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3 Myths About Mormons…

February 16, 2014 by Ben Tanner

1. Mormons have horns

This one has made many Mormons laugh. But would be surprised how many people actually believe Mormon’s have horns. We did some research to figure out where this myth came from and found the following:

While serving as the president of the Southern States Mission (south eastern area of the United States) J. Golden Kimball was officiating at a midnight baptism. The baptism was being held at midnight for the protection of those involved. The KKK showed up and started to get hot tar ready so they could tar and feather the Mormons. President Kimball told the rest of the company to leave to protect them and said he was going to reason with the men. He overheard the men saying it looked like “the skinny one” had horns (looking through the darkness). J. Golden was wearing a hat that must have given that appearance. President Kimball responded to what he heard by saying that Mormons have horns and if they (the KKK) didn’t leave he was going to “Gouge the Hell out of them.” The men left not wanting to risk it, and the myth of Mormons and horns was born.

2. Mormons Worship Joseph Smith

As a missionary in Alabama, I often encountered this myth. Mormons do revere Joseph Smith as a prophet of God just like Moses, or Abraham. But they don’t worship Joseph. Joseph was an instrument in the hands of God to restore the church of Jesus Christ. But he was a fallible, human being who needed the atonement of Christ just like anyone else. Joseph never claimed to be God. He always pointed to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost as the one true and eternal Godhead. Joseph was the first prophet in this dispensation and has been followed by other prophets all the way to Thomas S. Monson today. Each president/prophet of the church is very careful to make sure everyone knows they are NOT the head of the church, rather Christ is the head of the church and it belongs to Him.

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a “White” church.

The truth is that for many years the population of the church was mainly made up of members of Caucasian ethnicity. However you might be surprised to know that more members of the church live outside of the United States than live inside. The membership of the church is very diverse now with large populations and ethnicity’s from countries all over the world. The Book of Mormon says:

“33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”

It’s true the Priesthood was withheld from males of African decent. This was rooted in 19th century folk doctrine. It was unclear for years if this was based on an actual revelation or just a policy put in place for a time. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Spencer W. Kimball that this practice should end. (for more information on this read here)

But the priesthood and all temple blessings are available to all worthy males now.

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With God, All Things Are Possible

August 18, 2013 by Ben Tanner

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

If you are anything like me, you probably read this scripture and focus on Nephi’s courageous and obedient heart. His determination to do whatever the Lord wants to him to do. His complete faith in his Father-in-heaven. Those are all good things to focus on when reading this scripture. But recently I’ve felt the need to focus on what Nephi is actually pointing to in this scripture. Nephi, I think would be embarrassed if he knew people were focusing on him rather than the power of the Lord when reading this scripture. I believe Nephi is pointing us to the Lord’s power to provide a way, no matter how hard, no matter how impossible the task might be. It is the Lord, says Nephi that is so just that He won’t even command you to do anything without providing a way for you to do it. Even if that “way” is through God’s power alone. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life” Jesus is the way Nephi is pointing to. Nephi know’s that without the power of the Lord, he would fail. But with Him, he cannot fail.

The prophet Lorenzo snow said:

“In and of ourselves we cannot possibly comply with all the commandments that God has given unto us. Jesus himself could not without divine aid from His Father accomplish His work. He said on one occasion, “I can of mine own self do nothing, as I hear I judge and my judgment is just because I seek not my own will but the will of the Father who sent me.” [John 5:30.] And we, if it was necessary for Him, our Lord,to have divine assistance, will find it all the more important to receive His assistance. And in every circumstance and condition surrounding the Latter-day Saints, while in the performance of their duties, they are entitled to supernatural aid from the Holy Spirit, to help in the various conditions surrounding them, and in the duties that they are required to perform.”

Simply put, you can’t do it alone. But you can do it with God. He is all powerful. His words will all be fulfilled. As Nephi said, He will provide a way. He loves you. No matter what mountain you need to move in your life, He can provide a way. Indeed He aready did. He provide THE WAY. And that is Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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How Apple, Google, Facebook & Microsoft are Changing Christianity

May 20, 2013 by Ben Tanner

In the 1450’s Johann Gutenberg used his printing press to print a Latin version of the Bible (the first book ever printed on the press). Now the Bible and other books could be reproduced in mass and the good word could get to the people. Spurring on the protestant reformation, holding priests to account and causing drastic changes the expression of Christianity.

