My main gripe is how they demand to know where do I get my information from. Then they tell me that it is not a reputable source. I even had one tell me that the website for the LDS Church had been hacked and misleading information put into it!
One last question, I read somewhere that young missionaries, when confronted by a Bible-believing Christian report to their counselor who explains to them how mistaken the Christian was, and stops them from returning to that Christian's home. Is that true? It's been almost a year since the last Mormons visited. I asked them in, offered them something to drink, and got into a very animated discussion of Mormon beliefs... They got up and almost ran out of the house, with me calling out to remember Galatians 1:8. They never came back and that was NOT my intention. As a stay-home mom I don't have many opportunities to witness to lost people, so I like it when Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses knock at the door. At least the JW return, usually with an older person, but those Mormon boys never came back!
Pardon if I pipe in here.
The “reputable source” issue is a mormon’s primary backfire mechanism to negate evidences and proofs against mormonism. They have been taught that anything outside of mormon circles is false. So it is a hard hill to climb, but it is possible.
Big objections on citations from “Journal of Discourses”, never mind that if these teachings by their prophets and apostles are ‘opinion’, that they then were teaching false doctrines.
However, the allegation that lds.org has been hacked is a new one to me.
Probably one of the most important points is to establish definitions of words and phrases used. When you say “salvation” for instance, it doesn’t mean the same to a Christian as it does a mormon - so in the mormon mind, the definition scrolls to that of mormonism, not necessarily what you had intended on meaning.
If you cite from the Bible (KJV), the bom, D&C and the POGP, they have little grounds for argument. Use online resources such as www.utlm.org; www.irr.org; www.4witness.org; among other high standard sites to assist in the understanding of these other mormon scriptures and how to use them to show mormonism to be false.
BTW, don’t give up on the invites - you’re doing it right!
My main gripe is how they demand to know where do I get my information from.
________________________________________
So tell them
Much of the info in here is from the book of mormon or the other moermon writings and doctrines and copied from the LDS official website
:)
Many mormons dont know their own history or the earlier doctrines...
They may deny that Joey Smith had 40+ sexual partners other than his legal wife
and deny polygamy
They may deny the multiple gods
but they will also deny the Trinity and the way the Virgin mary got pregnant
They will speak of “atonement” and that it happened in the Garden of Eden with their mormon jesus sweating and that he was a victim and will deny the Blood shed on the Cross
The church, tghe Bride never needed”restoring” because the church never went anywhere ort was stolen dropped or lost
Jesus is not a careless Bridegroom and He cherishes and honors His Bride. He would never hav3e taken His loving eyes of her. She has remained safe and in His loving embrace for the last 2,000 years and we are not going anywhere until Jesus comes back for us...
Lots of differences
Be well versed in the Bible because some items can sound “christian” if you dont know for sure
Dont carry a big fat Bible A little Gideons will fit in your back jeans pocket They have the New Testament and the Psalms and Proverbs
Be determined you are being lied to intentionally or accidentially and dont assume something is OK because it sounds right...
Make sure any tracs you give out are scriptural and not just cutsie
Beautiful are your feet upon the mountains which bring Good News.
Go with God in the precious Name of Jesus
Have fun
:)
I read somewhere that young missionaries, when confronted by a Bible-believing Christian report to their counselor who explains to them how mistaken the Christian was, and stops them from returning to that Christian’s home. Is that true?
____________________________________________
No I never could get rid of them
I had the Mormons and the JWs once a month for years
I had a blast while I lived in that state
Here in TN not so much
The mormons never have managed to “cover the earth” in our state LOL
A JW told me that she had asked at kingdon hall if I could be her personal slave in their afterlife and had gotten special permission She immediately came and told me I tol,d her she was a few days early She came back on herr usual day also
A few days later when a Mormon warned me that I would end up a slave I told her i was so sorry, I had alreadyu been spoken for
This mormon woman was intelligent abnd well educated but what is it about cult5s that your mind gets sucked out ???
