Mormons!

About two weeks ago I encountered a couple of Mormons at the market where I preach. I don't know too much about Mormonism except what I had heard, and from what I talked to these two guys about.It's very sad... there is this one young boy, maybe 15, his name is "Elder Davis". His eyes have no color in them, and he was born into it.These sort of groups always start by trying to convince you they believe the same thing you do, and little by little bring in their lies and deceit. I was wondering if anyone here knew anything about this group, the places you can catch them in their words, and anything about the evil that they do behind the scenes.I'm not completely in the dark about this. I know basically what it's all about, Joseph Smith etc., but I'm asking for more stark and in your face stuff about the Mormons that they wouldn't like you to know.My heart goes out to that young boy, they all need Jesus badly.In Christ,-Eli

I am reading Larson's New Book of Cults right now. Alibris has the book for about $3 (Used). I really enjoy it so far. It goes through a lot of cults.

Mormons belive Jesus was a creation of God... in other words not eternal. They also belive that Jesus, Michael the angel, and Satan were all brothers. I'm pretty sure that's what they belive if its not them its the JW's that belive that.. but I think its Mormon.

Brother Eli,I reccomend this book highly and its in-expensive to. It's paperback."Mormons" - Answered Verse by Verseby: David A. Reed and John R. FarkasPublisher: Baker Book House

You can also get the same for Jehovah Witness"Jehovah's Witnesses Answered" - Verse by Verseby: David A. Reedpublisher: Baker Book House

You might want to check over their site and see yourself what they say about themselves and their beliefs. When I read it, I found some good stuff. However, I could also see where some of their teaching came from their founder, and the people have just assumed it to be right. I must admit that I often get uncomfortable taking on an outside group and evaluating them, because many times the roots of their flaws hit pretty close to home. For instance, Scripture makes it clear that we are not to put our trust in man. Dependence on man violates the work of the Spirit and opens us up to heresies. Yet, if we are honest, within our own evangelical wing there are many who follow after the word of a man and are slipping into heresies. It is happening, in spite of our good doctrinal position that claims that Christ is our highest authority. Our own heresies are more the concern to me, because I am in that environment. Christ has called us to take out the speck out of our own eyes before trying to take the speck out of others. But sometimes studying another religion helps us learn about ourselves. For we are all made of the same stuff, and have the same bent to stray. Like the Mormons, every religion has a bent to get legalistic – trusting in their own works rather than Christ. I once knew a Mormon family that had gone through incredible trials in their lives. I remember the husband sharing, with tears in his eyes, how during those dark times the Word of God was his only comfort. He would spend hours reading and studying it. He never mentioned once about Joseph Smith being a comfort or guide to him. This man is now a leader in his congregation. (PTL – God will work anywhere where there are broken people seeking him) The Mormons do not disclaim the authority of Scripture, and they have retained many of the traditional Christian hymns. If anyone within their religion really WANTS to seek God, God can be found. For the most part, like for any religion, the people prefer to float along blindly – never questioning anything. Diane

Eli, Here is a good site to check out with info on Mormons.Mormonism Research SiteI pray that the Lord is blessing you as you continue to go out to the Market to preach.

Thanks everyone.

Hi Eli_barnabas...!A professor/friend of mine (and a former pastor of a Calvary Chapel in Pennsylvania) has a ministry that investigates cults (including Mormonism), as well as public Christian ministries. Alot of links are included on his website which you may find to be a good resource:http://www.cultlink.com/I hope this helps! :-)

Eli_Barnabas,Here is a site that has lots of info on Mormans plus a lot of info about other cults you may encounter. http://www.watchman.org/ginnyrose

Mormonism teaches some way out ideas, but the one that I have the most problem with is this:"As God once was, man is, and as God is, man will be."They basically believe that the difference between us and God is time. Eventually we become more and more like God, and then become gods ourselves.That's my biggest problem. There are other strange doctrines about eternal marriage, "god" being in heaven having sex all the time and producing babies, etc.I have family that are Mormons. I've researched it a lot. So if you have questions, ask, I may be able to help.Kendal

Roadsign, I definitely agree with the heart of your post. In my meanderings, I have found as much stern holding to (the name of) Christianity, Mormonism and Islam based on personal grudge as I have upon the merits of their arguments. I know my God is right, but it is also very easy to believe a fairy tale.

I played soccer with a guy in high school who was a Mormon. I ended up going to his (false) church almost every Wednesday night for basketball. We occasionally would have to do something else, like sit through a service, go feed the poor, or do an activity. One of the activites was set up so that we got fake money and could use it as we pleased. I tried to buy a game with it, and got sent to one of the kingdoms that was not 'celestial' as a result. So that's when they explained the three levels of heaven. My buddies were all more or less on the rebellious side of the church, though they all went on mission trips. They listened to music they weren't supposed to, etc.Anyway, I ended up playing in bands with them, and stayed in touch with them. After I was converted, and ended up seeing less of them. One of them called me and asked me to play in his band. I explained that I had been converted, and didn't want to play in a band that didn't have a clear gospel message. I didn't confront him with his sin, but I did explain that I had researchedhis and basically all religions. We said we would talk again, but I never heard back from him.I sent an email right after I was converted to one of the other guys, explaining what had happened, and he basically ignored it, even though we corresponed all the time. Pray that I would have the courage to reach them all one by one, as I have not made a particular effort to do so.Here is the deal, by human standards, Mormons can by extremely good and nice people. One of the families let me (an outsider) hang out with their son the night before he left for his mission, which was a no no. Many of the families were friendly with me, and knew me by name, invited me to spend the night, invited me to Bible studies, Friday night activities, etc. One of the reasons I liked hanging out with them before I became a Christian was that they weren't into drugs, alcohol, profanity, etc.Like any other religion, the majority stay within the Mormon faith for the same reason most people go to churches that are Christian; because momma did (or something similar). The average Mormon that I know, even though they learned other languages to go on missions, know all the doctrine, marry within the faith, is not necessarily zealous. Like most of our churches, they just get you involved within the fellowship, and hope you 'get into it.'I hung out with them for years, and no one ever tried to whole-heartedly convert me. But how often does this happen within our churches? So realize they are just people, and really just need to be confronted with their sins like anyone else.Here is a tract from Chick that goes through an encounter between Mormons and a Christian. Shows how they believe God is a normal man, lives near the star 'Kolob', they believe dark skin shows that the individual is not a valiant spiritual warrior, they believe Jesus and Satan were spirit brothers, they have doctrine related to the occult:http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0061/0061_01.aspI have heard Mormons speak in tongues, have ceremonies for baptism of the dead, wear undergarments after reaching certain statures, etc. If the guys I knew did these things or knew of them, they never talked to me about it.