From Kolob to Calvary's podcast

As a free (or formerly free) society, we're being attacked on multiple fronts. The assaults are coming from the sectors of politics, education, finance, environment, health, and culture. Deception and media propaganda is now the norm. And to add insult to injury, apostate churches teaching doctrines of demons lead many astray, like lambs to the slaughter.  Our enemy—the kingdom of darkness—uses people to carry out its plans through as many agents of change as possible, and this has happened since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden. What are these agents of change that Satan infiltrates and uses? Find out in this episode!

Bankers are not taught to recognize every possible counterfeit bill out there. They are taught to know the genuine bill so well that they can spot a fake. We have the best spiritual Counterfeit Detector of all; the Holy Spirit. There is only one truth that matters from an eternal perspective—Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Him. We must devote ourselves to being truth seekers. Put on the armor of God and take up the shield of faith. Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. Only then can we have victory in our lives and be able to endure to the end.

Authentic Christianity is not an institution—it's placing one's faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Messiah and redeemer, and through Jesus being reconciled to  God. In this episode, Tracy uses her experience in Mormonism to illustrate that the Enemy—Satan—uses the same deceptive tactics in every false religious system outside and inside of the umbrella of Christianity. Religious deception and spiritual abuse exists within some Christian churches. When honest questions or a desire for transparency with church finances or practices are discouraged or forbidden, it's a sign that something is wrong.

It's obvious we live in a world and a time of great deception. We may not be able to completely avoid being deceived, but there are ways to overcome deception so we can walk in truth and victory. This episode takes a look at different types of deception.

What does it mean to pray without ceasing? It's truly amazing how we have a direct connection with God in that He not only hears us when we pray aloud, but also hears and knows our very thoughts and the things we are praying in our minds.

It is important that we know who we are in Jesus and that we have a solid unshakable faith in the authority He gives each of us. We have to know that our identity is firmly established in Christ and Christ alone. Jesus modeled what He wanted His disciples to do. He modeled what He wants us to do as his disciples. We have access to the same power and authority that Jesus had.

"...as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God's people." (Ephesians 6:18) There's one more key to successfully putting on the armor. The apostle Paul concludes his instruction concerning the various pieces of armor by adding that we should "pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." In all the teaching and training we do in spiritual warfare, don't underestimate the power of prayer—particularly intercessory prayer. Intercessors are the backbone of the community of faith.

"For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak." (Isaiah 59:17) God Himself is zealous and fervently passionate about His people and His plan. In simplest terms, zeal is fuel. It is anything that drives people: their passion, their purpose, what they live for. For Christians, zeal is a burning desire to do God's will and to live according to His purpose.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) In Ephesians 6, Paul lists as the sixth piece of armor, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." It's important to understand how the imagery of a soldier's sword helps us know how to use Scripture to win our spiritual battles. The battle is real and immediate, with the specter of sudden destruction looming. In the midst of Babylon, we must heed the call to come out. Our future in God's Kingdom hinges on our commitment to this effort.

Be be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes...Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10–11, 17) Most people wish life would be a picnic, but every person on earth will face sorrow, hardship, and suffering at some point in their lives. Yet despite this truth, many—even believers with an understanding of the devil and his devices—mentally and spiritually dress as if they are taking excursions to the zoo. Instead of suiting up in the armor of God, they don tank-tops, shorts, and flip-flops without giving their spiritual apparel a second thought. Rather than being alert and battle ready, they stroll along from day to day, spiritually underdressed with no regard to the warning given in 1 Peter 5:8 (CJB): Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

"...in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." (Ephesians 6:15) It's imperative that we understand and know what are we are placing our faith in. Faith requires a large dose of trust. As with anything of importance, examining the evidence is a must. In terms of our belief and reliance on God of the Bible, we can see from Scripture that God is faithful and unchangeable, and that we can trust Him to fulfill all His promises to us.

"...and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Ephesins 6:15). What do these shoes represent and how are they to be worn? We must have the right shoes for the right occasion. We wouldn't wear flip flops to a formal dinner or to hike in the woods. Roman infantrymen wore tough sandals that were studded with thick, sharp nails on the bottoms to increase their traction. The bottom of our shoes are fitted with the nails that pierced our Savior's hands and feet. The time is now when we have to dig in our heels and resist spiritual enemy forces.

