Former Mormon ~ Now Christian

Nauvoo Expositor

2009-04-24T23:16:00.001-05:00

Read it for yourself. Find out the truth about Joseph Smith and the "Nauvoo Expositor". Ask yourself why Joseph was taken to the Carthage Jail in June 1844? It wasn't false charges as the Mormon Church likes to promote. In the U.S. you cannot destroy a newspaper just because you don't like it and get away with it - even if you are the Mayor. There's this little legal idea known as the 1st Amendment!

Eyring at Mountain Meadows Massacre 150 Year Memorial

2008-03-18T21:44:00.001-05:00

Henry B. Eyring speaks at Mountain Meadows Massacre 150th Year
Memorial September 11, 2008.
Voices regret over Mountain Meadows Meadows Massacre but regrets what?

RE: Mormon Missionaries Debating A Georgia Preacher

2008-03-16T21:42:00.001-05:00

Join our Guestbook

2008-03-15T00:36:00.000-05:00

"When Salt City Calls" by Rocky Hulse

2007-12-08T13:04:00.000-06:00

NEW BOOK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Rocky Hulse rocky@mormonoutreach.org

Is the Mormon Church the Ultimate Lobbyist?

Author examines trustworthiness of Mormons in public office

LONGWOOD, FL—Today, Mitt Romney’s bid for the presidency has everybody asking the following questions: Can Americans trust Mormons in public office? Is the Mormon Church the ultimate lobbyist? Could a Mormon who holds a governmental position of authority be forced by their religious beliefs to make a decision contrary to all logic, reason, facts, or evidence? Do Mormons swear allegiance to their church, its prophets and apostles, their living oracles, and the priesthood power they hold? Author Rocky Hulse’s When Salt Lake City Calls: Is There a Conflict Between Mormonism and the Public Trust? (paperback, 978-1-60477-220-3; hardcover, 978-1-60477-221-0) answers these questions and more. “Every year is an election year for public officials around the country,” says Hulse. “Every day appointments are made to fill important governmental positions of authority from the local to the federal level. Can we, the American public, feel confident that our elected or appointed government officials of the Mormon faith will act in the best interest of those they are elected or appointed to represent, or are they in bondage to fulfill the interest of their ‘church’ over the people they serve?” Hulse, a retired Navy veteran, was a Mormon for 31 years before having his beliefs challenged by his born-again wife, Helen. In 1986 he was saved, as he came to realize the Mormon Church’s claim that it was the “only true and living church on the face of the whole earth” was inherently false. He now devotes his time to educating others about the truth of the Mormon Church.

“When Salt Lake City Calls” by Rocky Hulse

International Standard Book Number (ISBN):

Paperback 978-1-60477-220-3

Hardcover 978-1-60477-0

“When Salt Lake City Calls” by Rocky Hulse

If you would like an autographed copy visit our website: www.mormonoutreach.org
or you may write us at:
P.O. BOX 197
Denmark, IA 52624-0197

$25.00 Paperback
$35.00 Hardcover

Mitt Romney and Mormonism

2007-11-30T20:45:00.001-06:00

Is there a conflict between Mormonism and the public trust?

Brigham Young Speaks on Blood Atonement...

2007-11-09T19:52:00.000-06:00

The Mormon doctrine of Blood Atonement as taught from the mouth of Brigham Young.
Mormonism teaches that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was insufficient and that we have to do some work on our own to atone for sins. The Mormon doctrine of Blood Atonement teaches that we commit some sins that require our own blood (murder) to be shed to atone for those sins (damnable heresy).

Here is a collection of quotes from second Mormon “prophet” Brigham Young. I hope you don’t believe what you read. I hope you believe it’s all lies or taken out of context. I encourage you to research it for yourself. These can all be verified and proven in context by reviewing the Journal of Discourses for yourself. Just Google Journal of Discourses or go to the LDS Offical site.

