Acid Test

The traditional acid test for gold consists of placing a small drop of a strong acid, such as nitric acid, onto the metal's surface. Most metals fizz or bubble, while precious metals remain unaffected.

Would anyone subject a wedding ring or a cherished heirloom to such a test? If not genuine, what remains would be marred and what dissolves would be lost forever. A “failed” test would indicate impurity and shatter any confidence in the object’s authenticity, depreciating its value. 

Given the opportunity, many choose not to conduct such assays. They hope for the best, but accept what they have at face value, even if what they cherish later proves to be a "knock off," a cheap imitation. For many, substitutes suffice. (See D&C 132:25.) “If I can’t tell the difference, what difference does it make?” they say.

Surely ignorance is bliss. But knowledge saves. Imitations matter most in matters of life and death. Whether one eats wholesome food (or poison), whether one worships the true and living God (or serves an idol), whether one pursues a course leading to eternal life and exaltation (or is damned) -- these are matters not best left to chance and speculation. A prudent person accepts no substitutes for the real thing. They find “wishful thinking” unacceptable.

Many Mormons find great value in their religion. They consider it to be of eternal consequence and import. They hope it is all true. (Many claim they “know” it is true!) Others have doubts. With so much riding on the outcome, however, both believer and skeptic ought to put their religion to the test: by subjecting it to thorough investigation and inquiry.

Mormon leader J. Reuben Clark observed: 

“If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed.”

Paul counseled:

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21.) 

In his book Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern Mormonism (offered here for free), Robert Smith does just that. Using the “solvent” of holy scriptures, LDS histories, journal entries and the testimonies of Mormon leaders, Smith "tests" several of Mormonism’s sacred golden calves. His stated purpose is revealed in his work's introductory paragraph:

“I have learned that there are only ever two things that are worth preaching over. The first and greatest is to turn to God. This is commonly called repentance, as in “preach nothing but repentance unto the people.” Unfortunately, repentance has often been reduced to convincing individuals to commit or abstain from a list of things. This is wresting of the principle in more ways than can briefly be summarized, and for the sake of the length of the book, I will refrain from elaborating. The second topic worth preaching about is the tearing down of false traditions that prevent people from turning to God. Just as the second great commandment is the way we live the first great commandment (as we love God through loving our neighbor), most are prevented from turning to God through a misunderstanding of what God is like (and what he is not like), what he is saying (and what he is not saying), and what his will is for us (and what it is not). One can only repent to the degree that they are free from false traditions. Therefore, one cannot preach repentance without preaching against false traditions.”

Any Latter-day Saint who finds the above passage intriguing ought to be captivated by the balance of Smith’s book.

This is no “anti-Mormon” screed. Smith clearly believes the Book of Mormon to be the word of God and embraces the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through its founding prophet, Joseph Smith. He is intimately familiar with Mormon culture, teaching, history and scripture. His arguments, while limited in scope, are well-reasoned, well-researched, comprehensive and compelling. With each essay, Smith calls upon these resources, like Elijah calling down fire from heaven, to “slay” one false prophet and “burn up” one dumb idol after another. 

Mormons ought not read Smith's work unless (and until) they are willing to put it all on the line and “clear the ground” (even licking up the water!) of any encumbrance to their exercising faith in Christ.

Jesus warned:

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26.)

By this work, Smith ably explicates how tradition and the precepts of men have come to dominate Mormon theology, culture, and practice, largely supplanting the pure doctrine of Christ (still ensconced in The Book of Mormon, but now largely ignored), thereby impeding Mormons’ ability to repent and be redeemed. He explains how man-made innovations have replaced and altered divinely ordained, restored ordinances and modes of worship and how ancient, vital covenants, once revealed and received, have long since been broken and abandoned. He presents the dire consequences portended by such changes. In short, Smith documents how Mormons, perhaps even inadvertently and unintentionally, have “transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 24:5), thereby rendering their religion largely inert and powerless to save.

