Response to Dr. Bryan Ardis' Interview with Rebecca Weiss

Los Angeles Temple

In response to the recent Bryan Ardis interview, please consider this question:  Why is it that so many Christians seem anxious to attack, label, and destroy others within their own Christian community?  It may be there are some agitators among them with a misguided agenda to confuse, scare, divide, and weaken the community.  It seems most Christians try to uplift, comfort, unite, & strengthen others in their fellowship, ministries, and circles of influence.  And although everyone encounters differences, there are many more similarities among Christians than not.  It is inspiring that most just want to support and encourage each other.  

It is evident that Dr. Ardis contributed extensive research in verifying the bioweaponry of the Covid “vaccine,” which it is not a “vaccine” because it neither prevents the majority from contracting the disease, nor does it inhibit the spread of it.  It seems generally accepted that President Trump hurried Operation Warp Speed because he knew it was the Deep State’s intention to lock down society permanently, thus achieving their long-awaited tyrannical New World Order.  Pres. Trump was able to end lockdowns and reopen a society desperate to get back to school and work. He had called the Deep State’s bluff, announcing there was an emergency “vaccine.” He bypassed the propaganda media and publicly announced he had contracted Covid, had taken ivermectin and/or hydroxychloroquine, and he completely recovered.  So, there was no need to remain in lockdown.

Of course, immediate censorship tried to deny the effectiveness of treatments, but Trump had already put the information into the public space.  Meanwhile, he instructed the Military to overtake 5G technology, which was designed to destroy lives, and reprogram 5G towers to emit electromagnetic vibration & frequency treatment signals, thereby saving lives.  In the interim, concerned doctors and naturopaths bravely stepped forward with detoxing treatments that used chelators to bind with heavy metals and poisonous ingredients in the fake-vaccine to remove harmful effects through the body’s waste elimination mechanisms.  Sadly, many of the most vulnerable still died from the Cabal’s evil plan to depopulate.  But, credit is due to Dr. Ardis, who worked alongside many of these concerned and courageous professionals who risked their lives and livelihoods to spread the truth.  

However, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I never heard of some of the so-called “rules” or erroneous teachings Dr. Ardis suggested when he claimed the Church was a cult.  He said he had glowing experiences his entire life with its teachings, his Church involvement, and with the general membership, but suddenly came to the conclusion the leaders were cultists, mind-controlling a whole church whom (he seemed to imply) were mostly mindless sheep, unable to comprehend basic Christian doctrines or recognize their ability to critically think and/or discuss controversial topics. But this is not an accurate depiction of Latter-day Saint members who are predominantly viewed as thoughtful, kind, neighborly, compassionate, and generally good Christian people.

One such “rule" was that members were not allowed to give money to another church.  But, in fact, that is not true.  I have often contributed to the passing of the plate at my grandparents original Lutheran Church Christmas Eve candlelight services, as I was moved by the universal carols/hymns and biblically inspirational readings and messages of the Savior’s holy birth, and I know others who have done the same when visiting friends' or relatives' churches.

A major cult practice is that it strictly adheres to isolation of its members from contact with outsiders in order to control them.  But The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourages work and family associations, community gatherings, and other faith interactions, and it sponsors many such interactions.  It has a world renown welfare program which is not only available to needy members of the Church but also to non-members, based on the referrals of a bishop.  Personally, I have participated in those interfaith activities, as well as, many members have done.  

In my bother’s congregation, when a need came to the bishop's attention, he urgently organized men to assist an almost completely quadriplegic neighborhood non-member who suffered from a rare & debilitating disease.  While the patient had home care during daily business hours, these men divided assignments and covered for each other every evening to ensure he was visited nightly to provide human connection & friendship and to help him lift from his wheelchair, via a hydraulic pulley, onto his bed for restful sleeping.  My brother visits him Wednesday and Thursday evenings and takes him his favorite chocolates, other items, watches a movie or a televised sports event with him, and often comments on the cherished friendship the two have developed.  He is very inspired by this man’s grateful attitude & his optimistic outlook, despite his seemingly hopeless life situation (can’t wait for those med beds!)

Dr. Ardis also said Church members were told that certain clothing guaranteed Satan could never tempt them and that they would always be protected, but he must have misunderstood. This would not have happened because this is not Church doctrine. Satan will always be around to tempt in this fallen world until the Second Coming of the Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. When He comes again, Satan will be bound, and the Savior will establish His millennial reign for 1000 years of peace (Rev. 21).  In reality, neither a piece of cloth nor words printed on a biblical page guarantees anyone protection.  But they do serve as reminders to always continue in faith and devotion to God, sincere prayers, scriptural study and meditation, and adherence to commitments, or covenants made with Him. Faith in God is what offers His protecting Mercy and Grace, according to His will and timing. I wonder if Dr. Ardis really believes that two basic Christian concepts, free will (to sin, or resist it) and divine protection, could be completely lost on entire congregations? 

Ever since Adam & Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden for partaking of the fruit of The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the symbolic slithering, deceptive Satanic snake keeps trying to derail mankind.  It’s not even possible that one could be tempted or not, if there were no free will, right?  The point of free will is to learn to distinguish good from evil and to make choices accordingly.  Will Christians (or anyone else) always perfectly make the right choice?  Of course not, but Jesus says to believe in Him. He alone has the Power to save.  Develop a personal relationship with Him, walk daily with Him, and keep trying to align individual free will with His because He alone also has the Power to forgive. How many times will He forgive?  He said 70 times 7, representing His doctrine of second, third, fourth, tenth, twentieth, even endless chances to repent, try again, & make improvements. 

