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Reaching Mormons

C

ChrisM

Member
Does anyone have any experience talking about God's Word with either LDS or FLDS Mormons? I have been enjoying some of the apologetic videos at http://www.mrm.org and wondered (outside of the PM issue) how things went when discussing fundamental faith issues regarding who Jesus Christ is, how salvation is acquired, and such things.

We had friends in Key West, a young couple with 3 kids. They were both missionaries when they met and he is now in leadership at their local meeting hall. We had a few good talks, but we and they have both since left the area and don't keep in touch. I have a heart to reach these who have been so blatantly deceived, want to see them find the truth, and most of all see them eternally saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

Thoughts, insights, stories to tell?
 
I spent some time recently looking into the Mormon beliefs as I wanted to understand more about their celestial marriage stuff. From my understanding of what they believe they ARE saved. They believe that Jesus is the Son of God and died for their sins, that they must believe in Him to have eternal life. That's all that is required for salvation. Now they have a lot of other messed up stuff going on, we know that. And we do need to teach them the truth. They've added to the bible and have things rather messed up. But none of us have it completely right. We all are learning as we go. But it doesn't stop us from going to heaven and won't stop them either. Heaven may just be rather different than what they think ;) .

I really haven't done anything in depth and don't have time to find references (I'm typing this with one hand with a child on me...), so I may be wrong, it's just my understanding at the moment.
 
I have studied the group at some length and had much short term interaction, but never anything of any length that led to conversion. As they use much of the same language as we do, it seems on the surface that they would be saved. I encourage folks to check out http://4mormon.org/ and other sites as they are former Mormons trying to reach those still entrenched in the cult. I use the word cult cautiously, but I believe judiciously. They believe salvation is attained by works, not faith. They believe God used to be a man, with flesh and bones, and that they can attain godhood by obeying the teachings of Joseph Smith, erroneously believed by Mormons to be a prophet, but who indeed was a grand liar who got caught changing his book many times. I find the early stages interesting due to their practice of polygamy, to include Smith taking the wives of other men as his own, a form of polyandry, but with him being the better husband and therefore the other made pretty much void.

Most Mormons on the street don't really know what the church teaches, but those missionaries I have talked to generally believe that Jesus is not God, that Jesus and Lucifer were blood brothers, both sons of Elohim. http://www.mrm.org/ has quite a few videos dealing with specific beliefs, but most are to convince those in the cult to leave rather to educate Christians about what they believe. Bill McKeever does an excellent job of explaining why he loves these deceived people and wants to see them come to the true and living Christ, who indeed died for their sins and will give them eternal life by faith. http://www.archive.org/download/kufr-mrm-12-10-05/kufr-mrm-12-10-05.mp3

One interesting quote, as I don't care so much about their policies on caffeine and such. Indeed, in many areas they are more faithful than most Christians I know. Adding the belief in Joseph Smith as necessary to be saved, here I find one of my major problems: “There is no greater prophet in any dispensation than Joseph Smith… Joseph Smith was a prophet, and all the calumny and aspirations to the contrary cannot controvert that fact. Anyone who has concern for the welfare of his eternal soul should give attention to this message. Every man who has lived since the days of Joseph Smith is subject to accepting him as a prophet of God in order to enter into our Heavenly father’s presence” (A. Theodore Tuttle, “Joseph Smith re-established fullness of true gospel, Church,” Church News, March 17, 2001, p.14).
 
A very interesting article on the same site I mentioned, called "10 things Christians can learn from the Mormons"
http://www.mrm.org/10-things
 
The mormon missionaries I spoke to did not believe works would save you - they specifically went to the King James Version (or the one they hand out) and pointed out the verse. My understanding is that you can eventually reach the level of "God" just like Jesus was able to, assuming you follow all the levels that take you to that point including celestial marriage.
Interesting people, interesting to talk to. "we are NOT a cult" - They doth protest too much!
On a side note, it is interesting that Utah has the highest level of anti-depressant drug use in the country - jus' sayin'
 
When you get tired of talking to them or your witness is finally rejected, tell them they are just like any other denomination. They changed their church position in the late 19th century on marriage just to avoid conflict. That makes them just another non-profit denomination that goes with the flow. And in doing this they alienated many of their own members and placed them in the position of hiding or being persecuted. I am of the opinion that poly ideas are represented better by a modern lifestyle approach as society will never turn mormon. The same thing holds for an entirely Old testament basis for poly.
 