She begged me to go to the JW and asked to be excused and tell her I wanted to go with the Mormnons
The Mormons started coming twice a month
another thing that I have never heard of anywhere else was this
I knew many of my ancestors so the Mormons often invited me to the temple to be dead dunked for them and would try to shame me by saying I didnt love my Christian ancestors and wanted them to go to Hell I told them I was never going to be a mormon but they said it wasnt necessary. Of course it might have been a way to get the names and then to have a bona fide mormon dead dunked all over again for my faMily Plus they would probably have had to “cleanse” the temple after I the apostate had fouled it up with my presence..
Weird ducks eh ???
Zilla gave you good advice. I have the book “reasoning from the Scriptures with Mormons” and use it as a handy reference, but never when the LDS missionaries are around.
When I was studying to be an LDS missionary, they used a set of 6 discussions with flip charts. They have since gone to using a manual called ‘preach my gospel’ which I have not gotten a copy of yet. I tried to go into an LDS bookstore once to get a copy but there weren’t any. They are completely brainwashed in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) into providing ‘pat answers’ and lying about LDS doctrines to outsiders (which is why I ended up not serving my mission. I couldn’t see if we (LDS) had the truth why we had to lie about certain doctrines.
The Bible (KJV) is your best weapon, followed by the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great price. An LDS hymnal is also a great resource.
THere are several books written by LDS prophets and apostles that are good resources, you can find these cheap online and it is worth, IMO, the $20-$30 to buy all of them and hit them with a highlighter.
The Miracle of Forgiveness - focus on works and salvation. AKA by ex-mos as “Its a miracle you can be forgiven”.
A marvelous work and a wonder - LeGrand Richards
Doctrines of Salvation - Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith
Truth Restored
Most of these books are standard missionary books and when I was LDS, were taken on your mission as well for reference.
LDS.org has conference reports and the current manuals and those are worth mining for info.
If the missionaries come back with ‘that is only their opinion on the above works (avoid Bruce R. McConkie as a citation although it isn’t bad to get a copy of Mormon Doctrine to look things up with) then pound into them “Are these propehts or not?” It puts them in a quandry.
Fundamentals of following the prophet (Ezra Taft Benson) is also a great source as to why they need to accept what is taught in books and conference talks by their leaders.
When they respond with Bible verse, grab your bible and show them the full context. All LDS proof texts are taken out of context. The more you know your Bible, the more likely you are to reach them.
One thing I do, to prevent them from all of a sudden havign to leave is when the show up, I invite them over for dinner later on in the week. LDS missionaries are extremely underfed and they will set aside a whole evening (until about 8:30) for you and are usually too polite to leave if you have fed them. Captive audience and take the time during dinner to ‘build common ground’ (ask them about where they grew up, how long they’ve been on their mission, familes, etc). This is what they are trained to do and it throws their techniques back at them and catches them off guard and makes them much more willing to listen.
Never let them pray. If they bring up prayer, pray yourself or have your spouse do it. Usually expect 3 attempts at prayer (before eating, before discussion and at the end). We explain to them that in our house, we are the only ones who lead prayer and that works well.
I have never heard LDS.org got hacked and that is really funny.
The usually file a report based on ANY contact (mormons missions are paperwork intensive) but it is more likely the decision of the”senior companion” (the one who has been out longer).
Know what an LDS testimony is, and how is sounds “I know the church is true...blah blah blah” and counter it with your own. When backed into a corner, ALL missionaries will resort to this ‘testimony’. You can find examples online.
UTLM.org and Mormon Missions Midwest Outreach are great resources but don’t let them know you are using them. Read the info for general idea and the primary (original) sources they cite. If you don’t remember the acutal source, tell them you will have to look it up again and get back to you (again this is what they do when they don’t know the answer).
Know Christian history, and MOrmon history. This helps when the topic gets to the ‘great apostasy’ and persecution against the Mormons.
Don’t be surprised that with a bit of studying you know LDS doctrine better than they do. They are taught to focus only on certain things with the idea of getting you to convert.
Again, the Word of God is your best weapon, and make it all about Jesus and what He did. I have issued a challenge several times on here (no one has taken me up on it) that using the Bible alone (a basic knowledge of greek and hebrew helps) I can prove all unique LDS doctrines false, and I can.
Know the LDS ‘proof’ texts and how to counter them, in that way “Reasoning” is a very good source. there is also “Answering Mormons verse by verse” by a good friend John Farkas.
Hope this helps and if you have specific questions, feel free to freepmail me.
R