August 2000
(Names and Contact Info Removed)

August 2, 2000

Hmm... how many people are in your church? and then how many members are in the lds church? lets think about this a minute....i think you are way out numbered. Nobody has ever heard of you.

".... I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. ...." (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408, 409) - Joseph Smith: founder, prophet, seer, and revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

P.S. you read too much into things.

"Jerald and Sandra Tanner were raised in the LDS faith, both with a strong Mormon family history. Jerald is the great-great-grandson of John Tanner,.... Sandra Tanner is a great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon Church. As teenagers, before they met, Jerald and Sandra were challenged by different people and events to examine the origins of Mormonism. Soon after their introduction, they jointly began researching Mormonism and became engaged. Both accepted Christ during these early years of study and have left the Mormon church. They are both active members of a local Christian church in Salt Lake City"

P.S.S. these people have been touched differently than other people. they had different situations in their life that caused them to look to some other lower denomination. Why are you trying to compare them to their anscestry? it does not matter who their relatives were. they will be who they want to be. you were a son and or daughter of heavenly father and you turned out different than he probably expected. The son of Brigham young went of to form his own church(the reformed church of latter day saints). Your website will just make REAL members of the LDS church not want to particaipate in your religion even more than if you just pass out little flyers, downing the LDS church. don't you think that saying good things about your church will get more members, than if your just downing the LDS church? You know there are other religions that you are not marking for judgment. The leader of this church must hae had a pretty bad "situation" with the LDS church to stray away and form another church, putting down members of just the LDS church, to try and gain members of its own. Let me ask you...Are you having any success?

[Web-editor: To clarify, Utah Lighthouse Ministry is not a church. It is a non-profit Christian organization.]

August 9, 2000

I was not raised in a religious environment. My father was the son of a southern baptist preacher and as an adult found no use for religion in his life. That doesn't mean that he didn't have morals, on the contrary. I grew up knowing what was socially considered to be right from wrong. My father wore the pants in our household - he made the decisions. He wanted me and my two brothers to be able to make a religious/spiritual decision on our own with out the influence that he had as a boy. I have, as an adult, become a Christian. I don't really belong to any particular church because of the politics that usually exist. I'd rather just try and live a good, clean, solid, and productive live.

My wife grew up in Utah as a Mormon. We married when I was 29 and she was 19. I actually started looking into the Church before her and I started dating. Some thought that my joining the Church right after we got married was part of my ploy to "snatch me a young'n". Those of you that want to believe that, go ahead, I'll never be able to change your mind anyway.

I've a twofold purpose to this email and you'll see it the rest of the way. My wife has just left the Church for the second and final time. The first time was because of me. After I had been baptized into the Church, I began to ask questions. I evaluated and determined that the answers to my questions weren't up to par. My wife was too embarrassed to continue on her own. I've always questioned and this time/situation was no different.

I guess my issues with the Church seem to be from a purely logical standpoint. There seems to be no logic within the Church. You folks that are members and reading this, please explain to us non-members why you can have successful careers where your success is due to your utilization of your logic skills, yet when it comes to religion, your brains detach themselves from the body and seem to go somewhere far, far away (and please don't say "with Heavenly Father")? God gave you a brain and wants you to use it for legitimate reasons, not "secret combinations" that separate themselves from "this physical world." The structural laws that one receives from the Bible actually follow a very logical line, but you have to study the Bible to determine that.

Another problem that I see from the outside in (because all of my in-laws are members), is that there seems to be this really pompous, superior facade that members of the Church seem to have. Granted, not everyone I've met is like that, but you know what? Lots of people that I've met within the Church are like that though. That is a direct result of having been raised in an environment that teaches

1) that one can become a god if one is willing to make the necessary sacrifices and
2) "this is the only true church."

Arrogance, an ungodly trait. "The" church is not an organization like the one you belong to, it is the "whole" body of followers of Jesus. If you knew and understood the Bible like you supposedly knew your Church history, you'd recognize that nowhere in the Bible are we told that we can become a god. God doesn't tell anyone that, Jesus doesn't tell anyone that, but on the contrary, that you will reside in Heaven with God, Jesus, and the ones that you love. In the Bible, God actually tells you that he is the only God. How in the world can you overlook that? Well, we could go on and on about that.

