There is no denying that the missionary’s purpose is to share the message of the restored gospel. If a person is not interested in honestly seeking to find out whether or not that message is true, then the missionaries will spend their time looking for those who will.
Note that this is the same Mormon Holy Ghost that is supposed to give them permission to have an abortion. So asking that Holy Ghost for truth is a dubious proposition.
You make an excellent point Paul. I think this is worthy of a separate thread, so I will set one up.
That’s a great point. I had that happen earlier in the spring; two young Missionaries came to my house, and when I told them I was Catholic, they said “great! Our message of Jesus is for all faiths”. Agreeing that Jesus is for everyone, I gave them my Catholic conversion story (though ALL credit there goes to My Saviour and Lord for speaking through my mouth). When they realized that I wasn’t a prospect, they took their leave without sharing their testimonies.
I love that one! Too bad my dog isn’t that big!I was not aware it was cheaper at that site, thats why.
Same with the “two sticks” passage from Ezekiel 37. They take a few verses out of context to try to trick the naive investigator into believing that this passage is a prophecy about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. If you stop them and read the entire chapter, it is obvious that Ezekiel is prophesying about the reuniting of the divided Kingdom of Israel, not about the Book of Mormon. The missionaries have probably never read the chapter, they have just played “scripture chase” using verses 15-19.Now back to the topic. Yes, you want them to talk from the bible. But, be warned they have a bible missionary memory system which works in our favor because often their proof texts are out of context. When they quote a bible verse, stop them mid-sentence. Look up the passage and read the full page. Often on the very page where they are misquoting from you will have a response to them. For example, they will likely quote, “there be gods many and lords many”, now go below and read the full paragraph in context, see how the context defeats their use of the text.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (King James Version)
4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
I love it when the Mormon are in the neighborhood and come up my driveway. I do engage them…and yes, I find they pretty much have a ‘canned’ approach, probably from their training to anticipate arguments. I had association with Mormon women in our pro-life group. Nice people…but I just KNEW that they did not have the truth. However, it was the missionaries who confirmed that for me. When they claimed that Jesus did start the early Christian ‘church’ with a hierarchy, but that after Jesus left the earth, the hierarchy got corrupt and over time they died out. Then, Joseph Smith received the mandate in 18?? to take up the ‘banner’ that the corrupt clergy basterdized before they all died out…I was aghast!!. They were actually telling me that once Jesus left…(ascended into Heaven) that there was a 2000 year GAP, until Joseph Smith came along. The only thing that could come to mind to ask them was, "Do you mean to tell me that when Jesus told his apostles that He was going away and that they would no longer see Him…but…that He would NOT leave them ORPHANS…that he LIED? They were DEAD SILENT. Eeks!! He did not lie. He told them that he would send the SPIRIT to guide them. They KNEW that. That’s why they literally had NO comeback. The NEXT two that came, months later must have been clued in. We went through the same routine of the corruption of the early church, the dying out of the corruptors…the 2000 yr. gap until Joseph Smith arrives to take on the mantle. THIS time, when I offered how it could have been possible that Jesus LIED when he told His apostles that He would not leave them orphans, they said that, WE left Christ. He did not leave US. Wait…Were they now saying that Jesus didn’t orphan US, but we orphaned HIM? In fact that is EXACTLY what they were saying. I logically tried to tell them that the PARENT orphans the CHILD. The CHILD does NOT orphan the PARENT.
You could not wait until your son got home?
Catholics welcome converts to the Church at Easter, PaPa.You could not wait until your son got home?
Gee, lukewarm, it might have something to do with explaining the Faith which one might believe has been scandalously defamed by lies and twisted history.
I feel bad for him. Regardless of your feelings, that had to be like a kick in the stomach to him.Catholics welcome converts to the Church at Easter, PaPa.
Rbt
Of course it is. Every mormon convert who I have dealt with in RCIA classes speaks of the shunning and disowning that occurs in their own families!
I am not a Mormon, but I accepted to take one sample of the Book of Mormon to examine it, there were 3 or 4 passages that were noted so as to tell me where to start. Was it the same with you?I have had 2 different sets of Mormon Missionaries come to my door and I try to give them my time so we can discuss differing views on Religion.
I am hoping there is a few ex Mormon missionaries turned Catholic out there that can help me understand what they are trained to do. My last few visits they want to give me pamphlets and read them to me or they bring out a stack of flash cards and explained the Mormon idea on the life cycle from preconception to the multi layers of Heaven.
Is the thought that repeated discussions will get people to believe?
I just keep asking them about the “Great Apostasy” and ask them to tell me where Catholics are wrong in their teaching. The best answer to that question that I have gotten so far is the Reformation, which I tell them that we agree upon.
Can someone tell me if this all they do to everyone and it is effective?
It seems very much like the H. Ross Perot method of witnessing to your faith, Wait a second, he got a lot of votes for president, maybe it does work.
I will say that we can learn a lot from the Missionaries, at least they are out there witnessing to their faith, most catholic wont even tell people they are catholic when asked.
Help,
