The unsuspecting box office hit, Sound of Freedom, a dramatization based on a “true story” starring Jim Caviezel who plays the part of Tim Ballard, a former Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, after which he started the organization, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), a nonprofit (alleged) focused on rescuing trafficked children many of which have been sold into sex slavery. OUR works in a number of countries around the world. Tim Ballard recently step down from overseeing OUR and The Nazarene Fund, due to an internal scandal and very likely monetary corruption. This doesn't come as a surprise to this writer, for two specific reasons: (1) Ballard is a Mormon, which they attempt to hide from the public as much as possible, and corruption runs rank amongst Mormonism right from it's roots, and (2) I understand the organization from the inside.
Naturally, the evil and diabolical left/liberal/woke and evil globalists/Hollywood/WEF/UN Antichrist beasts that support and promote the grooming of children sexually and endeavour to recruit them into their pedophilia community so they can take sexual advantage of them and destroy their innocent lives by many means including rape, sodomizing, butchering their gender-specific organs and genitalia before they are even allowed to play at a playground by themselves (or other ages for that matter), are also behind the sex-trafficking and slavery of children and have made every attempt possible to censor and silence this movie, from initially stopping the publication of this film (which took five years to bring fruition, “with every roadblock imaginable tossed in the way” according to Caviezel) and then the public showing of it, with mainstream media trying to rubbish the movie as "conspiracy theory." The following two clips reveal the intentional hinderances of some movie theatres in showing this movie, attempting to stop people from seeing it, and NO its not just a theory or coincidence 👀
This censorship on its own (never mind the thousands of other diabolical reasons) should prop up some serious red flags concerning the evil, Satanic nature of the left and their henchmen. They lie, deceive and misrepresent the film concerning child trafficking which is just normal tactics for the left who thrive on lies and deception and are 100% pawns of Satan attempting to discredit people who reveal or speak truth, even accusing the supporters of OUR of promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory. In July 2023 Ballard was interviewed by Jordan Peterson where he speaks of a West African "baby factory" raid where children are sold for organ harvesting and "Satanic ritual abuse", which Insider asserted as echoing of a QAnon conspiracy theory. To those diabolical liars, everything is a conspiracy theory, while virtually every “conspiracy theory” has been proven to be true. Whatever it takes, right, to discredit and hide the truth. The only thing these "natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed," (2 Pet 2:12) are good at is lying, and virtually everything say they say is a lie and deception. These are evil, wicked reprobate beasts, all of which are “worthy of death” (Rom 1:32).
A good reminder from the Word of God in Ps 37:8-15,
"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken."
We should all be grateful for the ethical and humanitarian work Ballard and OUR have done, not only in rescuing children, but also Ballard as CEO of The Nazarene Fund helping to rescue American citizens left behind by the (illegitimate) Biden administration in Afghanistan. As a disclaimer, I am certainly not promoting either of these organizations in saying this, merely recognizing some of the honourable work they do.
Unfortunately not everything is good though with Sound of Freedom (hereafter referred to as SOF). Pulling off slick, sleight-of-hand marketing coups, is not a good start for a so-called Christian movie, neither is it a Biblical manner of doing business, though its probably just normal business in the Mormon world. Angel Studios, who bought and published the movie, capitalized on the fact that none of the major studios would be debuting a movie during the July 4th week, dropped SOF when most moviegoers were at parades or holidays. That allowed it to slide into the number one spot for 24 hours, giving it bragging rights that has showed up in marketing materials during its theatrical run, and in the news. "Thanks to fans around the country, SOUND OF FREEDOM earned the top spot as America’s number one movie on Independence Day," Neal Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios announced in a press release. This sleight-of-hand is a fitting tribute to the subject of the film, Tim Ballard, whose talent for self-promotion, self-glory has earned him headlines and head-scratching from those who fact-check his claims, and from those on a personal knowledge basis like this author. And should we trust the Harmon brothers who own Angel Studios, or Tim Ballard, seeing that these men are temple Mormons who believe that when they die they will be a god ruling over some planet in a far away distant galaxy, or believe Jesus’ spirit brother is Lucifer, mankind's half brother, or believe in polygamous marriage is necessary for entrance into heaven, or embrace damnable heresies of works salvation, etc? Though much of the film is true, there are parts that are over-dramatized and plainly false, even according to Ballard himself. Definite over-dramatization, though the original operations depicted in his film were dramatic in their own right, something I am familiar with in fine detail, But Ballard did NOT do these operations on his own, nor were "vaccines" used to gain access to the children. That's not my biggest concern though, nor should it be for any true Bible believing born again Christian.
When an organization or people or film project make the profession of Christian and allege to represent Christianity and the work of God, born again believers are obligated to test and evaluate the movie and their MO according to Scripture. Tim Ballard appears to have a love for children which compelled him to rescue them, which again is morally honourable, but he does not seem to have that same love for God’s Word and truth, thus God Himself. Mormonism would play a big part in that trajectory, but so does humanism and an absence of Biblical conversion.
The film's shortcomings concerns three very specific and extremely important areas, discussed below. I have no criticism with the quality of the movie and acting, or cinematography, both of which I believe were excellent, nor with the storyline of the movie (as far as exposing this evil and malevolent child sex trafficking occurring worldwide), but rather with the fact they are coming across as Christian while not actually representing Biblical Christianity but rather, doing damage in the process. That’s the issue and how it dishonours God, promotes false Christianity and inoculates people to the truth of scripture but also of the influence of false teachers and teachings of false religions behind the production.
But before delving into that, I qualify my authority on this report. Not only can I speak on behalf of what Scripture says seeing that I know the Bible as a regenerate saint with the indwelling Spirit of God (1 Jn 2:20-21, 27) and an ambassador of my Lord, Saviour and King Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:18-20; Mk 13:34), but also on behalf of the movie and OUR since I have both watched the movie and lived the movie. I was an active participant as an independent employed contractor in the operations of OUR in certain areas of the world with this organization some years back. That it is all I can say about that because of sworn to confidentiality and for my safety and that of my family. I probably have said to much already, but I do say this not to toot my own horn; merely to further qualify my writing on this subject. I have no personal beefs with this group and cherish the friendships I made, and of course greatly value the courageous work they continue to do, but the below reasons compel criticism and reproof and the greater danger of such neo-evangelical projects.
