Dawne 7/13/25 Dawne 7/13/25

Book Review: Unveiling Grace, …Our Way Out of the Mormon Church, Part 3

THE PRE-EXISTENCE: “… before the creation of the world, Heavenly Father had sired and Heavenly Mother had borne millions of their spirit children. After the world was created, these spirits eagerly awaited to come to earth to receive physical bodies. Only the righteous spirits who had followed Jesus (not Satan [Jesus’s brother]) in the pre-existence war in heaven were allowed … to come to earth. They longed to be born into a “righteous” family (Mormon), in which they could learn the “true gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mormonism).” (p. 45)

Dawne 7/6/25 Dawne 7/6/25

Book Review: Unveiling Grace, …Our Way Out of The Mormon Church, Part 2

When the dark suited, well-groomed young men arrived at their door in the Wilders’ early married life, they began to present their flip charts of the time sharing what the Mormons wanted them to know about the Church.

Lynn says, “My analytical brain never slept peacefully back then. …I was so ignorant about Christianity, I didn’t even know intelligent questions to ask… The questions I conjured up came from what they presented to us.” (p. 39)

Dawne 6/29/25 Dawne 6/29/25

Book Review: Unveiling Grace Part 1

Unveiling Grace, by former Brigham Young University professor, Dr. Lynn K. Wilder, is an intimate look into not only her life and that of her family’s, but also of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormon Church.

Lynn and her husband, Michael, joined the Mormon Church as young adults, newly married. Both had been raised in Christian homes, but Lynn, unschooled in the Bible, drifted in college when introduced to Freud, Darwin and Skinner among others. Michael, who believed in Jesus growing up, just couldn’t find a church that suited after leaving home.

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/11/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/11/25

Doublethink

Doublethink!!! The art of self-contradiction without being noticed.

Any Bible-based cult must distinguish itself from every other group’s expression of Biblical teaching. Otherwise, the cult’s followers might get the idea that there is somewhere else to go if they have a disagreement with the cult.

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/4/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/4/25

Who Joins Spiritually Abusive Groups?

The question of who joins high control religious groups seems like it would have a simple answer. It does not. Nor is there a simple answer to how it happens. The starting place should be the question of what disposes a person to spiritual abuse? Why is a person vulnerable? What differences in people make one vulnerable and another not so vulnerable?

Here is a list that may help you think it through. Which of these statements fit you?

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 4/6/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 4/6/25

Concerning Mormon Authority & Blacks in the Priesthood

Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Mormons teach that in the pre-existence Lucifer began a war in heaven over the rejection of his plan of salvation. One third of the sons of God sided with Lucifer, one third fought against him, and one third failed to be valiant in the struggle.

Brigham Young said these non-valiant sons of God were cursed from ever holding the Mormon priesthood. So they can be identified they were given the mark of Cain, which Mormons say are the Negro, or dark skinned, features.