LDS Alaska Mission President says missionaries do not proselytize members of other religions!

[Pahoran]

This is our turf. Therefore, you are the attackers…

I’m sure that’s as sound and logical an argument as you make anywhere in your oft-touted 550-page tome.

I fail to see how being at home makes it impossible for you to attack; and the fact is that “Mormonism” is frequently attacked here; and when it is attacked, we will defend it.

Sorry if that offends you, and all that. Perhaps you assume that, what with this being your home turf, you have some sort of right to talk about us behind our backs without us being so ill-mannered as to interject.

So sorry, but unless and until the mods decide to turn this into the Catholic version of CARM, that doesn’t seem likely to happen.

I do not respond to a post unless it is already close to the top of a page. And, even then, I restrain my fingers if I think another can respond just as effectively, or perhaps more so.

Really? I don’t recall seeing an LDS-related thread without your fingerprints in it.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[utah_rose]

There are only two kinds of religions in the world; only two. The religion where God does His part and man does His part and in the end we hope we did our part and God will find favor. So what religions fit into this category?

I live in Salt Lake City and I can attest that the missionaries DO try to convert people from other religions. I have had missionaries at my door numerous times the 30 years I have lived here.

They especially like to prey on Hispanics. I can’t believe that there are missionaries from other “states” that are actually sent here.

It has gotten so bad that sometimes I literally have to slam the door on them. And, they are particularly going after Catholics in Spanish America.

A Polish priest told me recently they even have a temple in Poland.

 

[Pahoran]

I live in Salt Lake City and I can attest that the missionaries DO try to convert people from other religions. I have had missionaries at my door numerous times the 30 years I have lived here.

That’s good. I’d hate to think that you were feeling neglected.

They especially like to prey on Hispanics.

Why “prey?” Couldn’t you find a more inflammatory word?

I can’t believe that there are missionaries from other “states” that are actually sent here.

One of the sister missionaries from my ward served in the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission. The Church brings missionaries to Utah from all over the Church, and sends missionaries from Utah out everywhere else.

It has gotten so bad that sometimes I literally have to slam the door on them. And, they are particularly going after Catholics in Spanish America.

That must come as a surprise to the Saints in, say, Mongolia, where they are mostly converts from Buddhism. They aren’t “particularly going after” anyone; they preach the Gospel to all who will listen.

A Polish priest told me recently they even have a temple in Poland.

That comes as news to me. We have one in Freiburg, in what used to be East Germany, and one in Kyiv, in the Ukraine, but I have yet to hear of one in Poland.

Perhaps your priest friend was confused about the difference between a temple and a chapel.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[LongJourney]

Permission was recently granted for the erection of a Mormon temple in Poland,

fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/mormon_e.htm

They aren’t “particularly going after” anyone; they preach the Gospel to all who will listen

And even those who are not interested. See your presence here. Proselytization.

 

[Cat_Herder]

Also, and again as President Benson knew better than anybody, we don’t see ourselves as converting people at all. We proclaim the message of the Restoration, teach, preach, expound, exhort and baptise; but it is always the Holy Ghost that converts.

But the “proclaim[ing] the message of the Restoration” necessarily involves telling Catholics and Protestants that their church is apostate, does it not? If so, that might be considered just a tad offensive.

 

[Caprica]

fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/mormon_e.htm.

And yet, I see nothing from the actual Church that says there is a temple in Poland, or a planned one.

 

[Caprica]

And even those who are not interested. See your presence here. Proselytization.

Then perhaps you would do well to inform the mods and see what they have to say.

 

[Pahoran]

fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/mormon_e.htm.

And yet we still don’t have one.

Complete list of temples, including those recently announced and under construction.

Not that I wouldn’t be delighted if we did build one in Poland, but once again, we see that Catholic priests are not necessarily the best sources of information about other faiths.

And even those who are not interested. See your presence here. Proselytization

As you know, LJ, I haven’t tryed to proselyte anyone here. As you know, LJ, I merely defend my faith when it is attacked.

As you also know, LJ, I don’t have a link in my sig to a 550-page tome attacking the truth claims of Catholicism; if I did, then your accusation of “Proselytization” might then have some merit.