While Smith is undeniably “pessimistic” about modern Mormonism’s ability to turn about, accounting for its own failures, correcting deficiencies and fulfilling its promises, he is certainly “optimistic” that the Lord will, eventually, raise up a righteous, believing people who will turn to Him, establish Zion, and enter into His rest in this life, as Joseph Smith intended for the Latter-day Saints of his day. As Smith relates in his book’s preface:

“[T]he purpose of this book [is] not to convert, although great pains [have been] taken to make it suitable for that purpose. Instead, it [is] to lay the case out so plainly as to leave those to whom it is directed without excuse when the judgments [God] has foretold occur.” 

For Mormons inured to tradition; who are confident their religion and prophets can “save” them; who embrace the precepts of men as worthy substitutes for personal Divine interaction, instruction and redemption; who have given up hope of ever returning to God’s presence in this life; who yet yearn to experience all that the scriptures promise to those who believe in Jesus: this book is for you.

A word concerning Zion

I wore the expert marksmanship ribbon in the military and have a concealed carry permit. I own several guns: handguns, shotguns, rifles -- not for hunting or for sport but, primarily, for defense.

Nevertheless, Zion will not be redeemed by those who take up arms against their neighbor.

29 Wherefore, the land of Zion shall not be obtained but by purchase or by blood, otherwise there is none inheritance for you.
30 And if by purchase, behold you are blessed;
31 And if by blood, as you are forbidden to shed blood, lo, your enemies are upon you, and ye shall be scourged from city to city, and from synagogue to synagogue, and but few shall stand to receive an inheritance. (D&C 63:29-31.)

 The children of God will not be identified as warmongers or killers, but as peacemakers. (See 3 Nephi 12:9, 20-26.) Nevertheless,

...it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand. And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy. (D&C 45:70-71.)

Only those possessing power to shake the earth, move mountains, turn rivers out of their course, or call down fire from heaven could "make afraid" those possessing laser-guided munitions, nuclear weapons, and countless millions assembled for war. (See Moses 6:34; 7:13-17.)

Our Lord prophesied that, prior to His return, 

the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound. And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel; But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men. And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Doctrine and Covenants 45:27-30.)

We are almost there...if not there already. The Gentiles, even that great and abominable church, by and large, have rejected the fulness of the gospel: 

[T]hey have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away." (1 Nephi 13:26.)

This well describes the LDS Church also, which now claims to possess the "fulness of the gospel," but which has turned a deaf ear to the teachings, changed the ordinances and broken the covenants Joseph Smith "restored," or sought to restore. (See Teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern Mormonism; also Isaiah 24:5-6.) Consequently, the Lord is withholding His Spirit from the wicked. (See D&C 63:32.) Virtually all are now left without power from On High, except to do the works of men. (See 3 Nephi 27:11.) Even those few humble followers of Christ who have not aligned themselves with that great and abominable church (see 1 Nephi 14:10) do stumble and err because they are taught the precepts of men. (2 Nephi 28:14.) The Lord's vineyard has thus become corrupted. (Jacob 5:46.)

When the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, earthquakes and desolations, disease and death by violence shall abound. "Men will harden their hearts against me," saith the Lord, "and they will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another." Except among the Lord's disciples: they "shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved." (Doctrine and Covenants 45:31-33.)

68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. (Doctrine and Covenants 45:68-69.)

Among so many signs presaging the Lord's imminent return, these shall be most prominent:

And before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven. And the remnant shall be gathered unto this place. (D&C 45:42-43.)

Astronomical and terrestrial commotions amid carnage and world-wide war shall provide an unmistakable backdrop for our Lord's return to the public stage as Savior and Redeemer of mankind. (See D&C 88:87-93.). But the wicked and deceived will disbelieve anyway and will not repent. His sheep, however, will hear His voice. (See John 10:27.) In fulfillment of the parable of the wheat and tares (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:7), the remnant of Jacob will be gathered from among the wicked. (See 3 Nephi 21:12.) Those who will be saved are they who

are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation. For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver. (Doctrine and Covenants 45:57-59.)

