Martha’s Testimony: Religion Destroys, Jesus Restores
I have not had time to blog lately so I asked a friend of mine who was raised LDS if she would like to share her testimony for a blog post. This is her testimony in her own words:
I was born into the Mormon Church and raised going to Sunday school and Seminary. I went to church regularly. I attended Brigham Young University. I had a brother who did the same. My brother was a bit more rebellious than I was, but met a woman and married her in the temple. The marriage was short lived and they divorced. After a time, my brother met another woman and moved in with her. My father was the Bishop at the time and my brother was in the Ward. The LDS church required my father to excommunicate my brother. My brother and his future wife moved away to a place only I knew of. I was devastated. I could not believe a God would destroy a family like that. I became agnostic. Even to the point of finding the nicest atheist I could find and marrying him – to spite God and my parents.
At one point, the Mormon Church began harassing me. They consistently sent their 14-year-old boys to collect tithing and calling me. One day the Bishop showed up at my door and I asked him if he had a piece of paper. He gave me one and I wrote down the request to take me off the Mormon list. They held court, which I did not attend.
For the next 20 or so years I lived away from God. I raised some beautiful children. I taught them that “If they were good people, they should be OK with God.” But God wanted me. In 2004, he came and got me. I attended a Zig Ziglar GetMotivated Seminar. During the business seminar, they put out the gospel. They spoke of Jesus Christ’s saving grace right there from the stage. I thought, “Well, that was kind of churchy.” There was a response card that had a question – would I like a one hour free business consulting. I checked it yes. Someone called and I arranged to have the one hour consulting on a Thursday. The Monday before, my husband left me. I had the call on Thursday, and the man from Florida was a Pastor. As I cried through the hour, he prayed through the hour. I continued with the business coaching and he recommended I read ‘A Purpose Driven Life.’ During one day of reading, I acknowledged I was a sinner. I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life. I started attending a Christian church and God has been working in my life ever since.
At a certain point, I began to research the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What I found has made a disturbing impact on my life. This is what I know about my assurance of living with the Father for all eternity:
1. I admit that I am a sinner (Romans 3:10-12, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:23, James 2:10).
2. I know Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross. I thank and praise Him for His faithfulness (Colossians 1:21-22).
3. I believe that Christ took my sins upon Him on the cross and endured God’s judgment in my place. God has forgiven my sins and continues in His faithfulness to forgive my sins and I am pardoned in His sight (Isaiah 53:5-6, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 5:8-9, John 5:24, John 14:6, Acts 4:12).
4. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and call Him my Lord (Psalm 100, Acts 17:24-31, Romans 10:9-10).
5. Jesus is alive today and I am His. I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, conquering sin and death and He ascended into heaven to reign as Lord. He is alive and is transforming me into His image (Acts 2:22-24, 36, Romans 6:4, Acts 1:9-10, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 12:1-2).
6. I confess my sins and He is faithful to forgive me at that moment (Psalm 139:23-24, 1 John 1:8-10).
It is my understanding that the LDS religion considers me a son of perdition because I was a member of the Mormon Church and denied it. Therefore, I will go to the everlasting punishment where the fire will not be quenched. I have rejected the LDS religion; therefore, I will go to hell (D&C 76:30-49). I know for a fact that that is not true. I know for a fact that I will live with the Father, Jesus my Christ, and the Holy Spirit for all eternity.
I Love Mormons 
Thank you for sharing your testimony, Martha! I have attended one of those Zig Ziglar GetMotivated seminars and when I heard the gospel presented I thought it was a little odd… especially since they seemed bent on selling people on their products. I thought it was a little questionable to throw the gospel into their sales schpeel. So I’m super surprised and happy to hear that God used that to draw you to Himself. He amazes me how He uses whatever meager attempts people have to offer! “whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice” (Phil. 1:18).
I am LDS and I know that MANY LDS people don’t really understand what the gospel is teaching. You can’t be a “son of Perdition”, you will not go to hell. The LDS perspective on outer darkness is that to qualify for that you have to say the sun is not shining while you see it shining. Not believing after once believing just means you are a good person trying to find your way. I’m glad that you have a personal relationship with the Savior, I just wish you didn’t think so harshly against the church. People that have made you feel that way are not representatives of the church, they are just mistaken.
Hi Crystal, thanks for your comments. Yes, I agree that MANY LDS people don’t really understand what the gospel is teaching. As I said in the post, I came to this conclusion after researching LDS doctrine. I believe most LDS people are good, they are just being deceived by doctrine that just does not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I have two suggestions. The first and most important – read the New Testiment. Get an easier version to read like the NIV or even the New King James. Secondly, look at the LDS articles of faith and then go to some other Christain churches’ websites and read their statements of faith.
