDATA[Commentary on Mormon Works-Based Salvation!!]]> imblog
(and how it factors into evangelism) - No Salvation at All!

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Source: Facebook

Commentary by Aaron Shafovaloff, on Facebook

A whole generation of Latter-day Saint leaders used 2 Nephi 25:23 ("we are saved, after all we can do") from the late 1950's into the 1990's as a works-based, merit-based, earning of eternal life and exaltation. This was echoed by a generation of lay Mormons and commonly relayed to evangelicals by Latter-day Saints.

It was even a key verse used by Mormons to differentiate their own teaching from that of evangelicals!

Then a neo-orthodox shift (Hafen, Millet, Robinson) of interpretation came in the 1990's. It was then understood to mean that one is saved in spite of all they can do. Today it is rare to hear the mid-to-late 20th-century interpretation on the street. It's commonly neo-orthodox in rhetoric now.

(Edit: Mormonism is still fundamentally works-based; new rhetoric and interpretation of a single passage doesn’t reverse that.)

Evangelicals, understandably still reading trusted literature that is only 20 years old, operate on the prior LDS interpretation of the passage, and use the passage like Mormons themselves once did(!) — as a dividing line between Mormonism and evangelical Christianity.

They use it in a YouTube video or in a street conversation or even to their own still-LDS family members. But to their surprise they are criticized by a Mormon (or scolded by an LDS apologist!) for being uninformed or even maliciously misrepresentative. "Of course we don't interpret that passage that way!" With little compassion on the well-intentioned, gospel-motivated evangelical who is trying to keep up.

There is usually zero acknowledgement that it is LDS prophets and apostles who used to interpret the passage in a straightforwardly works-based way, with LDS culture following. They simply move onto another interpretation as though the prior generation never even existed.

I can try to help by informing evangelicals on the history and present-day status of interpretation, and on the likely original meaning. But I'm not going to finger-wag the evangelicals here. It is Latter-day Saints who need to be informing us about their own history of interpretation. But if they won't, we must.

It reminds me of the Adam-God transition from ambiguity to rejection around 1880–1910. Protestant critics lagged behind. But the fact that they even need to keep up is a challenge. It's fundamentally not fair to Christians. We can try to keep up in good faith, we can try to ask individual diagnostic questions, but Protestants warrant compassion here. Mormonism was a moving target, and Latter-day Saint leaders weren't being honest about that.

Patiently asking individual Latter-day Saints what they believe is, of course, part of the long-term solution, but that's not a panacea due to multiple issues. We have to train evangelicals to ask diagnostic questions that dig deeper in virtually every area of evangelical/LDS dialog. Mormonism arguably has a different philosophy of religious language. And it is still a works-based religion.

]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:52:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?commentary-on-mormon-works-based-salvation-- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000068 <![CDATA[Goddess Worship?]]> imblog
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Searching for the Heavenly Mother ... Divine Woman Festival


A group photo of the women who attended the Divine Woman Festival at Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi, Oct. 17, 2025

Source: KUER

By Ciara Hulet - Published October 24, 2025 at 2:00 AM MDT

On a crisp October day, dozens of women gathered in a conference room at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah, for the first-ever Divine Woman Festival.

Latter-day Saints worship a Heavenly Father, and the theology recognizes a Heavenly Mother. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don’t talk about her much, but in recent years, there’s been a surge of interest in connecting with the divine feminine.

The  festival was a passion project for the organizers, and it wasn’t  affiliated with a particular church. Many of the women present were  Latter-day Saints, but some had left the church or were on the fence.

Luisa Duran was in the crowd because she’s having a faith crisis — the role of women in the LDS Church has been bothering her.
“Maybe  I just feel like sometimes the church makes me feel like men are more  than women,” she said. “So part of me is like craving this connection  with a divine feminine. And I really wanted to connect with other  women.”

In the opening discussion, some said they found an instant  sisterhood, while others spoke about how they haven’t felt like they  could speak openly about Heavenly Mother. Another attendee, Crystal  Schultz, said there aren’t a lot of tools to find her.

“The more  freedom we have to know her, the more freedom we have to know  ourselves,” she said. “Honestly, it's changed my entire life.”

 
Women participated in a meditation at the Divine Woman Festival, Oct. 17, 2025

There’s more interest than ever in talking about the divine feminine, said Margaret Toscano, and not just among Latter-day Saint women. Toscano, a University of Utah professor of classics and comparative studies, is working on a book about Heavenly Mother. She believes the spike in interest is connected to distress over the state of the world.

“I think people are longing for some method — even if it's just a sort of artistic, symbolic way — that they can find a larger way of dealing with all of these problems,” she said.

Toscano has seen depictions from LDS artists of Heavenly Mother as a tree with roots in the earth and branches reaching up to heaven.
“The earth is in trouble,” she said. “And she is this connector between heaven and earth that can help us heal on every level, on a spiritual level, a psychological level, an ecological level.”....

Continue Reading Entire Article


Op-ed by Admin:

Interestingly, some women of the LDS church as well as some other secular feminists are 'Searching for the Heavenly Mother at Utah’s first-ever Divine Woman Festival'. As it says in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 - That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.

This is 'Ancient Mystery Religion' referring to a religious system associated with idolatry and the worship of various goddesses, often linked to ancient practices from Babylon (Ishtar) and other cultures. This system is believed to have influenced many modern religions, incorporating elements of mother-goddess worship! For our ancestors, the embodiment of the divine feminine was the Earth  itself. The ancients, who had more direct contact and a greater  relationship with nature viewed the earth as this gigantic female, Greek (Giaia - Mother Earth) being  who gives birth and continuously creates life.

Goddess worship is straight up Blasphemy, there is NO mention of 'Mother God' anywhere in the Bible or for that matter the Book of Mormon. Neither is the Holy Spirit, ever referred to as female in Bible, the Holy Spirit is often referred to using masculine pronouns in Christian texts!

Any form of Feminine Worship is a very clear attempt by Satan to cause people to be deceived, and stop them from worshipping the One True God! Exodus 20:3-5 - “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.  
]]> Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:25:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?goddess-worship- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000067 <![CDATA[Heather Gay to lead docuseries on Latter-day Saint church!]]> imblog
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Source: NewsBreak - AXIOS

Story by By Kim Bojórquez, 2 days ago

A Utah reality TV personality will star in an upcoming docuseries that scrutinizes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

State of play: The three-part limited series, titled "Surviving Mormonism With Heather  Gay," features interviews with former church members and leaders and  abuse victims, according to a news release.

  • The first episode premieres on Bravo on Nov. 11, with all episodes dropping on Peacock the next day.

What they're saying: The series "fractures the church's seemingly perfect veneer to expose  the secrets that have been kept behind closed doors," according to a  description of the show.

  • A church spokesperson did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Catch up quick: Gay has been vocal about her faith journey on another Bravo show she  stars in, "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," and detailed her  departure from the church in her 2023 best-selling memoir, "Bad Mormon."

The big picture: The new series adds to a growing list of streaming documentaries and dramas delving into the church's complicated history, from "Murder Among the Mormons" to "Under the Banner of Heaven."...

Continue Reading Entire Story Here


]]> Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:20:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?heather-gay-to-lead-docuseries-on-latter-day-saint-church- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000066 <![CDATA[A look at the rise of Latter-day Saint stories on TV!]]> imblog
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Source: AXIOS Salt Lake City

Story By Kim Bojórquez, July 1, 2022

Television series and documentaries  featuring Mormonism and Latter-day Saints — real and fictional — have  exploded on networks and streaming services.

Driving the news: "Under the Banner of Heaven" on Hulu, "Tokyo Vice" on HBO Max, "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" and "Murder Among the Mormons" on Netflix have all been released in the last two years.

  • UTBOH  centers around a fictional Latter-day Saint detective investigating the  real-life murders of Brenda Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter.

  • A former Latter-day Saint missionary is portrayed in "Tokyo Vice."

  • The  mini-series "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" dives into the crimes committed  by Warren Jeffs, the former president of the Fundamentalist Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a polygamous Mormon sect that's not  affiliated with the church.

Between the lines: Troy Williams, who worked as a consultant for UTBOH, said the surge of  Latter-day Saint stories is a ripple effect from Mitt Romney's 2012  presidential campaign and the Tony award-winning musical "The Book of  Mormon."

What they're saying: "I think the  Latter-day Saints have finally saturated American pop culture," Williams  said. "We're seeing more stories and characters enter into the  mainstream."

David Scott, a professor who  teaches a course called "Mormons, media and popular culture" at Utah  Valley University, said more Americans turned to streaming services amid  the pandemic.

  • Meanwhile, a rising number of Americans are shifting their trust away from religious institutions, he said.

  • "These stories aren't new," Scott said. "These stories resonate more with popular culture now than they would have before."...


Continue Reading Entire Story Here
]]> Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:18:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?a-look-at-the-rise-of-latter-day-saint-stories-on-tv- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000065 <![CDATA[The True Story Behind ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’]]> imblog
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Source: NewsBreak - AXIOS

It’s pretty horrible, fair warning!

By Courtney Young -

FX’s long-awaited true-crime drama, Under the Banner of Heaven, is finally here! Starring Oscar-nominated theater kid Andrew Garfield and directed by Hell or High Water’s David Mackenzie, Under the Banner of Heaven follows a police detective whose faith in humanity is tested as he investigates a double murder involving the Mormon church.

With Andrew behind the badge, the series also stars Normal People and Fresh star Daisy Edgar-Jones and Avatar’s leading man, Sam Worthington. With a grim true story, a hugely talented cast, and a bit of religious extremism, Under the Banner of Heaven is one of the most anticipated TV shows of the year.

The original source material—a Jon Krakauer nonfiction book titled Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith—was  published in 2003. The book weaves together two stories: the origin of  the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka the Mormon church)  and a vicious double murder committed by fundamentalist brothers in  1984.

Vigilant Minds has a few copies of "Under The Banner of Heaven" for free if anyone is interested (Contact Us) If You would like a free copy..  Jon Krakauer is a celebrated best selling author and is not a Christian.  His research is impeccable and his capturing of the brutal events involving "Blood Atonement" are historically accurate.  The series, out on Hulu, is well worth the watch.

The murder made headlines when Ron and Dan Lafferty were convicted of killing their sister-in-law Brenda Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica, in July 1984. As for the motive, Ron claimed to have received a divine revelation from God instructing him to remove people from the Earth.

The Lafferty brothers were members of a small group called the School of Prophets.  As the story goes, Ron’s extreme religious views led to him being  excommunicated from the LDS church. Not long after, his wife left him  and took their six children to Florida. The brothers were said to have blamed Brenda, who was married to their youngest brother, Allen, and had been critical of the brothers’ extreme fundamentalist views.

After  being ousted from the LDS church, the brothers leaned into the School  of Prophets. Ron claimed to receive messages from God about Brenda and  shared his “removal revelation” with the other members, who quickly  rebuffed the idea of murdering a woman and her infant child. Not long  after, the brothers quit the School of Prophets…and then Brenda and her  baby were found dead.

Ultimately, the brothers were caught when the police found a written note detailing the plan, and Utah v. Lafferty was officially underway.

Former American Fork Police Department Chief Terry Fox was a detective at the time, and he told Salt Lake City’s KSLTV in 2019 that even though he’d “seen a lot of death” in his career, “this one was different, in the case that it was religiously motivated. You can use the word ‘brutal,’ ‘horrific.’ And I just don’t throw those out lightly, because this was a really, really brutal murder. It was different from a lot of crime scenes in a lot of ways.”....

Continue Reading Entire Article

]]> Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:17:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-true-story-behind--under-the-banner-of-heaven- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000006A <![CDATA[When Mark Hofmann's deadly bombs left SLC in terror!]]> imblog
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Source: AXIOS Salt Lake City

Story By Erin Alberty, October 16, 2025

Forty years ago, Salt Lake was reeling in terror as multiple bombs exploded in deadly  attacks around the city, stemming from a forgery spree involving  purportedly historical Mormon documents.

  • This is Old News, where we process patterns of trauma and healing in Utah's past.

What drove the news: Two people were killed Oct. 15, 1985, when they picked up packages wrapped in brown paper and rigged to explode.

  • The first blast, around 8am at the Judge Building downtown, killed financial adviser Steven F. Christensen, 31.
  • Two hours later, 50-year-old Nancy Sheets died after picking up a package left outside her home in Holladay. Her  husband was a former business associate of Christensen — and the company  they had once built was rumored to be nearing collapse.

That was the motive police suspected until a third bomb exploded the next day, critically wounding a rare documents dealer named Mark Hofmann.

  • Yes, but: Hofmann's injuries didn't match his account of the blast, police said. They also found checks and other  evidence showing Christensen had just paid Hofmann more than $100,000  in connection with "rare historical documents pertaining to the Church  of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Catch up quick: Hofmann  had gained notoriety in previous years for historical records he  claimed to have found, some of which challenged church narratives of its  origins....

Continue Reading Entire Story
]]> Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:17:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?when-mark-hofmann-s-deadly-bombs-left-slc-in-terror- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000064 <![CDATA[Mormon Church investment arm buys Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard!]]> imblog
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RNZ -

The investment is set to fund the work of its owner, the United States-based church known commonly as the Mormon Church.
Utah-based agricultural investor Farmland Reserve acquired the Three Roads property near Edgecumbe, with local firm Craigmore Sustainables set to manage it.

The deal went through the Overseas Investment Office in August, resulting from a multi-year relationship between the two firms.
Profits from the export-focused kiwifruit business will be shared between Craigmore and Farmland Reserve.

Farmland Reserve is a commercial, for-profit entity where its profits help fund the church’s religious, humanitarian and charitable work.
Employing thousands globally, it invested in farms and orchards in 29 of 50 US states and 10 countries across the Americas, Europe and most recently Australasia.

Farm land it owned in Australia grew crops like pistachio nuts, potatoes, onions, wheat and soya beans.

President and chief executive Doug Rose said kiwifruit consumption continued to rise globally, and New Zealand had ideal growing conditions for them.

“What an absolutely wonderful crop we have admired from a distance for some time,” he said.

“And I don’t know that there is a more beautiful country on the earth than New Zealand with a more beautiful people and culture.”


The orchard near Edgecumbe is the Mormon Church’s first New Zealand farmland investment. Photo / Getty Images  

Rose said it was Farmland Reserve’s first investment in New Zealand.

However, the church held hundreds of millions of dollars in assets like property across the country.
He said it was grateful to fill the need for capital in New Zealand, as a “passive and patient” long-term investor, with Craigmore taking the operational lead.

“I think this need that Craigmore brought to us is showing that there is a capital need in New Zealand to support this very growing industry, because it’s very, very expensive to develop. Even one hectare of kiwifruit is costly and so most entities can’t do it.

“So we were excited to be able to come in and to fill that need, particularly given I believe some of the destruction that occurred after that cyclone [Gabrielle] and several years ago, and that really created kind of a capital gap.”

He said Farmland Reserve was not planning to set up as a charity in New Zealand.

Around half of the “partially-developed” 45ha property was planted in SunGold, and orchard manager Craigmore Sustainables planned to plant a further 17ha in the variety.

Chief executive Che Charteris said it was essential to use offshore investment with partners that shared the same values, in face of limited domestic capital.

“So it will be in the end about 37.5 to 38ha of SunGold kiwifruit orchard under canopy with good frost protection, good irrigation and hopefully some very good crops for the year to come.” ....

]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 01:17:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?mormon-church-investment-arm-buys-bay-of-plenty-kiwifruit-orchard- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000063 <![CDATA[A New Era Begins: Former Utah Supreme Court Justice Dallin H. Oaks named President of LDS Church!]]> imblog
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Op-ed by Admin: 'New Era'?? Dallin H. Oaks is 93 years old, his predecessor Russel M. Nelson died at a ripe old age of 101 (oldest ever president to die). If Dallin Oaks makes it to the same age, that will be an ERA of just 8 years. The 11th President of the LDS Church, Harold Bingham Lee died at 74 age. Lee served only 1.5 years (the shortest ever serving president).

Jesus Christ started His ministry to spread the Gospel in His 30's, maybe the LDS Church might get the idea, and move away from disciples in the Geritol Generation? Just a thought!




By Seth Ratliff, 3 days ago

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KIFI) — Former Utah Supreme Court Justice and  longtime LDS apostle Dallin H. Oaks, 93, has been formally set apart as  the 18th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I  accept with humility the responsibility that God has placed upon me and  commit my whole heart and soul to the service to which I've been  called," said the newly called President Oaks.

The announcement  comes more than two weeks after the passing of the faith's 17th  President, Russel M. Nelson. He was 101 years old.

In a news release, the Church explained the transition of leadership:

Read Full Story Here



]]> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 01:29:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?a-new-era-begins--former-utah-supreme-court-justice-dallin-h--oaks-named-president-of-lds-church- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000062 <![CDATA[Genesis Group: How 3 faith-filled men began the Black American member movement in the Church!]]> imblog
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Eugene Orr, second counselor of Genesis Group, is pictured during the first meeting of
Genesis Group. Church History Library

Laurel Schmitke's step grandfather was a founding member of the Genesis Group.
Multiple Sources: LDS Living - BLACKPAST

Adapted excerpt of an essay from “My Lord, He Calls Me: Stories of Faith by Black American Latter-day Saints” Eugene Orr February 25, 2023 08:00 AM MST

Editor’s note:
Eugene Orr is a founding member of Genesis Group and was the second counselor in the first Genesis Group presidency.
Born  a Southern Baptist, Eugene moved to Utah as an adult. It was here where  he met Lei, a White Latter-day Saint who introduced him to the  missionaries. In their first meeting, the missionaries taught Eugene the  first and second missionary lessons; they also made some hurtful  comments about Blacks. But Eugene knew through the Spirit those comments  weren’t true, and so he remained curious and continued to learn about  the gospel. Lei introduced Eugene to another Black member of the Church  named Darius Gray, and together they discussed the Church’s racial  restrictions. Afterward, Eugene asked himself if he believed in the  gospel of Jesus Christ...

Read Full Article Here


Contributed By: Margaret Blair Young - October 25, 2016

African American LDS activist Eugene Orr was born on March 16, 1946, to  David Orr and Martha Wilder Orr in Ashburn, Georgia. The family was  deeply religious and planned for young Orr to become a minister. As a  child, Orr would sometimes put corn silk into bottle tops to form his  congregation and would preach to his imaginary listeners.

In 1968 Orr came west through his participation in the Job Corps program  at Thiokol Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, Utah. It was there that  he became acquainted with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of  Latter Day Saints, the most influential being Leitha Marintha Derricott,  a white woman with a deep heritage in the faith, who arranged to have  LDS missionaries teach him. When Orr asked about the LDS doctrine of  denying priesthood and temple privileges to all of visible African  descent, one of these missionaries assured him that he need not worry  about it as he would become white when he became more righteous...

Read Full Article Here



Also Please Laurel Schmitke's Testimony

]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:21:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?genesis-group--how-3-faith-filled-men-began-the-black-american-member-movement-in-the-church- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000061 <![CDATA[Te Hauke, Hawke’s Bay church fire leaves only portrait of Jesus intact!]]> imblog
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Source: New Zealand Herald

By: Michaela Gower
Multimedia Journalist · Hawkes Bay Today·
        
]]> Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:40:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?te-hauke,-hawke-s-bay-church-fire-leaves-only-portrait-of-jesus-intact- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000060 <![CDATA[Muslim leader shares that his religion has ‘very many’ things in common!]]> imblog
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Source: NewsBreak - Deseret News Partner Publisher

By Caitlin Keith, 2 days ago

It was a great honor to be present at a session of general conference  for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “wearing the  Islamic imamah among this huge gathering,” said Sheikh ul-Islam  Allahshukur Pashazade on Sunday.

“I consider that as a sign of respect to my country, to my people, to our beliefs,” he added.
Pashazade  is a prominent Muslim leader from the Republic of Azerbaijan and spoke  to the Deseret News through an interpreter after attending the  conference for the global faith on Sunday in Salt Lake City.

As  the chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board and the chairman of the Qazi  Council, he works to support unity of all the traditional madhhabs of  Islam. He encourages Shia and Sunni Muslims to come together and pray  together in the same mosque and has worked to promote peace all around  the world....

Read Entire Article Here

]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2025 18:43:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?muslim-leader-shares-that-his-religion-has--very-many--things-in-common- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000005F <![CDATA[Visual history of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1832-2025]]> imblog
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Source: YouTube

A photographic history of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Frist Presidency was organized in 1832, with Joseph Smith as president, followed by the Quorum of the Twelve in 1835. After Joseph Smith's death, the Church was led for three years by the Quorum of the Twelve, with Brigham Young as president, before the First Presidency was reorganized.



Commentary by Admin:

Jesus condemns the Pharisees as blind guides who lead the people into a pit of sin and destruction. Matthew 15:14

Interestingly the first 'Apostles' were chosen by Jesus Christ Himself, and not of a priestly hierachy of men. They were chosen NOT because they were old, theologians, or wise and learned men.

Instead Jesus chose men from a variety of diverse and unexpected professions;

The first group were fishermen. Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worked as  fishermen. Matthew 4:18-22 relates that Andrew and Peter were fishing,  plying their trade when called, and James and John were mending nets  with their father. The Bible states that these two men weren’t  just fishermen, but business owners, along with their father, for they  employed others in the business. Thomas, Nathaniel and Philip may  have also worked as fishermen, for they were all together and fishing  when Jesus appeared to them in John 21:2-8, following his resurrection.

Matthew, called Levi in Luke, worked as a tax collector for the Roman  government. He would have acquired some education and reputation to  achieve this job. His job provided him with considerable wealth,  because tax collectors earned a portion of what they collected, as noted  in the story of Zacchaeus, another famous tax collector who followed  Jesus. Matthew invited Jesus home and threw a party that included  many of his sinful friends. Matthew’s wealth may have helped fund  Jesus' ministry.

Simon was known as the Zealot, not strictly a profession, and as a Canaanite. Zealots  engaged in politics and anarchy, attempting to overthrow the Roman  government. He may have been a politician or a revolutionary. When he joined Jesus, he remained zealous, but with allegiance to Jesus rather than political revolution.

Others of the Apostles, the Bible provides no information on the professions of Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Thaddaeus or James, the son of Alphaeus.

Judas a thief, served as the treasurer in Jesus' band, and John 12:4-6  identifies him as a thief and an embezzler. The Bible doesn’t tell us  what he did prior to becoming an apostle. Each of the Gospels identify him as the one who betrayed Jesus. Matthew’s;  Gospel Matthew 27:3-10 notes that Judas suffered remorse over his  betrayal and hung himself after he tried to give the money back to the  high priests. They used the 30 pieces of silver to buy a burial site for  the poor. (potters field)

It  does provide information about Paul, who became an apostle after the  death and resurrection of Jesus. He was a Pharisee and may have taught  religion or worked in political office. During his missionary journeys,  Paul supported himself as a tent maker according to Acts 18:1-3.

