An American Dream Revealed:Our Transition of Faith (From Mormon)

Blog ^ | Thursday, October 10, 2013 | Carl and Sherry Wimmer

[colorcountry]

Our Transition of Faith

Everyone knows the story about our political ups and downs, if you don’t you can read back to the beginning of our blog. But what no one knows, and what we didn’t expect to come out at this time is the story about our religious transition.

Recently, a door opened that offered Carl an opportunity to run for the Utah State Legislature, a position that he once held and thoroughly enjoyed. My first instinct was to say, “H*ll no!” But, since I don’t use that sort of language, I settled for, “I know you’ll make the right decision, Dear.” Then I went into a three hour lecture on how simple and sweet life has been this past year.

Our Utah House Representative recently accepted the position as Lieutenant Governor, which means that his seat is now open for someone else. Being a person with much political ambition, Carl’s phone immediately blew up with calls from political friends as well as those in the media wondering if he was going to run for the position.

I’ll be honest; the pull to politics is strong, even for me. I enjoyed the five years he was in the legislature. It was a wonderful opportunity for our entire family as we grew leaps and bounds in our knowledge of the working government and the issues. We developed many lasting friendships as well as a strong sense of patriotism. It was an amazing overall experience.

The Congressional loss brought about a different kind of opportunity for our family. It taught us humility. Faced with multiple options at the time of the loss, we decided to make decisions without really seeking God’s help. Boy, did He teach us! He allowed us to stumble to an all-time low in order to convince us to look up and say, “God, you are in control.” As soon as we accepted this knowledge, the doors opened for the right path that we needed to follow. That path brought us to Gunnison.

Fast forward a year, and now we are faced with another open door to politics. What a tricky spot to be in as we have questioned whether this is a test or an opportunity. Ultimately, and with much faith, we have decided that this is not the right time. However, God works in mysterious ways, and this wasn’t all for nothing.

I mentioned that the media has been inquiring about his status. Salt Lake Tribune writer, Paul Rolly, finally reached Carl and asked about his religious beliefs of all things. Specifically, “Have you left the LDS Church?”

The answer is yes. Yes, we have left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormonism. We did so this year, but looking back, the process that got us here has been ongoing for many years. It wasn’t that we were lazy in our religion or faith, nor was it because we were offended or desired to be sinful. The reasons are much deeper and varied but won’t be shared at this time. Rest assured we have felt God’s guiding hands through the entire process.

Most of our family and some of our friends already knew about our transition, but many close and very dear friends did not know. We were not trying to keep it a secret; rather we were waiting for the right opportunity to tell others.

Some of you will be shocked, possibly hurt that we have made such a decision. Those of you who are active and faithful members in the church will sincerely question why, but you may hesitate to ask in fear of learning our response. A few will choose to believe we have been misled by Satan. The day I told my family about our decision, my brother posted a picture on Facebook of the “Kool-aid” man in jest. There’s no doubt that we will be watched closely by many and even judged by some. But there will also be those who are going through a personal crisis of faith who will reach out to us for help.

Although our political beliefs in individual liberty and freedom are as strong as ever, this was not the time for us to enter back into politics. However, the door was opened for a reason. We would love to share our testimony of faith to those who are seeking a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

-Sherry

[ejonesie22]

I find it interesting that a Baptist would defend the Mormon Church myself...

[ejonesie22]

If you say so. But the words “sound doctrine” from a LDS member made me chuckle...

[svcw]

If you get an answer, ping me, I wasn’t getting it either.

[Colofornian]

From the article: Yes, we have left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormonism. We did so this year...It wasn’t that we were lazy in our religion or faith, nor was it because we were offended or desired to be sinful...There’s no doubt that we will be watched closely by many and even judged by some. But there will also be those who are going through a personal crisis of faith who will reach out to us for help...We would love to share our testimony of faith to those who are seeking a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The mass exodus within the Mormon church (thank God) continues!

[Colofornian]

What? FR doesn't endorse Zoroastrianism?

What? It doesn't endorse Scientology either? Or Wiccan witches? Or Baptists who love to cite Buddhists?

And it doesn't endorse giraffe-icon lovin' ecumenical religionists?

(Of course, such people can still join Bahai...at least they more openly water down everything everybody believes in its attempted show of unification)

[reaganaut]

That isn’t a spank at all.

[colorcountry]

You guys forgot that FR doesn’t support Islam either. Tsk, tsk!

[Colofornian]

Leftist hippies showing up at FreeRepublic to bash religion.

Laotzu's line of conservative thought that seems to underlie what can be at times bizarre comments tend to run along the lines of:
(a) The liberal media commonly bashes religion, especially the religious right.
(b) Mormonism is one piece of that religious right.
(c) Conclusion: Therefore, anybody who takes issue with Mormonism = equivalency of liberal media.

Of course, we know (c) doesn't necessarily follow (a) & (b) -- otherwise the Moonies could NEVER be theologically critiqued by anybody either because back in the 80s & into the early 90s, they, too, were heavily swimming in socio-political conservative circles...

We have seen on FR other FREEPERS who -- when a liberal media source was the source of a given Mormon thread -- have taken the op to bash that source as indeed "liberal"...and then they write off everything from that source.

Of course, if they lived next door to such a liberal; and the liberal knocked on their door at night upon seeing significant black smoke & flames coming from a portion of the house whose door was being knocked, I'd kind of find hard to believe the conservative would answer the door and say, "No, I don't believe you; you're a liberal; I'm going back to bed."

Liberals are usually 98%+ wrong on their perceived so-called "answers" to problems; but occasionally they at least are partially clued in to assessing some basic problems staring them in the face.