I understand; critically critiquing a movie of this nature is not going to be very popular. Especially amongst Evangelicals who are all about positivism and harbour spite for negativity, even though the Bible is mostly negative, even though the Son of God was extremely negative (almost predominately we could say) in His preaching and ministry, even though the Spirit of God has a very negative ministry. That doesn't matter to these charlatans and scoffers who use the Bible to merely fulfill the lusts of their flesh (2 Pet 3:3). None of this changes the facts or truth, or impedes my direction at all. In fact, it galvanizes me to action and bold reproof and contending for the faith and warring a good warfare, even moreso. Truth is eternal and is unhindered by the feelings and emotions of man. My biggest detraction from the film and its producers and depicters is the following.
1. SOF (and OUR) is not committed to the Bible or glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ or preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, even though SOF is paraded as a Christian movie, even though they come across as a Christian organization doing the work of God, even though they take advantage of professing Christians and churches and Christian groups for monetary purposes and numbers.
This neglect comes across in the movie, which has absolutely not one mention of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ or the gospel. Okay I can hear the defenders and gainsayers, he quoted Scripture. Really? Loosely quoting a passage of Scripture (millstone about the neck and dropped into the sea) without actually saying that it comes from the Bible or Who said it, is not the Biblical way of promoting Christ or Christianity or God's Word. This is called compromise and its not Biblical. There is NO clear gospel presentation anywhere in the movie. The gospel is not found anywhere in the movie. Even on the OUR website, its undetectable.
This is the passage referred to vaguely in SOF,
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt 18:6)
Quoting portions of a Scripture passage without referencing Who said it and where it comes from, is not Bible preaching. Now even if those two important elements were present, but nothing else mentioned in the movie about the bible, it still wouldn't be Biblical preaching or a true Christian movie. You can't have Christianity without a clear, true gospel of Jesus Christ presentation, and then lived out thereafter by obedience to the Word of God. In that light, this movie would appear a lot different, and a lot less popular.
I thought maybe the “special message” by Jim Caviezel at the end of the movie after the credits would provide a critical presentation of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but nada. Not even one word about it. Nor was even any practical advice given about how to solve this problem of the child smuggling trade. Caviezel’s “call to action” was to get more people to view the film, and scan a QR code and donate money so that others could view the film who could not afford to.
When someone walks away at the end of this movie, they will likely have an increased sensitivity and compassion for children and justice and understanding of the evil dark forces in the world, but not the truth of God’s Word or the gospel of Jesus Christ. They wouldn't know the gospel from a hole in the wall if based solely upon the movie. Why not? Because it is found nowhere in the movie. Not even remotely.
But they are "Christian" and its a "Christian" movie, many have declared. Rigggght. What Bible are these people reading?
Are they shamed of Christ? Very likely (at the least extremely compromised in their so-called beliefs), as the Bible clearly declares all unsaved people are, while truly born again believers are never ashamed of Him again, and do glorify Him by putting Him first, not themselves or others. That means they preach His gospel and present His truth from His Word given every opportunity, knowing all to well that the very vast majority of people that would be viewing this movie are professing Christians by name only, not regenerate saints through the new birth. The primary burden of a true "ambassador of Christ" (2 Cor 5:20) and reconciler of souls to God through the Word of God (2 Cor 5:18-19), which is every true born again believer (2 Cor 5:17-18), is the souls of man and eternity, which then corresponds to preaching the gospel, which then changes the behaviour of people, such evil people as depicted in SOF, permanently. The social gospel is at best a bandaid, and that turns out to be always the case when a movie like SOF is produced without the true life-saving gospel being clearly, and continually presented, as the true need of all mankind even for those enemies of God who are destroying the lives of the children.
Neo-evangelical “gospel” preaching is claiming to preach the gospel but actually doing something much more in line with social activism.
Does Ballard or others at OUR actually believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and thus the Holy Scriptures? In one case concerning an operation near the Haiti/Dominican Republic border, instead of being guided by appealing to the Lord through prayer and counsel from the Word of God, Ballard and others sought the help of a psychic medium from Utah who claimed that children were being held nearby. The mission to find the boy was unsuccessful. Unsurprising.
In a recent interview by Jordan Peterson of Ballard and Caviezel, Ballard tells the story about how he came to start OUR, with his wife expressing the ultimatum in saving the children over keeping his job. Why? Because her salvation depended upon it! Really. Tim says he was about to make the most crucial decision of his life: continue on his mission and save the children but lose his job, or go home as his superiors had commanded (since the mission had revealed no American citizenry from either the victims or perpetrators) and keep his government job with Homeland Security and all the benefits that came with that. His wife helped him make the decision to save the children,
“I will not let you jeopardize my salvation by not doing this.” (time 25:40).
Later in the same interview he reflects back to this again, saying,
“her salvation might be on the line.” (time 1:12:00).
In other words, if Tim doesn’t do this good work, she might not make it to heaven, since she as his wife had been compelled to encourage him to do this, which she perceived to be a message from heaven. Its quite apparent her salvation hinges on good works, and extra-Biblical revelation. But this is a false and perverted gospel that Ballard and his family holds to (cf. Eph 2:8-9; Rom 3:21-28; 4:1-8), and of course we know that to already be true because of his Mormon beliefs (described further below). Unwittingly (I presume), they are honest about the heretical Christianity that they embrace, which I would think contradicts the beliefs of even most evangelicals watching the movie. But they don't speak against it, they don't contend for the faith, even though most know of the Mormon basis. That tells us how much the Bible actually means to them, and the actual basis of their beliefs: emotionalism and sentimentalism. During the interview, either Caviezel agrees with this damnable heresy or is to horribly compromised to speak out against the evil, given that he had the perfect opportunity to speak against it, if he was truly opposed to this damnable heresy. I doubt that he is, considering the fact that he is a very religious Catholic, and Catholicism embraces a works gospel of their own.
The Bible is crystal clear that this is a false and perverted gospel (cf. Rom 4:1-8; Eph 2:8-9; Gal 5:2-5), which is a "damnable heresy" (2 Pet 2:1) that only damns souls to eternal hell fire (Gal 1:6-9; 5:19-21; 2 Cor 11:4).
