We sometimes share encouraging letters or e-mail here, but only with the permission of the sender. Letters and e-mail with questions that demand an answer are found on our Q&A page.

February 5, 2007

Hello,

What a great resource you have here!

It had occurred to me a while back that there were some interesting parallels between Joseph Smith and Mohammed.

Then I came across your site and found this additional information and quotes from JS himself.
It was like finding some puzzle pieces that had fallen under the furniture!

May the Lord bless you in your work,

Sincerely,
Todd H.

June 11, 2006

Refiner's Fire Ministries
P.O. Box 3343
Independence, MO 64055

To Whom It May Concern:

I just wanted to write and encourage you to continue your web site (lifeline2rlds.org and help4rlds.com). I also want to thank the people who have submitted their testimonies. They have given me encouragement and along with God, strength to stand firm in the truth the Holy Spirit has taught me and opened my eyes to.

When I began to understand what Christ did for me on the cross—His death, burial and resurrection, and that I was a sinner who needed a Savior, my love and passion for God and my relationship with Him blossomed. He transformed my heart. I could hardly contain my praise and my love for Him. I understood the true meaning of grace—grace for salvation and day-to-day living. I understood that it is by faith only and not by works. As God slowly opened my eyes to this knowledge, He also opened my eyes to RLDS teachings that contradict the truth and that are not biblical. I struggled as I continued to see discrepancies and I also became bitter and angry—I had been lied to. This bitterness and anger was over a period of about 4 years and then I found your web page. I found comfort in knowing that I wasn't the only one who had struggled and I wasn't the only one in the RLDS faith who had a “saved” experience.

Thank you so much. Someday I will send in my testimony, but I am not able to yet. I desire to leave the Community of Christ church, but I am staying to support my spouse who is a staunch supporter of the church and all it encompasses. It is difficult attending “spiritually dead” services and hearing false doctrine being preached from the pulpit, but God is giving me strength and He continually assures me that He is with me. I am also finding strength and encouragement in reading the testimonies from your site. Please continue this service, especially for others like me.

In Him,
A Silent Supporter

March 4, 2004

I am in the process of studying Mormonism (LDS) and had never heard, until now visiting your website, about RLDS. Can the same arguments against the RLDS church be used against the LDS church?

For what it's worth, I am certain that the Holy Spirit led me to your website. In addition to the time I have invested studying and meeting with LDS missionaries, I have been praying for Truth about Mormonism for months now. The Spirit revealed to me one day after I had prayed for a long time the word "Melchizedek" over and over again. I couldn't find what this meant until I found your website and I knew immediately that this is the information the Lord wanted me to read. Furthermore, of all the information I have learned of that discredits the LDS church, I had never heard of the controversy surrounding the priesthood. This leads me to know without a doubt that it was truly the Holy Spirit leading me to this information because it hadn't previously existed in my mind!

I must say that I am so excited to know that your ministry exists. I feel that God is going to use me to expose the Spirit of Error that has deceived so many LDS members, but I don't know how and I have been feeling overwhelmed wondering how I can make a difference. Your personal testimony and your ministry have given me a renewed hope that all of the LDS members can find the truth.

Thank you!!!!

Sandy Scheffler
Las Vegas

September 17, 2003

Thanks for your website and book(s). I was ordained a priest and then an elder in the RLDS church in the 1980's. As I read the Bible, and started to understand it better, I started to preach "grace alone" which concerned some of the priesthood in the Des Moines area. It was through many Christian friends that prayed for me and a couple of pivotal incidents that I left the RLDS church and eventually came to the Presbyterian Church. A few years later I went to seminary in Austin, Texas and am now an ordained minister in the PC(USA). As an evangelical Christian I sometimes struggle in the PC(USA) but, unlike the RLDS, the doctrine is solid; however, some in our denomination don't pay attention to it all that often. "Sola scriputra", "sola gratia", "sola fide", and "sole Christus" are certainly always key for me as a Christian leader.

Briefly, the two incidents. 1) I was still in the RLDS church, but struggling with it's version of the "truth." In a dentist office I picked up a Christian magazine and saw an ad the was entitled, "How do you talk to your non-Christian friends." In the text of the add it said that they had material to use to talk to non-Christians: Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon... That floored me. I had never thought of Mormon's or RLDS as "non-Christian" and I set out to find why people were saying this. In that search, I re-dedicated my life to Christ. 2) The most significant thing I found in my search may seem small but it was telling. I was given a "Book of Confessions" to read by a Presbyterian pastor and for some reason first turned to "The Heidelberg Catechism" written in the 1560's in Germany. The first question is: "What is your only comfort, in life, and in death?"  The answer; "That I belong - body and soul - not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ." Possibly for the first time, even though I believed in Jesus Christ, and had given my life to him, I realized that it was ALL about him. That my life truly had to be "Christ-centered." And this catechism had nothing to do with anything but pure Christian Bible truth. No plates, no visions, no "feelings," no "restored gospel" that trumps the Bible. Just the truth of Jesus Christ as outlined in his revelation to us. (Note: The "confessions" of the PC(USA) are always secondary to scripture. They are simply time-bound faith statements that help us understand scripture, but they are NEVER to contradict or supercede God's word.)

