Windy Sydney

I just opened this email from a believing Mormon:

"You once knew the church was true and you have turned away from the Lord. You have hardened your heart and you believe lies.

There are so many examples of this "proof" you seek. I could give you thousands of them, but instead I will share the one thing I know will work.

Elizabeth Smart is alive today because of the prayers and fasting from the members of our church. You cannot deny the spirit!"

Yes, really.

So, mystery email Mormon, please let me respond to your craziness.

First, I want to say that I am VERY glad Elizabeth Smart was found and returned to her family. When she was abducted and returned I was living in Florida, and I always checked up on the case through the internet hoping they had leads to finding her. She seems like an outstanding young woman, and I wish her and her family nothing but the best.

Now, let me get down to business...

I am not believing lies. You are.

The only reason I once "knew the church was true" was because I was told that over and over again from the time I was a fetus. The same people that told me 2+2=4 told me that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I believed them, I trusted them, and therefore I believed in what they taught me. Testimony meetings alone are enough to brainwash a young child.

"Look at all the adults at the microphone crying! This must be right!"

"Oh, look! There is Susie! Her mom is whispering in her ear and telling her what to say! I like her mom, and she must be telling the truth."

For these reasons alone, I "knew" the church was true. As we all know, someone can walk up to me in tears and beg with me to understand that the sky isn't blue... it's a bright yellow. I know the sky isn't yellow, because there is proof. If I were to believe this man, I would need proof of some kind. The church has none of this proof.

That leads us to your example of Elizabeth Smart's safe return to prove the church is true.

This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

People of all races, religions, ethnicities and locations go missing every single day. Some of these people are Mormon, some are Catholic, some are maybe even atheists. Some are found safely, some are not.

If God wanted to save Elizabeth because she was a Mormon, or because Mormons were praying for her, maybe he could have stopped her from being abducted in the first place! That would have been nice, right?

I would also like to bring up that Elizabeth's family met with Gordon B. Hinkley when she was missing. Did the prophet have any wise words about where they could find their daughter? Did he give them information that she was, indeed, alive and well? Did he promise them that God would return her to them? No. He didn't. If your prophet can't talk to God, whats the point of having one?

If you are trying to make the argument that God somehow saved Elizabeth because of her religion, or because the people of the Mormon church were praying for her, than God is a big fat jerk.

Hear me out before you have a stroke.

Elizabeth was born into the church just like I was. Other people who went missing were born into their church. You think God would smite the non-Mormon and not step in to save them because they were born into the wrong religion?? Thats a pretty messed up thing for God to do, don't you think? I mean, even though they are not Mormon they are still good people who had lives and even children. You think God picks and chooses who to save by their religion or the religion of those praying for their safe return?

Also, the man who abducted Elizabeth Smart believed he was being told to do this by God. David Brian Mitchell and his crazy-assed wife kidnapped this young girl and forced her into a polygamous marriage. Would this have happened if Mormonism didn't exist? I am leaning towards no... although he might have found another reason to hurt someone else. He's out of his mind.

BUT... again... hear me out...

What *if* God WAS talking to David Brian Mitchell?? What if he was a prophet just like Joseph Smith??? You believe God talked to Joseph, but you don't believe God talked to David? Why? Joseph restored the church and maybe David was trying to do the same thing!

Of course not! I know this... but that shows your thought process there.

Elizabeth Smart is home today because of her little sister remembering who took her. Elizabeth Smart is home today because of the cooperation of media, police, and missing person's groups across the country. Not because of her religion.

Again, I am very happy this young woman is safe and living her life. I admire her greatly, she has dealt with what was handed to her with grace and dignity. I wish I could give her a hug and shake her hand... but that doesn't prove the church is true.

Andee