that was sincere and heartfelt, thank you for sharing.

Beautiful job, Thank you!

People everywhere respect honest, personal growth. We also appreciate people who are trying to be respectful, understanding, friendly, and, in short, Christlike.

What about what the channel “Mormon stories” says? They are pretty biased, and are quite SJW like, and they have been really pushing how controlling the church is with women. What is your view in that and how true is this? I know LDS females who are very independent and strong. Yet others are saying they don’t let women make decisions for themselves, is this true? But if that is so is that not the belief structure? And if it’s true then it true and how it’s supposed to be. Is that not like someone going into the military and complaining about getting shouted and told what to do? What do you expect? But isn’t this how all churches are? Women are in way second class. Some say because women are more emotional thinkers and men are more logical. (I even know a few females who said they don’t think women shouldn’t have the vote for that reason.) But men make selfish emotional choices, leaving their partners who are pregnant and cheating (they are full of testosterone.) So what is true here? And what is the issue with women in LDS churches and all religions? And is it fair and justified? I know people will say that’s how God wants it to be, how do you argue that with non believers? Why does God want that? Any help is much appreciated!

Hey Pastor Jeff, thank you for being honest and humble in addressing this issue. Being humble seekers of righteousness is the only way to approach conversations of faith. Love you brother.

Thanks for your lovely words! I'm a Latter-day Saint and am working towards the same thing as you-loving all others, knowing them better, and seeing them as my brothers and sisters.

I'm grateful to all Christians and the good they do in the name of Christ. Some of my most spiritual moments have been in singing the hymns passed down through the centuries by other faiths, that demonstrate great Faith in Christ, and have brought such beauty into my life. Lately, I've been singing in a choir where our conductor has studied (in Europe) the great chants (style of singing and the music itself) of the ancient Christian church. It's beautiful and inspiring. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I feel a great sense of gratitude for other Christians that brought such rich history and Faith in Christ through the centuries.

Thank you for your openness and kindness.

I have experienced the same. I grew up in the LDS church. I went to church with a friend of mine to a non-denominational church for years and that's what I heard throughout those years. I went to this non-denominational church on the first Sunday that it started. The pastors speak against the Mormon church, talking about how Mormons believe in the Big Bang theory and they don't believe creation. It was so much the opposite of what I was taught in the LDS church. I finally, (after years of going to this non-denominational church) stopped going. My spirit and soul couldn't justify this kind of thinking anymore and the books that were written against the Mormon church that were being sold inside the book store of the non-denominational church just floored me. Not any other church in our town has been criticized and pretty much crucified by the pastors and leaders of this church. I was also told that my baptism in the Mormon church "didn't count". I have never heard anyone speak against any other church whilst attending an LDS church. You know them by their fruits.

Ditto.

Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t your early prophet Ellen G White have numerous visions and re-wrote and reinterpreted the Bible? Do SDA’s have their own Bible?

As someone who has LDS, JW, and SDA in my family it is so refreshing to see Jeff's loving approach and a reminder of the need to allow Christ to be at work in our lives.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and an alumnus of your fine SDA Loma Linda University, I want to declare to everyone how accommodating and kind your majority student members treated me, while attending. I felt very much at home. Thank you for accepting me into a program that launched my career in medicine, to provide for my family also.

LOL geez something just occurred to me, that a lot of people here have been bashers LOL and it's like the recovering alcoholic or AA, and we're just admitting our faults.

Yeah LDS are taught to love one another. That is until one departs from the faith as I did after 43 years. I was in the bishopric of my ward when my faith started to shift. A couple years later I was out. I still live in the same house but now only a couple neighbors will even talk to us. I still wave as they walk by. I still show up to help someone move but most turn their backs. Not what I expected.

@@rabbithole2015 I am very sorry that you had that experience. I have lived in the "mission field" all of my life, and been in branches mostly. I have never seen that type of attitude. I have had members treat me poorly at times, and felt as if they would rather I vanished! But, a dear friend helped me a lot. She taught me that I attend Sunday meetings to worship God, not to be seen by others. And, the Church is true, but the members are human. That has been my mantra over the years. Again, I am so sorry that you were treated poorly. I never would have done that.

