I get a portion of the letters and all of the prayer requests after the rest of the staff go over them. Sometimes, like tonight, as I go through them I am overwhelmed by the needs, the pain and still, the victories contained in them.

I have such a heavy burden. One couple recently left the LDS church after "35 years of imprisonment and deception, being lied to always. We were temple workers and were involved in many aspects of Mormonism. But we raised our 5 children in the church and now they think that Satan has our spirits. Pray for us and our children. " We are praying, Larry. There are no easy answers other than prayer.

I have noticed something very similar in so many of the letters. There is a thread tying it all together. I hate to use the word, brainwashing, but that is the closest word to fit. Recently, I have been scanning several LDS Only Forums on Compuserve, AOL and the Internet. In one case, I have come on as Ed Decker, himself and in other cases, go in with a "screen name."

Once I got past the anger and outrage that "Decker would dare show his face on this Forum," I began to communicate honestly and with all due respect. Everything would be fine until I stepped beyond the feel good fuzzies and pushed some small button, by questioning something that was church doctrine. Instantly, those involved would go into a defense mode. Everything I said was wrong, everything a defending Mormon said was true, even a lie about me and my children by one of my Mormon neighbors who knew he was lying. It didn't matter where or which approach I used. They Always reacted exactly the same.

Charles (Chuck) Padgett is not only one of my able assistants here at Saints Alive, but also an ordained minister and a staff member of one of the area churches. Beyond his regular duties, Chuck is also ministering in a pastoral role to over 520 prisoners who are in active correspondence with Saints Alive. Quite an undertaking!

I'd like to introduce you to a group of men and women somewhat hidden from view in the ministry here. While they may not have the jobs and cash that we associate with normal living, they often give all they have, which in some cases may be a stamp or a drawing with Bible verses. They write us letters asking for materials and help in their Christian growth.

Many are reaching out in God's love to those around them, prisoners who may be unlikable by society's standards, but loved by Christ. And they pray for us with fervent energy!

around them who are hardened by sin, lost and in need of a loving and forgiving Savior.

We would like to give you the opportunity to partner with us and share in the lives of these brothers and sisters in Christ, to help them as they grow in their walk with our Lord and to aid them as they disciple other inmates. Here's how to help:

1. Many prisoners need Pen Pals so they can fellowship with someone who prays for them, cares about them, will listen and disciple them.

2. We need donations of recent Christian books (in good shape), Bibles (KJV). We suggest that you might also ask your church or Bible study group for a love offering of books and Bibles.

3. You can also pray for these men and women and their families. Pray also that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of more Christians to listen to and act on the Words of Christ in Matt. 25: 31-46.

4. Pray for us as this area of ministry expands. Remember that ministering to a group of over 500 men and women and their families is like having a pretty good sized church.

I know that most, if not all of you are reading this, as well. Please, use the postage paid envelope and drop me a note (Pastor Chuck Padgett) and share a little about yourself. Let me know if you want someone to write to you as a Christian friend and mentor. I'll team you up with just the right friend. Also, let me know if you want that someone to be a friend to your family on the outside, as well.

There once was a ministry

so awesome and humble

That demons all over

would shake and would grumble

Though foes would persist

and set Ed in the fray,

the Saints of God would kneel and then pray.

They prayed and they stood

against the dark floods.

But God's call to Freedom

reinforced by the blood,

Sent demons screaming

as they would flee

As God's march went on...

"Set the captives free!"

Year after year

Saints Alive still goes on,

With faith and with courage

through God's loving Son.

For the day is soon coming

when God extends his hand

And the Saints who were faithful

With Him shall they stand

"Well done, good and faithful

with me shall you abide

Well done...you who were faithful,

Well done, Saints Alive."

Thanks, Steph! Stephanie and Stan have been so faithful. When I first began to minister, most of my friends thought I was crazy. But, crazy or not, Stan travelled faithfully at my side those early years, just being a friend with a ministry to me! It gave me the strength to be bold for Christ!

Dear Ed, My brother and sister in laws are in a church filled with Free Masons, pray that God will quickly move them out and into our church where Jesus is truly Lord ,that God will open the eyes of the other people there to see the error.

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From a letter to Mike Wallace: I joined the church as a young adult. It answered so many of my questions. It seemed to make sense. For forty years I was actively involved, taught in the different organizations, including seminary. I did all of the things required of a "good Mormon." My daughter went to Brigham Young [University] , my son on a mission.

My daughter came home depressed after taking five and a half years top complete a four year course. She could not explain why. My son came home after a foreign mission where he had been hospitalized twice for poisoning. He burned many of his church papers and went inactive. He did not explain. Yet, I remained strong in the Mormon faith.

In 1992 I learned my grandchildren were being abused. Then I learned it was ritual abuse. Ritual abuse by many people, including Mormons. At first I made the canned excuses all Mormons make [ie: People will be bad, but never the church}; after a while it became impossible to do so any longer, I ran out of excuses! My reality is too bizarre to expect many to believe me. Some, who know about ritual abuse, do.

Thank you for listening.......Elizabeth R.

Dear Saints Alive, It's been great to receive your newsletter. Now I know there are others out there like me, with their heart broken over those caught up in the bondage of Mormonism.