A primary characteristic of the meek who will inherit the earth shall be that they "shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain." They shall possess the greater priesthood. "[T]he earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (2 Nephi 21:9; 30:15; Isaiah 11:9; see also D&C 84:19.) "[N]either shall they learn war any more." (2 Nephi 12:4.) The present fixation among the rising generation with violent video games portends greater evil to come. This is the spirit of our age. The Lord will give us what we want. (Alma 29:5; Ether 3:2.) 

Those who survive the coming trials of fire, famine, plague and destruction shall enjoy a great millennial day of peace and prosperity. The Lord will gather the righteous unwarring (and unwarlike) remnant while the wicked bind themselves into bundles to be burned. "[T]he Lord God shall cause a great division among the people." He will "spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire." (See 2 Nephi 30:10.)

To qualify as a Zion people and escape the wrath to come, we must have no poor among us. (See Moses 7:18.) Our fruits must be equal. (See Jacob 5:74.)

Great divisions and iniquities (inequities) still exist among us. What then ought to be our hope and focus?

13 And now I give unto you a word concerning Zion. Zion shall be redeemed, although she is chastened for a little season.
16 For I will raise up unto myself a pure people, that will serve me in righteousness;
17 And all that call upon the name of the Lord, and keep his commandments, shall be saved. Even so. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 100:13, 16-17.)

Let us call upon the name of the Lord, learn His commandments, and keep them. 

Fear and trembling

I immediately followed up my email to my friend (see Beating a Dead Horse) with this:

What I'm learning here...is that I'm not called of God to preach these things. I'm called to do them (the works of righteousness, if I can figure out how to). I need to come unto Christ myself and embrace Him in the flesh before I tell anyone else to do so. Then I'll have something to talk about and share with others. Then I'll have something to offer you that would be convincing. 

Other than that, I have only my word. And, frankly, my word isn't good enough and ought not be believed. (We don't need another "false prophet" to follow!)

I wish "the Brethren" had the courage and conviction to do the same thing. Unfortunately, The Church™ "ropes them in" to undertaking an activity in the name of God for which they are unprepared and to which they must aspire to perform, even without the gifts. Some of them gain the gifts (to some degree), while others do not. And it is left up to us to choose whom to "follow," though there be "wheat" and "tares" among them.

But I'm getting upon my "soap box" again.

Go in peace. I'll leave you alone. And I'll work on my own salvation with fear and trembling.

I trust you're doing the same.

God bless you, brother. Thanks for the dinner.

Beating a Dead Horse

I've had discussions with Mormon friends about Robert Smith's book Teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern Mormonism. No Mormon I know wants to read it. No active, "faithful" Mormon would consider it makes any difference what anyone could say or write about the Church, its leadership, doctrines or history. No amount of error, dissembling or corruption detected in the Church could ever dissuade them from "believing" in the Church. "The Church is true," they say. "It always has been. It always will be. The Church cannot fail."

(I remember hearing that a lot on my mission in Chile...from the Catholics.)

To my Mormon friends, the Church is God.

Only worse. The Church is an imperfect God, whose imperfections are cloaked in perfection. (Their description of the Church is almost a parody of the irrational description of God proposed by the minister in the LDS temple endowment, pre-1990.) "The Church is perfect," they'll, say, "organized and led by God Himself. It's the people in the Church who aren't perfect; consequently, the Church is always changing, always correcting itself, always progressing and always moving forward." In a quixotic perversion of righteousness, these people believe The Church™, like God, is ever-enduring, everlasting, and always to be obeyed...even when it's wrong. They will "follow" this "god" wherever it goes (even if it goes nowhere, but travels in circles). They will "follow the prophet" forever. He represents God to them now. They know no other.

My latest conversation prompted me to write the following. I invite my friend (to whom it is addressed) to engage here to clarify and correct what I've written, if he cares to.

***

I woke up this morning with this thought:

You and I were talking about Thomas S. Monson ("our beloved prophet," peace be upon him) and I said I already knew what you were going to say and you asked me to quote verbatim what you would say and I said I probably couldn't quote it verbatim but I knew the gist and so you dared me to say it, so I did, etc. Remember that part of our discussion?

"If Thomas S. Monson isn't a prophet, why would you want to be a member of that organization anyway?"

Well, here's the reason: My faith isn't in Thomas S. Monson. It's in Jesus Christ.

