Fight or FEMA Camp: Alma vs. Limhi

A recent new report was discussing the use of US Military being used as peace keepers on American soil in violation of the Pose Comitatus Act. Over the past 10 years, there has been an increasing trend for FEMA to call upon the US Military to assist with domestic disaster relief as opposed to using the State National Guard which are under the command of the Governors as opposed to DOD. (Caesar has crossed the Rubicon).

Accordingly, Many concerned citizens point to several instances where during these disaster relief operations, US Military were used to conduct warrantless door-to-door searches, gun confiscation, and forced relocations. Critics of this kind of domestic use of the US Military claim it is in clear violation of the Pose Comitatus Act of 1878 . Pose Comitatus prohibits US Military from engaging in "law enforcement," "military occupation" or "peace keeping" activities on non-federal property. Last October, NorthCOM using the threat of WMD's as justification, assigned the US Army 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team (otherwise known as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive Consequence Management Response Force or CCMRF) to operate within the US. The issue FEMA and Pose Comitatus got me thinking about the following scenario.

1. We know that Utah (Wasatch Fault) is way overdue for an 8-9 Earthquake (Utah has been feverishly retrofitting for last 25 years). 2. A magnitude 8-9 earthquake along the Wasatch Front would result in considerable devastation. 3. When that Earthquake occurs or any another large-scale domestic disaster, US Military will likely assist local law enforcement in peacekeeping activities as was done in New Orleans, Billings, MT and Greenburg, KS 4. If called upon, the US Military could engage in house-to-house searches and gun confiscation. 5. FEMA could use the military to enforce a mandatory vaccination program 6. Disaster victims could be forcibly removed, relocated, and transported to a system of FEMA residential facilities.

So, some unconventional questions are these: When the Big Utah Quake happens (or the next big domestic disaster), and FEMA activates the Consequence Management Response Force (CMRF) to imposes a policy of gun confiscation, forced vaccination and relocation; What do you think the reaction of the general public will be? Would anyone militantly resist gun confiscation and forced vaccination? The choice between [Fight] or [FEMA Camp] seems like a lose-lose, false dichotomy to me. It is my conviction that by being spiritually and temporally prepared, listening to the prophet, and taking the Holy Spirit as our guide, we will not have to fear either of these false choices.

Having and sharing a year supply nicely avoids the (fight vs FEMA camp) dichotomy. While many people may voluntarily get on the trains headed toward FEMA residential centers because of the promise of food and water. If we follow the prophet and have food storage, we can share with our neighbors, ban together, and keep some semblance of community. Then again, having a 72-hour kit and hitting the road early and getting out of Dodge may be wise depending on the circumstances.

Again, lets imagine that Utah's Wasatch Fault finally has its 8-9.5 Earthquake and the entire Wasatch Front is in shambles. Marshall Law is imposed, Federal Troops are on the street and going door to door rounding up people and enforcing policies of forced vaccination, gun confiscation, and forced relocation to FEMA residential camps. What would be the correct response? I don't like the [Fight vs. FEMA Camp] dichotomy, but it reminds me a lot of the situation of the people of Limhi vs. the people of Alma in the Book of Mormon.

Limhi's was the son of wicked King Noah who burned the prophet Abinadi at the stake. Limhi's people were enslaved by the Lamanites and put under a kind of martial law. In response, the people of Limhi marshaled themselves and went to battle against impossible odds and were badly defeated again and again before they were eventually delivered.

On the other hand, Alma and a small band of believers were warned and escaped the City of Nephi before the Lamanites enslaved its citizens. Eventually Alma's City of Helam was taken captive for a short time. In fact, a law was made that if the guards found them praying, they would be put to death. However, we are told Alma's and his people did not resist and God did quickly delivered them.

I think we all hope we would have some prior warning of danger like Alma at the Waters of Mormon. However, If I were forced to choose between Alma or Limhi, I choose Alma every time.

I think the important thing here is to follow the prophet, get out of debt, acquire a food supply, and keep an open mind when anticipating instruction to "defend the constitution" vs. "comply and seek redress later in the courts?" (D&C 101:76, 134:11) I hope that most citizens understand that the Pose Comitatus Act of 1878 only applies to the point where the Insurrection Act of 1807 takes over. Therefore, when I hear anyone say they would militantly resist a policy of gun confiscation, I can't help but think about the lesson of People of Limhi vs. the People of Alma in the Book of Mormon.