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness..." (Ephesians 6:11–12, 14) The account of David and Goliath offers insight into donning the armor of God. King Saul tries to discourage David by saying he was but a boy and Goliath a seasoned warrior from his youth. That's like us being discouraged when the enemy taunts us; “You're just a weak human; demons and fallen angels are powerful and have been causing destruction for thousands of years! You cannot prevail against us!” David recounts being rescued from the lion and bear and states with confidence that God will rescue him from the giant Philistine. Likewise, we can say, “Adonai, who rescued me from sin and death, will rescue me from the hand of Satan.” We will prevail because Jesus already won the victory at Calvary.

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:11–17) When we secure the belt of truth around our waists, there are six areas of truth that we must know and understand: Truth about the Godhead Truth about Scripture and doctrine Truth about who we are Truth about who the enemy is Truth as pertains to reality Truth in the Inward Parts

What happened to the modern Christian Church? Things have changed in the last couple decades going from genuine worship and focus on Jesus to concert-style music and feel-good messages. Are we being led down a primrose path to destruction? We were saved to do good works that God prepared in advance for us to do. A gospel that requires nothing of its followers is not good news!

Finding a church can be difficult for those leaving Mormonism. Fear and uncertainty are the biggest roadblocks. It's helpful to have an understanding of what "church" is and what it isn't. It's time to move away from pablum and pious platitudes. We need pastors who study and can "rightly divide the word of truth."

If you're able to walk away from the LDS Church with the support of family and friends, count yourself among the lucky ones. Most individuals leaving the Church get pushback of some kind from Mormon relatives and acquaintances. While you can expect resistance, negative reactions, heated arguments, awkward conversations, and strained relationships, what should you do if things turn toxic? How do you set boundaries to protect yourself and your family?

Leaving Mormonism doesn't have to mean losing faith. It isn't necessary to throw Baby Jesus out with the Mormon bathwater. Coming to grips with whether or not God is real and relevant is a challenge facing ex-Mormons. They exit a false paradigm and consequently are fearful of being deceived again. It seems less painful to choose unbelief rather than take the chance of being hurt by religion again. But what if God (not the god of Mormonism; but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) really exists and you could have a joyful, authentic relationship with him? And what if the evidence isn't based on subjective feelings?

In the concluding chapter to "Mormonism, the Matrix, and Me," Tracy explains what it's like for Mormons who find out the foundation they've built their lives upon is shifting sand, and offers a heart-felt apology to LDS friends and loved ones who were hurt by her insensitive words and actions when she left the Church. She dispels rumors about why she left Mormonism, and details what happened to her marriage, family, and spiritual walk. Mormonism, the Matrix, and Me by Tracy Tennant is available in paperback and eBook formats online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers.

Tracy and four of her sons take a five-week long cross-country trip, staying at the homes of ex-Mormons along the way. Scott and the rest of the kids rendezvous with them in Utah for the Crookston family reunion. By the end of their extraordinary adventure, three of Tracy's teenagers reject Mormonism. Of her remaining LDS adult sons, one leaves on a mission for the Church and the other comes to faith in the Biblical Jesus while in rehab. Yet, with all the miracles taking place, Tracy and Scott take a surprising step.

LDS relatives and friends argue that Tracy left the Church for attention, or because the standards were too hard to keep, or because she never had a testimony to begin with. Her visiting teachers bombard her with pro-Mormon material and Tracy shares her written Exit Story (reasons for leaving the Church) with them in response. After being "prompted by the Spirit," Bishop Lytle decides to convene a disciplinary court on Tracy for charges of apostasy. After being threatened with a lawsuit, the Bishop is prompted by the Spirit to cancel the proceedings.

Tracy and Scott begin a weekly study with their home-teacher, an attorney, to investigate the problems of Mormonism and, if possible, substantiate its truth claims. They are sadly disappointed at Brother Ellis' lackluster efforts to research and find the truth. The home-teacher acts more like a defense attorney for the Church than a bulldog detective determined to get to the bottom of things. Scott asks to be released from all his church callings.

