😟 Protestant Explores Temple Lot • Finds Grieving Latter Day Church

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I was a Life long protestant and received a Witness of the Book of Mormon three years ago and was baptized into the church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, but more then that I received a much stronger witness of the plan of Salvation, and the importance of Temple Ordinances. My Wife did as well, and I think its wonderful. I had to put away my prior preconceptions in witness to Personal Revelation. God is so Patient, Merciful, and Forgiving...there are No Words Brother. May God Bless you, and Happy Sunday Friend.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I also served my mission in Independence, Missouri. Watched several of your videos and just wanted to say thank you for your open outlook on religion. More people need this non combative approach and I myself have learned from you!

As a black man member of the church I appreciate people like you who explains a person's belief based on how they see it and not through religious bias or hatred. I do the same thing you do when I explain other religions I use their beliefs and what they told me from the best of their people who lived that religion.

Hi David iam from kenya ,30 years have been faithful member of the church of jesus christ of lds. I strongly believe there is something extra special with this main body church. I encourage every to meet missionary for discussion time is running out. I met christ in this church.

I searched for the truth and the Lord lead me to the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. God bless.

Wow! Super impressed, Sir, how you deal with this particular difficult issue within The Community of Christ church with such compassion and respect. God bless you, brother!

I really appreciate your videos and insights! As a member of the LDS Church, I feel that these are our lost brothers and sisters, and I am saddened that they are struggling. I wish they weren't. That said, I wonder how much the downfall of this denomination is a result of being lukewarm and trying to be just another church. The LDS Church on the other hand is not just another church; it teaches very clearly that the Book of Mormon is a powerful conversion tool and nothing to sweep under the rug. They teach that the temples we build today are a continuation of temple building in ancient Israel, and not a publicly accessible memorial to world peace. And the growth trajectories are very, very different, because in one church it is actually clear what is being taught.

Why are you so amazing?!! I am grateful for your project and impressed with the kindness you exhibit when encountering different beliefs and believers. Thank you for loving God and your neighbor- you are a wonderful example to us all!

David, I have enjoyed watching your videos, what a great idea. Thank you for your kindness toward the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I’m always so leery of anything that is not sponsored by the church because it’s usually very negative. You are honest, open minded, and loving towards others no matter how they worship or what they believe. That is what a true believer in Christ should be! Thank you again.

I am glad you're so kind. I am LDS and actually feel a sorrow for the struggles of this church. As far as church history goes, Joseph Smith did have a plan that he taught to the 12 apostles of the church at the time. Still there were those who did not agree being it was a new church and they had not gone through any leadership change before this time.

David, I love your zest for life, your passion for the Christian faith, and the fact that you've clearly been doing your homework and keeping an open mind and heart. Thank you for being you, and for remaining an honest seeker of truth.

I learned a lot about the Community of Christ... and even some about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints, of which I am a member. Mostly I was impressed with your positive and non judgemental commentary , your careful introspection and giving them the benefit of the doubt in a hard situation. Thank you for that ! ( also very relieved - though not surprised - at the warm reception you received at the actual LDS church when you visited!)

As a Priest in Community of Christ, and an Associate Pastor of one of the local struggling congregations, I appreciate your video. And I want to say I am sorry that nobody greeted you or anything at the Stone Church. I do wish you could have seen the Stone Church, and even my congregation, Open Arms, before Covid. We were thriving. If you ever want to have a discussion, I would enjoy that!

Glad you went to visit The Community of Christ and the Temple Lot area. I also became fascinated by the Latter-Day movement some time ago and visited many of the churches in the video. I am going to share two experiences as an observer like yourself. In 2011 I visited an Indianapolis congregation which comprised of many adults but not much youth as in your experience. The service used contemporary Christian music which surprised me. Being Catholic this was not quite my speed. The people were lovely and did reach out wanting to add new members but you could tell they just didn’t have the proper methodology to retain youths like the LDS church does. In fact, I don’t think many churches retain their youth as well as the LDS church. In 2016 I attended the Community of Christ World Conference by chance with another non-member friend equally interested in all things Latter-Day. It was a very vibrant conference with a strong international presence. It suggests that the true power of the Community of Christ lies in the seeds they had sown abroad.

Oh my goodness! This kind of happened to me in Springfield, MO about 15 years ago. Was randomly there on a Sunday so visited a random church. They were splitting the church actually. It was TERRIBLE. I told many people it was like walking into a family’s living room while they were deciding who gets the kids and pets after the divorce. We actually left after about 20 minutes. So sad and awkward!!!

I went on a little road trip with friends many years ago from southern Kansas to Independence, MO. I was not LDS at the time but my friends were. It was a pretty, peaceful place, but there was a melancholic feeling there. I was deeply touched by our visit to the Hans Mill site and Adam-ondi-Ahman on that same trip. We knelt and prayed in this wooded area where we found what looked like an old well. Anyway, it was a very spiritual experience for me. 😊

I am learning so much in your videos! I am sad to hear about the struggles of the Community of Christ. As you pointed out, so many churches are struggling now.

Thank you always for your kind words about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was baptized at 16 and have been a member since. I've never seen much about the other "sects". Thank you for your open mind and your open heart. You're a great example of how we should discourse.

I grew up a Latter-day Saint in Independence, MO. In the mid 1980s when we lived there, we knew members of the RLDS Church (now Community of Christ) and members of the Temple Lot Church. It was a very dynamic mix of restoration churches. I went to elementary and junior high a short distance from the area in your video. In fact, we lived about 1.5 miles south of the Temple Lot area, and attended LDS Church services weekly across the street. I love visiting our old stomping grounds. Appreciate this video! Well done!