@@susanpixley4100 I live in Utah so I'm sure it is very different here compared to where you are. Everyone in the neighborhood is lds and when one leaves they don't make it easy. I didn't leave because of the members though. I left because unlike you I feel the church is demonstrably false. I read the CES Letter and my faith in the lds church cane crashing down.

@@rabbithole2015 even then we're taught to love, but many of us are not good at showing it. From the other perspective, it feels that you not only left the church, but left us. Its easy to feel that because you no longer think the church is true, if we do, then you think we're stupid ignorant, no longer want to be OUR friends, etc. If our relationship was built on a what we thought was a mutual understanding of God and then one person no longer believes that same way, taking away the foundation of what we had in common, that relationship was probably severely damaged and needs to be forged in new ways. 1. Some other reasons for what you have experienced: people often don't know how to address the change or how to act. Similar things happen with other big changes, like a terminal illness diagnosis, a divorce - most of the time we're not shunning the person, we're just self conscious and don't know what to do, so we do nothing or do the wrong thing. 2. As you know, as latter-day saints we are involved, and often times it's so much within our own faith. So if someone leaves the circle, we might not know how to make time for them that sounds terrible and it is not right. 3. It feels threatening. Some possible thoughts: It's scary, unknown, you might want to try and convince me why the church is wrong and I don't want to do deal with that. Anyway - I have friends who've left. I still love them. It's a bit awkward. We push through. I have compassion for what you and your family have gone through ♥️

@@lacydean3215 Thank you. What you say makes sense. I can say that when am around my lds friends and family the topic never comes up. Sometimes it is a it awkward, especially at events that have a strong lds influence. I don't think I would try to convince them the church is false. I would welcome some questions though. But I get that could be somewhat threatening. I make the biggest change in my life and nobody asks why.

Elvis read the Book of Mormon shortly before his dead, at the end he wrote "I WANT MORE. I WANT MORE". During The organizing of his home to prepare it to be a museum, his daughter found the Book, and came to SLC to deliver it to the Church. I believe that is exhibiting in the Museum o

Of Genealogy. Who can not want more of the Master's visit to Mesoamerica? Didn't God disperse ancient Israel all over the earth, and the universe as in Enoch? Those who read the Book of Mormon with sincere honesty receives the Witnees of the Holy Ghost. That's a Promise, not of men, but of God. I am speaking in behalf of my own personal testimony, and not in behalf of any organization, even though I belong to one.

Are you aware that the mormon god is no longer a polygamist and has switched to monogamy??? So they're coming around, they just need a little more time.

@@sgee-vc1hz Let's not ignore the Word of God in the Bible. According to Christ in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Abraham still is the head of Paradise. He is there with all his wives, and their children. Are we going to runaway when we get to the gate of Paradise if we do, because of his plural wives? Or will we disapprove of Jacob with all his sisters wives Leah and Rachel, and their maids who his two wives, gave him also as wives? And so on is all trough the Old and New Testament. The PRIMITIVE CHURCH, had two types of male members. The ones that had converted con sus plural families, and the ones of the new generations with one wife. A Bishop had to be a man with one wife. Why? Because the administration of the branches of the Church was a great responsibility, and the administration of a plural marriage home was also great. The Gospel in the Bible is an Oriental Gospel, and not Western. Christ comes with new laws, laws that come to take away blessings, because of undesirable behaviors of men,, but in the restauration, especially in the pressing last moments of the Milenium, let's see what Isaiah has to tell us about Plural Marriage: AND IN THAT DAY SEVEN (perfection)WOMEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF ONE MAN, SAYING, WE WILL EAT OUR OWN BREAD, AND WEAR OWN APPAREL: ONLY LET US BE CALLED BY THY NAME, TO TAKE AWAY OUR REPROACH. ISAIAH 4:1 Again: Why a reproach. Because no one who is single qualifies to enter the Celestial Kingdom. They can enter other kingdoms, but not the Celestial Kingdom, because it is a Kingdom of eternal families. The world sees with indifference the fact that millions of men and women, are lost in fornication, adultery, cheating, and lies in relations out of wedlock. Te ancient patriarchs were righteous and holy men married to all their wives. This is my personal understanding. I am not speaking in behalf of any organization, even though I belong to one.