The Bible tells us how God repeatly chooses humble, simple men, (sheperds, and fishermen) as phophets and leaders. Only when Israel rebelled against God, demanding a King to rule over them did it go wrong. 1 Samuel 8-10 leading to God's warning and the implications of human leadership over divine guidance. One needs only read 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles to see how time and time again many wicked and evil leaders arose. We get the government we deserve, still true today. When we reject Gods' rule in our land we end up with wicked government.




]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:16:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?visual-history-of-the-first-presidency-and-quorum-of-the-twelve-apostles,-1832-2025 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000005E <![CDATA[More converts to Church of Jesus Christ in 36 months than total membership in 1940?]]> imblog
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Source: KSL-TV5

BY JOE WIRTHLIN

SALT LAKE CITY — The number of new members of The Church of Jesus  Christ of Latter-day Saints in the last 36 months exceeded the total  number of church members alive during the 110th anniversary of the  church.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday Afternoon Session of the 195th General Conference. He shared that nearly 900,000 converts had joined the church within the last three years.

Read Entire Article Here

Commentary by Admin:

Presentation of data can sometimes be used to skew a perspective. You will notice the article above compares membership growth to total membership 1940. Why is that??

Please see the graph below which shows LDS church growth is very significantly down in 2023 from it's peak in 1992. (It is down by 6 X and appears to be on a overall downward trend.)


Congregation growth statistics. In 2023 there was a large increase in Africa, and decline in Europe and North America
Attribution: WikiMedia User - Epachamo

Another interesting graphic is World Religions it would appear Islam appears dominant, however 'Christianity' is divided into four groups (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Baptists) When those four are combined 'Christianity' is by far the dominant religion!


Graphic Source: ChristianPure.com

]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:59:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?more-converts-to-church-of-jesus-christ-in-36-months-than-total-membership-in-1940- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000005D <![CDATA[Let Idaho and Utah LDS Members Carry at Church!]]> imblog
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Source: NewsBreak

By Bill Colley, 2 days ago

They needed someone with a gun for defense.  Several years ago, the  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked the faithful not to  bring firearms to church.  I had friends who stopped going, and they  warned of trouble ahead by declaring gun-free zones.  There’s an  exception for law enforcers, but if none attend your church, then you’re  defenseless.  Could this policy change?

Read Full Story Here


]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:22:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?let-idaho-and-utah-lds-members-carry-at-church- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000005C <![CDATA[Russell M. Nelson, oldest-ever LDS president Dies!]]> imblog
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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) 9/28/2025 — Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Saturday night at the age of 101, church officials announced.

Read Article Here

Commentary by Admin:

Does that mean he is now a god of his own planet??

Mormons believe that individuals can become gods after death through a process called exaltation, which occurs in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. This belief includes living eternally in God's presence (which god), continuing as families, and having spirit children to govern.

How many gods are there??

Exodus 20:3-5 - “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;  5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,  6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2025 12:02:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?russell-m--nelson,-oldest-ever-president-dies- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000005A <![CDATA[Gunman opens fire at Michigan church and sets it ablaze!]]> imblog
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By ISABELLA VOLMERT and COREY WILLIAMS
]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:29:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?gunman-opens-fire-at-michigan-church-and-sets-it-ablaze- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000005B <![CDATA[Former LDS meetinghouse repurposed as Hindu Temple!]]> imblog
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Sources: ABC4 News
by: MJ Jewkes
Posted:
Updated:
]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2025 01:07:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?former-lds-meetinghouse-repurposed-as-hindu-temple- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000058 <![CDATA[Utah Haunted House ranked as America’s most innovative attractions!!]]> imblog
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Sources: NewsBreak - ABC4 News
by: Abigail Jones
Posted: 4 Days Ago

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  — An industry group has just named Salt Lake City’s Nightmare on 13th  one of America’s most innovative haunted attractions ahead of the 2025  season.

Nightmare on 13th is Utah’s longest running indoor haunted house, entering its 36th  season this year. America Haunts, a haunted attraction industry group,  has named Nightmare on 13th the fourth most innovative haunted attraction in the United States.


This  ranking focuses on haunts that are leading a new wave in Halloween  entertainment through technology, because horror needs experiential  engineering to thrive. “Audio-animatronics, hidden floor sensors,  bespoke projection systems, immersive scent and vibration effects, and  live-actor choreography all converge to shape multi-sensory narratives,”  America Haunts wrote.

Additionally, Nightmare on 13th also made a list of 5 destination haunts in America,  meaning that people travel from other parts of the country to  experience it, and some even make it a yearly tradition for a  “scare-cation.”

Nightmare on 13th has new walkthroughs for its  36th season, including the Horror Cinema attraction. It features a  double feature — The Thing with Red Eyes and Final Cut. According to Nightmare on 13th’s website,  The Thing with Red Eyes is an homage to mothman inside of a military  bunker. Final Cut is a tribute to classic slasher films featuring a  family of maniacs “eager to make you the star of their latest horror  masterpiece,” the website describes.

On October 31 you can get
(1) Nightmare Pass for 1/2 hour for $30.95
(2) Combo of Nightmare & Institute of Terror for 1/2 hour $40.95
(3) Fast Pass for $50.95
(4) Red Carpet VIP pass for $75.95

How does "redeeming the time for the days are evil" fit in here?

Commentary By Admin:

The 'Veil of Pure Darkness and Evil'!! What place does such a Haunted House have in Salt Lake City home of 'Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' an organization who calls themselves Christian? 1 Thessalonians 5:22 - Abstain from every form of evil.

What Would Jesus Do?

]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:08:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?xx https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000059 <![CDATA[Tyler Robinson Disturbing Texts to 'Trans' Lover!]]> imblog
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- DailyWire.com
By Zack Jewell

Utah County prosecutors on Tuesday released text messages that were sent between suspected assassin Tyler Robinson and his trans-identifying roommate after influential conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was gunned down in Orem, Utah.

At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray revealed more information on Robinson’s recent shift toward leftist politics while announcing that the suspected assassin is facing seven charges, including aggravated murder, which makes him eligible for the death penalty.

Robinson’s mother told investigators that her son became more political and Left-leaning over the past year, adopting pro-gay and pro-transgender views, according to Gray. Robinson was also dating his roommate, a man who identified as a woman and is in the process of “transitioning,” the attorney added, citing comments Robinson’s mother made to authorities.

Last Wednesday, Robinson texted his roommate, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,” according to the charging documents. Prosecutors said that when the roommate looked under the keyboard, he found a note stating, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” After reading the note, the roommate replied via text, “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????” the charging documents stated.

To Read Full Shocking Article at DailyWire.com

]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:53:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?tyler-robinson https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000057 <![CDATA[Charlie Kirk's Murder Suspect in Custody!!]]> imblog
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Sources: Multiple Sources Linked Below

After a massive manhunt by the FBI, Utah State, and Local Law enforcement a suspect has been arrested for the murder of Charlie Kirk. The suspect Tyler Robinson age 22, was allegedly turned into authorities after confessing his crime to a family member, believed to be his father. His father is apparently a former Law Enforcement Officer in Utah.

His family are members of the LDS Church and supporters of President Donald Trump. The left wing mainstream media are trying to highlight this connection while ingnoring the fact that Tyler Robinson was apparently living in a relationship with a transgender partner, and recently became radicalized as a member of the left wing group 'Antifa'. This connection is clearly bourn out by his posts and documentation obtained by Law Enforcement on 'Discord' app. Did he act alone? Will we ever find out?

Links to a number of News Reports are included Below;

Article on - NewsMax
Article on - FoxNews
Article on - MSN


Where to from here?? When Tyler Robinson is tried, if found guilty he may face the death penalty. Utah still has the death penalty in two forms; lethal injection, or firing squad. Interestingly, with Robinson's LDS background he is likely to opt for death by firing squad. Apparently, the Mormons believe that if you are shot it serves as a blood atonement for their sin. Ignoring the fact that Jesus death and resurrection provides the only atonement to ALL who accept Him in Faith by His Grace!!



Utah Execution Room
Lethal Injection Table & Black Throne of Death

In Firing Squad at least 3 gunmen stand and fire through the slots so nobody can see who they are. All very morbid!


Black Throne of Death




Sadly as Christian's we know that being shot by firing squad will not save us. John 14:6 - “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Mark 1:15 - “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The word "repent" means to "change our mind". First, we are to change our mind about our sin, and turn from our sin  to the ways of our Heavenly Father.  Repentance includes confession of  our sins to God.  Repentance goes beyond confession and is a commitment to change our behavior and align our life with God's will.

Let us pray for the soul, of Tyler Robinson, and his family!! May they find Redemption and Salvation!

]]> Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:35:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?charlie-kirk-s-murder-suspect-in-custody-- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000056 <![CDATA[In Loving Memory of Charlie Kirk!!]]> imblog
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2 Timothy 4:7-8 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Matthew 25:21 - His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Charlie Kirk a strong Christian Conservative, American Patriot, Champion of Free Speech spoke the Truth even when it was sometimes unpopular. He was assassinated and taken away in a callous act of murder on September 10. Charlie always spoke out against violence! Even with his last words...

As the CEO and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie toured campuses and engaged in open dialogue with the youth of the nation regardless of their point of view. He was an ardent follower of Jesus Christ and a defender of the Gospel.

Charlie, at only 31, was taken to be with the Lord. We need to pray for Charlie's wife Erika who lost her huband, and his children who lost their father far too soon.




Pastor Jack Hibbs a close friend of Charlie had a night of worship, reflection, and hope. We gathered to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. This service is both a tribute and a call to live boldly, love deeply, and be found faithful until the day we hear the words, “Well done.”  
Service for Charlie at Chino Hills Calvary Chapel on Sept 11, 2025 in video below!



This episode of Prager U, The Wrap Up honors Charlie Kirk—patriot, PragerU friend,  and fearless defender of American values—tragically assassinated during  his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University. Charlie founded  Turning Point USA at 18, building it into the largest conservative youth  movement in the nation. A bold speaker, author, and devout Christian,  he inspired millions to stand for truth, faith, and freedom. We share  heartfelt tributes from President Donald J. Trump—who will posthumously  award Charlie the Presidential Medal of Freedom—along with Glenn Beck  and Dennis Prager. Clips from Charlie’s PragerU videos celebrate his  legacy of faith, family, and love of country. Charlie is survived by his  wife, Erika, and their two children. His mission lives on.



Let us help support Charlie's Legacy by standing up and boldly preaching Gospel of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ, and by joining and supporting his political efforts in reaching the youth of the world...


]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:10:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?in-loving-memory-of-charlie-kirk-- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000055 <![CDATA[Does God really care about our underwear??]]> imblog
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Women of the LDS Church are tickled pink with the lastest iteration of the Mormon "Magic Underwear," officially known as temple garments, they are sacred undergarments worn by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after participating in the endowment ceremony. According to the Mormon Church they serve as a reminder of covenants made with God and are believed to provide spiritual protection, but they are not really considered magical. (The term 'Magical Under Wear' is offensive to some Mormons, however, the term arose from their own myths & legends about the how the underwear has protected & / or saved them. No offence is intended herein.) In anycase gone are the shoulder caplets from the women's garb pictured above. It is now easier to wear them under normal sleeveless clothing.

Click to read an article from
'NPR' on this change

Also it is interesting to note that this temple garb contains 'Masonic Symbology' with a Compass embroidered on left breast, Square on the right breast, and a Straight Edge over the navel.

Click to read an article from
'Life After Ministry'

From a purely Christian viewpoint there are only two covenants between God and man. The first being the covenant of the 'Law' given to the Prophet Moses, the second being covenant of Salvation through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

John 3:15-17 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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

We are saved by Faith and Grace alone, NO special underwear is required...

]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:53:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?does-god-really-care-about-our-underwear-- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000052 <![CDATA[Vigilant Minds Annual BBQ - 2025]]> imblog
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Greetings in Jesus' Name:

Thank you everyone for making our annual Vigilant Minds Barbeque another huge success.  
It was so good to meet new people and break buns together.

We dodged a bullet as far as the weather is concerned - what perfect timing.
It  was a little cool but the burgers, beans, corn & hotdogs were  cooked to perfection and the hearts of everyone present were filled with  warmth and love.
A great evening of fellowship - and Dianne and I will be eating left-overs until Christmas.

We were blessed with wonderful well crafted salads, trays of fruit & veggies, and more sugar than necessary.
Many agree that the height of the feast was the labor intensive cake made by Chris.

God Bless You My Child!  



Again a big thank you to everyone for contributing - especially  Carlo who helped get everything off the grass and under the deck before  the oncoming deluge.

Have a good summer and if another "Defending Our Faith" opportunity comes up, I will be sure to let you all know.
People are already asking.

Looking forward to kick starting the weekly Bible Study in September on the books of 1&2 Timothy

God Bless You All - Don & Dianne & Vigilant Minds


]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:56:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?vigilant-minds-annual-bbq---2025 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000050 <![CDATA[Who has heard of William M Branham?]]> imblog
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Who has heard of William M Branham? If you ask that question of most Christians today, they would not have a clue who you are talking about, yet Branham a self-proclaimed prophet has had a profound impact on many of the false doctrines taught today in a lot of the Mega-Churches. Some of these false doctrines and heresies include 'Word of Faith' (a movement within charismatic Christianity which teaches that Christians can get power and financial prosperity through prayer, also known as the 'Prosperity Gospel'), or that those who believe in Jesus's death and resurrection have the right to physical health. Branham's influence is seen with false teachers the likes of, Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, and Bethel Church. Branham was involved with the KKK and other nefarious groups and his  teachings are now the basic platform of the NAR (New Apostolic  Revival Movement). Truly scary!!

To learn more about the history of this false prophet check out; https://william-branham.org/
or some of those spreading the doctrine. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/street-preacher-cult-william-branham-1.4302531

Also watch the very informative documentary below.
Branham to Bethel

Apart from the Branham's false doctrines mentioned earlier that have infiltrated churches under the guise of being Christian, there are those who still actually follow Branham directly, revering him as a prophet!

One such Church is here in Calgary. They are called the Calgary Living Word Assembly.


Please pray for the lost sheep...


]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2025 20:09:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?who-has-heard-of-william-m-branham- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000053 <![CDATA[What is a Cult!]]> imblog
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'What is a Cult Presentation' - Took Place on Saturday August 2nd, 6:30p.m. at Celebration Church
3130 Renfrew, Crescent Regina SK...



We would very much like to thank Pastor Colin for hosting us. Here are some pictures of our presentation of "What Is A Cult" or "Spiritual Mathematics" given at Colin & Megan's new church.



They will now be conducting services in Celebration Church in the afternoons - which is a real blessing - a very beautiful facility.
People came from another Calvary Chapel about 1.5 hours away - we were impressed.
Good questions and a very good atmosphere.

A big thank you to Colin & Megan Schlegel for hosting Vigilant Minds (and treating us to a Chinese Buffet)
May the Lord continue to bless them and their family and the good work they are doing in Regina.

]]> Sat, 02 Aug 2025 19:41:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?what-is-a-cult- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000054 <![CDATA["Eagerly Awaiting His Return!!"]]> imblog
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"Alberta, Canada! - Province #2 is officially complete! Tonight, I spoke in Calgary, Alberta, to an audience of 2,300 guests from quite literally all over the place. It was a very special evening to say the least. Incredible worship, blessed fellowship, and diving into the prophetic word of God together - I can't think of a better way to spend a Wednesday evening. Pastor Barry Stagner joined me for the Q&A, which was followed by a meet and greet with all of our guests. Thank you, Pastor Joel Turner and Mountain Springs Calvary Chapel, for arranging this wonderful evening of Bible prophecy. I'm very grateful for your hospitality and love for Israel. Tomorrow we will head to our final stop - Oakville!" - Amir Tsarfati

View Amir's Post with Photos Here -  2300 People say: "Shalom from Calgary"

Download Telegram Desktop Version Here
Download Telegram Android Version Here -  Download Telegram Mac Version Here

Some more event photos below...

 

 


]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:36:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?-eagerly-awaiting-his-return--- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000051 <![CDATA[Truth In Love Podcast]]> imblog
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Another presentation from Truth in Love Ministry in Idaho.
This is an audio file only but a good insight on "being there" when your Mormon friend or relative is struggling.
The key word here is "patience"!!

What happens when the Mormon shelf finally breaks—and Jesus is the one standing in the rubble?

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, we welcome Damien Tracy, author of The Shelf Breaker: How Jesus Drew Our Family Out of Mormonism.

Damien  vulnerably shares his journey from moral collapse and spiritual  exhaustion to the freeing grace of the true gospel. Through legal and  personal struggles, Damien attempted to regain worthiness, but the  weight of perfectionism ultimately crushed him.



]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:32:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?truth-in-love-podcast https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000004E <![CDATA[Chinese government officials ban LDS Church activities in Beijing]]> imblog
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Source: ABC News 4.com

by: MJ Jewkes
Posted:
Updated:
]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:59:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?chinese-government-officials-ban-lds-church-activities-in-beijing https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000004F <![CDATA[A new fundamentalist group on the former FLDS compound]]> imblog
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    Keloland.com Original    


by: Jacob Newton
Posted:
Updated:

]]> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:25:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?a-new-fundamentalist-group-on-the-former-flds-compound https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000004D <![CDATA[2026 Curriculum for the Church of Jesus Christ Will Be the Old Testament]]> imblog
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Read Entire Article at the Link Above...

Commentary by Admin:

I have neglected in posting directly from the Latter-Day Saints website as it is very heavily copyrighted. I have however, provided a link back to the article so that you can view it yourself directly on their website.

If find it laudable that they (LDS) are announcing that they will be studying the Old Testament of the Bible as their curriculum in 2026. As a Christian it is my daily routine to study the Word of God (Old and New Testaments) on a daily basis.

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’'” - Matthew 4:4

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12

I also found it interesting that the LDS will make available for free, or for purchase study guides to ensure their congregants get the desired message from the Word of God!! Yet somehow the Church which holds other literature in as high esteem as the Bible itself, eg. 'The Book of Mormon', the 'Book of Doctrine and Covenants', and the 'Pearl of Great Price'. What does the Bible say about adding to or taking away from the Bible?? Read the Scriptures below...

Revelation 22:18-19 - I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Deuteronomy 4:2 - You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Proverbs 30:6 - Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

Proverbs 30:5-6 - Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

Deuteronomy 12:32 - “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.

Matthew 22:29 - But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Mark 7:13 - thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Genesis 3:1-4 - Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.

Matthew 24:24 - For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the
]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:54:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?2026-curriculum-for-the-church-of-jesus-christ-will-be-the-old-testament https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000004C <![CDATA[Injunction lifted for FLDS-linked border towns Source: FOX 10 Phoenix]]> imblog
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Injunction lifted for FLDS-linked border towns Source: FOX 10 Phoenix


]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:38:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?injunction-lifted-for-flds-linked-border-towns-source--fox-10-phoenix https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000004B <![CDATA[The Utah meadow where Mormon militia murdered 120 emigrants then blamed the Paiutes in 1857]]> imblog
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Outstanding Article below details historical facts about the 'Moutain Meadows Massacre'. This Massacre was well dramatized in Netflix Mini-Series 'American Primeval'.

The Utah meadow where Mormon militia murdered 120 emigrants then blamed the Paiutes in 1857




Published 3 days ago on June 30, 2025
By John Ghost

Copyright - Wikimedia Commons/Mangoman88

Mountain Meadows Massacre

The Baker-Fancher wagon train stopped to rest at Mountain Meadows in  September 1857 while heading to California. Local Mormon militia,  fearing federal conflict, decided the emigrants posed a threat.

  
After a five-day siege, the militia used a false flag of truce to  lure families from their wagons, then murdered nearly everyone with the  help of some Paiute Indians. Only 17 children under age eight survived.

  
The church blamed it all on the Paiutes for decades until the truth emerged.

  
Here’s what happened, now marked by memorials at the site you can explore today.... (Well worth the Read!!)

]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:26:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-utah-meadow-where-mormon-militia-murdered-120-emigrants-then-blamed-the-paiutes-in-1857 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000004A <![CDATA[Mormon Leaders Meet with Hindu Spiritual Leader in Salt Lake City]]> imblog
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One Week Ago

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, June 21, 2025 (Newsroom Press Release): His  Holiness Brahmavihari Swamiji, head of BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi and  international relations for BAPS, met with members of the First  Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt  Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. His Holiness also toured  Church sites, including Deseret Industries on Welfare Square and the  Conference Center on historic Temple Square, where he listened to an  organ recital. In the meeting, the First Presidency and His Holiness  expressed their great desire and unity in seeking to bless and serve  God’s children. With great mutual respect, they discussed various  humanitarian relief and peacemaking efforts reflected in the daily lives  of the followers of faith traditions. A pronounced feeling of love and  brotherhood was felt throughout....  

Click Link to Read: Read Entire Article Here

Commentary by Admin:

Meetings between various different faiths in the promotion of of 'UNITY' and understanding is what can commonly be referred to as ecumenism.
By definition modern 'Ecumenism' is moving toward a 'One World Religion'. In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John provides a clear picture of a future global religious system, symbolized as "Mystery Babylon" Revelation 17:1-5. This system is definitely a form of spiritual adultery, in which the world turns from the worship of the one true God and follows after false gods and  deceptive teachings. The Bible describes this system as being led by the  False Prophet, who will deceive the nations into worshiping the Beast. This one-world religious system will be a tool of the  Antichrist to consolidate power and demand allegiance from ALL people! Revelation 13:11-15.

My personal view is that ANY church referring to itself as 'Christian' must adhere to the Word of God (The Holy Bible) and must definitely ascribe to following the teachings of Jesus Christ! Very clear and absolutely 'Exclusive' Word of God.... NO room for Confusion

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Matthew 14:6 NKJV
]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:25:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?mormon-leaders-meet-with-hindu-spiritual-leader-in-salt-lake-city https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000049 <![CDATA[‘Mormon Land’: Biographer uncovers explosive new details in the life of a liberal LDS apostle]]> imblog
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Source: Salt Lake Tribune


(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Apostle Hugh B. Brown.

Hugh B. Brown, an outspoken Democrat who  pushed to end the faith’s temple/priesthood ban in the 1960s, also clashed with future church presidents!

By  Peggy Fletcher Stack  &  David Noyce | June 18, 2025, 1:29 p.m. | Updated: 2:57 p.m.

To many liberal members of The Church of Jesus  Christ of Latter-day Saints, apostle Hugh B. Brown was an ecclesiastical  icon, a fierce warrior for social justice and a passionate proponent of  ending the faith’s former temple/priesthood exclusion of Black members. Still, Brown was not without his critics, including some strong opponents among the church’s highest leadership ranks.

As  a member of the governing First Presidency from 1961 to 1970, for  example, Brown wrangled with future church Presidents Harold B. Lee and Ezra Taft Benson, as well as other apostles.