Hi ChrisM,
This is actually one of those subjects that I REALLY enjoy. I have been completely through the Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. (I pasted a link to my notes below) I have gotten into some of the history of the Mormons, have "friended" Mormons over the years, and even take part from time to time in a Facebook group where Mormons and Christians interact with one another. I still have not converted anyone out of the deceit of Mormonism, but once you bring up cold hard factual/historical inaccuracies, most of them will at least start to scratch their heads.

I am like you though. I just want to reach out to them in their darkness, help them see the light, and get saved. Now the question is just how to do that.


http://dukeofmarshall.blogspot.com/p/mormon-notes.html
 
Sarah,
Actually it depends on which sect of Mormons you are talking about. Some add in the requirement that you have to be part of a plural marriage to go to heaven. Others state that if you are part of a plural marriage that you will most definitely NOT go to heaven. But most all (unspokenly) expect you to accept Joe Smith as the undeniable prophet of God. It really gets convoluted after his death as Mormonism started to splinter and branch out different ways with different doctrines.
 
eternitee said:
On a side note, it is interesting that Utah has the highest level of anti-depressant drug use in the country - jus' sayin'
Click to expand...

lol, I will be nice after hearing that. It is funny though.
 
welltan,
That is a problem with a lot of people though. When it comes to history we almost have a sort of "blinders" on. We usually only know about the years of our own lives and maybe a few decades before that. But by and large it is usually just the major events of history that people know about. Of course, just like with Mormons, learning about history could be an eye-opening experience for all of us.
 
Interesting thread here. :)
As someone who was raised very mormon and still has a lot of family in "the church," I am sympathetic to both sides of the issue, while being decidedly NOT mormon myself.

What changed my faith was realizing how much extra biblical stuff is in every denomination, and seeing to how each church thinks about their own unique "rightness" in doctrine or practice of religion.

I can say from experience that hubby telling me I was wrong did nothing to change my beliefs, and that you really have to want the truth above anything before you are willing, or able to see it. As my dad liked to say, "Only when you are unafraid of the truth, will you find it"




Be always ready with an answer for why you are hopeful!
 
Joleneakamama said:
As my dad liked to say, "Only when you are unafraid of the truth, will you find it"
Click to expand...
That is so true, I'll have to remember that one. Thanks.
 
Joleneakamama said:
As my dad liked to say, "Only when you are unafraid of the truth, will you find it"
Click to expand...

I love that quote! That is a keeper!
 
I guess I will get to practice first hand as the Mormon missionaries just stopped by and want to come back on Wednesday at 1pm. Please pray with me that I will be able to show them the truth in love, to learn from them what they believe (rather than taking second hand information from others) and to be a bold witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ask and you shall receive......
 
My ignorant friend Mike Donahue (who wrote an anti-poly post with my name, outing me publicly) evidently continues to read my posts though we are no longer "friends" on Facebook. I talked about Mormons coming to visit on Wednesday and he asked "Will you tell them you believe in poligamy?" Good to see that Christians can be childish in public and yet feel like they are saving the world from this sick perverted heretic :shock:
 
I spent 2 hours with "Elders" Pritchett and Hansen, a couple of nice guys who don't have a clue what their church teaches or believes beyond the "plan of salvation" which is as follows. To be redeemed, saved, go to Heaven, etc. one must believe that Jesus Christ died as at atoning sacrifice, have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and be baptized by one of their priests (Aaronic or Melchizedek I missed). They knew nothing of the history of the church, archaeology, the book of Abraham, means of translation, or polygamy. They said that polygamy was used by God before, but that a recent prophet said it was no longer valid and is now sinful. I asked for citation, and they didn't even know which prophet said this, and upon more questions couldn't say that they knew exactly what he said at all, just that it wasn't for today. They also said "anything we said today could be totally wrong" when I asked if what their literature said would shed more light on the official LDS doctrine.

Interesting overall, I liked these guys and hope to see them spend more time in God's Word and less time in their faulty, non-translated book which was supposedly written in a language which never existed and which contradicts much of God's true Word. I plan to invite them for dinner some night and have a Bible reading time with them regarding the foundational points of the Gospel from Galatians.
 
Tell them to bring someone older and more established in the church - you MIGHT get more substantial conversation than with a 20 yr old kid on his mission. Your level of conversation is probably a little over their heads.

I really like the mormon missionaries - there is something to be said for wholesome, hard working young people from decent families.
 
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