@@zioncityofgod4818 Thanks ZC, that Bible passage refers to the state of affairs after 120,000 men were killed in one major battle. it talks about the desperation of women and children after husbands were killed - Certainly does Not condone polygamy in this life or the next.

First off Annie you're not a Mormon. You need to get yourself out of that mindset immediately. Unless you consider yourself to be a Book. The name of the Church is " The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints". Every time you refer to yourself as a Mormon you insult yourself and our Savior. That kind of mindset has been a serious problem for the Church and our members for over 180 years. The First Presidency came out with the edict that we are no longer going to be refered to as Mormons. That is NOT the name of the church. It never has been. Second, by doing so you cintinue this false narrative of the church. I hope you understand what I'm trying to convey to you here.

@@dennisowen3717 It's a good point but you conveyed it to her somewhat stridently. Besides, the bashers always say "Mormon." So, Annie is not wrong in what she said. I agree that this is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that we should say so, and refer to ourselves as Saints or Latter-day Saints, as a matter of faithfulness. Let's just be kind as we do that.

@@dennisowen3717 "edict" is rather absolute and harsh. I don't recall it being a commandment. The Church's website doesn't have it listed as a mandate for membership, either. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were encouraged to tell others that they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was meant to illustrate that the membership worship Jesus Christ, not a prophet in the Book of Mormon named Mormon. That can eliminate confusion among those who are of other Christian denominations. Christ is the Savior. As disciples, we identify ourselves as such. It certainly is no condemnation if the terms "Mormon" or "LDS" are used, but many people do not know what those terms even mean.

Sheesh. Poor Annie. She feels she's been bashed all her life for her religion. Now, she's getting bashed by fellow Saints for not expressing herself in line with more recent teachings about the name of the Church. Hang in there, Annie. Continue to speak your heart.

@@Skinhorse61 It's not bashing just a simple reminder of the truth and facts.

come back, Deb. we need your spirit and help in this dark world. we love and miss you.

Hey love your comment! Love your name, even spelt the same, thx, Shay S.

@@stonetexdesign Another Shay? That's awesome! Thanks for the comment also! Is yours just Shay? Probably- mine is short for Shayna, but usually go by Shay. Very cool, have a great day Shay S!! 😁

" ...for that is right you see" :) just helping others who may not know the song here the rhyming words 🙈

There are several testimonies here from Latter-day Saint converts from other branches of Christianity. I am one of those; I was raised in evangelical churches and accepted Jesus as my savior at a young age. It was not until in my 40s (and after a trip through atheism as well) that I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. That fact has blessed my life and the lives of our family more than I can begin to say.

Mainstream Christianity is pretty diverse too. I'm a Catholic theologian, so Pastor Jeff will have some different ideas to me too. Mormons/LDS theologically are firmly much more Protestant influenced, however thier moral teachings tend to be more Catholic. I think this has led to past, excellent conversion rates, as everybody can find something they like and that rings "true" for them, in the LDS church. Converting from other religions is much harder.

@@heathermcdougall8023 There seem to be many things similar between Roman Catholicism and Mormonism.

Well said Pastor Jeff! 💙🙏💙

@@dnzswithwombats Morally there are.However, theologically they are very different.

@@heathermcdougall8023 I see what you're saying. I was thinking, kind of, funtionally there are things similar between Roman Catholicism and the Mormon Church. The final say-so of their persons at the top of the organizations, the mediation between members and God, things like those.

There's nothing to forgive!

Agree!

As a fellow church visitor of multiple denominations, I couldn't agree more 👍

The last shall be first, and the first shall be last. Jesus started ONE faith, and soon we will again be in ONE faith. (without all the various denominations)

i think it’s a human issue. i’m so sorry you had that experience. i love the catholic faith, and admire your teachings. comments like those really do hurt. God bless you❤️

I had also heard that once, and as a Latter-day Saint, I'm so sorry. It is not what is taught any longer, and I imagine that felt awful to hear. Catholics are some of my favorite people! I have reverence and respect for your faith.