Please add me to your email list. My other information, if needed is below.

In Christ's service,

Rev. Brian Rihner

United Presbyterian Church
102 Main Street
Keokuk, IA 52632
(319) 524-5549

"The church by the river"

www.churchbytheriver.net

You can send Brian an email at brian@saltsolutions.com.

July 7, 2003

Paul, Hi!

I contacted you sometime in 2002 about my experience of marrying an RLDS girl in 1986, and joining the RLDS in 1987. I became a teacher soon thereafter. I grew up in the Lutheran church. 

I don't want to rehash everything, but wanted to let you know that I ordered both your book, and Ms. Hanson's.

My wife is a strong-willed person who was the last "holdout" of her siblings. I had begun to have serious doubts about the RLDS in the early 90's, but didn't take responsibility to learn and study as I should have. That's why I'm extremely thankful for the books you and Ms. Hanson both have written....you put everything together in one place to be studied.....you made it easy on me!

I read Carol's book first, while my wife read yours. I've just finished yours too, but my wife is still working on Carol's. 

Because of the straight-forward presentation of the facts in both of your books, my wife was an easier convert away from RLDS than I could have imagined.

She studied a lot (and in my estimation knew much more than most priesthood members). As she read your book, she told me that she had come upon many questions in her previous studies that sparked a light bulb inside her head......but she never really connected everything...until your book.

We've been able to completely turn away from the RLDS, and learn the true joy of the knowing the real truth of Christ, and following Him and His gospel alone.

I think your son was "right on" when he suggested your ministry to RLDS.

Thanks!

Mike Scheffer
Temple, Texas

You can send Mike an email at mscheffer@swmail.sw.org.

October 1, 2002

Hi Paul,

I didn't keep your direct e-mail address after our previous correspondence, so I had to come through the web site to contact you.

I wanted to let you know that I have been led by the Holy Spirit to leave the Community of Christ church. I have been attending a non-denominational Bible-based church since February of this year and I have never been happier with my spiritual life. It took awhile for me to break loose, but I know I am in the right place and I wanted to thank you for our phone conversations and for the book you sent me. They were helpful with making the decision.

My reasons for leaving were not entirely because of church doctrines, but they were part of it. I read information on both sides of many issues and decided that it would take me a lifetime to research things for myself to be completely sure one way or the other and I don't want to waste time doing that. I realized that what is most important is my true relationship with Jesus Christ that creates eternal salvation and I don't have to belong to any particular "church" or "denomination" to insure my final destination.

The main reason I left is because I was not being challenged at my congregation to grow as a Christian and I was being stifled from developing my dramatic and dancing gifts. My new church has about 1000 people that attend and it is growing so much that we are adding a 3rd service on Saturday evenings and building a new 2 million dollar establishment in order to accommodate everyone. There are so many things going on and I have the options available to learn and grow in the areas I've longed for. I have really jumped into this new church feet first and have joined so many groups. Its a bit overwhelming, but I love it and I have a calm assurance that only comes from God.

So, keep up the good work as you strive to help RLDS members change their lives.

Darla Keely

Michigan

You can send Darla an email at colorfulink@hotmail.com.

November 4, 1997

Dear Mr. Trask

Thank you so much for your book and the research that went into it. Part Way to Utah was an answer to prayer.

My husband and I are 3rd & 4th generation "saints." For a few years we have known that the RLDS church was not God's chosen church but could not put our fingers on it exactly. We knew they were not reasoning from or reading their bibles, and also that women in the priesthood was wrong, to name a few items. What a burden lifted from us as we have renounced all allegiance etc. to the RLDS church.

Now comes the difficult part, enlightening our families. Thankfully, your book will help. Please send us 4 copies of the book Part Way to Utah, Study Edition and any info/brochure on your ministry. Enclosed is a check for $60.00 to cover the 4 books.

Praise the Lord for using you in this manner. The world needs to know about the RLDS and how to minister to them.

In His Love,

Bill & Carolyn Freel

You can send the Freel's an email at wfreel@startwithmiller.com.

November 11, 2001

Dear Sirs:

I am a sophomore in college and found your site through a search engine. My best friend whom I met in school last year belongs to a Community of Christ congregation. Before meeting him, I had never heard of RLDS. After hearing him talk about his church (which I do not think he is a terribly active member in), a myriad of thoughts crossed my mind. "This isn't good." "How do I help him?" "SHOULD I try to help him and risk making him defensive, thus pushing him farther away?" Because I had seen so many well-intending Christians smother non-believers with their beliefs, I was afraid that I would ruin any chance of helping him. We never talked that much about religion anyway because I didn't want to scare him off. I also thought that gradually witnessing to him might harm our friendship since he is as stubborn as I am. So, I decided that letting my life show that I was different was enough. He would see that something made me different and want that too, I reasoned.

