[Spelling and grammar not corrected]
Oct. 2012
Hi this is very interesting journey. by the way i just have to send a comment about your site wow it is a wealth of information. thank you for putting the time and effort in creating a website and thanks again for spending the time helping me and other Mormons . . .
Oct. 2012
I wrote to you a few weeks ago when my brother was killed in an accident and his funeral was [conducted by Mormons] . . . thank YOU personally for, unknowingly, giving a stranger great comfort during this awful and deeply painful time. . . . YOUR VIDEOS, your kind face, your words, your comforting voice, when discussing this odd religion helped me stay strong and got me through those awful days . . . PS, your videos also helped another sister . . .
Oct. 2012
Leaving Mormonism is so difficult to do. You get so brainwashed into not thinking for yourself. I thank God every day that I saw the light. I thank him for Sandra’s part in my conversion.
Oct. 2012: It all started to come apart for me when I read Mormonism: Shadow or Reality . . . especially where it talks about Isaiah 29:4 being prophecy of the BoM. The first time I used a Strong’s Concordance, I looked up all bible passages about familiar spirits and realized Isa 29:4 couldn’t be a prophecy.
Oct. 2012
I’m a 20 year old from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I met the mormon church almost 4 years ago . . . . Fortunately I discovered many FACTS that made me KNOW that that church (like any other I guess) is a corporation full of secrets and lies and its real “mission” is to concentrate power and money. Missionaries keep coming to my house and I try to be nice to them (it’s not their fault that they don’t even know their own church, because they are brainwashed since they are little), and I try to tell them why I think the way I think, with FACTS.
Oct. 2012
Today is the 1-year anniversary of the removal of my name from church records. I want to thank you for the help your website & resources have given me. I believe you are called by God to help people like me find the true path to Jesus & God
Nov. 2012
I stumbled across your website while surfing the internet, . . . It seems to me that your little group is based on hate and intolerance to another religion, much like the Christian persecution of the Jews and with all of the hate in the world, why create and operate some offensive and hateful in today’s world? . . . I can honestly say that for you bigoted fools to hold onto such hate is pathetic bs. . . . Look up the definition of Christian and I guarantee you douche bags fall well outside those parameters and it’s time to grow up or shut up or don’t and reap what you sew.
Nov. 2012
Years ago I had read that you were thinking of retiring . . . I sent you an email and told you how important your ministry is, and asked you not to . . . I am so glad that you reconsidered that thought . . . you are perhaps more needed now than ever . . . praise God for your ministry.
Nov. 2012
Thank you for everything that you and Jerry have done to help break me free and clear my head. You and Jerry’s hard work brought me to a place to where I can think clearly and rationally. . . . I would not be who I am today without you. Thank you.
Nov. 2012
While I feel empathy for the Tanner family at the loss of Jerald, I would have loved to have seen the look on the face of Jerald when he crossed the veil and saw the Prophet Joseph Smith welcoming him. As a convert to the LDS Church, the efforts of people like the Tanner’s has only reinforced my testimony because greater is He that is within me [the Spirit] than he that is in the world.
Nov. 2012
You were very instrumental in my conversion from LDS. . . . I have some people in our church who are interested in trying to reach Mormons. Love you and your work.
Nov. 2012
Id like to extend my thanks to you for all your work. It’s been vital to my search for the truths I was denied for 34 years. Im sharing my LDS membership resignation with you, as I did with Shawn and Alathea, because of how important you’ve all been to me and my final decision.
Nov. 2012
If you dear people would put all the money you spend on the Salt Lake Messenger into doing good for others, taking care of your own, we would all be better off. We are all entitled to believe as we want to. Give it up!
. . . Joseph Smith was & is a Prophet.
Nov. 2012
Good morning. . . . thank you for the work you do. We are Christians who moved to Utah last year, unaware of what we were really coming to. It has been an unpleasant shock to learn what a God-less, spirit-less place this really is.
Dec. 2012
. . . I suppose I’m sticking with the Mormons because I find them to be very pleasant and agreeable people. . . . Anyway Madam, . . . you seem very polite and ladylike. I’ve watched some videos of your speeches and can’t help but be impressed by your skill in stating your case. Like I say, though, I still feel the presence of the Lord in Mormonism. These people have been good to me and I want to show them loyalty.