"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Rom 4:1-8)
Paul called people like this out and warned about them, many times naming their names (10 times in fact in the epistles to Timothy alone, though in most of these cases it was for much less than teaching a false works "gospel") and made it clear that he and those he worked with had absolutely nothing to do with such false teachers (Gal 2:4; 2 Pet 2:1-3),
“To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” (Gal 2:5)
None of this should come across as any form of shock seeing that Tim Ballard, the guy who started OUR and the main character being characterized in SOF, is a Mormon. He professes to be Christian. He aligns with evangelicals, which is neo-evangelicals in our present time for all intends and purposes, but is in fact a devout Mormon, one who attended Brigham Young University and is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), even serving on a two-year mission to Chile as a young man, which is essential for devout young adult Mormons, especially males, and especially if they want to grow in hierarchy within the Mormon establishment. The Mormon gospel is extremely heretical, perverted and false (Gal 1:6-7; 2 Cor 11:4), which means Ballard and anyone else that holds to a Mormon gospel, is "accursed" (Gal 1:8-9) and a false brother (Gal 2:4-5).
I am all for justice! God's Word is very clear that justice has extreme and primary importance to God. E.g.,
"To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice." (Pr 21:3)
Thus, I am NOT in disagreement with what Tim and OUR are doing as far as rescuing poor innocent children from the diabolical hands of evil beasts. Obviously I am on board since I was involved in these operations myself (though unbeknownst to me as to who the organization was). I am also in agreement that every person involved in this utter wickedness should be immediately thrown in the depth of the sea with a millstone hung about his neck, from whence, on the other side of the grave, he or she will be ushered into hell fire. That is godly justice, and with that I most certainly and passionately agree, even to the point where I want to start my own millstone business.
The problem I have, and the Lord much more, is not presenting the truth that is more critical to all the world, truth that is absolutely necessary for mankind to have life, eternal life and an immediate changed life (which gloriously delivers all sinners, even child traffickers, rapists, assassins, murders from their sins forever), since that is the only means whereby mankind is saved and changed permanently. Salvation comes through the preaching of the Bible alone, preaching of the one true gospel of Jesus Christ, not through any other means, including movies like SOF, or saving children from child traffickers:
"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (1 Cor 1:21)
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:17)
This absolute truth is left out of their operations and out of the movie. But that is bad, in a place where I wouldn't want to be. Not preaching the one true gospel of Jesus Christ in a professing Christian context (NOT the false gospel of Mormonism or Catholicism) is actually worse than any crime, including child sex trafficking, even genocide on a mass scale of bad (cf. Matt 11). Not presenting the truth on a worldwide platform is doing the greatest disservice to every person possible that watches the movie, worse than committing mass genocide. Eternal hellfire is the end result of that “love.” God’s Word never even hints at such a false conclusion. Quite the contrary.
People watch this movie and build up indignant wrath towards the wicked beasts that pervert and destroy little innocent children's lives, destroy homes, and do things to children we can not openly say, yet that same wrath is not expressed towards the neglect and corruption of God's lifesaving eternal gospel.
Which one is worse? The former, which is exceedingly evil but temporal, or the latter, which is exceedingly evil but eternal? Think on these things and be wise.
2. The Neo-evangelical style of “warning” and “exposing” perpetrators of evil.
Not once in the movie is there any mention of who the perpetrators are, or a call to action with practical advice to stop the evil minions behind the trafficking of children. Why not? Is the fleshly and carnal focus on exalting a mere man so prominent, that the most important truth in this sphere cannot even be mentioned, lest focus be taken off the exalted man? Of course we know of the much greater truth that is void of any reference in a supposed "Christian" movie, and that is the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that saves souls, not temporarily (as saving children from child traffickers does), but eternally. For ever and ever, while the temporal life is but "a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (Jam 4:14). As is so typical in Neo “evangelicalism” land where preaching in general is almost entirely void of any practical usefulness, there is no practical advice from a civilian perspective to actually stop child trafficking. And this of course comes as no surprise seeing that OUR is in fact a deeply compromised Neo-evangelical/Mormon organization.
My guess is that this film was allowed to appear on the big screen (though there have been pushbacks with that, as noted in the beginning with the two videos) for this very reason: the film doesn't actually name names, nor give any real call to actions to stop any of this, and thus the lefties and mainstream media can easily dismiss it as “Qanon conspiracy theories.” If the globalists/elite/Hollywood industry wanted to prevent SOF from appearing on the big screen, they most certainly would have. So did Ballard and Angel Studios cave in and agree to no referencing of names? Why is the US government (with its alphabet agencies, which is exposed by Jim Caviezel in interviews, but not in SOF) and other western governments not named as funders of the lucrative child-trafficking industry/business? They do this primarily through the child welfare system by foster care and adoption, funded by our own government and paid for by the tax payer, so child trafficking is not primarily an international problem.
Of course it is easy to speak out against the evil of child trafficking, considering the heinous nature of this evil crime, but understanding the true gospel and then speaking out against the evil of false gospels and contending for the truth and against error and false teachings/teachers, is a whole nother story. This is where conflict and controversy enters the picture, and majority of people are much to soft, compromised, and spineless to speak out against anything, much less what is of critical importance to God, the very heartbeat of God. They expose themselves to be soil of the stony and thorny kind. The central issue though is, vast majority of professing Christians are "Christian" by name only, so they wouldn't be doing something that is against their natural nature. These are nominal Christians; ones that have embraced a title, but have never been born again. Boldness comes from the Holy Spirit of God. No new birth, no Holy Spirit. No Holy Spirit, no boldness.
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Pr 28:1)
And that right there is the reason for the trajectory of apostasy we see in all the cults, denominations and evangelicalism today. Fake "Christians," false religions and teachings, hypocritical lives.
This is the great sickness that rots at the heart of our culture today, the downfall of America and the West. People actually reject the true Thrice Holy Triune God and the true Christian life, the true gospel of self-denial, while embracing a false Jesus, a false gospel and a false spirit (2 Cor 11:4) that glorifies and exalts self and man, the false gospel of self-fulfillment. This we see through many facets including the overwhelming response to this movie, love for the world and the things of the world (1 Jn 2:15-16, lusts of the eyes and flesh, pride of life), the exaltation of country songs that speak to the plight of the average hard working man in America, and more. These are all symptoms of mans rejection of fearing God and obedience to His Word, while these attributes are in fact the whole duties of man:
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecc 12:13)
True, genuine, Fear of the Lord leads to repentance and conversion, which then produces obedience to Gods Word and true, genuine, holiness, godliness, and righteousness (Ti 2:11-14), which Mormons attempt to put on (as other cults, and false religions) but its fake, skin-deep, and self-righteous, and what neo-evangelicals claim to have but they don't, in fact "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness" (Ju 1:4).
