Mormons Are Not to Listen to Critical Reviews

by Terry W. Benton

It is part of the program in Mormonism to believe that all negative statements opposing Mormonism be immediately dismissed as something from the devil. This brainwashing tactic is common. Keep telling the student to never listen to anything else and you have controlled the student. Consider the following:

As a Mormon:

You will be advised not to read any material which is "not faith-promoting," that is, which may be critical or questioning of the church or its leaders, or which might place the church or its leaders in an unfavorable light.

You will be advised not to associate with "apostates," that is, former Mormons. (You will be asked in your "worthiness" interview about this.)

This is important to get a "recommend" to enter a holy temple. This is presented to Mormons as very, very important. So, they try to avoid discussions that might confront them with questions about their church leadership and history. They are told to look at such efforts as from the devil, to never question their feeling (even though it was a feeling that others have in an opposite belief than theirs). To question is to lose opportunity to be recommended to the temple (a high aim and privilege to them). Thus, they must avoid evidence against the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, the witnesses to the Golden plates, and the present leadership of the church. They all know they are to be interviewed before they can be recommended to enter the temple. The following are the interview questions that get them to the "recommend" status.

Interview Questions for Recommends to Enter a Temple

1. Do you believe in God, the Eternal Father, in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost; and do you have a firm testimony of the restored gospel?
2. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator; and do you recognize him as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?
3. Do you sustain the other General Authorities and the local authorities of the Church?
4. Do you live the law of chastity?
5. Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
6. Do you affiliate with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or do you sympathize with the precepts of any such group or individual?
7. Do you earnestly strive to do your duty in the Church; to attend your sacrament, priesthood, and other meetings; and to obey the rules, laws, and commandments of the gospel?
8. Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
9. Are you a full-tithe payer?
10. Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?
11. Have you ever been divorced or are you now separated from your spouse under order of a civil court? If yes, (a) - Are you current in your support payments and other financial obligations for family members, as specified by court order or in other written, binding commitments? (b) Were there any circumstances of transgression in connection
    with your divorce or separation that have not been previously resolved with your bishop?
12. If you have received your temple endowment -- (a) Do you keep all the covenants that you made in the temple? (b) Do you wear the authorized garments both day and night?
13. Has there been any sin or misdeed in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but has not?
14. Do you consider yourself worthy in every way to enter the temple and participate in temple ordinances?

In each interview, emphasize to the applicant the need to safeguard the recommend. It must never be loaned and should be reported immediately to the issuer if lost or stolen. (See "Lost, Stolen, or Revoked Recommends" on the preceding page.)

OLD Questions 11 & 12 (replaced by 11a & 11b)

11. Have you ever had a divorce that has not been cleared by appropriate priesthood authorities, where required?
12. If you have ever been divorced or separated, are you presently fulfilling your obligations for the support and maintenance of your family?

Thus, the questions I raise to Mormons are most uncomfortable and must be avoided if a Mormon hopes to get past the interview to get the recommendation. It is a form of brainwashing, and all who say what I am saying about them are to be rejected and avoided as children of Satan trying to deceive and make them lose their reward. They cannot be allowed to think that the truth is still in the Bible only. We hope that we can save some from this error or at least help people not to be brought under the deception. The gospel of Christ is still the only power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). We can still be saved in the same manner as those in Acts 2: 36-47 were saved, and that without the Book of Mormon. We are still warned not to believe even an angel from heaven who would change, pervert, or add to that original saving gospel (Galatians 1:6-10), and that gospel was not lost for over 1750 as is claimed by Mormons. We can still be saved without the Book of Mormon in the same way those conversions happened in the book of Acts. All of those happened without the aid of Mormonism and its teachings.