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Thank you for visiting our site. We welcome your comments and questions. Please know that all such correspondence are kept in strict confidence. We will respond to you as soon as possible. We post selected questions on this page together with our answers, however, we will not disclose your name unless you permit us. Click here to send us a question. Q:Hello, 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. 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. 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? Your personal
testimony and your ministry have given me a renewed hope that all of the LDS
members can find the truth. Q: Can
you tell me if The Church of Jesus Christ based in Monongahela, Pennsylvania is
an RLDS church? 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? 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: 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: 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. Q: Hi, I have A ques: (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: 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: 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 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: Why do you say that the RLDS church is a cult? 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. |
