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June 2020
I have been a student of yours since the 1970’s when I was in college. I was given a copy of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality. I rejoiced as my best friend growing up was LDS as was my aunt . . . I became a born again Christian 8/23/71. I knew Mormonism was false but now I had a tool that helped decipher the truth!!! I have been a student of Mormonism, sharing the true good news with Mormons, friends and relatives of LDS and educating Christians about Mormonism. (I have relatives in SLC!) Thank You for all the incredible work you have done and continue to do until Jesus returns!
July 2020
Thanks for your extensive research over the years which has opened my mind to the truth of the LDS church. I joined the LDS church at the age of 22, here in [the UK], and served in many positions, even as a bishop for seven years; I am now 69. If I had known then what I know now, through your books and articles, I would never have given my money, service and years of time, to the LDS religion. I feel betrayed, for I had believed everything taught by the church and its leaders; now I know better and am struggling to settle my mind to seeking truth through the Holy Bible, and that only. I am not sure where I go from here, but I am sure I will never again advance the cause of the Joseph Smith deceit.
July 2020
My wife and I just finished Mormonism: Shadow or Reality and loved the work you guys did and are doing.
July 2020
Issue #134 [Salt Lake City Messenger], June 2020 was excellent, on first vision. I have read and re-read it. I am constantly amazed at Mormonism. Keep up the good work.
July 2020
Just a note to express how much I appreciated your excellent interview with James Walker. I just finished Part I and am looking forward to Part II.
September 2020
I called a few weeks ago and talked with Sandra about some research I was doing. . . . She suggested a few items, but when the package arrived, there were all kinds of additional materials related specifically to my area of research with my order. She took the time to dig through newsletters from years ago. I was overwhelmed. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.
October 2020
I had a coworker tell me there was a South Park cartoon about Mormons where JS [Joseph Smith] was shown translating the gold plates by sticking his head in a hat with “the” rock [seer stone] in it.
I said they have the cartoon wrong, Joe didn’t do it that way. I told him I would prove him wrong. Holy smokes, a little delving into the internet and my world shattered. What else was kept from us good little followers? I found videos made by Sandra Tanner, and she told me the truth and opened my teary eyes even wider.
I had home teachers come by a few times to dissuade my journey. They couldn’t answer my questions or told me to go to the temple and pray about these things while sitting in the C room [Celestial Room]. All I needed to do was reread the B of M [Book of Mormon] and all my questions would be answered.
I am here to say that I finally left the foggy world of LDS and was born again 2 years ago. The greatest part of this adventure is the man that I married after divorcing my eternal partner was basically agnostic most his life, found Jesus and was baptized. I thank Sandra and Gerald for all their research and perseverance. . . . What a glorious ending to this frightful journey!
February 2021
I’m sad to say this is a letter of apology. I used to be a Mormon. I went on a mission in ‘99. Was out for a year and got sick. Heart problems, runs in the family. While I was out there we as missionaries talked about “The Tanners” quite a bit. I’m sad to say none of it was truth. There was a time that I even thought that somehow, even though it’s not doctrine, that you were part of the 1/3 of the host of heaven.
I’m sorry I helped in spreading lies about you and I thought you were such an evil person. I have heard so many interviews with you since I have left the church. You seem like one of the sweetest people around. I have found true faith in Jesus (in 2018). He said you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Then he said I am the WAY the Truth and the LIFE. No man comes to the Father, but by me. Praise God. He sought me when I was not looking for him.
One of the hardest parts of leaving the church is forgetting everything Mormon and learning everything Christian, but yet remembering everything Mormon so you’re not deceived again. I have found something that helps is daily Bible study. . . . Again I’m sorry and God bless. I pray for you and your ministry. Thank you for all you do in not just telling the truth about Mormonism but helping present the Jesus of the Bible.
February 2021
I began trying to learn what Mormons believe that was wrong when I was in my early 20s. Now I’m 93 and very happy to see Mormon Stories and other YouTube online videos vindicating everything you worked so long and hard to present to everyone that wanted to learn the truth about the teachings of the LDS Church. Congratulations for a life dedicated to helping open-minded people to find truth about every LDS subject.
March 2021
Please let Sandra Tanner know that the work she and her husband have done to share the truthful information about the LDS church history is very much appreciated. I truly enjoyed listening to Sandra’s recent interview on Mormon Stories and the Netflix show Murder Among the Mormons.
March 2021
Thanks for all your work Sandra. Left Mormonism in 2017 at age 39. My family of 6 is so much healthier. Sometimes I admire or even envy your hope in God that you mention on Mormon Stories. I live in the most nonreligious place in the US. . . .
March 2021
Thank you for the excellent YouTube interviews and work you do! You’ve played a key role in converting a loved one and helping her to understand that Jesus already paid the price for our sins and to follow his teachings. My wife was a 5th generation LDS and now she’s a born again Christian, a follower of Jesus and we worship the one and only God. We are now active members of [a church in New Mexico].
March 2021
Loved your Mormon Stories podcasts. I am not a Christian or a Mormon, but your story was so fascinating and inspiring!
March 2021
Yes, I have to thank you for all your work exposing Mormonism. Your website was a great resource when I was having my Mormon faith crisis in the mid-2000s. I just watched your interview with John Dehlin and I wanted to support you.
Thank you.
March 2021
I would like to commend you for your work refuting the lies of Mormonism. I found out about your organization after watching Murder Among the Mormons. Thank you for contributing to that mini-series, and thank you for sharing Christ’s truth where you currently are located.
. . . Thank you, God bless, and I will look forward to reading more in the future.
April 2021
Thank you for everything! I just listened to the John Dehlin episode [on Mark Hofmann] . . . my first Mormon Stories listening ever. Wonderful information from your insight on the Netflix documentary Murder Among the Mormons! Thank you for everything, truly. . . . God bless you and your late husband.
April 2021
Thank you Sandra, God has used you in unmeasurable ways. One of those ways occurred a few years ago when you visited personally with our daughter and her then Mormon boyfriend. Your conversation and speaking God’s truth changed our daughter’s direction. Shortly after your visit, they separated and we have God to thank for using you to help our daughter see the Mormonism deception.
God bless your God-honoring ministry.
April 2021
I served a mission 20 years ago in Southern California. I received my first copy of this book [Mormonism—Shadow or Reality?] in Orange, California at the Ex-Mormons for Jesus shop. I donated 20 dollars in an act of hubris. They gifted me this book. My father destroyed the book before I could read it after I returned home. Now my own family of 5 have removed our names from the church. I am excited to finally read this book.
April 2021
Thank you so much for your research and your ministry. I have been meeting regularly with the missionaries to share the Christian gospel with them for more than five years now, and I always feel well prepared because of all the hard work you have done. God bless you!
April 2021
Thank you so much for your decades of research and the promotion thereof. . . . My brother and I left Mormonism years ago—and wallowed in the confusion for years. We, however complicated the journey was, could not shake the conviction that Jesus was the Savior. However, what does that mean? What does that even look like, esp. after such betrayal and trauma in basically the only religious experience we had.
Studying that out in our minds (and our hearts) took time—but thanks, in part, to your consistent criticism of Mormon history without the embrace of the so-called “higher criticism” . . . we were able to (responsibly) see how, contrary to the impressions of many voices out there, the BOM and the Bible are qualitatively different! Essentially distinct! . . . You have been a consistent voice distinguishing these things. Thank you so much for that.
My brother and I are finally, years later, looking forward to joining real Christianity for the first time. We are scheduled to be baptized . . . on May 16th. It was a long and painful transition. But receiving Peace with God through the person of Jesus Christ, the One True God, the real historical first-century Rabbi—and HIS life, His teachings, His work, His death on the Cross, His Resurrection—and His Kingdom; THAT is what is the source and end of our hope going forward. With that in my mind and heart—all the pain and confusion of Mormonism seems very small, indeed.
April 2021
I have spent the last two years deconstructing my beliefs in the LDS church. Although I can finally identify this as liberating, I am left with some confusion. Most of my Post-LDS friends have come to a place of atheism that I just can’t embrace. I hope it isn’t wishful thinking, but I still feel a connection to something beyond myself especially during meditation. I’ve heard you talk on several podcasts and I sense you still have a deep connection to Christ. I am now reading the New Testament but I have to admit, without using my LDS tools, I have trouble understanding it.
May 2021
Thank you, Sandra Tanner, for your and Jerald’s life’s work in bringing the truth, the real truth about the Mormon Church to the world. You are the “Davids” against the Goliath. That was my son who came to your store today, Monday (or yesterday if you are reading this on Tuesday). He called me to tell me about it. He was genuine in his praise and appreciation expressed to you. You probably weren’t sure what to think but he was so thrilled to meet you in person and express his admiration to you for all you have done in the face of great opposition and, at times, disrespect and threats.
Please know that there are so many of us former Mormons who so cherish your information and fortitude. You and Jerald are our real-life heroes! A friend of mine, _______, left the church over 35 years ago and your invaluable information (many mimeographed pamphlets and booklets) helped keep her solid when active family members put her through the wringer. She still has all the information stacked 3 feet in her office.
I was a convert of 44 years and when I came to my senses in 2016 and had my name taken off the records of the church, it was a real free-fall. Watching you on Mormon Stories was so helpful in keeping my senses together since I still live in the ward and neighborhood of 23 years—where I taught Gospel Doctrine, RS Pres; and all that stuff—it was a real shock to those around me and I became a pariah for a while. But I made non-Mormon friends and a whole new world opened up to me. My son, who had his name taken off the records of the church over 10 years ago, never dreamed his mother would ever “wake up” and come out of the Mormon stupor. I told him about you and the interview on Mormon Stories and he watched it and also watched the one following up on The Mormon Murders.
Just know there are many of us out there who truly admire you and are encouraged by your bravery, that many are out doing what they can, as John Dehlin reports. . . . You have erected the Standard of Truth.
Our prayers and blessings to you always ~
May 2021
I found UTLM online way back in 1997 and am so grateful that you had the will to go online at such an early time in internet history, and also that UTLM provided free mailed newsletters. The newsletters and my purchase of the huge book Mormonism—Shadow or Reality? were instrumental in my leaving the church. It has taken all these years for me to come to Christianity, and now I am an influencer for Christ in the lives of my friends and family.
Thank you, Tanners, for playing such a huge role in my life. God bless you and your continued work.
Originally appeared in:
“Excerpts from Letters and Emails,” Salt Lake City Messenger, no. 135, June 2021, 19-21.