How To Witness To Mormons - Our Philosophy of Ministry

There are basically two ways Christians witness to Mormons. One is to demolish Mormonism in an apologetic way, the other is to expose Mormonism in a theological way. The former deals with Mormon history, false prophecies, archaeology, DNA, etc. The latter deals with sin, repentance, atonement, the gospel, etc. Most people take the first approach, but we, the Oasis ministry in Utah, take the second.

The first may make many ex-Mormons, but it doesn't necessarily make believers. Actually, it can be counterproductive. Once Mormons realize Mormonism is false they typically move into atheism because it is almost impossible for them to disassociate their knowledge of God, the Bible and Jesus from their Mormon worldview. They are so wounded from having been lied to that they hesitate to trust any religious consideration afterward and default into heavy skepticism. Also, destroying the historical foundations of Mormonism isn't preaching the gospel.

The message we are called to preach is the same message for all people whether they are Mormon or not: we are called to preach Christ crucified, the only salvation for sinners. Apologetics are certainly useful in destroying people’s confidence in Mormonism as a valid historical religion, but the most important thing is that Mormons come to place their confidence in Jesus Christ as the only sufficient Savior from their sins.

Often, these two goals conflict with each other. Therefore, the approach we believe is the best way to witness to Mormons is the theological approach: to elucidate the Biblical message of sin, righteousness and faith by challenging Mormonism on its own theological ground. People do not need correct Christian doctrine to realize that they are sinners… they need it to solve that problem!

Walking Mormons through their own doctrinal system to its logical conclusions will show to the Mormons that they are sinners, and will reveal to them the impossibility of being justified before God by their works, opening the door to share with them the true gospel of grace. Besides all this, the first approach almost always leads to an argument where the Mormon feels persecuted and attacked, making the wall go up even more.

Probing Mormonism theologically forces the Mormon to dig deep for real answers. No petty arguments will satisfy difficult theological problems within their own "gospel". As they dig, they discover, not only that they have no answers, but also that their spiritual condition is much worse than they thought. Few Mormons have ever thought deeply through their own theology, as their religion wisely discourages. In a friendly way, we seek to give them the opportunity.

The means we use to go about doing this is the Socratic method: asking questions. Mormons love talking about their religion... they want to evangelize you! So let them! Ask them what their message is... why is there a gospel... what is the problem that the gospel addresses... etc… etc… etc. As they respond, think of related questions to ask that will help them reflect upon their answers. Don’t worry if you aren’t very good at this at first.

Using the Socratic method will become more natural as you practice talking with Mormons on a regular basis. As well, we shouldn’t need to have a pre-packaged cookiecutter conversation with them, because that is what they do. Mormons are trained to speak the same things as if from a script, but we should come in the opposite spirit, as Jesus taught His disciples (Luke 21:14-15). We don't have to be experts on Mormonism, but we should be experts on the gospel. If we grasp the basic concepts of the gospel and rely on the Spirit for words, we’ll be able to witness to any person from any religion at any time. We don't need to worry about every question or word to be planned. This allows for each conversation to be unique.

There must be a direction and a goal to which this questioning ultimately leads. The point, or goal, when using the Socratic method on Mormonism’s theological system, is to bring the Mormon to the place of seeing that Mormonism’s plan of salvation does not save him.

The place of ultimate tension surrounds the atonement: this will be the climax of the conversation and it is here that the heart of the spiritual battle will be waged. Mormons acknowledge that Jesus made atonement for our sins so that we could be forgiven in order to return to God. It is not necessary to address all the weird doctrines they hold (like the nature of God or that they believe the atonement was made in the Garden of Gethsemane) because the point is to show them how Mormonism itself, in all its weirdness, does not save. We will get to those things eventually, but for now it does not serve our purpose to go into them, and will likely only hinder our objective.

When I am witnessing to Mormons, if they make a remark about some weird point of doctrine, I usually just say nothing, neither affirmative nor negative, but move on with the goal of the conversation.

The one great question is: “How does a person receive the atonement?” Since a person’s eternal destiny hangs upon this one question, then the answer is of infinite importance. It is at this point that Mormonism fails.

When it all boils down, Mormon doctrine teaches that a person must utterly forsake all of his or her sins in order to receive the atonement. This, of course, is impossible. Their primary manual, Gospel Principles, reads: “We accept Christ’s atonement by repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeying all the commandments. In this way we are cleansed from sin and become worthy to return and live forever with our Heavenly Father… Christ did his part to atone for our sins.

Each of us must repent and obey to make Christ’s atonement effective in our lives.” (Gospel Principles, p. 50-51, 1978) According to Mormonism, the forgiveness of sins is not a free gift purchased by Christ for the individual, but something that the individual must earn through personal worthiness by obedience to the commandments of God.

In Contrast, the Bible teaches that eternal life is the free gift of God for sinful men. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) This vital disparity between grace and works is the main point of contrast and conflict between Biblical Christianity and Mormonism and it is this that must be addressed.

