Newsletter
_________________________________________
THE MAIL
Dear
Mr. Decker ——
About a year ago I stepped out of 26 years of Mormonism and became a born again Christian, thanks to the efforts of my persistently stubborn & wonderful husband, and to the grace of God. I am writing to you today to apologize for hating you all these years and for believing the lies about you that are fostered in the Mormon church.
Many years ago I read your book “The God Makers”, and being of the Mormon mindset, was quite put off about it. After that I was told the “official” reason you left the church by our Elders quorum president’s wife. The widely accepted “truth” — with a few variations — is that you were excommunicated twice for adultery and afterwards your wife and children left you and stayed in the church, so you were bitter and wanted revenge. This, of course, cemented the harsh feelings I had towards you after reading your book. Even after leaving Mormonism, having done the research that proves that the church covers up and lies about the truth, you were my last obstacle. I still passionately distrusted any information that might come from you.
Then, just a few days ago my husband looked up your website and clicked on the audio of your testimony. As we were listening, I began to realize there was nothing in there about the version that I had been told. I almost started to cry. I was shocked, and I was so, so sorry. Sorry for believing the worst about you all these years and tenaciously holding to that belief even after leaving the church.
Even as we were listening I felt the overwhelming urge to e-mail you ASAP and ask your forgiveness, for myself and for all the gullible brainwashed friends and family I still have in the church, and to extent by hand and say “thank you, brother, for your ministry”. May God continue to bless you and your family in this new year. I hope someday our paths will cross so I can shake your hand in person. With love, Pam
Dear Pam, Your testimony is thanks enough! It has been worth the loss of any ‘reputation’ to just one more dear Mormon find the true love of God through Christ! You made my day! with love back, Your brother in Christ, Ed
To: Ed@saintsalive.com:
No
message to you would ever get through to your heart and soul -
I pray that you live to a very very old age because what
you then have to face I wouldn't have wished on Adolf Hitler himself. Your
eternity is one of horror to behold. Again my deepest sympathies for ALL you have lost
(and continue to lose) (By
the way, I never
did bother to see Godmakers because I see enough tripe on the television itself)
Dear
Paula…
WOW… Can we talk about this?? You do know, don’t
you, that the LDS
church has done all the LDS
temple work for Adolph Hitler and he is out there in spirit paradise with Joseph
Smith now, waiting to become a celestial Mormon god. I guess you wouldn’t want to
wish that on me. Would you? I sure don’t want to go there!
Dear Mr. Decker:
First, I was blessed to find your website. I
just started putting in possibilities after
reading (again) your "To Moroni with Love" pamphlet and hit the jackpot on about the third try. I'm sure I'll be using your website
This month, I have began a dialogue with two young Mormon missionaries. They are
the typical -- wide eyed, green behind the ears, wanting to do good, but just as innocent and deceived as usual. We have tried to be as non-threatening and cordial to them as possible,
and I think they are starting to listen about
my references about the character and background of Joseph
Smith (knowledge that I have due solely to you and Walter Martin's work).
After several references to the above mentioned publication, on of the "elders" asked me if the work was
written by you. I affirmed it. He then effectively
stated that your work cannot be relied upon because you were excommunicated from the Latter Day Saints church
due to infidelity.
I hesitate to bring this to your attention for several reasons. If the story is
true, I am sure it is not a topic which you care to address again, nor should you have to.
And second, even if the story is true, it does not diminish the truths that
you speak of in your works.
I am hoping that the story is a complete falsehood and that I can provide correspondence directly from you stating just that. This would provide just one more bit of evidence to these kids that the
Mormon church plays fast and loose with the
truth.
Can
you help me? Again, I am sorry to ask
something so personal as this. But
I felt it was worth the risk, since the rewards of saving another lost soul
from the clutches of this counterfeit faith could be so high.
Thank
you in advance, Mr. Decker.
Your
friend, Shane
Dear
Shane.
Here is an exact copy of my excommunication record. The original is on file at the special
collections library at Utah State University, Decker Collection.
THE CHURCH OF
JESUS CHEST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
THE OFFICE OF
THE STAKE PRESIDENT
Bellevue,
Washington Stake
Nov. 14, 1976
Mr. J. Edward Decker
address
Issaquah, Wa.[sic] 98027
Dear Brother Decker:
In
follow-up to the High Council Court held on October 21, 1976, this letter is to formally
advise you that as of that date you were EXCOMMUNICATED from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This was the result of your request that your name be
removed from the records of the Church.(emphasis
added)
As we
hope you are aware, this action was taken without any animosity toward you by any member
of the Church. In fact, our concern for your eternal salvation has increased rather than
diminished.
As of
this time, you have cut yourself off from any part or portion of the Celestial Kingdom. We must remind you that when the final decision was
made, you were the one who requested that your name be removed from the records of the
Church. This decision was yours and yours alone.(emphasis
added)
Fortunately
for you, the days of your probation in this life are not past. You still have the
opportunity of making the principle of repentence[sic] effective in your life. How
successful you will be in this endeaver [sic] will be ultimately between you and the Lord,
but there is no minimizing the long, up-hill battle you have before you. Anything we can
do to assist you, working through your Bishop or anyone who may succeed him, we will be
more than happy to do. Nothing would give us more joy than to be able to reconvene the
High Council Court for the purpose of authorizing your re-baptism into the Church.
May the Lord bless you to
accomplish this,
Sincerely your
brethern[sic]
signed: the 3 members of the
BELLEVUE WASHINGTON STAKE PRESIDENCY