Dec. 2012
I wanted to tell you that UTLM has been such a valuable resource for me. I am an ex-mormon (BIC), and my husband and I left the church together after we married. I am teaching a 6 month series of classes to evangelical teens and adults on how to witness to the LDS, . . . Your website provided me with one-stop shopping for these valuable materials, and I was especially delighted to see all the digital content now available.
Dec. 2012
Loved the latest issue of the SLC Messenger [November 2012]. You all did a wonderful job exposing the wackiness of Mormonism. This issue will for sure go into my library of false beliefs. Thank you for your hard work in bringing the true Jesus to the lost.
Jan. 2013
I know you must receive a wide variety of opinions, I want to encourage you to keep spreading the truth of God’s love. Speaking the truth in love can be difficult but you have done it well.
Jan. 2013
I’m writing to you because I have a deep appreciation for the work you and Jerald have done over the years. I’m amazed at the dedication you’ve shown in trying to help Mormons find truth. . . .
For 36 years now, I’ve been married to a wonderful, faithful, Mormon . . . She wasn’t active in the church when we met in 1976, and we talked about her faith before getting married, resulting in her assuring me she wouldn’t go back to Mormonism. Well, as so often happens, when children come into our lives, we reach for our roots and that is what she did. . . . She insisted our kids be raised in the church as well. . . . This has been the only real problem (as a couple) that we’ve had in our marriage. The church has been between us since 1980 and we have (at times) struggled greatly with the division it has caused.
In 2009, I decided to give it my all to try and prove (once and for all) that the church was true so we could unite our family in Faith. . . . What I found in my study of church history, and through daily Bible study, has born out what my gut was telling me all along, that Joseph Smith was a fraud. . . .
Sandra, as a member of the body of Christ, I want you to know that I love you. You, your family, and Utah Lighthouse Ministry, are in my prayers always. Please pray for ______ as well. I’m hopeful, in time, she will come to see truth. I continue to encourage her to read the New Testament, but, she almost seems to be afraid to actually do it. I don’t want you to worry, I don’t push her hard. I’ve learned I can drop a seed here and there, and not make her miserable.
Again, my main reason for writing is to say thanks! Ministries like yours are making a difference! Knowing the ONE TRUE GOD, is all that matters!
Jan. 2013
After listening to you on a couple of TV programs, I can see that your understanding of Mormonism is limited. . . . Also, you told Jason Wallace and John Ankerberg that the Bible says that God has always been God. The Bible doesn’t say that. It says that “. . . from eternity to eternity, thou art God.” The LDS consider each of us as having existed “. . . from eternity to eternity.” So my son can say of me, “Dad, from eternity to eternity, thou art my father.” Note, that I haven’t been his father forever; but I HAVE existed from eternity, and will continue to exist for all eternity. . . . I believe your declaration that God is unchanging does not apply to ways He adapts to increased horizons.
Jan. 2013
I’m a brazilian member of the mormon church, my baptism was in 1980. I have various doubts about mormon’s doctrine, principal about Joseph Smith. I want to know documents copys for discuss about mormon history. Here in Brasil the members to know only official church history.
Jan. 2013
The In-law side of my family are largely polygamist mormons and I really love witnessing to them using information I receive from you.
Feb. 2013
God has said that the book of mormon is the most correct book and that by reading and living by it. (being the gospel and an additional witness of Christ) we could become closer to God. Realize that he didn’t say the perfect book, but the most correct. Information can only bring us to the desire to read or not to read to pray or not to pray about it. It is truly our choice, But we see that no evidence or archeology has ever sanctified the heart in knowing the truth and being converted to the Gospel of Christ, but by the Spirit of God.
Feb. 2013
On the previous testimony sunday on the 3rd of this month I bore my testimony saying “I know this church is false and I know Joseph Smith was not a prophet”. . . . the only thing I remember was a SIGH in the public in front of me, but I DID IT! I didn’t expect it to be such a relief after saying loud what I KNOW. After testifying I gave to my bishop the resignation letter . . .
