December 2004
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January 4, 2004 Dear Family and Friends, The month of December is always busy for the holiday season, but it's also a busy month of ministry. Every year the evening after Thanksgiving the LDS Church turns on the Christmas lights around Temple Rectangle. It really looks like Disneyland on steroids in downtown Salt Lake City. As a result, many people come out every night, and this provides a great opportunity to get the truth out to the masses. Not only did I get a lot of tracts out, but I also got to preach to many people on a planter just outside the South Gate. I'd usually start off saying, "I love you guys, and I want to give you the best Christmas gift that you can ever have--the true God and eternal life." I'd proceed to tell them how the god of Joseph Smith was a false and weak god, and definitely not the truly all--powerful God of the Bible. |
Rob outside Temple Square |
Other times after Christmas hymns were sung on the street, I'd use this as a springboard for explaining how the LDS Christ was not the true Christ of the Bible. On one occasion after "O Come Let Us Adore Him", I told the crowd that the LDS Church doesn't truly adore Christ, since they won't even pray to Him. One of the girls in the small choir came over to dispute the point. I asked her if she'd pray directly, not to the Father, but to Jesus for me. To my surprise she actually did by addressing her prayer to "Brother Jesus". Now instead of pointing out to her that Jesus is much more than simply her brother and is in fact her Creator, I simply read to her a quote from her former Apostle Bruce McConkie in which he clearly stated that it's "plain sectarian nonsense" to pray to Christ; our prayers are to be to the Father alone. I told her that if my apostle were to say that, I'd know he was a false apostle. Now get this... she actually said, "You're probably right." Unfortunately though, another not so open choir member wanted to take her place and put me in my place. Nonetheless, a seed was definitely planted that night.
I had a great time ministering last month in many different ways. It truly is a tremendous blessing to be persecuted for the Lord (Matthew 5:10--12). It tells me that Satan isn't having a good day! I had different things thrown at me while I preached--verbally and physically (including a teddy bear, and I ended up giving it as a Christmas gift to my nephew)! One LDS guy actually came behind me, ripped my sign from my hand, and then ran away with it! Fortunately though it was at the very end of one night when I was debating how long I should stay. When things get kind of dicey, God continues to protect me. On one particular rough night, God sent a group of three Christians from the local Calvary Chapel--John, Deshay, and Chris--to pray for me, encourage me, and then actually spend about an hour passing out tracts with me and witnessing to people as I preached.
Finally, I also was able to plug my web site on a local Christian radio station last month. Clint Roberts hosts "Theology Nexus" every Thursday evening, and I called in to talk about a particular LDS guy, Grant Palmer, who got disfellowshipped last month over a book he wrote (cf. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6703588/). I mentioned that I have quite a bit of info on this subject on my site.
Happy New Year,
Rob
Rob@Mormon Info.org
Mormon Info
****PRAYER LIST****
- For more salvations
- For God to move more people to do street ministry downtown
- For Utah churches and individual Christians to support each other's various ministries
- For financial provision
- For the ability to get my rough draft comprehensive done soon
- For God to use my web site
- For love, protection, and wisdom as I minister
****MAILBAG****
I have come across your website Mormoninfo.org and I am very encouraged by your ministry. I too have a heart for Mormons and to do exactly what you are doing (as far as guiding mission teams and such). I used to be a Mormon and now have a desire to see Mormons come to Christ, and know the TRUE GOD as I do.
I am not sure about your mission work and whether or not you have staff that helps you, but if you do, I am trying to find somewhere to do summer mission work in Utah. I wanted to be in contact with Mormons and doing evangelism. Again, I am thankful for your ministry there in Utah. I am interested to hear more about it? Are you very successful in your work? I would love to hear more about the ministry. God Bless
I found Mormoninfo.org, and have been reading about what you are doing out there in Utah. ...Thanks for the info. I really do like this site. ...I ran into it because I have been trying to find out more about the bible, and christianity in general. Also, a few months ago, I had a conversation with my dad about mormonism and the history of Utah. In particular, the story of Joseph Smith and how the government had to go in and take back the state. I almost could not believe that this happened. But I found through the links in your site that it was true.
[The following e--mails come from Mike at www.josephlied.com. He responds within the brackets in this e--mail. I add them here since they demonstrate how I am advertising his site, and how it is working.]
Mike: I read your story. And what prompted me to read it was that I was in downtown SLC this past Saturday and saw someone holding up the "picket" sign on the corner of South Temple and West Temple, advertising your website.
[That wasn't me you saw but rather a fellow named Rob Sivulka. Rob saw my site one day and was so impressed with it he decided to spread the word. He's a good man, you should have stopped and talked to him.]
I believe the overall feeling I have for you is one of sadness. When you came to the conclusion that the church wasn't true and that Joseph lied....why not just exit the church gracefully? Why now fight or preach against it? I can't imagine Jesus standing on a corner with a picket sign telling everyone that "Joseph Lied!" It's totally sad that someone who apostasizes from the church decides now to preach out against it. So what if you want to now "correct the so--called errors" in peoples minds about the church???? SO WHAT??? Your approach is not right, Mike, and you know it. If you don't believe in the church anymore, then FINE. Just live your life....believe what you want....treat others with respect...especially those in which you once aligned yourself with. Everyone has the right to believe in what they want, including YOU. But I can't imagine how you would justify what you're doing.
