Politically there is probably much that I share with conservative commentator Glenn Beck. The problems he sees plaguing our country I also see, and much like him, I want America to open its eyes to see the dangerous path down which we are heading. Beck is also an entertainer, an erudite one, and for me, this is what sets him apart from many of the less-than-stellar entertainer pundits I hear coming out of Hollywood. It is no secret that Beck is unabashedly Mormon, and while I can agree with him on political and social issues, when he calls on me to join hands with him to invoke the Almighty, I have to draw the line. It isn't because I don't like Glenn Beck, it is just that my biblical worldview prevents me from uniting with him spiritually. Despite his LDS membership, experience tells me to be cautious regarding what he might personally believe.  For me, Glenn Beck is still much of an enigma, and because of this I have many questions I wish he could answer for me.

Glenn Beck, an outspoken member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, caused quite a stir on his July 13, 2010 broadcast when he spent a good portion of his show explaining the difference between the Christian view of individual salvation, and the collective view of salvation proffered by proponents of Black liberation theology. He explained:

"You cannot earn your way into heaven. You can't! There is no deed, no random act of kindness, no amount of money to spread around to others that earns you a trip to heaven. It can't happen. It's earned by God's grace alone, by believing that Jesus died on the cross for you. This is what Christians believe."

Christians who desire to share their faith with their Mormon friends and loved ones are encouraged to attend a Compassionate Boldness Symposium, featuring the team-teaching of MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson. Bill and Eric are co-authors of Mormonism 101 who together, offer over 50 years of experience sharing the Christian faith with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For more information click here.

In 2009 author and religious educator Anthony Sweat conducted an informal study of LDS teenagers. He asked 701 Mormon kids which kingdom of glory they thought they would end up in if they were to die and be judged that very day. Mr. Sweat was dismayed to find that almost half of the active LDS youth who participated in the study believed they were not good enough to go to the celestial kingdom (the highest of the three Mormon heavens). Believing that this dismal view of their eternal future stemmed from a misunderstanding of "what is really required of those who will inherit the celestial kingdom" (viii), with this book Mr. Sweat sets out to "clarify some of these doctrinal misunderstandings and to provide hope" (viii-ix).

Glenn Lee Beck has become a leading voice in American media and his radio and television programs have become quite popular among those who hold conservative political views. Born in Everett, Washington on February 10, 1964, he converted to Mormonism in 1999 shortly after marrying his current wife Tania (Beck's first marriage ended in divorce in 1994). With all the emotion of a typical LDS fast and testimony meeting, Beck passionately proclaims his love for America while decrying the efforts of liberals to abandon the ideals fashioned by America's founding fathers. He regularly displays his in-depth knowledge of American history, and while he challenges his listeners to "Question with Boldness," many, myself included, wonder if he really did that when it comes to the dubious historical past of Mormonism. Beck doesn't hide the fact that one of the people who has made a major impact on his political worldview is W. Cleon Skousen, a Mormon political thinker and author of The 5,000 Year Leap, a book Beck says "changed his life." First published in 1981, Beck wrote the foreword to a new edition that instantly became a top seller on Amazon.com.

At this point, it is hard for me to remember the past without comparing it to the present.  But, I think, maybe a series of anecdotes will help pull together a story of how I came to leave Mormonism, and why. 

When I was 5 years old, I remember getting into a fight with my best little friend.  We had both come out of church, and there, in the parking lot, we quarreled over which one of us belonged to the "only true church."  Both of us had obviously learned about that in church that day, but we were in separate wards.  Since we didn’t realize that both wards were in the same “church,” we were angry that the other was trying to steal what was rightfully our own.

 The testimony of Lee given to his attorney, William W. Bishop that describes the events leading to, and during, the Mountain Meadows massacre of 1857.

The following was published first in the September 1902 Improvement Era and Millennial Star (11 December 1902).  It represents an attempt by proponents of Mormonism to obfuscate Brigham Young's Adam-God teaching.

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I recall listening on the news to some of the eulogy given at the funeral of a Mormon murder victim. It was not unlike many funeral messages I’ve heard. Much of it dealt with the positive aspects of the deceased’s personality and achievements. It also included a hopeful message that the deceased was experiencing the joy of full salvation. But how could this be known? Mormons generally are quick to insist they will go to heaven, but which “heaven” or “degree of glory”of Mormonism is being referenced? When I speak with Mormons, it is not uncommon for them to admit that they have no idea whether or not they have met the lengthy requirements that are mandatory for exaltation. If such an assurance eludes a Mormon while they are alive, how can a person giving their eulogy be so sure the deceased's exaltation was achieved?