My hope is that regardless of what may happen (earthquakes, dirty bombs, financial collapse) many of us who have listened to the living prophets and have a food storage will be able to stay put and maybe share our food storage with 1-2 Ishmael-like families with skills and resources that will help us survive, instead of relocating to FEMA residential centers or major cities where food and water distribution is promised.

D&C 112:25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;

D&C 45:57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

The Spirit of Elijah

"The dead will be after you, they will seek after you as they have after us in St. George [temple]. They called upon us, knowing that we held the keys and power to redeem them. I will here say before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, p. 229, Wilford Woodruff)."

Someone questioned the following quote from Wilford Woodruff who was the 4th Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This person was concerned that this quote advocated the forbidden practice of spiritism or divination. First off, this question is a reflection of an unfortunate misunderstanding of the quote. Pres. Woodruff is not speaking of the living seeking to communicate with the dead, but the dead trying to inspire the living.

Let me be clear from the start that the LDS Church strictly forbids its members from praying to anyone other than Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ or from practicing any type of spiritism or seeking communication from anyone who has died. Any practices of this sort invites evil spirits who will deceive you.

Instead, the spirit that Pres. Woodruff is speaking of is the spirit of Genealogy and Family History work that so many feel to do. This spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Elijah. After completing the temple in St. George Utah, Pres. Woodruff recounts that he was unexpectedly visited by a host of spirits including the Founding Fathers and many great men of the Protestant Reformation. They wanted to know why the LDS church had forgotten them and had not provided them a baptism by vicarious proxy in the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had faithfully completed the work God has given them to do which made the restoration of the church possible. In response, Pres. Woodruff immediately provided these ordinances for these great pioneers of freedom.

I and many other LDS and non-LDS have been prompted to do genealogy and family history work. Not in the same way as Pres. Woodruff. But the unseen motivation to seek out our dead ancestors is real. This desire to do Genealogy work which is the spirit of Elijah is why so many people are interested in family history research. This spirit is in fulfillment of the prophecy in Malachi which says in the Last Days Elijah will appear and hearts of the fathers will turn to the children and the hearts of the children turn to their fathers.

Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Luke 1:7 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Luke 1:17 is speaking of the mission of John the Baptist to baptize the living before the first coming of Christ while Mal 4:6 is speaking of Elijah himself coming before the great and dreadful day of the Lord to restore the keys of baptism for the dead before the Second Coming of Christ. Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and restored the keys of this work in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836. So, John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah to baptize the living before the First Coming of Jesus Christ and Elijah himself came to baptize the dead before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Since names may be required to resurrect people and call them out of the Earth, it would be useful to do all the genealogy work so that the righteous can be resurrected during the Millennium. Christ could do it all himself. But that is not how he operates. He allows man to participate in this work just like He allows man to participate in the building up of His kingdom on Earth and in doing missionary work.

A Few Thoughts on Atheism

I was watching a documentary on NetFlix the other day entitled "The Atheism Tapes." The documentary involved a series of interviews with famous intellectual atheists who were asked to comment on their objections to religion. There are several interesting atheist arguments. Here are a few thoughts I had as I watched this BBC documentary from my LDS perspective.

1. Christianity like all religion drives people to kill
A. A small minority of Christians inappropriately used religion as a justification to kill. However, if you look at the Israel/Palestinian conflict, the fight is not over religion, but land and power. No one on either side is forcing the other to deny their God or die. Also, according to Edward Peter's Inquisition, the Spanish Inquisition (state controlled), held 49,000 trials between 1560-1700 and executed between 3 and 5,000 people. On the other side atheists, secular, utilitarian regimes lead by Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot, French Revolution, Adolf Hitler, etc have killed in the tens of millions.

2. The idea of God is oppressive. We are not atheist but antithesis.
A. Commandments are directions and not restrictions. God empowers, and doesn't restrict believers. There are many more successful and creative believers than non-believers. Many evangelicals don't like the LDS religion because they think having an organized LDS church with a structured hierarchy is oppressive. Science has proven that religious people are on average happier, healthier, and give more to charity than the non-religious.

American Democracy is based on self-government based on the Judeo-Christian principle of the "golden rule." Limited government cannot be expected to make rules about every little thing. Therefore, people are expected to govern their own lives based on the principle of "doing unto others as we would have others do unto us" and the belief that all mankind will stand before God in the next life and stand accountable on how we lived with respect to this divine and self-evident and natural law.