“For  a generation of Latter-day Saints, he represented the kind of pulpit  magic associated with names like Orson F. Whitney, Brigham H. Roberts  and Melvin J. Ballard from an earlier day,” wrote scholar Richard D.  Poll in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. “For thousands of individuals with questions and problems, he  represented the kind of understanding and counsel associated earlier  with John A. Widtsoe, James E. Talmage and Joseph F. Merrill.” To Poll  “and many others who knew him personally,” the historian wrote, Brown  “was a multifaceted, magnificent human being.”

Yet, the outspoken Democrat eventually was dropped from the First Presidency, which left him bitter and sad.
On this week’s podcast, Matthew Harris, a history professor at Colorado State University Pueblo and author of “Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality,” who is working on a Brown biography, explains some of the controversies surrounding the beloved leader.


Commentary by Admin:

Even though LDS Apostle Hugh B. Brown should be lauded for his efforts to eliminate racism, the fact remains that Systemic Racism was an intrinsic part of Mormon Doctrine for 126 years. It was not until 47 years ago this month that, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under then-President Spencer W. Kimball, lifted its prohibition preventing Black men from entering the all-male priesthood and Black women and men from participating in temple rites.

This historic change was NOT without battle, the most significant since the LDS stopped practicing polygamy. It supposedly abruptly ended the racist ban, but it hardly ended racism within the church. After all, 126 years of theological justifications for this ban still remained, including influential works such as  "Mormon Doctrine” by apostle Bruce R. McConkie.

I have to ask the questions, when did God ever get it wrong? When does God change HIS mind, and law? These are simply Doctrines of Men!

“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Malachi 3:6 NKJV...   Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. Hebrews 13:8-9 NKJV

]]> Sun, 22 Jun 2025 13:17:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?-mormon-land---biographer-uncovers-explosive-new-details-in-the-life-of-a-liberal-lds-apostle https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000048 <![CDATA[LDS voters are getting less Republican — but they like Trump more than ever]]> imblog
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Source Fox News 13
By Addy Baird, The Salt Lake Tribune,
10 days ago

Latter-day Saint voters are less overwhelmingly Republican than they  once were but have warmed to President Donald Trump significantly,  according to a new analysis of how members of the faith voted in recent  elections.
The research, released Monday and done by political scientist Ryan Burge,  an associate professor at Eastern Illinois University, looked at the  partisanship and voting behavior of members of The Church of Jesus  Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2008. He found a significant split in  party affiliation between older and younger members of the faith, as  well as an almost even break in party support among Latter-day Saint  voters who consider themselves to be ideologically moderate.

“The  LDS have not been turning out in huge numbers for the Democrats in a  long time,” Burge wrote. “Mormons were certainly no fans of Barack Obama  — he only received 24% of their votes in 2008 and did even worse when  matched up against Mitt Romney in 2012.”

Romney, one of the  country’s most prominent Latter-day Saints, received 84% of the  Latter-day Saint vote in 2012, the highest percentage of votes cast for a  Republican by members of the faith in the recent election years Burge  considered.
And, in 2012, according to Burge, three-quarters of  all Latter-day Saint voters identified themselves as being affiliated  with the GOP, while 16% said they were Democrats. But 12 years later,  just 58% of Latter-day Saint voters self-identified as Republicans,  while 25% identified as Democrats and 17% identified as independents, up  from 9% in 2012.

It was the 2016 election, the researcher wrote,  that seemed most telling, as the Latter-day Saint Republican vote that  year dropped more than 30 percentage points, down to just 52%. “But it’s  not like Hillary Clinton was beloved, either,” he noted. That year,  like Romney in the previous presidential election, a fellow member of  the faith was on the national ticket.
“A whole bunch of Latter-day  Saints threw their support behind [third-party candidate] Evan  McMullin,” Burge wrote, “and he actually received more votes than the  Democratic nominee.”

Trump, however, ultimately won 52% of the Latter-day Saint vote that year.

And  without a prominent third-party candidate running in 2020, 66% of  Latter-day Saints voted for Trump in 2020 and again in 2024 — even as  the share of Latter-day Saint voters identifying as members of the GOP  fell.

“In 2016, 64% of LDS were Republicans but Trump only got 52%  of their votes,” Burge wrote. “In 2024, 58% were Republicans but Trump  got 66% of the vote. It seems that there’s just a lot of slippage  between partisanship and actual voting behavior happening here.”

Trump,  in 2016, won Utah — the church’s world headquarters — with 45.5% of the  vote. Clinton received 27.5% of the vote in the state, while McMullin  won 21.5% of the Utah vote. In Utah’s next presidential election, Trump  won just over 58% of the vote share, while Biden won 37.6%. Trump’s  margin increased slightly in Utah in 2024, when he garnered 59.4% of  Utahns’ votes.
Latter-day Saints who identify as ideologically  moderate, meanwhile, split almost evenly in 2024, as 46% voted for Trump  and 50% voted for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. This, according to  Burge, was a rightward swing since 2020, when 32% of moderate Latter-day  Saints voted for Trump and 59% voted for Joe Biden.

“I’ve always  had a hunch that this group of people are the ‘canary in the coal mine’  when trying to understand religion and politics,” Burge wrote. “Lots of  people like to think of themselves as intellectually superior because  they take a middle road, but an election is a binary choice. You’ve got  to pick one side or the other and that will tell you a lot about their  political allegiance.”
Burge also found that young Latter-day  Saints are “less enamored” with the Republican Party than their older  counterparts — but that they too have warmed to Trump, who had a 16%  jump in support from 2020 to 2024 among Latter-day Saint voters between  ages 18 and 35. There was a similar trend among Latter-day Saint voters  ages 36 to 50.

And since a dip in 2016, Latter-day Saints over 50,  he concluded, have emerged as a solidly Republican voting bloc. “[T]his  group of voters,” he wrote, “is as Republican as white evangelicals on  Election Day.”
]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2025 20:01:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?lds-voters-are-getting-less-republican---but-they-like-trump-more-than-ever https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000043 <![CDATA[Provo man charged with threat of terrorism after allegedly threatening to blow up Missionary Training Center]]> imblog
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By Abigail JonesNo media credit provided.,
10 days ago

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — A Provo man who allegedly threatened to blow up the Missionary Training Center was charged Tuesday with threat of terrorism.

Anthony Hambleton Beardall, 49, was charged with one count of threat of terrorism, a second degree felony, and one count of electronic communication harassment, a misdemeanor.

On April 24, 2024, Beardall allegedly called the BYU information center and threatened to blow up the Missionary Training Center.
According to court documents, he told the person on the phone, “You better shut down the [Missionary Training Center], or we’re going to blow [it] out of the water, baby.”

VIDEO: Man hangs Israeli and American flag on mosque in Salt Lake City
 
In that call, he also allegedly stated, “Jesus Christ never rose from the grave, ok? It’s a lie,” and told the operator, and presumably the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, to stop pushing their beliefs on the world.

Additionally, Beardall allegedly claimed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints would be “shut down in Israel pretty soon,” and that the Church could no longer send out missionaries in the United States.

Police said he called the information line at least 10 times that day, repeating that the MTC needed to be shut down and calling phone operators “profane and offensive names.”

According to court records, Beardall has a history of being charged with stalking, violating a protective order, and harassment.
]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:32:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?provo-man-charged-with-threat-of-terrorism https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000044 <![CDATA[Is there a good way for LDS garments and other religious garb to be discarded?]]> imblog
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Photo: (Kim Raff | The New York Times) Ali and Ben Larsen ,founders of Celestial Recycling, a business that allows Latter-day Saints to discard their religious garments, in Plain City on May 12, 2025.


By  Alexander Nazaryan - The New York Times
- May 30, 2025, 6:00 AM

Updated: June 2, 2025, 9:22 AM

Ben and Ali Larsen were cleaning out the basement of their house in Ogden when an idea came to them.
There, they found several garbage bags full of old temple garments, a kind of sacred undergarment that faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are required to wear under their clothes. These garments — always white and generally snug, covering the shoulders and torso as well as the lower half of the body down to the knees — are worn at all times, with exceptions for sports, bathing and a few other activities.

“If you can do the activity while wearing the garment, it’s recommended that you do,” Ali. Larsen said. “Because it is a symbol of your love of the Savior and your faith in him.”

The garments can be thrown away or reused, but only after the four holy markings that are stitched or printed onto all such garments are cut out.

“A lot of people would cut it up and use it as, like, a dish rag or to dry their car,” Ali Larsen said.
But, for the most part, “nobody likes having to dispose of them,” Ben Larsen said. “It’s labor intensive, and we see them as extremely sacred. Members really struggle with, ‘Am I treating this with the dignity and respect that it deserves?’”
Many church members, he said, simply put the issue out of sight and mind. “We’ve heard stories about members who’ve saved their garments for years.”
]]> Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:15:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?is-there-a-good-way-for-lds-garments-and-other-religious-garb-to-be-discarded- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000045 <![CDATA[The 3 "Michaels" of the Watchtower]]> imblog
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This Video is a GREAT explanation of the Michael / Jesus / Michael doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses.  

It is well researched and well written and laid out to make it understandable.  It  does get involved but in the end, if you know this well, it is a  WONDERFUL approach to asking very good thought provoking questions.

It addresses the stale and standard "Few of Their Favorite Things"  arguments when denying the Deity of Christ.
Video Source YouTube Channel 'AcademyApologia' Please Remember to Like and Subscribe.

]]> Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:14:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-3--michaels--of-the-watchtower https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000046 <![CDATA[An Ugly Side of Mormonism]]> imblog
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Utah Family Busted in Cartel Oil Smuggling Probe

It sounds like something out of a Netflix crime drama, but this one’s all too real. A well-off Utah family is facing serious federal charges after being accused of smuggling crude oil out of Mexico and into the U.S. in one of the largest operations of its kind — all while allegedly working with cartel-connected businesses.

James Jensen, 56, and his wife Kelly, 54, were arrested last week at their $9.1 million home in the upscale suburb of Sandy, Utah. Court records say U.S. Marshals used a battering ram to get inside the nearly 27,000-square-foot mansion as part of a coordinated sting across multiple states. Their sons, Maxwell and Zachary, were also indicted and taken into custody.

Federal prosecutors say this wasn’t a one-off stunt. It was a full-blown black-market pipeline, allegedly running nearly 3,000 illegal shipments of Mexican oil into the U.S. since May of 2022. The family’s Texas-based company, Arroyo Terminals, reportedly disguised the shipments as waste lubricant or other petroleum blends using doctored customs documents to sneak them through the border.

All told, they’re accused of trafficking around $300 million worth of crude.

Dirty Oil, Dirty Money

Prosecutors say at least $47 million from this operation flowed directly into Mexican companies with links to criminal organizations. It’s not hard to draw the lines here — this case looks like it ran parallel to, if not directly through, the same pipeline as Mexico’s fuel theft crisis.

Just hours after the arrests, federal agents hit Arroyo Terminals’ facility in Rio Hondo, down near the Mexican border in Texas. By the end of the day, the U.S. government had filed to seize hundreds of millions of dollars in assets, including the Utah mansion, a secondary home in Draper, vehicles, bank accounts, and the business itself.

And while U.S. court documents focus heavily on the Jensen operation, south of the border, Mexican authorities have been dealing with their own crackdown. The Mexican Navy recently confiscated 10 million liters of stolen diesel disguised as lubricant additives in Tamaulipas. Another 7.9 million liters of stolen hydrocarbons were found on a property in Baja California.

The Jensen’s haven’t been linked directly to those seizures, at least not publicly, but the timing and nature of the busts suggest that this case is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

“It Doesn’t Happen Without Help”

In Mexico, fuel theft — known locally as huachicol — is a billion-dollar problem. According to energy analyst group Petro Intelligence, the country loses about $24 million a day to stolen fuel. That adds up to more than $9 billion a year, and some experts believe the true number is even higher.

“These thefts can’t occur without institutional complicity,” said Francisco Barnés de Castro, former head of Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission. He’s referring to the lack of oversight at offshore platforms and fuel distribution hubs, where massive volumes of crude and refined products go missing with little to no trace.

Mexico’s state oil company Pemex reported recovering 18 million liters of stolen fuel this spring. But according to El Financiero, that’s just a drop in the bucket — barely seven percent of what federal prosecutors say the Jensen’s handled.

It’s not just about the stolen oil. The smuggling crackdown has already had ripple effects. Earlier this year, Mexico temporarily suspended the import permits of U.S. refiner Valero during the crackdown. That disrupted fuel supplies and ultimately boosted
]]> Tue, 13 May 2025 22:38:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?an-ugly-side-of-mormonism https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000003A <![CDATA[Christians and Jews walking together!]]> imblog
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Greetings in Jesus’ Name:
Just a few pictures of Vigilant Minds members who supported Israel in a recent peaceful walk.
 
Someone, somewhere, was proudly bearing the Israeli flag we used to take our group picture to send to Amir Tsarfati’s “Behold Israel” on Telegram.

There were about 1000 Christians and Jews walking together and Vigilant Minds was proud to be included in this honorable event.
Shalom from Don & Dianne, and Vigilant Minds.

 





]]> Thu, 01 Aug 2024 22:50:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?christians-and-jews-walking-together- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000003C <![CDATA[Vigilant Minds Annual BBQ - 2024]]> imblog
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A good time had by all at Vigilant Minds annual barbeque.   The food was great, the fellowship was divine, the weather was favorable and the mosquitos migrated to Ottawa.



Great Day, Fabulous Food, Amazing Company. What more could you ask.

]]> Mon, 24 Jun 2024 22:44:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?vigilant-minds-annual-bbq---2024 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000003B <![CDATA[LDS are growing pot to sell to other Mormons!]]> imblog
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There is a lot here.


LDS are growing pot to sell to other Mormons (not really Word of Wisdom stuff)

But more importantly – Micah Wilder, of Adam’s Road fame, whose mother wrote “Unveiling Grace,” is going to be depicted in an upcoming movie entitled “Jesus is Enough.”

Not sure who is releasing etc etc.
 
But this should be an interesting must see.

I’ll keep you posted as I learn more.
]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2024 23:10:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?lds-are-growing-pot-to-sell-to-other-mormons- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000003E <![CDATA[Here is the story of Richard Dutcher, “The Father of Mormon Cinema”]]> imblog
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Here is the story of Richard Dutcher, “The Father of Mormon Cinema,” and how he struggled with his faith after shooting various LDS faith promoting stories.
 

He is now in the process of shooting “Jesus Is Enough” chronicling the struggle of Mormon Elder, Micah Wilder, while he was on his mission in Florida.

His ambitious zeal led him to try and convert a Baptist pastor and then convert the whole Baptist church.
This endeavor took a definite turn when the pastor challenged Micah to read the New Testament.  Eventually he became a born again believer in Jesus.
 
After his mission he formed a Christian band known as Adam’s Road with his siblings and other former LDS, including one lady who left polygamy when she found Jesus.

Micah’s mother, Lynn Wilder, a BYU professor, also left Mormonism after finding Jesus and wrote the critically acclaimed book “Unveiling Grace.”

We had the privilege of hosting Adam’s Road at our Church a few years back and their testimony left a lasting impression.
I am so looking forward to seeing “Jesus is Enough” when it is released.  According to the interview this may take some time, Richard Dutcher is looking for at least 2 million dollars to get the story up and running.

I’ll keep you posted if and when this movie actually hits the big screen.

I’ve attached a picture of when they came to Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel.  Micah is second from the left in the grey shirt.

God Bless You – Don



]]> Sat, 08 Jun 2024 22:59:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?here-is-the-story-of-richard-dutcher,--the-father-of-mormon-cinema- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000003D <![CDATA[Who committed Utah’s Mountain Meadows Massacre?]]> imblog
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David Condos / KUER For over a century, historical markers at Mountain Meadows did not say who was responsible for the murder of more than 100 Arkansas emigrants in 1857. Recent additions like this monument along State Route 18 in Washington County as seen on March 24, 2024, show signs of change.

Mountain Meadows was an oasis. A lush, green valley at the doorstep of the Mojave Desert.



]]> Sat, 27 Apr 2024 02:30:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?who-committed-utah-s-mountain-meadows-massacre- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000038 <![CDATA[“Vigilant Minds” of Calgary stands with Israel ]]> imblog
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"Vigilant Minds” of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a support group for those leaving Mormonism or the Watchtower.  
We are affiliated with Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel and we also pray for and stand with Israel.
]]> Sat, 20 Apr 2024 23:16:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?-vigilant-minds--of-calgary-stands-with-israel- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000003F <![CDATA[Letters From Lucy Question #6 Answered]]> imblog
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Question #6 Second Corinthians 11:3-4

“But  I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your  minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to  Christ.  For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.  Or – you may well put up with it.

The  problem wasn’t so much that these false teachers had come among the  Christians in Corinth. The problem was that the Corinthian Christians put up with them.

Lucy, the point I wanted to get across is what the Apostle Paul was also warning the Church in Corinth.
Be Careful: There is such a thing as another false Jesus.  There is such a thing as a different false spirit.  There is such a thing as a different false gospel.

Note: if you have a different Jesus, then what follows is a different spirit which accompanies a different gospel.

Just because someone says they believe in Jesus, we need to ask “Which One?”

The Jesus of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is Michael the Archangel, this is not the Jesus of the Bible.

The Jesus of the New Age Movement is one of many Ascended Masters, one of many aeons or guides to the whole eternal spirit.  This is not the Jesus of the Bible.

The Jesus of the Mormon Church is the first created spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother who is the spirit brother of Lucifer and our older brother.  This is not the Jesus of the Bible.

There are many false Christs and Jesus warned us many times to be discerning and not to be deceived.

Lucy, I’m sure your family is very devoted, very loving, very “Christ like” but sadly they have a false Jesus.  If you have a false Jesus then you have a false spirit and a false gospel.  The Mormon gospel is (1) Faith, (2) Repentance, (3) Baptism, (4) Laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit, and (5) Continued Righteousness.  This is not the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-3

Lucy, I believe you have been “born again” by the spirit of God when you reached out to the Lord and asked Him to save you.
This is foreign to Mormonism.  The LDS I have spoken to say that being born again is when they were baptized.
Tell  this to the thief on the cross or to Cornelius the centurion who was  baptized in the Holy Spirit BEFORE he was water baptized.
Lucy,  all this to say, you are now in a different world than your family.  You  are just an alien passing through this life awaiting your eventual  eternity in heaven.

This is a difficult transition for everyone  because Jesus even said that His gospel, and those who follow Him, will  divide families.
Very few members of my family are followers of  Jesus and love Him.  This is painful but it is also evidence that the  words of Jesus are true.

First and foremost, you need to get  stronger in your faith.  Eventually you will be in a dialogue with your  family and you will have to make your stand.  Pray for them that they  will be interested in your message of hope and salvation through grace  alone, without works.  Let them know that you have assurance  of where you are going when you die and they can enjoy the same peace  and comfort that you enjoy as a child of God by spiritual adoption.   Salvation is NOT by keeping the laws and ordinances of the Mormon  gospel.  We have covered this already – Jesus did it all on the cross.

Lucy,  I know this is a lot for you to absorb and digest.  This is why I asked  if you wanted me to back off for you to take tiny bits and dwell on  God’s Word.  You have a good friend and mentor in Carol.  Stay close to  her and her friends and you will grow in grace.

I hope this helps.  God Bless You.  Don
]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:59:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?letters-from-lucy-question--6-answered https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000042 <![CDATA[Letters From Lucy Question #5 Answered]]> imblog
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Question #5 The Trinity

The Trinity – this one really confuses me. Especially because in the Bible the verbiage says Jesus is the Son of God. But the Trinity says that Jesus IS God descended from heaven in human form. Lots of people say Mormons aren’t true Christians because they believe God the Father, Jesus his Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate beings with one purpose.
Lucy: the Trinity is probably the most difficult concept of Christian doctrine to understand and yet it is the most beautiful description of God.  This is going to take some time and thought – but here we go.

First: Christians should be able to defend the Trinity from the Bible.  To start, Christians need a platform from which to build – and here it is.

“Within the nature of the one true God exists three persons co-eternal and co-existent.”  Let’s talk about each segment of this platform.

What is the nature of God?

John 4:24: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and truth.”  So what does this mean – God by nature is spirit.
Jeremiah 23:24 helps. “Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him? Declares the Lord. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth declares the Lord.”     God uses [first person singular] when He says “I fill heaven and earth.”                     In other words, God by nature is spirit which means he is Omnipresent – He is everywhere present at the same time.  There is no place God is not present.
2 Chronicles 6:18 “Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee;”

Luke 24:39 sheds more light. “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself, touch Me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

OK so far we have learned that God is spirit by nature and that He is everywhere present at the same time and God does not have a body of flesh & bones.

Keep in mind Jesus is totally God and totally man at the same time.  This happened at the Virgin Birth of Christ and is called the Incarnation, where God became flesh.  Jesus, as the second person of the Trinity, is an exception because He added to his nature – flesh.

Jesus said “For where two or three have gathered together in My name,there I am in their midst.”  (Matthew 10:28) You can have Christians gathering at the same time all over the world and Jesus is present at every meeting.  Not only does this display the Omnipresence of Christ but also shows that this is the True Church.   Whether Christians are in unity and worshipping together in a barn or a basement, this is the True Church because the authority the Spirit of Christ is present.

Mormonism teaches two things:

“God has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man” and “As man is, God once was, as God is, man may become.”  These two phrases are definitely not in harmony with what the Bible has just taught us about God.

The One True God
Lucy; the world is full of “gods” but are they God by nature?                                                                                                                                  
Galatians 4:8 says “However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.”

Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, The Lord of hosts; I am the first and I am the last, and
there is no God beside Me”

Isaiah 45:18“I am the Lord, and there is none else.”

Isaiah 43:10 “Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.”

Lucy, I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.  There is only ONE TRUE GOD by NATURE and this All Knowing (Omniscient) God does not know of any other gods.

This flies in the face of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young who taught that “we have got to learn how to become gods ourselves” – by going through the temple and keeping the laws and ordinances to achieve exaltation.
The Word “ONE”

Lucy; the Jews had two words and two meanings for the word “one”

[Yachid] meant singular one, like one pencil, one book, one house etc.

[Echod] meant a “compound unity of one” Genesis 2:24 Adam and Eve came together to become “one” flesh.  Genesis 1:5 the combination of evening and morning became “one” day.  Ezra 2:64 speaks of “one” assembly but it comprised 42,360 individuals. Ezekiel 37:17 the two sticks are combined to be “one” stick.

Thus, in the minds of the Jews – The singular God, was also a compound unity.

US & OUR

Genesis 1:26-27 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
   
Genesis 3:22 “Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.

Genesis 11:7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
Lucy; do you see the interplay within these verses.  When it speaks of God it is in the singular and yet the Lord says “Let Us” & “Our Image” “Our Likeness.”
The Jews had no problem with this because they also held to the “compound unity of one.”