3. Ecumenicalism and false religion is front-line in the Mormon-driven OUR organization and SOF production.
The OUR organization pretty much couldn't care less who works with the group, as long as they have a common goal of saving children and have some background in military or law enforcement. On the operation teams, you have a plethora of professing Christians, outright false Christians (such as Mormons [section # 2], Catholics, many evangelicals, other Protestants) and atheists.
I know this because I participated on the international operations team. I came across every sort of "faith" and heretical group and type of agnosticism pretty much known to man. These were employed with OUR as contractors and civilians; there was no Biblical prejudice against any heretical group or heretic or ungodly Christ rejector. I have had conversations with people so far out in left field, they claim that once they die, they will have opportunity to repent. God's Word clarifies God's position in our associations with professing believers that embrace heresies and false religions, which is found in places such as 2 Cor 6:14-18,
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
That most despised doctrine of separation is at the very heart of who God is. You cannot be saved without separating, as the passages above make clear, and those that are truly saved will separate. Involving practically any male with a military or law enforcement background, or pursuing support from any church or Christian group or cult, as long as it comes with the title "Christian," regardless how heretical they may be, may increase the coffers and man-power, but it certainly doesn’t bring the blessings or power of God. Its not doing God’s work according to God’s Word and way, the only way He is glorified and honoured and loved, even though they may think that is what they are doing. They have deceived themselves. No one can worship God apart from "in spirit and in truth" (Jn 4:23-24), and that requires the new birth. That means the new birth is absolutely necessary to have a quickened spirit that is in fellowship with the Triune God and understand of the truth, which is the Word of God (for English speaking folks, that is found only in the King James Bible). This is who God is looking for to worship Him, and His truth is above children and everything else. In fact, it is above His own name:
"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." (Ps 138:2)
I have found it highly interesting that this film was released during the same time as “The Chosen” TV series is being aired, also a production of heavy Mormon influence, owned and produced by the same company: Angel Studios.
As mentioned, the people behind SOF are Mormon, including Ballard, and Mormonism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) are thoroughly and exceedingly heretical and apostate, non-salvageable. These cults cannot be redeemed, they are harlots of the great whore (Rev 17:5), but the people behind them can be.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet 3:9)
Angel studios, who took on this movie, is completely Mormon owned. The Nazarene Project, where Ballard also works (or did work), is founded by the Mormon Glen Beck. Like The Chosen, SOF is thoroughly Mormon-influenced, and though one does not come across this info directly anywhere in the movie (or for that matter in The Chosen TV series), the influence, and beliefs and practices of this apostate cult will still be present, because it always is. Why wouldn’t they be a little braver and make it clear they are Mormons? Why hide this crucial point? The answer to that of course is very obvious. They would likely lose a significant portion of their viewers. Though Ballard is a Mormon, he, like Mormonism and other Christian denominations, is throughly tainted with neo-evangelicalism as they attempt to fit into mainstream Christianity.
Let’s be reminded of what Mormonism doctrine and practice really is, in somewhat of a brief manner.
False theology, False Jesus:
The Mormon “God” is a man (he has a physical body, testified by Joseph Smith, who allegedly saw him — ah, no he didn't) who as a sinner was redeemed by another “Jesus” on another planet and who has a hierarchy of “Gods” (also exalted men) over him.
“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make himself visible,—I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man... We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did” (Joseph Smith, sermon, April 7, 1844, History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 302-317).
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” (Joseph Smith, Doctrines and Covenants, 130:22;
God worked for his salvation, just as men are working for theirs:
“My Father worked out His kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to My Father, so that He may obtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself” (Joseph Smith, sermon, April 7, 1844, History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 302-317)
Mormonism believes in many gods:
“I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. It has been preached by the Elders for fifteen years. I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods." (Joseph Smith, sermon, June 16, 1844, History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 473-479).
“How many Gods there are, I do not know, But there never was a time when there were not Gods and worlds, and when men were not passing through the same ordeals that we are passing through. That course has been from all eternity, and it is and will be so to all eternity” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333).
Mormonism's "Jesus" was not always God but earned his way to godhood by good works for salvation in the same manner as Mormons believe they will become gods someday.
“By obedience and devotion to the truth he attained that pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as a God, as the Lord Omnipotent, while yet in his pre-existent state” (LDS apostle Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 129)
“Jesus kept the commandments of his Father and thereby worked out his own salvation, and also set an example as to the way and the means whereby all men may be saved” (LDS apostle Bruce McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, vol. 4, p. 434)
Mormonism's "Jesus" is a spirit child conceived through physical means between an exalted man (the Mormon god, they call Elohim God) and the virgin Mary. This "Jesus" was the first spirit born in heaven and is the spirit brother of Lucifer (Satan was the second born spirit, of whom we are all half-brothers and sisters) and is not God from all eternity but came to this earth to get a body in order to become a “God.” That body was formed when the Mormon “god” came to earth and with his physical body and had sexual intercourse with Mary. This was taught by the founder and second prophet of the Mormon church and many other past LDS leaders (e.g. Joseph F. Smith, Jr., Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie).
Joseph Smith:“God the Eternal Father, whom we designate by the exalted name-title Elohim, is the literal Parent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of the human race” (Messages from the First Presidency, 5:26)
Brigham Young: “Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation. . . . Now remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost” (sermon, April 9, 1852, Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, pp. 50-51)
Bruce McConkie: “Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 547)
Mormonism's "Jesus" is not eternal and had a beginning (i.e., not part of the eternal Trinity) and was even contaminated with a sin nature.
Brigham Young: “[While Christ was] tabernacling in the flesh, he was more or less contaminated with fallen nature. While he was here, in a body that his mother Mary bore him, he was more or less connected with and influenced by this nature that we have received. According to the flesh, he was the seed of Adam and Eve, and suffered the weaknesses and temptations of his fellow mortals” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, pp. 95-96).
