Posted by
danny griffin on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 12:11:10 AM
In 1981 a young 19 year old, life long Southern Baptist decided to take the plunge into Mormon waters. I was baptized in ice cold water in a neighboring lady's swimming pool sometime in late november.
I must say my religous experience as a young, active, Baptist was moderate at best. I was "saved" when I was just a youngster , and over the course of 18 years was baptized twice at the hands of 2 separate Baptist ministers.
I'll never forget the many experiences that led to my acceptance of Mormonism. I was employed by a Baptist Deacon's chairmain, and worked along side two Baptist preachers and a student of Jerry Falwell's School of Life Long Learning. Liberty University. When the Mormon missionaries knocked on my door, they invited me from the get go to approach spiritual matters prayerfully. I should accept nothing they said just because they said it. I was asked to pray and ask God concerning their message. Follow the Lord, became the corner stone of their message.
They would teach me a lesson, ask me to pray about it. I would, but I would also discuss the tenants with my boss and the two preachers at work. I was informed by them that asking God about anything as stupid as Mormon doctrine was an affront to God. I didn't need to ask God about such ridiculous teachings. He was angered by such, since the Bible was plainly opposed to Mormon doctrine. That was exactly why God wrote the Bible. Just for false religions.
As soon as my co-workers discovered the fact that my wife was an inactive Mormon, they actually suggested I force her to attend my Baptist church, even if it meant physically beating her. One can imagine the impact of their example on my decision regarding faith.
After word got out that I was investigating the Mormon church, I suddenly began having run-ins with local pastors, or deacons, or just plain ole caring, Baptist members. Mostly, they were genuine in their concern for me, but why did they choose to give lip service to hashed and re-hashed accusations of the critics that have mostly been proven false? I'm not one to suggest that every aspect of Mormonism is irrefutable, but when I have a Book of Mormon in my hand and these religous leaders blatantly mis-quote it to their cruel aims, how is this example supposed to square with their -so called- truth? Was I drawn to their clumsy ways? No. Did I feel God was in their brazen examples? No.
After I became a member of the LDS faith, the heat was on. It seemed every religious zealot attacked me systematically. At the grocery store, at the bank, at the store, on the street corner, at work. The longer this went on, the more bitter the argument became. Once a certain pastor jerked a string through my hand, cutting it pretty bad. We were debating religion as we worked. He'd obviously had enough of me.
As time moved on, I began to learn the doctrines of the church. Additionally, I studied comparative religions, and decided to host debates. Most of our debates were enjoyable, productive, I was able to baptize at least four other Baptist as a result of my outreach to the community in Bible studies and debates.
After these Baptisms, local pastors lost their patience with me. I was told by a local pastor that the President of Interfaith Ministries at the local Baptist association wished to discuss, with me, my Mormonism. This gentlemen had studied Mormons and other cults for fifty years. I asked the pastor to inform the Interfaith leader of my willingness to meet with him.
Upon contacting this Interfaith leader, I learned that he wished to set up a debate and invite our friends and family, especially the people who might be influenced by Mormonism. He wanted to set me straight, and at the same time, save those people who might be Mormon influenced.
About 25-30 interested individuals came to the debate. Matters did not go as he expected. I had done my homework. The debate had been recorded. There would be no squirming, no spinning, no denying. The man was harmed to the point of later calling me several times threating me in many ways. I would turn those tapes over to him or he would destroy my business. He would tell whatever he had to tell to destroy my reputation. Once he came to my job and stood in my face ordering me to go on TV and tell the world the truth. I would tell everybody that I did not believe in Jesus Christ of the Bible or he would... his threats were always centered on destroying my business. He'd tell my customers and potential customers that I was a liar, I was untrustworthy, I was a con.
When I think of Mike Huckaby, I can't help but think of this man and the many more of similar stripe. The Catholic--- Brownback issue. The slurs from Huckaby's camp, and Huckaby's refusal to denounce.
The latest Christian adds from Huckaby. The latest push polling traced to Huckaby's camp. Huckaby's supposed lack of knowledge of such polling. A coincidence that Huckaby just had dinner with the guilty party, but was unaware of their covert activities.
Recently, an Anti-Mormon Film entitled "The Secret World of Mormonism" was sent to all 52 Southern Baptist churches in our county Association. Fortunately, a friend of our family showed a few of us Mormons the film. He wanted to save us from hell before it was too late. Unfortunately the materials were fraudulant. Scriptures unique to Mormons were mis-quoted toward the greatest harm. The severity of the language was guaged to create the most obscene, prejudiced reactions to the LDS church teachings. This whole notion of Satan as Jesus's brother. Lucifer, perhaps, but Satan? The whole strangled hoopla regarding the Sexuality of God, that God had sex with Mary... sex as we know. Sorry, but it didn't work with me. As an LDS member for nearly 30 years, I knew better. As an observer of my Baptist friends for nearly 50 years, I was not surprised at what followed.