3. God cannot exist because of the problem of evil and bad stuff happening to good people.
A. LDS understand that the spirit of Lucifer always existed, so that God is neither responsible for making a defective creation, nor is He responsible for being an accomplice to evil by giving a murderer (Lucifer) a gun (agency). Evangelical claim God created Satan from nothing, and had perfect foreknowledge of Satan's evil intentions and claim God isn't responsible for letting Satan loose on the universe or that evil and sin is necessary. Only the LDS understanding of the eternal nature of the spirit addresses this argument.

There is another issue with the so-called "problem of suffering." When an atheist tries to argue that there cannot be a God because such-and-such bad thing happened to so-and-so, they usually don't tell you about how the person who was experiencing the pain, trial, or adversity felt about it. I have experienced many people of faith meet adversity, pain, and death with very little suffering. Instead, I have witnessed children and adults face great adversity with faith, courage and hope. Atheist object that religion is the opioid of the masses or a crutch, the Bible teaches that faith in God is balm that has the power to sooth a troubled heart.

4. A good atheist only believes what he can see.
A. Atheist claim this universe and the fact that it is calibrated from life is just a manifestation of luck. This universe is just one of a gazillion other universes not calibrated for life. "Other Universes?" When has anyone seen another universe? For an empiricist, all this talk about other universes sounds like voo-doo to me. LDS are taught that the only way to know God is to have a personal experience with God and allow God to reveal himself to them. There is no way to intellectually prove or disprove God. Therefore, LDS believe in God not because we can prove God, but because God has proved Himself to us.

Worship of Ashtoreth and Baal Today

Ashtoreth was the goddess of war and fertility, called Ishtar by Assyrians and Babylonians, called Astarte by Greeks and Romans and called Tanith by North Africans. Molech or Baal represented the male principle of life and reproduction. In ancient Phoenicia, Canaan, Mesopotamia and Babylon, these gods were worshiped by ritual temple prostitution involving sodomy and burning infant children in the fire. While our Judeo-Christian culture doesn't outwardly acknowledge Ashtoreth and Baal worship, unfortunately, we are just as guilty as the ancients for the same degree of sin involving immorality and infanticide. Today, homosexuality and abortion have become common place and even protected by our laws. God warned ancient Israel against these sins, and promised severe judgements upon us if we do not repent individually and as a society.

The Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price addresses this very subject. Abraham speaks of the "blood of the Canaanites" as the reason God leads him away from Ur to a promised land. In Ur, Abraham own father worships a false religion. Abraham recognizes the incorrectness of the traditions of his father and seeks for the true gospel taught by the great high priests and patriarchs such as Adam, Seth, Enoch, and Noah. God leads him out of Babylon to find a promised land.

We see that Ur and Egypt were participating in the worship of Ashtoreth and Molech (Baal) and they killed virgins who would not submit to being sexually defiled as temple prostitutes to the "gods of wood and stone" and they offered their children to the fires of Molech (Baal). (Egyptians used other names) but it clearly says that Pharoah was the partaker of the blood (sins) of the Canaanites referring to the sins of sexual immorality and infanticide.

And we set up the issue of false relgion and priestcraft where the pharoahs were not given the birthright and rights to the priesthood authority but falsely claimed it. The rivalry of Jews and Muslims involves jealously over priesthood. And many Christians today make those same false claims and claim to be ordained by God and teach a counterfeit religion and are guilty of gainsaying and priestcraft. But Abraham has the writings of the the great patriarchs and together with the chastening of the Lord, Abraham says he and Lot were convinced of the incorrectness of their beliefs and traditions and many other souls that they had "won".

Discerning Spirits: Joseph Smith and Glasslooking

There are some topics when I began I thought I would never have reason to address. This is an example of one of them. But the idea of discerning spirits and Joseph Smith's unfortunate boyhood hobby of "glasslooking" does relate to the recent Sunday School lesson on the Spiritual Gifts.

