Setting the Record Straight...

     I have the same respect for ignorant, so-called “concerned religious leaders” that call Mormons “non-Christians” and a “cult” that I have for ignorant, so-called “gun-professionals” that claim to be superior to all, as they pick up one of my firearms, put their finger on the trigger, and proceed to point the muzzle at me while relating their latest glorious conquest from their “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” video game.

     You, sir... are an idiot!  And you DO NOT know what you are talking about.

     For anyone who does not know about my church (for I am a member of that faith...) let me tell you the truth of these things in a short, meaningful way:

     The name of the church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”.  We are Christians.  “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (The Book of Mormon, Book of 2nd Nephi, Chapter 25, Verse 26)

     Joseph Smith is not the founder.  Jesus Christ is the founder of our church.  Joseph Smith was a prophet, called by our Heavenly Father, to restore the gospel and the church and who translated “The Book of Mormon” by the gift and power of God, which is Another Testament of Jesus Christ... a set of scriptures (comparable to the Bible) written by ancient prophets of the Americas... which we read... just as we read the Old Testament, the New Testament... and any other book or writing that is virtuous, lovely, or praiseworthy.  “Mormon” was the name of one of the final prophets in that book who collected the other books and writings and who, under the direction of God, preserved them for a “future generation.”

     Later, “Mormon” was the name given to members of our church by bigoted thugs who... because they despised a “new religion” in the area... murdered Joseph Smith, and raped our women and children, butchered the husbands, stole their livestock and possessions, burned their crops and homes, forcing the surviving families and children (in deathly winter) to carry their naked babies and flee the villainous mobs because Lilburn W. Boggs, the Governor of Missouri, issued “Missouri Executive Order 44” which called for the murder and extermination of all “Mormons” if they would not leave ‘his’ state.  As those peaceful, defenseless Christians looked back at their devastated dreams, they saw their bloody footprints in the snow leading back towards their farms, their homes, their sacred temple... and watched as drunken men broke into that temple... their Holy House of the Lord Jesus Christ... vandalized it, urinated and defecated on it, and then set it on fire.

     Those men... those vulgar, evil men... were also “concerned religious leaders.”

     It has been my experience that we (members of my church) have little to fear from our fellow Christian brothers and sisters... or even our non-Christian friends and neighbors... who confess to know little about us.  They seem happy with our friendship and respect that we contribute to our communities in a beautiful and positive way.  But the annals of history have shown that it is the supposed “Christian Leaders” of other churches that, perhaps out of fear of losing their flock, vilify and attack us in the most poisonous and disturbing ways.

     I believe that this public “church leader” is a fool... ignorant and prejudice to the beautiful religious truths that await any spiritually-curious son or daughter of God.  And, in the end, I believe his vitriol will actually bring a positive result... increasing healthy inquiry and eventual understanding about members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I even suspect (to his utter consternation) his vile rhetoric perhaps might even be the catalyst that causes members of his own congregation to seek further light and knowledge... elsewhere.

     As I watched a panel-discussion on Fox News yesterday, Greg Gutfeld said something like, “If Mormons are a cult, I want to join!  Who wouldn’t want to join?  Mormons are always healthier, happier, better looking, they live longer and have beautiful families... They don’t drink or smoke... my wife would be happier with me.  What’s not to like?  Sign me up!”  The others then nodded and said things like, “You know... you have a point.”

     Now, I cannot speak for any other “Mormons” but let me tell you about me and my “Christian” family...  We are NOT perfect.  We make mistakes; we err; we sin; we are weak and constantly struggling and trying to improve ourselves... But we believe in Jesus Christ and know that through Him and His atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins and improve our lives to be a force for good in the world.

     We strive to keep the commandments; We go to church every Sunday and do our best to keep the Sabbath day holy; We have “Family Night” once a week; Our children attend Young Women’s Improvement and Boy Scouts and other similar programs; We abstain from alcohol, tobacco, harmful or addictive drugs, pornography, immorality, pre-marital sex, and other things we know harm our bodies and our spirits; We pay 10% of our income in tithes and offerings; We serve our fellow man; We donate our time and talents to the Church when there is need;

     We display pictures of Jesus Christ in our home; We read our scriptures as a family every night... cycling through The Old Testament, The New Testament, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and others...  Then, when we finish, we all kneel down on the floor and pray to God... in the name of Jesus Christ... to focus on what we have just read... and to ask Him to confirm to us the truthfulness of those things by the undeniable promptings of the Holy Spirit... just like Joseph Smith and tens of millions of “Mormons” just like us...

     In the year 1820, a young man named Joseph Smith, was seeking to find which of all the churches was true.  He related it this way...  “While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading (the Bible) the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know;...At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God.”

For the full history: http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng

     That, along with this scripture, led me and my family to the truth: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”  (The Book of Mormon, Book of Moroni, Chapter 10, Verse 4.)

Can it really be that simple?

     In the time of Moses, some of the children of Israel, bitten by poisonous snakes, needed only to look up to an image of a serpent on a pole... and they would be healed... instantly... and wholly.  However, because the solution was "too simple" many did not believe it and died rather than experiment on God’s words.  And thus it is here... rather than pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true or if Joseph Smith was a prophet, they would rather suffer spiritual death... for the solution is too simple and it cannot be that easy.

     The Book of Mormon even directly addresses those who would attack the book... and asks:

     “And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.”

     “And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.”

     “And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews (The Old Testament) and also my words (The Book of Mormon) and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God (The New Testament) behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day. (The Book of Mormon, 2nd Book of Nephi, Excerpt from the end of Chapter 33)

Side Note: We have the Old Testament, and the New Testament.  Why is the Book of Mormon called “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” in the title?  Aside from the fact that the entire book relates to the Savior, the word “Testament” comes from the Latin, testamentum, and from testari, from testis... or “witness” meaning.... “Standing as a Third Witness”...just as the above verse indicates.

     There is a simple fact.  The Book of Mormon is either true, or it is false.  If it is true, then Joseph Smith was a prophet because he translated it by the gift and power of God.  If Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God, then the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored gospel here on the earth and the only true church with all the restored priesthood powers and keys and authorities associated therewith.

     You, also, can come to this knowledge... by simply following the above precepts and praying about it for yourself...

     Just as the Bible and other scriptures invite us to do.

     Have you ever wondered why EVERY - OTHER - CHURCH on the planet joins together to attack the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?  All these churches...  that refuse to see eye-to-eye on any other principle... some, even blood-enemies of one another, combine forces to attack us?  Why would they do that?  Because our church is true.  How can a church that some claim is “so wrong” go from 6 members in 1830, to the fastest growing church in the world today?  Because it is true.  People learn of it, they pray about it, and they discover the most profound truth for themselves.  It makes them and their families happier and more spiritually complete than they have ever felt in any other church before.  They then know... what I now know...  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.  The Book of Mormon is true.  Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  I know it... and it is a truth and testimony I can never deny.

     I am amused when my fellow students, teachers, instructors, police officers, pilots, (I've had a full life) martial artists, historians, scientists, and the like... have approached me and asked, “Edward, you are so intelligent and so experienced... How can you be so naive and easily deceived about this... your religion?”

     My reply: Oh, how can you not see that even as my experience and faith in all these worldly things leads me to a greater understanding of the truthfulness of their worth... so it is here with the spiritual matters of my life... with the added testimony of a Holy Spirit sent by a loving Father in Heaven... saying unto me... “Forward, Edward. Forward.”

     Again, I say, “It is true.  I know it... and it is a truth and testimony I can never deny.”

-Edward Wilks