It is not necessary to discuss baptism or receiving the Holy Ghost (even though Mormons may wish to get sidetracked on these or other like issues) because according to Mormonism repentance must first precede all things. A person must be worthy to even be baptized: “All those who have truly repented of all their sins shall be received by baptism into his church.” (D&C 20:37) Nothing comes for nothing in Mormonism. Even “faith” is described as: “having such trust in Christ that we obey whatever he commands.” (Gospel Principles, p. 118) In Mormonism, the individual’s worthiness through works is clearly the entire matter.

If Mormonism were true, that we “accept Christ’s atonement by repenting of our sins…”, then two obvious questions arise out of this “gospel”: 1) what is repentance? And 2) how good do I have to be to be worthy enough to receive the atonement? As we dig, we shall see how patently impossible it is for Mormonism to save anybody.

One must only look to the official church manuals in order to get into the Mormon mindset and understand how they define their terms. This paragraph from the chapter entitled “Repentance” in Gospel Principles, which includes a quote from the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, gives us the explanation: “It does little good to admit that we have sinned if we do not stop doing the evil thing. If we truly repent of our sins, we will do them no more.

If a person has stolen, he will steal no more. If he has lied, he will lie no more. If he committed adultery, he will stop this evil practice. The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins – behold, he will confess them and forsake them.” (Gospel Principles, p. 91, 1978)

Spencer Kimball, the late President of the Mormon Church stated: “There is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment of the sin… the saving power does not extend to him who merely wants to change his life… nor is repentance complete when one merely tries to abandon sin… to ‘try’ is weak. To ‘do the best I can’ is not strong. We must always do better than we can.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 163-165)

The Mormon definition of repentance is to actually and permanently forsake one’s sin. Therefore, according to their own doctrine, in order for a Mormon to accept the atonement and receive the forgiveness of sins, he or she must completely come to an end of sinning and keep the commandments of God. It's very simple: If you don't repent of your sins, you don't receive the atonement. There is no “try”.

The devastating blow that eliminates all the Mormon’s excuses for not doing so (and there will be excuses) comes from one of the most cardinal doctrines of their theological system. That is: that God never gives a command that we cannot keep, no matter how difficult or how great. “For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (1 Nephi 3:7)

Therefore, when God commands us to “deny ourselves of all ungodliness” (Moroni 10:32) and to “repent of all our sin” (Helaman 14:13), we are well able to do it. If we don't do it, we are to blame, not God. There is no legitimate reason why a person does not keep all the commandments all the time in Mormonism.

Some Mormons are right now struggling intensely with this very problem. Many others have never connected the dots and still think that as long as they just “try their best” they will be fine. They have conveniently forgotten that to the God of Mormonism, a person’s best is perfection. By asking the right questions and by helping them connect the dots, they will be forced to admit that they have no excuse for their willful rebellion (the Biblical answer as to why men do not obey the commandments).

The Mormon “gospel” is a hopeless hamster wheel: All have sinned and so the atonement was given. However, to get the atonement we must not sin. Therefore no person, past, present or future, has, or will ever have, the atonement. Wasn’t the atonement given because we couldn’t keep the commandments? Why then would the condition be to receive the atonement, ‘Keep the commandments’? We had already proven that that was impossible! Thus it is that Mormonism does not save. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21)

At this point, those whose consciences are sensitive will be distraught by their sin. Others, whose consciences are less sensitive, may become uneasy and bear to you their testimony. Mormons are under intense pressure to earn God’s grace, so the realization that they have not succeeded in securing it can often be very troubling. As the Bible teaches, the commandments were given by God to overwhelm the sinner so that he would despair of all hope in his own self and in his own works, constraining him to flee to Christ that he might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24).

This is what we are seeking to do, using the law, Mormon style. Many have sought to alleviate that pressure by lowering the standard to a safe artificial level, but as instruments in the Redeemer’s hands we are to raise that standard to its true and terrifying place and lay the pressure on.

Our temptation will be to hold back and not make people uncomfortable over their sin (a false concern for man), but in reality the most caring thing that we can possibly do for people is to speak the truth in love, even when it isn’t popular (a true concern for man).

A doctor must first tell his patients the bad news before he will be able to convince them to submit to his treatments. The Mormon’s eternal soul is at stake, and he does not know that he is perishing. Therefore we must, for love’s sake, be willing to make him uncomfortable that he might be brought to Jesus Christ for salvation.

Once he sees the futility of his own theology, and he asks, “Well, how do you get the atonement?!”, then the door will be open for you to share the true gospel of the grace of God with him and you'll have quite a “sponge” of an audience. This is the place to declare the truth clearly and cuttingly, proclaiming the difference between Mormon and Christian salvation. They need to hear the real good news. Truly, Mormons are dying for want of grace.

As for your demeanor when you speak with them, be sensitive, meek and kind, for they expect that all non-Mormons, especially Christians, are out to persecute them. You will thoroughly bewilder them if you drive the sword of truth into their conscience with meekness.