Anyway, my wife rejoined the Church after she and I were having some difficult times. Mostly because she was beginning to recognize that life as an adult was not near as simple and easy as were her teenage years. RESPONSIBILITIES!

My wife actually went so far as to go through the temple ceremony this time around. Between some of the things that she questioned from the ceremony and later hearing one of the primary teachers tell the kids in that class that "Jesus created the world," she began to do some research on her own. ... She even asked her mother if she knew about the "Jesus creating the world" thing and her mother said yes and that she believed it. My wife then asked her mother how she was able to believe in the Bible since it contradicts what the Mormons believe. Her mother couldn't give her an answer.

Members, please don't try and take the Bible out of context to defend your position. You've been doing this all along anyway. The Bible does not support the BOM. Come to grips with that. You folks prey upon and have your success with those that are, from a Gospel standpoint, but a mere babe. ...

Boy, time flies when your having fun. Thanks for the great web site. You folks have supplied me with lots of Church history that has helped bring my wife around and I thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Members, instead of looking really desperate while defending your "church", try looking really desperate in your search for the real God, Jesus, and Truth. Recognize that there are two sides here, those of us that have given our lives to God and Jesus, and then those of you that have given your lives to a church. Good luck on your future travels and I hope we all meet in the same place! ...

August 10, 2000

I'm a solidly rooted "Mormon", and as I was checking out your letter's page I was very appalled by the blatant hatred directed toward you by members of my religion. The vitriol would be humorous, if I thought they were trying to be funny! I apologize for my fellow LDS brother's and sisters, they are either ignorant of their religion or not living it to it's fullest extent.

As much as I detest your message, I suppourt your freedom to express it. I'm reminded of Hugh Nibly's comment whenever I see your site "We need more anti-Mormon books. They keep us on our toes" Please accept my apologies, I am ashamed that members of Christ's church would act in such an unchristian manner.

August 11, 2000

Hi-I feel like I can relate to David McCament. I converted at 12 and I'm now 25. I've had doubts about the church for years, but I've never had any bad experiences that he has had with members or the priesthood. All of my experiences with membership and leadership have been very positive. I have felt the spirit SO many times. But I can't deny the doubts I have. The problem I have is if the Mormon church isn't true, who is? I believe some of the Protestant principles, but there are definitely some that I don't think are Biblical. The same is true of the Mormon faith. It doesn't seem like anyone has all the information right. Frustrated and at my wits' end,

[Web-editor: Dave McCament's Testimony]

August 11, 2000

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Tanner,

My husband and I have a small cult ministry and when we came across your wonderful web site we immediately included a link to it on our cult page (http://www.gold-mountain.com/cult.html). God bless you in this awesome ministry. The reason I am writing today is because I recently came across an old copy of Secret Ceremonies by Deborah Laake. There are several Mormons where I work who I would like to share my faith with so I decided to read this book to see if I could learn more about where they are coming from. After reading just a few pages I found myself completely engrossed and did not stop until I had finished the entire book.

I was so moved after reading everything this young woman went through that I felt compelled to write her a letter. Why, I wondered, in all her experiences had no one directed her to the truth? Why had no one told her about Jesus? So I decided to do it myself. But after the letter was written and only after searching the web for her address did I discover that Ms. Laake had taken her own life earlier this year. I cried. There was so much I wanted to tell her, and all the other "Deborah Laakes" who continue to live the life she described, in silence.

Since I now realize I will never have the opportunity to share my heart with her, I thought I would pass the letter on to you in case you might find a place for it in your ministry or be able to pass it on to someone it might touch in her place. Thanks again for your bold ministry.

