David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 9/14/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 9/14/25

Joseph Smith the Storyteller

Mormon history is beset with conflicts from its very beginning in New York. Joseph Smith was a storyteller who got himself in trouble numerous times with his imaginative stories.

> There was the “glass-looking” arrest where Smith was charged with defrauding people by claiming to find treasure with a “seer stone.” He was given “leg bail” which means “get out of town and don’t come back.”

Lindsay 9/7/25 Lindsay 9/7/25

Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father,

You, O Lord Jesus, are the Lord of glory. I thank you for the being the God of faithfulness and truth. Your Word the Bible gives me hope, joy and peace. Because you, Lord Jesus, are the Prince of Peace and the way maker. Your word is filled with so many promises. You said, “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10). You are coming soon. You are the Bridegroom who is preparing for our wedding feast. Your kingdom will be completely at peace. Fear and war will be no more. What a glorious day it will be to reign and worship You forever and ever.

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 8/31/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 8/31/25

Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse victims share the same symptoms as victims of incest. The common denominator between the two is that the parent and the spiritual leader are both the most intimate caregivers, and the boundaries they cross are the most intimate. Therefore, the damage is far greater, it strikes at the very soul of a person.

The victims then withdraw from the source of their injury whether it is the opposite sex or the spiritual leader. They fear letting themselves be ‘touched’ again. In the case of spiritual abuse, the church represents trauma not refuge. This is why so many abuse victims leave church and don’t come back for years or never.

Denise 8/24/25 Denise 8/24/25

NOAH: Salvation & Redemption

God invited Noah to “enter the ark.” The Hebrew word for “enter” is bo which means “to come, to go, to enter.” This is the first time the word “come” is used in Scripture. God’s invitation to Noah reminds us of the gospel call.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
“Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.’” (Luke 14:23)

Denise 8/17/25 Denise 8/17/25

NOAH: Why Did God Bring the Flood?

Before Noah steps onto the scene, Genesis describes what the world was like in Noah’s days. It was corrupt, violent, completely lost and in opposition to God. So, how does the Bible describe the world at the time? Even Jesus, in reference to His coming kingdom, warns us of the “days of Noah” concerning what is still in our future and many would argue were in when Jesus walked among us and the days in which we continue to live. See Luke 17:20-37.

Denise 8/10/25 Denise 8/10/25

NOAH: Who Was He? Part 2 - Not a ‘Feel Good’ Preacher

These days, many Bible teachers are guilty of “soft” preaching, that is a unwillingness to preach against hard cultural and social issues such as abortion, homosexuality, or other hot-button topics. Instead Pastors teach of a god who wants people to be happy, successful, and who will receive many blessings. They prefer to focus on positive messages of love and acceptance; that all good people will be saved. The sermons come off as comforting self-help messages masquerading as the Gospel.

Here are some short examples:

Denise 8/3/25 Denise 8/3/25

NOAH: Who Was He? Part 1

Before Noah steps onto the scene, Genesis describes what the world was like in Noah’s days. It was corrupt, violent, completely lost and in opposition to God. So, how does the Bible describe the world at the time? Even Jesus, in reference to His coming kingdom, warns us of the “days of Noah” concerning what is still in our future and many would argue were in when Jesus walked among us and the days in which we continue to live. See Luke 17:20-37.

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 7/27/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 7/27/25

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Have One True God?

The next time the Jehovah’s Witnesses come to your door you may ask them, "Does your organization teach more than one true God?"

Almost without fail the sharp Witness will reply, “We only believe in one true God, Jehovah.”

Explain that you agree with this statement saying, “I also believe in only one true God and all other gods are false gods.”

Then ask, “How do you understand John 1:1 that teaches, ‘the Word [Jesus] was God?’”

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 7/20/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 7/20/25

Israel & the Watchtower Society

The Watchtower Society says today that the ‘Israel’ in Romans 11 is the 144,000 and not ethnic Jews or national Israel. However, the problem for Jehovah’s Witnesses comes further down in this same chapter when Paul says that the Jews (the Watchtower’s 144,000) are “blinded” (verse 25), and “enemies” of the gospel (verse 28). With these statements she realized that Paul could not be talking about the 144,000 when he calls them blinded and enemies. They must be ethnic and national Israel.

Dawne 7/13/25 Dawne 7/13/25

Book Review: Unveiling Grace, …Our Way Out of the Mormon Church, Part 3

THE PRE-EXISTENCE: “… before the creation of the world, Heavenly Father had sired and Heavenly Mother had borne millions of their spirit children. After the world was created, these spirits eagerly awaited to come to earth to receive physical bodies. Only the righteous spirits who had followed Jesus (not Satan [Jesus’s brother]) in the pre-existence war in heaven were allowed … to come to earth. They longed to be born into a “righteous” family (Mormon), in which they could learn the “true gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mormonism).” (p. 45)

Dawne 7/6/25 Dawne 7/6/25

Book Review: Unveiling Grace, …Our Way Out of The Mormon Church, Part 2

When the dark suited, well-groomed young men arrived at their door in the Wilders’ early married life, they began to present their flip charts of the time sharing what the Mormons wanted them to know about the Church.