Deuteronomy 6:4 is one of the most treasured verses in Judaism. “Hear, O Israel!  The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!  The word one here is [Echad] a compound unity of one.
The problem most Mormons have with the concept of the Trinity consists in multiple theological hurdles they must jump before the doctrine can be appreciated and believed.
  
  • What is a person?
  • Do you need a body to be a person?
  • Jesus is just the “son” of God he is not “God”
  • Jesus is a separate being
  • Jesus had a beginning

OK let’s tackle these.

First & Second – What is a person & do you need a body to be a person?

A person is a being that exercises intellect, will and emotion.  This is what distinguishes a “being” from a “person.”  A rock has the being of being a rock.  A tree is being a tree.  An idol is being an idol.  BUT a rock, tree, or idol do not have the capacity to exercise intellect, will or emotions, but persons do.  WHY because we are made in the image of God that exercises intellect, will, and emotions.
Do you need a body to be a person?

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 says “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith and not by sight, we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”

Philippians 1:21-23 says “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.  But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”

Even the devil, in Mormon theology, exercises intellect, will and emotions but he will forever be denied a body.

The Apostle Paul say that to die and be with Christ is gain and far better – why?
In heaven, without his body, Paul will be exercising his intellect, will, and emotions.  Therefore… You do not need a body to be a person.
The Holy Spirit is a person and He does not have a body.  The Father is a person and He does not have a body (despite what Mormonism teaches.)   The only person, of the Trinity, who does have a body is Jesus – because he added a body to his nature when he was born of the Virgin Mary who became pregnant by the Holy Spirit, not by any man.

Third: Jesus is just the “son” of God

Lucy, let me ask you a question; was the Bible written to you or for you?  
 
Well – the Bible was not written to you. The New Testament was written 2000 years ago to people who lived in Israel and surrounding regions who spoke Hebrew and Greek and Latin. So we have to continually ask the question: what did this Scripture mean to those people back then.  Take a look at the word “gay.”  When I was a kid it meant happy, joyful, gleeful and excited.  This one little word has sure taken on a whole different meaning today, even in the same culture and within the same English language.

So what did the word “SON” mean to those people back then, we know what it means to us today – our progeny, our offspring.  This is why we look at Jesus as just being the son of God – lesser or inferior.
Acts 4:36 “And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, Son of Encouragement).”

Mark 3:17 “And James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, ‘Sons of Thunder’).”
  
Isaiah 14:12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn!”

Psalm 89:22 “The enemy will not deceive him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.”

Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”

Lucy, as you can see – Son of, in that culture can mean “Of The Nature Of.” Context determines the use.  Just as the Bible speaks of the “Son of death,” “Son of the prophets” “Son of poverty.”

Now you can see the importance of this background before contemplating John 19:7 which reads:

“The Jews answered him, ‘we have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made himself out to be the Son of God.”
How did Jesus make himself out to be the Son of God…? I’m glad you asked.

John 10:30- 33 “I and the Father are one. The Jews took up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus answered them, ‘I showed you many good works from the Father, for which of them are you stoning Me? The Jews answered Him, ‘For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a man make yourself out to be God.”

The Jews understood very clearly that Jesus, by referring to Himself as the Son of God was saying that by nature he is God. This is why they tried stoning him for Blaspheme – by claiming to be God.  Jesus had three titles “Son of Man,” “Son of David,” and “Son of God” and all three titles refer to his NATURE.

Jesus, before coming to earth as a man was the WORD, along with many other titles.  The term “only begotten son” does not mean he had a beginning or was inferior.  The term means Jesus is UNIQUE.  Of all mankind on earth He is the unique Son of God by nature and no other human could claim this title of Deity.
Fourth: Jesus is a separate person

Lucy, the Trinity is three persons, who are all spirit, and all of the same value and nature and these three persons comprise the One True God.
OK hard to comprehend.
                                                                                                              
Let’s take you for example – look at 1 Thessalonians 5:23

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord.”

Lucy, as a believer in Christ, that has been born again and washed clean by the blood of Jesus, you will be sanctified entirely and this includes your spirit, your soul and your body.  There are three components that make up Lucy – and yet there is only one Lucy. This is a rough analogy but you get the idea.

Lucy, you can take three candles and light them and hold the flames together.  You have 3 candles but only one flame.  You have light, energy, and heat, yet one flame.  Once candle cannot boast that it is more important than the others.

Fifth: Jesus is separate being & Jesus had a beginning

Ok we have already discussed that a person has intellect, will, and emotion so YES Jesus is a separate person from the Father and the Holy Spirit.  They too exercise intellect, will, and emotion.  So within the BEING of God there are three separate and distinct persons – one by nature BUT – they have different purposes.  (Hebrews 13:8) says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, yes and forever.” The prophecy of Jesus, found in Micah 5:2 says“His goings forth are from long ago, from thedays of eternity.” Jesus always existed but was known as the Word in the Old Testament(John 1:1)“In the beginning (before the beginning began) was the Word andthe Word was with God and the Word was God.

Father can mean originator, source, and fountainhead in certain contexts.

John 8:44 Satan is the father of lies

James 1:17 God is the father of lights

2 Corinthians 1:3 God is the father of mercies

Ephesians 1:17 God is the Father of glory

Look at this concept of God being the Father of Glory in Isaiah 42:8

“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give MY glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.”

“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act: For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.”
God does not share His glory with anyone.

OK – Let’s check out John 17:5 “And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.”

Jesus as the Son of God shared the same nature as the Father before the foundation of the world.
Unity, in diversity, works in complete harmony.

The role of the Father is found in Ephesians 1:3-14.  He chose us and blessed us, He predestined us to adoption, He made known the (a) mystery of His will, (b) the pleasure of His will, and (c) the purpose of His will.  He is the conductor of creation and salvation.  We may consider him the Quarterback of the Trinity.
 
The role of the Son is seen as the means and the agent and the instrument that the Father uses to carry out His plans & purposes.  He would be considered the Running back that makes the touchdowns.

The role of the Holy Spirit is found in Ephesians 1:13-14. He is a seal and a deposit. The seal shows ownership and preservation and a deposit guarantees more to come.  He is called the “Holy” Spirit because He sanctifies the Church.  He brings to completion the work planned by the Father.  He completes and furthers the work done by the Son.  He is the Cheerleader of the Trinity.  He keeps us excited and in the game.

Lucy, I asked you to read Romans 8:9-11 A careful reading of this passage shows that all three persons of the Trinity play a role in your salvation and all three persons of the Trinity dwell within you as a believer.

I think this is a good note to end on.  I hope you can appreciate that books have been written on the topic of the Trinity so obviously I am just skimming the surface of a very deep, rewarding, and enriching subject.  I hope this helps.

God Bless You: Don
]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 04:40:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?letters-from-lucy-question--5-answered https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000041 <![CDATA[Letters From Lucy Question #4 Answered]]> imblog
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Question #4 Three Degrees of Glory

Heaven – Christianity believes that if you have been saved you will go to heaven and be raptured up. While if you have not been saved you will go to hell.

Mormon beliefs are a little more lenient dividing heaven into 3 kingdoms. While claiming that only sons of perdition (which I’m pretty sure means people who have seen the face of God and still denied him) will be in hell with Satan.

I like the idea of the Mormons version of heaven, because it shows a little more mercy for those people who really are just trying their best with the hands they’ve been dealt.

That being said, God is God and my own thoughts about how it should be don’t matter. I want to know the truth about what I need to do to make it back to live with God.

Hello again Lucy.  Heaven is a very keen topic to delve into because you are going there.  I hope you have your bags packed.

Yes, Mormonism is very appealing because it is very positive and upbeat.   But this does not make it true.  Mormonism also downplays sin, judgement, and especially the lake of fire (Outer Darkness in Mormon jargon).

The topic of heaven, to be fully discussed, would include the plan of salvation, pre-existence, temple “worthiness,” keeping the laws & ordinances and a host of other topics including Heavenly Mother and baptism for the dead.  I am just going to zero in on the Three Degrees of Glory.

Because the Mormon concept of the next life is so bubbly, effervescent and exhilarating and everybody can expect even a better life than they enjoy now,  it would do well for Mormons and non-Mormons alike to consider the words of Jesus concerning what happens after death.  Matthew 7:13-15 reads:

“Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” King James Version.
 
This passage of Scripture is not very well known by Mormons.  It is because it does not fit the appealing and optimistic narrative the Mormon propaganda machine continues to churn out, in lies like “Families Are Forever.”

Did not Jesus say that we will be like the angels in Mark 12:24-25? “And Jesus answering said unto them, do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?  For when they shall rise from the dead they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.”

You can scour the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and will never find one reference to a female angel. They are always referred to as he or him and the two instances where names are given are both male names Gabriel, and Michael.  When you become a child of God by spiritual adoption, you are already part of the forever family – that has a limit in number – there will be NO pro-creation in heaven.  Just as the Lord has set the number of created angels he has also set the number of “children” in the family of God.  This Biblical truth flies in the face of modern day hysteria, but it is the truth non-the less.

Now to the task at hand.  The concept of three heavens, the lowest being the Telestial Kingdom, which is better than this earth, the second being the Terrestrial Kingdom, and the highest being the Celestial Kingdom, offers a very flattering, hopeful, and bright future for mankind indeed. But as positive as this message may seem, it is based on two faulty Biblical interpretations.

The first passage the Mormon Church appeals to is 1 Corinthians 15:40-41.

“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth for another star in glory.   So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
OK Lucy, I am going to offer you a little homework here.  Please read 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 all the way through in one sitting.  You will come across familiar doctrines like “baptism for the dead” in verse 29. If you want we can cover that later.  For now – I want you to read the entire chapter on your own without any outside influence.  You will discover that this is the Apostle Paul’s great doctoral thesis on the resurrection of the dead.  All through the chapter he compares the physical with the spiritual.
Just as a side note…verse 46 really throws a monkey wrench in the pre-existence machinery where Mormonism teaches that we were first spirit children then came to earth to gain bodies and prove our worthiness.

Back on track.  The whole chapter is a comparison between the life we know now, in the flesh, and the life we will experience after the resurrection in the future.
SO – when Paul is talking about “bodies” he is not referring to “places” or “kingdoms” or “glories” or “heavens.”  He is talking about you and me right now in our fleshly bodies.  Right now we have “terrestrial” bodies and after the resurrection we will have “celestial” bodies.

Our present Terrestrial [earthly] bodies are aging and decaying and full of sin and corruption.  In the future we will enjoy Celestial [heavenly] bodies where we will never get old or tire or be tempted to sin.

NOTE: No where do you find the word “Telestial” in this whole chapter.  This is Latin and not found in the Greek text. This is a word Joseph Smith made up.  Google it and every reference hearkens back to Mormonism.  It is a word that is never used outside the Mormon Church.  Also NOTE: Nowhere do you find “three kingdoms” mentioned in this whole chapter.

The second passage the Mormon Church appeals to is 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” King James Version.

Paul is explaining his spiritual experience when he was caught up to paradise.  He is reluctant to even say that it was him and only that “he knew a man.” The glory goes to God and not to his experience.  He was commanded not to explain everything, just as John was, so he limits this fantastic experience to just a few verses.  Obviously, three degrees of glory was not a doctrine Paul was made aware of and was not high on his agenda while writing this epistle to the Corinthian church.  It’s a big deal in Mormonism, it’s no deal at all in Christianity.

Lucy, we agree that there are three “heavens.”  (1) Jeremiah 4:25 speaks of “all the birds of the heavens” which refers to our atmosphere. (2) Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God…the firmament showeth his handiwork.”  This is an apparent reference to where the stars are. (3) Nehemiah 9:6 speaks of the “heaven of heavens, with all their host… and the host of heaven worshipeth thee.” Which is an obvious reference to that place where the angels of God call home.  So there are three different locations for birds, stars, and angels, but the Bible speaks of only two eternal places for mankind after death, heaven & the lake of fire.

Lucy: let’s talk about Outer Darkness. Though it is entrenched in Mormon doctrine, it is a discussion that is rarely raised and a conversation often avoided.  From approved LDS scriptures we learn of Outer Darkness that it is a place of DISHINHERITANCE. This assumes that those there, were at one time a part of Heavenly Father’s family (pre-existent spirit children) who are now “sons of perdition” “who are those whom God rejects: wicked, ungodly, unrepentant, rebellious who reject the message.  They obeyed not the voice and rejected the message of the servants and received them not.”

Lucy, let’s read in Ephesians 2:1-5 something very sobering.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; among whom also we all had our conversation in times post in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love where with He love us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Let’s look at Ephesians 5:6-8 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  Be not ye therefore partaker with them.  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Lucy, here’s the sobering truth.  All of mankind is sinful and lost and estranged from God.  Ephesians says we were dead to God in our trespasses and sins and by nature, all of us, are the children of disobedience, the children of wrath, and the children of darkness.

This is not the hopeful picture painted by Mormonism where we are all children of God in the pre-existence and came to earth to gain a body so we can prove ourselves worthy through the law of eternal progression and return to our Heavenly Father.
As stated earlier, Jesus said only a few of us will gain eternal life, the majority of mankind will face destruction.
Take heart Lucy.

Romans 8:15 says “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 9:25-26 “As he saith also in O’see, I will call them my people, which were not my people, and her beloved, which was not beloved, And is shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the of the living God.
 
Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Lucy, you have given your life over to Jesus.  When once you were a child of darkness, wrath, and disobedience…You NOW are a child of God by spiritual adoption.  This has nothing to do with the pre-existence, which does not exist.

I hope this helps.  Keep reading the Bible, this is your source of strength, truth, encouragement, and spiritual blessing.

God Loves You.  Don
]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 04:26:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?letters-from-lucy-question--4-answered https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000040 <![CDATA[Letters From Lucy Question #3 Answered]]> imblog
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Question #3 Saved Through Works

I have a hard time grasping that you can be saved even if you don’t bear good fruits or live your life trying to follow Jesus, you can still be saved by simply accepting him as your Savior.

I think probably because I was raised to believe that there are certain things or “works” you have to do to get to heaven or the celestial kingdom.

Lucy, you have just stepped on the landmine that separates RELIGION from RELATIONSHIP.
Manmade Religion says “Look what I have done for God”

Christian Relationship says “Look what God has done for me’’

Every man made religion jumps to James 2:17- 20 to justify their organizations continual treadmill of “works.”

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me they faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well, the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”  (King James Bible)

James is not saying that our works make us righteous before God but that real saving faith is demonstrated by good works. Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation. Faith in Christ always results in good works. The person who claims to be a Christian but lives in willful disobedience to Christ has a false or dead faith and is not saved. Paul basically says the same thing in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. James contrasts two different types of faith—true faith that saves and false faith that is dead.
If a Jehovah’s Witness, you are talking with, insists that you must gain Jehovah’s approval by doing good works, or if a Mormon says “you must keep the laws and ordinances of the gospel” I would urge the individual to also read James 2:10 which says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

In other words – embarking on a quest to “be perfect” by keeping the WHOLE LAW is also known as MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.
Romans 3:23 tells us that none of us are perfect and all of us come short of the glory of God.

Romans 4:5 also says “To him who does not work  but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

Lucy, as a Latter-day Saint you heard that you “MUST keep the laws & ordinances of the Gospel.”
OK a couple of things to consider.
The Gospel is described in 1Corinthians 15:1-4 and NOWHERE do you see the words “laws & ordinances.”

To go even further – In the King James Bible Colossians 2:14 reads “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

Also in Colossians 2:20 it reads “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances.”

Also in Ephesians 2:15 it says “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;”

Lucy, these three scriptures alone show that Jesus blotted out, abolished, and nailed to his cross “ordinances.” So why does the Mormon Church remove the laws and ordinances, nailed to the cross, and apply them to Latter-day Saints.  Jesus said “It is finished.”  That should be the end of the discussion.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is very important. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”  This argument can stand alone by itself but verse 10 clarifies things even further.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Lucy, this verse is the icing on the cake.  You FIRST have to be God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus BEFORE you can perform the good works he has designed for you.

In verse 8 it says that our salvation is a GIFT FROM GOD.  How do you work for a gift?  If you have to work for a gift then it is not a gift, it is something that you earned but more appalling is you are disgracing and embarrassing the gift giver.  Jesus died on the cross for all of mankind.

The Father gave His Son to mankind as a free gift to be received in faith.  The Son freely and in obedience went to the cross to shed his blood to atone for our sins.  The Holy Spirit indwells the believer at the point of salvation and guides, directs and convicts us of sin.  All three persons of the Trinity are involved in our walk of faith as a Christian.
Lucy, do you want a challenge? Please read Romans 8:9-11 and try to figure out who dwells in you as a believer.

Hebrews 11:6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him.” Lucy, notice there is no mention of works here.  Without FAITH it is impossible to please God.

So for the persistent person who thinks they must do something to gain favor with God I urge them to consider (John 6:29). “Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

(John 6:40) says “And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  
                                                              
So both the WILL & WORK of God is to believe on Jesus.

One final thought Lucy: Does a sheep go baa baa to become a sheep or does a sheep go baa baa because it is already a sheep.                                                                                                                                                                         
You do good works because you are a Christian, you do not do good works to become a Christian – Jesus looked after that on the cross.

God Bless You.  Don
]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 03:11:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?letters-from-lucy-question--3-answered https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000036 <![CDATA[Letters From Lucy Question #2 Answered]]> imblog
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Answer #2, Baptism

Jesus showed us in the bible that we should be baptized. Because he was baptized, and he clearly tells us to follow his example. If we do not follow his example and bear good fruits (actually try to follow him every day and do his will) he talks about the tree being cut down because it bears no good fruits. So it isn’t useful to god. What I’m wondering is why is baptism only done sometimes? Why is it optional? Kendra mentioned you don’t have to be baptized to be a part of the body of Christ.
Hello Lucy; let’s dig into the topic of baptism shall we.

Baptism is a big step in Mormon doctrine.  It is the first step in becoming a member of the Church and the first rung of the ladder in keeping the laws & ordinances of the gospel.  So your question is a very valid one.

In the Mormon’s 4th Article of Faith is says “Baptism by immersion is for the remission of sins.  This belief is also held by others like the United Pentecostal Church and the Christadelphians, so it is not a practice unique to Mormon Church only.

These groups use arguments from passages like Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:3-5 and Mark 16:16 to name just a few.  There are good answers to all these opinions.

FIRST: There is NO mention in the whole Old Testament that a person needs water baptism in order to be saved or come into a diving favor with God.

SECOND: Jesus was introducing a whole new concept about God to the Jews and eventually to the Gentiles.  In the past God laid down laws that He expected the nation of Israel to follow, because they were His representative to all the Gentile nations.
But with the coming of Jesus, God was doing a brand new thing – the Church, which is both Jews & Gentiles, will now be His representative on earth.
Let’s look at John 3:5. “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of waterand the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

The Mormon Church picks this up and says “see you have to be baptized to enter the Kingdom of God.”  Lucy, context is very important here.

(a) Christian baptism was not started when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus.  This came with the formation of the Christian Church later on.
                               
(b) What was going on in Nicodemus’ mind when he heard this?  Context shows that when Jesus said “you must be born again” in verse 3, Nicodemus was thinking of physical natural birth.  He is thinking of the amniotic sac (fluid where the baby grows) and thus thinking in natural terms.  This is why he questions how a man can re-enter into his mother’s womb?
                                                                                                                          
(c) While Nicodemus is thinking in natural terms Jesus is thinking in spiritual terms.  Notice verses 6-7 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.”                                                                 
(d) Jesus is talking about a spiritual baptism not a physical baptism.  The implication is, the first birth is physical and the second birth is spiritual.

Perhaps Nicodemus was thinking of John the Baptist and his work in the Jordan River calling Israel to repent and demonstrate their humility with the baptism of repentance?  Again context is important here.

The Jews baptised Gentile proselytes (converts) in ritual cleansing ceremonies.  Because John was the last of the Old Testament prophets, he took this baptism, which was only performed on Gentiles, and applied it to the Jews themselves.  This is a symbolic evidence of changing your mind and an attitude to go in a new direction.  A recognition of sins and a desire for spiritual cleansing.
John himself said that he was paving the way for the Messiah.  In other words, he was getting people’s hearts ready to receive the message of the gospel from Jesus, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

This brings us to your question… “Why was Jesus baptized?”

(a) He didn’t get baptised for the remission of sins because He didn’t have any (2 Corinthians 5:21)
(b) Jesus did get baptised to identify with John’s disciples
(c) Jesus did get baptised to place his approval on John’s ministry
 
(d) Jesus did get baptised as a demonstration for believers to follow
 
(e) Jesus did get baptised to show the religious hypocrites, that were watching, that John was indeed speaking the truth

                                                  ALSO

(f) Jesus was baptised for a very special reason:

“And Jesus answering said unto him, (John) Suffer it to be so now: for thus, it becometh US to fulfill all righteousness.” (King James Bible).

“But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then he permitted Him.” (New American Standard Bible) (Matthew 3:13-15)

Jesus was baptized to fulfill the legal requirements for entering the priesthood.  His baptism was an INAUGURATION to begin His ministry.  He was not entering the Aaronic Priesthood (as mentioned yesterday because he was from the tribe of Judah).  His baptism was a recognition that he was the one and only possessor of the order of Melchizedek.
Four specific procedures had to be followed for the transferal of the priesthood from a father to a son.

  • Submerged in water for purification (Leviticus 8:6)
  • Holy oil poured upon the son’s head (Leviticus 8:12)
  • A public declaration that this is his son (Numbers 20:28)
  • He had to be at least 30 years of age (Numbers 4:30)

(g) Jesus was baptised because this event established the setting for all three persons of the Trinity to be recognized and involved.                                        
“And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:16-17)
  
In His baptism Jesus was (1) baptised in righteousness – like Melchizedek, who was the King of righteousness and Jesus entered this “order” in the same manner. (2) Jesus was anointed with oil as the Holy Spirit represents oil and landed upon Jesus. (3) The Father recognizes His Son and publically declares Him. (4) Jesus was baptised at the age of 30.  So Jesus HAD TO BE baptised as the INVESTITURE into his order as HIGH PRIEST.  This was His INAUGURATION!

Lucy: why does the Mormon Church confer the Aaronic Priesthood on 12 year old boys when clearly you had to be 30 years old to receive the priesthood?

And again Lucy – this brings us to another important question.  When we hear the word “baptism” we have to ask ourselves which baptism is being referred to here.
(1) John the Baptist preached the “Baptism of Repentance” (Mark 1:4-8)

(2) There is the “Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Fire” (Matthew 3:11)

(3) There is the “Baptism of suffering & martyrdom” (Matthew 20:22)

(4) There is a “Baptism into Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2)

(5) There is the “Baptism into Christ and His Death” (Romans 6:3-6)

(6) There is ONE BAPTISM (Ephesians 4:4-6)

The last one (6) is the most important one.