Fast forward to today and the changes continue. Gallup reported that U.S. confidence in organized religion has hit a low point. Could tech be playing a role in the decline of confidence American’s have in organized religion?

Google, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft don’t have a hidden agenda when it comes to Christianity, but their technologies are certainly making an impact on it. Today it’s easy to download the Bible to your smartphone, or tablet and get different translations, cross references and commentary. Thin, stylish cases and keyboards for smartphones and tablets allow believers access to the good word wherever they are. The scriptures are more accessible and there are more tools to understand them than ever before. For some people, this means they no longer choose to rely on their pastor or priest to understand the scriptures. For other’s however it only strengthens their tie’s with organised religion.

Tiffini Wilcock, a Latter-day-Saint says that it has increased her faith – “Everything is accessible right there. I love it, It’s blessed my life!”

Kristy Rhodes, a lay Christian says “I see way too many people using their smartphones and tablets during worship services playing games or doing other things that have nothing to do with church. I keep wishing that everyone would put them away.

Perhaps it’s a double edged sword for believers. Easy access to spiritual material, and easy distractions that can interrupt spirituality. Zach Burton, another Christian says “Being completely honest, I would say it has hindered my growth. Sure, I have access to all the “tools” on my phone. But do I study (my scriptures) more because of that? Not necessarily. I was with my kids on Saturday and I took a moment to look around. Half the parents were on their phones and were oblivious to their children. I would say that affects ones “spirituality” more so than reading or not reading scriptures on their smartphone. Isn’t the reason we read is to improve? I am guilty. I waste time on my smartphone. I am somewhat shocked that its so hard to admit.”

Apparently, technology like money can be used for both positive and negative ends.

But how congregations worship is not the only way technology is changing Christianity. Social media is being used to create a sense of community like never before. Church leaders are able to interact with parish and congregation members in their everyday lives, not just on Sunday.

Many congregations are creating special Facebook groups and Google hangouts to not only interact with each other, but to engage in the larger community around them. “We created a neighborhood Facebook group so we could reach out and create real relationships with people in our neighborhood who don’t share our faith” said Joseph, a missionary for his church. “We wanted to make sure that our neighbors know that even if they don’t share our faith, we still want to be great neighbors and friends with them.”

Religious conversations are heating up all over social media. A quick search for “Jesus” on Google plus will produce an almost never-ending stream of conversations about Christianity. Indeed, there is so much faith based conversation in social media that some are calling it the new “burned over district” a reference to the religious scene in the western and central regions of New York in the early 19th century, where religious revivals and Pentecostal movements of the Second Great Awakening took place.

With all of the dialog, Christianity is changing to a more individual faith for some and tighter knit communities of faith for others.

The big tech companies are definitely having an impact. Much like Gutenberg’s printing press, technology will continue to play a role in how Christians worship, study and even interact with other faiths.

Category Faith | Tags: Christianity,Technology and Religion | No Comments
The Testimony Of A 9-Year-Old…

March 24, 2013 by Ben Tanner

I would like to bear my testimony, and I know that the church is true, I know that Jesus came to earth, and that Jesus was born. I know that Joseph Smith restored the true church. I know that the Book of Mormon and other scriptures are true, and that our current prophet is Thomas S. Monson.

I know that if we listen to the prophet we will know Heavenly Fathers instructions, and that through his teachings of the gospel we can be with him again. I am very grateful for all that Heavenly Father has given us. I am also grateful for his gospel.

I am grateful that through the atonement of Christ we can repent and be forgiven. I know that the scriptures teach us the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I would like to share an experience that I had with angels.

One night I was having nightmares and I could not go back to sleep, so my dad said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to send angels to comfort me. I could not see the angels but I could feel them beside me. I was able to go back to sleep for the rest of the night.

