Discussing Catholic faith with Mormon

[njlisa]

I have a very good friend who is a long-time member of the LDS/Mormon Church. I always listened to her talk about her faith – without judgment. I talked about Catholicism without being pushy. She has told me before that when she attended the Catholic Church, she felt the Spirit there. And she also said if she weren’t Mormon, she would be a Catholic.

Lately, she has become extremely disgruntled with the Mormon church. She is so unhappy that she’s unable to attend services.

At this point, I felt it was time to make a move. So I started debunking the LDS church – not in a snotty way. Just in an honest way. And I urged her to go to the Catholic Church. But she dug in her heels and says she still believes in the teachings.

I feel so bad for her. She is such a good person – and very devout in the faith she’s been taught. She says if she permanently leaves the LDS church, she’ll just give up on church entirely.

Thank God, she’s still my friend and she said she appreciated what I shared with her.

Has anyone had a similar experience? If so, how did you handle them?

 

[fencersmother]

I have had this and similar experiences with most of my LDS relatives. it is extremely frustrating for all.

I always advise my friends in this situation to proceed with extreme caution. Their words don’t mean the same thing as our words, their rituals, particularly baptism, do not mean the same things.

 

[njlisa]

Thanks so much for the advice. I really thought I had an opening – and boy was I wrong. Still, I pray that she finds the R.C. Church.

 

[Dorothy]

Thanks so much for the advice. I really thought I had an opening – and boy was I wrong. Still, I pray that she finds the R.C. Church.

You are doing a very good thing by continuing to pray for her. Perhaps a seed was planted, and it will grow in the future. (Especially since she shared what she did with you.)

 

[njlisa]

Thanks, Dorothy. I appreciate the support.

 

[iepuras]

I have a very good friend who is a long-time member of the LDS/Mormon Church. I always listened to her talk about her faith – without judgment. I talked about Catholicism without being pushy. She has told me before that when she attended the Catholic Church, she felt the Spirit there. And she also said if she weren’t Mormon, she would be a Catholic.

Lately, she has become extremely disgruntled with the Mormon church. She is so unhappy that she’s unable to attend services.

At this point, I felt it was time to make a move. So I started debunking the LDS church – not in a snotty way. Just in an honest way. And I urged her to go to the Catholic Church. But she dug in her heels and says she still believes in the teachings.

I feel so bad for her. She is such a good person – and very devout in the faith she’s been taught. She says if she permanently leaves the LDS church, she’ll just give up on church entirely.

Thank God, she’s still my friend and she said she appreciated what I shared with her.

Has anyone had a similar experience? If so, how did you handle them?

I’m not sure how much help I can be. I used to be LDS and came into the Catholic Church this past Easter. Mormons are very tough nuts to crack. If you go after their church, they get defensive. I think this is a very normal reaction, in general, not just for Mormons.

First, pray, pray, pray. My family is still very much Mormon, and I have had a serious falling out with my parents and we are now estranged. I desperately want them all to leave Mormonism, but I know at this point, there is not much I can do except pray. Let the Holy Spirit do the hard work. The indoctrination of Mormonism runs very deep. Seek the intercession of Our Lady. I also regularly ask for the intercession of St. Jude as Mormons are very difficult cases.

What are her specific issues with the LDS church? Maybe I can help you out with the specific issues if I know what they are. I am also a woman, so I know very well the issues that are especially troublesome for Mormon women.

Instead of attacking Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon or the LDS church, focus on the good things of real Christianity and the Catholic Church. Just so you know any, criticism of the LDS church, no matter how charitable and completely founded, is “anti-Mormon” in the eyes of a Mormon. Mormons believe that the ancient Christian Church fell into apostasy, but we know that didn’t actually happen. Maybe talk about the things that the ancient churches (Catholic and Orthodox) never lost which Joseph Smith supposedly restored. For example, baptism by immersion is a big deal in the LDS church. The Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches never stopped doing baptism by immersion, even though pouring is a very common option in the West. Most Mormons don’t know this at all. They think Catholics just sprinkle. My husband is Eastern Catholic and was baptized by immersion as an infant.

It is very true that Mormons use a lot of the same words as Christians but have an entirely different meaning. It is very important to define terms. Also, most ex-Mormons become agnostic or atheist. Some even becoming militant atheist.

Feel free to PM me if you need any help.

 

[njlisa]

I’m not sure how much help I can be. I used to be LDS and came into the Catholic Church this past Easter. Mormons are very tough nuts to crack. If you go after their church, they get defensive. I think this is a very normal reaction, in general, not just for Mormons.

First, pray, pray, pray. My family is still very much Mormon, and I have had a serious falling out with my parents and we are now estranged. I desperately want them all to leave Mormonism, but I know at this point, there is not much I can do except pray. Let the Holy Spirit do the hard work. The indoctrination of Mormonism runs very deep. Seek the intercession of Our Lady. I also regularly ask for the intercession of St. Jude as Mormons are very difficult cases.

What are her specific issues with the LDS church? Maybe I can help you out with the specific issues if I know what they are. I am also a woman, so I know very well the issues that are especially troublesome for Mormon women.

Instead of attacking Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon or the LDS church, focus on the good things of real Christianity and the Catholic Church. Just so you know any, criticism of the LDS church, no matter how charitable and completely founded, is “anti-Mormon” in the eyes of a Mormon. Mormons believe that the ancient Christian Church fell into apostasy, but we know that didn’t actually happen. Maybe talk about the things that the ancient churches (Catholic and Orthodox) never lost which Joseph Smith supposedly restored. For example, baptism by immersion is a big deal in the LDS church. The Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches never stopped doing baptism by immersion, even though pouring is a very common option in the West. Most Mormons don’t know this at all. They think Catholics just sprinkle. My husband is Eastern Catholic and was baptized by immersion as an infant.

It is very true that Mormons use a lot of the same words as Christians but have an entirely different meaning. It is very important to define terms. Also, most ex-Mormons become agnostic or atheist. Some even becoming militant atheist.

Feel free to PM me if you need any help.

Thank you so much and God bless you.