NEWSLETTER
March /April 1998
A Note From Ed
Right up front, I need to tell you that we have great need of your prayers and financial support this month as we struggle to keep up with the expanding work of Saints Alive. Please, would you pray about how you can help us stand strong in this vital work, as the needs continue to outstrip our resources. For the sake of the lost, we implore you to help in this new surge of a fresh harvest!
For those of you on the Internet, you can help financially by visiting and purchasing material from our bookstore, or by making a gift through the Bookstore system.
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What a joy to have spent this Easter season just reflecting on the finished work of Christ. As you will read in the side letter on this page and in Michelle Grim’s article, striving for that goal of performing enough works to satisfy God’s judgment is a stone weight around the neck of every Mormon in the world. The Mormon Jesus can never save anyone from his or her sin!
The LDS Church is based upon a Christ who is our elder brother, who leads the way but isn’t the way. who suffered for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane instead of the cross, conditional upon our obedience to the laws and ordinances of the LDS church, who was the brother of Lucifer, who was physically created through an act of sex between god and one of his own daughters, Mary. That Jesus is "another Christ."
The LDS Church is based upon a Christ who, during the hours of suffering on the cross, killed approximately 2 million men women and innocent children, destroying 16 major cities in his just anger.[Book of Mormon account]
But, remember, the Jesus of the Bible cried out, "Father forgive them."
This Jesus of the Bible is the very same Jesus, who knew our sin natures, yet acted on our behalf, "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.(Col 2:14-15, NKJ)
What a relief not having to stand before God in LDS temple clothes, covered by my green fig leaf apron and hold up my earthly works as my reason for entering into His presence. He already paid the price!
What a mighty and wonderful God we serve!
Dear Ed: Thanks so much for your work in exposing the true nature of Mormonism. My wife and I were Mormons, but we left the church one and a half years ago, and were baptized in an evangelical church 9 months ago. Our lives have been greatly blessed ever since. Your book and film, the Godmakers, were very instrumental during our time of questioning and decision. Your work is so greatly needed—so don’t ever stop! There are many Mormons out there who blindly follow the church but feel emptiness and discouragement in return.Your work guides Mormons in the right direction: the Bible (the one and only true Word). Only in Jesus can one feel true peace and attain eternal life—not by participating in false temple rituals! Clayton C. |
Another Note from Ed
I needed to write a note to some of you that was something more than a column in the Newsletter today, a note that will try to let you know what God is doing in my life and in this ministry. After losing that argument with the Metro bus last year, I have been becoming more and more immersed in my own personal worship time with the Lord, not that I didn’t do this before. It is just that the accident and slow recovery time has given me a refreshing in the spirit that I sorely needed after 20 years in the front trenches. Rev 2:2-5 is spiritually etched across my brow these days. (I didn’t quote it here so that you would look it up and ponder its meaning in your life)
My time away from the road has allowed me to spend more time with my wife, Carol, and with my children and grandchildren. It has allowed me to become really rooted in our home church. I have had such quality time to work at the side of our son, Jason, as he steps in more ministry leadership. My quiet times have allowed me to taste again the wonderful whisperings of the Holy Spirit. Life is great. I am refreshed and excited about the days of harvest ahead. In fact, we are in the days of new harvest now! We are so blessed and count among our dearest blessings wonderful partners in the ministry like you, who support us with your prayers and your financial support..
Well, something has been deep in my heart recently and I wanted to share it with you. I hope you read between the lines a little, because I’m not sure I can express it fully. Let me try.
I had one of those heavenly things hit me the other day while I was having a great time of personal praise and worship. As I drove to the office, I felt like I was in His presence the whole way as I listened to and joined along with a special CD of praise and worship music. I was in that kind of mood all day long. That evening, when I was sitting in a meeting, listening to Dr. Tony Evans speak on racial reconciliation, He quoted a verse that just flat blew me into the next town.
It was verse that I have used 500 times myself to show that if God really was an exalted man, His son sure didn’t know anything about it. Dr. Evans was talking about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, but it is was as if God said to me, "revisit this place and see what my Son is saying to Ed Decker today." Dr. Evans quoted this scripture:
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
When I reread it, my eyes fell on the verse just before it. "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." John 4:23
He seeks such to worship Him.... What a powerful, simple revelation....those who will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
God isn’t looking for me to earn my own godhood by my good works and obedience to all the laws and ordinances of some man-made religious system. His Word tells us that we are complete in Christ, who is the head of all things.
We, "being dead in [our] sins and the uncircumcision of [our] flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven [us] all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:13-15)
God wasn’t focused on my works and my obedience to the laws and ordinances I tried to live by as a Mormon. The Bible said the He moved them out of the way, nailing them to His cross... That Cross that will never be displayed in or on a single Mormon church. No Wonder!