Some evangelicals antagonistic to the LDS religion make a big deal about Joseph Smith's occasional hobby of "glasslooking" while growing up in Upstate New York. Their assumption on the issue is that Joseph Smith was knowingly and deliberately lying about "possess [ing] certain means by which he could discern things invisible to the natural eye" (Biographical Sketches, Lucy Smith, pp.91-92, as quoted in Early Mormon documents, Vol.1, p. 309). The reason many prefer this interpretation of Joseph Smith's motivation is that they seek to establish a pattern of behavior of lying; like a serial killer torturing small animals as a youth. However, many fail to consider an alternative motivation.

One important alternative, which is the LDS position, is that Joseph Smith was fooled by false spirits and actually believed on some level that he could "glasslook". Occult magic was very popular at the time. Many people in 1830 tried to use divining rods and glass shards to find or see hidden or lost things. People commonly participated in similar sorts of hobbies then in a similar way people go rock hounding or metal detecting today. Actually you can still hire people who claim they can use a divining rod to find the best place to dig a well.

The reason why I believe Joseph Smith was not intentionally lying, but was deceived comes from his own words about the "Gift of tongues." In our recent Elder's quorum manual about Joseph Smith, he warned the LDS Saints that there were many false spirits who were going about deceiving people to believe they could speak in tongues and God's language. People do it today. When I was a missionary, people offered on several occasions to demonstrate. Some of these people may have been lying. But I believe as Joseph Smith did that some have been simply fooled by false spirits. JS said the gift of tongues is to preach the gospel to those who speak another language like on the day of Pentecost. The "Gift of Tongues" is not at all about showing off, incomprehensible mumbling and jumping around uncontrollably. Therefore, it is most likely that Joseph Smith was fooled into believing he was able to glasslook.

This automatic assumption that Joseph Smith was intentionally lying demonstrates something else in the person making the assumption. And that something else is that this assumption fails to recognize the kind of power Satan and false spirits can have if allowed. Even if you think what you are doing is a game. I had a close friend who dressed up as a fortune teller at a school carnival to give fortunes using a crystal ball. It was supposed to be just for fun. She and the person receiving the fortune knew it wasn't supposed to be real. During the night she said she started giving people real predictions that actually came true. She said she committed to never mess around with any of that kind of thing again even though at the time it seemed harmless and innocent.

Also, another supporting argument in favor of being deceived over being the deceiver is Joseph's own words about spiritual gifts. Joseph Smith's was of the opinion that most people trying to speak in tongues who mumble incomprehensibly and jump around uncontrollably were fooled by false spirits and not deliberately lying. It is likely Joseph Smith based his opinion on his own experiences with LDS members experimenting with tongues like many other churches of the day, Hiram Page being fooled by finding what he considered was a "seer stone," and himself being fooled as a youth. Remember that Paul says "discerning spirits" is one of the spiritual gifts of God as is "tongues", "prophecy", and "healing". Therefore, it is no surprise that there would be many in the world unable to properly discern spirits as Joseph Smith eventually was taught and empowered by God to do.

D&C 28: 11 And again, thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him;

1 Cor. 12: 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Let me also be clear on this point. The LDS church does not condone the use of occult practices under any circumstances. The LDS church does not condone Joseph Smith's "glasslooking". Joseph Smith was fooled by false spirits into thinking he could find hidden or lost items, and he later was set up by Satan and paid a big price for his sins and needed sore repentance. LDS recognize that Joseph Smith's or anyone's dabbling in the occult is sin.

That said, what about Joseph's reported use of a seer stone after being led to the Gold Plates by Moroni? There were two clear stones referred to as the Urim and Thummin with the Gold Plates. They were patterned after the stone Aaron used to Judge Israel. There are referred to in Revelation when John says those that overcome will be given a "white stone." Joseph Smith said these stones were designed by God for the interpretation of languages. Was this evolution from "glasslooking" to the "seerstone" just more of the same?

First, we need to remember one important principle. Satan doesn't create, Satan corrupts and counterfeits. Jesus on the other hand sanctifies. Some claim that Joseph may have used a "seer stone" different from the Urim and Thummin that were with the Gold Plates. Others think the "seer stone" was just one of the 2 interpreter stones. Whatever the case, if Joseph Smith had used the "peep stone" he used while prospecting for silver with Josiah Stowell, he would have dedicated the stone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and covenanted to never seek to see anything forbidden.That is the pattern of things. Satan doesn't create, Satan corrupts and counterfeits, and Christ sanctifies. There are other examples of this sort of thing. (e.g. fig leaves, conference center and Zion being designed after the style of the hanging gardens of Babylon, etc.).