Thomas S. Monson -- or any man, woman or child in the Mormon Church -- could fall away, sin, apostatize from the faith of Christ, reject the restored gospel, become a son of perdition, etc., and my testimony wouldn't be shaken or affected in the least. That's how strong my testimony is.

The bishop and stake president couldn't believe it.

"Then what is your faith based on [if not the prophet]?" they asked me, incredulously. 

"My faith is founded on Jesus Christ."

They couldn't accept that. There just wasn't "enough" there for them. They couldn't believe that if Thomas S. Monson -- and the whole superstructure of men in the Mormon Church -- crumbled, there would still be enough there for THEM to believe: because that's all they believe in, apparently. Therefore, they couldn't accept that I have a "testimony" -- because my "testimony" is intrinsically different from theirs.

They've put their faith and trust in the arm of flesh -- in men, who "hold the priesthood," "possess the keys," receive "power and authority from God to act in His name," etc. THEY DON'T HAVE DIRECT, PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH JESUS HIMSELF and therefore DON'T HAVE FAITH IN HIM AND HIM ALONE to carry them through, when ALL HELL BREAKS LOSE (including the collapse of the church, its hierarchy and leadership) ... because their faith is built on something other than the Rock. It is built on sand.

I know you don't see that (yet). As I said, the institutional, correlated Church has woven a "doctrine" or "creed" that numbs the mind and deadens the heart against these things. 

But the scriptures are powerful and real. You don't have another friend, I imagine, who has a stronger testimony of Joseph Smith and the restoration than I do. AND YET I'M NOT EVEN A MEMBER OF THE MORMON CHURCH! (Think about that for a minute, will you?) That's because my testimony ISN'T BASED ON MEN! It's based on my interaction with God and what HE has shown me.

Still, the Mormon Church is positively paralyzed, anesthetized and prevented from understanding the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon), or even its own past, in any (big word) salvific way. Like the priests of king Noah who couldn't understand or recognize what the scriptures (or their own history and actions) taught them [see Mosiah 12:20-26], Mormons imagine that only glorious, good things pertain to them and do not realize that, like the Jews, even though they are God's "chosen" people, the Mormons are chosen to be damned unless they repent and come unto Christ!

Sadly (very sadly), very few Mormons now come unto Christ. Almost none.

By that, I don't mean that very few Mormons believe in Christ. (At least 1/3 of Mormons attend church at least two times a year and express token, nebulous belief in Christ, usually manifest as "I have faith in the Church and the power of the priesthood," etc.). But very few Mormons believe Christ...enough to practice His religion. Consequently, they will (almost all) be "dead" and will (almost all) fall short of the glory of God in the next life...because they fail to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus here, in this life. 

Once you are exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ (as the Mormons have been) you get one shot -- this life -- to embrace it or reject it. [See Alma 34:32.] If you die having "rejected" the Spirit of the Lord which testifies to you that you must come unto Christ in the flesh (and you do not repent and do so)...then you are doomed...for the same spirit that possesses you in this life shall have power to possess you in the world to come...and you won't come unto Christ there, either. [See Alma 34:34.] In other words, how you are here now is how you will be there then. If you "disbelieve" now you'll disbelieve then. If you are deceived and reject the gospel here now, you will remain deceived and reject the gospel there then. If you are blinded by the craftiness of men here now, though you be a "good" person, you will inherit a terrestrial glory in the world to come, for you will have obeyed terrestrial law and will not believe another even exists!

[I was mistaken in this belief. The damnation and torment of hell is knowing another law and kingdom exist...but that you didn't live it and are now incapable of achieving it: that where God the Father and Christ dwell, you cannot come, worlds without end. (See D&C 76:112.) Those who inherit the terrestrial world, even those who endure the Lord's return in glory, shall see their Savior. They shall be ministered to by Him.]

We must return to the Father, no less, however, to inherit celestial glory. [See D&C 76:50-70.] How many saints do you know who commune now with God the Father? Or even the Son? That is the measure by which you may judge how well we are doing as a church: what glory (or law) are we living? If Christ is not ministering unto us now, here, in the flesh, then we are not even making the terrestrial grade! [See D&C 76:71-80.]

