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Apostates

Apostates. Ex-members of the Mormon Church who believe doctrines contrary to the current teachings of the LDS Church or those whose lifestyle does not reflect that of a Latter-day Saint According to D&C 41:1 apostates will receive the heaviest of God’s cursings. Can also include those who align themselves with Apostate Christianity. According to twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball, “ Apostasy usually begins with question and doubt and criticism” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 462.). Apostle Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “It follows that if members of the Church believe false doctrines; if they accept false educational theories; if they fall into the practices and abominations of the sectarians; if they use tea, coffee, tobacco or liquor; if they fail to pay an honest tithing; if they find fault with the Lord’s anointed; if they play cards; if they do anything contrary to the standards of personal righteousness required by the gospel – then to that extent they are in personal apostasy and need to repent” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 45).

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12th President Spencer W. Kimball
“Apostasy usually begins with question and doubt and criticism. Apostasy usually begins with question and doubt and criticism. It is a retrograding and devolutionary process. The seeds of doubt are planted by unscrupulous or misguided people, and seldom directed against the doctrine at first, but more often against the leaders. They who garnish the sepulchres of the dead prophets begin now by stoning the living ones. They return to the pronouncements of the dead leaders and interpret them to be incompatible with present programs. They convince themselves that there are discrepancies between the practices of the deceased and the leaders of the present. … They allege love for the gospel and the Church but charge that leaders are a little ‘off the beam’! … Next they say that while the gospel and the Church are divine, the leaders are fallen. Up to this time it may be a passive thing, but now it becomes an active resistance, and frequently the blooming apostate begins to air his views and to crusade. … He now begins to expect persecution and adopts a martyr complex, and when finally excommunication comes he associates himself with other apostates to develop and strengthen cults. At this stage he is likely to claim revelation for himself, revelations from the Lord directing him in his interpretations and his actions. These manifestations are superior to anything from living leaders, he claims” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 462. Italics in original. See also L. Aldin Porter, “The Revelations of Heaven,” Ensign

 

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