I’m praying that God will remove the scales from the eyes and minds of these beautiful people so that they may find the One and Only True God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth who came down to become flesh, who took our sins upon Him on the cross so that we are forgiven. Who rose up into Heaven so that when we accept that we are sinners, and ask Him into our hearts, we shall know Him. That when we call Him our Lord, His love will warm our hearts, then He can use us to do His will. In the Holy name of Jesus, Amen
As an adult convert to Mormonism, I recently began the quest of deprogramming myself of nearly four decades of mantras, conversation pieces, scripture salad and all the other cognitive dissonant stuff in my head! But I’ve had a tough time reconciling with my former (and yet always in here) Christian life before Mormonism. My four children have already pretty much denounced the church and are much happier, but have not yet replaced that lifestyle with a God-filled life. Today, when I asked for His help, He made me happier, too. God is helping me remove anger and hatred that have assailed me especially since the death of their demon-filled “priesthood holder” father/step-father… anger which has affected/influenced every day I live and I don’t like it! It just seemed like I was allowing evil to win when give in to it! I much prefer beginning to trust in Him again; yet I have all this stubbornness of heart toward the Lord and God that I didn’t have before! What’s that all about?!! Any of you go through this when you left the church? I actually allowed one of the ladies in my ward (one I always appreciated for her realness) to talk with me today about an upcoming ward party, without my feeling guarded and defensive. (big of me, I know!) but I have blown them all off these past 6 months, even the Stake President! I just don’t want to talk to them, as my feelings and thoughts are so deep and personal. I find myself just wanting to assail them with all my “new-found knowledge” and doubts about all the lack of validity of virtually everything in the LDS Church, with the exception of the humanitarian/welfare departments and and social benefits of the society of Saints! but I know that is just not the right thing to do. So I just avoid them right now, until I’m stronger. Also, I have had so many darn pitty-parties about how being let down by so many of the leaders and counselors over the years when beseeching them for help with my marriage and found none. The real truth of Jesus’ life and purpose are setting me free now. I pray that somehow, someway I can help bring my children to know that their pain and sorrow can be swallowed up in the Savior’s true and real promises. Thank you all for your comments and for your courage to think and pray your way out of Mormonism and yet love its people enough to want to help them out too. And thanks especially to my dedicated little Christian patient who just gave me the Amplified Bible! My own King James has been well-loved and used/marked over the years… my saving grace I think. I know too that I have been blessed though all the years of devotion, giving love and service. I also know that my real Christian friends and even non-Christians always seemed so much more at peace and happier than the majority of the thousands of Mormons I have known in dozens of wards, stakes and several countries. Love saves all… doesn’t it!? Joanie
Joanie, you talk about stubbornness. I think stubbornness is often the result of bitterness. I struggled with such a root of bitterness in my heart for many, many years. I tried my best to forgive. Over and over I tried to let go of the past, only to find that I remained trapped! My breakthrough came one night as I was praying alone in my bathroom (my prayer room at that point – so as not to disturb my husband who sleeps at the hours when the Spirit woke me to prayer). I was seeking the Lord concerning this specific problem I had and had been woken by Him every night for about 8 days consecutively. This specific night I was lead to pray through the ‘Lords Prayer’. When I reached the point where we say ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us’, the Lord dropped His understanding into my dim little mind. No matter how hard I tried to forgive, I will never be able to. How can I give something that I don’t have? I need to first ask Him to forgive me, before I can forgive the person who sinned against me. When I did that, it was like a great flood that broke over me. Gods love engulfed me and restored me in an instant. The bondage which bitterness had over me was broken and my body consequently healed. I have been free from this for 3 years now and know that I will never again suffer as I did before. The Son has set me free.
May you also experience His freeing power and much, much more. Love in Jesus.
Sheugnet.
Wow, Sheugnet, that is powerful. What a testimony of how it is Jesus who heals us. It is Jesus who enables us to forgive. He removes the bitterness when we ask Him to. All we have to do is ask. That is the only requirement. He is faithful. I am experiencing that in my life right now. He is taking the bitterness of being raised in an authoritative household in Mormonism and softening my heart towards the Mormon religion. Even though I know without a doubt that it is false and is putting many people under tremendous burden, I can see clearly the beautiful people that are it’s members of the Mormon religion. Thanks for your comments. Joanie – I hope your travels out of Mormonism are going well. Praise the Lord for your patient to give you a bible that you can understand. And Yes – LOVE saves all.
