Exit Story of Camden

20 July

I didn’t join the Mormon church, I was born into it. It was the only religion that I had ever known… I thankfully found out that Jesus can free you from the bondage and stranglehold of the LDS religion. If He can speak everything into existence, He can change hearts and lives with no problem!

I was raised in the Mormon church until I met my wonderful wife at the age of 26. After we started dating, she found out that I was a Mormon (not strictly practicing, but still going, driving my Grandmother there on Sundays, partaking of sacrament, going for the complete “3 hour tour”).

One day she asked me a question, “Are you a Mormon, I mean is that the religion you are going to practice the rest of your life”?

I shrugged it off and said, “No, not really. I am just taking my grandma there cause she can’t drive”. (Deep down inside I felt that I would eventually “get my act together” and do all the things “good” Mormons are supposed to do and continue on in the church.)

To which she replied, “Okay… cause if you are going to practice Mormonism, we may as well end this relationship right now”.

Stunned I replied, “What?! Why would you say that?!”

She answered, “I am looking to get married someday and I don’t want to waste my time, cause I will not be unequally yoked with a non-believer”.

I said, “What do you mean”?!? (Nobody had ever said that to me before. I was taught that being unequally yoked meant a white member marrying an African-American… well before 1978, of course).

She said, “The Mormons believe things about Jesus and God that are not in the Bible, like Jesus and Lucifer are brothers and God was once a man who worked his way to Godhood. And of course there is the polygamy issue as well. Why don’t you come to Church with me this Sunday”.

I agreed and we went to the Christian church there in our town (Calvary Chapel – Fallbrook). The sermon message that morning was on those beautiful verses found in Ephesians 2: 8 and 9. “For by grace we are saved through faith; and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast”.

It is hard to describe the liberating feeling I had upon hearing that verse, like a yoke had been lifted off my shoulders. That wasn’t taught to me growing up in the Mormon religion. They are all about working their way to the highest level of heaven (the Celestial Kingdom).

It was, the only way I can describe it, like the Holy Spirit reached into my chest and gave my heart “a little squeeze” as to soften my hardened heart. I had to investigate this “Biblical Christianity” right then and there… I got every book I could by Walter Martin, Dave Hunt, Ron Carlson, etc. I dug and researched to learn about what “my religion” was really teaching. I didn’t know any better, I was born into it. My grandmother had all the LDS books in her library so I could cross reference and back-check the “claims” by these “gainsayers”. Well guess what, Walter Martin and Dave Hunt weren’t making this stuff up! There it was in “Mormon Doctrine”, “Journal of Discourses”, “History of the Church”, etc.

I started to realize that the Mormon church was Christianity mixed with Greek/Pagan Mythology.

I gave my heart to Jesus and told the Mormon church that I wanted my name removed from their records. I told them that there is only one Book I want my name in and that is the “Lamb’s Book of Life”. The Bishop said he was sending over the first counselor and a pair of missionaries to “talk me down”.  I told the Bishop of my Ward that, “I am going to follow Jesus, not Joseph!” It was only by the Grace of God that I was able to let go of all my “Mormon allegiances” and give my heart to the One True God. “See now that I Myself am He! There is no god besides Me. (Deuteronomy 32:39)

I was on fire for the Lord and witnessed to every Mormon I met about the false religion they were in. Of course my family was the first to hear from me. They pretty much disowned me and showed obvious resentment towards my wife (that Jezebel has taken our boy from the church, the only true church!) I know today that “the church” isn’t one denomination or even the building that we meet and worship in. The church is the body of believers and no group, sect, or organization can ever save you. It’s not about Religion, it’s all about a Relationship with the One who loved us so much, He died for us as full payment for our sins. Praise be to Jesus!!!

(It is interesting that the LDS have a famous hymn titled, “Praise to the Man”. “Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!” Oh so he “ascended to heaven”? Jesus is the only one that ever ascended to Heaven! Of course the song is in reference to Joseph Smith. I don’t praise man, I praise God).

If you are trapped in the “Maze of Mormonism” there is HOPE! You may feel comfortable about the Mormon teachings because it “explains” things about God and where we come from, or why we are here. The Bible says that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33)

I don’t want to serve a God that was once a sinful man as myself. I couldn’t serve a God who could lose His Godhood if He ever strayed from righteousness.

My God is an Awesome God… Always and Forever, Amen!

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4 Responses to “Exit Story of Camden”

  1. rose harris November 18, 2011 at 3:31 pm #

    a men to that down with mormanisum kill the false prophet

  2. CamdenC November 22, 2011 at 11:45 pm #

    Thank you Rose, it was the toughest decision in my life to commit (as the LDS church teaches) one of the “unpardonable sins” of apostasy. It took a lot to turn away from my friends and family and follow the real Jesus of the Bible. Then again, Jesus even said that He didn’t come to unite, but to divide.

    Luke 12: 51-53

    51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

    I had a lot of anger towards the LDS religion and towards the leadership of the church, both past and present. I also had animosity towards my dad who “drilled” all of the teachings into my head while I was growing up.

    While the Old Testament tells us to “kill the false prophets”, the New Testament tells us to pray for our enemies. I am not saying that any of the Mormon people are our enemies… I am saying that we need to pray for their salvation and show them the True Gospel in love.

    You take care… Grace and peace be with you.

  3. Fred Grant October 21, 2012 at 1:33 am #

    i learned the church was false when i found out the prophet broke the law of the land and the 12th article of faith we believe in obaying the laws of the land..he hired illegal mexicans to work on the large church owned farms in utah..then i started looking on the inter net for information on the lds church and boy did i get educated.i found out i had been lied to and robed for my tithing money and then the dna was done on the indians and latinos and it was found they were not of jewish ancesetry but asian another lie from joe smith..and then watching the church run the utah state gov..i am so glad to learn the truth and be free.the people of missouri and illinios should have done a better job in 1844 and got them all..god bless america..thank you lord jesus

    • camdenc October 24, 2012 at 5:12 pm #

      Hey Fred – Can you send me an e-mail?

      camden@lifeafter.org

      Thanks.

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