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I was raised in a Book of Mormon believing church which taught that Joseph Smith was a prophet of GOD and that there are more Holy Scriptures than just the Bible. In my late teens I was ordained a priest. I preached sermons and did seminars about the Book of Mormon showing slides of ancient ruins in Latin America claiming these were proofs to support the Book of Mormon. Then something happened…. GOD answered a prayer that I had been praying for years. I challenge you to daily pray this prayer. You have nothing to fear or lose, especially since you believe you are in the correct denomination. The prayer was this: “LORD, I am willing to give up everything I believe, for what I can achieve in CHRIST JESUS.” In the 1980's GOD honored that prayer, and over a period of five years proved to me that my beliefs in the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and extra-Biblical scriptures was nothing more than excessive baggage fostering an Old Testament religion of works under the Law of Moses and not of Grace under the New Covenant of CHRIST the MESSIAH. It was a religion to an organization and not a relationship with the CREATOR of the universe.

Since then I have seen GOD do many wonderful things, miracles, mighty signs and wonders as told in the Book of Acts in the Bible. When you let GOD out of the box that Mormonism and related organizations have put HIM in, you are free to worship a GOD of TRUTH, POWER and LOVE!

Years later GOD would open doors for me to go back into these organizations and share of HIS power and glory inviting all to yield 100% of their heart, mind, soul and strength to HIM; for GOD loves everyone and desires that none perish. There are many wonderful loving people in the various Mormon Denominations and many have sincere relationships with GOD. Perhaps they have received HIS free gift of “salvation” through HIS only son, JESUS. But they like so many others in various ‘mainstream’ denominations have allowed the things of this world, the doctrines of men, the pride of the flesh to rule various areas of their hearts. Therefore, the GOD that lovingly knit them together can NOT do all that HE wants to in their lives due to the excessive baggage of Mormonism with beliefs and traditions rooted in Masonry and an Old Testament covenant of works.

Please read and re-read the Book of Hebrews located in the New Testament of the Bible. Try to answer this question, "How can Mormon Denominations ordain “High Priests” when even their version of the Bible clearly says JESUS is the only “High Priest” now and forever. Be bold and pray the prayer from the Book of James Chapter One, Verse Five in the New Testament. This verse, all Mormon Believers should be very familiar with, as it’s the one Joseph Smith prayed… “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of GOD who gives to all generously….” Now read the rest of that verse and the next... "GOD will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask HIM, be sure that your faith is in GOD alone. Do not waiver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind." That was me, striding the fence of wholly believing GOD's Word and hanging onto the traditions of men.

In time I came to believe that the "Book of Mormon" was not HOLY Scripture and was not given by GOD to Joseph Smith. It was a fictional book written by a Christian named Solomon Spaulding who intertwined archeological findings of his day with a Biblical theme. Spaulding’s manuscript was lost at the publishing house where Joseph Smith worked. I later was able to prove that Joseph Smith was not a Prophet of GOD, for the Bible says a true Prophet of GOD does NOT have any false prophecies and Mr. Smith had many.

I was raised RLDS (Reorganized Latter Day Saint) presently known as "Community of Christ". In 1983 I married and my wife, Mary Ann, was a Baptist and wasn't comfortable joining my Denomination. However, she saw the LORD in me and my passion for HIM. She knew many people had challenged me about my beliefs, some lovingly, most not! So she committed to prayer asking GOD to lead her and myself. She helped me in youth work on the district level here in Maine for the RLDS Denomination. But she couldn't make the step to becoming a believer in Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon for she didn't have that 'burning in her bosom'. Since then I've researched the 'burning in the bosom'. Websters Dictionary says “Bosom” means heart and the Bible is clear in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is deceitfully wicked. Jude, the brother of JESUS, says it this way in 1:19, "People follow their natural instincts because they do not have GOD's Spirit in them."Dear reader, we can't just trust our flesh, we need to use facts and a standard that has withstood the test of time which is The Holy Bible - praying and testing the spirits and asking GOD for only HIS direction in our lives. 1st John 4:1 clearly says, "Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from GOD. For there are many false prophets in the world." Please note, John is telling his readers they individually MUST test things for themselves, not parrot what they have heard in their denomination since their youth. Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians 5:21 says "Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good." He said this in regards to prophecies!