The Mormon "Jesus" is a polygamist. The Mormon "Apostles" Orson Pratt and Orson Hyde taught that "Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children” (Journal of Discourses, 2:210). As did the polygamists fourth Mormon President/Prophet Wilford Woodruff and tenth President/Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith. This also fits Mormon dogma, since an unmarried and childless Jesus would disqualify him from the pathway to becoming a god.
Brigham Young: “The Scripture says that He, the Lord, came walking in the Temple, with HIS TRAIN; I do not know who they were, unless HIS WIVES AND CHILDREN...” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 13, p. 309).
Orson Pratt: “...I said, in my lecture on Marriage, at our last Conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 210)
The work of the Mormon "Jesus" was insufficient for man’s salvation, and to complete salvation one has to believe in the false prophet Joseph Smith that he came from God to restore the church (i.e., Smith takes a role in a persons salvation).
Mormon leaders have even admitted that their Jesus Christ is different. In 1998, Mormon President Hinckley said,
“The traditional Christ of whom they [non-Mormons] speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages” (LDS Church News, week ending June 20, 1998, p. 7).
Mormonism believes that Adam was God, and came from heaven with one of his heavenly wives, Eve.
“When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, the Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have written and spoken—HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later. . . . Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation” (Brigham Young, preached in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, April 9, 1852, Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, pp. 50-51).
The Word of God on the other hand teaches there is only one God (De 6:4; Is 43:10; 44:6, 8, 24; 45:5-7, 21-22; 46:9) and that He is a spirit (Jn 4:24) and eternally God (Ps 90:2; 93:2; Rom 1:20), and He is not a man and has never been a man (Num 23:19; Hos 11:9), and that He does not ever change (Mal 3:6). Attempting to turn Him into a man is idolatry (Rom 1:22-25). The Word of God teaches that Jehovah and Elohim are the same God: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord [Jehovah] our God [elohim] is one Lord [Jehovah]” (De 6:4); “the LORD [Jehovah] is God [elohim], and that there is none else” (1 Ki 8:60b). Those who pretend to be a god, like Jospeh Smith and many Mormons do, will be eternally destroyed (Jer 10:10-11).
The Word of God is also clear that Jesus Christ is eternal and sinless and as such could not have been created (Is 9:6; Mi 5:2; Col 1:17; 1 Jn 1:2), and that all things were made by Him (Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16) including Satan but NOT including God the Father, because He, too, is eternal and was never created (De 33:27). The Bible is also very clear that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born and that His conception was by the Holy Spirit of God (Matt 1:18), and that Jesus had NO sin (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22) and is forever higher and separate from all sinful men (Heb 7:26). Nowhere does the Bible even suggest the faintest possibility that Jesus was married or had children, nor was the wedding (Jn 2:1-11) where Jesus was called to (Jn 2:2) His own wedding as the apostate LDS "Apostle" Orson cited. No mention is ever made in Scripture that Jesus had a wife or children, and surely this would have been the case were it true, especially when He made provision for the care of His mother while dying on the cross (Jn 19:26-27).
The Word of God warns about false Christs (Matt 24:24; 2 Cor 11:4) and is clear that those who promote false gods contrary to the Scriptures are to be rejected (De 13:1-5), marked and avoided (Rom 16:17-18). God's Word warns about false teachers who will deny Christ and give themselves to lasciviousness, covetousness, and rebellion against authority (2 Pet 2:1-3, 10) and this is a very accurate description of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and other early leaders of Mormonism.
False gospel/salvation:
Mormonism's gospel is thoroughly and terribly heretical, false and perverted, in many different ways.
Mormon doctrine, Joseph Smiths restored "gospel," is a very busy gospel of works. They teach that without our own righteousness, there is no forgiveness of sins (contrary to the entire Bible and the gospel, especially Rom 4:1-8 and more). This is what the 3rd Article of Faith of the LDS Church says: "We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the law, and ordinances of the gospel." In the book of Nephi 25:23, we read further instructions on this: "...for we know that is by grace that we are saved after all we can do." To be a true believer, you also have to be baptized and confirmed in the LDS church. Mormon elders then confer the Holy Ghost upon the new "believer" in the power of the Melchizedek priesthood. Then you have to tithe, always and faithfully, never neglecting it even once, and always wear temple garments underneath black t-shirts, and learn secret handshakes and passwords that will one day take you through the veil and into celestial glory where you can become a god.
Mormonism plainly teaches that salvation is by faith in Christ plus good works in being part of the Mormon church:
“Jesus Christ did what only He could do in atoning for our sins. To make His Atonement fully effective in our individual lives, we must have faith in Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized, receive The Holy Ghost, obey His commandments, and strive to become like Him” (Basic Beliefs of the LDS Church)
Mormonism rejects Christ’s blood cleansing sinners from all sin, and embraces the false gospel of losing salvation (as all false religions do):
“Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one's salvation. Many go so far, for instance, as to pretend, at least, to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept Him as our personal Savior, we are thereby saved. His blood, without other act than mere belief, they say, makes us clean” (What the Mormons Think of Christ, LDS publication, 1973, p. 22).
Eternal life to the Mormon is exaltation to godhood, and—being far from being the gift of God’s grace—takes much effort and eons of time to achieve, an ambition supposedly shared by every Mormon male.
Mormonism believes that Joseph Smith holds the keys to heaven:
“Joseph Smith holds the keys of this last dispensation, and is now engaged behind the vail in the great work of the last days. . . . no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are—I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent. He holds the keys of that kingdom for the last dispensation—the keys to rule in the spirit-world; and he rules there triumphantly, for he gained full power and a glorious victory over the power of Satan while he was yet in the flesh, and was a martyr to his religion and to the name of Christ, which gives him a most perfect victory in the spirit-world. He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven. Many will exclaim—‘Oh, that is very disagreeable! It is preposterous! We cannot bear the thought!’ But it is true” (Brigham Young, sermon, Oct. 9, 1859, delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, reported by G. D. Watt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, pp. 282-91)
Mormons believe that a baby is born without a sin nature, which is heretical and contrary to Scripture (e.g. Rom 5). Further, they claim that a child becomes accountable before God when they reach the age of eight. Where does the Bible teach this stuff?! Nowhere is about right. Mormons have done a lot of adding to God's Word, all to keep the false system of works going and people in bondage to the LDS church.
