Author Archives: pendo43

In 2012 I published a book called, “A Biblical Defense of Mormonism”. Four years later I embraced Evangelical Christianity. So what enticed me, a Mormon apologist, to abandon my faith in the LDS church? This article is part of a recurring series, where I explain why, by refuting my past self. “Are you saying we’reContinue reading “Apologist v. Apologist: Are Mormons Christians?”

In 2012 I published a book called, “A Biblical Defense of Mormonism”. Four years later I embraced Evangelical Christianity. So what enticed me, a Mormon apologist, to abandon my faith in the LDS church? This article is part of a recurring series, where I explain why, by refuting my past self. In my book, “AContinue reading “Apologist v. Apologist: Was Joseph Smith a True Prophet?”

Mormonism has a unique view of God and the universe. Many of its adherents believe God the Father was once a man like us, and was deified by obeying the commandments of his Father. Prior to that, he was formed from an eternal amorphous substance called intelligence. Or he was something called an intelligence thatContinue reading “Eternal Law: The Most High God of Mormonism”

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. The 7th LDS Article of Faith A prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6 promised that Elijah would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Due to this prophecy, the Jews didn’t recognize Christ when He came. They wereContinue reading “Waiting on Elijah: How the Spirit led me out of Mormonism”

As a young man I visited the Patriarch of my stake to receive a Patriarchal blessing. He laid his hands on my head and said, “Brother Michael, I name you of the lineage of Ephraim and the House of Israel.” It wasn’t a surprising revelation. Most of the Church members I’d met were aligned withContinue reading “From Joseph to Judah: An ex-Mormon’s story”

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or howContinue reading “The Mormon Mirror”

Growing up Mormon, I believed mankind lived in heaven with God before mortality. Prior to coming to earth, Jesus presented the Father’s plan to us. We would be granted bodies and the ability to choose between good and evil. Since we would all sin, Christ would atone for all mankind. This would grant salvation toContinue reading “Why I’m Not A Calvinist (But I’m Considering It)”

22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22 (KJV) In a YouTube video entitled “The Scripture That Saved My Life From Human Traffickers” (https://youtu.be/LJof2_59vbc), Tim Ballard tells a story about going undercover to gain intel. As heContinue reading “Moroni’s Broken Promise and God’s Undying Oath”

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. –Matthew 22:37 An Application of Textual Criticism The year before I left the LDS Church, I received as a gift Royal Skousen’s The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text, published byContinue reading “Dialogues With My Former Self (Part 5): The Breath Of God Pt 2”

“It is finished.”Jesus (John 19:30 ESV) Imagine you took your old clunker to get restored and the mechanic only did half the job. He promised to continue working on it, but couldn’t give a definite date of completion. In the meantime, you were welcome to keep using it. Would you proudly drive a partially restoredContinue reading “The Restoring Gospel and the Renewal of the Apostasy”