A few years before we were married I started praying almost daily the prayer mentioned above. GOD was at work in my life on many levels that I only later realized. After we were married I took my wife on a road trip to Independence, Missouri which as some of you know is the "Center Place" in Mormon theology as well as headquarters to several Mormon believing denominations including the one I was raised in - RLDS. Along the way we stopped at Palmyra, New York to visit Hill Cumorah, then on to the Kirtland Temple in Ohio then on to Independence to stay for the a few months with some friends. The man that officiated our wedding was a dear friend and he lived in Independence. Since he was a musician like us, Mary Ann knew him and some others so she agreed to make the trip. All along the way, I'm trying to convince her about the need to join the church. When we landed in Independence, we got a small apartment, linked up with friends and both of us found jobs. My poor wife had to work at Brown's Chicken! They teased her and gave her all the dirty jobs. It was so hard and she was homesick for her family and Maine. I ended up breaking my foot and going on disability! But during this time I was able to spend days researching at the RLDS Auditorium Headquarters various topics. One topic that was dear to my heart was the practice of 'closed communion' where non-members were not allowed to partake communion. I knew she was a Believer in JESUS and I knew the Bible was clear that during communion all Believers were to remember the LORD and all that HE did on the Cross and through HIS Resurrection. So upon researching old Priesthood manuals I found one where it clearly stated that we are to be in 'close communion with our LORD' It didn't say closed! This was mind-blowing for me! The word CLOSED was later added! I also was able to see the original manuscripts of "The Book of Mormon" I clearly could see several different types of hand writings and was told that several men helped Joseph Smith translate while he read using special glasses that allowed him to see in English what was written in an unknown language on the gold plates. Years later, I would read several books that showed photos of these manuscripts with various handwritings and experts were able to confirm that one was Solomon Spaulding's, mentioned above. His decedents claim the stories that Solomon told from his front porch during the evenings with many neighbors gathered around are verbatim to some of the stories in the Book of Mormon.

When we returned home to Maine I preached a sermon at my home RLDS church on the topic of "Open Communion" presenting the evidence I had gathered from the churches archives in Independence. Afterward, several Elders approached me and asked for a meeting that night where they strongly pointed out the churches clear stance on being “closed communion”. I argued and they said 'lovingly' that I needed to be submissive. I told them that I would not support or submit to error. I walked out. I had a lot to lose. Almost all my friends were RLDS, close childhood ones. My Mom, my sister, my world - all I had known! I then entered a period of depression and didn't want to go to any church. Now and then I'd go to my wife's Baptist church. I started researching the RLDS and started praying for GOD to lead me... doing what Joseph Smith supposedly did asking for wisdom... Looking back I could see I had a lot of pride thinking that I belong to the only true Denomination. During this time my wife and I fellowshipped with Believers of other denominations outside the walls of the church. I came to love and trust some of them. They lovingly would ask questions from time to time, like my wife, and this caused me to read the Bible and do more research. I decided to help my wife teach a Sunday School class at the Baptist Church where she grew up in and we both led the youth group. During this time we helped direct a Passion Play musical using Christians from various denominations and communities. We got to know the Pastor of the Assembly of GOD church where they let us rehearse. It was during this time that we realized that receiving CHRIST for salvation was just the first step. We needed to make HIM LORD over every area of our lives. So one night Mary Ann and I knelt on our bed and made the King of the Universe - LORD not just Savior! We made JESUS LORD over all areas of our lives like our finances, our sex, our dreams, our time, our careers! Things began to change! My night terrors ceased (visitors from the spirit realm)! About a year later our first child, Jasmine was born. Something inside of me 'grew up' and I wanted a different church for her. Both my wife and I wanted more of GOD. We could see it in the lives of other Christians. So we started going to an Assembly of GOD church during the evenings and our Baptist Church Sunday mornings. After a few months, we knew GOD was calling us to “deep”. We talked with our Baptist Pastor and he gave us his blessings to leave. GOD used many people to help me along the way of my coming out of Mormonism. One person in particular was a traveling children's evangelist that came to our Assembly of GOD church. The evangelist had some Mormon background and so I agreed to meet with him. Our pastor had given me The Tanner's book on Mormonism that I was going through. (It's huge!) The evangelist said something that clicked in my mind and spirit. After talking a while, he lovingly suggested that I should think of my Mormon upbringing as excessive baggage. Is it really important towards my growth in GOD? He said, "Shed anything - not just Mormon theology, but anything that hinders your growth with GOD." (Sounds like the prayer I'd been praying all those years). The picture that came to mind was having my canoe tip over on the ocean (I used to be quite the canoe enthusiast... that was before kids!) If I tipped over in my boat, do I grab my gear? We'll I might try to put on my knapsack with all my survival gear... But after swimming with that baggage, I am soon going to find that I have a harder time making steady progress to my goal which is the shore! I'm wearing my self out and soon my baggage is going to drown me if I don't shed it! Sound familiar?