Some weathermen & pilots & paramedics & doctors are liberal, too. It doesn't mean that conservatives always ask them which they are before listening to their assessments or retaining their services at times.

So...given the Moonies' past socio-political conservatism (Moon was a for a time incarcerated by Communists), I suppose were enough Moonie expose' articles to pop up on FR, there Laotzu would be...with personal attacks, giraffe images, and hurled accusations of "liberals" toward anybody who dared to mention that Moon himself was the Messiah.

Not very "pro-religion" of them to do so...

[Colofornian]

You guys forgot that FR doesn’t support Islam either. Tsk, tsk!

Well, Muslims aren't very pro-abortion or pro-homosexuality, either. And...we hear they are VERY

HEAVY PROPONENTS of the DEATH PENALTY

So, Laotzu...given that reality...where exactly have you been hidin' out on all the anti-Muslim threads & comments ... and THOUSANDS of comments on FR???

If Muslims are so conservative on key social issues, why haven't you had the Muslims' back on FR?
Where have you been layin' low -- and why?

Where's your sense of standin' up to all those FR "bullies" who digitally pick on Islam?

If, as you seem to claim in posts #19 & #27 that you are so "pro-religion" that you take issue with both conservative & liberal sources who allegedly "bash" any given religion with some conservative leanings, where have you been on all these Muslim threads?

Obama's been linked THOUSANDS of times on FR threads to Islam in some way.

Why haven't you had his back at least on these particular Muslim-related comments in the same way you've at times rushed in to defend Romney's Mormonism?

We're just puzzled, Laotzu over this seeming HUGE gap in your level of religious consistency & coherency here...

You can quote Tao Te Ching Post #156 and Lao tzu [same thread, post #121] ... so where are all your Muslim leader quotations, too...and other cultists?

Here, Laotzu you come across quite religiously tolerant & "ecumenical" (well, granted not toward us but hey, religious tolerance only goes so far as a "virtue" right???) ...
...yet your home page has yet to grab a quote from the...
...thousands of world religions & their offshoots,
...cults & sects,
...folk religions,
...pagan polytheistic groups,
...ancient legends & mythologies,
...occultic groups,
...gurus -- self-help & otherwise,
...esoteric & mystical bands,
...& religious-oriented philosophers
...out there from time immemorial...
...ya might to get busy ... 'cause they are not yet getting equal visibility on your home page when you ONLY quote Lds "prophet" Ezra Taft Benson among all the cultist leaders out there that you have to choose from...

Can't really be fully religiously "ecumenical" if you're going to slight so many thousands of groups & worldviews, now can you?!

[Colofornian]

Also just posted: living in a state of glory [Mormon message re: consequences of sin]

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

“Are we a cult too? Should I seek God’s forgiveness, and your approval?”

---

If you’re a Baptist, you’re not a member of a cult. But if you are a Mormon, you are indeed a member of a cult, since you deny the unique deity of Jesus Christ, profess that there are many gods, and that you will become a god after your death if you are worthy enough for it, amongst many other blasphemous and stupid opinions.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

“Three in one, sometimes three, sometimes one,”

---

No, sorry, there is only one God, and you will not become a God after you die, nor get to have sex for all eternity to populate your own planet.

I know it’s a downer, but it’s time to move on.

[Gamecock]

Personally I thin it’s ironic that you celibrate an LDS politician’s rejection of the LDS doctrine of Christ’s parantage to accept the 4th century politicians construct the Christian religion.

Let's stop getting theology from a Dan brown novel shall we?

The councils to which you refer were validating what was already accepted by the church in response to heretical teachings. Not unlike the teachings the Mormon Church puts forth today.

[Elsie]

Is there a reason you use King James English?

It's what I cut my teeth on, but one can take only so many 'wist thou not' phrases until the mental translation of King James authorized translation language into modern English becomes a chore instead of a joy.

THEN a person (me) will reach for a more readable and understandable version.

[Elsie]

THEN a person (me) will reach for a more readable and understandable version.

EXCEPT for the 23^rd Psalm and a few other verses.

The newer translations may be a 'bit' more accurate there, but they SOUND awful!

[Elsie]

What’s wrong with the King James version?

Since you asked - #8 below

Here is MORMONism's own creed:

---

 

 

Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith outline 13 basic points of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor,
in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed.
They were subsequently published in Church periodicals.
They are now regarded as scripture and included in the Pearl of Great Price.

 

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

 

 

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
   
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
   
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
   
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
   
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
   
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
   
8. 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.
   
9. 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.
   
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
    
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
    
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
    
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith

 

[Elsie]

Leftist hippies showing up at FreeRepublic to bash religion.

ALL of them??

[Elsie]

Oh, Shiz.......here we go again.

Only if you play...

[Elsie]

Oh Yeah! An previously LDS “politician” has left a religion that celebrates God our Heavenly Father and his Literal Son Jesus Christ for the

You AIN'T dead!!!

I was beginning to wonder after SO many courtesy pings to you went unanswered.

How long you goona play in THIS thread?

[Elsie]

Three in one, sometimes three, sometimes one, but nver really one and never really three non-biblical political compromises of the Godhead from the 4th, 5th and 6th centuries!

Here is some help from a fellow MORMON to clarify what you may be alluding to:

Jesus Christ is God’s Son, spiritually and physically.

He calls Him Father, He prays to Him.
We are to pray to Him, God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, His Son.
God’s voice was heard at Christ’s baptism, coming from Heaven while He was in the water. The Holy Sirit also descended. Three seperate entities/Gods.

Santorum endorses one-time rival Romney

Thursday, May 10, 2012 12:32:46 AM · 416 of 492
Jeff Head to stpio