Dear Deborah,

I just finished reading Secret Ceremonies today. Yes, I know you wrote it several years ago but it was only this past week that I discovered a copy on our bookshelf (which I will explain why in a moment). You are a gifted writer and also a very brave woman being willing to reveal so much of your inner thoughts and feelings so openly. I found myself completely drawn into every detail, every tragedy, every pain and joy you went through as if I was right there going through it with you (another testament to your writing talents). I rejoiced at the end when you seemed to finally make the break from the lifelong physical, emotional and spiritual bondage that Mormonism had caused you. What seemed so tragic to me, and prompted me to write you personally, was that nowhere along the way did it appear that anyone even suggested to you that there is another route to the God you spent your life hoping to please. It was as though your only options were the god of Mormonism or no personal relationship with God at all.

Please, Deborah, if I might be so bold, may I take this opportunity to introduce you to my God, the God of the Bible. He is also the God who tenderly, passionately loves Deborah Laake. Deborah, this God, the God who Joseph Smith chose to reject, is a God of love, who longs for a personal relationship with every man and every woman. He does not want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). Joseph Smith exchanged this God of grace for a capricious god of works and impossible demands. This is contrary to God's very nature. The Bible states that "because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved...For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:4-9).

Joseph Smith rejected this gospel of grace and replaced it with another gospel, a gospel of works, and masonic-like "secret ceremonies," claiming it was all given to him by an angel. As if it was written directly to Joseph Smith the Bible says, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" (Gal. 1:6-8).

Deborah, the good news of the Bible is that our salvation, eternal and irrevocable, is a free gift given to us by faith and faith alone in the completed work of Christ. One of my favorite verses says it so clearly: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16,17). We don't have to face the next life wondering if we were good enough or if some marital relationship will earn us a place in the highest heaven. We can know for sure, today that "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13).

Getting back to why that book was on our shelf, when my husband and I got married, he didn't come with a lot of furniture. Just books. Mountains and mountains of books. One of his primary areas of interest is in cults and false religions. He has dedicated his life to studying false religions so he can help people find their way out of the darkness back into the glorious light of truth as found in the Bible. Yours was one of the books he had collected and read hoping that he might glean something from it that might spare others from going through what you have been through. I am so sorry for all the suffering and pain you have gone through in the name of religion. Perhaps it will all be worth it if, indeed, your openness helps others be bold enough to walk away from this oppression and bondage. Our prayer is that you, and countless others will keep walking right into the loving arms of your Heavenly Father.

Prayerfully yours,

August 11, 2000

Hello,

My name is _____ ______, and I recently joined the LDS church. After a series of long prayer and questioning, i feel that GOD led me to fully begin to understand what this is all made of. I am interested in any mailings or factual evidences you may have, in order to gain a righteous understanding of how and why this church can go back and change so many "important and mandatory practices". ...

I thank you for your dedication to the truth as it is not always easy to find. And I pray for all of us who have not yet found the light of CHRIST in GOD. Thank you!!

August 12, 2000

I was looking for looking for wedding invitations for my wedding and the bridal store I work for when I came upon your website. I didn't know what it was at first, so I decided to read some of it. By the time I finished the first letter I was in tears. To think that you have led so many people away from the truth with your lies.

The LDS church is not a cult. It is a Christian religion. LDS and Mormon are just nicknames for it. The name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name speaks of Christ, so how could we not be? This church is true. Someone said that we call every other religion false and ours is the only true one, but that's not true. We believe that ours is the only one that has the WHOLE truth. All other churches have some truth, just not all of it. That is what we teach.

I also read where someone wrote about the Mountain Meadow Massacre that they said you talked about, but did you mention the Hans Mill Massacre, where all but about 5 Mormons were killed? And what about how they were driven out of Far West and Independence, Missouri and Kirtland and Nauvoo, Ohio, and had to move out of the country? Those are the things that you conveniently leave out.

It saddens me to know that you try to convince LDS people that our church isn't true, but what is even sadder is the number of people who have fallen for your lies. I feel sorry for you to know that one day you will face our Father in Heaven to be judged for the things you say about us. I hope that one day before that time comes you will realize what you are doing to yourself and others. I'm sorry that websites like this even exist. If you have to believe this way, that's your choice, but please don't crusade against us.