Lynn says, “My analytical brain never slept peacefully back then. …I was so ignorant about Christianity, I didn’t even know intelligent questions to ask… The questions I conjured up came from what they presented to us.” (p. 39)

Dawne 6/29/25 Dawne 6/29/25

Book Review: Unveiling Grace Part 1

Unveiling Grace, by former Brigham Young University professor, Dr. Lynn K. Wilder, is an intimate look into not only her life and that of her family’s, but also of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormon Church.

Lynn and her husband, Michael, joined the Mormon Church as young adults, newly married. Both had been raised in Christian homes, but Lynn, unschooled in the Bible, drifted in college when introduced to Freud, Darwin and Skinner among others. Michael, who believed in Jesus growing up, just couldn’t find a church that suited after leaving home.

Lindsay 6/22/25 Lindsay 6/22/25

Prayer of Anguish for Unsaved Loved Ones

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father,

It saddens me and my heart is anguished to see the ones closest to me that haven’t accepted You to be the Lord of their life, nor turned away from the things of this world. Lord, You declare, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19, NKJV) How much longer must I wait for the same love You showered upon me to save my loved ones from condemnation?

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 6/15/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 6/15/25

Why I Cannot be a Jehovah’s Witness, Reason #4

The Watchtower teaches that Jesus is the mediator only for the 144,000, not for the Great Crowd.

The WT teaches that the 144,000 are all believers from the time of the Apostles until 1935. They comprise the “Church,” the spirit-begotten believers who will go to heaven. There are only about 9,000 of these people alive today. [Our understanding is that there are very few left. The last ones would be from 1935 (or 1931) when they closed this group. After this point someone had to drop out for another person to take their place.]

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 6/8/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 6/8/25

Why I Cannot be a Jehovah’s Witness, Reason #3

The Watchtower has set up an image of itself as a prophet like Moses, or Elijah. However, when it is convenient, they admit they are just men who can make mistakes.

They can’t have it both ways. Either they are true prophets of God who do not make mistakes, or, they are just men who do err.

Here is what they have claimed:

The Governing Body of the Watchtower Society claims they are “The Faithful and Discreet Slave” of Matthew 24:45 “who alone can give spiritual meat in due season to the household of faith” (Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1952, p. 80).

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 6/1/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 6/1/25

Why I Cannot Be a Jehovah’s Witness: Their False Doctrines, Reason #2

The doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses are in diametric opposition to historic biblical Christianity. There is no significant area of agreement. They are wrong on just about everything.

Among the most essential doctrines denied by them are the deity of Christ, the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, His visible second coming, hell, the nature of man, the gospel, and many more.

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/25/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/25/25

Why I Cannot Be a Jehovah’ Witness: Their False Bible, Reason #1

Approximately one-third of the New Testament is written against error, either to warn believers about false teachers, or to answer their false doctrines. And, all but one book of the New Testament contains some warning or admonition against heresy. The reason is simple: it really does matter what a person believes.

… The New World Translation is a mistranslation of the Scriptures. It has been changed in key places to promote the doctrines of the Watchtower Society. Revelation 22:18-19 condemns such adding to, or, taking away from what God has said to us.

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/11/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/11/25

Doublethink

Doublethink!!! The art of self-contradiction without being noticed.

Any Bible-based cult must distinguish itself from every other group’s expression of Biblical teaching. Otherwise, the cult’s followers might get the idea that there is somewhere else to go if they have a disagreement with the cult.

David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/4/25 David Henke, Watchman.org, slightly edited with permission 5/4/25

Who Joins Spiritually Abusive Groups?

The question of who joins high control religious groups seems like it would have a simple answer. It does not. Nor is there a simple answer to how it happens. The starting place should be the question of what disposes a person to spiritual abuse? Why is a person vulnerable? What differences in people make one vulnerable and another not so vulnerable?

Here is a list that may help you think it through. Which of these statements fit you?

Lindsay 4/27/25 Lindsay 4/27/25

Excommunicated

Back in 2008, I was excommunicated as Jehovah’s Witness from the Watchtower Society. I did not yet know the Lord Jesus. But that night—the same night I was excommunicated—I felt a ball and chain fall off of me. I paid the price of losing my relationship with my parents and sister. I went on to live a very sinful life, as I thought I was free to live how I wanted to.

I had to endure heartache, guilt, rejection, depression, anxiety, and fear, at times in and out of the emergency room for panic attacks and health related issues, not realizing these were lies from the enemy.