But, as I rather think you know, LJ, it does not.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[LongJourney]

And yet, I see nothing from the actual Church that says there is a temple in Poland, or a planned one.

Upon further research, it seems that the Catholic church is so strong, they are struggling to even land their big toes on Polish turf.

 

[Pahoran]

But the “proclaim[ing] the message of the Restoration” necessarily involves telling Catholics and Protestants that their church is apostate, does it not? If so, that might be considered just a tad offensive.

Ultimately all forms of evangelism – including that practiced by Catholic missionary orders – entails telling non-members of the missionary faith that there is something defective or lacking in what they already have. That cannot be avoided, but our missionary message is emphatically affirmative rather than negative. We do not rely upon attack witnessing.

And besides, that is not really what the question was about, is it? UR claimed that we were “targeting” some groups or other. That was the point under discussion.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[LongJourney]

As you also know, LJ, I don’t have a link in my sig to a 550-page tome attacking the truth claims of Catholicism; if I did, then your accusation of “Proselytization” might then have some merit.

If you and your buddies left, I would remove it. However, since you continue to try to convert us I see no need to remove it.

 

[Caprica]

Upon further research, it seems that the Catholic church is so strong, they are struggling to even land their big toes on Polish turf.

I only hope this research was of a higher caliber than that provided on the alleged temple in Poland.

 

[Pahoran]

If you and your buddies left, I would remove it. However, since you continue to try to convert us I see no need to remove it.

If you and your buddies stopped gossipping about us behind our backs, we would probably leave.

As you perfectly well know, LJ, I am not trying to convert you.

Unless you count my attempt to persuade you to stop bearing false witness against us. Does that constitute “proselytizing?”

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[LongJourney]

mormontimes.com/article/17105/LDS-Church-in-Poland-has-had-long-hard-journey Authoritative source.

 

[Caprica]

If you and your buddies left, I would remove it. However, since you continue to try to convert us I see no need to remove it.

And yet, there is no evidence that any of us are trying to convert anyone here. But I understand why you would continue to assert such a thing. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of LDS-related threads are started by non-LDS (all of the ones started on the first page of this sub-forum were started by non-LDS). It’s obvious that the less LDS-related threads, the less Mormons post here. Unless of course you’re saying that Non-Catholics should not be posting in the Non-Catholic Religions forum, and you want this to be a one-sided discussion, or that we’re not welcome here…reminds me of that Baptist forum that doesn’t allow Catholics to participate in discussions about Catholicism.

If you believe that we are proselytizing, then please inform the moderator, since proselytizing is against the rules.

 

[Pahoran]

I only hope this research was of a higher caliber than that provided on the alleged temple in Poland.

According to this site we’re building a new chapel in Lodz. That sounds like a toehold to me.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[LongJourney]

The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of LDS-related threads are started by non-LDS

And, if you were to research all the Mormon-related threads for the past five years (also going into my Jerusha account), exactly how many did I start? I am not responsible for the actions of others.

 

[Caprica]

And, if you were to research all the Mormon-related threads for the past five years (also going into my Jerusha account), exactly how many did I start? I am not responsible for the actions of others.

No one ever said that you were.

The problem is that you have no justifiable reason for why Latter-day Saints should not be participating in the Non-Catholic Religions sub-forum. If you believe we are proselytizing, then you should alert the moderator to that. The fact is that the majority of LDS are here to respond to claims and questions about our faith. As already mentioned, most LDS threads are started by non-LDS. It has nothing to do with how many you personally have started, since no one is holding you responsible for the acts of others, and my point had nothing to do with you personally.

But thank you for keeping the LDS threads alive throughout the years.

 

[LongJourney]

But thank you for keeping the LDS threads alive throughout the years.

You are welcome. Just following my cultural heritage. Only acting in self-defense.

 

[Cat_Herder]

Ultimately all forms of evangelism – including that practiced by Catholic missionary orders – entails telling non-members of the missionary faith that there is something defective or lacking in what they already have.

All U.S. Catholics are under standing orders not to engage in proselytization.