God is Spirit, not some exalted man, and He wants us to worship Him in spirit, not by any works of the flesh, by in spirit and in truth. Jesus said "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth. (John 17:17
That sanctification is not going to come from some latter day prophet, but through His Word, already revealed. It is surely not going to come with instructions that negate what God has already revealed to us.
God Wants Our Worship. Before anything else, He wants the worship of those who are His. What a simple truth. Yet a truth fully lost on the lost. Certainly, as Mormons, we sang hymns and "worshipped the Lord." as we knew how.
But I don’t ever recall seeing any Mormon congregation getting their faces up into the glory of God and just standing there locked into worshipping Him in spirit, without concern of time, schedule or place..... Ascrib[ing] to the LORD the glory due his name; worship[ping] the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. (Ps 29:2)
Just openly weeping, crying out and "Worship[ping] the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; trembl[ing] before him, all the earth. (Ps 96:9)
I have been there...in that Holy place..... where any thought of my own exaltation would be repugnant to the Holy One, who said to others who sought their own glory, "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD." (Obad 1:4)
What folly! What shame, What despair! To never be able to freely just worship God without having those laws and ordinances against you, never having the ability to enter into even a similitude of that "holy of holies" without some temple recommend signed by man. To always look at God with the goal of being a god yourself one day, if and when you are worthy enough...and always knowing you never will be worthy enough.
The doctrine of the Law of Eternal Progression (As Man is God once was, As God is man may become) is a lie out of the pit of hell, given by that father of lies who has been preaching that same line ever since it worked on Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden...
How can you worship a God who was once a man, all the while seeking to be a god yourself? How can you worship a God who is spirit and must be worshipped in spirit when your god is a man of flesh and bone?
How can you worship a God who gave His only Son up for you, shedding His blood for you on the Cross and all the while reject the cross and deny the power of the blood spilt there, even to turning the wine to water in your communion?
You may be a Mormon standing in your temple clothing and sacred undergarments with their sacred markings, with your fig leaf apron and secret signs and tokens as your covering before God or a Mason with your secret rituals of making good men better as you stand before God in your white lambskin apron as your covering. But your secret rituals, holy garments, aprons and your good works will never exalt you or even save you.
If you aren’t covered by the blood of Christ, one with Him and with the Father, your end is with the goats and not the sheep. You must repent and kneel before that one and only King of Kings and ask His forgiveness.
Only a true believer can worship Him in spirit and in truth, in that worship that crosses over the galaxies of our understanding and puts our face against God’s.
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." (Ps 95:1-6)
We must come and stand before the holiness of our creator and savior, without any plan of personal salvation or expectation...just to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth and let Him who has made us, do a cleansing work in each of us.
In Christ, your brother.. Ed Decker
Capstone conference – hurry and book that room!
Salt Lake Airport Hilton
June 18th, 19th, and 20th
For Reservations
CALL: 1-800-999-3736
If you want to stay with us during Capstone 1998 you MUST get your room reservations by calling Hilton. We have arranged special prices for those attending the conference. The price is $69 per night. THIS RATE EXPIRES on May 18th. You will want to reserve June 18th, 19th, and 20th. Our evening meetings will be 7-10pm each night. Registration for the conference is $50. Senior Pastors and their spouses are free and all other spouses are half price. The Saturday night Banquet is $25 for all attendees.
Everyone must register with Saints Alive and make their own hotel reservation.
Church and group discounts are available.
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Meet Michelle Grim "I am excited to introduce you to Saints Alive’s new Office Manager, Michelle Grim. She has been serving the ministry as a Staff Intern the past few months as she and her husband, Kirk, were preparing to pastor a church in Utah.. God miraculously changed their direction and that open door has enabled us to bring her on our full-time staff. Michelle is an incredible asset to all of us who believe in the ministry to Mormons. She grew up a 6th generation Mormon. She became a born-again Christian 3 years ago and has lived every day of her new life with a passion to rescue "her people" from the spiritual darkness that destroyed her life for over 30 years. It has been a joy getting to know her and witness the grace of God in her life. I believe that the Grims are called "for such a time as this." I hope many of you get a chance to meet Michelle this summer at Capstone and Manti or next time you call the office." |
"Thoughts of Easter"
-by Michelle Grim
As we approach this Easter season with thoughts of our Lord, I’m reminded of my death and resurrection in Jesus Christ. When I realize the fact that I have been crucified in Him, my mind takes me back the place I came from and the life of destruction that He rescued me from.