I know that we can ask Heavenly Father through prayer for things that we need and he will help us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

(I asked my 9-year old Eden to type her testimony here. I’m one proud Papa. She has been and will always be one of my favorite people ever, just sayin)

CLICK HERE TO TALK TO ASK A QUESTION TO A MISSIONARY

Restored Truth

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John Lennox: Common Objections Atheists Make

January 27, 2013 by Ben Tanner

If you don’t know who John Lennox is, you’re missing out. He is a professor of mathematics at Oxford University and a Christian apologist. He is from Ireland, has a great sense of humor and is very fun to listen to. He has met and debated Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens in public debate and in my opinion, has pretty much decimated their arguments. If you want some great reasons to believe in Jesus Christ, you might take the time to watch this:

I leave my personal witness with you also that Jesus really is the Christ. He died for you. He has restored His church today. It’s the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Christmas Memory

December 9, 2012 by Ben Tanner

My Mother, Mary Jane Duke Tanner, still directing ward Christmas programs at age 72

My Mother loves to sing, dance and perform. She is the youngest child of a youngest child, and I happen to be her youngest child. They say that youngest children like to be in the spot light and these three generations of youngest children are no exception.

My Mother has an exquisite singing voice. She is also a great dancer and all around performer.

Her father taught her sisters and her to sing and perform from the time they were very little. My Mother did the same with all of her children. Christmas was a very busy time for my family. This is because my Mom had us in just about any Christmas program available, and most of the time, she was in charge of directing the performance.

Most years we would travel around performing for schools, local church congregations, and even nursing homes. Each child in our family (all 7 kids) had a solo to sing. Incidentally, my Dad didn’t like to perform much, but he would do the narration and intermediate speaking parts.

Of all the places that we performed, I remember the nursing homes the most. The people we performed for didn’t seem like they even knew we were there. Yet my Mother treated each of them like they were dignitaries or celebrities. She made me feel like they were the most important people to perform for.

I was always happy to get my part done because I have to admit it was hard to sing and play the guitar in front of people who were suffering from dementia. But when my Mother would sing, their eyes would light up. Smiles would appear on their faces and many would start singing along.

She had taken the time to learn songs they would recognize. Songs that pre-dated her. This was a powerful thing. Instantly this room full of wheelchair bound people would be filled with voices singing. These people became people to me. I was often surprised to hear how good they could sing.

My Mother was so comfortable around them. She treated each of them with dignity and respect. And it wasn’t a show. It was real. You could feel it. The love could be felt deeply. You just knew my mother loved and respected them, and you knew that they felt the same way about her.

What a lesson to learn. I think this is why I feel so comfortable around elderly people. I enjoy learning about them and their stories. They have so much to give. They know things that you can’t learn in any other way than experience.

I hope I can pass this kind of love and respect on to my children. I’m forever thankful to my angel Mother for her example.

Category Faith | Tags: Christmas Memory | 3 Comments
I’m a Christian because…

October 21, 2012 by Ben Tanner

Many have the mistaken belief that because Christians stand for traditional values, they think they are somehow better or more pious than other people. This is a false notion. The very fact that one considers themselves a Christian should tell others that they fully understand that they are far from perfect and admit freely that they need a Savior, a power beyond their own to become perfect.

Unlike the atheist, which says there is no right or wrong (unless of course you disagree with them), The Christian proclaims that there is right and wrong, good and evil…and unfortunately, we don’t always find ourselves on the side of the right because of our sins. However, if we have faith in The Lord, and repent, we can be forgiven and set on safe ground because of the mercy of Jesus Christ.

I’m a Christian because I’m not perfect. And I know that Jesus is. That He has all power and can take my feeble attempts to be more like Him and change me, sanctify me, clean me, and make me whole.

I’m a Mormon because I believe that the authority to gain access fully to the Lords redeeming power through baptism is found in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I know I’m not perfect, but through Him someday I can be.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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Sometimes God says “no”

September 30, 2012 by Ben Tanner

Yesterday, we were blessed with a litter of puppies. We soon found out however, that one of the 11 pups, a male, was not doing well. It wouldn’t suckle and it was having a hard time breathing. We noticed that it had an enlarged swollen tongue.