August 12, 2000

To whom it may concern, Soon after I became a Christian in 1988 I began to take an interest in this cult called Mormonism. I began working at the local city pool in Frederick, MD where I worked with three beautiful girls that were Mormons. My friend ( also a Christian) that worked with me and I decided to read the Book of Mormon that summer to be better able to witness to these girls. Ever since then I have continued to read books on and remain interested in Mormonism. I was struck by how similar in origins it appeared to be with Islam. Only later did I find out that other scholars had noticed these similarities. I seemed reasonable to me that Satan was a rather uncreative liar and has been rehashing the same old lies for centuries.

At any rate I am writing a brief and uninspired paper on Mormonism for an apologetics seminary class. I came upon your website and was blown away by the wealth of information there. It still boggles my mind how Mormons are able to keep themselves from seeing the truth about Mormonism and its history. ... Thank you for loving the Mormon people enough not to let them die in ignorance but rather providing both the seeking Mormon and the witnessing Christian with materials the allow God's truth to prevail.

In Christ,

August 12, 2000

I traveled to SLC earlier this month to visit some friends. I attend Calvary Chapel in Hanford, CA. While in SLC my family and I had the opportunity to visit the Calvary Chapel there. The Assistant Pastor John Gotz was a pleasure to speak with, he expressed a sincere joy with his mission there in the beautiful state of Utah. I told John of the daily contact that I have with LDS members here in California. John shared with me information on your mission and organization. He was very excited and told me to visit your offices. Unfortunately, we didn't have time. The Lord has placed it in my heart to study more of His word and to learn to share His word with my friends and neighbors that are Mormons. I know through John's smile and joy that I was led to your organization for this reason. Your help is appreciated and received with the truth that is Jesus our Savior.

August 13, 2000

Mormons are a classic example of mind control. The church likes to get them young so the transformation can be pushed deep into developing minds. The prophet is everything, he can not make a mistake, you must give all to the church, pay no attention to facts and evidence that paints our church in a bad light. There is nothing Mormon leaders would love to have more than a one world system with non thinking cult members slaving for their power and glory. Mormon leaders would love to put the minds and souls of all people under their control to accomplish their goals of a world government owned and operated by mormons sitting in high places.

I pray these sheep will wake up before they go to the slaughter. Look to Christ, not some self proclaimed power hungry general authority. ...

August 13, 2000

Hello,

My family are members at Washington Heights Baptist Church in Ogden, Utah. My wife and I along with two other couples and my brother have started a ministry called, "Utah Partnerships for Christ". It is on the web at www.upfc.org It is designed to help bring short term mission trips here to the state of Utah.

August 17, 2000

I find it very interesting that so many people are spending so much time trying to find fault in the LDS church. Do they feel threatened, do they have to find supposed fault, to make theirselves feel that leading a less than adequat lifestyle is ok, because heaven knows that Mormon lifestyle isn't easy to live,course nothing worth achieveing ever was easy. Do you understand the doctrine of mormons. Growing up in the church has clearly given me time to hear all the bad things that Mormons are all about. I can't think of any. Sure when the church was restored there were people that didn't live exactly a Christlike life, but were a part of the church.......doesn't make it bad or wrong or worth spending large amounts of time and effort a person could use in bettering themselves to find fault. Sure lots of things were done by "Mormons" that weren't exactly perfect, as most Mormons are perceived to be or by your standards required to be to make the religion true. This "research" must have taken lots of time. There must be something about those darn ,mormons, everyone is hell bent on trying to sway them. oops,I swore, the church must not be true! Since I didn't just live a perfect life as a Mormon, the church must not be true, according to your philosify. You find me a religion that can give me the piece, comfort and knowledge I have. Find me a religion that calims it was restored as promised in the Bible by the direct direction and guidance of God. Joseph Smith would have been a fool to make up such a thing, look at all he went through. And contrary to your "research" the life Joseph led did't warrant a violent death. But keep writing, if it helps temporaroly ease the lifestyle you lead, when you are ready to do the right thing, look into the basic doctrine of the church. There are all kinds of bad people that do incorrect things and calim to belong to a good thing, certainly doesn't make that thing wrong if truely it isn't, look at the works. God couldn't restore His church to perfecet people, but the doctrine of His church can perfect people. Oh and while you are doing all this "research", find out what kinds of deaths the murderers of the Prohet Joseph suffered, maybe their terrible suffering was just a coincidence, right. But I'm sure "your research" will come up with that all the people at Josephs martyrdom were good God faring folk, ole joe deserved it right? Must be something about this church, so many people spend so much time working against it, oh and I highly doubt that it is because you are concerned for my welfare, I reckon it is to help pacify yourself for the time being.

