True Christianity preaches the cross of Christ.
Various independent street preachers as well as bands of Christian witnesses (who usually hand out tracts and encourage discussions with Mormons) are always on hand at these times.
Some are confrontational; others don't seek to "impose" any given message -- simply expose Mormons to the Gospel and counter-claims to Mormonism's worldviews. (You can't fairly give all present a one-size-fits-all label)
What's interesting in this article is that this particular Mormon went from dishing out stereotypical labels -- "I no longer refer to them as “Anti-Mormons.” to recognizing many of them for what they are: "They are street preachers who spend their time and money traveling the country trying to share their version of the gospel...I admire their dedication and courage. Now when Ruben travels to Utah at conference time, he stays at my home (yes, I still have a temple recommend). He prays with my family and me. He knows my kids, and my kids know him. We have lengthy, honest, and sincere conversations about the realities of our doctrinal differences, but we always show each other friendship and respect."
What this in itself shows is that it has been easier for Mormons to simply "write off" those who oppose them with a mere sweep of a label, full of caricatures and stereotyping.
It's when they get to know many of them that a change of heart can take place (Note: I wouldn't even bother trying to excuse every word & action by given "outsiders" convening @ Lds General Conferences)
From the article: YouTube videos that various Mormons had posted, documenting a number of these “Anti-Mormons” who were allegedly persecuting us during sessions of general conferences. I found myself furiously focusing on one particular protester: Ruben Israel. Ruben encompassed every negative memory and impression I had of these protesters growing up. He was loud. He was intentionally provocative. He was extremely in-your-face. And he was adamantly “Anti-Mormon.” As I dwelt on this, the anger inside me swelled to an almost unbearable level. I began to hate these people—but in Ruben I found my nemesis. It is sad to relate just how deep this anger grew within me. Perhaps even sadder is how readily I lumped so many other Christians in with people like Ruben. I’m not sure exactly what happened to jolt me out of this destructive cycle, but one day I was discussing this issue with a close friend, and the radical thought came to me that maybe I was the one in the wrong. Suddenly on that day, it was incredibly clear to me that the greater sin lay with me. Here I was, a member of the Church, married in the temple, actively engaged in my callings, demanding that the world recognize me and other Mormons as Christians, and yet it was clear that if I died at that moment, I would not be completely clean.
From the article: Ruben accepted my nervous offer to buy him lunch and then offered to treat me (and a couple of my friends) to dinner that night, compliments of him and all his traveling street preacher friends. To my utter astonishment, I didn’t just find closure that night, I found a friend. Like that impossible moment in middle school when your archenemy suddenly becomes cool, something happened that would be spiritually irresponsible to deny. I felt the love of God for this man, and I can only give credit to the grace of Christ. I have absolutely no bad feelings towards these people anymore. I no longer refer to them as “Anti-Mormons.” They are street preachers who spend their time and money traveling the country trying to share their version of the gospel. I disagree with the approach and would argue against its effectiveness. But I admire their dedication and courage. Now when Ruben travels to Utah at conference time, he stays at my home (yes, I still have a temple recommend). He prays with my family and me. He knows my kids, and my kids know him. We have lengthy, honest, and sincere conversations about the realities of our doctrinal differences, but we always show each other friendship and respect.
place marker
Though I've never been a Mormon, I descended from Mormons who came from far to settle in...they weren't the original pioneers, but they weren't far behind.
I have many Mormons in my family tree & current extended family.
I love to spend time with them. They are of great value to our Lord.
Many non-Mormon FREEPERS have said on various threads that we face greater enemies, and that therefore we should focus on attention and energies on them.
#1...We all multi-task in all we do. There's no need to present false dichotomies.
But #2 -- more importantly -- Mormons really aren't our enemies at all.
Over several years, I've cited several times on these threads this one verse from the apostle Paul -- Ephesians 6:12:
...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
So, in a backhanded way, FREEPERs are right in that we all have a common enemy...but they are wrong in reducing those enemies to simply Obama, socialism, Islam, communism, liberals, Democrats, and the like.
Our great enemy is indeed the forces of darkness among the demonic realm.
We don't struggle against "flesh and blood," Paul says. Which means that the BEST way to truly share the Gospel with socialists, Muslims, communists, liberals, Democrats -- and yes, Mormons -- is to get to know them.
Befriend them.
Treat them as family as back-and-forth guests in our homes.
Love them.
Dialogue with them.
Reason with them from the scriptures -- as the apostle Paul did with religious people he disagreed with (Acts 17:2, 17; 18:4).
Even debate with them as long as you keep it respectful (Acts 17:18ff).
And yes, there's even times you "vigorously refute" your religious opponents on a street corner in Temple Square --as Apollo did with Jews (Acts 18:28). But those street corners can be the beginning of ongoing relationships; and not simply serve as "bash central" where "debate scoring points are sought"...
The souls of socialists, Muslims, communists, liberals, Democrats -- and yes, Mormons -- are too valuable to make it all about debate points.
Colofornian .... As a LDS member (Mormon) it is generally easy for me to wave you off because you seem to offer so few christian traits of tolerance and understanding.
Why would I consider entertaining any ideas from someone who is so vehemently anti-christian in her attacks against my faith?
I get the distinct impression that were it 100 years ago you would be a leading proponent of the Missouri Mormon Extermination Order!
Dogs and cats living together.
I once visited Temple Square when I was in SLC (about 10 years ago), and the only negative experience I recall was hearing the protesters screaming their hate-filled tirades as we approached the entrance.
Other than that, the tour was lovely.
True Christianity preaches the cross of Christ.
The lds-org denies that Jesus is the Creator, that everything was created THROUGH Him, BY Him and FOR Him.
They deny that Jesus created even the angels out of nothing.
They do NOT teach the truth about Jesus.