Very well said and thank you.
Far too often I see on threads people who think that people will just leave Mormonism without any debate and that saddens me.
There are some who come to the truth on their own, but more often than not there is a two step process - first is extraction (showing the LDS that there are problems and getting them to deal with them and see that the Mormon Church is not ‘true’.
The second step is even more vital but often overlooked - getting them to see what is RIGHT about Christ and bring them to the foot of the Cross, to a saving faith in Him alone.
On here, we deal mostly with LDS armchair apologists and sympathizers. Therefore we are most often in extraction mode. Confrontational and demanding with the truth.
However, as some like SZ will testify, once the extraction begins, our tone softens as we witness the Love of Christ to them.
Sadly, being loving doesn’t work in the extraction part and the salvation part won’t come until they let go of the idea that only Mormonism is the true religion.
I was very glad to see you post the second, and vital step especially. And so significant.... It is not enough to reveal falsehood, (there are oceans of other false teachers who are waiting in the wings to pounce), but the real work of restoring or introducing one to a life of freedom in the Lord must begin with knowing that they are His...and they knowing they are His....
... Many Mormons simply are not, and are blind to that fact. Others, who at some point in their life did give their life to the Lord might want to rededicate their life to Him anew, once they see how far they have fallen away. Some who were young in the faith and tricked by Mormonism...or caught up at a time when life seemed confusing to them or facing hard times......many coming out of cults or false religions do just that.
Hopefully they will understand how jubilant we Christians are for them.... that God sent people to rescue them and they reached out their hand and took hold of His. Makes me think of a very old Hymn..."Throw out the Lifeline"..or something of that nature. And no doubt the throngs of angels in heaven rejoice with us.
When you see medics and fireman on rescue missions...there's often allot of yelling and such in their attempts of rescue....they know they have to get past the "fog" in the victims mind. Once away from the danger far enough these 'gentle giants' are seen with hearts and love bigger than most of us can know. I am convinced those who have their mission to rescue those in Mormonism are much the same.
Proud to know that FR cares to rescue the perishing as well as much as they do Saving our country. It is indeed a privilege to come here.