In
The Daily Utah Chronicle, an article speaks of an organization, simply called The Group. The article tells us that Andrew Johnson is the founder of The Group, and a Returned Missionary, he having served his mission in Indiana. According to
The Daily Utah Chronicle he "founded The Group in October 2010 as a safe place for secular humanists, agnostics and freethinkers in Utah County. . . . 'When I returned home, I felt like I was the only non-theist within Utah County as there were no gatherings of people like me'" ("The Group: Utah County's Covert Secular Community",
The Daily Utah Chronicle, volume 121, number 16, September 2011, p. 7).
This is disconcerting because so many members of The Group are students at BYU, and so-called "active" members of the Church. In view of this,
The Mormon Eagle feels disposed to warn those who flock to this group and therefore run afoul of the teachings of the Prophets and Apostles. No good will come of this. I, Clark LeRay Herlin, warn all to give heed to the Living God and His servants, or suffer the consequences of apostasy. If one leaves the LDS Church, the Gift of the Holy Ghost leaves also, as do the blessings only found in the House of the Lord.
Open Rebuke to The Group
To begin, Brother Andrew Johnson is on a slippery slope, and will sink himself (and those who ally themselves with The Group) to Hell if he does not desist. I know this because when one gambles with Satan, one always looses. To put it another way, I quote President John Taylor. Said he:
When you hear a man talk against the authorities of this Church and kingdom, you may know he is sliding down hill. He does not know what spirit influences him; he is ignorant that he is in the dark; and, unless he retraces his steps quickly, he will go overboard. You may set that down as a fact all the time. Why? Because, if this is the Church and kingdom of God, and the President is the elect of God, and his council and the Twelve and others are the elect of God, and you seek to injure them, you run a great risk, and will be found fighting against God; for Jesus says, ‘He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me, and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.' (Journal of Discourses, 7:325)
There are two fallacies, as mentioned by an anonymous female BYU student who was quoted in The Daily Utah Chronicle.
Fallacy One: No "Pure Good or Pure Evil"
The student says, "There is so much going on in the world that you can't just call pure good and pure evil" ("The Group: Utah County's Covert Secular Community", The Daily Utah Chronicle, volume 121, number 16, September 2011, p. 10). This is false, because there are absolutes in life. One absolute is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Source for all good. Amaleki tells us "there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil" (Omni 1:25). The prophet Nephi spake of the devil, saying thus, "And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none - and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance" (2 Nephi 28:22). The Lord Jesus Christ, speaking through Moroni, saith, "And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good" (Ether 4:12). Even the Scriptures themselves teach of an ultimate good. Mormon saith, "The preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just - yea, it had a more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else" (Alma 31:5). Thus we see there is a pure Source of good, but also a source of evil.
Fallacy Two: Fulfillment and Happiness Found Outside LDS Church
The aforementioned female BYU student says, "Simply because you no longer ascribe to the Mormon faith, or any other organized religion, you can still strive for . . . fulfillment and happiness" ("The Group: Utah County's Covert Secular Community", The Daily Utah Chronicle, volume 121, number 16, September 2011, p.10). This is also false, in the eternal sense, because to be truly happy in the next life, one must live in a family unit with God the Father, and that can only happen within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will prove it through the words of God and His prophets.
The Redeemer says, speaking of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you" (John 14:26). President Ezra Taft Benson taught in connection with this, "[Jesus] has power to comfort an anguished heart pierced by sorrow or sin. He provides a special kind of peace that no human agency can provide" (Ensign, June 1990, p. 2). Abinadi taught, "O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people" (Mosiah 15:18). The Lord saith, "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments. . . . But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come" (D&C 59:21, 23). Thus we see that peace and fulfillment can only be had within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
An Invitation From the Lord
The Lord wills that all His children live with Him again. However, none can unless they are clean before Him. The Son Ahmen saith,
Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. . . . And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh. (3 Nephi 9:13-15,17)
Also, He implores, "Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire" (Alma 5:34-35). As well, the Savior commands,
Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; ad repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be fille with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be cumbered with my people who are of the house of Israel. (3 Nephi 29:2)
I know what I have written are bold sayings, but they are true. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living Church on Earth, for the Lord God hath spoken it. I know without doubt that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and that President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's mouthpiece upon the earth today. I know those who keep the commandment of God will have the peace of God and the fulfillment He promises, even eternal life. Forsake all evil and cleave unto all Good, is my prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
