How to introduce my Catholic faith to my Mormon family?

[GIMJ]

I am being baptized and confirmed tonight at the Easter Vigil. I was raised Mormon, though, and my family is very confused regarding Catholic beliefs and practices.

I know how to defend the Church, but I have a habit of being uncharitable when people attack it and sometimes become confrontational. Since my family (and former church) has very negative and misinformed views about the Catholic Church, that happens a lot. I’ve just been keeping my mouth shut about it to avoid any controversy, but I don’t think it’s fair to allow them to continue believing such terrible things about our Faith.

I want to give them something they can read at their own leisure to explain what I have difficulty explaining in charity. I’m looking for something simple, light, and to the point about what I believe as a Catholic. The shorter the better. Small printouts or booklets (or even a short book if under 100-150 pages) would be great.

For now I’m not looking to convert, only to help them understand.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[onetruechurch]

Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth

     is the pamphlet put out by Catholic Answers.  Sometimes you can see the icon right above the forums.  Or, you could go to the home page and click on Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth.

I have the 30 page pamplet that is just the right size for non-Catholic relatives. However, you could also print the information right off the web. It just would not be in a convenient little pamphlet.

 

[rien]

You might try Coming Home network. They are mostly for minister converts but I think they have a few former Mormons they can put you in touch with. Their “helpers” as they call them.

www.chnetwork.org

 

[xmormon]

Hi, if your family etc. are active Mormons following their church leaders, they will over time become harder and harder to approach with the truth. They will build up their reasons why it is wrong for you to become a Catholic and stronger in their delusions that you have fallen. My experience (and I have drawn many among my family and my friends away from the LDS church) is don’t get into name calling matches with them, it just hardens them. Challenge them to calmly sit down with you, and go over the facts line by line, reference by reference. Make sure you are well prepared before you do this because it is likely you will not get more than a couple of chances.
The mountain of evidence proving the Catholic church is Christ’s original, unfallen church is overwhelming. However, the mountain of evidence proving Joseph Smith was a false prophet is just as great and should not be avoided. Be calm and have your facts and exact references all right infront of you. Start out with the facts about the Papyrus of the Book of Abraham. Then Go to the facts about the many changes made in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. Changes of entire sentences and paragraphs, many times completely changing the meaning of these scriptures. Focus primarily on LDS scripture at first avoiding the more controversial issues surrounding Joseph Smith. LDS members think their scriptures are infallible even if their leaders made personal mistakes on other things. Show them the deep inconsistencies in Joseph Smiths original versions compared to what he later changed them to be. This will give them evidence that will open up the minds of the honest. Don’t expect to convert them all, many have ulterior motives for being LDS and won’t listen no matter how obvious the truth is. Be thankful for the ones who do listen and realize that you have made a major step in rumor control and the rest will have a lot harder time believing you left the Mormon church because you are evil… They will now know you had very good hard hitting reasons…

Tiber diving team of 2004 (we go deeper to penetrate the darkness with the light)

 

[drafdog]

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house.” Mt 13: 57b

Matthew