August 19, 2000

Almost 5 years ago, after being a member of the church for 28 years, I asked the local bishop to have my name removed from the church records. To make a very long story short, it took me over three years of regular and constant phoning and harassing the bishop, the bishop's wife, the bishop's kids, the stake president, and finally several people at church headquarters before they finally relented and removed my name from their books. (3 YEARS!) What a nightmare. I only wish that I could have had the direction that you have now been sued over. It's too bad they have to resort to such sinister tactics to prevent their number from falling too quickly. I hope everything goes well. - I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate you work and dedication.

Thanks.

August 19, 2000

Hi,

You've probably heard this story before, but I figure you won't mind hearing it again.

I grew up in the church in Utah, was a faithful member. On my mission, I first encountered "anti-mormon" material and it had no effect but to make me more determined that the LDS church was true. At that time and ever since, I also started hearing other LDS revile the Tanners, and for a long time, I had that image in my thoughts whenever I heard the name.

But last year, I finally got knocked off my pedestal and had to take a good hard look at the church. Of course, that could do nothing except lead me out, because as you certainly know, there's so many things wrong with the church. Your website was an invaluable resources as I was seeking to understand so many questions. I can't imagine the flak you must take for your courageous stand, and right in the middle of Utah, too. I admire you very much for standing up to that, and I thank you for the information you provide about the church's history. Please continue doing so, there's many more people out there just like me, seeking to know the truth about the LDS church.

Thanks!

August 20, 2000

Hi, Jerald & Sandra.

I was just reading some of your article on Blacks and the Priesthood and thought I'd drop you a line to tell you how important I think your work is. And to say 'Hi'. I used to be an active Latter-Day Saint. I was baptized in '89 (aged 19 yrs.), left to serve a mission 15 months later, returned and continued serving in the church (priesthood leadership positions, teaching YM, teaching Temple Prep. etc) for another 4 years.

Since I was a boy I struggled with "personal demons" and continued to struggle until a "resolution" in 1996. I was disfellowshipped for "giving in to sin" and the resolution came in the midst of preparing to return to full fellowship. Needless to say I never returned.

Strangely, not much effort was ever made to "bring me back". I had been on several priesthood executives during my church activity and am familiar with the degree to which priesthood leaders "work" to retrieve "sheep who have wandered from the fold". No such energy was ever expended on my behalf. Still don't know why. It doesn't matter anyway, as I would not be going back. I made the right choice. Best decision I ever made.

I'm rambling. Forgive me. It's funny, though. . . when I was active in the church I always heard about "The Tanners" and how dangerous you people were. We all spoke venomously about you and the work you were engaged in. We were afraid of you. Now however, I read about you and your work and think "Wow. I can't believe that they've been doing this for as long as they have." You are to be commended for the time and energy that has gone into trying to free others from the Mormon Mind-Oppression Machine.

I still have many friends inside the church and I respect them and their freedom to choose their own paths but I haven't a sliver of respect for an organization that asks of it's members "You must be less than fully true to yourselves if your full self does not fit neatly within our world view." I could go on about this sort of thing for a while but I'll leave it at that for now. I wonder if you might have an Email address for the office of the Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve or anyone at church headquarters that you might pass on to me. I am interested in letting them know how offensive I find their policies to be.

Any information you might be able to provide me with would be greatly appreciated. All best to you and much success on your 'mission'.

