At the close of World War II, a great wall was erected through the heart of Berlin. It had the same purpose as all walls that came before and, I suppose, all that is yet to come. The wall was designed to close people in and lock others out. Its builders used it to establish control over others and restrain a person or people from enjoying the dominion God granted all men in the garden of Eden, Genesis 1:26-28. Walls create division between one people and another. They separate families from loved ones, friends from associates, and neighbor from neighbor. Above all, walls are designed to be “above all”, reaching so high that none can peek over the wall and into the faces of those on the other side. It doesn’t take long for people to lose sight of the love and friendly association that once existed across the line where a wall now stands.

A Biblical Foundation

I take my inspiration from Matthew 7.

¹Judge not, that ye be not judged. ²For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. ³And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ⁴Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? ⁵Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5, KJV

It seems clear to me that when we set out to judge another person, we run a huge risk of calling down harsh judgment on our souls. James 2:10 makes it clear that unless we are perfect, we are guilty of violating the whole law. In light of Romans 3:9-20, can any man claim to live perfectly? Being fallen as we are, it seems clear that none can call themselves truly worthy. Therefore, I must conclude that none but God is worthy to judge or condemn the heart of a man.

If we keep reading in Matthew, we will come across a passage that, at first glance, seems to refute the first five verses of that same chapter. But do they?

¹⁶Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ²⁰Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7: 16 & 20, KJV

While this form of judgment may initially appear to be the same as the judgments mentioned in verses 1 – 5, it is a different animal entirely. The first requires that we look into the heart of another and judge their faith, intentions, and motivations. The second, however, asks only that we become fruit inspectors. We are commanded to examine the documentable produce of a man’s actions and deeds.

For example, we cannot look into the heart of a prophet, teacher, or preacher and judge them as unworthy or evil. However, we can examine their teachings against what God has previously revealed. If they should lead people after other gods, which they have not known, we can pronounce the fruit to be poison and reject it completely, Deuteronomy 13:1-5. If a man claims to be a prophet and his prophecies fail to come to pass, we can know he is a false prophet, Deuteronomy 18:20-22. If a teacher or even an angel from heaven leads us after a gospel other than the one previously revealed by God, that false teacher will be accursed, Galatians 1:6-9.

These are but three of many biblical patterns in which God shows us the proper way of a fruit inspector.

Walls When I Was In Chains

Each new wall of Mormon construction has been met with shock and unbelief. Before each was erected, I never would have imagined such a thing was possible. Wall after unexpected wall stands as a witness that these wall builders are capable of every evil.

In 2015, a wall went up when a Mormon Bishop, under the direction of Stake President Garn Lovell, ordered me never to speak or write publically about my faith. I was a zealous Mormon at the time and knew of the church’s command that I continuously share my testimony with all in the sound of my voice. Literally, this Bishop was demanding that I reject canonized Mormon scripture, Mormon prophets and apostles, and my conscience.

Another wall began to be built when my temple recommend was taken because I would not follow local leadership and openly forsake established Mormon teachings.

A third wall rose up when I reached out to Ulisses S. Soares for help in ending the madness. At the time, he was a member of the LDS First Quorum of the Seventy and was assigned to oversee Mormon operations in the region where I lived. Several times, I called his office only to speak with his secretary, an arrogant and self-righteous woman, who took great satisfaction in pointing out my obvious sins. Each time I called, this woman promised that Mr. Soares would return my call. Instead, he rubber-stamped every act of persecution. Today, he serves as a Mormon apostle. I find it telling that he was called to be a Mormon apostle while his office knowingly and repeatedly lied to me.

These first three walls were incredible blessings in disguise. Because of these walls, I began to question my blind faith in Mormonism and turned to God alone for the truth. Reading the Bible for the first time, I discovered that religious leaders issued a gag order to Peter and John that perfectly matched the order of silence I received.

Peter and John were commanded not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:18, KJV

²⁷When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,
²⁸saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

Acts 5:27-28, KJV

I was amazed to learn that Peter and John answered their legalist leaders almost exactly as I had answered this Mormon Bishop and Stake President. What made the commonality between their answer and mine so amazing was that I did not know their story when I gave my answer.

¹⁹But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, ²⁰for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”

Acts 4:19-20, KJV

But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:29, KJV

After pouring through the pages of my Bible and many hours of pleading, God opened my prison doors as he did for Peter and John. He revealed himself, set me free, and redeemed me.

Walls After I Was Set Free

Mormon walls continue to be built. However, I am a new creation in Christ, and walls no longer trouble me much.

At my excommunication hearing, I was peacefully and respectfully bearing witness to the miracles God had worked in the lives of myself and Grace. That is when Stake President Garn Lovell placed a 911 call and falsely reported a disturbance. Three police officers raced to the church but made no arrest when they realized the Stake President had manufactured the disturbance.

