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John Edward Decker | |
|---|---|
 Ed Decker | |
| Born | 1935 (age 89–90) United States |
| Education | Utah State University |
| Occupation(s) | evangelist, writer |
| Known for | Christian apologist; author |
John Edward "Ed" Decker (born 1935) is an American counterculture apologist, andevangelist known for his studies, books, and public presentations, of the negative aspects ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) andFreemasonry.[1]
He is a former member of the LDS Church, and prominent early member of aChristian group forex-Mormons called Saints Alive in Jesus. His most well-known book isThe God Makers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes, co-authored byDave Hunt.
Decker was born to a Jewish mother and Dutch father of the Reformed Christian faith (Calvinist) but raised an Episcopalian. While attending Utah State University, he married a Latter-day Saint student named Phyllis and converted to the LDS Church. They later married in the Presbyterian Church on June 10, 1956.
They were divorced in 1969.
Phyllis Decker contends that it was she who filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery and mental cruelty. In her affidavit, Phyllis Decker Danielson alleges that "the first ten years Ed and I were married, we moved twenty-six times. We moved a few more times in the remaining three years we were married. Ed had affairs for seven of those years and I was continually advised by the LDS church to forgive him". Since Decker neither appeared in divorce court or made answer to the charges on which the divorce was sought, a default judgment was ordered in Phyllis Decker's favor.[2]
Decker married again and has been married for 50 years, and has 8 children, 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. He is currently[when?] a pastor in Palm Desert, CA.
Decker has authored and coauthored, books addressing the inner workings and negative aspects of the LDS religion. His book,The God Makers, was followed byThe God Makers II.[3] He released a book in November 2007, titledMy Kingdom Come: The Mormon Quest for Godhood.
Additional books written in this genre, includeFast Facts on False Teachings,Decker's Complete Handbook on Mormonism, andUnmasking Mormonism. A fictional work by Decker, entitledThe Mormon Dilemma was added to Conversations With The Cults—The Harvest House series, entitledWhat You Need to Know About Mormons.
He participated in the documentary filmsThe God Makers,The Temple of the God Makers,The Mormon Dilemma, andThe God Makers II. His smaller projects include the booklets "And The Word Became Flesh", "To Moroni, With Love!", and "Understanding Islam", which are distributed by his nonprofit organization.
Decker's work has attracted criticism not only from Latter-day Saints,[4] but from others outside the faith.[5]Jerald and Sandra Tanner, two prominent critics of the LDS Church, andRobert Passantino have said that Decker's writings grossly misrepresent Mormonism, and thereby dilute his message and offend Mormons without attracting them to evangelical Christianity. The Tanners have noted what they contend are inaccuracies and errors in some of Decker's works.[6]
One of Decker's associates offered to exorcise the Tanners' demons, and expressed great sadness when they refused.[7]
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