When I say bondage, I don't mean it lightly. My wife is what you would call a "Jack Mormon", but she simply cannot imagine serving God in any context outside of the Mormon Church. To even suggest that something might not be right about it, causes her to almost fall apart. It is scary how controlled she is. I continue to believe that she is on her way out. She just can't admit what is in her heart. Our home is saturated in Bible verses. I'll just keep on praying. I praise the Lord for you guys! Thanks for being there!

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Dear Ed, I am the son of a prominent Mason. He is highly respected in the "Craft." I have been a member of a Masonic family for over 27 year.

I have seen my dad replace his Christian faith with Masonic faith. Masonry really is an evil religion as you know. He has recently been in an adulterous relationship. He was introduced to her by another wonderful Mason.

This makes sense since the god of Masonry is truly Baphomet. Last year, a friend gave me a copy of your tract, The Curse Of Baphomet. It has driven me into a full study of Masonry, which is now turning into a ministry of my own. Paul

In January, Gospel Truth's Ministries in Grand Rapids, Michigan started a new Bulletin Board system for ministry to Ex-Mormons, Mormons searching for "truth" and Christians trying to learn about Mormonism.

Rita Conley, an ex-Mormon Christian tells me that the Mormon response has been unusually gratifying. If you are interested, give it a call. GTM invites you to call on their toll

Even after an avalanche of mail telling them the real story about Mormonism, 60 Minutes decided to ignore truth and real investigative reporting to do a real snow job on the viewing audience. The Mormon "segment" was a disgrace. If the segment was 5 minutes longer, Wallace would have converted. We sent them films and books to review, spoke to them on the phone, so we know that Wallace knew what he was doing was a lie. What a disgrace! How can anyone ever have any confidence in 60 Minutes again?

If you sent one of the earlier letters, maybe another letter telling them how dishonest Wallace is will help do something!

I saw a man with a heavy load

His back was bent with toil and care

And I wondered as I saw him there

Why God has been so good to me

While others live in misery

Or even that I know His Son

For many are the ones who pray

And still must struggle through each day

are far beyond the reach of those

Who just by chance of where they're born

Must spend a life that's bleak , forlorn

So lift your voice in thankful praise

And let the joyful anthems raise

And with precious gems

and sparkling stones

Has built for us a home on high

Where no more tears shall dim the eye

So be joyful friend for in a while

Your face will wear a permanent smile

Dear Ed, Thank you for coming into My life back in 1987 - sending me information and the truth, for helping me resign from the bondage and the brainwashing.....

********

Dear Ed, I wrote Mike Wallace and told him about our daughter and how they have refused our grandchildren time with us.... This is a terrible dilemma. The only way I can sum it up is " it's like they all died but are still living" and we have no way of talking to them or reaching them verbally, it's as if they are in a trance and see or hear nothing... It has been 4 years since they have even allowed the grandchildren to visit our home in the same town....We called again and again during spring school break last week, just to spend a few hours with them at a park nearby....They refused 4 times, finally using the answering machine to filter us out. [Loving Christian grandparents must be some threat to Mormon kids!]

We never got to talk to them the whole week they were off from school. Our hearts break so much. Pray for us....

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Dear Saints Alive....Please pray for my sexual identity. I have been a Christian since 1993, but am dealing with a lot of homosexual sin....Tim

Dear Saints Alive, I am a 15 year old Christian. I have just finished reading The God Makers II and have also seen the video. For the last 4 months I have been researching Mormonism and your information has been very helpful. The main reason for my research is because of a Mormon friend of mine who I care very dearly for. I have set a goal to find all the information possible on Mormonism and when the time comes, talk to my friend about Mormon. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated....Matt N.

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Count on us praying for you, Matt. You certainly are doing it right. Not only do you have a burden for your friend, but you are preparing yourself so that when that window of opportunity opens, you will be there for your friend. You are a really special teenager!

********

Dear Ed, Our daughter is divorced and her husband remarried a Mormon. They have been successful in court getting custody, by false pretenses. They have refused to give our daughter visitation in spite of the court order and they are now asking for only supervised visitation. We, my wife, myself and daughter have tried to guide the children to the Christian faith, but the Mormon influence seems to be winning. These children need the Jesus of the Bible, not the Jesus of Mormonism. What can we do? We are so concerned....

Dear Ed, After reading in your book, Decker's Complete Handbook on Mormonism, about the Book of Mormon teaching that all other churches were the church of the devil (I Nephi 14: 9,10), I wrote to the LDS church and got this reply. Randy Smith.

"Dear Mr. Smith, In answer to your query, all churches and organizations, regardless of their name or nature, which lead men away from God and His laws are considered the great and abominable church. I hope this answer is of help to you in your quest for truth. " F. Michael Watson, Secretary to the First Presidency.

********

The key here is the phrase, "Those churches that lead men away from God and His laws..." Looks OK at the first reading, but Mormonism teaches that only their church holds the only true laws and ordinances of this dispensation. Therefore, Brother Watson has told a bit of truth but in a way that the unaware Christian would miss the fact that the Mormons consider every other church a church of the devil. That's the whole reason they have 54,000 missionaries out there to convert Christian believers!

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