How to Evangelize Mormons

[landon13]

Hello,

I have a friend who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I have had religious discussions with her for a long time about our two contrasting faiths. I feel the need right now and the call of the Holy Spirit to re-invigorate and evangelize her and bring her to the truth of Christ.

Does anyone have any tips or guides to help evangelize and bring Mormons to Christ? Or does anyone have any books that would be helpful for this?

Thank you!

 

[USMC_Convert]

Look up a series of books called Apologetics for Beginners. They have two books that you would probably find most helpful, and they aren’t very expensive. If you need further help contact me and I’ll help ya out…

 

[PaulfromIowa]

There is a lot of material on Mormonism here on main Catholic Answers website.

 

[USMC_Convert]

Look up a series of books called Apologetics for Beginners. They have two books that you would probably find most helpful, and they aren’t very expensive. If you need further help contact me and I’ll help ya out…

Sorry, reverse that, it’s called Beginning Apologetics, lol…

 

[adamhovey1988]

Mormonism seems to be obsessed with the keys of the priesthood which I think they mean the same thing we mean when we say the keys to the kingdom of heaven start the conversation on authority

 

[superwimp]

Hello,

I have a friend who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I have had religious discussions with her for a long time about our two contrasting faiths. I feel the need right now and the call of the Holy Spirit to re-invigorate and evangelize her and bring her to the truth of Christ.

Does anyone have any tips or guides to help evangelize and bring Mormons to Christ? Or does anyone have any books that would be helpful for this?

Thank you!

She most likely doesn't need your help in discovering that the BOM isn't historical or that the leadership aren't special. Just be her friend. Don't bring the topic up unless she does.

 

[Jerusha]

She most likely doesn’t need your help in discovering that the BOM isn’t historical or that the leadership aren’t special. Just be her friend. Don’t bring the topic up unless she does.

I second that. Arguing with a devoted Mormon does no good. Remember that despite the obvious flaws of their belief system, they can give up much in renouncing it. Friends, family, job, inheritance, community, reputation, assistance from the community, and whatever else there is. Her job is to convert you. Stay close to the Church, until she is ready to express her disillusionment. You have already laid the groundwork. If she has questions, she can seek out “anti-Mormon” sites on the internet. They abound. The trouble with them is they are mostly atheistic. That is why she will still need you.

 

[Marie5890]

Best thing to do is to live your faith.

Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system

Mormons’ have what they call testimonies of the LDS church being the one and only true church with the restored gospel. Until they come to understand that that is not true, evangelization and conversion doesn’t really work.

 

[TOmNossor]

Best thing to do is to live your faith.

Always good advice.

Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system

This is not accurate. Pew research indicates that LDS are among the most informed of all Christian groups about the Bible, Christianity, and World Religions. We attend 3 hours of services on Sunday with 2 hours being almost 100% devoted to religions education.
However, your point is part of what I was referencing here:

TOmNossor:

Do you think those outside of Catholicism, those who do not embrace Catholicism, … believe that Catholicism is:
…
Catholicism is argued for by sophistry and misdirection rather than solid reason based arguments?

Catholicism contradicts reason?

Catholicism encourages non-rational faith rather than reasoned conclusions?

Catholicism looks like folly and error?

Catholicism can be judged false by a mere glance such that a more thorough review would be ridiculous?
…

I doubt many LDS would self describe their faith as faith absent reason.

Mormons’ have what they call testimonies of the LDS church being the one and only true church with the restored gospel. Until they come to understand that that is not true, evangelization and conversion doesn’t really work.

Much of this is true. A LDS typically believe that God has communicated directly with them that the CoJCoLDS is God’s church on earth. I was a LDS for a long time with virtually none of this, but eventually God took pity on me and gave me what most LDS call a testimony.
It would be hard (though clearly not impossible as it happens) for a LDS to decide because of some set of facts they think contradict how they thought things must be, that the whole faith should be abandoned.
I invite my LDS friends to become disillusioned, because who wants to be illusioned.
Non-LDS regularly invite LDS to become disillusioned too, but for different reasons.

Of course the same is very true for non-Catholics inviting Catholics to learn more about xyz than most Catholics know. That is why we have anti-Catholic ministries and of course why Catholic Answers exists!
Charity, TOm

 

[CourtingTex]

Pondering the comments/etc prior to myself…

History, in my view with respect to how the world views and judges followers of Jesus Christ, would I submit the following

With continuous changes in membership numbers for those joining and leaving — younger generations according to Pew and other reputable polling sources show that they have no interest, are leaving, or further creating new buds of the latest version or pursuing a old version of Christianity ----

Lastly for the me ---- the assault that resulted in the catholic.com coming to be years ago — I have no issue at all having conversations, recognizing that I have been loyal for almost 30 years to the LDS church and nothing here,elsewhere, to come tommorrow and thereafter will change my conviction of the love I have for the Master and My Advocate with the God, our Savior from a LDS viewpoint, speaking for myself ONLY.

