Any advice on talking to a mormon?

There were a bunch of Mormon missionaries on campus last Wednesday and I was able to talk to some of them. I ended up talking to one guy for about 2 hours. I got me a book of Mormon to analyze and I read some of it these past two days. I compiled a list of inconsistencies with the Bible that I had found and just got off the phone with him after talking for 30 minutes. We're going to meet next Thursday at 1:30 to talk more.

So that's the scoop. I'm very inexperienced at talking to Mormons and don't know too much about Mormonism. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Any prayers would be even more appreciated.

Your fellow laborer,
Matt

Be careful,
From experience...they are very patient when it comes to discipling. They will take as much time as needed to get you to convert.

They will also start to pick at your weaknesses in your understanding of scripture. They do this by letting you talk most of the time.

My advice is to listen and pray. If you discern that this mormon shows a genuine interest in learning more about Christianity proceed with caution. They are well trained to defend their faith and break down yours...if that's possible.

If you tell them point blank that you don't believe in the angel of Moroni or the book inspired by this angel....(the book of Mormon),regardless of how similiar it is to the Protestant bible, yet you are interested in ministering to them and helping them to see the eternal truth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the one true God....and if they would like to hear more about this Good News, and they still stay with you.....you may have a chance at witnessing a miracle.

Thanks to both of you. I'll pray about this more and proceed with caution.

Thanks for that website Krispy!

Jaennette,

I have only read/skimmed some of the first two books of the book of Mormon (and a little elsewhere). I must say, there is a lot of "truth" in the book in that it quotes the Bible a lot. However, it quotes out of context and the real meanings of the verses are skewed. So in the end, whatever truth it does have, it distorts even that.

Here are the major things I came across during my short reading:

The Holy Spirit asking questions.
The Holy Spirit crying with a loud voice.
The Holy Spirit appearing as a man.
(This is not the picture of the Holy Spirit seen in the Bible.)
1 Nephi 11:4-6, 10

They *strictly* followed the law of Moses, which would have been impossible.
2 Nephi 5:10
2 Neph 25:24
Helman 13:1

Gnosticism/Duality.
2 Nephi 2:11, 23-25

Salvation is by law of Moses.
Mosiah 13:27

Excellent site there Krispy. Good resource.

I recently met with a few Mormons "elders" who were roaming our neighborhood as well. We had a long discussion. There are a great many points one could argue with them. For instance, these young men told me that all people are going to heaven. I asked, "Why then do you go around sharing?" They spoke of extra benefits of being a believer.

At the heart of the issue, however, was a denial of sin. They believe they are saved. After talking with them on two occasions, and realizing that we were getting no where in our conversation, I took heed of Christ's advice where He said not to throw pearls at swine. I was throwing them pearls, and they did not see the treasure of God's Word.

It is key to remember that only God can show a person they are wrong, especially when they are deceived. I was raised one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I once thought I was a "good" person because I had done the right works. God had to show me my own sin by allowing me to fall into such terrible acts of sin, I could not deny it. After many years of denial, I saw that I was a sinful person deserving of Hell.

Obviously, if these young men are going around trying to convert you to their religion, they think you are the one who is deceived. No amount of talk or conversation will change their mind. They think you are lost. And so, you must be careful not to fall into a trap. Do not argue or debate with them. Jesus came to save sinners, not people who think they are good enough. If they do not see their own sin, the gospel will be of no effect.

In love,
Blake

There is a book by Harold Berry called Truth Twisters which is a biblical analysis of things like Jehovah Witnesses
[url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Twisters-Christian-Scientists-Jehovahss/dp/0847412121/ref=sr_1_1/202-4416882-9994224?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177329747&sr=1-1]Truth Twisters by Harold berry[/url]

I guess my advice would be to preach the pure Gospel. Like all other men, they will not convert unless the Holy Spirit does a work. You can convince them that their religion is completely false yet most still will not convert. They are too proud. Their religion, like all other false religions, appeals to their base pride. Like all other men, they desire to earn their way to heaven. They will cling to this, in spite of solid evidence that they are believing a lie.

We must rely on our blessed Holy Spirit to do a work in their hearts. Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rest in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is of the Lord.

You could always share Galatians 1:9...

You could always share Galatians 1:9...

This is actually part of my plan! I'm going to tell him straight up that the Mormons do not preach Christ crucified - they preach Joseph Smith and the LDS.

One thing I wanted to comment on, is that from talking to this guy I have learned that Mormons will agree with you on basically everything. They will shake there head and say, "Yes! I believe that too!" followed by another plea to join the Mormon church: "Let me ask you, are you willing to follow Jesus? If you love Him, you will keep His commandments. That means being baptized by someone with authority-" ad infinitum.

I asked this Mormon (Jones) to explain to me what the gospel was. He said (if I remember correctly) faith, repentance, and baptism. I asked, "Well, why would I care to do that?" to which he rambled about being saved and coming to God. "But why would I care about that?" He had no answer, because they do NOT preach Christ crucified, the Highway of Holiness, the only way men may be saved (but from what?) from the CONSEQUENCES of sin and the POWER of sin!

In my opinion, Mormons are no different from Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, and most professing Christians (at least in America). I believe 2 Timothy 3:5 describes them perfectly: they hold to form a godliness but have denied it's power.

In essence, Christless religion.

Soldier of the Prince of Peace,
The Righteous King of Israel,
Nile

Hi Nile, how are you?

Want to say that I appreciate the advice you have gotten here on being cautious about this and about avoiding arguments.

Looking back over my own experiences in talking to people about the things of God, it seems to me that these conversations might be more of a battle than we understand.

Maybe we think of spiritual conflicts as something more mysterious and unseen, something that happens in the invisible world, and that's not to say that they are not, but I wonder is that all they are?

I am reminded of what the scripture says in Luke's account, how that...

[b][color=000000]...the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor[/color][/b]

Here, these men were sent forth as spies, pretending to be just men, or perhaps God fearing men and earnest in their questions, but they were really seeking to find some fault with the Lord Jesus, in His words, so that

[i]...they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor[/i]

In John's account we read, that some came...

[i]...tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.[/i]

All of this, it would seem, was to find some way of condemning Him. As I have thought about this, I'm reminded how after the Lord was [i]tempted or tested[/i] by the adversary in the wilderness, it was written that...

[i]...when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.[/i]

And so I have wondered then, that as this implies that he(the devil) came back to tempt or test the Lord Jesus again in some way, if these instances above were not those times when he did, that is, came back seeking to attack or trap the Lord Jesus.

So what is the application for us?

Well, the adversary is also called the accuser of the brethren. And I wonder here, if he does not work through these religous workers, attempting, if he can not overthrow our faith, then to get something by which he can accuse us before God. Perhaps, as it may be when we talk to these sorts of religous people, something to accuse us in our words.

Something that...

[i]...they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor[/i]

Or deliever us rather, accusing us before God.

These things are probably more complex than we can see.

It is easy for us to think that winning means proving our point, or being pursuasive, answering all objections and countering all false claims. But that may not be the case as God sees it, you know?

The Lord Jesus said to those who questioned Him

[b][color=660033] I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him[/color][/b]

Speaking [i]those things[/i] is, in my experience, alot harder than having all the [i]right[/i] answers.

I have falied at this too often.

I wish you well brother and God's help to do His will.

Chris

Please pray!!!

I'll be meeting Jones tomorrow at 12:00. My battle plan is to preach Christ crucified for the sins of the world, salvation by grace through faith, and the righteous judgment of God on those who reject Him. I'm not going to argue or discuss anything else.
Thanks again to everyone for the help.

With the banner of the King,
Footman Nile