Sept 20, 2026 | www.GospelofJesusChrist.blog | River Wilde
(The views expressed in this article are my personal interpretations of the Bible, particularly concerning biblical prophecy and the end times. They have come to me through endless study of the scriptures, as well as frequent prayerful searching for TRUTH. They are offered for discussion, study, and personal reflection. I do not claim special revelation, nor do I speak on behalf of any church, denomination, religious organization, or its leaders. Readers are encouraged to study the Scriptures for themselves, seek God’s guidance through prayer, and draw their own conclusions.)
I had been a lifetime active member of the Mormon church, serving a mission, married in the temple, and holding many leadership positions in the Mormon Church, until several years ago.
As I Studied the New Testament, there were many clear teachings that went against Mormon doctrine, including the very most important one of how to become Born Again.
Study became very easy for me to see what was true, compared to the things that I had been taught through the church. In my excitement to share this truth, I was dramatically stonewalled from those who were still active in the church.
I questioned why this was happening? The evidence of truth was right there, and SIMPLE to see. But members, and family, were not only resistant to learning truth, they began to push me away because of the truth that I was trying to share.
So why such a difficulty. What I concluded is MY OWN interpretation and conclusion, but I’d like to share the reasons that I believe this is so. It has to do with the Mormon temple.
When I was just 18 years old, in keeping with Mormon expectations, I had to go through the temple before entering the mission field. Because of the “sworn secrecy” of the temple, nobody was able to share, or teach me what I was about to experience.
As I sat in the audience, actively participating, I was HORRIFIED! Satan was a big part of the temple presentation, which I thought… “What is he doing here in a temple of God?” I remember being taught that we shouldn’t talk about him from the church pulpit as we were giving talks, yet here he was as a main character in the temple presentation.
During the temple ceremony, we made hand jesters and statements that we would have our throat cut, and be disemboweled, should we ever talk about the things that were happening in the temple. My thoughts at the moment were that I wanted to escape this immediately. This was not of God! It felt very evil, but I would not embarrass myself in front of my family, so I stayed and participated to the end.
Then something happened, that I could only realize the importance years later, which is why I am writing this article.
In the “Endowment” ceremony in the temple, you make several promises, “Covenants” “in FRONT of God, angles and these witnesses.” Here are those covenants:
Law of Obedience — covenanting to obey God’s law and commandments.
Law of Sacrifice — covenanting to observe the law of sacrifice and devote oneself to God’s work. To give “all that we possess, even our own lives if necessary”
Law of the Gospel — covenanting to live the law of the Gospel as presented in the ceremony. “avoid all lightmindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice.”
Law of Chastity — covenanting to restrict sexual relations according to the marriage standard defined by the ceremony.
Law of Consecration — this was particularly extensive. Participants covenanted to devote their time, talents, and material means/property, essentially everything the Lord had blessed them with—or might bless them with—to the Church and the building up of the kingdom of God.
These are the promises that a person makes. Now, here come the consequences…
Satan then looks at the audience and says this…“I have a word to say concerning these people. If they do not walk up to every covenant they make at these altars in this temple this day, they will be in my power!”
EVERY covenant? Is that even POSSIBLE??? NO!
So realistically, there is NO WAY that any human can live up to all of these…
Loud laughter?
Light mindedness?
Giving ALL that they possess to the church?
Obeying all of God’s Laws and Commandments, which includes lying, keeping the sabbath day holy?
IMPOSSIBLE! And, so goes the “deal with the devil” that has just been made.
When all people attending the temple make a mistake, or do not give all that they have to the church, they have agreed to be under the power of satan! Is this the promise that you made?
Several years ago, I reached a turning point in my life when I began to understand what I believe is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, recorded in the New Testament.
As part of that journey, I removed my Mormon temple garments. What happened afterward was deeply significant to me. As I continued studying the Bible, particularly the words of Jesus Christ, things began to become clear in a way they never had before. The truth RESONATED within me.
That experience has caused me to ask a difficult question. Could there be a spiritual reason why some faithful, temple-attending members of the LDS Church seem so resistant to questioning what they have been taught?
I cannot help but remember the disturbing words spoken by the character of Satan in the historical temple ceremony—that those who failed to live up to the covenants made at the temple altars would be “in my power.”
Does that statement have any spiritual significance beyond the drama of the ceremony? Could it help explain anything I experienced after stepping away? I cannot prove that, and I will not present it as fact.
I can only tell you what happened in my own life, what I subsequently discovered in Scripture, and why that old temple statement now troubles me so deeply.
I am not asking you to accept my conclusion. Investigate it for yourself. Compare everything you have been taught with the Word of God. As the KJV instructs us: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Then prayerfully reach your own conclusion.
BUT, when you see truth, and are very resistant to accepting the true teachings of Jesus Christ, ask yourself why you are pushing truth away.
I encourage you to learn the most important truth that is taught in the gospel of Jesus Christ…How to become Born Again as taught by Christ in the New Testament. It is so very different from what the Mormon church teaches.
Mormon Church
Born Again – Baptism and Conformation
And…. Regarding Salvation…
2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon:
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
Christ’s Teaching
Born Again — Simply Taught From the KJV
Jesus made being born again very clear when He spoke with Nicodemus:
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” — John 3:3 KJV
Being born again is a spiritual birth, not a physical one. Jesus explained:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” — John 3:6 KJV
We are not born again because we join a church, enter a temple, perform ordinances, or accumulate enough good works. Salvation is God’s gift:
Ephesians 2:8–9:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
The Gospel centers on what Jesus Christ has already done. He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again:
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” — 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV
We respond to Christ with genuine faith:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” — Acts 16:31 KJV
When a person truly places their faith in Jesus Christ, something changes inside them:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
That is the simplicity of being born again:
Hear the Gospel → recognize your need for Christ → repent and turn to Him → believe and trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work → receive new spiritual life through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus didn’t say, “Except a man joins the correct church.”
He said:
“Ye must be born again.” — John 3:7 KJV
If you are placing some of your faith in religious temple ordinances, and even in your own good works, you are offending the Savior, for the glory of our salvation rests 100% with HIM, and what He accomplished on the cross… NOTHING ELSE!
We receive this new spiritual rebirth by accepting His atonement through our faith, and believing that His gift is all that is necessary for us to enter heaven. Can you see the significance here?
The Glory Belongs to Jesus Christ Alone
The glory for our salvation belongs completely to Jesus Christ. It should not be divided between Christ and a church, Christ and religious ordinances, Christ and priesthood authority, or Christ and our own good works.
Jesus did not accomplish part of our salvation and leave religion to complete the remainder. On the cross He declared:
“It is finished.” — John 19:30 KJV
His sacrifice was sufficient:
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” — Hebrews 10:10 KJV
And:
“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” — Hebrews 10:14 KJV
If I believe that Jesus Christ saved me plus my church, my temple ordinances, my religious achievements, or my righteousness, then I have begun distributing credit to other sources that Scripture places upon Christ.
Good works absolutely belong in the Christian life—but they are the fruit of salvation, not competitors with Christ for the glory of saving us. Ephesians 2:10 follows immediately after salvation by grace and describes believers as created in Christ “unto good works.”
Jesus Christ does not share the glory of His saving work with my church, my religion, my ordinances, my righteousness, or my good works. I contribute nothing to the cross. Christ paid the entire price. My salvation is His gift, and therefore the glory belongs entirely to Him.
Jesus Christ did not die to help me save myself. He died to save me.
I invite you all to reach that same truthful understanding.
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