“For by one Spirit we were all “baptized into one body” whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to “drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Lucy; when you reached out to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart and you were cleansed by His precious blood you were baptized by the Holy Spirit into the family of God and you were “born again by the Spirit of God” – the very thing that Nicodemus tried to understand.

Nowhere does the Bible state that water baptism is necessary for salvation.  The thief on the cross was promised paradise [THAT DAY] surely he couldn’t have been baptized.

Baptism is a step of obedience AFTER you have been born again by the Spirit of God.  The other step of obedience is communion.  These two steps are an outward expression of the inward miracle that has taken place when you became a child of God by spiritual adoption.

Lucy, I could write a book on the verses that the Mormons, and others, use to demonstrate that you need to be water baptised in order to be saved. In fact books have been written on the subject. I hope what I have offered on John 3:3-5 is enough to answer your question on this topic.  If not please get back and I will try and tackle this subject further.

God Bless You in your quest for truth.  In His Love – Don
]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 02:48:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?letters-from-lucy-question--2-answered https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000034 <![CDATA[Letters From Lucy Question #1 Answered]]> imblog
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From what I understand, Jesus gave his authority by the laying on of hands to his disciples. The only churches (that I know of) that claim to have that same authority are the Mormon Church and the Catholic Church. Without Christ’s authority how are we able to claim to be a part of his church?

Hi Lucy:

YES – Jesus did give his disciples authority to heal and cast out demons and perform miracles.  NO WHERE in the Bible does it say that Jesus bestowed the Aaronic Priesthood or the Melchizedek priesthood on anyone.  Here’s why:

First of all – to hold the Aaronic Priesthood required three conditions. (a) You had to be an Israelite (Jew), (b) you had to be a fleshly descendant of Aaron (hence the term Aaronic Priesthood, (c) you had to be from the tribe of Levi.
    
The Apostle Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5) and Jesus was from the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).  So neither Jesus nor the Apostle Paul held the Aaronic priesthood.
So what authority did Jesus confer on his followers?  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”  (John 1:12).                                            Lucy, the word “right” here means AUTHORITY in the Greek.  When you became a believer in Jesus, the Holy Spirit quickened your spirit and you became alive spiritually and were born again.

This means you are child of God by spiritual adoption and as a member of the Family of God, you have the right and authority to act on behalf of your Father.  Not only do you have the right and authority,  you also have the New Testament Priesthoods.  1 Peter 2:5&9 speak of the Holy Priesthood and the Royal Priesthood.

There is no longer any need for the Aaronic Priesthood because that was all done away with when Jesus cried on the cross “It is finished” and the veil was torn from the top to the bottom.
That veil was 40 feet high and being “rent” from the top down shows that God tore the veil not mankind.  Jesus was not only the High Priest he was also the sacrifice.  His blood covers all the sins forever for those who place their faith and trust in Him.   This is why we are living in the New Testament era.

Mormons unfortunately are still living in the Old Testament with their temples and sacrifices and doing dead works for dead people.  This was all done away with when Jesus died and is now in heaven acting as our High Priest and Mediator on our behalf.
OK let’s now consider the Melchizedek Priesthood.
When we read the Book of Hebrews, especially chapters 5-7 we find more information about this unique character named Melchizedek.  He is also found in Genesis 14:17-24 and Psalms 110:4 and that’s it.

I believe Melchizedek was a real man that prefigured Jesus – he foreshadowed Jesus.  Notice, every time the order of Melchizedek is mentioned it is always in the singular, never in the plural.

Hebrews 7:24 is very important.  In the King James it reads “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.” Jesus is the only holder of this priesthood because (1) it was given to him by an oath by the Father and (2) He has an endless life. (Psalms 110:4)

The word “Unchangeable” in the Greek is [aparabatos] and means un-transferable, cannot be passed from one to another, and inviolate.

I have Mormon bibles that even say this in the comments in the margins.   In other words…Only Jesus holds the order of Melchizedek therefore the Mormon Church confers a made up priesthood on others.

It was not passed on by Peter, James, and John to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery because Peter, James, and John did not have it themselves. And yet the Mormon Church erects a beautiful depictive monument proudly displaying this event at temple square.  It’s all a lie.

As most Mormons are Gentiles and very few Mormons are Jews and even fewer are from the tribe of Levi it is impossible that any Latter-day Saint can claim to hold the Aaronic priesthood.  The Aaronic Priesthood ceased to exist after the death of Jesus.

The Aaronic Priesthood was part and parcel of the one and only temple in Jerusalem.  It was instituted to perform the blood sacrifices – especially on the Day of Atonement when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies with a basin of blood to sprinkle on the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. He did this to atone for the sins of Israel for one year.

Again Lucy this was all done away with by God when he tore the veil in the temple. (Matthew 27:51) He demonstrated that the Old Covenant was finished and He established a New Covenant with the Church – this is why we live in the New Testament but unfortunately the Mormon Church is clinging onto the Old Testament ways & practices by building temples, yet without any blood sacrifices, only Masonic rituals.
The Mormon Church is boasting that they will eventually have 300 temples worldwide.  WHY? All of Israel had only one temple.
Lucy, as a believer please check out 1 Corinthians 3:16 & 1 Corinthians 6:19.  These two verses point out something very important (a) You are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you and (b) Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.
Did you catch this – you are a temple of God and you are a temple of the Holy Spirit.  OK this is just a little teaser for you to consider because we will come across this again once we cover the Trinity.

I hope this is enough, for now, to help you through your struggle.

God Bless You – Don
]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 02:39:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?letters-from-lucy-question--1-answered https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000033 <![CDATA[Letters From Lucy Introduction]]> imblog
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Dear Reader: The following six part dialogue is from a confused former Mormon, whom we shall call Lucy, who has recently received Jesus into her heart.  She has valid questions that we at Vigilant Minds answered and it was suggested that posting these Questions & Answers may help others who are also in the same boat as Lucy.
 
Hey Don!

Carol gave me your email and mentioned that you have quite a bit of knowledge about both the Bible and non-denominational Christianity as well as the Mormon faith. I was raised in a very devout Mormon family. My parents and siblings are very Christlike people and are extremely devoted to living a Christlike life and following his example like he asks us to do in the Bible.

My husband and I got sealed in the temple about 10 years ago and during Covid we fell away from the Mormon faith. I was hospitalized for mental health struggles about 6 months ago and joined Christianity by accepting Jesus as my Savior while in the hospital.

I have been feeling deeply conflicted about which direction God wants me to take and how I can best follow him. For some reason, I can’t help but feel like the Mormon faith is true, while at the same time I have my reservations.

Questions

(1) Jesus gave his authority by the laying on of hands to his disciples. The only churches (that I know of) that claim to have that same authority is the Mormon Church and the Catholic Church. Without Christ’s authority how are we able to claim to be a part of his church?

(2) Baptism – Jesus showed us in the bible that we should be baptized. Because he was baptized, and he clearly tells us to follow his example. If we do not follow his example and bear good fruits (actually try to follow him every day and do his will) he talks about the tree being cut down because it bears no good fruits. So it isn’t useful to God.
What I’m wondering is why is baptism only done sometimes? Why is it optional? Carol mentioned you don’t have to be baptized to be a part of the body of Christ.
(3) Being saved – I have a hard time grasping that you can be saved even if you don’t bear good fruits or live your life trying to follow Jesus, you can still be saved by simply accepting him as your Savior. I think probably because I was raised to believe that there are certain things or “works” you have to do to get to heaven or the celestial kingdom.
(4) Heaven – Christianity believes that if you have been saved you will go to heaven and be raptured up. While if you have not been saved you will go to hell.

Mormons beliefs are a little more lenient dividing heaven into 3 kingdoms. While claiming that only sons of perdition (which I’m pretty sure means people who have seen the face of God and still denied him) will be in hell with Satan. I like the idea of the Mormons version of heaven, because it shows a little more mercy for those people who really are just trying their best with the hands they’ve been dealt. That being said, God is God and my own thoughts about how it should be don’t matter. I want to know the truth about what I need to do to make it back to live with God.

(5) The Trinity – this one really confuses me. Especially because in the Bible the verbiage says Jesus is the Son of God. But the Trinity says that Jesus IS God descended from heaven in human form. Lots of people say Mormons aren’t true Christians because they believe God the Father, Jesus his Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate beings with one purpose.

I am just learning so please correct and teach me your knowledge if anything I’ve said is incorrect. I truly want to follow Christ but feel stuck and confused on so many different opinions and topics. I have been reading my Bible and praying for answers but I can’t find anything that discounts the Mormon Church. Yet things like Joseph Smith’s polygamy, Emma leaving the church, and other church history really bothers me.

Any insight or knowledge you have would be greatly appreciated. I really appreciate you taking the time to read this and being willing to talk to me. I hope and pray my doubts can lead me to answers that will help draw me closer to gods will for me.

God bless you!
]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 02:34:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?letters-from-lucy-introduction https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000032 <![CDATA[Moroni is fading]]> imblog
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September 21 of this year marks the 200th anniversary of the date that Joseph Smith claimed to have been visited by the Angel Moroni in Palmyra, New York.

Moroni instructed Joseph where to dig up sacred plates that he translated into the Book of Mormon, which is the cornerstone for a new world religion boasting a membership of 17 million across the globe.

Though they have achieved a degree of cultural acceptance, especially among American Christians, there remains a suspicion that Mormon beliefs are fundamentally irrational, if not heretical.

Evidence that Smith used the same seer stone, which he utilized in his treasure digging enterprise to unearth priceless wonders, as the medium to translate the Book of Mormon, was confirmation enough for discerning Christian leaders to keep Mormonism at arm’s length.

However, the devotees of Joseph Smith, who regarded the appearance of the Book of Mormon as evidence that they were living in the end times, soon elevated Moroni to the prestige of the angel prophesied in the Book of Revelation who preaches the gospel to every nation, kindred, and tongue.

For decades, Mormons were proud of their “peculiar” status, and delighted in the crowning of every new temple with the image of Moroni as a celebrated herald.

After decades of slow, uneasy, but steady cultural assimilation, Mormons appeared on the brink of cultural acceptance by the 1970’s.
However, following the Jonestown disaster, where 909 souls were lost to suicide, the evangelical community was on a crusade to expose deceitful religions promulgating a false Jesus, a false spirit, and a false gospel.  Mormonism was one of the main targets in the cross hairs and was forced to adapt to assimilate in order to be accepted as “Christian.”

While the Mormon Church has rapidly increased its construction of temples, most of these new sacred buildings no longer feature the Angel Moroni.  What next!  In order to appear Christian will crosses adorn Mormon edifices in the future?
]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 01:29:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?moroni-is-fading https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000031 <![CDATA[Brigham Young’s Wine Mission]]> imblog
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A recent work is unveiling the untold story of Brigham Young’s  southern Utah wine mission. This adventure boosted LDS profits,  fulfilled prophecy, and paradoxically, fueled alcoholism. This recent  work unearths the surprising history of wine consumption and production  in the early days of the Word of Wisdom.

  • The  early pioneers of southwestern Utah, who were predominantly members of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), grew grapes and  made wine.  These settlers had thriving vineyards.
  • Brigham  Young, the pioneer-prophet and leader of the LDS Church, sent members on  “self-sufficiency missions” to experiment with growing grapes and  making wine.
  • Many LDS members paid their tithing in wine, held in 50 gallon barrels, which was used in Communion and sold to non-members.
  • The Saint George Temple cornerstone held coins, records, and a bottle of fine wine.
  • Wine  production in southern Utah was initially successful, with over 100  varieties of grapes being cultivated and significant quantities of wine  being produced.
  • Wine was used everywhere from holiday events, worship services and church dances.
  • The  wine industry eventually declined due to pressure from church leaders,  competition from California wine, and the closure of silver mines.
  • Church leaders cracked down and changed the sacrament, from wine to water.
  • Did  Jesus pass water at the last supper when he said that the cup  represented His blood that would be shed for the sins of many? (Matthew  26:28 & Luke 22:20)
  • Most Christian churches use grape juice  to symbolize the blood Jesus shed on the cross, which is a far cry from  the Word of Wisdom’s switch from wine to water (which represents what – a  baptismal covenant?)

References:
  • [1] Brigham Young’s southern Utah wine mission fueled LDS profits, prophecy and alcoholism. Link
]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 01:23:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?brigham-young-s-wine-mission https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000030 <![CDATA[Location of future Lethbridge LDS Temple]]> imblog
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Location of future Lethbridge LDS Temple revealed

Alberta is about to be blessed with yet another Mormon temple.  This latest edifice will be erected in Lethbridge using up more than nine acres of land.

Construction plans include a 45,000 square foot multi-story temple, along with a distribution center.

This will be the fourth temple in Alberta and the tenth temple in Canada.

Isn’t it interesting that all of Israel was served by only one temple, and this was long before cars and decent roads?

Isn’t it also interesting that Jesus prophesied that the one and only temple in Jerusalem would be torn down.  The New Testament shows us that believers in Jesus are now the temples of the Holy Spirit, and that God does not dwell in temples made with men’s hands. (Acts 7:47-50; 17:24; Matthew 12:6; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19)

What is taking place in these buildings is Masonic rituals and unbiblical practices with no reference to the blood of Jesus shed on the cross to atone for our sins.

Truly another sign we are living in the end times.
]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 01:15:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?location-of-future-lethbridge-lds-temple https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000002F <![CDATA[“Money Well Spent”?]]> imblog
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A $10M investment in Joseph Smith

“One of Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller’s favorite LDS hymns is ‘Praise to the Man’ because of the line, ‘Millions shall know Brother Joseph again.’

“Miller likes it so much he is bankrolling a project to boost the worldwide exposure of Joseph Smith, who — 175 years ago tomorrow — founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“The Joseph Smith Papers Project is expected to produce 26 volumes stuffed with more than 5,000 documents related to Smith, including journals, diaries, correspondence, discourses, written history and legal cases.”

A few weeks ago, the 27th and final volume in the series — it grew by one — was published. Reports noted that before his death in 2009, Miller had come to believe the project meant that “billions will know Brother Joseph again.”

Businesswoman and philanthropist Gail Miller carried the project to the finish line after her late husband’s passing.

News reports didn’t say how much money Larry and Gail Miller gave the project, but Larry said in his autobiography that they initially provided $10 million in bonds. When the bond interest didn’t fully cover the project’s costs, they made up the difference.

“We have felt strongly that Joseph needs to have all of his story told that can possibly be told,” Larry Miller once said.

The 27 volumes were published in five series — documents, revelations and translations, journals, histories and administrative records. In all, the printed books contain accurate and unabridged transcripts of 1,598 records by and regarding Joseph Smith.

But there is much more.

Right now, you can find 10,250 records by and about Joseph Smith on the website, JosephSmithPapers.org . By the time the project is done, the site will have 15,793 records.

Some of those additional records will come from two series not included in the printed volumes — 1,953 legal records and 421 financial records.

“And who knows?” Church Historian’s Press editor Nicole Christensen Fernley wrote for LDS Living. “Perhaps more documents will turn up.”


The earliest extant letter completely handwritten by Joseph Smith is dated March 8, 1831.
It was to his brother, Hyrum. | Ravell Call, Deseret News
]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 01:01:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?-money-well-spent-- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000002E <![CDATA[The World of Utah Mormonia]]> imblog
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The author of the following portion of a newsletter from Intermountain Christian Ministries is a personal friend of Vigilant Minds who has been ministering to Mormons in Utah for  50 years.

 Your editor as well as some friends in Christian ministry in Utah have  been asked many times over the last few years or so why the Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is building so many temples. The  guesses, and that is all we can do as we are not “on the inside,” have  been:

1) “LDS people will not be able to say that they live too far from a  temple to attend and, therefore, not feel the need to tithe to be able  to go. (You’re supposed to have all of your tithing paid up in order to  receive “a temple recommend” from your local church authority be able to  go).

2) Another guess is that the LDS leadership wants it to appear  to the world that they are growing at a tremendous rate in numbers and  presence so they need to build what now amounts to more than 300  temples. Another shorter answer, again, a guess, is that they have to  spend those accumulated billions of dollars somewhere. Just here in the  Salt Lake Valley, for example, we now have 5 temples with several more  in neighboring counties.

3) The Mormon Church is always sending  millions of dollars in relief efforts around the world, especially after  a natural disaster.
Something more newsworthy than the amount of  temple construction, however, is that the LDS Church was found to be  sitting on enormous wealth which had been underreported to the IRS  according to a whistle-blower from within church headquarters. This has  been a topic of considerable speculation and two articles that had run  in both The Wall Street Journal and The Salt Lake Tribune threw more  light on it. The latter, in a June 29, 2023 article entitled “[Wall  Street] Journal Story Shows How LDS Church Wealth is Paying for all  Those New Temples,” on June 29th, 2023, Tribune reporter Peggy Fletcher  Stack, helps clear up some of the questions and I’ve decided to post  portions of what she wrote for you in this issue.

“A mission to  blanket the globe with temples is what motivates The Church of Jesus  Christ of Latter-day Saints to maintain an investment portfolio worth  $100 billion or more. That’s the conclusion of an article published  Thursday by The Wall Street Journal. “We have a vision of the church  that is — can I use the word grandiose?” Gérald Caussé, the church’s  presiding bishop and ecclesiastical overseer of the Utah-based faith’s  vast financial, real estate, investment and charitable operations, told  The Journal. And so we see the size of the church [with 17 million  members] multiple times what it is now, in the future.” Given the  church’s deep reserves, Caussé said President Russell M. Nelson can  announce temples anywhere he believes is essential — without worrying  about costs — “because he knows that there are reserves to maintain  these temples for a long time, whatever happens in the world.”

A  recent example of temple expenditures? The newspaper pointed to Idaho’s  Pocatello Temple, which cost an estimated $69 million to build. The  single-spired, three-story, 71,125-square-foot edifice features  “polished limestone flooring … quarried in Bethlehem, the biblical  birthplace of Jesus,” it reported, “and wood for its doors was imported  from the Congo River region.”
(CBS News) David Nielsen, a former  senior portfolio manager with the LDS Church’s investment wing who  turned whistleblower, talks to correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi in Sunday’s  edition of 60 Minutes. His allegations brought to light the faith’s  reserve fund. The Journal article comes in the wake of whistleblower  allegations leveled by David A. Nielsen, a former portfolio manager for  Ensign Peak Advisors, the faith’s investment firm. Nielsen filed a  complaint in late 2019 with the IRS accusing the church of amassing a  $100 billion reserve fund intended for, but never spent on, charity in  potential violation of tax laws. The tax agency has never taken any  public action on the complaint.

Even so, outsiders and insiders, including  devout Latter-day Saints, have called on the church to be more generous  with its charitable spending and more open about its wealth. “This issue  would go away,” Sam Brunson,the IRS accusing the church of amassing a  $100 billion reserve fund intended for, but never spent on, charity in  potential violation of tax laws. The tax agency has never taken any  public action on the complaint.

Earlier this year, Nielsen took his  case to Congress, urging the Senate Finance Committee to investigate the  faith’s financial practices and sharing what he said is “evidence of  false statements, systematic accounting fraud” and violations of tax  laws and other federal statutes. He has asserted, among other things,  that his former employer has dodged more than $20 billion in taxes as  well as another $2 billion in fines.

Weeks after he turned to the  Senate, the church and Ensign Peak Advisors settled with the U.S.  Securities and Exchange Commission, agreeing to pay $5 million in  penalties for failing to properly disclose past stock holdings and going  to “great lengths,” regulators said, to deliberately “obscure” the  breadth and depth of the church’s investment portfolio. “We recognize  mistakes, and we regret mistakes,” Caussé told The Journal, reiterating  that the church’s money funds its religious, charitable and educational  efforts. “There is no other purpose. Nobody is getting rich.”

In  March, for instance, the church reported spending more than $1 billion  last year on humanitarian aid, eclipsing its 2021 total by more than  $100 million amid the increased scrutiny of the faith’s finances.  ‘It wasn’t an accurate answer’ Andrew Harnik | AP) The SEC fined the LDS  Church and its investment arm $5 million for failing to properly  disclose past stock holdings.

Ensign Peak now heeds SEC rules and  discloses its U.S. stock holdings, which were valued at $46.2 billion in  its latest report. These public filings do not, however, reflect the  portfolio’s total holdings. The church has “misstated” its assets on  federal tax returns, The Journal noted. In 2007, for example, Ensign  Peak recorded $1 million for its total assets and in later years wrote  “over” $1 million. The real 2007 number, the article stated, was about  $38 billion.

“It wasn’t an accurate answer. It wasn’t meant to be an  accurate answer,” L. Todd Budge, second counselor in the three-member  Presiding Bishopric and former banking and privateequity executive, told  the paper. “It was simply meant to communicate that we do not feel that  we’re obligated to fill in that box.” For their part, church higher-ups  have insisted Ensign Peak’s “rainy day” reserves are intended to help  pay for operations in poorer parts of the world and to see the global  faith through economic downturns.
L. Todd Budge, is the second  counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. In a 2020 Journal article about  the church and its money, Latter-day Saint officials said they kept the  size of the investment reserves secret for fear that public knowledge of  the fund’s wealth might discourage members from paying tithing. This  time around, Caussé and other church officials again declined to detail  the church’s finances or the size of its assets. “It’s important for us  that we maintain our privacy,” Caussé said. “That’s a value that’s  important for religion.”

Even so, outsiders and insiders, including  devout Latter-day Saints, have called on the church to be more generous  with its charitable spending and more open about its wealth. “This issue  would go away,” Sam Brunson,a popular Latter-day blogger and a tax law  professor at Loyola University Chicago, has argued, “if the worldwide  church were transparent about its finances, a thing entirely within its  power.”
]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:49:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-world-of-utah-mormonia https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000002D <![CDATA[A report from the United States suggests …]]> imblog
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"A report from the United States suggests that the LDS Church could be a $1 trillion denomination by 2044"

With an estimated wealth of $236 billion in 2022, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could potentially cover all of its current expenses "forever" with returns from current investments without collecting any additional tithes from congregants. It could also become a $1 trillion denomination as early as 2044, a new report from The Widow's Mite contends.

Read the full story here    https://share.smartnews.com/SUop2
]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:42:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?a-report-from-the-united-states-suggests-- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000002C <![CDATA[Why we do what we do?]]> imblog
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According to an article found in the December 13, 2015 Calgary Herald there were approximately 22,000 Mormons living in Calgary at that time.  The total count of Mormons living in Alberta in 2015 amounted to about 1.1% of the population.

Obviously the numbers are higher some eight years later.

We are asked from time to time how many Latter-day Saints reside in Calgary and to be honest we don’t have a really accurate number.  
However, even if the Mormon population only registers 2% of all Albertans, we still feel compelled to reach out to them with the truth.  We believe, as the Lord does, that all Mormons are worth saving.  

