LDS church flags member's book about latter-day calamities as misleading
(KUTV) The LDS church appears to be distancing itself from a bestselling author whose books predicting the apocalypse have attracted a national following.
Julie Rowe's book "A Greater Tomorrow: My Journey Beyond the Veil" has been added to a list of "spurious materials in circulation" that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is warning its seminary and institute instructors not to use.
"Although Sister Rowe is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her book is not endorsed by the Church and should not be recommended to students or used as a resource in teaching them," the warning reads. "The experiences she shares are her own personal experiences and do not necessarily reflect Church doctrine or they may distort Church doctrine."
In the book, Rowe writes of her near-death experience in 2004, complete with visions she claims to have had of the history of the world and the chaotic events of the last days. Her words have attracted LDS followers nationwide including David Carlson Miller, a coin dealer in Logan.
"I think they're wonderful, inspired books," Miller said. "I believe Julie has a very special mission in warning the people."
But the LDS church isn't as thrilled with Rowe's writings.
Church spokesman Doug Andersen released a follow-up statement to 2News Thursday about the warning to seminary and institute instructors.
"The internal memo does not constitute an official Church statement but serves as a routine reminder to teachers from Seminaries and Institutes of Religion of their responsibility to teach from the scriptures and church leaders," Andersen said. "People who read her books should recognize that they are personal accounts and do not necessarily reflect church doctrine."
Miller said the warning from the church concerns him, but he said he still subscribes to what Rowe has written.
"I believe for the most part what she writes will happen," he said.
Miller and other followers believe a stock market crash is imminent. Rowe herself has also hinted at big things happening this month.
"I feel that it's the beginning of the beginning for the righteous, and the beginning of the end for the unrighteous," Miller said.
Rowe, who lives in the Midwest, responded to the church's warning in the following statement to 2News:
"I agree that the curriculum for LDS church classes should only come from sources recognized by the LDS Church as being authoritative. My story is not intended to be authoritative nor to create any church doctrine. It is simply part of my personal journey that I have chosen to share in hopes that it can help people to prepare for the times we live in by increasing their faith in Christ and by looking to our prophet and church leaders for guidance."
On Thursday night, 2News embedded a YouTube video of Julie Rowe sharing her story, but as of Friday evening, the video had been removed by the user and is no longer on Rowe's website.
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