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A: Hello
Sandy,
Thanks for visiting our website. And thanks for writing. I’m so encouraged to
hear how the Holy Spirit led you to my website. He certainly works in powerful
ways. So few Christians are willing to work seriously with Mormons. I know that
none ever worked with me! I applaud your diligence.
You ask if the same arguments against the RLDS church be used against the LDS
church? Most certainly, Yes. In my book I primarily discuss the bedrock upon
which both churches are built: their common history (in many cases this is myth,
really), their scriptures and priesthood. And while knowledgeable RLDS and LDS
members might pick at minor differences, the truly significant features of these
elements are identical between the two. The two churches began moving apart upon
Joseph Smith’s murder in 1844, and then with the Reorganization in 1860. You
may have read about that in chapter 1 of my book. But
the bedrock elements, which I mention above, remained the same. And they remain
the same to this day. Neither church has ever repudiated its many serious
errors.
I find it interesting that the Lord led you to study Melchizedek, which in turn
led you to my website. In all my reading about Mormonism, I, too, have never
come across a penetrating study of their priesthood structure. My book had its
origin in an experience the Lord gave me regarding Mormon priesthood while
reading in the book of Hebrews one morning. And when I started my book, I wrote
the chapters on priesthood first. Since then, I, and a number of others I know,
have had some of our most productive conversations with RLDS people on the
priesthood issue. It’s an extremely powerful issue for them, and for
Mormons alike. Both churches are built upon the premise that they alone possess
God’s exclusive priesthood authority. And it’s very easy to speak with them
directly from the Bible. It took just two meetings with one RLDS priesthood
member for him to resign teaching Sunday School and tell his Pastor he didn’t
want to function in his priesthood anymore. Soon afterwards, he left the RLDS
altogether, and began attending a genuine Christian church. We just went through
my chapters on priesthood together with his girlfriend. Understandably, he
protested at first. But the Bible is very clear and easy to understand on this
issue, and the points I make are simply irrefutable.
Thank you again for writing, Sandy. May God bless and prosper your witness to
Mormons.
Paul Trask
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