I was telling Ed the other day, when I think of the pain I feel in my heart for the Mormon People, the pain feels like a punch in the stomach. It is over-whelming to realize that my family, and quite possibly yours, is not saved. The truth is that we will not have our own "celestial families" in heaven as I once dreamed about.I believed godhood and my maternal duties would be my ultimate destiny and purpose for existing. Instead, I have pure peace, joy and the opportunity to worship sweet Jesus at His feet. Oh, for just one moment, think about how wonderful it will be!
Worship music is an integral part of my life. It always has been. There is a song by Twila Paris Called "Lamb of God." One part of the song says ‘I was so lost, I should have died’. On Good Friday this year, remember that He was thinking about you when He hung on that cross. He was there instead of you, instead of me. The perfect, unblemished One was obedient, even to death.
What will you give to Him? Your house, car, job, pride? He’s calling for you to give Him something in return. What is it, you ask? It’s your love. Your attention. Your heart. Your soul. Your mind. You’ll soon find that the material things lay by the way side when you give Him yourself. Nothing else will ever matter again. There will be no looking back.
He walked up the side of the hill and carried that Cross for me. As they hammered His Hands into the wood, He laid there for me. And as they rose that cross from the ground And He hung there, He was still doing it for me. He did it for you. And God raised Him For us all.
It’s still amazing to me that I used to believe I could accomplish what He did by being "baptized" for dead people in the LDS temples. I can’t imagine that I used to believe that if I just tried hard enough, if only I could just be perfect tomorrow or the next day then I would get to heaven. That I could get married in the temple and do more works for the dead, not even realizing that 2,000 years ago, He accomplished all there was to do by hanging on the cross. Did He not say "It is finished?"
I can’t claim that I caught God’s attention enough to save me because of my obedience to Him or that I worshipped Him every day. I didn’t even come close. And my works in the temple for the dead were just that, dead.
He just did it. He picked me out of the crowd in Utah, out of the thousands of relatives that I have as a residue of their polygamous acts, He reached down and picked me out. He baptized me with His Holy Spirit and walks with me today. When we talk, He tells me the Truth about myself, not the facts that I sinned or the fact I was never married in the temple. He just tells me that He loves me, He showed me that He loves me.
I am such a blessed woman. I can’t say that I know what the Lord has in store for me. In the remainder of my life, but I can say that I feel complete. I know that whatever tomorrow brings me, I can rest in Him, worship and glorify Him for the works that He has done. He has saved me from an unfulfilled life of striving to be something I was never expected to be: Perfect. Thats what Jesus is for.
Growing up as a young mormon girl, I used to think if only I got married, If only I did this, or that, everything would be ok. Tommorow was my goal. My purpose and destiny was before me, just beyond my finger tips. But now, I have righteousness, peace, joy and I have a purpose today, for today is my destiny! Just as the Cross was Christ’s.
In closing I’d just like to say one more thing. Read Romans 4:25. Praise the Lord… Michelle
The Temple of Grace
by Jason Decker
If you look at the face of Mormonism and the face of Christianity, one of the biggest differences you can’t help but see are the majestic LDS Temples that dot the globe. Any one who has ever read the Bible knows that temples play an important part in facilitating the covenant of God with His people. What were they for? What did people do in them? What difference do they make today? The very fact that Mormons use a "physical temple" firmly put them out side the Christian faith. To use a material building as the place of communion with God is to undo what Christ accomplished on the Cross. The very existance of Easter proves Christians have the "real temple."
Let me explain:
Easter is the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection from the dead. Is it NOT? The Cross of Calvary is the dividing point between death and life, the body and the spirit,. It is the very altar of the greatest sacrifice that has ever been paid.
You can not be saved with out being " born-again" or born of the spirit.(Jn.3:3-8)
One can not come to God on their own but must follow Christ in laying down their own life with Him and then recieve a NEW LIFE in Resurrection by the Spirit.
God wants us to walk in the Spirit, not the flesh. By recieving Christ as our Saviour, we believe His Righteousness pays the price for our sins. By THIS Faith - we are saved! God paid the full price FOR US . The cost was His only righteous Son -Jesus Christ. He values us with the Righteousness of Christ. The very reason Christ came was to die on the Cross! READ Hebrews 9:15 He said: "It is FINISHED." (Jn.19:30) What is It? The separation of man from God. He filled the gap caused by sin.
The Mormons have it so backwards they don’t even know it. Mormon Temples are consecrated places which are too sacred for the profane eye to see or the profane foot to enter. They are places where secret rituals are enacted on behalf of members to enable them to attain personal godhood. Only "worthy" LDS members with a temple recommend may enter to do what they need do to become "like God."