The fabrications in that film, and others, are designed for the weak, the ignorant, the half footers who haven't really decided.
Mike Huckaby
The week following my viewing of the film, I consulted with a couple members in my local LDS congregation. We wanted to respond to the film. So, I decided to send invitations to each of the 52 Baptist pastors within this particular association. I would invite them to allow myself and two more brethren the opportunity to come to their perspective congregations and present our version of Mormonism. We would gladly take questions, research any matters if necessary.
We wished to check- with them- the resources of this film. We wished to check the credentials of the critics inside the film, their witness, their testimony, their resources.
Consulting the phone book, I was able to get sufficient contact information. So, I started calling:
Hello, My name is Brother Dan. I'm a member of the Mormon Church. Recently I was asked to watch a Film called The Secret World of Mormonism. It was an amazing film, but we, as LDS feel that our faith was misrepresented in many ways. We would consider ourselves blessed if you would allow us to come make a presentation to your congregation regarding this film. We would enjoy the priviledge of helping your people understand what we actually believe, the spirit of our religion. We feel that all of our people are best served when given the opportunity to hear from both sides of the aisle. We see fairness in such approaches.
Amazingly, every pastor I called, first denied any knowledge of the film. These men knew me and knew me well. Then, after informing them that a certain pastor had already told me the story, these pastors almost unaminously, then, denied actually showing the film to their congregation. Unfortunately, certain members of most congregations told me otherwise. They told me when and where they watched it, where the film originated from, and the channel used to place it in the churches. It had come through the County Baptist association.
So, I phoned the association President. I'll tell you now, this great man denied any knowledge of the film, knew nothing of it. I asked if he would be in a position to know if a film such as this had made it's way through the distribution channels. He gave me no definite answer.
Then, I phoned the very gentleman that I had earlier debated. The leader of interfaith ministries. He told me the truth. His testimony agreed with the average Baptist that had told me the truth. The film had come through the association, the president was aware of the movie, each of the 52 pastors had been presented with a copy of the film. Finally, the interfaith leader wasn't aware of a particular pastor that did not show the film to his people.
I asked the interfaith leader: "Why did all of these people lie to me? I thought the gospel was about the truth. If this film was worth showing, is it not worth defending?
His answer... and I love him for this... was: "These are the days in which we live. They are going to lie to you to avoid confrontation." The gentleman went on to say that the average Baptist member only had a ten minute attention span, that the average Baptist could never comprehend the argument. Such confrontation from the Mormons would only serve to confuse his people. We all know where confusion comes from."
Reckon where lies come from?
Is Huckaby lieing? Certainly. In public, before the world, he refuses to crucify Mormons, but in the backrooms, in the shadows, in the darkness those of his kind are busy building crosses. Ramping up the antics, demonizing the Mormons and others not of their particular stripe. That stripe is yellow, and it runs down the center of Huckaby's and those of his kind's back. I know his kind. They ate of my flesh until I bit back.
Is much of Huckaby's rhetoric hate speech? Yes, certainly. Such coy as "don't Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are Brothers," moves into the realms of deception, bigotry, intentional scam, shadowy figures working evil, irreversably poisoning the waters.
The Huckster and many of his supporters are just plain ole cowards, and I'm not talking about Baptist. Most of my friends are Baptist, and I love them dearly. This is not a Baptist or Methodist, or Mormon thing.
My challenge to Huckaby and many of his supporters is this: Tell the world how you really feel about Mormonism. What you really feel toward Mitt Romney. You've watched the films, you've been involved with Anti- Mormon rhetoric, you have served that cause with your time, your talent, your funds. Now, come clean, y'all, and Mike Huckaby. Bring it on in the prime time media.
Carfeful observers know you're filthy. Intelligent citizens know the Huckster is less than qualified to Preside over this great land with it's diversity of faiths and races. Mormons will never respect the former Governor of Arkansas. Mark Jehovah's Witness off the list. Many Catholics, Scientologist... any of the sub-groups the Huckster and his carriers deem cults, false religions, hell bound. His participation in this form of debauchery disqualifies the man to govern.
It's time people of dignity and genuine love for neighbor demand Mike Huckaby open up his papers. Show us the films shared in secret places, in the basements of churches around the country. Where are your sermons, Mike Huckaby? You say you don't know much about Romney or his Mormonism.
I agree. The Huckster knows nothing about Romney or his Mormonism. However, his willingness to support, with his time, his presence, his leadership, and money, the various peoples and organizations who spout deception and pure dee ole lies in the name of "exposing the evils of Mormonism" and other so-called cults makes Mr. Huckaby a card carrying member of the Club. He's one of the boys, an expert in Counter Cult Ministeries, I would say, and therefore a deceiver, unwilling to allow the world to see where he is, and where he's been. If real Americans could see, they would know immediately where he is going. Back to Arkansas.
If there is a God in the heavens, and there is, Romney will eat your lunch, Pastor Huckaby.
The rest of your supporters will gladly be your prey.