Without further delay, let’s let Brigham Young speak for himself:

I will tell you a dream I had last night. . . . I saw two ruffians, whom I knew to be mobbers [sic] and murderers, and they crept into a bed, where one of my wives and children were. I said, “You that call yourselves brethren, tell me, is this the fashion among you?” They said, “O, they are good men, they are gentlemen.” With that I took my large bowie knife, that I used to wear as a bosom pin in Nauvoo, and cut one of their throats from ear to ear, saying, “Go to hell across lots.” The other one said, “You dare not serve me so.” I instantly sprang at him, seized him by the hair of the head, and, bringing him down, cut his throat, and sent him after his comrade; then told them both, if they would behave themselves they should yet live, but if they did not, I would unjoint their necks. At this I awoke. I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheathe my bowie knife, and conquer or die. Journal of Discourses Volume 1 Page 83 (1853)

If you want to know what to do with a thief that you may find stealing, I say kill him on the spot, and never suffer him to commit another iniquity. Journal of Discourses Volume 1 Page 108 (1853)

I will take the Government of the United States, and the laws of Missouri and Illinois, from the year 1838 to 1845, and if they had been carried out according to their letter and spirit, they would have strung up the murderers and mobocrats who illegally and unrighteously killed, plundered, harassed, and expelled us. I will tell you how much I love those characters. If they had any respect to their own welfare, they would come forth and say, whether Joseph Smith was a Prophet or not, “We shed his blood, and now let us atone for it;” and they would be willing to have their heads chopped off, that their blood might run upon the ground, and the smoke of it rise before the Lord as an incense for their sins. I love them that much. But if the Lord wishes them to live and foam out their sins before all men and women, it is all right, I care not where they go, or what they do. Journal of Discourses Volume 2 Page 186 (1855)

It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 54 (1856)

Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins and be received into the kingdom of God. I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands. . . . If the Lord so ordered it that they are not caught in the act of their iniquity, it is pretty good proof that He is willing for them to live; and I say let them live and suffer in the flesh for their sins, for they will have it to do. There is not a man or woman who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it. Journal of Discourses Volume 3 Page 247 (1856)

There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt [sic] upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world. I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is a strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not destroy them. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 53 (1856)

I do know that there are sins committed, of such a nature that if the people did under the doctrine of salvation, they would tremble because of their situation. And furthermore, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them and that the law might have its course. I will say further; I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Pages 53-54 (1856)

Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved in the kingdom . . . and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, “shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?” All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 219 (1857)

But now I say, in the name of the Lord, that if this people will sin no more, but faithfully live their religion, their sins will be forgiven them without taking life. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 219 (1857)

I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance (in the last resurrection there will be) if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels of the devil, until our elder brother Jesus Christ raises them up—conquers death, hell, and the grave. I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle’s [sic] being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force. This is loving your neighbour [sic] as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. This is the way to love mankind. Journal of Discourses Volume 4 Page 220 (1857)

We must believe that this same Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world, that is for the original sin, not the actual individual transgressions of the people; not but that the blood of Christ will cleanse from all sin, all who are disposed to act their part by repentance, and faith in his name. But the original sin was atoned for by the death of Christ, although its effects we still see in the diseases, tempers and every species of wickedness with which the human family is afflicted. Journal of Discourses Volume 13 Page 143 (1869)

Quoting the Chicago Tribune article: April 15, 2007

2007-04-30T07:08:00.001-05:00

Quoting the Chicago Tribune article: April 15, 2007

"It ought to be called a non-Christian center or anti-Mormon center," said Bishop David Wright, a top Mormon Church leader in Nauvoo. "I don't see anything Christian about it."

Of course we are Christian! The word “Christian” is right in the name of the Center: The Nauvoo Christian Visitors Center!

Isn't that what is heard daily from Mormons: Of course we're "Christian," the name of Jesus is in the name of our church 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?'

I guess what's good for the goose, doesn't apply to the gander!! Hmmmmm?

Perhaps Bishop Wright thinks because we don't believe that Jesus and Satan are literal brothers as the Mormons do, we don't meet the Mormon defintion of Christian?

Truth...Mormon Prophet Brigham Young or Elder Jeffrey R. Holland?

