Preach the Gospel - That you are not telling new converts the whole story? Do they know that Jesus is the half brother of Satan? Do they know that the woman will be called out of the grave by their husband by a name that is given to them in the Temple? Do they know they will be required to do "Ordinances for the Dead" in order to "work out their own Salvation"? Do they know that God has a body of flesh and bones, although that contradicts the Bible AND the Book of Mormon? Do they know that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are three separate God's in "one purpose"? Wait... you're giving them the milk before the meat. So, when you use the word Jesus, you don't tell them that He was in a meeting with God and Satan and said that He would come down and die for our sins, and that only assures us resurrection? You don't tell them that the cross is offensive to you, although the Bible clearly states that "The teaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing". You don't tell them that God's grace is sufficient, but only after all you can do and basically you must die trying to please God with no assurance that you're going to be "reunited" with Him? But you're preaching the Gospel. What exactly are you preaching? Because it's a very watered down version of the LDS Doctrine.
Perfect the Saints - That statement right there... those three words show how much Mormonism is a works based religion. That is the difference between mainstream Christianity and the LDS Church. The LDS feel they need to earn Christ's grace, and Mainstream Christian's understand it to be a free gift, undeserved and showered on us due to God's love for us. The LDS God is a very fickle creature. He changes His mind, changes His doctrine and you have no assurance that you are going to be with Him when you die, even though you've spent you're whole Mormon life trying to please Him. Where is the grace and mercy in that?
Redeem the Dead - WOW. You actually said it. And in public! That is one of the purposes of the LDS Church. To perform "ordinances for the dead". Now, you have to explain that to all the converts. Explain that when you die your work is STILL not done as you must now travel into "outer darkness" to all the lost souls and preach the LDS Doctrine to them too. When will you have time to have your own planet, people it and govern it if you're in outer darkness? Just confused on that one. But I'm actually shocked and amazed that Redemption of the dead was listed publicly as one of the four purposes of the LDS Church.
Care for the Poor and Needy - As this is incredibly honorable and I agree with this 100000%, I humbly want to ask why? What are your motives? Dig deep and tell me, is it because you truly do care for the poor and the needy or is it because it is a rung on the ladder to "work out your own salvation"? Honestly, if it is a rung, I cannot blame you, because that is what your Church teaches. But wouldn't it be nice to be able to whole heartedly give and not worry about working out your own salvation? Wouldn't it be freeing to know that you dont' have to work so hard? Would it be a shock if I said that when Jesus was on the Cross and He said, "It is finished" that He meant it? Lay your burdens down, my precious LDS friends. You do not have to work so hard. Jesus has done it all.
Now, you can care for the poor and the needy not because it will earn you a spot at the front of the line in Heaven, but because Christ's light shines through you and you simply cannot stop the desire to spread this light. That is Christianity. That is following Jesus. Not all the works that the LDS Church puts upon you.
Think of it this way... if you've been in the LDS Church long enough, you have or are bound to see things change. Even doctrine will change. Modern Day Revelation will cause something to move. Yet many times, many members will take the good, ignore the bad and keep going to work out their own salvation. What if it was already worked out? Done. And you can lay your head and rest? Would that not be liberating? And you can freely serve God, not because it will get you into a level of Heaven, but because you simply love Christ and you understand that He died for you. To cleanse you of your sins, so you don't have to daily repent. He took your burdens, so you don't have to carry them. But in the LDS Church, you're not allowing Christ to be Christ. You're limiting Him to be a fraction of what He really is. Accept Him fully and the weight of the LDS Church, it's regulations and rules will be off your shoulders. You will finally be free.
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