Mormon women can only hope to become goddesses consigned to eternal pregnancy as they give birth to spirit beings who will eventually people another planet with another Adam and Eve, a fall into sin, and another “Jesus.” It is a process that has been going on forever and will continue ad infinitum, ad absurdum.
Mormonism teaches that living people can be baptized for the dead, to help the dead achieve their salvation, which isn't far off from Catholicism. Joseph Smith: “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.” The LDS church teaches that the names of the dead must be known before they can be baptized by proxy, so it maintains the largest genealogical library in the world, which sits at greater than 725 million names in their record center in Salt Lake City. Mormons perform millions of proxy baptisms every year. The Mormon temples form a crucial part of this ceremony, but the temple rites are secret. Until 1990, the Mormon participants swore an oath not to talk about the rites on penalty of death. In the temple wedding ceremony, the participants receive special underwear that they are to wear for the rest of their lives; they receive a new name that they are not supposed to tell to others; and they learn secret handshakes.
Mormonism teaches that majority people will eventually be saved, but they go to three different heavens, according to their merit (Mormon Doctrine, p. 348).
Joseph Smith: “We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel” (3rd Article of Faith)
The three heavens: Bad people go to the lowest heaven, the Telestial Kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants, 76:81-86), good people who were not Mormons go to the Terrestrial Kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants, 76:71-79), Mormons will go to the Celestial Kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants, 76:50-70). Mormons are taught four secret handshakes in the temple ceremonies so that they can gain entrance into the third heaven by thus shaking God’s hand (Bob Witte and Gordon Fraser, What’s Going on in There: An Exposing of the Secret Mormon Temple Rituals).
The Mormon faith is absolutely loaded with heresy, damnable heresy, and perversion of the gospel. Their gospel is thoroughly false (Gal 1:8-9) and loaded with "damnable heresies" (2 Pet 2:1). The Bible on the other hand teaches that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace and it is not by works of any sort; good works follow as the evidence of true conversion (Ac 16:31; Rom 3:24; 4:1-8; Eph 2:8-10; Ti 3:3-8). Any sort of mixture of grace and works is a false gospel (Rom 11:6). True salvation is received directly from Jesus Christ and not through any church (Jn 1:9-13; 6:35, 37; Matt 11:28-30; 1 Jn 5:10-13) and very vast majority of people will never be saved (Matt 7:13-14). In the resurrection, the glorified saints do not marry (Lk 20:34-36). The Bible does not teach that the dead can be saved through baptism performed by the living, including in 1 Cor 15:29. Paul did not say that he baptized for the dead but that “they” baptized for the dead. He was referring to the practice of others. This heretical doctrine is extremely contrary to the teaching of Christ (Lk 16:22-31), and the doctrine of salvation, which teaches us that no salvation is offered on the other side of the grave (Pr 1:20-32; Rev 21:8, 27). There is no opportunity for salvation after death (Lk 16:22-31; Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 6:2). The blood of Jesus Christ indeed cleanses us from ALL sin (1 Jn 1:7; Rev 1:5), redeems us from ALL our sins (1 Pet 1:19), and makes us nigh to God (Eph 2:13). God is not building special temples today (Jn 4:20-24; Ac 7:47-50; 17:24; Heb 8:1-2; 9:11-12, 24). Jesus said nothing in secret (Jn 18:20), which condemns Mormonism’s secret rites. Jesus and the Apostles did not baptize or marry in a temple.
False church/membership process:
The process of becoming a member of the LDS church is completely works based, idolatrous and blasphemous. A large component of this process and retaining membership is tithing. The false Mormon god requires money and lots of it, and without your continual faithful tithing dues paid, you cannot ever enter into the third heaven, the celestial heaven, the highest heaven where God allegedly resides according to LDS dogma. Thus, the Jesus-flavoured Mormon church is a multi-billion dollar organization. Mormon dogma is based on tithing works, but the Bible doesn't warn in vain that we become like the false gods and idols that we worship: "They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." (Ps 115:8). Hence the incredible greed amongst the Mormon people, because they serve the god of mammon.
The Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) are bought out to hierarchical dogmatism and ungodly authoritarianism comparable to that of Roman Catholicism. The “Ward Teachers’ Message” for June 1945 made the following frightful statement:
“When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan, it is God’s plan. . . . When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way.”
False bibliology and ecclesiology:
Mormonism believes the writings of Joseph Smith and of Mormon prophets and apostles and other continued revelations are of equal authority with the Word of God. The four Mormon scriptures are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, A Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrines and Covenants.
“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God” (Articles of Faith, #8)
“In addition to these four books of scripture, the inspired words of our living prophets become scripture to us. Their words come to us through conferences, Church publications, and instructions to local priesthood leaders” (Gospel Principles, pp. 51-52)
“We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Articles of Faith, #9)
Mormonism believes the Bible not to be reliable or trustworthy. Joseph Smith taught that:
“Many important points touching the salvation of men, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled” (History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 245)
Leaders of the Mormon church, from Joseph Smith, Jr., until today, serve allegedly as “President of the High Priesthood and of the Church” and as “Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator.”
The Word of God however teaches that the "faith was ONCE delivered unto the saints" by the twelve apostles of Christ and other disciples of that day (Ju 1:3). The Scriptures alone, minus nothing, plus nothing, are sufficient for all doctrine and practice concerning this life (2 Tim 3:16-17). Nothing else is needed or can be added to or substituted with the Scriptures and everything is to be tested, scrutinized, carefully examined by the Word of God alone (Is 8:20; Jn 7:24; Ac 17:11). Mormon scripture not only adds to the Bible; it directly contradicts it and makes its own writings authoritative along the same lines. The Word of God makes it clear that no new prophets of God will arise before the return of Christ, but that many false prophets will arise (Matt 24:3-4, 15, 24). In this passage, Jesus gives the entire panorama of prophecy for the end times, and He does not say one word about prophets of God that were yet to arise to speak new revelation during this dispensation.The Word of God is very clear that God promised to preserve all the words of His Word, the Bible, in the very language He gave them in (Ps 12:6-7; 100:5; 119:152, 160; Is. 40:8; 59:21; Mt. 5:18; 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:25). Nothing has been lost, and today we have the perfect preserved Hebrew Masoretic Text and Greek Textus Receptus, and faithful, accurate translations that derive from these God-breathed texts.