It certainly can be 2 ways and many here have said they also regret having done so from the LDS side. Love and respect even in disagreement is the way of Jesus Christ.

Building upon the foundation of the first vision, the negative messages about other churches is extensive. Like: there is no excuse for any other church…you cannot get life out of a dead branch…our churches are churches of the devil…the old temple service picturing pastors as hirelings of satan. To Mormonism we are the unacceptables! When I shared with a Mormon bishop, he said he now understood how offensive the first vision is - he still believed it but had the integrity to admit it was offensive. That is pastor Jeff and all Christians -I am putting a face on the supposed apostates.

Wow, this was incredibly encouraging, @Shay B. Thank you for sharing! We are all on this journey together, even though we come from different faith contexts and have a different assortment of “baggage.” I’m happy to journey alongside you! God bless!

@@HelloSaints Wow, thank you SO VERY MUCH Pastor Jeff, And for reading my NOVEL of a comment! YOU are being so Encouraging I feel to people on BOTH SIDES, I can't imagine what a tough space that is to navigate at times! You are so brave to be doing this at all! I always want my LDS family and friends to be treated with understanding and respect, while at the same time being WILLING to hear other ideas. You're truly doing THE LORD'S WORK with this Journey and Channel! I personally have prayed EXTENSIVELY and felt I got an answer that JESUS is enough, he is ALL WE NEED, and I've felt so at peace with that. So many ex-Mormons become Atheists or want NO RELIGION bc they feel disallusioned and lied to I feel like, many I have come across. They don't feel they can trust ANYTHING anymore, Spiritually speaking. I know SO MANY people in this "boat". But I believe you shouldn't "Throw the Baby out with the Bathwater', and I had spiritual experiences I feel bc I was seeking Christ and a relationship with God, and I believe ANYONE striving to do this will feel a peace and comfort, "the spirit,", etc. I just wish more people could understand there is another way to accept Jesus and live in service of him, that's what I've been trying to do for several years. You are touching more hearts than you know I'm sure, and have touched mine to seek out Christ even more and try to make that more of the cornerstone of my life. So I'm sure you'll get criticism from several people on BOTH SIDES, (like calling LDS people "Mormon"- 90% of the LDS people I know have NO PROBLEM with this, and I always knew to just say I was "Mormon" anywhere outside of Utah, bc most people didn't know it was the same thing otherwise, my Mom very devout Mom still calls herself and others "Mormons" all the time- so just know you're doing SO GREAT, and that ANY criticism you get is probably a TINY minority on things like that.) but it seems like you handle it with the most incredible Grace- just please keep on this journey if possible bc you are reaching a lot of people and I feel you have just a light and Glow about you, that your "countenance" shows the light of Christ in you, and people will listen and care so much! I LOVE the "Lead with love, curiosity over criticism, non-judgemental" approach you are taking here, and I can GUARANTEE so many more Faithful LDS members will be willing to listen to you and want to understand you ALSO- I did from the first video and I've been watching as many as I can since discovering this channel just last week! It's just so important,and I thank you, as a fellow Human on this beautiful but VERY trying Journey called life- much love to you and your family, and keep up this important work, if you can! ❤️