Think about it – If Vigilant Minds doesn’t confront the Latter-day Saints with the truth, who will?
This is why we do what we do.    
]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:38:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?why-we-do-what-we-do- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000002B <![CDATA[The Cross and Mormonism]]> imblog
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In the shifting sands of Mormon theology, the cross has undergone dramatic attitude and doctrinal adjustments.  This once revered symbol is now avoided within Mormon circles, partly due to Catholic opposition to their missionary efforts in Europe.  The crucifix, with Jesus still suffering, was seen as a “Christian” symbol held by those without authority, where the Latter-day Saints present themselves as the “restored” Church energized with a reinstated priesthood and a God given mandate.

Accordingly, LDS leaders likened the cross to a guillotine and to the “mark of the beast” in order to maintain Mormonism’s distinctive identity. The sacred hymn “At the Cross” was publically mocked at the annual Manti Miracle Pageant.
In time, the cross morphed away from Golgotha to the Garden of Gethsemane where Mormons teach that in the Garden the blood of Jesus oozed from every pore, where Jesus took on Himself the sins of the world and atoned for our sins.
Their atonement cleanses us of sin “on condition of our repentance and after all we can do to pay to the uttermost farthing and make right our wrongs. Forgiveness is not granted merely for the asking.  There must be works – many works – and an all-out, total surrender. It depends upon you whether or not you are forgiven, and when.”

Today’s Mormon apologists, who are trying desperately to again look “Christian,” excuse past indiscretions by assuring us that “there is no hostility to the cross but more of a shifting ambivalence.”

Questions to Ask

ASK: In your atonement process, where Jesus “sweat great drops of blood in the garden” then rose from the dead as a down payment in striving for perfection, would you say the cross was merely a necessary tool?

ASK: If this is so, why did the Apostle Paul say “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” In Galatians 6:14 and “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” In 1 Corinthians 1:18?

ASK: Does Luke 22:44 really say that Jesus sweat great drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane?  “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”  Why does the King James Bible say that his sweat was as it were great drops of blood?

ASK: Why does Hebrews 9:22 say “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The atonement needs to be according to the law where blood was shed.  There is no mention of sweating blood.

ASK: Why is there no mention of the Garden of Gethsemane in the Book of Mormon at 1 Nephi 11:33 “And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world?”

ASK: Why do LDS leaders say we must keep the laws and ordinances of the gospel when Colossians 2:14 in the King James Bible reads “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Why do LDS leaders take the ordinances that Jesus nailed to His cross and apply them to you?

Please pray for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they have another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel and are eternally lost according to 2 Corinthians 11:3-4.
]]> Wed, 15 Dec 2021 01:31:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-cross-and-mormonism https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000002A <![CDATA[Ransom Sacrifice]]> imblog
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BACKGROUND

The Watchtower’s denial of the Trinity and Christ’s Deity naturally affects their view of the atonement.  They teach that the main reason Jesus came to earth was to vindicate the name of Jehovah and reverse Adam’s fall.

The “Corresponding Ransom Sacrifice,” or atonement, for the sins of mankind, is a secondary motive and actually more of an afterthought.

As Jesus is Jehovah’s first creation and lived a perfect human life, he “qualifies” to buy back what Adam lost – mankind’s right to perfect human life on earth.

The Watchtower denies the bodily resurrection and teach that Jesus rose a “spirit creature.”  If Jesus rose bodily then he would have taken back the ransom sacrifice because his body was the payment for Adam’s transgression.
   
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK

ASK: What did the high priest take into the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement to cover the sins of Israel – was it the body of the sacrificed animal?

ASK: Why does Leviticus 17:11 say “It is the blood that makes atonement by means of the life in it” and Hebrews 9:22 says “Unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place.”

ASK: Why do these verses, speak of blood as necessary for the atonement?

ASK: Where is the body of Jesus?
   
ASK: Why does the Society say Jesus returned to heaven as a “Spirit Creature” when Luke 24:39 says “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.”

ASK: If all that was required for the corresponding ransom was a perfect human, why did Jehovah send his Only Begotten Son to die?  Why didn’t Jehovah just create a second Adam out of the ground?
  
ASK: If Jesus’ sacrifice had to compensate exactly to Adam’s life could you please explain Romans 5:15 & 17 from your New World Translation. “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, how much more did the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift by one man, Jesus Christ abound to many!”

“For if by the trespass of the one man death ruled as king through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of the undeserved kindness and of the free gift of righteousness rule as kings in life through the one person, Jesus Christ.”

ASK:  As Jesus did far more than what was necessary to atone for Adam’s sin, isn’t this the kind of thing you would expect if Jesus is God?
]]> Fri, 12 Nov 2021 01:23:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?ransom-sacrifice https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000029 <![CDATA[Prophecy according to Legrand Richards]]> imblog
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I've been thinking over the past few months now, I wonder what Legrand Richards was like as a person.  I bet he was a nice guy, that old guy on your street growing up that was like a grandfather and generally delighted in interaction with people.

Which is what makes a video like this a bit disturbing in a sense, does he really believe what he's saying here?  In his own lecture he contradicts his own message on several points. If the message really was inspired of the Holy Spirit, would he make significant mistakes like that?

Watch the video at link below. Legrand Discourse 1979

]]> Sun, 21 Jun 2020 00:17:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?prophecy-according-to-legrand-richards https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000028 <![CDATA[General Conference 2020 – President Nelson Has Invited Us to Prepare:]]> imblog
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For  those still basking in the glow of the General Conference 2020, let's  reflect on how President Nelson asked followers of the Church of Latter  day saints to prepare for this year's conference.

Study Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price.

But  which account?  Did you know there are 9 different accounts of the 1st  Vision? Written at different times for different audiences.
  • Joseph Smith published two accounts of the First Vision during his lifetime.
  • Two other accounts recorded by Joseph were published by the Church in the 1960s.
  • Five secondhand accounts were written by Joseph’s contemporaries.

The  LDS Church will tell you the various accounts of the First Vision tell a  consistent story, though naturally they differ in emphasis and detail.  And that these inconsistencies need not alarm you, just trust the  leadership. When the leadership has spoken the thinking is done.

If  you really want to read up on the issues between the 9 visions,  Mormonthink.com gives an extremely in depth review of the separate  visions.


it's worth the read if you really want to get into it.

But why is this so important?  at the LDS Conference in October, 2002, President Gordon B. Hinckley stated:

"Our  whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. It either occurred  or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work is a fraud"

His is comparing the foundation of first vision to the death and resurrection of Christ, as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

The problem really is, there are huge gaps and inconsistencies in the accounts.

Many  people record important events in their lives when they happen in  letters, diaries, and conversation. This way they can remember where  they were when their first child was born; or when they received their  patriarchal blessing; or their wedding night. Skepticism from  investigators is triggered because Joseph Smith shared the 1820 vision  story with no one, and did not consistently recall critical facts  correctly. The story also grew and evolved into a grander and more  impressive vision than the one he originally reported.

Ponder questions like "How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were  suddenly taken away?" or "How have the events that followed the First  Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?" Select your own  questions. Design your own plan.

I suppose you'd have to just go back to reading the Bible.

Truthfully,  the addition of the Book of Mormon has introduced an idea that the  truth has been corrupted and that Joseph's vision and leadership is what  God really intended.  This idea that the world and his Word has gone  astray, that God was powerless to keep his word (the Bible) in tact and  needed extra ordinary events to get everyone back on track.

That is inconsistent with the nature of an all powerful, all knowing God.

The Bible actually very specifically warns against what Joseph Smith teaches.

Take steps to hear the Savior better and more often. For ideas, visit HearHim.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Nelson  invites you to think deeply, listening for Jesus to "speak", that the  answer will come from within you. That you need to search your feelings  and share them.

Did you know this is opposition to what the Bible teaches. Anything that comes within you is beyond cure.
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure"

When  God speaks, it has to come externally, through something that cannot  change, cannot lie, cannot be manipulated.  God speaks solely though the  written word, the Bible.  God's word is like a sword, cutting deep to  your soul.  You don't need anything else.   When the rich man begged  Abraham to send Lazarus back to tell his brothers they were on the road  to torment,  Abraham's reply was "they have the law and the prophets",   not "they will search their feelings"
There is also  someone else who is desperate to "speak" to you, and he desperately  wants to to keep the Bible closed.  This person is persuasive,  intellectual, cunning and a liar.
Funny (not funny) how the LDS Church puts NO EMPHASIS on reading the Bible.
]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2020 23:36:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?general-conference-2020---president-nelson-has-invited-us-to-prepare- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000027 <![CDATA[Anti-Mormon?]]> imblog
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The church (LDS) has taught members to believe that church-approved materials were the most trustworthy source of information about the church. The Church also warns that anti-Mormon literature is full of half-truths, lies, and statements taken out of context.

Mormons are taught to use the label "anti-Mormon" to refer to anyone or anything critical of the church. The phrase "anti-Mormon" is one of the most powerful tools for controlling the information members receive.  Once members learn to discount ANYTHING that's critical of the church, they self monitor what they read.

Of course, what they read in church-approved sources only re-enforces their belief that the church is the only trustworthy source about information about the church.  Trust in the church CREATES trust in the church- whether or not the church is trustworthy.

Remember:
  1. Truth can withstand scrutiny
  2. Things that do not withstand inspection cannot be true.
  3. When people are told not to investigate, there is something to hide.

You don't have to be Anti-Mormon, but you should be:  ANTI-

Dishonesty, bigotry, racism, sexism, threats, mental-abuse, covering up of financial non-transparency, re-writing history, hypocrisy, suppression of information, superstition.... to name a few.
]]> Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:25:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?anti-mormon- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000025 <![CDATA[Were the Nephites the “other sheep”?]]> imblog
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A summary of 2 Nephi 29 is that the new revelation divinely granted to Joseph Smith confirms Christ intended to confirm the Nephites under the wing of the Jewish blessing and lineage. And John 10:16 and Matthew 15:24 are used in justifying that belief.

John 10:16 – And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Matthew 15:24 – But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel
So, there must be others included in God’s plan for salvation other than the Jews.

But from simply this passage; one could argue that the teachings of Mohammad could lead you to God because you’re hearing a prophet’s voice or maybe the Nephites are the “others” from what Joseph Smith taught about Jesus going to the Americas after his resurrection. Or maybe the “others” are anyone who sits in a quiet room emptying their mind in a calming pose and waiting to hear what comes.

However, if the common held LDS opinion about the Nephites are true ; then salvation through Christ is only granted to the Jewish lineage because the Nephites are supposed to be a lost tribe of Israel.  (Even though there’s no DNA evidence linking American Indians to Jews).  If so, we can all pack up here and go home, you’re out of the salvation club if you weren’t born into the right family.

But Paul in writing to the Ephesians elaborates on the greater purpose of Christ.

Ephesians 3:6 – That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Yes, Jesus was sent unto the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:25). But as a Jewish prophet and a Jewish priest and the Jewish Messiah, turns out his greater purpose was in his eventual rejection by the Jews so that the “other sheep” … the gentiles … could accept his salvation.

God’s plan all along…inclusion for all who:

“confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your  heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved ”  Romans 10:9
]]> Wed, 19 Feb 2020 00:32:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?were-the-nephites-the--other-sheep-- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000026 <![CDATA[Last Days Conference 2019]]> imblog
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Was a Huge Success!!!  Thanks to all who attended and contributed.
We have 3 videos from the conference that you can now watch...

Don McAreavy: May the Force be with You. LDBC 2019

Don McAreavy: Mormonism's Fascination with the Dead. LDBC 2019

Don McAreavy: Tale of Two Temple. LDBC 2019
]]> Sat, 11 Jan 2020 21:22:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?last-days-conference-2019 https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000024 <![CDATA[Their true value of women]]> imblog
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How does that old saying go?  Your actions speak louder than words.

There's been a lot of changes in the recognition of the roles of women in the LDS Church, no doubt to the rising influence of the feminist movement in our current day and age.  That recognition is a reaction to the culture; just like slavery, admission of black-skinned people to the priesthood, or the LGBTQ community's growing influence in our current culture and subsequent "revelations" in the LDS church.

But there is an unspoken truth about women in this church.  Women are a tool.
  1. While not discouraged from serving on a mission, there are far more men on missions than women
  2. Women were to harken to their husbands for eternal salvation (this has now changed), their husband was the gateway to God.  Women are the property of their husbands... forever. (how awful if your husband is an evil man)
  3. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and many other pillars of the faith practiced polygamy and taught that it was essential for eternal glory.
  4. Large families are encouraged for spiritual reasons (you need to embody as many spirit children as possible), this vision of pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen is nearly synonymous with the ideal Mormon family.
  5. Claims of sexual abuse are becoming more frequent as it is becoming harder and harder to suppress them. (there is no doubt that this has been a systemic problem since the beginning)

In fact, women cannot:
  • baptize
  • be in charge of congregational finances
  • plan and conduct weekly services
  • plan and conduct special services (weddings, funerals, and holidays)
  • supervise fellow religious leaders who are male as well as female
  • formally counsel church members in an official capacity
  • bless and serve communion

I can't deny that people grow up in loving Mormon families or have a great sense of community within their faith.  But the elite, the ruling class of this church without a doubt have other motives in mind.

Watch 'What Women Get' video in link below.


This second video of Sister Bednar is very telling. It's what she's not saying that is so powerful. She's in this for the long haul for the relationships she's formed and the family she loves and the duty she has to uphold.

I wonder if she could go back in time, would she choose this life?

Watch 'Sister Bednar - A Life of Doctrine Over Self' video in link below.

]]> Thu, 09 Jan 2020 21:13:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?their-true-value-of-women https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000023 <![CDATA[100 billion unanswered prayers]]> imblog
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Do you know how much a Billion is? If you were to receive one dollar every second, you would be a millionaire in 11 days, but you'd be a billionaire in 31 years.  And apparently the LDS church has been hoarding cash for a long time.

But being wealthy isn't a sin, being financially prudent and making wise financial decisions is commended in the bible. Think of the parable of the tenants, the servant who didn't do anything with his investment was chastised for not at least making interest on what he was given.

The LDS church has enjoyed tax-free status as a non-profit entity for many years on the basis that the money they would have is donated for humanitarian needs.  Apparently of the billions of dollars of surplus that the church enjoys, less than 0.1% is given up for charity.  Funny, that's a sharp contrast from the actions of Paul when he wrote to the Corinthians about not accepting any money from them so no one would have any reason of even accusing him of financial profit for the sake of the gospel.

Not only have they stockpiled a lot of cash, but they also have billions of dollars invested in stock portfolios and commercial real-estate.  That doesn't really sound like a charitable entity.

So when a member has to settle up with their ward leader on their tithe to become "temple worthy" or have to pay all the expenses related to their mission, maybe they should ask;  "what for"?  I mean if you had a billionaire uncle that wanted you to do some business for you, wouldn't he cover your expenses?

Watch the video at link below


The LDS Church uses the excuse that the money is for when Christ returns. Why does Jesus need money?? He spoke the world into existence.

]]> Tue, 07 Jan 2020 21:03:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?100-billion-unanswered-prayers https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000022 <![CDATA[50 More Problems]]> imblog
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There's quite a bit to unpack here and could probably spend a lot of time on each one of these issues. But don't you think there is a theme of oppression and lies.  I'm really not sure it gets more corrupt than this.

Watch video at link below.

]]> Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:57:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?50-more-problems https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000021 <![CDATA[Did Christ doublespeak?]]> imblog
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Doublespeak: "Doublespeak is language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. Doublespeak may take the form of euphemisms, in which case it is primarily meant to make the truth sound more palatable. It may also refer to intentional ambiguity in language or to actual inversions of meaning" - Wikipedia

Have you ever heard the term "doublespeak"?  Meaning saying something that appears to mean one thing but really is ambiguous and unclear as to the truth.  It's not necessarily lying, but not telling the truth either.   Would Christ do such a thing?

If God was so loving and were to make the effort to become flesh and live among us and only spend 3 years on his ministry, don't you think he would probably be as direct as possible?  He did speak in parables to obscure the truth from those who did not want to know the truth but here are 3 examples of death and the afterlife that cannot reconcile with Mark Petersen's assertion of God holding us responsible.

The Rich Guy and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
The rich man implored Abraham to send someone to warn his kin about the torment that lay ahead and Abraham directly rejects that request saying that even if someone was raised from the dead that they would not believe.  What an accusation, someone did rise from the dead and still the world does not believe. There were no words of comfort as to a temporary state or that thanks to his family there will be relief in due time. There was a permanent chasm that separated them.



The Thief and Jesus on Cross (Luke 23:39-43, Mark 19:30)
There was no time for the thief to baptize or make any amends for his sins,   he was simply humble before Christ.  He could offer nothing, Yet Christ tells him that "Today you will be with me in Paradise".
The last utterance on the cross by Christ was "It is finished".  Not Phase 1 complete, or your salvation update is at 50%.



Paul's own words (Romans 10:9)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
It is that simple, there is no small print or footnote with exceptions or caveats
Salvation is an act wholly accomplished by the redeemer.  Did Christ doublespeak and say salvation is found in his death but actually meant in his death and in the redeeming acts of a family?

If God were to hold us responsible, what a dismal outlook on the future.

Here's the truth about what Petersen is saying:
  1. You are responsible for the actions of others
  2. You have to become temple worthy in order to do anything about it

But how do you become temple worthy? Pay your tithes.


]]> Tue, 03 Dec 2019 20:37:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?did-christ-doublespeak- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000001F <![CDATA[Testimony of the 3 witnesses]]> imblog
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Moses gave some very important instructions for civil matters among the Israelites. Especially when investigating the truth, the account by a single person was considered insufficient to accuse anyone of wrongdoing.

Deuteronomy 19:15

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

The intention of this instruction and others similar (2 Cor 13:1, Deut 17:6) was to swear before the priests and God as a witness to the truth so that justice could be carried out.  To swear falsely was a serious crime, and very serious punishments were given out if a false accusation was discovered.

Oliver Coudry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris have followed in this same tradition to justify or testify to the truthfulness of Joseph Smith's claim of receiving golden tablets from God which bring a new revelation and testament of God's wishes and intentions for mankind.

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shewn unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.

For the sake of argument.

What if 3 people conspired to tell a story? One that was not true.

Is there no recourse? no room for argument? only blind acceptance? If an Israelite was found guilty of false witness, it must have been because there was outside evidence that proved the witness wrong.   Remember, the truth can withstand cross-examination.

  • How is it that there is no extra evidence for the existence of the Nephites and the Lamanites? (archeological)
  • Harris testified that the plates weighed 40 - 60 pounds,  but gave the dimensions of 18x20x10 cm. (3600 cm3 of gold should weigh about 150 lbs).  how could Harris' estimate be so far off?  How did Joseph Smith escape captors while carrying 150 lbs of gold?
  • A reputed copy of the Reformed Egyptian language from the plates shows no connection to any known language.  Was Joseph's translation miraculous just like the Book of Abraham?  How is it that the Book of Abraham was found to be actually about burial rites of the dead after the rosetta stone was discovered and Egyptian language was understood.  Why is there no other account of reformed Egyptian language in archeology?



Years after their testimonies in 1838:
Harris is said to have told an Ohio congregation that "he never saw the plates with his natural eyes, only in vision or imagination. Coudry was excommunicated from the church and publicly declared that he was "ashamed of his connection with Mormonism". Whitmer never recanted on his testimony but was also excommunicated. However, Harris and Coudry would later re-join the church later in life.
]]> Tue, 26 Nov 2019 20:49:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?testimony-of-the-3-witnesses https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000020 <![CDATA[The Visitation of the Father and the Son]]> imblog
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On an early morning in 1820, Joseph Smith claims he was visited by the Father and the Son to give the restoration of the true gospel since the truth had been distorted due to the apostasy of the church.

Joseph's personal account of that morning has become one of the major pillars of the LDS church.  In this account, he tells the listener how he earnestly yearned to know God and his purpose in his life and how he was greeted by a "pillar of light, the brightness of the sun", how he saw "two personages" and how he was "led in his heart" to tell of the vision.

Can this be true?

God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), infinite, immutable (non-changing), self-sufficient, omnipresent, to name a few. These are some characteristics that describe God's ability and his being. These are things we can all agree on. Yes, it could be true. It's not impossible for God. He is well within his rights to do as he sees fit.

as the Psalmist writes, "his understanding is beyond measure” Psalm 147:5



But there is a problem with this account by J. Smith, it is inconsistent with the Bible.

Remember God's attributes above, is he not also powerful enough to protect the word as he said? Remember that the Bible is translated directly from Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew from Christ's era and before. (2000 + years old, not 200 + years old)

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" - 2 Timothy 3:16

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" - Matthew 24:35

J. Smith has testified that the Church had gone astray, a restoration was needed, the Bible had become corrupted, and God gave him the true account of his will.

But, what does the bible have to say?

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." - Matthew 24:23,24, (Also Mark 13:21)

"No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" John 1:18

"Who is the image of the invisible God..." Colossians 1:15

"whom no man hath seen, nor can see" 1 Tim 6:16

"And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." Exodus 33:20

Here are 5 verses that state that clearly state that either God is invisible or if he were to make himself visible that "no man can live".  How does  J. Smith reconcile this?   God was talking to Moses in the book of Exodus, if he wouldn't even show himself to Moses, how did Joseph survive?  Even with the apostles when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, they only heard the Father's voice, they did not see him.

So truly, there can only be 2 options regarding Joseph Smith's story. Because a direct visitation from God is inconsistent with his Word.
1. Joseph is a liar
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" - Jerimaiah 17:9

OR

2. He was visited by someone else.

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 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." - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
I'm not sure which is worse.
]]> Tue, 17 Sep 2019 19:27:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-visitation-of-the-father-and-the-son https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000001E <![CDATA[It’s not what it seems]]> imblog
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The current prophet, President Russel M Nelson, encourages you to find a quiet place and seek the Lord, call out his name and listen, write down what appears in your mind, and then follow through with it.

This seems simple enough to connect with God the Father or His Son; this all seems well and good, who wouldn't want to have some extra help or reassurance with the problems and fears you are facing today? But there are also many who esteem this as a way to communicate with spirit guides, angels or those gone ahead into another realm. This is the very same instruction that is given to people seeking instruction from angels though "Channelling" or automatic writing.  These guides basically break this down into 5 easy steps:

  1. Think about what you want guidance about
  2. Relax your mind
  3. Enter a gentle trance
  4. Allow for the inflow of information
  5. Interpret the information

These 5 steps are essentially what Nelson has instructed you to do.

There's just one problem, you are guaranteed to meet with someone this way, but it's far more sinister than you would be led to believe.  Emptying your mind and allowing any influence to connect with you does not usher God in your presence, it invites anything (and "anything" will take every chance it gets).  Not to mention that it is pretty presumptuous to assume that you can invite the creator into your presence.

