Understanding the True
Origins of Mormonism
The Incredible Story of a Race of Celestial Beings
that once Came to the Earth...
by Clare Gregory
Chapter 2
Transition to Grace
Although I’ve explained the born again process in words, some reading
about the process may still be confused. For example, while writing my
book, I had several discussions with a person who did not understand the
Christian view of salvation. After my explaining the spiritual birth
process, we had the following dialogue:
IMY QUESTION: Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and
been saved--freed from sin? Freed from darkness and pride? Has he turned
these [born again] keys in your heart and set you free?
LDS RESPONSE: Instant salvation is a false doctrine. Faith comes a little
at a time. We learn about Christ line upon line. Its not a momentous
experience that happens once. We learn slowly. Milk Before meat. Jesus
Christ is The Lord and Savior of Me and my entire world. Without Him I am
nothing. But I am not about to judge my salvation. That is His
Responsibility and privilege. I will not take that away from Him by saying
that I am Saved. I will just do as he wishes. Not my will but his be done.
Now and forever. He will not save us in our sins but from them. I feel
that you are missing or misunderstanding basic concepts of the Gospel.
Perhaps someday you will understand.
In general, I believe this response shows clearly the mindset of the LDS
people. They have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their
lives. They live in the waters of life-long repentance, swimming like
fish in the baptismal font, never completing the entire process of being
born of the blood and the Spirit. By denying that we are saved today by
Jesus Christ, we slap God’s grace in the face. We deny his unconditional
love for us.
Grace of God
My transition out of Mormonism took many years, and it was quite involved,
but the fundamental principle that I wrestled with over two decades is the
grace of God. I could never fully comprehend the grace of God as a
Latter-day Saint, and God’s grace meant the universal free gift of
salvation of the resurrection. However, like the person above, eternal
life or the highest of God’s blessings was something we received because
of our obedience to law. As Joseph Smith wrote:
“There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of
this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we receive
any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is
predicated.” (D&C 130:20-21.)
At this time, I viewed the atonement of Jesus as God’s gift to put in plan
the eternal law of God. We were free to choose right or wrong, good or
evil, light or darkness. Without Jesus, all was lost, for not one person
could ever choose the right, but all would be lost to sin. I believed
that the light of Christ operated based on the atonement and worked with
us based on that love. Our obedience to spiritual law causes us to
increase in light as a part of our eternal progression toward godhood.
After twenty years of reading the Book Of Mormon and having many personal
experiences, I gradually changed my views on grace:
“And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall no other way nor means
whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through
the name of Christ, the Lord omnipotent.” (Mosiah 3:17.)
“And by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It
is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)
These scriptures D&C 130:20-21. And this is what is so hard about
Mormonism. The Book of Mormon contains many pure teachings about Jesus
which are completely Biblical. But on the other hand, Joseph Smith
taught false principles that rest on top of that bedrock truth. If a
person accepts the Book of Mormon, then the person is also obligated to
accept the D&C 130:20-21, the priesthood, and the LDS temple ceremony.
Joseph Smith obviously believed both the Book of Mormon and D&C were
true. But we need to progress and grow to “understand the mysteries”.
Therefore, when we are confronted with conflicting points of doctrine, we
can easily reason that it is our fault for not understanding. We are too
immature. “Joseph Smith saw God,” we reason. “He understood. If we
just keep working at it, we will understand the contradictions later as
God teaches us the truth.” In this way, we can grow in the basic
principles of truth found in the Book of Mormon, but as we do, we will
continually find more questions and issues that contradict the D&C and the
LDS temple. W eventually learn to ignore all contradictions and accept on
faith those obvious errors and misunderstandings, while clinging to the
Book of Mormon. God will work out the mysteries later for us.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to hook the believer into the false
LDS priesthood and occult temple ordinaces. Satan works in half-truths to
deceive us. In 1986 President Benson quoted the following versed from the
D&C:
“And you minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and
because you have treated lightly the things you have received---Which
vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And
this condemnation shall rest upon the children of Zion, even all. And
they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember
the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments, not
only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.” (D&C
84:54-55.)
President Benson explained that the curse on the LDS Church had not been
lifted since 1832, and until the Church obeyed the principles in the Book
of Mormon, the curse would remain. For a decade, the focus turned to the
Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ, and we saw the people moved by the Holy
Spirit, and authors such as Robinson wrote moving works such as “Believing
Christ” that moved the Latter-day Saints closer to the true doctrine of
grace. However, after Benson’s ministry, we find Hunter and Hinkley
moving off the Book of Mormon and onto the temple. Thus the Book of
Mormon is milked the Holy Spirit, only to turn the people into false light
and occult powers, turning that light into great darkness.
I can prove my theory it true. Where this famous quote taking the Book of
Mormon lightly is found? It is amazing. This curse is buried in section
84, which is Joseph’s revelation on the Oath and Covenant of the
priesthood, including a section on God building the temple in Jackson
County Missouri!
“Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses—for the sons of Moses
and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and
sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the
Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed—And
the sons of Moses and Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord,
upon Mount Zion in the Lord’s house, whose sons are ye; and also any whom
I have called and sent for to build up my church. For whoso is faithful
unto the obtaining this two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the
magnifying of their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the
renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and
the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me
receiveth my Father; and he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s
kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And
this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the
priesthood. Therefore, all those wo receive the priesthood, receive this
oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be
moved. But whoso breaketh this covenant after he has received it, and
altogether turneth therefore, shall not have forgiveness in this world nor
in the world to come.” (D&C 84:31-41.)
