FLDS Outreach 4.7.12
Channel: MormonismCompared
Date: 2012-04-10

What a ~marvelous~ outreach. These people are precious, but unbelievably controlled. No one should call them stupid or mindless. They are industrious, loyal to religion (though misguided) and family and, from what I heard from one ex-FLDS person, quite intelligent. They would have to be to run a city and supply the needs of the people.

We arrived in the morning about 50 strong and went to work almost immediately handing out invitations to a free BBQ that afternoon. A group from Biola U drove for ~hours~ from California to preach Jesus and show some love. Another group came from Snow College, Solid Rock Christian Club. 

Colorado City will leave you heartbroken if you go, but it's worth it. Tri-Grace ministries has been building a bridge to that community for five years with its yearly BBQ. These things take time. Trust is not built overnight. Because of the recent raid that made the news, these people do NOT trust outsiders one bit.

I talked with a few that were friendly and they politely accepted the invitation, but none dared show up to the BBQ because to be seen with us would cause their immediate ex-communication from the group. The BBQ is known to them as "The Devil's BBQ."

As I passed by one home with a no trespassing sign, I peeked over the six-foot wall and saw a girl about five or six years old. I told her hello and asked if here parents were home. My voice startled her and she snapped her head around to look at me. She was scared to death and ran inside. I waited for about a minute and no one came out. On to the next home.

"Chava" and I were walking down a street when a rickety old van passed by us going the opposite direction. Just as the van passed us a very loud BANG rang out from the direction of the van. We both jumped! It sounded like a gun shot. I turned to Chava and said, "Do you think that was a backfire or a gunshot?!" He said, "I don't know. Let's hope for backfire!" We both laughed and continued on.

Pray for the children. They wear long pants and long sleeves even in the summer because their FLDS undergarments are full lenth, down to the wrist and down to the ankles. No part of the garment should be seen by others so their clothes must cover the garment entirely.

As we set up for the BBQ in the local park in the middle of town, SUVs with darkened windows would continually circle the park looking for any FLDS members in attendance. The fear that these people live under is deplorable. The community as a whole desperately needs deliverance from a demonic presence. The evil is palpable and is so thick it could be cut with a knife. We approached their vehicles as they slowly circled to invite them to the BBQ, but they wouldn't even roll down their windows. The local law enforcement also circled the park just to keep an eye on things. They were friendly enough.

I talked at length with a 23 year old ex-FLDS woman and her husband. They asked me not to use their names because the woman's mother is still in the cult. I'll call her "Mary."

The conversation was fascinating and enlightening. I asked "Mary" if she considered her mother to be part of a cult and she told me, "100%, yes." She told me that her mother is very intelligent and simply knows no other life as she and her parents before her were FLDS all their life. I also asked "Mary" a question about FLDS theology in comparison to Joseph Smith and she told me that there is no comparison. "Mary" said that the FLDS are as far from Joseph Smith as night and day. "Mary" said that everything that is considered spiritual comes from the current prophet.

Mary has a large box full of theological statements by Warren Jeffs and she agreed to mail them to me. Very excited about receiving that!

I talked with a man of about 30 years old who was born and raised FLDS but was recently excommunicated over theological differences. We talked about the biblical Jesus vs. the Jesus of Mormonism. He asked me several questions about Christian beliefs (as he's rarely had communication with Christians) and I gladly obliged. We talked for about 30 minutes. I was amazed how the Holy Spirit brought to my memory so many different verses from the Bible and I just laid the gospel out in front of him. He listened intently and we exchanged emails. Pray for Theron by name! My impression of him is that he is quite brilliant. He speaks eloquently and is very interested in continuing our conversation, as am I!

A few people brought guitars and we sang praises to Jesus, loud and exuberant.

Watch the video and chuckle, watch it and cry, watch it and be very concerned. Most importantly, watch it and PRAY.

http://www.mormondoctrine.net/images/Chip's-notes1.jpg


http://www.mormondoctrine.net/images/Chip's-notes2.jpg