Audio

• Log in to post comments

Michael declares he was a “happy Mormon.” He goes into some detail about his first temple experience: the washing and anointing, the garment of the holy priesthood, and the endowment. Mike and Lynn worked as restricted ordinance workers in an LDS temple for 10 years. Michael became a high priest in the LDS church at age 36 spending perhaps 20 hours a week or more in church work. He fully believed the LDS Scripture Third Article of Faith that reads, “saved by the [LDS] Laws and Ordinances of the [LDS] Gospel.” He also believed the Eighth Article of Faith which indicates the Bible is not always “translated correctly.”

• Log in to post comments

How does someone who has been raised in a traditional Christian home attending a Baptist church join the LDS Church, and why? Michael Wilder is the husband of Lynn Wilder, podcast host. They have been married 48 years, raised 4 children together, and have 7 grandchildren. We are excited to announce that Mike will be joining Lynn as podcast co-host, so here is his 5-part story from the LDS Church to the Jesus of the Bible. Mike tells of his fear growing up of “being hit by a bus” without being baptized and explains how when the LDS missionaries knocked on his door in his 20s, he knew enough about the Bible “to be dangerous.”

• Log in to post comments

In this final episode with UGP co-host of 4 years, Joel Groat leaves us with his almost 40 years of experience witnessing to individuals who are in performance-based religion, particularly the LDS faith. He encourages Christians not to let knowledge get in the way of developing relationships and continuing conversations with LDS that are motivated by love. For LDS, coming to Jesus can be a long process. Joel explains the two major changes in the LDS Church over his years of witnessing are 1) unlike the past, LDS now boldly declare they are Christians, too, and 2) LDS history and doctrine are more easily accessible to church members than in the past. We are challenged to witness with compassion and concern with what Joel calls a heart of peace and not a heart of war. The Institute for Religious Research website, the organization he directed for many years, continues with decades of good witnessing information.

IRR.org

• Log in to post comments

Daniel and Edith have hit a crisis in marriage and faith. Daniel can no longer ignore the evidence Edith has shared with him, and his experience as a lawyer has trained him to follow the evidence to the truth - wherever that leads.  The conclusion is undeniable - Mormonism cannot be true. While Edith knows Jesus is real, Daniel takes a deep dive into agnosticism and atheism, which really scares Edith.  But Daniel can't leave Jesus alone and so he reads widely on both sides, ultimately concluding Jesus was a real person and the Gospels are authentic accounts of his life.  But what will this mean for his faith? It's a roller coaster ride for them both and grace is never far away. 

• Log in to post comments

Daniel returns from his LDS mission to find Edith is now a single mother. Disappointed, he leaves her to go to BYU. A while later he returns and asks her to marry him, and she reluctantly agrees. But once engaged, the pain of judgment from the LDS community continues. In part 2, they navigate the pressures and expectations of the Mormon religious system while they look forward to a marriage his parents do not approve of. How and when will grace invade their lives?

• Log in to post comments

In these next two episodes Joel and Lynn look at 5 Cs for Interfaith and Intercultural Engagement. When these 5 Cs are motivating and informing your relationships, engaging with others from an intimidating religious background can feel more relaxed and comfortable than you thought possible. It won’t feel forced, or manipulative, or salesy, or scary. Well, maybe a little scary. After all, pursuing anything of value involves risk and putting yourself out there. Just let that flutter in your stomach remind you our confidence rests ultimately in God, his love, and his ability to transform lives from the inside out.  You can help others experience a grace that heals.

• Log in to post comments

Mike and Lynn Wilder were dedicated, temple-worthy, faithful Mormons. When their son Micah discovered the saving, healing grace of Jesus on his LDS mission, he encouraged his parents to read the Bible, with the open, trusting eyes of a child. They did, and what they discovered led them to leave their LDS faith and write the book, 7 Reasons We Left Mormonism. In this series, Joel and Lynn explore these seven reasons and why they can be life changing for Christians and Mormons alike. In this final episode, Mike Wilder joins Joel for Reason 7 and provides a quick recap of the previous 6 reasons. It's an excellent summary of why the LDS Church can not be accepted as the one and only true church and the teaching of the Bible it clearly denies.

• Log in to post comments

Tensions escalate as Jason moves toward Jesus and away from the LDS religion until Jason's boss reveals he too has doubts about Mormonism. Together they explore Scripture and find grace and truth and Jason finds his anger dissipating. Meanwhile, Amber's world is rocked by discovering Lucifer's role in the Mormon temple ceremony. In the end, they both find grace, bringing new peace to their relationships with God and each other.

• Log in to post comments

Raised in a 4th generation polygamist family, polygamy was the only life Teresa knew. She had three moms and dozens of siblings.  When Teresa was 14, the FLDS prophet, Warren Jeffs, gave her to an older man and she became his tenth wife.  In this humourous and moving final episode she finds faith in a God who truly loves her. It happens at a church service she reluctantly attended with her sister. She embraces this new life with God, but it is an unexpected tragedy that ultimately binds her heart to Jesus and allows her to experience the transforming power of God in her life. The conclusion of her story contains the key to true happiness in this life and the next.