Jessica and I worked with the new born puppy and tried to help it breath. We tried to feed the pup but it couldn’t swallow. Our little 9 year old daughter was very sad and immediately started to pray for the little puppy.

I even went to the drastic measure of trying to give the puppy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Unfortunately, the puppy didn’t make it. Our daughter was going to a birthday party so we decided not to tell her that the puppy had died until after she got home so that she wouldn’t be sad during the party.

When she got home, we sat her down and gave her the bad news. She began to sob as so did her mother. Although this was a tough thing for our daughter to go through, I’m grateful we have had this opportunity to help her grow in her faith.

Grow in her faith? But didn’t she pray and the puppy still died? Yes. Didn’t God not answer her prayers? No, God did answer her prayers. How so? God said no.

Sometimes God says no. He doesn’t shield us from every disaster. He doesn’t heal every sickness. He doesn’t give us everything we ask for. This is because he loves us too much. We would never learn the hard lessons or develop a divine character if everything we ask for was handed to us.

Instead, God sent us here to test us, to try us, to help us learn things we could not learn any other way. The same God who healed the sick, and made the blind see, also lets people go through extremely hard things, for our good.

I testify that God does hear your prayers, and that He loves you. Prayer is not a process in which we seek to change the will of God, but rather a process of us seeking His will, and conforming to it.

He really knows best.

Mosiah 4:9

9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Category Faith | Tags: Faith in God | 3 Comments
Faith Can Take You Further…

March 25, 2012 by Ben Tanner

Today in sacrament meeting one of the young women (Katherine Hanzel) told about a recent experience. With her permission, I will share it here. She and a friend were at a climbing gym. They were mostly trying the easiest climbs. But then a man came into the gym who was blind. They watched in a amazement how this man chose one of the harder climbs in the gym, and then proceeded to climb it successfully using only the instructions of his belayer.

She said they decided to try it for themselves. They picked a harder climbing rout, one which they would never have believed they could accomplish, and then she closed her eyes and used only the instructions of her belayer. To their astonishment, both were able to navigate to the top.

She testified that they would never had even tried if they were relying only on themselves. Instead they put their trust in the other persons hands, who had a much better view than they did and were able to accomplish what they never thought possible. She said that she believed that life is the same way. If we take the Holy Ghost as our guide, and trust Him to tell us what to do and how to navigate through life, He will help us accomplish much greater things than we would even consider trying on our own.

That is one reason faith is essential. Without faith in God, we will never reach our fullest potential. With faith in God, our potential is unlimited.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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I Believe In Things I Cannot See

October 30, 2011 by Jessica

New Author Jessica Tanner

We learn about gravity pretty early on in our lives. When we first try learning to walk we stumble and fall down many times. We don’t see what it is that makes us fall, we just feel the result of falling. As we get older we learn that there are things we can do to avoid falling and we usually take necessary precautions, as most of us don’t enjoy falling. When we get into school we get introduced to a name that explains the reason why we fall down instead of falling up. It is called gravity. Gravity is not something we can hold on to.

We cannot taste it,hear it or see it. But we know it exists. We have felt it, we have seen the effects of gravity and we continue to see evidence of it all around us, daily. It manifests itself in the rain that falls from the sky and the tears that fall down our cheeks. Gravity affects the young and the old, the sick and the well, the rich and the poor. We can choose to say “I do not believe in gravity” but it will not change its existence.

I believe in things I cannot see. I may not see God but I believe He exists and I see evidence of Him all around me daily. I see His creations, I see His interventions on the behalf of mankind and I see His hand in my life guiding, helping, protecting, lifting, teaching. One may choose to say “I do not believe in God” but that will not make Him any less real. I would say that in this life we experience both a physical gravity and a spiritual gravity.

The physical one, the gravitational pull that keeps us on the earth, is not one we overcome. But the spiritual falls we experience from the weight of the world pulling us down can be overcome. It is God’s gift to us—the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ as he wrought the Atonement—that allows us to overcome the downward pull of this other type of gravity that causes spiritually falling. Through the Atonement we can rise up and become like our Savior and He will make our burdens light.

Alma 32:21

“And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for thingswhich are not seen, which are true.”

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