2007-04-02T13:54:00.000-05:00

“The Lord knew how to preach to the Jews, and told them what the truth was. You may as well undertake to command the most degraded of these Indian tribes, and give them arms and accoutrements, and try to put them through the regular military exercise, as to preach to the Jews to make them believe in the Lord Jesus Christ… I would rather undertake to convert five thousand Lamanites, than to convert one of those poor miserable creatures whose fathers killed the Savior, and who say, "Amen to the deed," to this day. Yea, I would rather undertake to convert the devil himself, if it were possible. Then I say to the Elders in those regions, be not astonished if you have to see hard times. And if I had a voice that would reach the ears of all those Elders, I would say, LEAVE THEM, AND COME HOME, THE LORD DOES NOT REQUIRE YOU TO STAY THERE, FOR THEY MUST SUFFER AND BE DAMNED. Now, sisters, write to your husbands who are in regions where the Gospel has been preached anciently, to come home; and I say to all the Elders who are in lands where the Gospel has been preached previous to our day, come away from that people, and leave them to live and die in their sins and ignorance. For the sins of their fathers are a sweet morsel to them, and they take pleasure in their wickedness; therefore, let them alone, and come home, and preach to the Lamanites” (Brigham Young, December 3, 1854, Journal of Discourses 2:142,143. Emphasis his).

By Marshall ThompsonAssociated Press 3/31/07
JERUSALEM — When Elder Jeffrey R. Holland visited Jerusalem in 1987, he was besieged by thousands of Orthodox Jewish protesters who feared the church's new educational center here would be a base for missionary work.
Jeffrey R. Holland
During a visit two decades later, Elder Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said he felt no such antagonism. Though many Orthodox Jews remain wary of the LDS presence here, others say the church has made good on its promise not to use Brigham Young University's Jerusalem Center to proselytize. "After some of the misunderstandings and accusations that we endured during the building of the campus, it is most gratifying to have enjoyed two decades of pleasant, productive association with all our friends in Jerusalem," Elder Holland said after he and BYU President Cecil Samuelson met with local university presidents, Israeli lawmakers and Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders. The visit by Elder Holland came ahead of the church's Annual General Conference this weekend in Salt Lake City. Elder Holland attributes the improved environment in the Holy Land to a promise the church made to refrain from its traditional missionary work. Israel has laws against missionary work, and for many here, proselytizing is dangerously close to the forced conversions European Jews endured for centuries. To respect cultural and historical sensitivities, BYU students sign a pledge not to speak about their religion while in the Holy Land. Still, some Israeli officials can't shake their suspicions about a religion that has more than 50,000 full-time missionaries seeking converts around the world. "We must remember that the Mormons have a strong belief in missionary work," said Mina Fenton, an Orthodox member of Jerusalem's city council. "They have big, big money and they buy things. I call it the money crusade against Jews."
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Joseph Ginat, director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue at the Netanya Academic College, said Israel has nothing to worry about from the Mormons. "When they opened the center, they gave their word they wouldn't proselytize. I've known the Mormons for years now, and they are very serious about keeping their word," Ginat said. The church's campus in an eight-story building on Jerusalem's Mount Scopus overlooks the disputed holy site known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary. It shut down six years ago during a flare-up in violence between Israel and the Palestinians but reopened in January after hostilities subsided. Before the center was inaugurated 20 years ago this month, the BYU Jerusalem program was run out of hotel rooms and rented classrooms for 15 years. Like many Western religions, the LDS Church has deep emotional ties to Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon, which members of the religion abide by together with the New and Old Testaments, says that Israelites migrated to the New World and were the ancestors of American Indians. Latter-day Saints believe that church founder Joseph Smith Jr. translated the holy book from golden plates he discovered through an angel in the 1820s and restored authentic Christianity. The book follows the story of a family who leaves Jerusalem for the Americas around 600 B.C. In 1841, Smith sent apostle Orson Hyde to Jerusalem to dedicate the land for Smith's prophecy of the return of the Jews. A park on the Mount of Olives commemorates Hyde's pilgrimage. "In so many ways, Jerusalem ... constitutes the scene, the setting and the circumference of our religious heritage," Elder Holland recently told a new group of 44 students at the church's Jerusalem center. "The origins of our sacred texts all focus us here."