I find it amazing that words such as love, and tolerance and peace and joy are often interspersed with negative connotations, exaggerations, misunderstandings, ignorance or just out and out lies about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I always find it interesting how these types of comments always use the acts of individuals to discredit the church. I did not grow up a “Mormon” but made the decision on my own to join when I was 12, prior to any of my family joining. I left the church when I was 18. Went to various other churches including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic churches. All filled with some very good people, but also some people that are not so nice. After 25 years of bouncing from one church to another I came back to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in a very small branch with some really good people and some not so nice. I currently attend in a ward that also has some really good people and some that are not so nice. I myself have made some really bad decisions and done some not so nice things. The wonderful thing is that my savior Jesus Christ knows that about me and only offers love, peace, inderstanding and help over my weaknesses and does so through the church. I have come to realize that my Bishop is imperfect, my Stake President is imperfect, the Patriarch is imperfect, the Prophet and President of the Church is imperfect and you and I are imperfect. One of my best friends in the world, a member of the Free Will Baptist Church I went to, dropped me as a friend, outright, verbally and publically because I returned to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. He told me that I “made a decision to not be his friend.” My wife at the time (who brought me into that Baptist Church) was having sex with several of the members of the church including one of the deacons, while married to me. The Youth Minister was a susbstance abuser, the music director a pedophile and the director of the transportation (bus) ministry was a murderer. I never said anything negative and still will not about that church. It was and is helping people to find their way back to Christ and what a blessing that is. Why, oh tell me why do people find it so imperative to say such horrendous things about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints because of the actions of some of it’s imperfect people? Christ taught, ” Ye shall know them by their fruits…every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit…A good tree CANNOT bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit…Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of the Father which is in heaven.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints brings forth “good fruit” in so many ways, as do the Baptists, the Methodists, the Presbyterians and the Catholics. Why then is so much time, energy and emotion spent on “beating up” and attacking the “Mormons” or the “Mormon” Church? It seems it has always been that way and apparently always will. Those of you that have been hurt by the decisions of the members of the church, will you not find it in your heart to forgive? Christ forgave while hanging on a cross…are you better than him? Will you please find the love that you profess and drop the “hate agenda” that you have found. I love you, the prophet loves you and I bet your bishop loves you. I know that your Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ love you. Contention is not of the Lord. Much love to you.
Jim, I’m sorry you feel I was being negative. I was only providing my experience with the LDS religion and how the true God of the Bible adopted me into His family.
I really don’t see any lies in the above posts. Could you point them out, please. Also, please note that I said,
It’s not the people of the church that is the problem as stated in my second post
Again, I would like to say that it’s not the people, it’s the doctrine. The result of that act BY THE LDS CHURCH to excommunicate my brother has caused BAD FRUIT to my entire family. Now it is affecting even the grandchildren. It has torn our family apart. That one act, by the LDS church! No person excommunicated my brother, the LDS church excommunicated my brother. Therefore, you just proved your statement above:
Though you didn’t give reference to the scripture quoted here, you have just proved the LDS church false.
I’m praying that the One and Only True God of Isreal will open the gates of His kingdom and take the scales off the eyes of those under the burden of the LDS religion. That He bring them into His kingdom with the love that transcends all understanding.
(I’m a Mormon.) Martha, you cannot be a “Son of Perdition” for something so small. True damnation is reserved for those who have seen the face of Christ Himself, then actively work against God. Judas is one. You are no more than I am…
By that I mean no more a son of perdition than I am. It’s been my experience that ex-members of the church seem to expect that all of us judge them, and reject us without understanding how we really feel.
Having God and Jesus Christ in your life is a good thing, no matter what religion you are. If you did research into our doctrines, you’d find that being truly damned to hell is not an easy thing to achieve. As Joseph Smith said, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” You followed your conscience, and that’s all that can be expected. Please don’t think that we are so judgmental as to think a good person would go to hell over a simple think such as minutia of doctrinal belief!
Danny, I finally found the answer to your post on Sept. 10th.
I do not deny Jesus Christ, however, I do deny the plan of salvation according to the Mormon religion. Therefore, according to Mormon doctrine, I am a son of perdition. Which believe me is totally untrue.
Here’s another one:
I’m not sure who the master is he’s talking about (Joseph Smith?), but I no longer follow the Mormon religion and believe me, I do not follow the evil one!!
Therefore, the Mormon church is FALSE.
PS. Jesus Christ is GOD!
Jim, I got on here needing to read what you wrote. Mormon, Athiest, Mormon!!! Thankyou so much!!!
Praise God. Thank you for sharing a wonderful testimony. I just found your blog.
God is love. I am not Mormon, but still…it just doesn’t feel right to hate and argue with one another like this. It just feels – wrong.
You are a wonderful person and very dear to the LORD. I praise Christ from the heart because He saved you from apostasy. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! Rejoice! We will meet in the highest Heaven praising Jehovah for eternity without getn tired or thirsty
Danny. I hope you read this. Doctrine is EVERYTHING! Joseph Smith just showed his true colours by stating that we need only to follow our own conscience in worshiping God. What utter rubbish! Read you Bible (if you have one – not the book of mormon, but the Bible) and note that Jesus said exactly how He has to be worshiped. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Joseph Smith was just a New Age propagator, not a prophet of the One God.