@@sagesaith6354 Thank you so much Sage, this comment really touched me! Years ago I started to feel that although Christ is very important in the LDS belief system, I felt that his messages and the Atonement seemed to be Eclipsed by other things very often. And it always felt like this EXTENSIVE "checklist" of things that HAD to be done or NOT DONE had much more Emphasis on them, as opposed to just being a good, Christ-Like person with a good heart and focusing on that. In the LDS Faith, that's not enough. Having a close relationship with Christ and living as Christ-Like as you can still just isn't enough. As I had my own children, I had to ponder whether this made sense to me. I started to feel this precious gift of the Ultimate Sacrifice Jesus made for us all on the Cross was being lessened and almost "watered down", while at the same time having SUCH a high demand religion that VERY FEW people could ever even count themselves "Completely Worthy". I tried to do everything PERFECTLY, and still always felt SO INADEQUATE. So the concept of Grace feels like nectar to my soul- not because I want an excuse to sin or not hold myself to high standards, but because I find it MUCH easier to do so under that construct. And getting so much more familiar with the New Testament and Jesus' actual life and teachings made me feel I knew him in a much deeper sense, and felt at peace at the idea that he wants us to just accept his incredible gift, and he wants as many as possible to believe in his name and come into him, and that is enough! It tooke YEARS to sort all that out, but I'm so glad I did, and that my nature wouldn't even consider a possibility of there being no God/Christ, even if I felt deceived or misled in some ways. And people in the LDS Church are coming from a good place, they TRULY BELIEVE in "The plan of salvation" and that is the only true path back to live with God forever, as I used to FIRMLY Believe this also. I don't judge anyone for their beliefs, but I think everyone should ask themselves what Jesus ACTUALLY DID TEACH, the words he ACTUALLY SPOKE, and it's not hard to realize truth from there. Sorry for my again too long response, but I was just so encouraged by you kind and generous comment, thank you so much for it!! God Bless you, I hope you and yours are very well and happy this Christmas season! ❤️

Excellent! Same scripture the Holy Spirit led me to! Blessings!

I know that it definitely can be disorienting because there is a lot of confusion and different beliefs even among my LDS friends and neighbors. The one thing they all adhere to is that the BofM is true and JS translated it from golden plates. All the rest (who is God, where did He come from, Who is Jesus, where did He come from, how are we saved?, Where is truth found, etc) seems to shift a bit from person to person. The best thing for us is to be the minority here in UT and be neighborly and inquisitive. When the question eventually arrives on whether we want to join their church or not, we'll be seeing what God will do among these friendships and which ones will last despite the differences, and praying our responses will continue to be friendly, honest and neighborly.

Do you consider yourself evangelical?

Do you think the Book of Mormon is a historical book?

@@rabbithole2015No, spiritual meaning. Do you?