I pray despite the continued effort to “bring me to the other side, if you will” I will continue to my dying breath to stand with (loyal Catholics) to share the good news as you will and love myself and other LDS as you proclaim Catholicism and what it is to you and your neighbors, like myself ---- a former Catholic who has been a member a Presbyterian and Anglican in the past years ago.

I generally do not comment about this type of thread ---- it is not the first that I have ever seen on the internet, nonetheless open dialogue will ever be with Catholicism and LDS.

 

[gazelam]

Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system.

This is a statement of someone unfamiliar with Mormonism. Here are some key scriptures and statements regarding the importance Latter-day Saints place on knowledge and education.

D&C 131:6* It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.*

D&C 93:36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.

D&C 130:18, 19 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 357 “Knowledge saves a man, and in the world of spirits a man cannot be exalted but by knowledge”.

2 Ne 9:29 *To be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God
*

D&C 88:77-80
77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

78 *Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
*
79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.

D&C 55:4 And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing books for schools in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me.

Brigham Young stated “every art and science known and studied by the children of men is comprised within the Gospel” (Journal of Discourses 12:257)

Here is the Encyclopedia of Mormonism article on education: eom.byu.edu/index.php/Education

I hope this helps…

 

[Stephen168]

Best thing to do is to live your faith.

Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system

Mormons’ have what they call testimonies of the LDS church being the one and only true church with the restored gospel. Until they come to understand that that is not true, evangelization and conversion doesn’t really work.

I found a website of testimonies from Mormon scholars. They all agree with you.

“Mormons are in the anomalous position of saying that a spiritual testimony, not empirical proof, undergirds their faith,…”- Richard Lyman Bushman, Mormon Scholar.

 

[Stephen168]

This is not accurate.

No, She is spot on.

Pew research indicates that LDS are among the most informed of all Christian groups about the Bible, Christianity, and World Religions. We attend 3 hours of services on Sunday with 2 hours being almost 100% devoted to religions education.

After reading the questions and the actual research, the Pew report does not say what you are leading people to believe.

 

[adamhovey1988]

No, She is spot on.

After reading the questions and the actual research, the Pew report does not say what you are leading people to believe.

I’m inclined to agree I can make the Bible say anything I want if you take single verses in isolation you can do that

 

[TOmNossor]

Hello Stephen168!
Let’s see what you have to say:

Marie5890;14530381:

Best thing to do is to live your faith.

Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system

Mormons’ have what they call testimonies of the LDS church being the one and only true church with the restored gospel. Until they come to understand that that is not true, evangelization and conversion doesn’t really work.

I found a website of testimonies from Mormon scholars. They all agree with you.

The LDS board upon which I occasionally post has a “Call for References (CFR)” policy. It is a rule that when someone makes a statement like “They all agree with you” another poster can CFR. Then the proclaimer must provide the reference for their statement. My guess is few say much like Marie did, and many contradict it, but your statement is unreasonably and unlikely, but I will await your responds. You do not have to show your website, but I wish you would so I could evaluate your reasoning for myself.
Truth is, when I said:

TOmNossor:

Do you think those outside of Catholicism, those who do not embrace Catholicism, … believe that Catholicism is:
Catholicism is argued for by sophistry and misdirection rather than solid reason based arguments?
Catholicism contradicts reason?
Catholicism encourages non-rational faith rather than reasoned conclusions?
Catholicism looks like folly and error?
Catholicism can be judged false by a mere glance such that a more thorough review would be ridiculous?

And I said:

TOmNossor:

I could find most of those sentiments shared by Catholic posters on this board about my faith, but I do not think such is a fair (“objective” and apprpriately “charitable”) assessment of my faith.

Of the poster who still post on this board regularly, you Stephen168 are who I thought of to show that this was your dismissive way of treating my faith.

After reading the questions and the actual research, the Pew report does not say what you are leading people to believe.

Here is another post I made about the PEW study. It includes a link, a table, and some more pointed comments. Perhaps I have failed to reason correctly, but I will listen as you show that the report does not say what I am leading people to believe.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=14371633&highlight=pew#post14371633
Alternatively, you might be merely asserting that in responding about “reason” I made claims about “knowledge.” If that is all, then I will agree that the PEW study is about knowledge not about reason. I thought I made that clear enough, but I can see how I could have spelled it out.
Charity, TOm

 

[TOmNossor]

Hello Stephen168!
Let’s see what you have to say:

Marie5890;14530381:

Best thing to do is to live your faith.

Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system

Mormons’ have what they call testimonies of the LDS church being the one and only true church with the restored gospel. Until they come to understand that that is not true, evangelization and conversion doesn’t really work.

I found a website of testimonies from Mormon scholars. They all agree with you.

The LDS board upon which I occasionally post has a “Call for References (CFR)” policy. It is a rule that when someone makes a statement like “They all agree with you” another poster can CFR. Then the proclaimer must provide the reference for their statement. My guess is few say much like Marie did, and many contradict it, but your statement is unreasonably and unlikely, but I will await your response. You do not have to show your website, but I wish you would so I could evaluate your reasoning for myself.
Truth is, when I said:

TOmNossor:

Do you think those outside of Catholicism, those who do not embrace Catholicism, … believe that Catholicism is:
Catholicism is argued for by sophistry and misdirection rather than solid reason based arguments?
Catholicism contradicts reason?
Catholicism encourages non-rational faith rather than reasoned conclusions?
Catholicism looks like folly and error?
Catholicism can be judged false by a mere glance such that a more thorough review would be ridiculous?

And I said:

TOmNossor:

I could find most of those sentiments shared by Catholic posters on this board about my faith, but I do not think such is a fair (“objective” and apprpriately “charitable”) assessment of my faith.

Of the poster who still post on this board regularly, you Stephen168 are who I thought of to show that this was your dismissive way of treating my faith.

After reading the questions and the actual research, the Pew report does not say what you are leading people to believe.

Here is another post I made about the PEW study. It includes a link, a table, and some more pointed comments. Perhaps I have failed to reason correctly, but I will listen as you show that the report does not say what I am leading people to believe.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=14371633&highlight=pew#post14371633
Alternatively, you might be merely asserting that in responding about “reason” I made claims about “knowledge.” If that is all, then I will agree that the PEW study is about knowledge not about reason. I thought I made that clear enough, but I can see how I could have spelled it out.
Charity, TOm

 

[Stephen168]

I’m inclined to agree I can make the Bible say anything I want if you take single verses in isolation you can do that

What Maria said and I agree is, “Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system.”

So were are not really talking about how much a Mormon might know about other religions or if they can name the first four books of the New Testament. Or how a Mormon might interpret the scriptures.

The fact is Mormons belief in their church is not based on reason. Therefore, I don’t see how evangalizing from reason could be possible.

 

[gazelam]

Mormons believe strictly by faith. The use of reason is not really apart of their belief system

I found a website of testimonies from Mormon scholars. They all agree with you.

“Mormons are in the anomalous position of saying that a spiritual testimony, not empirical proof, undergirds their faith,…”- Richard Lyman Bushman, Mormon Scholar.

All Bushman is doing is rephrasing a key Biblical concept. Does not a spiritual testimony under-gird all Christian faith? If one believes the Bible it has to.

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.

Doubting Thomas was rebuked for wanting to see empirical evidence of the risen Lord.

John 20:25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side,* I will not believe**.”*

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

Who wants to be a Christian of the Doubting Thomas variety!?!? It seems like an unpleasant place to be! Is there any religion that blends both scholarship and faith better than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

 

[Stephen168]

All Bushman is doing is rephrasing a key Biblical concept. Does not a spiritual testimony under-gird all Christian faith? If one believes the Bible it has to.

No, in Bushman’s testimony he rejects reason. While not every Mormon scholar takes the time in their testimony to reject reason out right, some do.

In Mormonism, believing in two different truths seems to be common, which rejects reason in regard to Mormonism.

“While all truth is, by definition, true, no matter how it was discovered, it is important to note that there are some vastly different methods of discovering truth. The scientific method is one of these. It is a physical method that produces physical truths. Spiritual inquiry, on the other hand, produces spiritual truths. It requires prayer, study, and pondering. These methods are drastically different from the experimental methods employed by scientists, but they lead to knowledge of a spiritual nature that is no less real, strong, or valid than knowledge obtained through scientific observation.”-Laura Clarke Bridgewater, Mormon Scholar

 

[Vonsalza]

Is there any religion that blends both scholarship and faith better than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Interesting.

The BoM claims that ancient Jews built submarines circa 2500 BC.
The BoM claims Jews didn’t understand Egyptian language despite being in Egypt for generations.
The BoM mis-dates the Babylonian Exile.
The BoM mis-dates the birth of Christ
The BoM states horses, cattle, steel, silk, wheat, barley, pigs and honeybees were in the New Word centuries before Europeans brought them. They also claim elephants were in the NW.

It seems the BoM was a fiction drafted by someone with very little scholarship, actually.