K
arl Marx, the infamous prophet of world communism, demanded communal ownership of everything including wives and children. This, of course, would abolish not only private property but also the traditional family. Everything and everyone would belong to the community.
Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Castro, and other communist leaders, soon learned that abolishing the family was a big mistake. It even threatened their communist party security. These leaders found that strengthening the family unit also strengthened their control and power over people. Anyone who spoke against the party or party leaders were not only placing their own lives and fortunes in jeopardy, but also those of their family. Very few men or women were willing to do this. Also, when any communist leader traveled abroad to another country as an ambassador or even as part of a ballet company, they were never allowed to take family members along with them. If a traveler should defect and ask for asylum, their family back home in the Soviet Union, China, or Cuba would pay a very high price including possible execution. Again, very few men or women were willing to subject their families to this much trouble.
Early Mormon leaders were also quick to see the power of family ties. They did everything they could to strengthen Mormon families including inventing the non-Christian doctrine of eternal marriage and eternal families. Jesus did not teach eternal marriage and families nor did any of the Biblical prophets. (see Matt. 22:23-30 and Luke 20:27-35) Strangely, this doctrine is not found in THE BOOK OF MORMON either! However, LDS Church services often include sermons, songs, poetry, and dramas depicting the doctrine that “families can be together forever.”
At first, the concept and slogan “families can be together forever” may sound like a harmless, romantic notion; but in reality it is perhaps the most controlling and stifling doctrine taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It effectively creates fear of ostracism, closes minds, and regulates personal behavior. Questions about this and other Church doctrine can cause serious family problems including divorce.
A strong and brave man who is willing to face an enemy’s bullets often melts and becomes compliant when faced with his mother’s tears when she says, “Son we all love you so much, please stay active in the Church, pay your tithing, and go to the temple often so that we can all be together in the celestial kingdom of God. It would break my heart if you were not there with the rest of our family.” This awesome power, a mother’s pleading and tears, is at the disposal of the LDS Church!
Sometimes Mormon missionaries become disillusioned with missionary work, with Mormonism, or both. Most of these missionaries however, stay on their missions because they do not want to embarrass their parents and other family members. It would be too humiliating to leave their missions and go home. They believe that they probably would not be welcomed at home. Fear of their family’s reaction forces these missionaries to continue with their missions whether they want to or not.
A man or a woman who comes to the conclusion that Mormonism is based upon deception and fraud and who then decides to leave the Church must also be willing to give up his or her family. It may turn out that the doubter is able to persuade some family members to change their minds about Mormonism, but the odds are against this happening. Instead, a person usually learns that family members have been so thoroughly indoctrinated that their highest loyalty is to the Church, not to a husband, wife, son, daughter, or even to the truth. And a Church member who associates or sympathizes with an “apostate” risks failing his or her temple worthiness interview. (This is one of the questions.)
LDS Hypocrisy
Even though some very expensive media advertisements depict Mormonism as family oriented, it actually breaks up many families and causes a great amount of pain and suffering. As a missionary, I helped break up a number of families when one person (usually the wife) became converted and then divorced the unbelieving spouse. I am very sorry for this and wish that I could go back and undo all of the damage that I have done. Missionaries are still breaking up the families of non-members while at the same time claiming to be “family oriented.”
The LDS Church not only breaks up non-Mormon families, it also breaks up many LDS families. Utah has one of the highest divorce rates in America. Some of the causes of these divorces include: (1) Overwhelming financial pressures that can result from having large families, payment of tithing, sending sons and daughters on missions, and contributing time and money to other Church programs. All of this can cost many thousands of dollars. A husband or wife is often forced to take extra employment outside of the home just to pay all of the bills and send a son or daughter on a mission. (2) Arguments about tithing, about Church doctrine, about going to meetings, and about temple attendance can cause alienation and serious marriage problems. (3) Feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and even depression can result from perceived failure to live up to the many demands, rules, and requirements of the Church.
Although claiming to be family oriented, Church policy does not allow parents to witness the marriage of a son or daughter in a Mormon temple unless those parents are full tithe payers in good standing with the Church. This ticket to the temple can cost thousands of dollars.