Purified water is good to drink because of what has been kept out,  pond water makes poor drinking water because anything has been let in.  Just think about that.

Followers of Christ are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), to put on the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:10), that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and to test all spirits (1 John 4:1-6).  Feelings are fading, deceitful and inconsistent, trusting feelings is foolish and poor advice.

These verses state that there is a battleground for your mind, a war is being raged. There is no time or space for random "inflows of information".
]]> Mon, 19 Aug 2019 19:22:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?it-s-not-what-it-seems https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000001D <![CDATA[The Mormon Church’s Official Position]]> imblog
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The LDS Church believes that one of its greatest strengths is that it is the only church that does not depend entirely on the Bible for its teachings.

"Had all the Bibles in the world been destroyed, the doctrines and teachings of the Church would have been found to conform to Bible teachings, since they were a received by direct revelation from God." - A Marvelous Work And A Wonder - Ch1, Pg1

That is wishful thinking. Had all the Bibles been destroyed in the world, there would be nothing to expose the "truth" the LDS Church professes.   Well, except lack of archeological evidence for the death of the Lamanites and Nephites, the fraudulent translation of the book of Abraham, not to mention the implausible story of Joseph Smith hightailing away from greedy townspeople with a 200 lb golden bible for 3 miles.

Have you ever tried to carry something for 3 miles?  I used to have to use a jackhammer for work to dig holes and it weighed about 50 lbs.  and that thing was a beast to cart around. How far could you make it with someone chasing you as well?  Did you know Joseph Smith walked with a limp due to a childhood infection?

So what are we to think of this claim? that extra information is needed for the direction of your eternal journey?

Here are a few comments that Jesus and Paul had about this.

Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 - For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 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.

In the end, we are given a very sincere command, for our own well being:

1 John 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

John is saying "WAKE UP!!!" don't empty your mind, use your God-given intellect. The devil is smart, and he's pretty good at role-playing.
]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2019 19:16:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-mormon-church-s-official-position https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000001C <![CDATA[No Other Option]]> imblog
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From the preface in "A Marvelous work and a wonder", LeGrand Richards gives a quick pep talk to the reader leaving on their mission to bring the restored gospel to a world that has lost the true message of their savior.

"When we find a home where "the son of peace be there" we should have a definite aim to visit that home once a week for at least six months.  If we do that and present our message in a systematic and orderly manner, the people with either join the Church or admit the message is true, but their social and family standing will not permit their accepting it, if they have followed with interest your presentation, realizing of course, that the spring of the Lord must accompany your efforts since "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (2 Cor 3:6).

["A Marvelous work and a Wonder", Preface, Page xiii]

The son of peace obviously being a term for a person with an acceptance to hear what they have to say. But I find this statement intriguing because LeGrand has stated here that if an LDS missionary can reason properly, the potential hearer has no other option but to accept the Mormon "truth".

However, an honest review of the facts of Mormon history, archaeological evidence, the translation of the book of Abraham, contradictions of the Bible with the book of Mormon and even the very nature of God; show that a systematic and orderly review of Joseph Smith's revelations in the 1820s and '30s leaves more questions and holes than such a solid position that Richards professes.

If the Mormon Gospel truly is inspired of God, it would be completely bulletproof. Truth must exist outside of feelings or experiences.

When a missionary comes knocking, this is the perfect opportunity to engage with them, hear them, and lovingly show them the truth about what they really believe.  A critical examination of "A marvelous work and wonder" shows how the Gospel of Jesus of the Bible is not consistent with Joseph Smith's revelations, and are incompatible with each other.

After examination, either one is right or they're both wrong, and the willingness to come to one of those options must be an option. As even President Ruben J. Clark said:

“If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed.”
At the end of the day, a gospel without the true Jesus cannot save.
]]> Mon, 29 Jul 2019 19:10:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?no-other-option https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000001B <![CDATA[This is how I discovered the TRUTH]]> imblog
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Chris gives a great example of how separating yourself from a bias in order to apply logical scientific method can have amazing results. He's come to the conclusion that the information he's been taught all his life as a Mormon is all a lie, when you critically examine the "facts" that the LDS church teaches it's members.

People like Chris have the courage to examine and challenge LDS leadership critically, but unfortunately don't end up taking the next step into finding out that there really is a God out there that loves you.  And that the same scientific method can be applied to the Bible, showing you don't need any special relation from a prophet or secret information not publicly available.

Watch the video at the link below:
]]> Mon, 13 May 2019 19:04:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?this-is-how-i-discovered-the-truth https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000001A <![CDATA[Basic Bible and Book of Mormon Contradictions]]> imblog
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By Sandra Tanner - Utah Lighthouse Ministry

The Bible plainly states that the gospel, with its inclusion of Gentiles, was not fully revealed until after Christ's death.

Eph. 3:3-7 Paul writes "by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister ...... (See also Col. 1:26; 1 Peter 1: 1-12; Romans 16:25-26)

However, the Book of Mormon maintains that this knowledge was had in 545 B.C.
2 Nephi 25:19 "For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh... his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ... (v.23) For we labor... to persuade... our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

2 Nephi 26:12 "And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus in the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;"

2 Nephi 30:2 "For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off,"

2 Nephi 31:17 "For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and the Holy Ghost."

During Jesus' ministry He spoke of His church as something in the future.
Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

After Christ's resurrection and the day of Pentecost we read "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

However, the Book of Mormon claims the Christian church was established as early as 147 B.C.
Mosiah 18:17 "And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward."

The Bible says believers were first called Christians after Paul's ministry in Antioch.
Acts 11:26 "And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

However, the Book of Mormon claims people were known by this title as early as 73 B.C.
Alma 46:15 "...yea, all those who were true believes in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come."

The Holy Ghost was bestowed on the Christians at the time of Pentecost.
Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father unto you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

Acts 2:1-4 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,..."

Yet the Book of Mormon claims that people received the gift of the Holy Ghost as early as 545 B.C.
2 Nephi 31:12-13 "...the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me... Wherefore, my beloved brethren,... by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost;..."

In the Old Testament the only ones who could be priests were the descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Israel.
Numbers 3:9-10 "And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death" (See also Numbers 8:6-26).
However, the Book of Mormon story claims that descendants of the tribe of Manasseh (Alma 10:3) were made priests.
2 Nephi 5:26 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people."

The Old Testament teaches that the first born of the flocks were to be given automatically to the Lord. Sacrifices were to be made from their remaining animals.
Exodus 13:12 "That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's" (See also Ex. 13:2; 22:29-30; Numbers 3:13; 18:15-18; 2 Sam. 24:24).
Deuteronomy 12:6 "And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks."

The Book of Mormon claims that the Nephites were keeping the law of Moses. However, the Nephites broke the law of Moses by using the first of the flocks for burnt offerings. These should have already been given to the Lord as tithing.
Mosiah 2:3 "And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses."

The Bible states that all of King Zedekiah's sons were killed.
Jeremiah 39:6 "Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes."

Contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon claims that one son of King Zedekiah escaped destruction and came to the Americas.
Heleman 6:10 "the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north" (See also Heleman 8:21).

The Bible prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

However, the Book of Mormon said he would be born at Jerusalem.
Alma 7: 10 "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin..."
]]> Wed, 08 May 2019 18:54:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?basic-bible-and-book-of-mormon-contradictions https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000019 <![CDATA[Honest Conversation with a member of the LDS Church]]> imblog
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This  is such a great example of how you can be firm in your faith and  lovingly point out the error in someone else's believes.  Done with a  heart for the lost in love.  Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

I  hope to break down this video with the points and references he used to  converse with this LDS member in the very near future, stay tuned.

]]> Sun, 05 May 2019 18:46:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?honest-conversation-with-a-member-of-the-lds-church https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000018 <![CDATA[The Mormon Church Is Accused of Using a Victims’ Hotline to Hide Sexual Abuse Claims (HBO)]]> imblog
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This is an extremely shocking video of how the LDS Church encourages members to contact church authorities and a hotline – not the police. The LDS church takes in 10 billion a year in tithing and has their own paedophile hot line that goes directly to LDS lawyers.

     The Mormon Church Is Accused of Using a Victims' Hotline to Hide Sexual Abuse Claims (HBO) VICE News

Watch video at link below:

]]> Sun, 05 May 2019 18:40:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-mormon-church-is-accused-of-using-a-victims--hotline-to-hide-sexual-abuse-claims--hbo- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000016 <![CDATA[Defecting From Bethel]]> imblog
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Watch the compelling story of Lindsay Davis who defected from Bethel. This is an exclusive from the creators at Apologia Studios and is from the popular show, "Cultish". On this episode of Cultish, Jeff Durbin and Jeremiah Roberts interview about her time at Bethel. The story is shocking in many ways and needs to be heard.

This is really worth watching because it highlights the similarities that cults share; such as
  • secret knowledge
  • relying on a feeling for the truth
  • love bombing
  • not questioning authority
  • needing more than what the bible provides

I don't personally know alot about the Bethel Church at the moment, but this is at least a compelling interview (only part 1 so far) about how the God of the Bible is God of reason and discernment.  God has said he expects us to be discerning, (test the spirits,1 John 4).
The interviewers setup the interview in this first video, hopefully we'll hear her talk a bit more in the 2nd instalment.

Watch the video below 'Defecting from Bethel'.

]]> Sun, 28 Apr 2019 18:28:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?defecting-from-bethel https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000014 <![CDATA[Israel couldn’t do all they can do]]> imblog
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Ezekiel 20: 20-22

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

Do you see what God has just said? in other words, "But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out."

Even God's holy nation couldn't get it right, reflect that notion back us the rest of us, so how can we be expected to?

The short answer is, He never expected us to.

God is not bound by our ability to keep covenants, baptising for our dead relatives, or becoming worthy for a temple recommend. God is speaking about being bound by his own holy nature.  HIS name sake.

Salvation is granted wholly and solely at the provision, direction and grace of God, it is 100% our saviour's purchase on the cross and 0% our ability. But He is a gentleman, you need only to accept the keys to the kingdom before it becomes yours.
]]> Fri, 12 Apr 2019 18:34:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?israel-couldn-t-do-all-they-can-do https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000015 <![CDATA[Name Change]]> imblog
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I think it's appropriate to start with this video by current President  and Prophet Russel M. Nelson.  This video is 14 min long, you can either  sit though it or read the transcript at https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/the-correct-name-of-the-church?lang=eng

Correct Name for the Church. Watch the Video in link below.

I've come to realise how very significant this course of actions is by the LDS church.

I came to hear about this change a few weeks ago and immediately thought why? Why the blurring of the lines from a very distinct group of religious people calling themselves the Latter Day Saints, who primarily follow the angel Mormon and the teachings of Joseph Smith.

Why the change from LDS.org and Mormon.org to ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Why the change from MormonNewsroom.org to Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org  ?
Why the change from LDS Music to Sacred Music?

But after watching the conversion of Micah Wilder from the Adam's Road Ministry (https://www.adamsroadministry.com/) and his Mother who used to be a professor at Brigham Young University it suddenly occurred to me:

Most conversions to the Latter-day-saints are unsuspecting, un-discerning and/or "shallow rooted" Christians who see a facade of Christ in a group of people that do a great job of community and think it's all the same.   Essentially, this is the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.

Nelson is right on a few points
  • It is not a whim.
  • And it is not inconsequential.

This is very intentional and very calculated. Why do I think this? because of 2 verses in the Bible.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)
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. Galatians 1:8 (KJV)

The Book of Mormon attests to : The "angel" appeared to J.Smith? and gave him "another gospel"?
Do you understand? This is all a Lie. Regardless of how genuine Nelson feels when he speaks.

Nelson states:

"To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan" and "When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives"

I think Satan quite a bit smarter than that, and I doubt he shakes is fist up at God and says "HA, I got your name off the building"!!! Wouldn't he be smarter to deceive a large group of people that atonement didn't happen on the cross, lets do away with all this blood stuff because water is much more important, and you got to pay for your sin with striving because only after you "do all you can do" will God be pleased and take you the rest of the way.

Unfortunately, the LDS church doesn't have Christ at the centre anyway. They have water baptism for the dead, a complete absence of atonement by Christ's blood on the cross, doing all you can do, and a hope of becoming a god in exhalation.

Didn't Adam and Eve get a major lesson in deception when they were convinced they could become "like God"?
]]> Sun, 31 Mar 2019 18:05:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?name-change https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000012 <![CDATA[The Times are a Changing]]> imblog
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The times are a changing.
"Over  these many centuries, details associated with temple work have been  adjusted periodically, including language, methods of construction,  communication, and record-keeping. Prophets have taught that there will  be no end to such adjustments as directed by the Lord to His servants." -  2 January 2019 - Salt Lake City Official Statement

This  quote pretty much sums up that the LDS church is going to make changes  to their beliefs as society dictates to stay relevant to the  predominantly socially accepted standard of the time.

However there's a problem with this statement,
  1. When  Joseph Smith "received" his first vision in 1820, it was not an  adjustment of details, it was an entire overhaul of doctrine since he  professed that the Church had become corrupt.
  2. Let's agree  to  disagree that 2 centuries can be considered "many".  President Nelson's  depiction of the LDS church's influence for many centuries is  overstated.
  3. More than just language, methods of construction, communication or record-keeping have been changed. What about:
    1. Negro's attaining the priesthood (my apologies if the term Negro is considered offensive)
    2. Abolished Polygamy (at least mainstream Mormonism)
    3. Mormon apostles and presidents consistently taught that birth control was wicked and sinful.
    4. The American Indians are descendants of the Jewish race
    5. Eve's (womanhood's) sudden elevated importance in temple ceremonies (among many other changes)
  4. "Prophets have taught that there will be no end to adjustments",
    1. this  just leaves any future "prophet" free to make statements from "god"  that contradict other leaders.  But that's ok, because we're constantly  adjusting the rules.
    2. But in fact; Joseph Smith and Brigham Young often said their revelations were true and will never change. So what does that mean when it does?

I believe we have 1 of 2 reasonable possible explanations for the changes:

God  cannot see the future and has to adjust his feelings and perspective on  his opinions for our benefit, and the LDS presidency and quorum of the  12 hear from God even though he's contradicting himself from time to  time.
or
The  Mormon church does not hear from God, and the presidency and quorum are  reacting to social pressure to make their beliefs more palatable to the  general public



A liar doesn't have a T-shirt on that says "I'm a liar"

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 King James Version (KJV)

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 King James Version (KJV)
But there is truth out there, Jesus the true Son of God doesn't change.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8 King James Version (KJV)
The Bible teaches that God is unchanging and all knowing.  And the Bible also teaches that we are to be discerning when it comes to prophets and teachers.

It's not a sin to have genuine questions and seek answers.
]]> Mon, 25 Mar 2019 18:19:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-times-are-a-changing https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000013 <![CDATA[Is a Mormon also a Christian?]]> imblog
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"We're on a mission to discover whether Mormons are Christian"

Watch this video:


At first I thought "Hold on, I believe that too, but Mormon's can't be Christians, can they?"
And on the onset, it appears that we've got some common ground here.  I mean, I believe in Christ, his teachings, his example and I would also agree that genuine following of Christ will also emulate his pattern of living.
So what's the big deal?

Truthfully there is a big deal and the big deal is in the basic fundamental doctrine of the Mormon church in:
  1. Who is Jesus Christ?
  2. Is Joseph Smith a prophet of God?

The problem with this video is that it assumes a false premise, the proposition being that it's an opinion of these people in the video that makes the answer true or not.   The truth being, only the Bible can answer this question.

Jesus Christ
If we break down faith in Jesus Christ, we will see that the Bible teaches a very different account of the divinity and the true nature of Jesus than the book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

The Bible teaches a divine / triune God with three equal and distinct people being the Holy Spirit / the Father / the Son. Also, that there is only One God and only will be One God in all the universe for all time.

Mormon doctrine teaches Jesus as the spirit brother of Lucifer a created being by Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, and his mission as saviour is a part of the process of "Eternal Progression".  That by following the ordinances in the temple that you will also become a god.

The Bible teaches that sin was wholly paid for by Christ, on the cross, by his blood, for all time.  And that it is a free gift to those who will accept it, there is nothing extra that can be done to achieve or accept salvation.

Mormon doctrine teaches that Christ's sacrifice, temple baptism, temple endowment ceremonies, receiving the priesthood, striving to a perfect life and "doing all you can do" will gain your entry into heaven and into God's good graces.

The big problem? we are talking about two different Christ's.    This is a big problem because of Matthew 7:21-23.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Joseph Smith
Mormon's believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  Joseph Smith report-ably wrote the Book of Mormon (however some other evidence states that perhaps it was actually Oliver Cowdery or Sidney Rigdon) as direct inspiration from the angel Moroni.
The full title to the book is more accurately "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ".  They try to pull Jesus into this book as well.  This book is horribly inaccurate when it comes to archaeology, copies large sections of the Bible and is changed from time to time when a leader of the church feels the social pressure to make the change (blacks and the priesthood, feminism and heavenly mother)

The Big Problem?  Joseph Smith made many prophesies in his lifetime (you can view  a bunch here http://mit.irr.org/false-prophecies) and was also likely convicted of fraud in 1826 (there's some debate about this).

Prophecies are what define a prophet,  if their predictions don't  come true then they are to be easily regarded as a false prophet.  No feelings involved, no credit for good behaviour,  they simply did not speak for God.  Which means they lied, so what else have they lied about?

Not to mention that he taught:
  1. blood atonement (killing others so that they may be saved eternally)
  2. polygamy (he had up to 40, some only 14 years old)
  3. occult practices (he was a Freemason and was killed with a Jupiter talisman on his person)
  4. Necromancy (baptism for the dead)

Most doctrines of the Church stem from what Joseph Smith and subsequent LDS leaders taught. Many of them range from outrageous to outright awful.
So, is a Mormon a Christian?  No, a Mormon is a Smithian, a follow of Joseph Smith, paying lip-service to Christ.
]]> Sat, 16 Mar 2019 17:55:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?is-a-mormon-also-a-christian- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000011 <![CDATA[You say this temple points you to Jesus, but did you listen to anything He said?]]> imblog
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Image - Remo Casilli / Reuters

The LDS Church just opened an impressive new temple in Rome and you can go on a guided tour of some of their most sacred areas.  But if you listen closely you can see that their emphasis is not on Jesus.

Two Apostles Lead a Virtual Tour of the Rome Italy Temple


  1. President Russel M. Nelson explains how the purpose of the temple is for the ordinances of the gospel.
    • The Gospel (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) does not give any instruction for sacred rituals on behalf of the living or the dead.
  2. "Come and see the beauty of the temple"
    • come and see where the LDS followers make promises to be better people
    • More like look how we're just like the Catholic Church in Rome too
  4. "Notice how the focus is on our Saviour as represented by the paintings"
    • No, the focus is on the white marble, perfectly manicured grounds, clean and white surroundings, expensive artwork, and high end furnishings.
    • If you just look to the right there is a painting of some trees in a very serine forest setting.  Maybe the focus is also on Gaia the forest god. Actually if you will pay particular attention to MOST of the artwork in the temple, most of them don't have Christ (or anyone) in the artwork. This temple is completely void of the atonement of BLOOD for our sins, in what you observe on the walls or in the rituals performed.
    • Jesus said “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
  5. "Unless he is born of THE water and the spirit"
    • Jesus actually said "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:5, KJV)
    • There is a HUGE difference here and water baptism is not in context in this passage, nor did Jesus ever imply that we must do anything to inherit eternal life but trust in Him in faith (John 3:16).  No mention of any temple.
  6. "Baptism for the remission of sins is an essential saving ordinance in the gospel of Jesus Christ"
    • Nope, Water baptism is an outward sign that we have given our lives to Jesus, but not a requirement for salvation (Luke 23:40–43).
  7. "Baptism for the dead was taught by the Apostle Paul"
    • This is the only place in scripture where baptism for the dead is mentioned. If it were so important, it would have be expounded on my Paul or other writers, it isn't taught as doctrine, it isn't commended by Paul or other writers of the Bible or by early Church Fathers, it isn't taught as something that should be done
    • It is just an off-handed argument here showing that their practice was not consistent with their belief.
    • It is likely the Corinthians were concerned about believers who died before they could be baptised, and feared some spiritual loss as a result.
    • Paul was merely referencing vicarious baptism to demonstrate the inconsistencies of denying the resurrection and yet baptising the deceased.
  8. "They then have the opportunity to accept or reject that loving offering of that ordinance" (baptism for the dead)
    • This doctrine is to provide access to salvation for the deceased, but Hebrews has a very different view of your opportunities after death.
    • Hebrews 9:27 King James Version (KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement
    • What about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Abraham points out there was a "great gulf" between them and the could not pass.  Not, don't worry, your relatives will baptise you at some point and you'll be released.
      • 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
      • 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Just an FYI, did you know that the LDS Church baptised Hitler by proxy.


Hitler's Baptism by Proxy

  1. "The olive tree reminds us of the Garden of Gethsemane, the sacred site of the Savour's Atonement"
    • Actually this is where Jesus asked “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:24) and then was betrayed by Judas, taken to the Pharisees, tried before Pontius Pilate and then taken to Golgotha where he was crucified and our sins were Atoned for.  Atoned through his blood.
    • If I say to my dad, "yes I'll clean the garage", have I obeyed him when I said I'd do it, or when I get off my posterior and the garage is actually clean?
  2. "We learn about the plan of happiness"
    • Sorry, God's ultimate purpose for you is not to be happy, it is to bring you closer to Him.  (John 16:33), In fact he states that acceptance of the gospel is going to make things hard, but don't worry there's Joy (peace) because he is in charge.  He is in control, he knows all things, plans all things and controls all things, there is nothing that is outside his knowledge or power.  That is greater than happiness, it gives us Joy in spite of our circumstances, because circumstances come and go.
      • 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
  3. "A covenant is a pledge, a special promise to God that we will obey God's commandments"
    • Look at the Jews, they broke that covenant with God time and time and time again.  But God says:  (Isaiah 48:11)
      • For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
    • Salvation is provided by God's Power Only. Not by my ability (inability) to attain perfection.
  4. "That marriage lasts not till' death do us part, but for all of eternity"
    • Actually, Mark 12:25 states
      • For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
  5. "there were temples anciently, there are temples today, anciently there were 12 apostles, today there are also 12 apostles with the same authority"
    • Same authority?  Why aren't they in the local hospitals healing the lame and making the blind see?
]]> Sun, 10 Mar 2019 17:44:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?you-say-this-temple-points-you-to-jesus,-but-did-you-listen-to-anything-he-said- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000010 <![CDATA[Colour Blnd? Not according to Joseph Smith]]> imblog
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This excerpt is from "Mormonism, Shadow or Reality", Pages 96A and 96B
I can't take any credit for this, but it's such a good summary of how the LDS Church is only a product of its current age:
  • The Book of Mormon originally written in the 1800's, conformed to the prevailing culture at the time.
  • And now the LDS Church and the Book of Mormon has conformed to the prevailing culture at this time
Let me be clear, this old teaching is repugnant and disgusting. The LDS Church claims that it has received a new divine revelation and that people with dark skin are acceptable to God and can attain the priesthood.  So does that mean that Joseph Smith had it wrong before? He's supposed to be God's mouthpiece, the Book of Mormon is supposed to be the most correct revelation that God has ever given man.  Why the changes then?
CHANGE IN BOOK OF MORMON TO COVER UP EMBARRASSING TEACHING ABOUT SKIN COLOUR.
In the beginning, the Mormon Church taught that a dark skin is a sign of God's displeasure. This teaching comes directly Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon teaches that about 600 B.C. a prophet named Lehi brought his family to America. Those who were righteous (the Nephites) had a white skin, but those who rebelled against God (the Lamanites) were cursed with a dark skin. The Lamanites eventually destroyed the Nephites; therefore, the Indians living today are referred to as Lamanites. The following verses found in the Book of Mormon and explain the curse on the Lamanites:

"And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief, they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations." (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 12:23)

"And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing because of their iniquity ... wherefore, as they were white, and exceeding fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them." (2 Nephi 5:21)

"And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse n them because of their transgression ... " (Alma 3:6)

The Book of Mormon stated that when the Lamanites repented of their sins "their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites" (3 Nephi 2:15).  The Book of Mormon also promised that in the last days the Lamanites-i.e., the Indians-will repent and "many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people." (2 Nephi 30:6) One of the most embarrassing things about the doctrine concerning the Indians is that they are not becoming "white" as the Book of Mormon prophesied. The anti-Mormon writer Gorgon H. Fraser claims that the "skin colour" of the Indians converted to Mormonism "has not altered in the least because their adherence to the Mormon doctrines" (What Does The Book of Mormon Teach, p. 46) .

