Building Bridges

A follow-up on a previous podcast titled “Joseph Smith and Charismatic Gifts.”

More and more restoration saints in our day are rediscovering the freedom, the joy of true worship, discovering for the first time the excitement of His resurrection power brought about by his gracious gifts. Today we’re going to hear from two of my dear friends, both Latter-day Saints. Both Book of Mormon believers.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

Dr. Ridenhour, Southern Baptist Minister, describes the distinction between “truth as WHAT (doctrine) and truth as WHO (relationship)” and gives illustration from the teachings of Jesus where our Lord makes that critical distinction.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

Dr. Ridenhour, Southern Baptist minister, shares how he disagrees with his Mormon friends but still fellowships with them and embraces them as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

On one occasion Brother Joseph wrote:

The gifts which follow them that believe and obey the gospel...began to be poured out among us, as in ancient days...the Lord poured out his Spirit in a miraculous manner (LDS Vol.1:322-323; RLDS Vol.1:277). Dr. Ridenhour shares that Joseph Smith embraced and demonstrated exceedingly the use of charismatic gifts of the Spirit in his life and ministry.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

When Joseph Smith came on the religious scene during the early 1800s, part of Christ was missing in most Protestant churches.

Protestant churches, for the most part, were worshippers of the Bible more so than the living God, for historically,

Dr. Ridenhour explains how Joseph Smith restored the Whole Christ to the church, including the Power of Christ, and gives examples.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

The early saints, especially at Kirtland, experienced open and free-flowing worship services that lasted into the early hours of the morning. Just one example from church history:

“The gift of tongues fell upon us in mighty power. Angels mingled their voices with ours, while their presence was in our midst, and unceasing praises swelled our bosoms for the space of half an hour…We accordingly closed our interview and returned home about two o’clock in the morning, and the spirit and visions of God attended me through the night.” (Vol.2: 381-382)

Spiritual manifestations, supernatural encounters, visions, and prophecies were widespread among early Latter-day Saints. Dr. Ridenhour shares some similar encounters present-day Latter-day Saints are experiencing.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

Dr. Ridenhour describes two restoration movements: The Joseph Smith restoration movement founded in the early 1800s and the present-day Protestant prophetic restoration movement that’s sweeping the world. He shares some staggering statistics regarding the growth of the protestant restoration movement. For example, there are over 300 million Protestants worldwide today who consider themselves primitivists; i.e., restoration, and who share the same core beliefs as Joseph Smith.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

Dr. Ridenhour tells the fascinating story of the Lord leading him to drive to another town to purchase a mobile home for his wife without the funds to do so, and how a stranger purchases the home for him. Another fascinating story…while teaching at Liberty Baptist University, the Lord performs a creative miracle on two of his hearing-impaired students. Lynn also shares his circumstances that led him to discover the restoration gospel.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]

Dr. Ridenhour continues to share stories of the miraculous that have occurred in his Christian walk with the Savior: financial miracles,

Contact info:

Music By: Reverie by Scott Buckley https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley

produced: bcm [email protected]

Dr. Lynn Ridenhour, Baptist minister, shares the beginning years of his Christian journey: his first eleven years living with a father who was a heavy drinker and then, along with the entire family, Lynn's father is converted to the Christian faith; Lynn’s epiphany encounter with the living Christ who comes into his hospital room, Lynn's call to the ministry at age 16, and his early married years as his wife and he experienced creative miracles and healings.

Contact info:

Music By:

produced: bcm [email protected]