The men who excommunicated me, EVERY LAST DAMNED ONE OF THEM, raised their hand to the square and SUSTAINED the proposition, voiced by one of them, that I believed a "false doctrine" (as they put it), that "Jesus Christ is our personal savior." They simply couldn't countenance it! One of them told me later, after it was all over and I was cast out of the church, that since his father (a two-time bishop) had never beheld angels, met God, worked miracles, etc., then it was good enough for him (meaning, this guy who excommunicated me) to never experience such things and my faith in Christ and the power of God was misplaced. I was "going astray from the mainstream of the Church," he told me, and "going off on my own path," he said. Therefore I was an "apostate." 

Damned asshole. He enters not in and prevents others from doing so!

They simply don't understand what they are doing. They do NOT possess the power of God (the vaunted "authority" you speak of) nor the gifts of prophecy, revelation, visions, dreams, interpretation of tongues, etc., nor have they communed with angels, etc. In fact, they reject such things, ascribing all "power" to do such now to Satan!

The Church has become (almost entirely) what Nephi foresaw it would become (see 2 Nephi 28 in its entirety). It will get worse. You can't see it...because you're in it. The delusion is powerful! Unfortunately, what I'm telling you is the way God sees it and how the prophets saw it. How do I know? The Spirit of the Lord has enlightened my understanding.

Now you may see me as just a critic, an apostate, someone who has lost the Spirit of the Lord. And I can see how you would think that. My life is in tatters. My marriage is in ruin. My children are losing their faith in Christ and dwindling in unbelief. I get it. I am not someone you can trust or believe in. (And that's "okay," since I'm not the one anyone should be following anyway!)

But this religion you subscribe to -- that demands that you "follow," "believe in," "support" (even with your finances!) and "sustain" (even if they do and say wrong things!) the "Brethren" -- is false. It is not the church of Jesus Christ, nor does it teach the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. It teaches a gospel...mixed with lies. It therefore is a lie.

A damned lie. A damning lie. And it doesn't matter if the ones doing the lying are lying intentionally or if they do it because they're simply mistaken. (From our point of view, believing in falsehood is disbelief and it will damn us just the same.)

The truth is...they're not lying unintentionally, but purposefully (even doing it in God's name)! You can't make this stuff up! The Book of Mormon prophets never lie. (But, apparently, the Mormon ones do. That's because they're not prophets.)

All those who love and make a lie (who don't repent) go to hell. [See D&C 76:98-112.]

Thomas S. Monson (PBUH) is not my god. He's not even my savior. He doesn't hold the "keys" to save me and he can't save me. He doesn't, by and large, manifest the signs of the Spirit he pretends to possess, nor do the brethren which sustain him. (Sad, but true. I wish it were otherwise.) I'm not saying they can't manifest those gifts. I'm saying, by and large, they don't. (And they persecute those who do!) That's how I know they're false prophets.

The "keys"...are knowledge. The knowledge of God. Without the knowledge of God, His doings and plans, you have nothing. Those who know God -- His works, ways and plans, even HIm personally -- have keys. They can call upon Him and He will answer. These brethren, by and large, are clueless about these things. They haven't a clue what God is doing. They call upon Him and He doesn't answer. (And they call the "silence" a "revelation": a tacit "sign" from God that whatever it is they're doing or whatever it is they're proposing is "approved" of Him, He having given HIs "power and authority" unto them!) They "clothe" themselves in the aprons of his "power and authority." Only the one they serve is not Jehovah. They are running on the fumes that Joseph Smith bequeathed to them and are striving to be the best people they can be. Unfortunately, their "best" just isn't good enough to save anyone.

If you accept what they offer (as the "restored gospel of Jesus Christ"), you're embracing a substitute that cannot save you.

A true prophet says "I would to God that all men were prophets and that the Lord's spirit was upon them!" [See Numbers 11:29.] False prophets "deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men." (2 Nephi 28:5.)

That's what those damned prophets preach today.