Section 84:31-41 is the essence of LDS priesthood theology. The
purpose of the priesthood is to build temples and perform the saving work
for the living and for the dead. It provides the structure and power of
the LDS Church. It contains keys and powers that belong to God:
“And this greater priesthood administereth the keys of the mysteries of
the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the
ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the
ordinances therefore, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of
godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man
can see the face of God, even the Father, and live. Now this Moses
plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought
diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God.
But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence;
therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them,
swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness,
which rest is the fullness of his glory. Therefore, he took Moses out of
their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also. And the less priesthood
continued, which priesthood holdeth the key to the administering of angels
and the preparatory gospel.” (D&C 84:19-26.)
The devil teaches the powers of the LDS priesthood are required for
salvation and seeing the face of God. Once the Book of Mormon is believed
and confirmed by the Holy Spirit, the counterfeit theology then is very
hard to crack. Satan conveniently teaches that the Higher Priesthood of
Moses was removed from Israel because of God’s wrath. This explanation
justifies why there is no record in the Bible of this priesthood that
supposedly has so much power. But look closer: The revelation on the LDS
priesthood is carefully buried into the same section in the D&C that
commands the people to believe and “do” those simple and true Christian
principles that are written in the Book of Mormon. It is a most sinister
strategy that only a cunning and devilish mind could conceive!
For Christians or investigators unfamiliar with Mormonism, D&C section 84
sums up Mormonism in a nutshell. It would do well for anyone who desires
to truly understand Mormonism to study this one section. Section 84 of
the Doctrine and Covenant gives us a clearer understanding of the religion
than any other LDS scripture. Reading the Book of Mormon will not present
the complete picture of Mormonism, for it teaches of the true gospel of
Jesus Christ. Truth is truth, wherever it is found. The simplicity of
true principles in the Book of Mormon is quite powerful on the mind.
Satan watched Jesus teach his gospel on earth 2000 years ago, and he knows
it well. This gives the devil an edge in counterfeiting the truth. But
Satan’s key strategy is exposed in D&C 84. He mixes false teachings with
Biblical truths. For example, here is a summary:
Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:
1. The building of the temple in Jackson County in this generation.
(1-5) False
2. Origin and genealogy of priesthood. Bible credibility. (6-18) False
3. Melchizedek Priesthood powers. (19-22.) False
4. Bible credibility. God took Moses and priesthood away. (23-25)
False
5. Lesser priesthood continues with John, ordained by an angel (26-30.)
False
6. Temple sacrifices—(Work for the dead) (31-32) False
7. Oath and Covenant of the priesthood (33-42) False
8. Light and truth (43-47) True
9. End goal is LDS priesthood covenant (48) False
10. The world needs God’s power (49-53) True
11. Book of Mormon taken lightly--cursing (54-60) True (in principle)
12. Testify of truth (60-63) True
13. Apostolic ministry—signs follow those who believe (64-95) True
14. Prophecy and song (96-103) False
15. Instruction to saints (103-111) True/False
16. Warning to cities and desolation to those who reject Mormonism
(112-120) False
The Mormon religion is not what it appears to be. The religion pushes the
Book of Mormon and basic Christian values that any believer in Christ can
not argue with. But section 84 reveals the true intentions of Satan is to
hook the believer into the false priesthood system, a false purpose of
life, and occult temple ordinances. Once this is accomplished, Satan
quietly down plays the truths in the Book of Mormon. This makes it
exceedingly difficult to find Jesus Christ and truly be saved by the grace
of God. When Satan needs more spiritual light to contribute to expanding
his occult powers in the temple, as in D&C section 84, he encourages the
Church to read the Book of Mormon, not the Bible. Thus he intermingles
light and truth from the Book of Mormon into promoting a false priesthood
and damning temple ordinances, thus making it nearly impossible for
Mormons to unravel the web of deception presented in the temple, for the
mysteries are accepted on faith alone.
Mormonism Distracts From Correct Issue
Mormonism distracts us from the correct issue of inner healing and being
born again by masking our sins behind the idea that we belong to the only
true church having the only true priesthood. This only increases our
pride as we compare everyone else as belonging to false churches. The
idea originates with Satan, who implemented the same concept after the
first century, thus introducing the “universal” Catholic Church with its
legalistic priesthood. Eventually this lead to much bloodshed, abuse of
authority, controlled thinking, and the spiritual bondage of the members.
Freedom, which is the message of Jesus, was lost in political power and
authority that was used to control people, rather than set them free.
Thus, although the LDS Church would deny it, the legalistic priesthood
concept is moving the LDS Church to be another Catholic model.
“Which Church is true?” is the wrong question to ask. This is very hard
to see for a Mormon who has been trained to believe they belong to the
only true church on earth. It is even harder for members who were
previously Christians and sought for the “true church”, who finding the
LDS faith, received a witness that God wanted them to join it. And then,
learning daily from the Holy Spirit as a member, they simply assume that
the entire LDS church is true, when it is not 100% true. It can’t be
because the Church is made of human beings with finite minds, and only God
Himself is 100% true. God saves us, and not by a true church. He saves
us all by Himself. He is the omnipotent God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. And it was God that performed all of the miracles that freed
Israel from the Egyptians, not Moses, and not any “true Church”.
The Right Question
Do we want to repent and find God? This is the right question to ask.
And God is not found in any one Church. He is found inside our hearts.
God is Spirit, Truth, and Love. These are found inside the true church of
God---the true believers in Christ.
For me, I have found God. Truly found Him. I have been born of God. The
old man has been buried in the grave, and I’m now a new creature in
Christ. I have the keys to the born again process, and I know how to be
saved. I can teach anyone who is interested how to gain salvation.
Salvation is more that words written in a book. God lives INSIDE me. I’m
his temple.
This page was first created on 23 January 1999
Last Updated on 16 April 1999
Created and Maintained by The New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh
Not all the views expressed in this book are necessarily those of NCAY