False Teachings on Man and Other Things
Mormonism believes that mankind was eternally pre-existence before being birthed in the world. They claim man is first begotten as spirit children in heaven and then born on earth.
Joseph Smith: “I am dwelling on the immortality of the spirit of man. ... The intelligence of spirits had no beginning, neither will it have an end. ... There never was a time when there were not spirits; for they are co-equal with our Father in heaven. ... But if I am right, I might with boldness proclaim from the house-tops that God never had the power to create the spirit of man at all. God himself could not create himself” (sermon, April 7, 1844, History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 302-317; see also Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, p. 218).
LDS church manual: “All men and women are . . . literally sons and daughters of Deity” (Gospel Principles, p. 11).
Basic Beliefs of the LDS: “Before you were born, your spirit lived with God. This premortal life is sometimes referred to as the preexistence. In this setting, you had the opportunity to grow, mature, and learn many eternal truths from our Heavenly Father. Yet you yearned to be more like Him. Like any loving parent, God wants His children to progress. Heavenly Father understood that you could only progress to a certain point without the experience of mortality. He knew that you needed to: Receive a physical body.”
Mormonism advances the idea that men can become gods through obedience to the teachings of LDS/Mormonism. Those who attain the highest heaven achieve godhood and can have their own planet.
Joseph Smith: “Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power” (Joseph Smith, sermon, April 7, 1844, History of the Church, vol. 6, pp. 302-317).
Brigham Young: “The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like Himself ” (Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 93)
Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe: “God and man are of the same race, differing only in their degrees of advancement” (Widtsoe, Gospel Through the Ages, p. 107)
Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie: “Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation . . . They are gods” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 237)
Mormon Apostle Parley P. Pratt: “God, angels, and men are all of the same species, one race, one great family” (Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, 1978 ed., p. 21)
Lorenzo Snow, 5th President of the LDS: “As god once was, man is. As God is, man may become.”
Joseph F. Smith, 6th President of the LDS: “The Father has promised us that through our faithfulness we shall be blessed with the fulness of his kingdom. In other words we will have the privilege of becoming like him. To become like him we must have all the powers of godhood; thus a man and his wife when glorified will have spirit children who eventually will go on an earth like this one we are on and pass through the same kind of experiences, being subject to mortal conditions, and if faithful, then they also will receive the fulness of exaltation and partake of the same blessings. There is no end to this development; it will go on forever. We will become gods and have jurisdiction over worlds, and these worlds will be peopled by our own offspring. We will have an endless eternity for this” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, p. 48)
The false doctrine of polygamy
In the 1840s, Joseph Smith privately proclaimed to his inner circle that previous marriages were invalid and that previously married women were free to take new marriages. These marriages were not legal under United States law. At one point, Smith even demanded the wives of all 12 of his “apostles.” There are many testimonies to Smith’s plural marriages (e.g. Mormon author John J. Stewart; Fawn M. Brodie who published a list of 48 women who may have been married to Smith, including 5 pairs of sisters, and a mother and daughter; Stanley S. Ivins who guessed as high as 60 more; Mormon writer Todd Compton).
Smith claimed that he had a revelation on the legitimacy of plural marriages on July 12, 1843. It is still recorded in Doctrine and Covenants, section 132. But then Smith disobeyed even his own “revelation” about plural wives.
Mormon apologists have lied and deceived about Smith’s polyandrous marriages, claiming they were only for eternity and that he did not cohabit with the women who were married to other men. This was a blatant falsehood, with books like Mormon Polygamy: A History by Richard Von Wagoner, debunking these lies.
The first seven Presidents or Prophets of the Mormon church all practiced polygamy. Second Mormon President Brigham Young had 55 wives. Third Mormon President Heber Kimball had 45 wives. Sixth Mormon President Joseph F. Smith, had 5 wives. The Mormon church publicly lied about and denied the practice of polygamy until 1852. Jerald and Sandra Tanner have given much evidence of this in their book, The Changing World of Mormonism (http://www.utlm.org).
In 1852 they finally admitted their polygamy, and from that time till 1890, the Mormon leaders and prophets declared that the doctrine of polygamy was divine revelation and that nothing would ever force them to change it. In 1855, for example, Brigham Young stated:
“Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned” (Deseret News, Nov 14, 1855).
On Sept 24, 1890, Mormon President and prophet Wilford Woodrow issued a Manifesto declaring a new revelation that polygamy was not the will of God. In 1904, Mormon President Joseph F. Smith lied about the status of polygamy within Mormonism. Many leaders of the Mormon church continued to practice polygamy after the Manifesto (including Smith himself), even to this day. In 1965 a report in the NY Times stated that as many as 30,000 men, women and children still live in polygamist Mormon families (New York Times, Dec 27, 1965). In 1967, William M. Rogers, who was former special assistant to the Utah State Attorney General stated, “In Utah . . . the practice of polygamy has never ceased. It is more widespread than ever. And increasing year by year.” (Ladies Home Journal, June 1967). Many polygamist marriages continue to this day, which is unsurprising in light of the fact that one of the Mormon church’s official scripture books contains Joseph Smith’s alleged revelation about polygamous marriages (Doctrine and Covenants, 132).
The Bible however teaches that there is but one God (Is 43:10; 44:6, 8, 24; 45:5-7, 21-22; 46:9) and that men will always be men and God will always be God (Rev 21:3). He created man’s soul in the day He created Adam (Gen 2:7), not prior, so that all of mankind comes from Adam (Rom 5:12). The Bible is likewise clear that all false gods will perish (Jer 10:10-11), and that embracing false gods is the highest form of idolatry. Polygamy is not the will of God (Gen 2:24; Mk 10:2-12), with the first polygamist in the Bible being a rebel (Gen 4:19). When king David married more than one wife, he was doing this against God’s law, which forbade kings to multiply wives (De 17:17). Joseph Smith was guilty of death even under OT polygamy laws (Lev 18:18; 20:14). No example of any sort of approval of multiples wives can be found in the NT, nor was such the case in the apostles (1 Cor 9:5). A polygamist cannot be a pastor or deacon (1 Tim. 3:2, 12).