Over the course of about five years I came to the point of renouncing my membership, my priesthood, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith. I discovered that my excessive baggage was fostering an Old Testament religion of works under the Mosaic Law which JESUS had fulfilled. I was trying to put The New Wine of the Gospel into an old wineskin. I finally realized that I had a religion to an organization and not a relationship solely with our LORD and Loving FATHER. Once I let GOD out of the box of my upbringing I was free to worship GOD in a whole new dimension! Since then I have seen GOD do many wonderful things!

I later was able to compare Joseph Smith's "Inspired Version of the Bible" with original ancient Greek manuscripts. I discovered that Smith changed his Bible in many places. What was sobering for me and should be for all of us is the fact that Smith altered the "Book of Revelation" as well. I wouldn't want to be standing in Smith's shoes on the day Judgement for at the very end of the Book of Revelation, John clearly says this in Chapter 22, Verse 18 and 19... "And I (John) solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, GOD will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, GOD will remove that person's share in the Tree Of Life and in the Holy City that are described in this book."

I hope that those of you in leadership and having influence in people's lives will humbly take to heart and mind those above words. James, the brother of JESUS said this in 1:3, "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly."

When my family started traveling in our music ministry, GOD opened doors for me to go back into the RLDS Denomination now called Community Of Christ and share of HIS power and glory inviting all to yield 100% of their hearts to HIM, for GOD loves everyone and desires that none perish. Yes, there are many wonderful loving people in the various Mormon Denominations and I have found that many have sincere relationships with the Living GOD. As we sang and shared our testimonies of GOD taking care of a family of eight living by faith, we were able to spur many on in the own walk with their loving CREATOR. Afterwards, many of these precious Saints came to realize they were missing much and hopefully they have continued in their search for all that GOD has for them!

Looking back I firmly believe the key was my consistent prayer asking GOD to have HIS way in every area of my life. I've since challenged my dear friends and relatives who are still in various Mormon organizations. I've tried presenting the research, but so often it seems to fall on deaf ears, unless they are searching answers. Pride keeps us from searching for truth and latching onto it. I was there and people presenting the facts would hit me over the head with their Bibles, figuratively! I learned early on as a child to have a "persecution mentality" and soon I was hardened to any outside truth that may contradict my worldview. I try to encourage those who know precious people in Mormon institutions. The key is prayer and investing time in building a relationship of trust. Just plant Spirit-led questions and not demand answers. Let GOD be GOD and HE'll make them squirm and hopefully research on their own. My wife and I have attended that same Assembly Church for over 30 years!

In 2002 our whole family of six children stepped out in full-time ministry living by faith traveling the US singing and sharing the LORD in over twenty-six denominations including Mormon Believing ones! We went to the highways and byways as GOD opened doors for us to minister HIS love and GOOD NEWS to those who may never step inside a church. JESUS battled corrupt leadership when HE was here and was met by one, in the disguise of night, who at least was willing to ask some hard questions and earnestly seek The Way, The Truth, The Life! May we all do the same! Shalom my friend. Feel free to reach out with comments or questions via our Contact webpage.