How Do You Prepare a Mormon

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With the recognition that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints professes to be the true church of Christ, how could you introduce Catholicism so a Mormon?

The convincing that the Book of Mormon or other doctrines of that church are not accurate will not work. How would you show someone what Catholicism is?
 
Having debated with many Mormons in the past - I find that speaking about personal experiences is often the key to opening dialogue. The concept of faith in Mormonism is very much based on a sense of well-being, a sort of intuition that things are “right” - this IS in fact the method by which a Mormon seeks to convert someone. They are encouraged to read the book of Mormon and then search their heart to see if what they feel confirms it as truth.

So, it is good to speak about personal experience of the truth. Answered prayer, changes in personality etc.

Then in ongoing discussions I encourage the reading of the history of the Mormon Church and then compare it to the history of the Christian Church and ask them to seriously test Joseph Smith’s statement that all churches had become corrupted. Most Mormon’s are surprised to learn that there is a history of Christianity that goes beyond the reformation!!!

Disputing about doctrine usually doesn’t go anywhere - as I’ve found that many Mormons, like Jehovah’s Witnesses and some Evangelicals - do not really understand their own beliefs, let alone having the ability of comparing and contrasting them to others.

Hope this helps.
 
I as a Mormon, understand my church’s history.

Do you honestly believe trying to convince me the way I came to the truth is wrong and well I need to come to RCIA? Me and Catholicism will never be on the same page.
 
thecourt said:
I as a Mormon, understand my church’s history.

Do you honestly believe trying to convince me the way I came to the truth is wrong and well I need to come to RCIA? Me and Catholicism will never be on the same page.
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I believe you do think you understand the history of mormonism.

(( What are your objections to this historical presentation: Mormonism. ))

Though, you don’t seem to be interested in explaining the “Polygamy of Jesus” article of faith which is a part of that history.

Perhaps it’s acceptable for Jesus to be a polygamist within your church. I actually don’t know, and found the evidence presented to be “interesting”, and was rather concerned that you had no response to it.
 
thecourt said:
I as a Mormon, understand my church’s history.

Do you honestly believe trying to convince me the way I came to the truth is wrong and well I need to come to RCIA? Me and Catholicism will never be on the same page.
Click to expand...
Seems to me that you are feeling pressured to go, by someone, and are trying to find ways out of it. So don’t go!

Or you could just go to RCIA…if you don’t like it, no one is going to come calling on your doorstep to drag you there. You can just stop going, no questions asked.

No one there is going to tell you that you have done anything wrong. All they will do is teach and encourage you to read the Bible, the Catholic Catechism, go to Mass and pray (not particularly in that order). No one will check up on you to find out if you have actually done anything you are encouraged to do. But, if you want to know what Catholicism IS, then RCIA is the best place to find out.

This forum does not equal RCIA. This forum is for discussing, and it/we gets fairly wild sometimes. RCIA is for people who are interested in inquiring about the Catholic faith.
 
Me and Catholicism will never be on the same page
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Then why are you here?

If you want to be mormon then, well, go be mormon. If you want us to convince you to become Catholic, then all we can do is present Catholic Teaching. It is your responsibility to accept or reject it.

I, and a lot of other Catholics, do not argue over Truth or doctrine. We present what is true and leave the Holy Spirit to His work. If you want to reject it, that’s your salvation on the line, not ours.It is not the responsibility of Catholics to convert, but to live by the Faith and know their faith, to present reasons for our beliefs. If you want to be mormon, nobody here is stopping you.

Why did you start this thread? :confused:
 
One good place to start is to suggest that they study some of the facts about the real history of Mormonism. Joseph Smith really was a polygamist who was tricked into translating the kinderhook plates and delivered a totally false translation of the papyri of the Pearl of great price (mormon so called scripture). Also almost all of his prophecies contained in the Doctrine and Covenants (also so called mormon scripture) failed. Easily proving him to be just another false prophet. All of these issues are easily accessed on the web and are proving to be devastating to the growth of Mormonism… For example:
”The LDS church Newspaper Deseret Morning News Published: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 reported: “Late President Gordon B. Hinckley once told the Quorum of the Twelve, “Brethren, when my life is finished and the final services are concluding, I am going to rise up as I go by, look each of you in the eye and say, 'How are we doing on retention?”’ Retention has become a real focus. For you don’t need an abacus to know many members have left the building.
What happened to them?”

In the United States, Mormons are departing from the faith as fast as converts are joining. Converts rarely remain active in the Mormon Church. The official Mormon reaction to the articles stating that there are significantly less than 12 million members worldwide.

This is from a Salt Lake Tribune article Sep. 1st, 2005 quoting Merrill Bateman, a Mormon Seventy

“…He agreed the LDS Church’s worldwide membership, reported at 12 million, includes many who no longer consider themselves Mormon, but he disagreed with researchers who estimated active Mormons equal only 4 million.

Point: do not be afraid to aggressively help your friends see the truth about Mormonism. Many have left and many more will leave, it is only a matter of someone telling the truth to those who are honest enough to hear it.
 
The Foundation of Mormonism rests on their teaching that the church fell into total apostasy therefore, the need of a restoration. One need only go to any public library and read the history of Christianty. Jesus founded a Church 2,000 years ago and said the gates of hell would not prevail against it and the Holy Spirit would guide it.That truth is manifest in the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church.
Respectfully,
FDM
 
thecourt said:
With the recognition that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints professes to be the true church of Christ, how could you introduce Catholicism so a Mormon?

The convincing that the Book of Mormon or other doctrines of that church are not accurate will not work. How would you show someone what Catholicism is?
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t try unless specifically asked. When Mormons come to call, I offer them water (I know tea, coffee & soda are out of bounds) and listen to them. I have “big” Mormon relatives. So my common ground is the beautiful witness of family life that Mormons embarrass the rest of us with.

When Mormons have given their pitch, if they ask me a question, I try to squeeze in a 10-second sound byte about the history problem and a “different gospel.”

But Mormons have everything sewn up with the early apostasy theory. That pretty much closes the door on early Church history. The problem with the Mormon line is that you have to swallow the whole Joseph Smith story.

I know the Mormons are winning converts, not only from the unchurched but among main line Protestants and even Catholics. Beats me how they do that.
 
thecourt said:
I as a Mormon, understand my church’s history.

Do you honestly believe trying to convince me the way I came to the truth is wrong and well I need to come to RCIA? Me and Catholicism will never be on the same page.
Click to expand...
 
thecourt said:
I as a Mormon, understand my church’s history.

Do you honestly believe trying to convince me the way I came to the truth is wrong and well I need to come to RCIA? Me and Catholicism will never be on the same page.
Click to expand...
Hello,
My husband was a Mormon Minister, when I married him, he told me he would never become a Catholic and no way could I make him. I told him that was not in my power and that he would have to have the Holy Spirit come down upon him and bless him{enlighten}. After about 4 years and many prayers to the Holy Spirit, my prayers were answered. He came to me and asked how he could become a Catholic
There is nothing I can say to change your mind, except that I would rather have a God made religion than a man made religion.
I also know that the Holy Spirit would have to enlighten you, I will pray that the Holy Spirit come down upon you and enlighten you.
Yvonne
 
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