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May 2019
LDS woman: I read your article and was rather impressed by your understanding of your book, but I am concerned that you provided a bit of false information about the Church’s doctrine. Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints, are Christians, and we believe in one God, which is our Heavenly Father. We do not worship Joseph Smith or anything like that. . . .
[Sandra Tanner: After sending her two pages of quotes from Joseph Smith and other LDS prophets where they clearly taught that Heavenly Father is just one of many deities, she responded as follows]:
LDS woman: So I like to call this the law of eternal progression. Like it said in the articles [that Sandra sent her], God—by which I mean our Heavenly Father, not Jesus Christ—was once a mortal, among others, who came to earth and had trials and experiences. We can assume—just assume, though, we have no doctrine about this and it does not affect us personally—we can assume that there was another God who was the Heavenly Father of our Heavenly Father—our Heavenly Grandfather. As Latter-Day Saints, we believe that if we accept Christ’s Atonement and obey God’s commandments, we can be exalted and become literal gods and goddesses. Mind, not everyone will receive this level of exaltation, but it is possible.
What you may be confused about—and it’s okay, a lot of people get hung up on this—is that they think that we are saying that we mortals can become equal to our Heavenly Father, Elohim. This is not true. Just like we can progress throughout eternity, so will God. The scriptures say that He is “unchanging.” That can be misleading, because obviously someone who is alive cannot remain exactly the same. It actually means that He does not change direction. He continues to help His children as they progress through life. Part of His plan for helping us includes giving us more revelation and scriptures.
[Sandra Tanner: I still don’t understand why you originally said the LDS Church believes in one God, since clearly they believe in countless gods. I understand Mormons don’t pray to other gods, but when a Christian says there is only one God they mean there are no others anywhere ever, not even in another universe. You clearly knew when I first asked about Mormons believing in many gods what I was meaning so why play a word game with me? Why not just send me this last statement first, instead of the denial?
When Isaiah reports God as saying ‘Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any,”[Isa. 44:8] we take that as an absolute statement. If God doesn’t know of any other Gods, then there are no other gods anywhere in any other universe.]
LDS woman: I’m sorry if I created any confusion. We only know of other gods in theory, but whether or not there are other gods equal to our Heavenly Father, they have no bearing on our salvation or relationship with him.
May 2019
I love how you guys break the 10 Commandments specially they’ll shall not bear false witness against a neighbor.
And I love this that you guys do not believe in the Bible and I know you guys don’t read it, didn’t Jesus say those without sin cast the first stone. If you love me keep my Commandments. Did Jesus say love one another and guess what you guys are not doing what Jesus is teaching so you guys are hypocrites in the eyes of the Lord
And also Jesus said by your fruits I won’t know thee. If you don’t know you talking about the fruits of the spirit. Sweetheart you have no idea what you’re talking about you have no clue who Jesus is, you talk to talk but you don’t walk the walk.
May 2019
My husband and I recently left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, seven months now. I had been a member my whole life and my husband a convert since he was twelve. We were faithful members. I served as a Relief Society President, a Primary President, Seminary Teacher, Stake Young Women’s President and my husband High Counsel, Bishopric, Young Men’s President ect. I am an LDS writer, with three published novels through Covenant Communications. Basically, our entire world was LDS.
I came across a side note to teachers in my seminary manual that bothered me. It said that Joseph Smith translated a portion of the Book of Mormon with a stone he found. I started doing research, which led to more research. A week and a half later I knew the church wasn’t true! I told my husband and he said he had to do his own research. He came to me a week later and had even more disturbing information.
I’m sure you get many emails like this, so I won’t get any more into our story. Basically, at this point I’m almost three fourths of the way through [Mormonism] Shadow and Reality. One of the worst things, or at least the statement that bothers me the most is in the History of the Church. It’s a quote you have on your website by Joseph Smith. (History of The Church, vol. 6, pp. 408-409) “I have more to boast than ever man had . . .” He then proceeds to compare himself to Christ, saying he (Joseph) ran a church better than Jesus! Wow!