Whatever stone he used, the difficult issue with it was that his previous participation in "glass-looking" made it difficult for some to accept the Book of Mormon. This was especially the case with Emma's Father Isaac Hale. Only a year after Joseph Smith promised the Judge in his 1826 hearing that he would give up "glass-looking" after which he eloped with Emma. Not long afterwards, Joseph had a hard time convincing Isaac Hale that he had found and translated the Book of Mormon using "seer stones."

"The manner in which he pretended to read and interpret was the same manner as when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat, while the book of plates were at the same time hid in the woods."---Isaac Hale affidavit, May 1834.

The price Joseph Smith paid was his being tried in court in March 1826 for 'glass-looking'. That hearing made it difficult for some to believe his story and followed him into future hearings and trials the rest of his life. Sin like clouds may have a silver lining but they are still mostly gray and stormy. However, in spite of these minor mistakes of youth, God has promised that the grace and Spirit of God is sufficient to overcome these weaknesses and know the truth that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and the Living Christ, and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

Sanctification of Christ's Church

It seems to me that a vocal few love to criticize the LDS church for the very few changes in policy, ritual or organization over its long history. They seem to enjoy pointing to the issues of polygamy which hasn't been practiced in the church for over 100 years, and the church policy allowing blacks to hold the priesthood as examples that the church cannot possibly be Christ's true church. They also point to grammatical edits to the Book of Mormon, and minor modifications in ritual ordinances as similar evidence that the church caves to social pressure instead of being inspired by God.

First off, let me say that in many cases small modifications to church organization or this or that are not due to any mistake but due to changing needs and circumstances. With regard to the symbolism of ordinances, if the symbol changes meaning and usage in society, then ritual may be modified to preserve the original intent and meaning of the ordinance. Remember that it is the meaning of the ordinance that holds priority over the outward ritual. This would not apply to changing baptism from immersion to sprinkling because the symbol of being submerged in water and with Christ in His death and coming forth in a newness of life as Christ was resurrected has not changed meaning in our culture.

That said, while the LDS Church claims to be the only true church of Christ on the Earth with the fullness of Christ's doctrine instead of only parts of the truth, the church has never claimed that its leaders or the church itself is infallible. Remember that the Church is a living church. But, some want to make the LDS church into an institution that flip-flops at every gust of social pressure. Nothing could be further from the truth. In a few isolated instances, the church may have been given a preparatory, temporary but necessary law until God saw fit to inspire the Apostles and prophets of the Church to progress and perfect and sanctify the church when the church and the world was ready. But just because social challenges and criticisms may be part of the motivation for progress doesn't prove the church is not inspired. Instead this proves that the LDS church is a living church and it is undergoing its own process of sanctification.

Yes, I admit that many revelations are partly inspired by the social context of the time. The value of having a living prophet is that he can pray and ask God for instruction to meet the challenges of the day. The Bible says ask and ye shall receive. Well, without the challenges and tribulation, there wouldn't be a need to ask the question, and therefore no revelation. Some assume the LDS church claims its organization as it existed in the days of Joseph Smith or today is perfect and infallible. The LDS Church is not perfect even in its current form. The Doctrine and Covenants says that in some instances the church is under condemnation or not enjoying all the fullness of blessings that it could be. But as the church meets each challenge and looks to Christ for guidance, the church becomes more sanctified, perfected, and blessed. And this will be a continuing process within the Church of Christ into the Millennium as the process of sanctification will continue in the church its membership and its leadership.

D&C 84: 57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—

So, what some call flip-flopping on a few issues, is really the church progressing and becoming more sanctified. Remember that Christs church is a living church and that Christ is a God of the living. Also, remember that John in revelations is shown the the saints saved in in the Millennium dressed in white robes and serving in the temple. When John asks who where all these people dressed in white robes, the angel tells John that they are the Saints of God who have come out of the tribulation and washed their robes white in the blood of Christ.

Rev. 7: 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

So, we see that the tribulation is necessary. The Saints of Christ are not completely perfect, the Church of Christ is not completely sanctified in its current state, and the tribulation that is promised as well as the power and grace of Christ's atonement serves to sanctify and perfect the Church like the purifying of silver in preparation for the Millennium. Also, I would also add that this is how any attempts by Satan to fight against the true church only end up serving to strengthen and further perfect it.

