Review: Passport to Heaven

Update from September 2024: I have since learnt information about the author and how he has discredited himself from serving in Christian ministry. This book was read, reviewed, and rated prior to knowing that information. I have since withdrawn my rating and am instead pointing readers to other available resources from Utah Lighthouse Ministry, Mormonism Research Ministry, and Utah Christian Research Center.

If you've read Unveiling Grace: The Story of How We Found Our Way Out of the Mormon Church by Lynn K. Wilder, then Passport to Heaven: The True Story of a Zealous Mormon Missionary Who Discovers the Jesus He Never Knew by Micah Wilder is the perfect companion book as this is her son's story.

Book Synopsis

“You have a call, Elder Wilder.”

When missionary Micah Wilder set his sights on bringing a Baptist congregation into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he had no idea that he was the one about to be changed. Yet when he finally came to know the God of the Bible, Micah had no choice but to surrender himself―no matter the consequences.

For a passionate young Mormon who had grown up in the Church, finding authentic faith meant giving up all he knew: his community, his ambitions, and his place in the world. Yet as Micah struggled to reconcile the teachings of his Church with the truths revealed in the Bible, he awakened to his need for God’s grace. This led him to be summoned to the door of the mission president, terrified but confident in the testimony he knew could cost him everything.

Passport to Heaven is a gripping account of Micah’s surprising journey from living as a devoted member of a religion based on human works to embracing the divine mercy and freedom that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Original Review: Left for reference, but no longer valid based on the author's willful engagement in sin while writing this book.

After reading this book, there is no doubt that Micah Wilder has been completely and utterly transformed by his encounter with Jesus Christ through the Bible. Though his memoir has taken years to write, the amount of Scripture he references easily rolls off his pen whenever there is the opportunity to share it. To hear of how much he has saturated himself in the Word of God is both inspiring and a welcome challenge to know the Bible inside and out. In that, his story also reads as a Bible study into what it means to be saved by grace alone as well as an apologetics book where he gives a clear and credible defense of the Christian Gospel against Mormon doctrine. While there are stories told about Mormon experiences and its worldview, the book does not stay there and instead takes great care to point everything toward the message of Jesus being enough; this book is undoubtedly more about Jesus than a man-made religion. 

There is so much richness in Passport to Heaven solely due to God's work and His Word. If you're looking for a comparison between this book and Micah's mother's book, this book focuses more on what God taught Micah as he was challenged "to read the Bible through the eyes of a child, letting the Word speak for itself" (source). However, Micah's detailed journal entries of his journey from first challenging others to being challenged himself is eye-opening as it shows how many teachings had to be unraveled in his heart and mind. Another comparison is that a lot of this book is written from the perspective of a young man in his early 20s, so be prepared for some humour and adventure. Regardless of which book you read, I highly recommend both for a fuller look at what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Book Summary

• Format of book: 📱
• Rating: Withdrawn
• Recommendation: Please see update above.