Inside, members perform special ordinances that include: Baptism for the Dead, Washings, Anointings, Endowments and Sealings. Without their temple endowments and being "married or sealed" for time and all eternity, Mormons believe that no one can attain their greatest destiny found in the "Celestial kingdom."
They believe righteousness is conditional upon the physical acts and things they do. That’s why Mormons put so much value on the "Aesthics of Righteousness." This is not what God had in mind for his Children. Read Romans 8: 5-8.
Through the very act of Salvation. the believer becomes the TEMPLE of God. Not a building ! Open your Bible and read : 1 Cor. 3:9,16-17, 1 Peter 2:5, and 2 Cor. 6:16-18.
Through His act of Grace, Christ became our High Priest, because he established a NEW covenant that has nothing to do with Mormon temples. We read in Heb 8:1-7:
For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second". (NKJ)
Mormons do not believe this is true. LDS Prophet Spencer W. Kimball said. "the Lord cannot save men in their sins but only from their sins, and that only when they have shown true repentance." (p.166 Miracle of Forgiveness) He is a False Prophet because he contradicts the WORD of GOD. Jesus died for sinners!
Eph 2:19-22 "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God."
Capstone 1998
We are excited to announce our main speakers for the 1998 Capstone Conference. Ed Decker will be opening the conference Thursday night @ 7 pm, with Pastor Jim Schaedler of Salt Lake City.
Author and speaker Ron Carlson, will be speaking Friday night, with Author, Pastor and speaker Jim Spencer of Boise.
Our featured speaker for Saturday night will be Pastor Ken Wilde of Capital Christian Center in Boise.
We are also having many other dynamic speakers, worship, corporate prayer, and special workshops.
The purpose of this conference is to get everyone together to pray, seek God and develop new methods of evangelism, and to teach and train harvest workers, establish cooperative outreaches with local churches and to network missions and discipleship.
We are also going to focus on reaching Generation X, the 2002 Winter Olympics, Prayer, strengthening the local Churches, leaders and youth groups. This is going to be unlike anything that has been before.
If you are interested, please email us immediately. The Conference cost is $50, plus $25 for the Saturday Banquet. All meetings are private except the evening sessions.
Manti Outreach
This year’s Manti Outreach is going to be a life changing experience for those who love Jesus and have a heart for Mormons.
The actual outreach will start on Monday, June 21st and end Saturday, June 27th. We encourage everyone going to Manti to attend the Capstone Conference for training.
Join other youth groups and individuals for "real deal" evangelism. Youth Outreach, door-to-door & music. Learn easy and effective methods !
Manti Costs:
$ 200 - Manti only
$250 - Manti & Capstone
$100 Group Fee
$50 Deposit
This trip includes special classes such as Basic Mormon Doctrine, Personal Evangelism, Spiritural Warfare, Communication skills, Prayer, and more. Plus special lectures from Capstone Speakers.
Price includes all material, training, camping fees, food @ Manti & T-shirt. It does not include hotel at Capstone & personal transportation.
Everyone must complete an application.
Special group rates are available.
Contact Jason Decker for more info at salive@nwlink.com.
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Local Monthly Meetings to Start In Seattle Area
God has richly blessed us with our new facilities at the City Church in Kirkland, Washington. It has allowed us to be more accessible for counseling and we are enjoying the visits from local friends of Saints Alive.
Last month, the Tacoma Chapter and our Board Members joined our staff for a special open house and planning meeting at our offices.
We are excited to announce that every month we will have a Saints Alive Fellowship, training and Prayer Meeting which will be open to all.
We will be mailing an info letter to everyone on our database who lives in this area. If you are interested in joining us, call the office for the exact dates and times.
Speaking of speaking......
We are very excited about the new doors God has opened for Saints Alive. Every day we are seeing miracle after miracle after miracle.
Ed is now fully healed and is physically ready to go back into full-speed ministry and is now accepting speaking engagements.
Our new office manager Michelle has a powerful testimony as a 6th Generation Mormon and has a passion to see "her people" set free by the Grace of Jesus Christ.
Jason is just completing a year long Intern program at the City Church and has a compeling vision for the new Generation. In fact, he will be ministering at a youth conference in the Phillipines April 14th -26th. Traveling to churches in Manila, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. with a team from the Church.
The ministry has also seen a dramatic increase in our face-to-face counseling. It is such a blessing to witness the Power of God to restore peoples lives !
Video Back Order
If you have ordered our last product special "The Miracle of Manti Videos," we want to inform you that we are having a back-order problem because of our supplier.
We are expecting ALL our stock and ordered products to arrive any day. Those who have ordered the complete set, should have already received a copy of Decker’s Handbook on Mormonism.
We apologize for the delay.
If you have any order questions of any kind, please call the office.
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