Not knowing I had covertly recorded my excommunication hearing, Stake President Lovell caused a letter to be written and distributed, which claims I pose a risk to church leaders and cause members to fear for their safety. The letter stated, “You are no longer welcome to attend any meeting or activity of the Church.” The captured audio of my hearing establishes that Lovell is as much a false witness as those who testified against Jesus, Peter, John, Steven, and Paul.

Some months later, Grace’s closest friend passed away unexpectedly, and her funeral was scheduled at the Mormon church in Rockland, Idaho. Reasoning that a funeral is not a meeting of the church, we attended to pay our respects and extend our love to the family of a dear friend. While approaching the building, we were stopped and asked to leave. We complied quietly and peacefully.

A few days later, I was charged with criminal trespass. During my first court appearance, the conversation addressed the possibility of a six-month incarceration in the county jail and a substantial financial fine. I dug in and demanded a jury trial. Several months of legal posturing ensued, only to end with all the charges against me being dropped.

Even so, the current Stake President routinely insists that I broke the law. The church entrusted the legal system to decide my case, and that system dismissed all charges. The church refuses to accept the decision, even though they are bound to defend it boldly,

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13th Momon Article of Faith

In the years since my excommunication, the local Mormon leadership placed guards at the entrances of the local Mormon meeting house. They told the community that the guards were necessary to keep me from entering the building and using violence to hurt small Mormon children. A one-time friend, one of the high councilmen who officiated at my excommunication, confessed the full extent of this lie and enlarged it. He claimed I threatened to go not only into churches but also schools to harm Mormon kids. The audio from my hearing disproves his libelous claims.

In the five years that followed my excommunication, I have attended weddings, funerals, and more at Mormon church houses. In each case, I was forced to come no closer than the physical property line. Should I cross that property line even to attend the funeral of my own mother, I have the assurance of Dan McConkie that I will be charged and prosecuted yet again.

From the position of an outcast, I stand on the outside and pray for the deliverance of the people inside. This is a new type of wall designed to separate Grace and me from our own family. I find solace in the Bible. There were always some who cast people out of the synagogues, and others were being cast out. It seems that the haters of Jesus were always the ones who were casting the disciples of Jesus out.

In light of all this, I wonder about the meaning of this Mormon scripture.

Nevertheless ye are commanded never to cast any one out from your public meetings, which are held before the world.

Doctrine & Covenants 46:3

Two counselors to the Stake President and a twelve-man High Council were witnesses to all the above-mentioned events. They know the truth and have remained silent when honor and integrity demanded more. They each have assisted in heaping stones atop walls first erected by Mormon leaders.

The Walls Of My Friends

Paul and Barnabas shared the gospel in Antioch. They drew such a crowd of gentiles that the local Jews became jealous and began wall-building.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.

Acts 13:50, KJV

This passage perfectly describes the strategy of the Mormon leaders. When corrupt leaders can get devout and prominent women and the chief men to start whispering lies, their objective has been met. Prominent women and chief men are, in this case, the Mormon faithful who once loved me. They are men and women who once called me friend and brother. What they whisper is frequently accepted as truth without question or investigation. Many of my friends have embraced the claims of Mormon leadership. Adding to the narrative, they heap new stones of accusation and bring existing walls to new heights.

By My Fruit You May Know Me

I am not troubled by the accusations against me, nor do they affect my day-to-day activities. Because of the accusations of my friends, I worry not for myself but for the eternal soul of wall builders.

Dear friends, if the accusations against me are true, please expose my evil fruit. Show me documentable proof, and I will step away from my position and make a public retraction. These past years, I have produced many gospel-centered papers, videos, and podcasts. If you find and expose lies, I will eat them. However, if you are unable, the following passages apply to you,

¹Judge not, that ye be not judged. ²For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 7:1-2, KJV

My beloved friends, should you take this passage literally? I believe you must! If you have made judgments and accusations without the benefit of supporting fruit, you have a serious problem. When you stand before the great white throne of God, you will be judged by the same measure you applied to me. You will face a barrage of accusations for sins you never imagined. Despite your belief that the accusations are false and unsupported, a guilty verdict will be rendered for which there can be no appeal. I believe it will work like this.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

James 2:10, KJV

I love and care for you. Despite our differences, we should be able to rationally discuss the everlasting gospel without building walls.

The Walls I Build

As part of measuring others by their fruit, it is necessary to examine our own eyes for beams and motes. I have looked in the mirror and found a few. Out of frustration, or because of unwarranted offense, I have added stones to walls of my own making. If I have failed to knock down my walls, I wish to do so now. I am profoundly and deeply sorry for every offense, intentional or otherwise. I plead with you; please forgive me.

Moving Forward

Revelation 4:7 speaks of a God who opens doors that no one can shut. I love this more than I can say. As the Mormon leaders manipulate “devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city” to whisper lies, I continue, as did Peter and John. I share the gospel with the Mormon people wherever I may find them!

⁴⁰… and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. ⁴²And daily in the temple (to include Mormon church houses), and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:40b-42, KJV, emphasis added

Mr. Gorbachev (Mormon), tear down this wall

President Ronald Reagan, modified for relevance