Thanking you in advance,

August 21, 2000

hi, i am of the LDS faith, i love it, and i think that if you hate it then you should keep it to your self, God does excist, and loves All of his Children, as taught in my Sundayschool class, those that know the truth and reject it will not be in his pressance.

bye

August 21, 2000

My wife of 15 1/2 years, a mormon (her family goes back to the earliest days - I also know that Mark Hoffman is her cousin), announced a surprise divorce (I didn't have a clue.) I know that the mormons refer their people to certain shysters. My wife's shysters have done nothing but libel, slander, defame, and perjure. ...I'm in a Christian separated men's group ...and have met another guy whose mormon wife is also using the same shysters. This has become a living Hell for me.

August 23, 2000

I am writing in response to a letter that I have read that just breaks my heart. It is the letter of sexual abuse by a grandfather that resulted in a not guilty verdict. I want you to know who ever you are, that my prayers go out to you and when the future comes and our children are grown, these acts of violence will no longer go unpunished. I can relate in these matters because the same scenario has happened within our "perfect LDS family". The only thing that was ever accomplished was he was brought before the Bishops court, but I can assure you, this man should have went to prison for the horrors he imposed on my mother and my aunts. Growing up was a nightmare, not a gift of togetherness, my mother had told me. Every day you were afraid to get dressed or take a shower in the same house. Many occasions they would wake up to find this person masturbating over their beds. It is strange and now, understandable why this man was never excommunicated for his (now they would call it a sexual predator) actions. He was a very successful business man. His tithing alone was more than 30,000 a year (back in the late seventies.) This man needed help and never received this because he had his hands slapped by the bishops court. And this was all. He later was killed in a motorcycle accident. Now that my grandmother is newly married in the temple she calls him scum. But agreed with whatever the bishops had to say. It is very sad that if you are called into a court of law and you are an upstanding, rich, mormon you could get away with anything in Utah, even murder. Of course this is true in this nation, if you have enough money, you can commit any crime. How sad.

August 24, 2000

I grew up in the church and i have struggled with it since i was 16 and started to form an opinion of the church. For the most part, i think the family values that they teach are pretty good but i never understood why my father always had something to say about us(his daughters) dating and god forbid marrying a black man, but now , thanks to your article i now understand. my husband started to receive discussions about 2 years ago, from missionaries. about a month into them he decided that he wanted to get baptized, the missionaries asked him a few questions one of which was "have you ever been convicted of a felony? " my husband had been convicted of a D.w.i. and had been to a re-hab for a year, he also got 10 years probation. my husband told the missionaries this, they proceeded to tell him that he could not be a member of the church until his probation was over, they said it was part of the repentance for what he did. I have a big problem with this, all my life i was taught that god loved everybody and that he wanted everyone to be a part of the "true church" but that comes with restrictions and limitations and to me that is not right, my husband served his time and paid for his crime, all he wanted to do was to worship god and learn about god in this church.

August 26, 2000

The other day I happened to be stopped by a thunder storm in Cedar City Utah. ( I was flying a small plane to San Diego from Montana. ) I had to wait a few hours while the storm passed and I decided to visit the Mt. Meadows site because my mother had told me that some of our family members were killed there. When I arrived at the site I was met by three LDS ladies who asked if I was LDS, I said no that I was there because some of my ancestors were killed there. One of the ladies asked if I was satisfied at what the Church had done in order to atone for the atrocity. I said that I was pretty ignorant of the whole thing. After reading a couple of books about the event and consulting with my mother in more detail, and learning that one of the Fancher children who survived and returned to Arkansas was involved in my life (I was born in 1945 and she lived until 1950) . The enormity of the event began to overtake and enrage me. I wish that I could say to that lady that no there is nothing the Church could do to make up for that slaughter. And I also want to say to her that she is under the spell of a false religion and she should get away from it as quickly as possible.

August 27, 2000

Dear Tanners,

I really love what you are doing for the Mormon people. The Mormons out there see that you are wasting your time. We see your ministry not as tearing down but giving a loving refining fire. For the sake of the argument, if the LDS church was the true church, then this fire you pass onto the Mormon world will only make it stronger. If it is not of God then it will become weaker. From what I have seen, it has become weaker, although psychologically it may make some Mormons stronger because they would never leave the church even if Jesus came back today and commanded them to leave.