Feb. 2013
I accidentally came across your website. I and my husband left the church, 18 months ago. I joined the church in my twenties. . . . And eventually, went to the Temple. My experience there was very mixed. I was shocked in the endowment session, with the slitting of the throat, etc. . . . [prior to 1990] But each day I went along for a week and I rationalized it to be alright. Then I meet my husband _____ [who] grew up in the church. . . . He loved reading FARMS and he subscribed to Dialogue. . . . But with his learning of hieroglyphics he realized that the book of Abraham was false. . . . So we are now members of the Anglican Church, and my husband now smiles when he goes to church, we attend a bible study group. . . . I can only pray that one day they [the rest of the family] will know The Lord.
Feb. 2013
You guys crack me up. . . . why are you making it your life message to “debunk” Mormonism? . . . God has always led his people through prophets, so by what authority are you disseminating “information” in regards to His will? . . . If you think you know better than divine revelation, well, by all means carry on. Sad, sad little people. So sorry to have chanced upon your website.
Feb. 2013
. . . By the way, your book 41 unique teachings has been a top-notch help to me. . . . I witnessed to a lady this morning. . . . THANK YOU THANK YOU
Mar. 2013
Years ago your website was instrumental in freeing our family from Mormonism. You are doing a good work and helping a lot of people. Thank you so much for helping us.
Mar. 2013
THANK YOU for being a force for Christ in the world. The research that you and your husband provide makes a key difference in lives worldwide. In the limited times that I’ve had to talk and witness to Mormons, I know that information gotten from your newsletters really helped.
Mar. 2013
I am a Fancher descendant. Last weekend I visited the Mountain Meadows Massacre site with my two children. The experience was very moving for me and of course has resulted in many discussions among my family (some of whom are now Mormon), . . . I just wanted to say thank you for your work and commitment to truth.
Mar. 2013
I have to tell you, Sandra, that you have inspired me in many ways. When I was still a devout mormon, I thought what you were doing was just a lot of negative energy and time that would be better spent on something else. But that was because I didn’t want to see the truth of it yet. It would mean having the rug pulled out from under me, and having to make some very difficult decisions. But the time came when I had to acknowledge the truth, and could no longer support the lies of mormonism. . . . I knew Christ wouldn’t have had anything to do with it. And I came to realize the value of the gift of truth. Thank you for that.
Mar. 2013
Tanner(s), I have examined much of your “works” and find your scholarly abilities very much hindered by your personal agenda. I was converted to the Mormon Church and Baptized in 2008 after studying “Mormonism” for over 10 years. Your Anti-Mormon literature is good “tabloid” reading (I did enjoy most of what I read), but that is all it is—the “junk” of your cognitive fallacies. . . . The simple truth is you cannot prove the Book of Mormon was not brought forth by the gift and power of God. Please stop trying!
Apr. 2013
Your ministry and message has helped me steer into truth much easier after leaving Mormonism on 12/13/12. My wife is still in it and has been since age 9, she is 51 now. You and Shawn McCraney have been very helpful with arming me with knowledge to defend my abrupt decision after 12 years LDS to leave it. The Sunday school teacher from my wife’s ward is trying to rescue me. However it is my hope that his plan will backfire.
Apr. 2013
I am a Christian writing to you from ______ UK. I recently found a second hand copy of your book ‘Mormonism: Shadow or reality’ and bought it. I just wanted to write and say ‘thank you’ for this excellently researched resource. There is a Mormon church not far from where I live and a sizeable Mormon population in the area. Your book has enabled me to answer Mormon questions and better defend my faith. You and Mr Tanner did an amazing job.
Apr. 2013
Ms Tanner, . . . many years ago when I was preparing to marry in the Oakland temple, a valued co-worker of mine loaned me a book of yours that had the ceremony word for word in it. I found it frightening at 19 and find it even more so now. My parents convinced me that I had nothing to worry about so I stuffed it down and went through with it. I wish I had believed what you wrote. I did not have the courage to completely disavow the church until I was already 5 years married to someone from whom I am (happily) divorced after 23 years.
Apr. 2013
Since moving here [Nevada], I have been making friends with the LDS, having them over for meals and attending events with them, such as General Conference and church services (the whole 3 hours!) God had put it in my heart to get involved in a ministry. . . . Anyway, thank you again, Sandra. Your newsletters, videos and website have been invaluable to me.
Originally appeared in:
“Excerpts from Letters and Emails,” Salt Lake City Messenger, no. 120, May 2013, 24-26.