Concluding this point on the corrupted and false beliefs and practices of Mormonism, much more could be added here but this should suffice to show how terribly perverted, corrupt and false Mormonism is, which is the faith of Tim Ballard, who is a card carrying member of the LDS church. Tim should reject this idolatry, blasphemy and utter heresy, and turn in repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of his soul. Read more here on the one true life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ. It is vital to understand that Mormons are not true Biblical-based Christians. Far from it. The have been duped and deceived into believing outrageous and blasphemous lies. Anyone that treats a Mormon as if they are a Christian, is extremely ignorant of the Bible and spiritually naive at a very frightful level. In other words, lost, just like the Mormon. The Bible warns of false christs and false gospels (2 Cor 11:4) and there are many, including in Mormonism. False teachers use the same language as sound Bible teachers but they have a different dictionary. They also do not know the Scriptures so they wrest them to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16-17).
Jesus warned of many who would call Him Lord and even do many wonderful works but they are far from being saved (Matt 7:21-23). This reminds me of what Ballard and his wife accept as the gospel, which is a works gospel, that cannot and will not ever save.
This movie, like the TV series The Chosen, is all about the mainstreaming of Mormonism, even if done in a subtle manner, and its further evidence that the one-world “church” of the Antichrist (Rev 17-18) continues to gather steam.
So why, you might wonder, would I have willfully joined the operations team of OUR as a born again believer, considering these above facts?
One, I didn’t know about these things. I was oblivious to it, and the website doesn’t portray Christianity to any degree, so I wasn’t privy to these issues, nor was I part of the team for that reason, but for the next. Two, I was employed as an independent contractor to fulfill a role professionally. I didn’t even know the name of the organization I was contracted to (there is much secrecy involved in the operations for obvious reasons), and of course didn't know they were professing Christians, until I was in the heart of the battle. With time, I was not rehired and a large reason for that was because of my position concerning the truth of God’s Word and my uncompromising preaching of the truth. Most false believers do not like being exposed to the true light. They abhor it, because it exposes their false beliefs (1 Tim 6:3-5; Jam 3:13-16) and evil deeds (Jn 3:19-21).
But as for me,
"I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way." (Ps 119:127-128)
Conclusion
Though the movie is good and recommendable as far as wholesome entertainment and the rescuing of innocent children — from an authentic Christian perspective it falls way short of what is required according to Scripture. As always, some of the greatest dangers in neo-evangelicalism and false religious groups/cults, is not necessary what they preach, but what they don't. And that is where it becomes a very serious problem and a great danger, seeing that eternity and God's truth is everything, while the temporal is fleeting. The preaching of the gospel and the Word of God is hands down eternally more important and should most definitely be centre stage in a movie of this kind. But its not and they don't because they are not really about glorifying God the Son but rather glorifying of man. No true Christian can overlook this plain fact.
“How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” (Jn 5:44)
Herein we see the great danger of these types of movies that come across as Christian, but don’t actually represent the Bible, or Christ, neither present the true gospel but do quite the contrary, presenting a false Jesus, no gospel (if anything, a false social gospel is alluded to) and misrepresentation of Scripture, compounded with the serious problem of the people behind the scenes, actors, producers, or persons being portrayed, who embrace false Christianity, false gospels, and more. Because of the entertainment value and virtue of saving the children from evil monsters, professing Christians give sympathy or plead ignorance to error and false religions and false teachers, or at the very least, tolerate their errors and their disobedience and falsehood, in spite of the sin and evil of this thought process and behaviour. So falsehood is exalted above truth because of the children, because of the heroic actions of a man. I dive into this calamity of exalting children over truth in our article on Deuteronomy 24:1-4 as a Means of Justifying Divorce and Remarriage, No Return to Covenant Spouse. As evil as child sex trafficking is, and as wrathful God is toward those who offend the little ones (noted in passages such as Matt 18:6; Lk 17:2), children do not supersede God’s truth. They cannot be used as tool of exaltation over faith and obedience to the truth. They are not more important than obeying, representing and presenting the truth. God doesn’t use children as a measuring stick for what is right and true, or give allowance for misrepresenting Him or His words or His gospel, to wink at sin, because a greater “good” is being acted out. Let’s consider what some scripture says about children in light of truth. In Egypt, God slew every first born child of the Egyptians (Ex 11:5-6; 12:29-30) while sparing the children of the Israelites (Ex 11:7). Fast forward to the birth of God the Son, which brought about the wrath of king Herod and resulted in every child aged two and under being murdered in Bethlehem and surrounding area. God didn't stop it, and it came about because of the birth of God the Son (Matt 2:16-18), and God of course knew this would occur, even being prophesied by Jeremiah. How did God deal with the children that mocked Elisha because of his bald head (2 Ki 2:23-24)? Firstly, Elisha “cursed them in the name of the LORD,” and then God sent two she bears who tore forty two of the children to shreds. It wasn’t pretty. When the LORD God commanded the Israelites to kill off a group of people, such as the exceedingly evil, cowardly, and diabolical Amalekites, he commanded all women and children to be killed as well. Did God not love all these children? Yes He did, but they are not above His Word, nor above judgment. God's truth stands above everything, including children.
Neo-evangelicalism specializes in compromise, corruption of Scripture and doctrine, and shame for Christ. They habitually disobey the Bible, and do not contend for the truth. They love the positive but hate the negative, even though 2/3 of the Bible is negative, and the Holy Spirit is a very negative member of the Godhead. They don't like judging, because they have never judged themselves (cf. 1 Cor 11:31-32; Rom 2:1-5) and thus remain unregenerate. Mormonism mixed with neo-evangelicalism is a dastardly perversion of Scripture and doctrine, and this results in bad and egregious practice. So we see in the production of SOF.
The true "Sound of Freedom" which is found in Christ Jesus alone, the freedom that breaks the chains of sin-bondage and false religion-bondage should have been resounding from the screen, not only for the sake of millions of souls which have been viewing the movie, but also for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly it wasn't. In typical Hollywood, fleshly fashion however, the glory is going to man, and not the Son of man, so in this regard, they are similar to a Hollywood production.
Being silent about these most critical issues is not an option, regardless of the nature of the movie and child-saving work. Silence is acceptance, and .....
The Lord Jesus Christ declares the eternal Sound of Freedom. Please give heed if you've never been eternally freed from your sins, which is most of mankind:
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (Jn 8:31-36)