Avoid Personal Apostacy

Today's priesthood lesson was on avoiding personal apostasy. There were several great points brought out in our lesson:
1. Have a thankful heart and an attitude of gratitude.
2. Don't steady the Ark or Play your position or Bloom where you are planted
3. God does expect faith but not blind obedience.
4. Don't cast away thy confidence but shelve a doubt and allow God time to answer your question
5. Sustain your leaders which means avoid being passive agressive and dragging your feet.
6. The best way to avoid being cold is to avoid being lukewarm.
7. When you joined the church you left neutral ground and can never go back. If you leave the church you are no longer neutral and that is why those who leave the LDS Church can't leave it alone but become vocal critics and antagonists against the Kingdom of God.
8. Most important, always remember Jesus Christ (thx Mike).

Where does your doctrine lead?

In my conversations with Evangelical Christians I have come across 3 disturbing beliefs that are a result of the mixing of apostate thinking with pure doctrine. Remember that correct belief "Orthodoxy" will lead you to correct behavior "Orthopraxis," which will lead you to a correct heart towards God "Orthocardia." A questions we should all ask ourselves is if our belief is leading us closer to or away from God. Additionally, correct belief should also lead us closer to our families and neighbors. Remember the two great commandments to love God and our fellow man? If loving God and our family and neighbors is so important, then the correct doctrines of Christ should increase our love and tolerance towards all mankind in addition to increasing our ability to love God.

#1. Family doesn't matter to God.

In a discussion about the eternal nature and significance of family to God, several of my evangelical friends were attempting to convince me that our immediate temporal family here on Earth was unimportant, temporary, and had no lasting value in the eyes of God.

To the LDS, family is the basic unit of social organization on Earth and in Heaven. Adam and Eve were organized into the first family before The Fall, and existed in that state of innocence and purity in the presence of God with a command to have children. LDS believe that family relationships can endure beyond death and be enjoyed for eternity.

#2. If you are not Christian, you are not my brother.

In a conversation about the pre-existence and eternal nature of the spirit within us, some Evangelical friends of mine were of the opinion that only professing Christians where their brothers and would be saved. This excluded me, because although I profess belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer, they tell me that I don't believe in their version of Jesus which they claim is the correct Jesus.

LDS believe that all mankind are spirit children of our Heavenly Father regardless of color, ethnicity, faith or creed. In fact, if you are Muslim or Hindu or Agnostic and are true and valiant to the truth which God has put in your heart and mind, then you will be both saved and exalted. That is because Christ is truth, and if you believe in truth, you really believe in Christ without knowing you do. God will make allowance for tradition which prevents some from getting the words right when the heart, head, and hands are clean in Christ. The Bible says "where there is no law, there is no sin." Eventually, those who are true and faithful will accept Christ in word to go along with their deeds. And also, the necessary temple work will be done on their behalf to satisfy the technical demands of salvation and exaltation. But, those who are faithful and true to the truth they are given by God will not be denied any blessing.

#3 God does not answer prayer about personal matters.

In a conversation with an Evangelical about personal testimony and revelation, my friend stated:

[there is NOT one passage in Old or New Testament scripture instructing us to inquire of the Lord on what we ought OR ought not to do regarding personal matters!]

[The Bible does NOT model for us a mode of decision-making where we examine our hearts for communication from God telling us what to do.]

And then he sited the Evangelical author Greg Koukl's, “Decision Making and the Will of God:”

[The Bible does NOT teach us to expect subjective internal promptings from the Holy Spirit as any kind of normative guide.]

Other Evangelicals claim that God will inspire with regard to "wisdom" or how to apply the Bible, but not about "knowledge." The only source of spiritual knowledge is the Bible alone. Therefore, they say that you cannot pray about whether something is true or not, but only if you should or shouldn't do something. The Bible teaches that "the Holy Ghost will guide us into all truth;" not just all wisdom. Truth encompasses both knowledge and wisdom. And that is the point of this post is that correct belief leads to correct action, and the Holy Ghost is required together with scripture for both.

LDS, know that Christ says again and again "Ask and ye will receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." LDS know that God does care about the even the smallest details of our lives. In some instances the answer may be "it mattereth not." But that still is a wonderful answer. If you have been led to believe by your doctrine that God does not care about the intimate details of your life, to not bother praying, or to not expect answers to prayer, maybe your doctrine isn't helping you develop as close of a relationship with God as you think.