Great-Great Granddaughter of Brigham Young visits Nauvoo

2007-04-01T22:46:00.000-05:00

Sandra Tanner, great-great granddaughter of Brigham Young, visited Nauvoo March 27-28th. Sandra was in town to film two TV shows on “Truth Outreach” with Rocky and Helen Hulse of the Nauvoo Christian Visitors Center. The two programs should air the week of May 14th and 21st.
Sandra Tanner and her late husband, Jerald, are foundational figures in Christian outreach ministry to Mormons. The Tanners, both born and raised in the Mormon Church, and from “First Families” of Mormonism, left the Mormon Church and were saved as Christians in the late 1950’s. Their journey out of Mormonism came as a result of their seeking answers to questions that they had about Mormonism and their research to answer those questions.
The Tanner’s research is foundational to most ministries which address Mormonism. Their research is voluminous and covers virtually every aspect of Mormon history and doctrine. Often attacked as “Anti-Mormon,” their research speaks for itself.
The Tanner’s gained a certain level of notoriety during the Mark Hofmann scandal of the mid-1980’s. Mark Hofmann, an active Temple Mormon and returned Mormon Missionary, found a lucrative market in the antiquities trade – specifically period documents of early Mormonism. Mr. Hofmann became a master of forgery and began to forge documents and offer them for sale to the Mormon Church. One document in particular the so called “Salamander Letter,” was brought to the Tanner’s by Mark Hofmann in hopes of having their interest inflate the price he could get for the document. Hofmann had been selling controversial documents to the Mormon Church for thousands of dollars, whereby the Church would place them in their vaults and remove them from circulation.
Hofmann’s plan to get the Tanner’s endorsement backfired. The Tanner’s, so meticulous in their research were not fooled by the “Salamander Letter.” The Tanner’s instead published a newsletter where they questioned the documents authenticity and first brought up the possibility of forgery. The current Prophet of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, and current President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Boyd K. Packer, were advisors in the purchase of these forged documents and were completely fooled by Mark Hofmann. Isn’t it ironic that the Tanner’s, derided as “Anti-Mormons,” were not fooled by Hofmann’s forged documents, and those sustained as “Prophets, Seers, and Revelators” of the Mormon Church were.

Nauvoo Why We Are Here?

2007-03-29T08:39:00.001-05:00

NAUVOO CHRISTIAN VISITOR'S CENTER
Billboard's authors hope it brings attention to the debate
Former Mormon hopes to guide people to Nauvoo Christian Visitor's Center.
By SHAWNA RICHTER
Burlington has a new billboard four miles south of town.
It's tall, deep blue and has a cross on it. The yellow words state, "Nauvoo Christian Visitor's Center. Defending Christianity from Mormon doctrine."
To Christian Visitor's Center directors Rocky and Helen Hulse the billboard is a step in the right direction.
"We put it up for a couple of reasons," Rocky Hulse said. "We put it up to advertise the center and the fact that it exists — a lot of people don't know it's over there.
"Also, the statement on the sign will draw people's attention," he said. "They'll say, 'Defending Christianity. Why would they say that?' "
Along the bottom, the billboard gives people the center's phone number and e–mail address, and the Hulses are hoping people use them.
"People may see the billboard, then go to the Web site, click it and see why we make that statement," he said. "The Mormon church is doing a tremendous job public relations–wise. They have really turned around their image in the last 20 years.
"But they haven't changed their doctrine."
All of that information is available on the visitor's center Web site, and all of it is based on Hulse's research.
Hulse was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints for 20–some years. After marrying Helen, he tried to get her to join the faith.
She studied the Mormon religion, but refused to join and instead, convinced her new husband to read the Bible and join her faith.
Now the pair try to spread the word about inaccuracies in the Mormon religion, as well as their experiences with it. Rocky Hulse writes articles and newsletters showing how Christianity and Mormon beliefs differ.
"We don't make this stuff up," he said. "I don't have to. I just do a little research and put it up for people to read. ... Unfortunately, (Mormons) don't realize (I'm not making it up)."
The billboard is one step in steering people away from the Mormon faith, and the Hulses are concerned about what may happen.
"We took a picture of it (Thursday)," Hulse said. "Maybe by Monday it would be cut down. ... In reality, you can get an adverse reaction out of Mormons for different things. This could be one."
Elder Jon Larson, with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints public affairs office, didn't know the billboard existed.
"I think he is trying to stir things up, but I didn't even know about it," he said. "If he wants a billboard, that's OK."
The Historic Nauvoo Visitor's Center has a few billboards of its own in southeast Iowa. According to Ross Schmidt, the group has about 24 directional billboards in the area. All point the way to Nauvoo's historic district.
Hulses' one–and–only sign is four miles south of Burlington on the east side of U.S. 61. People driving to Fort Madison from Burlington will see the sign to their left.
Why Burlington?
"We were looking around trying to find an available billboard ... and that one became available and it was in our price range," Hulse said. "There is a tremendous amount of traffic on Highway 61."
The billboard is not lighted, so it cannot be read after dark, and though the Hulses would prefer it be lit, they'll work with what they can get.
"We aren't a bottomless pit of money like the Mormon Church is," Hulse said about the Nauvoo Christian Visitor's Center, "but this was money well spent."
The Hulses remain in the process of renovating the center, though it is open. Once Rocky Hulse retires in May, the pair will get to work on the displays, rearranging and redecorating the building.
For more information on their center, visit them:

Passion Play Run Amok in Nauvoo

2007-03-22T22:47:00.000-05:00

"WHY IS THE PASSION PLAY BEING HELD AT THE JOSEPH SMITH ACADEMY?"
I read the March 21, 2007 front page article in The Nauvoo New Independent about the "Passion Play" with the looming question. Why is this play depicting the most important event of orthodox Christianity being held at the Joseph Smith Academy. You may ask, "What is the problem?" The answer: The Joseph Smith Academy is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So what, you may ask. Well, the Mormon Church theology does not teach that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins; rather, Mormon theology teaches that Jesus paid for what sins he could in the Garden of Gethsemane? For those who may already be saying that is not true, let me allow the Mormon Church to speak for itself. This quote comes from the Official Mormon Church magazine Ensign and is quoting the 13th Prophet of the Mormon Church, Ezra Taft Benson: "The most transcendent of all such events occurred in a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem's walls, which when the Chief Citizen of planet Earth sweat great drops of blood from every pore as He in agony took upon Himself the sins of all men on conditions of repentance (Ensign p. 54 April 2005). Brigham Young taught that Jesus' blood doesn't cover all sin, the crowning point of the Passion Play. I'll let Brigham speak for himself: "It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit" (Journal of Discourses Vol 4, pg 54, September 21, 1856) I just read the April 2007 edition of the Ensign and to my surprise in a section called "Gospel Classics," an article by Mormon Apostle David B. Haight reaffirms the Mormon theology is at odds with the Passion Play. On page 17 it reads "When they had sung a hymn, Jesus and the Eleven went out to the Mount of Olives. There, in a garden, in some manner beyond our comprehension, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world. His agony in the garden, Luke tells us, was so intense "his sweat was as...great drops of blood falling...to the ground." (Luke 22:24). He suffered an agony and a burden the like of which no human person would be able to bear. In that hour of anguish our Savior overcame all the power of Satan."If the Ministerial Association wants to join together for joint events that's fine; however, when the organization that is hosting the event, doesn't even believe in the subject of the event (in this case, Jesus dying on the cross for our sins). why in the world is the event being hosted there? This is like holding graduation from an alcohol rehabilitation program at the Jack Daniels Distillery. I simply find the agreement to allow this hypocritical, or an oxymoron, take your choice. I am not alone in asking this question; however, the dynamics of this town being what they are, retribution silences the other voices. So the question remains, "Why is the Passion Play being held at the Joesph Smith Academy?"

Join in our Outreach at the 2007 Nauvoo Pageant This Summer

2007-03-22T15:17:00.000-05:00

Last year 2006 during the summer Nauvoo came alive with the Mormon Pageant about Joseph Smith and one of his wivies Emma. This pageant brings people from all over the world, mostly those that are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) or more commonly know as the Mormons. We are one of three visitors centers in this small town on the Mississippi River. The largest center is the Utah based (LDS) Mormons and the other one is the (RLDS) Mormons, who now call themselves the Community of Christ. Our outreach here at the Nauvoo Christian Visitors Center is to provide the rest of the story about Mormonism, the one you will never heard at either of the two Mormon Centers. We had folks from KS, OH, MO, IA, IL, and Utah come and help us reach out to this unreached people group. The summer of 2007 is fast approaching if you would like to be a part this year. The Nauvoo Pageant begins July6th and ends August 4th. Workers are always needed to come and help the Nauvoo Christian Visitors Center with its yearly witness for Jesus Christ, please pray for those who do come to help.

However, if you would like more information please
our website: http://mormonoutreach.org

What is Team Nauvoo?

2007-02-25T21:48:00.000-06:00

Team Nauvoo members help 'Nauvoo Chrisitan Visitors Center' in many different ways. A very important way is prayer.