Dr. Ardis went on to say he had never heard an account of Joseph Smith and his wife, which, when he did, caused him to suddenly conclude the Church was a cult, and the members were brainwashed and mind controlled.  But I have been in adult Sunday School classes and have heard very thought-out discussions of controversial subjects.  Scripture is a microcosm of some of the best and worst in human behavior.  It makes for ideal subject matter in the discussion of right versus wrong, truth vs. lies, and good vs. evil.

Take the topic of a young prophet, David, in the Bible, who was revered for his legendary accomplishments in faithfully leading small armies to great victories and in his personal triumphs, such as slaying the mighty and fearsome giant, Goliath, with a single sling shot to the forehead.  But he ended up going down in the annals of history, remembered as the strayed adult David, who, in essence, “put a hit” out on Uriah, by ordering one of his generals to ensure Uriah was placed on the front line of battle, assuring he would inescapably be killed, so that with Bathsheba’s husband dead & out of his way, David was then able to swoop in and snatch her up to add to his collection of women, which he did.  

It is always difficult to reconcile troubling details with historically good people who tried to follow God, but it is a tough reminder that God has no perfect individual on earth with whom He can use as his metaphorical arms and hands to do his all-important work.  But we trust in the Lord and learn from such scandalous accounts that God, (knowing all hearts and minds) in His Mercy and Grace, affords forgiveness to all sorrowful and sincerely repentant individuals, and His Final Judgement will always be perfect.

Then there is the tale of Sarah and Abraham, which is one of hardship and heartbreak.  Sarah was unable to have children, so, as was the custom of those days, she gave Hagar, her handmaid, to Abraham, perhaps thinking this would be a surrogate means of obtaining a child. Minimal details of a covenant between God and Abraham were initially revealed but, after Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was born, more details were given.  God told Abraham that Sarah, in her old age, would finally have a son, whose name would be Isaac (Gen. 17:19KJV).  Three holy men appeared, and it was confirmed to Sarah that she would have this long-awaited son (Gen. 18: 2, 9-10 KJV).  The Lord told Abraham this covenant, which would be established with Sarah & Abraham’s only son, Isaac, would be everlasting. (They would be the eternal couple; their’s would be the eternal family (Gen. 17:19 KJV).  Abraham asked God if Ishmael could live in this everlasting covenant (Gen.17:18 KJV).  God promised Abraham a blessing upon Ishmael that he would be fruitful, twelve princes he would come from him, and Ishmael’s would be a great nation. But, He reiterated Ishmael was not part of the covenant because he was not born to Sarah and Abraham, the eternal couple (Gen. 17:20-21 KJV). 

Eventually, Sarah demanded Hagar and Ishmael, be thrown out (Gen. 21:9-10 KJV) and they were sent into the wilderness with a bottle of water (Gen. 21:12, 14-15 KJV).  When the water was gone, Hagar sat Ismael against a shrub, and cried, saying she did not want to see her son die, but an angel appeared to her and led them to safety, not returning to Sarah and Abraham's household (Gen. 21:15-20 KJV) because, evidently, Isaac was to be raised as the sole heir of the covenant (Gen. 25:5-6).  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) eventually became known as the Fathers of the Israelite nation, God’s people (Exod. 3:13-16 KJV).

From Sarah and Abraham’s model story, it is learned that monogamy is the eternal standard.  Throughout the ages, when God determined desperate times called for desperate measures, exceptions were made.  In the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, due to death by persecution, mob killings, disease, starvation, freezing temperatures, etc., desperate measures were required to increase its population.  Apparently, God determined there was about a fifty-year window to quickly accomplish it.  Members of the Church at that time were horrified and sickened this exception was asked of them.  One can only imagine that already married adult women’s response was, “Not only is the answer no, it’s “he** NO!” 

If the account described by Dr. Ardis was accurate, Joseph Smith’s methods would have been terribly flawed in his attempts to follow God’s command, but he tried to obey Him.  While most members believe it would have been a tragic time to be alive, they acknowledge and appreciate there were those who made horrific sacrifices so the newly restored church would barely escape extinction, and that many Gospel truths are now blessing the lives of its members and non-members alike, regardless of their individual beliefs. 

Just as Martin Luther played a critical role in the Reformation by presenting the early Christian Church with a list of grievances, such as the selling of sins for forgiveness (one of its wayward teachings that parishioners could pay the clergy to buy forgiveness for their sins,) the young prophet Joseph Smith played a critical role in the Restoration by restoring lost or stolen truths removed from the Bible.  (It has recently been discovered that an estimated additional 777 books from the Bible were found hidden in vaults beneath the Vatican.)  And whether one believes or not that a young boy with a fourth-grade education could accomplish such a great work, without the assistance of divine intervention in the translation of ancient religious writings or in the establishment of a worldwide church with now an estimated 20 million membership, is not important or necessary. 

The Church is not a cult. Neither are its members mind-controlled. It has become a beneficial organization of Christian principals, values, and monumental societal contributions, trying to spread humanitarian services and messages of hope, healing, and joy to the many souls looking for comfort and peace during these troubled and most extraordinary times.  

Hopefully, Christians and all faiths will continue to work together to build friendships, strong communities, and nations here and around the world. Thank you very much for your consideration of this discussion. May “God bless us, every one” ~ Charles Dickens).