[You "can't imagine" how I can "justify" telling others the truth about Joseph Smith? Uh, have you ever read the Bible? Even your Mormon leaders will tell you that every man who has been warned should warn his neighbor. One should never have to "justify" sharing facts and the truth.]
I don't want a response to this email. I really don't.
[I'm sure you don't. Most Mormons don't like to be exposed to the truth. It kinda freaks them out.]
I love the church, and it gives my life direction. I can't remember ever being taught to not believe in Christ, not to follow him, and adhere to his gospel and example. Joseph Smith is not here to defend himself against your allogations anyway. Jesus will be our judge, (John 7:17) and not some Cache County kid who can't think of anything better to do but spend 16 hours a day studying something that no one but GOD can truly answer about anyway. IF Mormonism is a fraud, or Joseph Smith for that matter...then God will have to tell me that....not you!
[It is quite telling where your heart really is when you proclaim your love for "the Church". The big difference between you and me is you love your church, I love the Lord. Sure, you "believe in Christ". Big deal. Even Satan "believes" in Christ.
Thanks for calling me a kid. However, I am 36 years old and am the father of three "kids" myself so I will kindly ask you to not refer to me as a "kid". Also, I live in Layton and haven't lived in Cache County for a number of years. Also, you claim that if Mormonism is a fraud then God will tell you that, not me. That reminds me of a parable.
There was a man who heard on the news that the local river was flooding. He surrounded his home with sandbags and figured he would wait it out. As the waters rose, so did his sandbags. When the water was about to spill over the sandbags, a man in a boat came by and offered him a safe way to higher ground. the man replied, "No thanks, God will provide."
Several hours later the water had filled the lower floor of his home. Yet another boat came by, this one with members of the National Guard on board. The Captain practically insisted to the man, now looking out his second floor window, that he climb out of the window and into the boat. the man refused and said, "No thanks, God will provide."
Two hours later the man was standing on the top of his chimney, all that was above the surface of the quickly rising waters. Yet another boat came by and offered the man a ride and he refused once again, saying, "No thanks, God will provide."
The man drowned and, when he greeted St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, asked, "Why was I allowed to drown? Why didn't the Lord save me?" St. Peter looked the man up in the Book of Life and said, "Hmmmm...it says here the Lord sent three separate boats past your home but you turned them all down."
The moral of the story is this. What the he[ck] do you expect God to do?!?!? Do you think he's going to tap you on the shoulder one day and say, "Hey, Billy, you're in the wrong church!"? That is not how God works. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps the Lord knew that you might be near Temple Square on that particular Saturday and inspire Rob Sivulka to make a sign for a website that he doesn't even run and stand out on a street corner on a cold day just so that you could see it?
Get real, what kind of sign do you expect the Lord to give you? Open your eyes and look at the mountains of evidence that proves Joseph Smith was a fraud. The truth is out there. Why are you afraid to look at it? More importantly, why don't your church leaders want you to look at it?]
C'mon Mike....make better use of your time. Be happy, do good to others....live your life the best way you know how, and that is by allowing others to believe what they want....After all, like Martin Luther King said, "It's not the words of our enemies that we'll remember, it's the silence of our friends." Be a friend, Mike....be silent.
[I am not refusing to "allow others to believe what they want". I'll tell you what, if you can get all of the Mormon missionaries in the world to stop going door to door telling people about Mormonism, I'll take my website off the internet. Deal?
Lastly, would a true "friend" remain silent if he knew you were in a house that was on fire? Sure, eventually you'll notice the flames or smoke, but by then it might be too late. I'm simply offering facts on my website. If you look at the facts and choose to remain a faithful Mormon, then why do you feel threatened by my site? Be a friend and just be.....silent.
Sincerely, Mike Norton
P.S. I'd love to buy you lunch someday and talk more. I guarantee you'll learn something new.]
I was at the temple square tonight and grabbed one of your flyers only to be ripped from my hands by my mother. I have read most of your site and it makes a lot of sense so I must congratulate you with what you have done. Thank You and CHOOSE THE LEFT
I am from Brigham City, and I went to see the lights in SLC yesterday. While walking out of the gate of temple square, I saw someone holding a sign with your website address on it. I came home today and immediately got on--line. I have to tell you, I loved your website. I too grew up mormon... I don't have fond memories though...I have always felt like I didn't fit in there, like I didn't belong there...like I was being brainwashed. I read the book (just by chance) the mormon murders...Oh my gosh, it all made sense to me! I loved that book. I haven't really gotten into serious studying, but I just know in my heart of hearts that that church isn't true. I have an ex--husband who, when I left him, went strongly toward the church, and has deserted the two children that like me, don't believe...the third of our children now lives with him, and he has convinced her that I am spawn of the devil. ...I just wanted to tell you that I loved reading your writings.