Agusta's Testimony
Dan & Agusta Harting
Families Against Cults

I was born in 1937 in Reykjavik, Iceland. My  parents—though believing in the supernatural-were not “born from above” believers in Jesus Christ. Like most Icelanders, they were members of the National Lutheran Church of Iceland, a church which was already sliding toward total apostasy. My parents never attended church. I was “sprinkled” at 3 months by my Lutheran pastor grandfather, and then “confirmed” at age 14. I was given a Bible and a hymn book, but they became mere “knick-knacks” in my home.  IIn 1958, I married  Dan, who was a Navy Officer stationed in Iceland. We were perfectly matched spiritually, although Dan believed even less than I did!

After living in the United States for 10 years ( and in many states), I received a visit from 2 Mormon missionaries who began teaching me systematically abut the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I had heard of Mormons, and thought they still practiced polygamy. The missionaries (19 year old “elders”) assured me it was gone forever and had only been practiced as an act of benevolence for widowed mothers (This was the first of many lies !)

After 3 months of studying what I thought was Mormonism, as well as praying for the much emphasized ’burning in the bosom’, I  consented to be baptized into the Mormon Church. Dan, who had also become indoctrinated, joined me in that decision. We were both baptized in June 1966. Thus began our journey into darkness that would last 15 years. We didn’t know it, but we had become victims of our own trusting naiveté, as well as clever salesmanship THAT was energized by demonic machinations. At this time we knew very little Mormon doctrine, but trusted completely  that we were in “the only true church”, a lie that was continually drilled into our heads.

My first “calling” was a little job teaching the children in the LDS Primary program. At the same time Dan had begun receiving instructions in preparation to receive the Mormon version of the Aaronic (Levitical) priesthood. We were entirely ignorant of the absurdity of this concept since God had annulled this priesthood in the book of Hebrews.

We were then made so busy that we soon had no time for anything except Mormon activities. Our former friends gradually faded out of our lives and were replaced by our new Mormon “friends”, who seemed to completely surround us every waking moment. The church kept us involved in countless meetings that were so long that we hardly had time to pay attention to our 4 children. However, the children were made busy too, and they were quickly making Mormon friends.  One of our closest friends was Orrin Hatch (Rep. Senator, Utah) and his wife Elaine. We would sit for hours at their feet absorbing the “deeper teachings” of Mormonism until it sometime got so late that they had to spend the night. We even went on a vacation together with our combined 8 children, who were fast becoming friends also.
Mormon  doctrine fascinated me. I felt like I had to learn it fast and tried to read and absorb all its “truths”. What I was devouring was some truth mixed with deadly lies, and outright blasphemy that had no foundation in the Bible, but just in the warped mind of Joseph Smith. (founding prophet of Mormonism) and in his successors
I was so proud when Dan was ordained a deacon.—the first degree of their alleged Aaronic priesthood. Dan was on his way to the highest of all Mormon honors, the Melchezedek  priesthood. Later we discovered that this priesthood is held by Jesus alone. However, this was a fact that we were blissfully ignorant of at the time.

As our children turned 8 years old, they were said to have reached the “age of accountability”, and were eligible for baptism. But the crowing glory would happen only if we were members in perfect standing. This enabled us to be considered “worthy” enough to go to the Mormon temple, and receive our “endowments and sealings”. Secret rituals that we trusted had been originated by God through Joseph Smith. Rituals, which we supposedly could not ignore if we hoped to earn and merit “eternal life”.

When we returned from the nightmarish secret temple experience, we were just like the other hypocrites saying, “Oh, it was so wonderful-the best experience we have ever had !” But inside I was dying. “Is this it” , I asked myself ? O felt empty and strangely ashamed. I hate to wear the ugly and uncomfortable “magic underwear”, but superstition   and fear kept me in bondage to it. I truly believed that God demanded I wear it.

I had many “callings” in the Mormon Church in the Mormon Church, but the one that I had year after year was called “cultural refinement, a part of the “Relief  Society” (a Mormon women’s organization) curriculum. I tired to do this as creatively as I possibly could and received many compliments and praises  from the women participants. However, the “higher authorities” constantly reminded me that I must follow the prescribed Manual material to a “T”. A hopelessly boring outline that offered little in the creative department. Once I was chastised for showing up in my native Icelandic costume -  a lovely outfit heavily adorned with sterling silver, embroidery, etc) because the Manual didn’t call for it on that particular day. I had learned quickly not to question or argue. The teaching in the church was: “when the prophet has speaks, the thinking has been done”

My spiritual lungs in Mormonism were never filled. I never felt satisfied, but continually felt there must be something more, something I couldn't name, but I thought that if I could work a little harder, give a little more, pray longer, do more rituals for the dead, went to more meetings, read more LDS books, etc. I could find it. None of this satisfied ! I started feeling I was losing my mind. I noticed that my best friends in the church were desperately unhappy. One of them confided to me that she didn’t want to go to the Mormon highest heaven (celestial kingdom) because she did not want to be eternally pregnant with spirit babies. She was tired too often as it was, I pondered this for a long time. What kind of god did we serve if some of the most faithful didn’t want to go to his heaven ? One sister , whose husband  had left her with 5 children for a new girlfriend, was punished by losing her “temple recommend” because she was too fat. She had to continue playing the organ every Sunday whild her high priest husband sat there in the front roe holding hands with her slimmer replacement. I still believed the Mormon church was the only true one, as we were constantly reminded, and that leaving was paramount ot losing your eternal life.

In 1979 God really started turning our lives upside down. I was plugging  along  trying to raise 4 teenagers and an 11 year old, and continue to hold 4 “callings” to perfection.  Then one day I lost my health. I had never experienced such excruciating neck and head pain. No amount of medication helped. I was released from 3 callings and now had to be confined to home most of the time. I started reading my bible which had been unopened on my sofa table all this time. I started seeing things in it that totally shocked me! Could these things be true? I wish I had more space to tell how it all happened, but I found out that Dan, myself and all the other Mormons were never going to become gods. That position is and always has been filled! I discovered later that eternal life is a free gift for God to all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I found out that I could talk to Him and that He is not the spirit brother of Lucifer, as I had been taught. He is God! I praise and think God every day that none of our family remained in Mormonism. That is nothing short of miraculous. So is the fact that God called us to this ministry and has graciously allowed us to do it since that day we left the devil’s organization in August of “81”. My faithful and sovereign God has satisfied  my hunger until at times I can scarcely believe it! PRAISE HIS WONDERFUL NAME.

 

So let me ask you....

Dan & Agusta Harting
Families Against Cults

...That we can reach more cultists for Jesus.

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