To the Mormons out there, I invite you to look through the website and at all the information present. If the Utah Lighthouse Ministry is the spawn of Satan than I encourage you to fight it with all of your being. If it is of God then support it with all of your being. Jerald and Sandra Tanner have become a Living Sacrifice unto the Lord, as commanded by scripture (Rom. 12:1). I encourage you again to look at all the evidence and make a SOUND judgment. I personally have looked at all the evidence from both sides for seven years and I have made my judgment to follow the prophesied Messiah of the scriptures who is God the Eternal Father in the Flesh (John 1:1). Be open minded and take a constructive look around. If Joseph was a prophet then you must admit that the Gates of Hell prospered against the church for over a thousand years, which would make Jesus as a false prophet. I mean this all in love as do the Tanners. Heed the words of the Apostle Paul, "If anyone preaches a false Gospel, may he be eternally condemned." (Gal. 1:8)

Take care.

August 30, 2000

Hello,

My name is _____ ______ and I am a 29 year old woman that was adopted into the Mormon church when I was 10 years of age. From that on I was raised a strict Mormon with family history links to the pioneers of the LDS faith.

Praise God that His seeds never go dead. See I got saved as a little girl of only 8 and those seeds left questions that the Mormon church never could answer. Needless to say I am no longer Mormon and have had my name removed from church records and I am serving the Lord with everything that is in me and more. I just finished your book that was published in 1980 I appreciate your research and it really confirmed what I had already felt and I learned a great deal more as well. Thank You for your Research. I do know that there was much persecution in doing what you have done by revealing that the Mormonism is a fraud and doesn't have anything to do with God's Word. Especially with you being at the Center of The Mormon Capital. I thank God for you that you are able to be a light in such a spiritually dark place. God has truly given you a heart for the Mormon people for their salvation. I thank you for that and pray that I can be such a light to my own family who is very much practicing Mormons.

God's blessing to you and your ministry,

August 31, 2000

Dear Sandra and Gerald Tanner:

First I want to thank God for you and your ministry. Your information has been invaluable. Within the last month I have been dialoguing with two Mormon missionaries. By the way, I should probably tell you about my background. I have been a Christian for a little over ten years now.

Five years ago, I worked at a factory where there was a Mormon. We struck up a friendship. We also tried to witness to each other. He also became a valuable source of information for me. He gave me a copy of The Pearl of Great Price/Doctrines and Covenants and a copy of the KJV Bible they use. I was also reading books on the cults, particularly Mormonism. Recently, I have been speaking with two Mormon missionaries. The first time we met was pleasant. I thought our second time would be our last time, because I thought they were going to ask me my opinion of the Book of Mormon, which I had formed many years ago. They did not. They simply went on with their presentation which we discussed. I work at Sight and Sound Theatres, In. It is the largest Christian performing arts theatre in the country. I'm in charge of the stage crew. I had the pleasure of inviting them to see our show : NOAH The Musical. I didn't get to talk to much to them afterward, but they seemed impressed. The leader of the two also oversees the other Mormon missionaries in that area. He wants them all to come see the show as well.

... In talking with these Mormons, I haven't done much in the way of debating their position or presenting evidence against them. I'm trying my best just to witness to them and love them. The leader of the two said they have a gentleman in their church who is keeping up with the archeology of The Book of Mormon. I don't have to tell you, that, I agree there is no evidence to support the historicity of the BM. I have since purchased your books, Archeology & the BM, and another book on the Golden Plates. I have seen the statement from the Smithsonian Institute. I also believe logic and reason refute the historicity of the BM. The leader of the two asked if he can call me sometime. I told him he could. My request from you is do you have any advice for me and would you pray for me. I am firmly convinced beyond a shadow and doubt that Mormonism is in a error and a grievous lie. I have to ask myself and God where I need to take this dialogue. If the leader of the two is going to have this guy call me, he might think I'm can be converted. I assure you, I have no intention of doing that. ...

May God continue to bless you and your ministry.

Your brother in Christ: