Martha’s Testimony: Religion Destroys, Jesus Restores
I was born into the Mormon Church and raised going to Sunday school and Seminary. I went to church regularly. I attended Brigham Young University. I had a brother who did the same. My brother was a bit more rebellious than I was, but met a woman and married her in the temple. The marriage was short lived and they divorced. After a time, my brother met another woman and moved in with her. My father was the Bishop at the time and my brother was in the Ward. The LDS church required my father to excommunicate my brother. My brother and his future wife moved away to a place only I knew of. I was devastated. I could not believe a God would destroy a family like that. I became agnostic. Even to the point of finding the nicest atheist I could find and marrying him – to spite God and my parents.
At one point, the Mormon Church began harassing me. They consistently sent their 14-year-old boys to collect tithing and calling me. One day the Bishop showed up at my door and I asked him if he had a piece of paper. He gave me one and I wrote down the request to take me off the Mormon list. They held court, which I did not attend.
For the next 20 or so years I lived away from God. I raised some beautiful children. I taught them that “If they were good people, they should be OK with God.” But God wanted me. In 2004, he came and got me. I attended a Zig Ziglar GetMotivated Seminar. During the business seminar, they put out thegospel. They spoke of Jesus Christ’s saving grace right there from the stage. I thought, “Well, that was kind of churchy.” There was a response card that had a question – would I like a one hour free business consulting. I checked it yes. Someone called and I arranged to have the one hour consulting on a Thursday. The Monday before, my husband left me. I had the call on Thursday, and the man from Florida was a Pastor. As I cried through the hour, he prayed through the hour. I continued with the business coaching and he recommended I read ‘A Purpose Driven Life.’ During one day of reading, I acknowledged I was a sinner. I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life. I started attending a Christian church and God has been working in my life ever since.
At a certain point, I began to research the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What I found has made a disturbing impact on my life. This is what I know about my assurance of living with the Father for all eternity:
1. I admit that I am a sinner (Romans 3:10-12, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:23, James 2:10).
2. I know Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross. I thank and praise Him for His faithfulness (Colossians 1:21-22).
3. I believe that Christ took my sins upon Him on the cross and endured God’s judgment in my place. God has forgiven my sins and continues in His faithfulness to forgive my sins and I am pardoned in His sight (Isaiah 53:5-6, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 5:8-9, John 5:24, John 14:6, Acts 4:12).
4. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and call Him my Lord (Psalm 100, Acts 17:24-31, Romans 10:9-10).
5. Jesus is alive today and I am His. I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, conquering sin and death and He ascended into heaven to reign as Lord. He is alive and is transforming me into His image (Acts 2:22-24, 36, Romans 6:4, Acts 1:9-10, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 12:1-2).
6. I confess my sins and He is faithful to forgive me at that moment (Psalm 139:23-24, 1 John 1:8-10).
It is my understanding that the LDS religion considers me a son of perdition because I was a member of the Mormon Church and denied it. Therefore, I will go to the everlasting punishment where the fire will not be quenched. I have rejected the LDS religion; therefore, I will go to hell (D&C 76:30-49). I know for a fact that that is not true. I know for a fact that I will live with the Father, Jesus my Christ, and the Holy Spirit for all eternity.