It now appears that the Mormon leaders are trying to dissolve" the doctrine that the Indians will turn white after turning to Mormonism. The Church has just released its 1981 printing of the "triple combination" which contains the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. This new publication contains a very important change. Previous editions of the Book of Mormon had said that in the last days the Indians "shall be a white and delightsome people." (2 Nephi 30:6) In the new edition this has been altered to read that the Indians "shall be a pure and delightsome people."

The official Church magazine, The Ensign, tries to justify this change by stating:

"Most students of latter-day scriptures are aware that from the very first printing typographical errors have crept into the Book of Mormon .... "The Prophet himself attempted to correct some of these kinds of errors, but his many duties prevented him from completing the project; and even so, some of his corrections seem to have disappeared again in later editions. For example, the 1830 and 1837 printings of the Book of Mormon contained a prophecy that the Lamanites would one day become "a white and delightsome people" (2 Ne. 30:6). In the 1840 printing, which the Prophet edited, this passage was changed to read 'a pure and delightsome people,' but for some reason later printings reverted to the original wording." (The Ensign, October 1981, pages 17-18)

It should be noted that Church leaders are unable to produce any documentary evidence to support their claim that this was merely a correction by Joseph Smith of a typographical error. There were originally two handwritten manuscripts for the Book of Mormon-a copy which was written by Joseph Smith's scribes as he dictated it and a second "amended" copy that was prepared for the printer. Unfortunately, most of the first manuscript was destroyed through water damage. The Mormon scholar Stanley R. Larson informs us that this manuscript "does not exist for this section of the text ... " ("A Study of Some Textual Variations in the Book of Mormon Comparing the Original and the Printer's Manuscripts and the 1830, the 1837, and the 1840 Editions," Unpublished M.A. thesis, Brigham Young University, April 1974, page 283)

Fortunately, the second handwritten manuscript-the copy given to the printer to use to set the type for the first printing of the Book of Mormon-was preserved by Book of Mormon witness David Whitmer and is still in excellent shape. This handwritten manuscript does contain the portion printed as 2 Nephi 30:6. It uses the word "white," and therefore does not support the claim that Joseph Smith was only correcting a typographical error (see Restoration Scriptures, by Richard P. Howard, Independence, Missouri, 1969, p. 49). It should be remembered that both the first two editions of the Book of Mormon (1830 and 1837) used the word "white." It is especially significant that the 1837 edition retained this reading because the preface to this edition stated that "the whole has been carefully re examined and compared with the original manuscripts, by elder Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of the book of Mormon, assisted by the present printer, brother 0. Cowdery, .. ," (Book of Mormon, 1837 Edition, Preface, as cited in The Ensign, September 1976, page 79)Besides all the evidence from the original Book of Mormon manuscript and the first two printed editions, there is another passage in the Book of Mormon which makes it very clear that Joseph Smith believed that the Lamanites' skins could be turned "white" through repentance:

"And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites;" (3 Nephi 2:15)

We have taken this quotation directly from the new "triple combination" to show that the Mormon Church is still bound by the belief that righteousness affects skin colour even though Church leaders have changed the verse appearing as 2 Nephi 30:6.

The fact that Joseph Smith believed that the Indians' skins would actually become white seems to also be verified by a revelation he gave in 1831. In the updated material for the chapter on polygamy we discuss this revelation and show that it was suppressed until 1974 when we printed it in Mormonism Like Watergate? Since that time the Mormon Church Historian Leonard J. Arrington and his assistant Davis Bitton published the important portion of it in their book, The Mormon Experience, page 195:

"'For it is my will, that in time, ye should take unto you wives of the Lamanites and Nephites that their posterity may become white, delightsome and just, for even now their females are more virtuous than the gentiles."'

Like Joseph Smith, President Brigham Young taught that the Indians would "become 'a white and delightsome people'" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p. 14:11. Mormon leaders from Joseph Smith to the present time have continually used the Book of Mormon to prove that the Indians would become white if they turned to Mormonism.

Spencer W. Kimball, who became the twelfth President of the Church on December 30, 1973 strongly endorsed that teaching. In the LDS General Conference, October 1960, Mr. Kimball stated:

"I saw a striking contrast in the progress of the Indian people today ... they are fast becoming a white and delightsome people .... For years they have been growing delightsome, and they are now becoming white and delightsome, as they were promised .... The children in the home placement program in  Utah are often lighter than their brothers and sisters in the hogans on the reservation.

"At one meeting a father and mother and their sixteen-year-old daughter were present, the little member girl---sixteen -sitting between the dark father and mother, and it was evident she was several shades lighter than her parents-on the same reservation, in the same hogan, subject to the same sun and wind and weather .... These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness. One white elder jokingly said that he and his companion were donating blood regularly to the hospital in the hope that the process might be accelerated." (Improvement Era, December 1960, pp. 922-23)

The reader will notice that Spencer W. Kimball used the Book of Mormon phrase, "a white and delightsome people." This. of course, is the very phrase that has now been changed to read, "a pure and delightsome people." After using the word "white" to prove his point in a conference address, one would think that President Kimball would he opposed to changing it to "pure." The Ensign, however, seems to indicate that he approved of the change. It states that "every correction" in the triple combination "was approved by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Brethren felt good about each of them" (October 1981, p. 18). We find it very difficult to find any evidence of inspiration in the whole matter.

In any event, the Church now wants to suppress the Book of Mormon's teaching concerning skin color. Ron Barker, of the Associated Press, questioned Church spokesman Jerry P. Cahill concerning the matter:

"Asked whether church members should assume that faithful Mormon Indians would one day become light complexioned, Cahill said they should assume that they will become a 'pure and delightsome people."' (Salt Lake Tribune, September 30, 1981)

We can probably expect more revisions in Mormon books to cover up this embarrassing doctrine. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, who has recently had to revise his book Mormon Doctrine to conform to the change on the anti-black doctrine, will undoubtedly have to revise his section on the "LAMANITE CURSE." On pages 428-29 of the 1979 printing of Mormon Doctrine we find the following:

" ... a twofold curse came upon the Lamanites: ...'they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.' (1 Ne. 12:23.) So that they 'might not be enticing' unto the Nephites, 'the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.' (2 Ne. 5:20-25; Alma 3:14-16.) ...

"During periods of great righteousness, when groups of Lamanites accepted the gospel and turned to the Lord, the curse was removed from them .... the curse was removed from a group of Lamanite converts and they became white like the Nephites. (3 Ne. 2:15-16.) ...

"When the gospel is taken to the Lamanites in our day and they come to a knowledge of Christ and of their fathers, the 'scales of darkness' shall fall from their eyes; 'and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people.' (2 Ne. 30:6.) Finally, before the judgement bar of God, all who have been righteous, Lamanites and Nephites alike, will be free from the curse of spiritual death and the skin of darkness. (Jae. 3:5-9)"

We believe, of course, that Apostle McConkie has the right to alter his book in any way he desires. His changes concerning the anti-black doctrine are certainly a step in the right direction. When it comes to the Book of Mormon, however, I wonder how the Mormon leaders can justify altering words that were supposed to have been translated by the power of God.
]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2019 18:31:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?colour-blnd--not-according-to-joseph-smith https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000000F <![CDATA[When will the Mormon Church Come Clean about the Book of Abraham?]]> imblog
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Here are the sources for this information, they're quite detailed so  I've done my best to give a high-level summary on this topic.

https://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/the-book-of-abraham-translation/
https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4168

The  Book of Abraham was derived from an ancient hieroglyphic document that  Joseph Smith translated in 1835-1842 that was supposedly the personal  work of the Biblical Abraham while in Egypt.

"In  this book, Jehovah reveals to Abraham the nature of the universe and  the order of all things, in a personal conversation, including knowledge  of the planet Kolob, which is close to where God lives." - Translation  and Historicity of the Book of Abraham - LDS.org

The LDS  church has in its possession today, the original Egyptian papyri that  Joseph Smith received his revelation and translated this document.  I  don't believe that anyone is challenging the authenticity of the  document itself, only the true and accurate translation of the ancient  Egyptian text.

The discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 has  steadily brought clarity and scholarly knowledge of Egyptian  hieroglyphics, but at the time not a lot was known about the language.  But that is not true today, Egyptian  is no longer a lost language. Hieroglyphics, hieratic, and demotic  scripts can and are translated today in the world's major universities.
The LDS church willingly asserts that:

"The  Lord did not require Joseph Smith to have knowledge of Egyptian. By the  gift and power of God, Joseph received knowledge about the life and  teachings of Abraham" - Translation and Historicity of the Book of  Abraham - LDS.org

I agree, however it does require that God has knowledge of Egyptian and it requires that Joseph Smith heard from God.
So how does Joseph's translation stand up?

According to numerous experts in their field, the text actually describes "The Breathing Permit of Hor". This is burial customs and instructions used by Egyptians, which is probably why it was with the mummies to begin with.

"The  papyri were merely unremarkable burial trappings, quite likely from  Antonio Lebolo's original mummies. They had nothing remotely to do with  Abraham, the planet Kolob, or anything else found in Joseph Smith's  translation. .... Smith's own callouts and identifications bear no  resemblance to the actual contents. Ferguson said, "I must conclude that Joseph Smith had not the remotest skill in things Egyptian-hieroglyphics."

Another  interesting part of this investigation is that the document is dated to  about the 1st Century BC.  This is about 1500 years after Abraham was  historically established as being in Egypt.



Joseph Smith has reportedly said about his translation:

"This...was written by the hand of Abraham and means so and so. If anyone denies it, let him prove the contrary. I say it."

The LDS Church has taken the official position that:

"the Book of Abraham is that it is 'evidence of the inspired calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith' "

There is no rational argument to support this claim, which means there no reason to believe what Joseph Smith has "translated" on this subject.   The book of Abraham is a major pillar of Mormon beliefs, but if you can't rely on it what else is unreliable?
Is the Law of Eternal Progression untrue as well? what about Heavenly Father and the ultimate goal of a Mormon to again his own "godhood" like him?

What if anything or everything Joseph Smith said is untrue?

The LDS Church concludes that won't be able to settle this matter through evidence only by "confirmation" of the spirit. The Bible does talk about "other" spirits you know.

"The veracity and value of the book of Abraham cannot be settled by scholarly debate concerning the book’s translation and historicity. The book’s status as scripture lies in the eternal truths it teaches and the powerful spirit it conveys. The book of Abraham imparts profound truths about the nature of God, His relationship to us as His children, and the purpose of this mortal life. The truth of the book of Abraham is ultimately found through careful study of its teachings, sincere prayer, and the confirmation of the Spirit." - Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham - LDS.org

A burning feeling of "trueness" in your bosom should not replace intellectual reason and critical thought.  Why?  Because God is a God of order and reason, and if He cannot stand up to honest (critical) examination, then he's not God. I'm not saying we need to know the depths of God or understand him fully, I believe that is impossible, but we should not be able to find such apparent contradictions.
If Joseph Smith speaks for God then his actions, testimony, and prophecies should stand the test of time...

Watch a video on the subject at the following link;

]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2019 06:13:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?when-will-the-mormon-church-come-clean-about-the-book-of-abraham- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000000E <![CDATA[Bending under the weight of social pressure]]> imblog
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From:  Major changes to Mormon temple ceremony, especially for women
Religion News Service (Feb 14, 2019)

The  LDS Church once again has bowed to the social pressures of society and  has started changing doctrine on worship and temple rituals.

This  time to be more inclusive of the role of women.  Like the author  suggests, these are GOOD things. However, when major pillars of the  faith are changing to conform to the social environment, doesn't that  mean perhaps the leaders of the LDS church had it wrong before?

  • Don't  forget, at one time black Mormons were not allowed to be part of the  LDS priesthood and after time that had changed due to the civil rights  movement occurring around North America and the world.
  • Let's remember that Joseph Smith said that people lived on the moon and he saw them there.
  • What  about the supposed battles between the Nephites and the Lamanites, why  can't we find a single shred of archaeological evidence but you can find  a crazy amount historical evidence from the Bible (ie you can see the  ruins of Jericho or stand in Jerusalem)

The troubling thing about this article is that it's being done in secret.   So that when they are sharing their faith that they can say women have  always had an equal standing before God, but in truth in the LDS church  that just happened.

GONE: women’s promise to hearken to their  husbands, as the husbands hearken directly to the Lord. Men are no  longer intermediaries between women and God in the temple.
EXPANDED:  the role of Eve, who previously had no dialogue after the expulsion  from Eden, and is now purportedly more loquacious (tending to talk a  great deal; talkative) than Satan.
UNITED: women and men  covenanting together to serve God, with the same promises, rather than  covenanting separately with slightly different wording.

These  are not simple little changes, and you need to ask yourself why are  they changing?  Is it because God has spoken, or is it because the LDS  church is trying to stay current.

Let's remember, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Some  of the attributes of God are, omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent  (everywhere, at all times), unchanging, to name a few.

If the  leaders of the LDS church hear from God as they claim they do, there  should be no reason to change foundation pillars of the faith.

So what explanation does that leave?
]]> Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:57:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?bending-under-the-weight-of-social-pressure https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000000C <![CDATA[The Watchtower: A history of the Watchtower]]> imblog
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The Watchtower: Roots, Shoots, and Those in Cahoots.   This seminar was given in October 2010 at the "Witnesses Now for Jesus" conference. It explores the movement started by William miller in the early 19th century through the Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists and others.

A history of the Watchtower. Watch the video on History of the Watchtower.

]]> Mon, 11 Feb 2019 06:04:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?the-watchtower--a-history-of-the-watchtower https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000000D <![CDATA[6 Years for Defending a Lie]]> imblog
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In this handout photo released by Courtesy of Jehovah's Witnesses, Dennis Christensen, who was leading the local Bible reading, is escorted from a court room in Oryol, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. A regional court in western Russia on Wednesday sentenced a Danish Jehovah’s Witness to six years in prison, in arguably the most severe crackdown on religious freedom in Russia in recent years.
You can Read the original article at:

6 Year in Prison for Defending a Lie.
This is interesting for a few reasons.
  1. Russia has declared JW's an extremest organisation but Putin has mentioned that charges against them is nonsense
  2. To the outside observer, Christensen is associating himself with Christianity.
  3. You're only getting a half truth in that JW's don't really read the Bible, in fact it is viewed as corrupted
Perhaps Christensen will have nothing but the Bible in his hands and nothing but time on his hands.
Hopefully he'll find the true Jesus of the Bible while there.
]]> Mon, 11 Feb 2019 05:50:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?6-years-for-defending-a-lie https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000000B <![CDATA[Mormon Fighting to End Youth Interviews Ousted from Faith]]> imblog
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Originally From Fox News – ( By BRADY McCOMBS | Associated Press )
Published September 16

Sam Young reacts after reading a letter detailing his  excommunication proceedings from the Mormon Church during a news  conference Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, near Temple Square, in Salt Lake  City. Young, a Mormon man who led a campaign criticizing the church’s  practice of allowing closed-door, one-on-one interviews of youth by lay  leaders has been kicked out of the faith. Young, a 65-year-old lifelong  Mormon, becomes the third high-profile member of the faith who led  protests about church policy to be excommunicated in recent years. (AP  Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A little history lesson here: if you get ex-communicated from the Mormon church…. oh man you’re in trouble. (my facetious voice here)
The LDS church has a few levels of life after death:
  1. The Celestial Kingdom (3rd Heaven) –  those who have been righteous, accepted the teachings and made and  lived up to all of the required ordinances and covenants. We’re talking  holy underwear and secret handshakes all the way.
  2. The Terrestrial Kingdom (2nd Heaven) –  those who lived respectably but “were blinded by the craftiness of  men”. Living respectably undoubtedly means attending the temple, paying  your compulsory tithe and not questioning authority.
  3. The Telestial Kingdom (1st Heaven) –  the rest of us who haven’t received the ordinances and covenants. It  will also include “liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and  whore-mongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie”. Just a little FYI  on this one, in Mormon theology being resident in the telestial kingdom  is not an unpleasant experience: “the glory of the  telestial … surpasses all understanding”. That means it’s inhabitants  include: Hitler, Stalin, Ann Frank, the millions killed in concentration  camps in WW2, You, Me, and the Baptists.
  4. Outer Darkness (Hell) – Reserved for Satan, his minions, and those excommunicated from the church.
So what were reading in this article is that the leaders of the Mormon (LDS) Church have declared that Sam is going to Hell. Because without a “Temple Recommend” from your bishop and stake president, you’re pretty much done for.
I thought God was all knowing and Omnipresent. What on earth does he need a “recommendation” for?
Does this sound logical at all?
]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:36:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?mormon-fighting-to-end-youth-interviews-ousted-from-faith https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/00000000A <![CDATA[Don’t you dare think for yourself!]]> imblog

To challenge a leader of the LDS Church brings certain condemnation and disapproval from God on High.

Let's just ponder this for a second. To even question the motives or the actions of the appointed head of the church automatically puts you in God's bad graces?

God  gave you the ability to reason, to contemplate, debate and think  critically for a reason. If God really is omniscient and omnipresent  wouldn't his word and direction stand up to a little (or a lot of )  honest debate?

But lets consider an honest debate.  Not with the intention of causing controversy or needlessly causing  strife. But with an intention of knowing the truth, in love, with  respect and compassion.

I mean, that's a pretty bold  statement to say you "speak for God". So if Joseph Fielding Smith says  we'd never get to the Moon, and then we do...... what else could he be  wrong about???


]]> Sun, 27 Jan 2019 04:51:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?don-t-you-dare-think-for-yourself- https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000009 <![CDATA[The Mormon Nativity Pageant]]> imblog

I haven’t been to the LDS Nativity Pageant in Calgary for many years but thought I should take it in after the notice that these events may come to a close after 2019.

What struck me the most was the brevity of the production – it couldn’t have been more than 15 minutes long.  Also, they had bleachers and hay bales to accommodate about 500 faithful at each sitting.

As usual, the Mormon Church spared no expense in putting out a grade A production with a donkey, sheep, and three llamas that imitated camels.  The costumes, sound system, parking attendants, and actors were as best as one could imagine from volunteers.

The program had the same format but its emphasis was changed to focus on the Deity of Christ wherein everyone came in front and knelt before the manger – including the angels.  Missing was the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah as the closing finale as the lights come on and the faithful trundled back to their cars.

Also missing was the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Sure, there was the usual buzz and excitement, hello’s and waves as families recognized each other and a congenial family atmosphere.  Grandpa was well looked after as he shuffled his way to a good seat.  Everyone was in a Christmas mood – but there was an emptiness about the whole thing.

The Mormon Church went to every length to ensure the production was focused on the Christmas story and celebrated the birth of Jesus.  But when you have a false Jesus then according to the Apostle Paul you also have a false spirit and a false gospel. (2 Cor. 11:3-4).  In a 15-minute production, the doctrine was at a very minimum.

Am I glad I went?  Yes, but not because of the production, but because it gave me a renewed hunger and emphasis to reach Mormons who have been lied to and deceived.

That they can sing “round yon virgin mother and child” when Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Prophets Joseph Fielding Smith, Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow and apologist Milton R. Hunter maintain God the Father has a body of flesh and bones thus denying the Virgin Birth of Jesus is not only heartbreaking but cruel and blasphemous.

You cannot fault the Mormon Church for its efforts but unless the Lord build the house, those that labour, labour in vain.  I drove away sad & blank and put in a reassuring DVD.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
]]> Fri, 04 Jan 2019 04:08:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?lds-nativity https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000007 <![CDATA[Leaving a Cult? You Are Not Alone]]> imblog
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Welcome to Vigilant Minds! You might be wondering who or what we are?

We  are a cult support ministry in Calgary, AB. Our group was founded by ex Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and concerned Christians.

Our group  is attended by mostly ex JW and LDS, but we also have had persons from a  variety of legalistic “church” backgrounds attend our group.

We  meet every week on Thursday evening at 7pm in a private home setting. We  hope to help alleviate some of the social loss at our meetings that  comes with exiting a cult.

One of the ways we can help people get deprogrammed is through the Bible. Cultists have been programmed to  think a certain way, with the Bible being abused to push cult  propaganda. Attendees can expect to learn the grace and mercy of Jesus,  and who He really is.
Some of the ex JWs and Mormons who attend  have been out of the organization for many years, and can offer valuable  insight into recovery from shunning, mental distress and more.

We  hold bi-monthly potlucks where a variety of people attend, so that is  always a great time to find new friends and meet other ex cultists.

We  also offer a class called “Defending Our Faith”, which is typically  held every year at Centre Street Church. The course deals with how to reach out to Mormons and JW’s.

We also have a variety of speaking engagements at various Christians conferences and churches around Calgary.
If  you have left or are thinking of leaving a cult, please feel free to  attend our group or get connected through our meetup.com group. We can  also arrange a private meeting, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
]]> Fri, 17 Aug 2018 03:34:00 GMT https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/?leaving-a-cult--you-are-not-alone https://www.vigilantminds.ca/blog/rss/000000008