Weekly Family Home Evenings and daily family devotions become a battleground over theology. Every attempt Tracy makes at teaching Biblical truth is undermined by Scott as he continues to defend Mormonism, even though he doesn't believe it. Tracy and the kids look for a new church to attend. Some of their misconceptions about Christianity are cleared up.

Tracy teaches her last Relief Society lesson on the topic Beware of False Prophets. The Relief Society sisters and 1st counselor in the Bishopric love the lesson, although the implication of its message wouldn't be seen until the following week when Tracy stops attending the ward. With confidence and determination, she hands the Bishop her church resignation letter. He asks her to hold off a little while longer for the sake of their friendship.

"Your mom will never let you get baptized, cuz she's an apostate now!" Tracy overheard her 10-year-old nephew warn her soon-to-be eight-year-old son. She was quickly becoming "the black sheep of the family." LDS relatives refused to even entertain the possibility that the Church might not be true. Tracy and Scott had been hoping that the trip to Utah would be instrumental in supporting the claims of Mormonism; instead, it only confirmed their doubts. To know one way or the other, for once and for all was a relief, although it was coupled with sorrow.

Determined to know the truth, Tracy and Scott embark on an intense fact-finding mission. Desperate to find evidence to support Mormonism, their travels take them to Utah, where they meet with an LDS Institute Director, active LDS relatives, and the notorious Jerald and Sandra Tanner, and Dennis and Rauni Higley. What they discover shakes them up even more.

The night the Oprah Show airs, Tracy gets a surprise phone call from Becky, "The Other Woman" in the love triangle of 20 years before. She's told the startling news that Becky left the LDS Church just a few months before and had become a Born-Again Christian. Tracy is sure this is her chance to bring Becky back into Mormonism.

With tattered tee-shirt, threadbare jeans, and a crumb-laden bosom resembling a snack tray, Tracy (now the ward's new Relief Society president) is escorted to Harpo Studios in Chicago to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show for a Frumpy Clothes Makeover. Does Heavenly Father hear and answer prayers over pet fish? Maybe the answers are different than we expect.

Have you ever taught a lesson that went so badly it caused a class member to run screaming from the room? Some Relief Society lessons are like that. At least this one was. The way Tracy handled it propelled her to a new level of fame and respect within the ward.

It seemed like some people had a direct connection on the Holy Ghost Hotline and were on a first-name basis with the Godhead. Many of her LDS friends claimed having visions, dreams, and daily promptings of the Spirit. Wondering what was wrong with her, never seeing "dead people" in the temple (sleeping people perhaps, but not dead ones), Tracy begins to practice hearing the "still, small voice" with some unintended consequences.

Historic interviews with LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley by Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes and Time Magazine have members of the Church excited, anticipating what the prophet will tell the world! Tracy is troubled by some statements that seem less than forthright. Her brother-in-law tells her not to worry; that the Church is true even if some of its leaders aren't real "prophets, seers, and revelators." He explains that one day soon the Lord would come to "clean house" and set His church in order.

Did the people across the street have something against large families or something against Mormons? Tracy couldn't wait to move out of the neighborhood, away from those "born-again Christians." Her neighbors weren't the only ones who didn't like Mormons. When Walter Martin discussd Mormonism on his radio program, "The Bible Answer Man," he got the facts right, but always put them in the worst possible light. One day Mormons would be vindicated and the whole world would see that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth! The immediate problem was that Scott wasn't so sure about that anymore after reading the book, "By His Own Hands Upon Papyrus."

Close Encounters of the Teenage Kind. Tracy faces challenges as she takes three of her kids to have their wisdom teeth removed. Each one of them manifests a variety of side effects from the anesthesia; everything from pole dancing to macho-man calisthenics to incessant talking. Do moms really sign up for this?

Tracy and her two sons are chased by hillbillies across a parking lot and down a back-street. After that harrowing event, life seems to settle back down when a disturbing and heartbreaking situation develops. Tracy learns about being judgmental; what goes around, comes around.