If you put your trust in them, you are doomed. You will be shut out of God's presence -- because He (meaning God) will allow you to have whatever god you choose besides Him! The Mormon Church -- and I know this is cliché -- promotes religion, not a relationship with Christ. It even discourages you from seeking a relationship with Christ!

Unfortunately...if we don't have a relationship with Christ, we will not be saved.

I know that's a lot to chew on. The book (I've encouraged you to read) has a completely different focus and slant than what I've presented here. It is NOT accusatory (as I have been). I don't know why I'm that way. I guess I just "call it like I see it" and haven't learned discretion. 

I'm not "against" those who lead the LDS Church now. I think they're "good" men (despite their faults). I just don't follow them anymore -- because they lied to me. They deceived me. They teach for doctrine the commandments of men. They are "false Christs" and "false prophets." 

I seek for true messengers from my Father. These men peddle religion.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, it is because the temple ceremony was changed in 1990 and these warnings the Lord gave about embracing such men as these (and their "religion") were taken out. Why do you think they did that? Why do they change the ordinances and the temple rites? Because they have become the thing the temple endowment warned against!

I think you said you are 38 years old. If so, you're too young to know.

But I'm not. I remember. And I know.

Oh, you may say: "They are inspired! They do what they do by revelation!"

Then show me the revelation. I've read the Doctrine and Covenants. I've seen where God has guided His church by revelation (in the past). Where are your prophets, your seers, your revelators who speak in the name of the Lord now? Where is the revelation by which these men change ordinances and doctrines at their whim? (Interestingly enough, in conformity to social pressure and the dictates of popular public opinion.) Who are these men that claim it is within their power to do so without direct, personal communication and directives from God?

Well, I'm beating a dead horse here. Read the book. [Click here for a free copy. See margin on right under "Free E-Books".] Or not. But I believe this book will be one of those by which the Latter-day Saints will be judged at the Last Day. For it contains the truth.

And the truth condemns them. (It condemns all of us, if we don't repent.)

I dare any Mormon to read this!

A few years ago Robert Smith blew me away with his declaration that active membership in the LDS (or Mormon) Church actually deters one from coming unto Christ. "The net effect," he said, "is negative."

I didn't believe him. I simply had experienced for myself too much "good" in the Mormon Church!

Even after I was excommunicated for apostasy (as Denver Snuffer, Rock Waterman and now countless others have been), I still didn't believe him.

Now I do. 

I recently began reading Rob's latest book: Teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern Mormonism. (Also available here for free.) 

Of this book Rock Waterman wrote in his review: "This is a book I wish I had written, and I might have if I was about ten times smarter...." (That's exactly what I was thinking as I read this book: "If only Rock Waterman were ten times smarter!") 

This tome is a real page-turner for those of us who believe in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith and who want to know and meet our Savior before we die. In it, Rob explains how replacing Christ's doctrine with the traditions of men is positively damning to the LDS Church and its members. To paraphrase a Mormon "prophet," David O. McKay: "No success can compensate for failure in the doctrine."

Many Mormons (and non-Mormons) may be wondering: "Why am I not experiencing angels, dreams, visions, revelations, the power of God and gifts of the Spirit, including the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost in my life?" Robert Smith explains why.

In my view, Teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men is A Marvelous Work And A Wonder for our time. Sixty six years ago, LeGrand Richards explicated the whys and wherefores of Mormonism, inducing countless souls to join the LDS Church. (I was one of them.) Now, with this book, Robert Smith matter-of-factly and thoroughly demonstrates how Christ's pure and simple doctrine has been rejected and ejected from the spinning wreckage that has become the modern Mormon enterprise.

This book is as important to my salvation as any book I have read outside of the scriptures. It not only untangles the twisted knots of false doctrine, "fuzzy" logic, wicked practices and foolish rationalizations strangling active faith in Jesus Christ in what has become the apostatic LDS Church, but it establishes Christ's true doctrine. (For that alone, it deserves our reading.) It clears the landscape of falsehood and disbelief (belief in falsehood) in hopes that we might have sufficient space and interest to build upon the Rock something sure, steadfast, immovable and everlasting.

My only concern now regarding this book is how to get it into as many Mormon hands as possible.