In this episode of Witnessing Christ, Mark and Jon delve into The Shelf Breaker: How Jesus Drew Our Family Out of Mormonism by Damien Tracy. This powerful memoir begins with Damien’s traumatic upbringing marked by abuse, leading him into cycles of sin and despair. Despite his earnest efforts to achieve worthiness through Mormon teachings, Damien found himself trapped in guilt, fear, and unworthiness.

Join us as we explore Damien's journey—from confronting his deep-seated struggles to his transformative encounter with grace. We discuss key stress points such as the burden of worthiness, the inconsistencies between LDS teachings and practice, and Mormonism's transactional nature. Central to Damien’s story is the metaphor of the "shelf," representing accumulating doubts and contradictions that eventually broke under the weight of truth.

Damien’s narrative candidly reflects on how personal relationships with faithful Christians, consistent biblical teaching, and genuine grace opened his eyes to a new, liberating identity in Christ. This episode emphasizes the power of relational evangelism, listening compassionately, and consistently pointing to the complete forgiveness found in Jesus alone.

Whether you're witnessing to Mormon friends, grappling with doubt yourself, or eager to understand the profound contrasts between LDS theology and biblical Christianity, this discussion will provide encouragement and practical insights. Tune in to hear how Damien moved from the overwhelming pressure of performance to resting in the unconditional love of Christ.

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FAIR USE NOTICE:

This podcast explores published works written by former-Mormon Christians, highlighting their journeys to faith in Jesus Christ and their insights into the transformative power of the gospel. As part of our episodes, we occasionally quote excerpts from these copyrighted materials.

We do so under the Fair Use provisions of U.S. copyright law (17 U.S. Code § 107), which allow limited use of copyrighted content for commentary, critique, education, and discussion. Our use is transformative, offering biblical reflections, theological analysis, and witnessing insights to help Christians share the gospel in love and truth.

Our intention is not to replace or replicate the original works but to provide thoughtful engagement that encourages listeners to seek out and purchase these valuable resources for themselves. All quoted content remains the property of its respective copyright holders.

In this episode of Witnessing Christ, Pastor Mark and Calvin dive deep into The Journey to Jesus: Finding Christ After Leaving Mormonism by Brandy Bronson. This compelling book chronicles Brandy’s faith crisis sparked by doctrinal inconsistencies and historical revelations from LDS sources. As her trust in Mormon teachings unraveled, Brandy embarked on a search for truth that led her to the Bible and ultimately to Jesus.

Join us as we explore her journey, from the initial cracks in her LDS faith to her profound discovery of biblical truth. We discuss key stress points like the reliability of the Bible, the LDS emphasis on feelings over objective truth, and the pressure to suppress doubts. Brandy’s narrative not only provides a powerful apologetic for the Bible but also serves as a compassionate guide for those who feel trapped between faith and truth.

Whether you're a Christian witnessing to Mormons, a former Mormon wrestling with doubt, or someone seeking to understand the differences between LDS doctrine and biblical Christianity, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement. Tune in and discover why Brandy says, "I left Mormonism because of its problems, but I stay with Christ because of his promises."

Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Support Truth in Love Ministry here.

FAIR USE NOTICE:

This podcast explores published works written by former-Mormon Christians, highlighting their journeys to faith in Jesus Christ and their insights into the transformative power of the gospel. As part of our episodes, we occasionally quote excerpts from these copyrighted materials.

We do so under the Fair Use provisions of U.S. copyright law (17 U.S. Code § 107), which allow limited use of copyrighted content for commentary, critique, education, and discussion. Our use is transformative, offering biblical reflections, theological analysis, and witnessing insights to help Christians share the gospel in love and truth.

Our intention is not to replace or replicate the original works but to provide thoughtful engagement that encourages listeners to seek out and purchase these valuable resources for themselves. All quoted content remains the property of its respective copyright holders.

Welcome to another episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast! In this installment of our Latter-day Saint book review series, Mark, Molly, and Grace dive into After All We Can Do by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a prominent LDS apostle whose winsome style and nuanced take on grace has captured attention within and beyond his faith tradition.

Uchtdorf attempts to reinterpret 2 Nephi 25:23—“it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do”—in a more hopeful and less burdensome light. But does his message reflect biblical grace or reinforce the same exhausting cycle of works righteousness with softer language? Our team engages this question as they thoughtfully explore the book’s high-sounding promises and troubling inconsistencies.

In this episode, you'll hear a critical yet compassionate assessment of the LDS doctrine of “enabling grace,” Uchtdorf’s use of the parable of the prodigal son, and his attempts to merge gratitude-based obedience with conditions for exaltation. Through it all, Mark, Molly, and Grace contrast LDS teachings with the biblical gospel—that salvation is God’s free gift, not a reward for effort, and that hope and righteousness come from Christ alone.

Join us as we examine how to lovingly respond to LDS friends drawn to Uchtdorf’s tone but still burdened by the call to prove their worth. Learn how to point them to the true hope, rest, and rescue found only in Jesus.

Access the Prodigal Son resources we mentioned in the episode:

• Listen to the sermon Pastor Mark preached on Luke 15, along with practical witnessing tips: Witnessing Christ from Luke 15: The Prodigal or Two Lost Sons.
• Share this article with your LDS friends to illustrate both the depth of our sin and the boundless grace of God: The Two Lost Sons: An Invitation to the Father’s Embrace.
• Take the Quiz! Which Son Are You? (Take this with your LDS friends for a good discussion on which of the two sons you most relate to and why.)

Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Support Truth in Love Ministry here.

FAIR USE NOTICE:

This podcast explores published works written by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a particular focus on topics such as grace, salvation, and the character of God. As part of our episodes, we occasionally quote excerpts from these copyrighted materials.

We do so under the Fair Use provisions of U.S. copyright law (17 U.S. Code § 107), which allow limited use of copyrighted content for commentary, criticism, education, and discussion. Our use is transformative, offering biblical responses, theological reflection, and practical witnessing tips to help Christians share the gospel in love and truth.

We want to make it clear: We do not intend to replace or reproduce the original works, nor do we seek to disparage their authors. Instead, our goal is respectful engagement, inviting honest dialogue around eternal questions and the hope found in Jesus Christ. All quoted content remains the property of its respective copyright holders.