I am inspired by my sister-in-law Lindsay, who made a similar post on her blog.
My name is Miki Eberhardt and I am a Mormon. With all the recent political rhetoric and the spin of the media, I feel I need to take a stand. I do not belong to a cult. I belong to a religion that believes in Jesus Christ. How is it, that I, a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, can be called a "good moral person" but definitely not a Christian? While our beliefs may differ from those of Catholic, Baptist, or Protestant Faiths, it doesn't mean that I am not a Christian.
Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that he atoned for all mankind's sins, including my own when he suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary. I know that it is because of this Atonement that I can overcome death and sin and be able to return and live with God again someday. I am so grateful for this knowledge that I have and will strive to follow Christ's example on a daily basis. I am grateful that I am able to repent of my short-comings and be forgiven. I am grateful for a Savior who knows me individually and knows of my needs and desires. I am grateful for times when he has been close by my side and helped ease heavy burdens.
While I don't want to feel like I have to "prove my Christianity" to anyone because it is a relationship that is personal, I do want those who may be confused or ignorant about who members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons) are to gain some clarity.
This reminded me of a Letter to the Editor that was in our local newspaper when Jonathan and I lived in Valencia, California about 6 or 7 years ago.
An Editorial on Mormons
Dear Santa Clarita, CA Newspaper Editor:
I have heard and seen enough! I have lived in the West all my life. I have
worked around them. They have worked for me and I for them. When I was young, I dated their daughters. When I got married they came to my wedding.
Now that I have daughters of my own, some of their boys have dated my
daughters. I would be privileged if one of them were to be my son-in-law.
I'm talking about the Mormons.
They are some of the most honest, hard-working people I have ever known. They are spiritual, probably more than most other so-called religious people I have encountered. They study the Bible and teach from it as much as any Christian church ever has. They serve their religion without pay in every conceivable capacity. None of their leaders, teachers, counselors, Bishops or music directors receive one dime for the hours of labor they put in. The Mormons have a non-paid ministry - a fact not generally known.
I have heard many times from the pulpits of others how evil and
non-Christian they are and that they will not go to heaven. I decided
recently to attend one of their services near my home to see for myself.
What a surprise! What I heard and saw was just the opposite from what the religious ministers of the day were telling me. I found a very simple service with no fanfare. I found a people with a great sense of humor and a well-balanced spiritual side. There was no loud music. Just a simple service, with the members themselves giving the several short sermons.
They urge their youth to be morally clean and live a good life. They teach the gospel of Christ, as they understand it. The name of their church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Does that sound like a non-Christian church to you? I asked them many questions about what they teach and why. I got answers that in most cases were from the New Testament. Their ideas and doctrines did not seem too far fetched for my understanding. When I read their "Book of Mormon" I was also very surprised to find just the opposite from what I had been told I would find.
Then I went to another church's pastor to ask him some of the same questions about doctrine. To my surprise, when he found out that I was in some way investigating the Mormons, he became hostile. He referred to them as a non-Christian cult. I received what sounded to me like evil propaganda against those people. He stated bluntly that they were not Christian and that they did not fit into the Christian mold. He also told me that they don't really believe the Bible. He gave me a pile of anti-Mormon literature. He began to rant that the Mormons were not telling me the truth about what they stand for. He didn't want to hear anything good about them. At first I was surprised and then again, I wasn't. I began to wonder.
I have never known of a cult that supports the Boy Scouts of America.
According to the Boy Scouts, over a third of all the Boy Scout troops in the United States are Mormon.
What cult do you know of that has a welfare system second to none in this country? They have farms, canneries and cattle ranches to help take care of the unfortunate ones who might be down and out and in need of a little help. The Mormon Church has donated millions to welfare causes around the world without a word of credit. They have donated thousands to help re-build Baptist churches that were burned a few years ago. They have donated tons of medical supplies to countries ravaged by earthquakes. You never see them on TV begging for money.
What cult do you know of that instills in its members to obey the law, pay their taxes, serve in the military if asked, and be a good Christian by living high moral standards? Did you know that hundreds of thousands Mormon youth get up before high school starts in the morning to attend a religious training class? They have basketball and softball leagues and supervised youth dances every month. They are recruited by the FBI, the State Department and every police department in the country because they are trustworthy. They are taught not to drink nor take drugs. They are in the Secret Service – those who protect the President. They serve in high leadership positions from both parties in Congress and in the U.S. Senate, and have been governors of several states other than Utah. They serve with distinction and honor.
If you have Mormons living near, you will probably find them to be your
best friends and neighbors. They are Christians who try to live what they
preach. They are not perfect and they are the first to admit this. I have
known some of them who could not live their religion, just like many of us.
The rhetoric which is spread around against them is nothing more than evil
propaganda founded in untruths. (Others) had successfully demonized them to the point that the general public has no idea what they actually believe and teach. If you really want to know the truth, go see for yourself. You, also, will be surprised. When I first moved here some 25 years ago there were five Mormon wards in Santa Clarita. Now there are 15. They must be doing something right.
Paul Allen
Santa Clarita, California
While this was written many years ago, I think it is just as true today as it was then. I want to thank Mr. Allen, wherever he is today, for being open-minded and open-hearted enough to do some of his own investigating rather than forming opinions based on others. Mr. Allen is not a member of the Mormon church, but thank you for standing up for us and our beliefs.