There is no possible way that Joseph Smith “saw” the Savior of the world and thought himself better. If the Primary Account of the First Vision wasn’t convincing enough, this is a blow. My question: Is that quote taken from Joseph’s journals, writings etc.? I realize that The History of the Church, though claimed to be written completely by Joseph Smith, has been finished by historians. I want to know the origin of that particular quote, since it is so telling of Joseph’s character.
[Sandra Tanner: I sent her the link to the original source, from the Joseph Smith Papers Project]:
May 2019
Yeah, Utah Lighthouse Ministry, your cult is false.You guys are not born again and your paid liar pastor is not saving you.Your spirit-god is false. You don’t believe in the resurrection.You believe in a fake doctrine called the rapture. You guys are a fake church and you guys are not saved.The church of God that was restored by a prophet is still the truth and your little web site, U[T]LM.org is ca-ca, just like your paid liar pastors are ca-ca.
May 2019
It’s really sad that you guys cannot leave the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints alone. If Sandra is not God she acts like she’s God, you guys are brainwashed by her. But after just life you have to answer to God why you are trying to dry [destroy?] his church good luck with that. I really feel sorry for you guys, . . .
I hope one day you’ll find Jesus and truly know who he is, because you have no clue who he is, very sad. . . . Keep up the good work the more you Bash the LDS church the more I know it’s the true church keep up the good work people.
May 2019
Sandra, you may not remember it, but more than 20 years ago I called you from São Paulo, Brazil to ask you questions. I had just learned about B[righam] Y[oung]’s teachings about blacks from your ministry. I have been a biblical Christian [after leaving Mormonism] for 20 years now and I believe the Holy Spirit has called me to also speak up and warn others of the fallacy of Mormonism. I don’t feel adequate to do it and will never be able to do as much as UTLM has done, but would be so appreciative of prayers for guidance . . . Thank you for all the work you and Jerald have done to show us the way out! Love in Christ!
[You can listen to her story online]:
May 2019
Your cult is false. You will come forth at the second resurrection as eunuchs. You will not have gender, because you do not choose to go to the Celestial Kingdom. You guys are a joke, a sick joke.
July 2019
To Sandra, all my life we were taught to steer clear of the Tanner’s. Nothing but trouble would come from it. 25+ years later as our eyes are opened to the church and we can see that you were right all along. I pray that this vindication sustains you and that more will have their eyes and hearts opened to the truth. . . . Thanks to you and Jerald for all your years of tireless sacrifice and courage to stand for the truth.
July 2019
Your website is such garbage. We know that Jesus instructed the apostles on the temple. You are profane still, and not saved. You shall all perish and come forth in the 2nd resurrection of the unjust as genderless eunuchs. Matthew 19:12. (Enjoy the Te[l]estial/Terrestrial Kingdom)
July 2019
How pleased I was when I saw a documentary [on Oxygen] today regarding Mark Hoffman that included comments by you. I was very impressed with your comments and demeanor and am proud that I took the time to read such documents compiled by you and Jerald including MORMONISM—SHADOW OR REALITY?, The Case Against Mormonism, and Major Problems of Mormonism. You have had a significant impact on my thinking concerning religion and Mormonism in particular. Thank you immensely.
August 2019
I just finished Sandra Tanner’s Mormon Stories interview. I think it’s the best one I’ve heard yet! She’s very logical, knowledgeable, and she has a lot of entertaining stories! My takeaway thoughts:
1. I can’t see how anyone who listens to that interview can stay believing.
2. It shows how hard the church tried AND STILL continues to hide information!! To the extent that they tried to bankrupt the Tanners out of spite for exposing FACTS. It’s immoral and just plain wrong.
Here are two other short videos of hers that are great:
https://youtu.be/153jwQlVkB4
https://youtu.be/3OhLHz2aDRk
Originally appeared in:
“Excerpts from Letters and Emails,” Salt Lake City Messenger, no. 133, October 2019, 22-23.