This is not BASHING ... this is simply the cold hard truth. God has proven the Book of Mormon to be obviously plagiarized from several other books including approximately 30 percent directly from the 1828 King James Bible. Translation errors found in the 1828 King James Version match exactly with the Book of Mormon errors. Proving the author of the Book of Mormon directly copied the words from the 1828 King James Bible. Proving yet again definitively the Book of Mormon was plagiarized between 1828 and 1830. Not to mention the endless anachronisms continuously found throughout the Book of Mormon from metal coins, armor, wheeled chariots, steel weapons, plants and domestic animals, etc etc etc. ... anyone actually honest with themselves and with God clearly can see God slapping them in the face with the obvious truth. The Book of Mormon is a massive sham ... Couple those facts with the FACT the Mormon leaders are documented, verified proven liars of Mormon history doctrines AND finances... God has clearly proven to ALL the world Mormonism is "false gospel" about a "false christ" taught by "false prophets". The Mormon leaders teach you and the whole world about a totally different false jesus and false god. Anyone that is actually honest with themselves and with God can clearly and plainly see the obvious difference between the True “One and Only God” Jesus Christ, taught by Gods Own Words in the Bible - and the false Mormon gods taught by the Mormon leaders. Unfortunately, The Actual Fact Is, the Mormon god does not exist... The Mormon god once was a mortal man, lives near a star called kolob, likely has many many wives that bare billions of his children, and is the literal father of Satan, and the Mormon god “ironically” teaches Mormons can become gods EXACTLY like Satan desires to be a god! Mormonism literally worships a false god. As Aposed to The True and Living Jesus Christ who is literally The One and Only God, creator of the universe and savior of the world! True Christians follow the one and ONLY Lord, God and savior Jesus Christ... not the false Mormon christ who is Satan’s bother. In other words.. the Mormon god and the Mormon jesus literally do not exist. And the Mormon leaders have deceived most their followers into believing the false Mormon christ is the same Jesus as the True Christian GOD, Jesus Christ.... The Mormon false prophets KNOW “full well” the Mormon "christ" they teach and preach about is not - AT ALL - the same as the ONE and ONLY True and Living God Jesus Christ.... The Mormon leaders are unfortunately lying with horrible manipulation and KNOW full well they are deceiving their members. The Mormon leaders fulfill scripture right before your very eyes. Gal 1:8-9 8 But though we, or an angel (Moroni) from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that was which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man (Joseph Smith) preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Matt 24:24 24 For there shall arise false Christs (brother of Satan), and false prophets (Mormon leaders), and shall shew great signs and wonders (book of Mormon); insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (you). I know, I was once just like you... you are taught to speak as though the Mormon jesus is the same True Christian Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ - and yet Mormonism literally teaches Jesus and his Atoning sacrifice on the cross ALONE Is NOT enough to save mankind. Mormonism teaches you MUST pay the Mormon church - in order to enter the Mormon temple - in order to receive “saving ordinances” - in order to be “saved” in the highest Mormon heaven. Then “maybe” the Mormon jesus will save them … maybe. To teach this false doctrine is literally teaching Jesus is NOT enough to save you. Mormonism literally teaches YOU MUST do all these other things… and even then still - Mormons never “know” if they have done “enough” to be saved. Mormonism literally takes down the cross of Jesus and hides it away - then puts up a giant “man angel” on top their temples. Then the Mormon leaders deceptively steal the name of our Lord God Jesus Christ and place it in the name of their church - and AGAIN - “deceive the elect with great signs and wonders” (Matt 24:24). The deception is clearly revealed! The Mormon leaders teach, not only was their Mormon god once a mortal man, but his father and grandfather - on and on - were all once mortal men too (polytheism - endless gods). The Mormon leaders also teach they too can become a god EXACTLY like Satan desires to become a god! The deception is clearly revealed! And yet Mormons continuously ignore or attempt to excuse away the absolute inexcusable facts - The Mormon leaders are documented, verified and proven liars of Mormon history, doctrines and finances… they are proven LIARS and deceivers… … And Sadly Mormonism acts exactly like the ancient Israelites- as God has revealed in these last days the FULL truth of Mormonism’s lies and manipulation… it is literally like God sending mana from heaven, and Mormons refuse to eat, or Moses and his serpent staff, and Mormons refuse to look! So so sad, yet so so revealing. We truly pray that God will give you and all Mormons “eyes to see” and “ears to hear” the true gospel of Jesus Christ filled with unconditional love and grace. We pray in HIS name Jesus Christ, amen Jesus is enough

@@paulanix7561 Not historical at all. I don't believe it is the word of God. I believe Joseph Smith plagiarized much of it and had help from sources available to him.

I just got baptized and got confirmed today. And I'm still a basher, but I'm still learning and trying to believe

Great post What if all religious people did the same !

@@ronbrewer4632 well. I went from a guy growing a relationship with God. To a guy trying to comprehend another testament of Jesus Christ, living prophets and apostles, priesthood authority, temples.. I've hear a lot of anti-testimonies. A lot of bad stories. So. Trying to figure out how to believe everything, is a big mental task. Having enough faith in God, that all of it is true, is a lot to do. One day, I texted my sister missionaries Hebrews 11:1, asking for a comparable verse. Was working at Walmart, praying about everything to God. Turned around and there was a book of Mormon ontop of my cart. The idea, of a "true church" all I hear is, Joseph Smith is a prophet, and, this church is the true church restored by Jesus Christ. I perceive more idolozation towards the church and its not appealing. So. I'm trying to believe

Is it always necessarily and in all situations a bad thing to contend for the faith ? If eternal life is on the line, I wonder if contending is always uncalled for. If your house is burning down, I would hope the fire department would do a little more than only gently tap on the front door. Your thoughts ?

@@dnzswithwombats That is the eternal struggle with many of us. How much is enough? The Spirit will tell us if we are humble and ask, which I have trouble with. I fired one Evangelical guy working for me because he wouldn't leave it alone and always went too far. I love a good dust-up, but there is a time and place for it. However, I have become aware that maybe all the snorting and pawing at the dirt has no place in Christ.