PBS aired a four hour documentary on the LDS Church on April 30^th and May 1^st. They will rebroadcast each two hour segment throughout the week so there are a variety of times that you can record it.   Or you can also order a copy of the special directly from PBS for about $25 and PBS has it on their site to watch it online.  I highly encourage everyone to see how this organization took root and expanded.  The majority of those (probably 70%) interviewed are active LDS.  For me it was really sad to watch the looks on the faces of those interviewed while explaining away the controversial issues the Church has faced in the 180 years of its life. 

     While I admire that the producer didn’t candy-coat the truth about polygamy or the Mountain Meadows Massacre, she also didn’t go into any detail as to why Smith had chosen to practice polygamy or why the members still believe that polygamy and godhood are synonymous with salvation.  The mainstream LDS Church may not be practicing it in the physical realm, but in the temple and spiritually speaking, they are still heavily engaged in this theology.

     One descendant of the polygamous clans (now mainstream LDS) shared an excerpt from her great-great-great grandmother’s diary.  In it she (grandma) said how horrible it had been when the grandfather came home one day to announce the bishop had commanded him to take another wife.  The couple had been married for quite some time by then and had several children.  The new wife was 16 years old and was the grandmother of the woman being interviewed.  Her diary held the story of how the other wives felt when their own feelings and pride had to be extinguished for the “sake of the gospel”.  When modern-day polygamist women were interviewed for the show, they were dealing with the same feelings of jealousy, envy, strife and loneliness.  Funny how some things never change just as Solomon wrote in Ecc. 1:9-10; “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.”

     The fundamental Mormons claim they are the true Mormons and I have to say I agree with them.  I don’t approve nor do I condone their behavior or doxology, however they are indeed practicing real Mormonism.  The documentary played a clip of President Hinckley stating those who are practicing polygamy are not fundamental Mormons.  He said the press and everyone else needs to stop referring to them as such.  And isn’t it “funny” how those things haven’t changed either; ordering people (even the “outsiders”) to do as he says.

     I’m praying the documentary enlightens the public at large as to the fallacies of the type of Christianity the Mormon Church is trying to push.  They obviously made it clear enough that their brand of Christianity isn’t the same as the Judeo-Christian type.  Many of the people who have e-mailed us in response to it have voiced the same thing.

     The main points that I pray will get through to the Mormon people aren’t filled with rocket science grade theology.  In fact the topics and questions are quite simplistic in nature.

Why did the god of Mormonism change his mind in regards to polygamy?  If this was really from God, wouldn't or better yet couldn’t He have made it possible to stay legal?

Why did the Mormon god change His mind about the blacks and the priesthood in 1978?

When a person that is ex-communicated or resigns from the Church loses all their blessings from their baptism, what happens to the dead people they were baptized for; do they lose their blessings as well?

     Jesus tells us to be in the world not of it, therefore we are to be separated from those who carouse around and openly defy the Lord.  However, being separated from the rest of the body of Christ is even more remote and not biblical. 

Have you ever wondered why everyone from the beginning of Christianity believes in the same spiritual laws except the LDS Church?

     Although the documentary didn’t mention the entire turn of events on the day Joseph Smith was shot and killed I think it’s important that we take a look at the sequence of events on that fateful day in history.  It says in History of the Church documents that Smith shot and killed two people himself before dying.  History of the Church 6:617-619.  According to Webster’s Dictionary the definition of a martyr is: 

“one who voluntarily suffers death for the sake of a cause”.  They define the word “voluntarily” as: “having power of free choice, proceeding from the will or from one’s own choice or consent…”

     Now let’s take that event and compare it with what Joseph said about himself and what Isaiah prophesied about Jesus 700 years before the Savior’s birth.

Joseph:  “Like a Lamb to the Slaughter

Henry G. Sherwood went up to Joseph and said, "Brother Joseph, shall I return to Nauvoo and regulate about getting the arms and get the receipts for them?" Joseph inquired if he was under arrest, or expected to be arrested. Sherwood answered "No," when Joseph directed him to return ahead of the company, gather the arms and do as well as he could in all things. Joseph then said to the company who were with him, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men. If they take my life I shall die an innocent man, and my blood shall cry from the ground for vengeance, and it shall be said of me, 'He was murdered in cold blood!'" He then said to Father Sherwood, "Go, and God bless you." Sherwood then rode as swiftly as he could to Nauvoo. (June 24, 1844.)   —DHC 6:554-555.”

Bible:  Isaiah – Chapter 53:4-9; “4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”

     As you can see there is a great disparity between the two examples with just enough plagiarisms to confuse the members.  Jesus was trampled, pummeled, spit upon, beaten, flogged, degraded, and crucified, yet He said not a word.  He was the true Lamb of God that was taken to slaughter; yet He was not worthy of the crime; His blood never cries out to those who have put themselves in His place. 

     Shame on Mr. Smith, for he says that his blood will surely cry out for vengeance.  The word of God commands that we are not to seek out vengeance, for it belongs to Him alone.  Smith was indeed guilty of the crimes he was charged with!  While I don’t think he was given a fair day in court, he also wasn’t what he claimed to be and that was innocent!

     I encourage and challenge the Mormon that reads this to verify the documentation that is given here and also from the documentary if you watched it.  There is no sin in making sure you’re making the right decision and certainly there is no shame in it either my friend.  Know that we’re praying for all Mormons and hope they do find the truth!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle Grim  …