Ahhh, the joys of motherhood! Nothing like children who put things up their noses (keys, beads, fingers) or roll along the church pew at breakneck speeds. Join Tracy in her pursuit of parenting perfection.

Tracy is introduced to popular Christian music and begins incorporating it when asked to sing special musical numbers in Sacrament Meeting and other Church events. She and Scott become well-known for their talents, despite being so bad at one time that they were given a 5-dollar tip to stop singing.

Is the United States Constitution divinely inspired and to be considered Scripture? Joseph Smith and other LDS leaders have prophesied that the Constitution would "hang by a thread" and the Mormon people would rescue it from destruction. Who will survive the coming calamities? Will the only safety to be found be in Jackson County, Missouri with the LDS Church? 

Three hitch-hikers disappear from the back seat of your car after warning you that the End of the World is near! Are you ready to walk to Jackson County, Missouri to escape the coming calamities? Never fear when food-storage is here! Chapter 7.

Having rambunctious children doesn't exactly endear a family to neighbors! Tracy learns that actions lead our emotions, and if you "do right" you'll "feel right" in relationships.

With no working car, Tracy goes to the hospital on a motorcyle to deliver her third baby. She meets two special women in the ward who later become her best friends. A high-profile ward member loudly chastises Tracy in front of the whole congregation during the passing of the Sacrament. Tracy leaves in tears, vowing never to return. Will she become an inactive member or come back? 

Tracy's LDS Institute teacher tells her that polygamy will be a common practice among church members during the Millennium; an idea she is not crazy about but will deal with when the time comes. She prepares for her temple endowment and sealing to her husband.

Scott brings home a mysterious package he finds in a dumpser. Will it be filled with coins or jewels? Will it be the end of his and Tracy's "Hamburger Helper" days? Chapter 3.

Unable to marry Donny Osmond, Tracy settles for a mere mortal from her ward; a returned missionary who, at the ripe old age of 26, had not yet found "Miss Right." The only problem was trying to eliminate the competition. Chapter 2.

Tracy is introduced to Mormonism at the age of 13. Her family moves to Utah where she meets the boy of her dreams: Donny Osmond. Chapter 1. 

First in a series of bonus episodes, this is the introduction to the compelling autobiography; Mormonism, the Matrix, and Me. Tracy discusses the purpose of the book and introduces listeners to the concept of a "spiritual Matrix," designed by the Enemy of our souls to blind us to God's truth.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people." Tracy discusses the importance of transparency and patience with loved ones as you make the transistion out of Mormonism. In the words of leadership expert Simon Sinek, "Good leaders make you feel safe." When your active LDS family members feel safe around you, remarkable things can happen. In the conclusion of this series, you will be encouraged to know that God is FOR you, not against you, as you go through the process of leaving the Church. The basis for the series on Leaving Mormonism is the Kindle book, "Confessions of an ex-Mormon: What I Wish I Knew When I Left the Church" (available on Amazon).

The emotional challenges of leaving Mormonism include living with fear and regret and isolating oneself from others. Tracy discusses how to overcome these negative emotions and move toward recovery.

Active Mormons sometimes think that people who leave the Church are trading Mormonism for hedonism; in other words, they leave for the purpose of living a life of debauchery. Nothing could be further from the truth, yet that is a common misperception. Tracy discusses how flaunting our newly acquired vices (coffee, tea, Mike's Hard Lemonade, and fishnet stockings) impact our LDS family and friends (or ex-friends).

Of all the mistakes made when someone leaves the Church, forgetting tact and sensitivity is one of the biggest. In this segment of "Leaving Mormonism," Tracy talks about the harm done to relationships when we disrespect the beliefs of our LDS family and friends by using sarcasm, inappropriate humor, and arguing. As Oliver Wendell Holmes advised, "Don't flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become."

How will my spouse and kids react when I tell them I no longer believe? What will my Mormon relatives and friends say? How should I respond to ward members? These are some of the questions Mormons ask as they begin the process of leaving the Church. In this episode, Tracy talks about how it feels for individuals leaving Mormonism, some of the reactions they can expect from others, and what their loved ones might be feeling.