It is very easy to get frustrated with Mormons because they are so blind and cannot see the blatantly obvious, but if you picture them in your mind to be wearing dark glasses and holding in their hands white canes, it will help you to not become frustrated but rather will move you to compassion. Nearly all Mormons were born into the lie and have been conditioned to believe it from their childhood, knowing nothing else.

Being open and honest about your sins is as refreshing as cold water to Mormons, for theirs is a culture of extreme hypocrisy and judgmentalism. This is because they are anxiously striving to look good before men and to appear to all that they are keeping the commandments (after all, that is how they believe they are right with God).

If you are real with them and honest about your own sins, it will help them be real with you and honest about their sins… a thing most rare. If you aren’t real, Mormons can spot a hypocrite a mile away! (It takes one to know one, right?)

Nor should you be discouraged when it looks as if a conversation has been in vain. Mormons are very good at hiding their true feelings and you never know when the Spirit of God is convicting and drawing an individual to Himself. There are so many stories of people who have been brought to Christ while all along the Christians who had witnessed to them had no idea that their words were making any difference. Therefore, never give up!

These are the principles that we have found to be the most effective when sharing the gospel with Mormons. It’s a theological approach which uses the Socratic method to show the impossibility of Mormonism, opening the door to share the true gospel of grace.

Unlike the apologetic approach, this approach bypasses the pitfalls of atheism, almost always prevents them from feeling persecuted, and is thoroughly based upon the message of Christ crucified. The principles shown here extend far beyond Mormonism, for Mormonism is just one branch on the tree of self-righteousness. As stated before, we don’t need to be experts on Mormonism, but we should be experts on the gospel.

I take no joy in telling anyone I think their eternal soul is in peril. But it is far better to give fair warning than to remain silent and watch that person march to destruction.

Yes, I believe the Mormon gospel is a damning false gospel. But I cannot condemn anyone to hell. No man goes to hell for being a Mormon, just as no one goes to heaven for being a Baptist. If hell is your eternal resting place, it will be the just reward for your sin and not for any other reason. As the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.”

Jesus Christ is merciful to sinners. He came to save that which is lost. The problem is that most people don’t really believe they are lost. They don’t really believe they are dead in their trespasses and sins. Lots of people will admit they are sinners, but they believe they can clean up their act and God will accept them. In their folly they are trusting in their own works and goodness. They fail to ever understand that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, the Jesus Christ found in the Bible.

Are you trusting in the Jesus Christ of Holy Scriptures, or a caricature of Christ created by men? I pray you come to know who Jesus Christ really was, why He came, and what He accomplished on behalf of guilty sinners like me. Unless I enter the court of heaven cloaked in Christ’s perfect righteousness that has been imputed to my account, I have no hope of eternal life. Nothing I have ever done on earth will matter in that moment. It won’t matter how morally upright my life has been, how faithful I’ve been to my family and my church, or whether or not I’ve consumed alcohol and coffee. Isaiah tells us that even our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. There’s nothing I can ever do that isn’t tainted by my sin. Knowing that my very best is filthy in the sight of the one mighty and holy God is a scary thought. What then must a guilty sinner do? Once a man comes to the end of himself and realizes he has nothing to offer the one holy God, he’s beginning to walk on the right path. As Scripture says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Since there’s nothing I could ever do that would be acceptable to Him, my only hope is to place my trust in a substitute who did what I could not do on my behalf. The test in that day of judgment will be whether or not I am one of His, whether or not He knows me, whether or not I’m in Christ. If I enter heaven it will be because He died a substitionary atoning death on my behalf and imputed his perfect righteousness to me.

Scripture tells us there is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are death. We all see through a glass dimly. There are paths in this world that may seem right to our fallible fallen minds, but they end in death. Satan is the father of lies, he’s a deceiver. He does his best work in the area of religion. There’s nothing sadder than a man who believes he is saved when in reality he has trusted in false religion. I’ve known Muslims, Methodists, and Mormons who were all on the wrong path. Same with Baptists and Buddhists, Catholics and Charismatics, Anglicans and atheists.

In reality there are only two religions. There is biblical Christianity and there is false religion. It’s only biblical Christianity that offers salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. All others, regardless of the name, have some form of works-based righteousness. All others have men trusting in something they have done rather than what He did. All of those other people believe they are on the right path, but one day, after it’s way too late, they will discover they were deceived by Satan. They will learn that what they thought was right wasn’t right at all, that they were on the path to eternal destruction all along.

If you go back and read Genesis, you will see that Eve thought she saw something she didn’t see. It says, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” She was deceived by Satan and she trusted in herself, she trusted what she thought she knew and could see, but boy was she wrong. She induced Adam to eat and through Him sin entered the human race (original sin).

The good news is that just as sin entered the human race through our father Adam’s disobedience, it is through another man’s perfect obedience that many will be made righteous.

I prayerfully urge you to be humble enough to question what you think you see, what you think you know. After all, pride goeth before destruction.

I am already praying for you.

Soli deo gloria!

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