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Q: Hello,
I am a current member of the Community of Christ, and I would just like to tell you that what you people are doing here is pure evil. If you don't believe what we do, fine. We're not asking you to! But how can you honestly believe that you are "doing God's work" by calling our church a cult? The people in my church are the greatest, most kind, most loving people I have ever met in my life. You would do well to try to be as good of a Christian as they are. It breaks my heart to see you cutting down people who are genuinely about God's work. I will be praying for you; you obviously need it. I know you probably won't post this message on your website. That's okay. I certainly don't expect you to. God knows what you are doing, though. If you do post this, I just want to clarify the fact that our church is made of of "genuine Christians." We worship the same Jesus as every other Christian church out there. The Book of Mormom, whether you believe in it or not, is another testiment of JESUS CHRIST, not of Joseph Smith. So my question is - How can you live with yourselves?
~Kelly
Q: Why do you say that the RLDS church is a cult?
Q: After having been born into the church, raised attending camps and reunions and Graceland College, and being married in the church I left the RLDS church two or three years ago and joined a non-denominational Bible church. I have just recently asked that my name be removed from the membership records at World Headquarters.
I have two questions, First, have I done enough to ensure that the RLDS (Community of Christ) does not consider me a member any more, or are there other steps I should take? Second, I was baptized and married in the RLDS church. Do I need to be baptized again? Is my marriage valid?
Thank you for being here and for enlightening people about the real relationship they should be having with Jesus Christ.
Penny Padegimas
Q: I am a member of the RLDS church and am currently searching for the truth about the church and Joseph Smith. I have read much of the information on your web site, including the testimonies of those people that have left the church after learning certain truths. I can see that there is much evidence against this church but there is one thing that I just can't figure out.
If the RLDS church is an abomination to God, why does he choose to bless the people who belong to it? Personally, I have seen the Lord working in my life and have received many blessings from him. Also, our church has an annual publication called, Daily Bread, that is filled with positive testimonies from people of how God has worked in their lives. I don't understand why he would do anything good for people who are following false teachings.
Q: Hi, I have A question: (in a nutshell) What is the Christian Church? How would you begin to answer such a question? What makes it complex, if at all? thanks Diana
Q: In a nut shell, are they [RLDS] even close to a biblically accurate understanding of who Christ is and how to be saved? Where would you start if you were to attempt to steer them in the right direction? What< is the major error in their understanding of biblical Christian doctrine? How would you lead an RLDS person to faith in Christ?
Q: I am a born-again believer in Jesus Christ and attend a Baptist Church in my area. My family and I have many contacts with RLDS church members. They tell us that the Book of Mormon verifies the Bible; that King James had the Bible translated to use it for his own purposes and that it contains errors. How do we respond to someone who doesn't believe the Bible is God's word and ultimate authority for a Christian's life?
Q: How in the world can you say that the RLDS priesthood system is Un-Christian? I have looked up each priesthood office in my Bible, and they are all there. In fact, this is so obvious, I am amazed that other churches don't have all of these offices.
Q: Why are you doing this?
What is the answer for a member that decides to leave the Community of Christ. Are they to become unchurched or are you suggesting that they join any Christian based church? I often wonder why changes can't come from within if you really believe that the Spirit of God is with us if we follow Christ's teachings and witness that to our brothers and sisters in the church. Change takes a long time when there is so much history to overcome. Witnessing is far easier in the midst of the storm than from a distance where it's safe and non-confrontational.
Comments commonly made to me by members of the Branch I attend: (1) How can anyone claim that modern day revelations from God isn't possible since all is possible for God? (2) Jesus Christ is proclaimed the Savior and Redeamer of us all by the World Headquarters of the Community of Christ Church. How can that be wrong?
A response would be appreciated.
Q: On what basis do the RLDS believe that Christ will return to Independence? This just seems so "odd" to me and yet it is such a major part of their belief system. Do they claim to have visions or prophecies or instructions from God to substantiate this event?
Q: Hi Paul and Carol! I have a question that I thought either or both of you might know the answer to. Lately - I have been recalling that my mom very often taught me about the concept of "free agency" when I was growing up. She throws that term around a lot, even now. However, I have yet to hear that term in true Christian teaching - and I haven't ever come across it in the Bible. I know that Jesus is constantly presenting the "choice" to delibertly choose Him - but beyond that - I don't really see "free agency" in the Bible. Do Christians believe in "free agency" but maybe use a different term?
I'm wondering if this is an "RLDS" term/concept? I have only heard RLDS use this term.
I remember as a child - seeing God as "helpless" because "we" have our "free agency" to do as we please..... almost as if God has to "wait to see what we choose" THEN He can act. That is the concept of free agency that I was taught.... "if the saints use their agency to do good/righteous acts - THEN Zion can come.... but Zion can't come until we use our agency to do good ENOUGH". That was the concept my mother taught me. God was waiting on us. (Wow - isn't that blasphemous!)
The Bible - however - clearly shows God to be Soverign and completely IN CONTROL. His ability to act is not dependant on our "agency" - but rather - God clearly brings His will to pass, and keeps His Word with or without ourcooperation.
I hope this makes sense.... I'm not sure why this has been on my mind - but it's one of the things the Holy Spirit nudges me about here and there... so I'm hoping you can shed some light on it for me.
Thanks! Shauna
Q: My husband and I were "raised in the church" though most of our experience has been in the Restoration Branch movement. This has been very problematic for us but we have always tried to be positive and work hard trying to keep spiritually vital in a dying movement. Recently our sister-in-law, a new convert, came to us with some questions her family had asked her and wanted to know how she could respond. We were surprised because we really did not know how to answer her. We told her we would honestly find out, feeling confident that we could find adequate responses in the church writings and doctrine. Needless to say, what began as a short exercise to help her out has become a research obsession filled with appalling discoveries. Consequently, it appears that my husband, children, and I along with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law will all be leaving the church leaving devastated friends and family members behind. It's really a weird time for us. We vacillate between sadness, excitement, and sometimes black humor because it all seems so ridiculous. We had a poignant moment with our eleven year old daughter. She asked us if Samuel the Lamanite was in the Bible. Then she asked us if we still believed that Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. That's the real problem, even for us. We feel that we are starting from scratch in a way. RLDS doctrine is intertwined with true Christian doctrine and it is hard to extricate the truth from the deceptions sometimes. This back story is lengthier than I intended but hopefully you can see at what point we are in this difficult but freeing process.
My question is one of doctrine. If Christ isn't preaching in the prison house to those who have died without knowledge of the gospel, then how can God be called fair? What about little babies that die without having the chance to accept Christ? I have always felt that the RLDS faith offered the most fair portrayal of opportunity for salvation but now it seems that this doctrine is disjunctive with the Protestant view. I feel a bit bereft about this. Can you offer any insight into this perplexing problem? I would be greatly helped if you could.
Thanks so much for your bravery and hard work,
Name withheld by request
Q: 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, Nevada
Q: Can you tell me if The Church of Jesus Christ based in Monongahela, Pennsylvania is an RLDS church?
I have asked if they are Mormons and they say they are not. Some call themselves protestant. Recently I found out that their church uses a 'restored bible' and the Book of Mormon.
I would like to know if this church considers themselves Christians, as some of them seem to be labeling themselves protestants? Or are they Mormons? Is this church connected to the Independence, Missouri church?
Thanks for the info.