Then, for about two weeks in a row, I had a recurring nightmare. This was strange to me because I am normally not given to recurring dreams. In this dream my friend stands before God who sends him away. My friend becomes frantic shouting that his best friend knew the truth but never told him. With each night I dreamt it, it became more real. I felt as if it were God prodding me do act on the matter. Any doubt that I had that this was something I was supposed to do ended with my pastor's sermon the next Sunday morning which outlined how people are given chances to minister to others in one way or another, and how anything from a blessing to a soul may be lost in not acting on what God is telling you.

This brings me to the point of my letter. It may sound trite. I am sure you have heard it before. It may not even stand out from the rest. But I just want to say thank you for your ministry. It took me a long time to find a site with testimonies from former RLDS members and information that will help me in witnessing to my friend. I wanted to gather some facts and get a better idea of what he was coming from before I really talked to him about. I have every faith that God will hear my prayers and reach my friend's heart and give me the words to speak with him. He is only one person, but he's the world to me and I genuinely feel in my heart that God has great plans for him. Thank you. These are small words, yet quite heartfelt. God bless.

Sincerely,

[Name withheld by the sender. Permission was granted to post this letter, as long as it was posted anonymously, which we completely understand and appreciate.]

September 23, 2001

Hi Paul,

My name is Shauna Brentana - and my husband and I left the RLDS church about a year ago. I was a priesthood member, and we both worked with youth for about 5 years. I was raised in Blue Valley Stake (Beacon Heights/East Alton primarily) and my husband was raised in Grand Rapids - his dad was regional president for quite some time, and pastor at the Union Avenue Brance for many years. When we left the church, we had been attending the Lee's Summit Congregation for about 7 years. We now attend First Baptist Church of Lee's Summit, where we were baptized together Memorial Day weekend.

Please feel free to post our email address on your resource page. We are anxious to talk to anyone interested about the church.

Both Carol's [Hansen] materials, and your book were very helpful in our ability to sort through the "junk" and come to Biblical reasons why we needed to reject the church, and as a true Christian now - I am utterly amazed at the depths of darkeness I was in previously, without even knowing it!

Anyway - just wanted to share with you our permission to use our email addresses on the website.

Thank you,

God bless

Shauna Brentana

You can e-mail Tom and Shauna Brentana at tsbren@earthlink.net.

March 27, 2001

Dear Paul,

I left the RLDS church and all of its doctrine (past and present) about four years ago. It has been placed on my heart to write to some people that are still involved. I have purchased two of your books and have passed them out. One is being read right now by a person who has questions. Your book does the best job of explaining the priesthood structure. I would like permission to print some of your 'Closer Look Series' materials from the internet and pass them out with my letter. Nothing will be changed after it is printed from the internet site. The 'Refiner's Fire Ministries' logo will stay the same.

I will understand if you do not want to grant me permission. I have experienced a complete renewal in faith since I left. My relationship with Christ was severely hampered by the false doctrine I used to believe in. I wish that for other people.

Thank you.

John Milholland

[Editors Note: Permission granted! After all, that's why they are there!]

April 9, 2001

Hallelujah!

I can't believe I didn't know about this web site! So glad I found it! - I was 5th generation RLDS. My great-grandfather was Joseph Luff. About 1989, after several years of disappointment, questioning, and searching, I decided I need to find out the truth. I decided to go to the earliest books I could find on Joseph Smith and what he truly taught. I chose "Joseph Smith and His Progenitors" by Lucy Mack Smith. Though it is an RLDS book, there were enough discrepancies there to concern me and raise further questions. My next book was "Trouble Enough" which I found at the local library. Fortunately it was well written and each historical item was footnoted and sources cited. I did other reading as well. Then I spent approximately 16 hours at the RLDS temple library looking up the original sources. I was appalled, angered, and grieved! It took me 2 years to accomplish my search which left me feeling completely lost. Thankfully my life commitment was to Jesus Christ, not to Joseph Smith or a church. Faith in Jesus saw me through and I have become part of a Bible believing church. At the time I didn't
know anyone else who had struggled through this, and I certainly didn't know that there were books containing the information I spent so long searching out! Since then I have read these books, and attended some of the summer picnics, but had no idea there was a web page! I grieve that I was 40 years old when I was able to make my clean break....had to try to undo the things I had taught my children...my daughter is also now an evangelical Christian ...my son has joined Islam...another self-proclaimed prophet...pray for him. I am so thankful to have found this web site.  Thank you!

Shirley Bulen

Blue Springs MO