Watchman Fellowship at LDS Temple Opening

With all of the news about the Branch Davidians it may be assumed
Watchman Fellowship has done nothing else. However, this is not
true. Before David Koresh's name ever appeared on the evening news,
WF missionaries James Walker and Rick Branch were on their way to
San Diego, California for the opening of the 45th Temple of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The "Church News", official newspaper of the LDS Church explained
that over three quarters of a million people were expected to
attend the open house which was to begin in February (13 February
1993, p. 3). But even before the open house, the LDS Church was
already proselyting.

Beginning in August 1992 and continuing through January `93, the
LDS Church operated an "information center" on the nearly completed
Temple site. This enabled them to tell prospective members about
their organization before the Christian missionaries were able to
respond. 

According to Clyde Romney, chairman of the LDS Temple open house,
"...30,000 people visited the temple site during this time. Arthur
Sevy, director of the site information center, added that of the
30,000, 39 percent were non-members" (Ibid, p. 5). The majority of
this 39 percent certainly left the Temple information center
believing the Mormon Church was just another Christian
denomination.

However, because of Bill McKeever, director of Mormonism
Researched, who coordinated the Christian missionaries during the
opening of the San Diego Temple, many of the hundreds of thousands
who visited the LDS Temple during its open house were given the
true doctrines and history of the Mormon Church. Watchman
Fellowship is one of many ministries that owes Bill a real debt of
thanks for all his coordinative efforts.

During the six weeks while people were going through the Temple
over 178,000 pieces of Christian material were given away. If the
LDS Church's estimates are correct, that three quarters of a
million people went through the Temple, then nearly one of every
four people who went through the Temple received a piece of
Christian material. Also, considering that family units of two or
three people per family are average (with LDS families being much
larger), the Christian missionaries may have given one piece of
literature exposing the doctrines of the LDS Church to each and
every family.

The Christian literature distributed at this Temple opening was not
simply a Christian tract. Rather, it was a specially designed
eight-page newspaper (much like the former style of the Watchman
Expositor), containing in-depth and documented articles about the
deceptive nature of the Mormon Church. It also contained
information about the non-Christian doctrines of the LDS Church.

Watchman Fellowship wishes to thank each and every Watchman
Expositor reader who made this trip financially possible. However,
WF does not wish to glory in past victories, but rather to strive
ever toward future victories. Please pray about being a part of
these future victories.