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brgregmack
Guest
Do missionaries lie about what they believe in order to get people to join???
Just met with some, and that’s the impression that I got.
Just met with some, and that’s the impression that I got.
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DavidFilmer
Guest
Some might, but I doubt it’s prevalent.
However, I think they refrain from discussing some of their doctrines with non-Mormons, especially Christians. They don’t come right out of the gate and say, “You worship Jesus - don’t you know he was an abject failure?” St. Paul differentiated doctrines as mother’s milk (intended for the spiritually immature) and solid food (intended for the spiritually mature). Mormons give you their brand of milk at first.
But Catholics are the same way. We usually don’t start out saying, “Hey, did you know Catholics eat the real flesh of Jesus and drink his real blood?”
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silicasandra
Guest
Hm…but it’s not exactly something we try and hide, either. Because it’s nothing to be ashamed of or weirded out by - it’s just that without the context it sounds like Catholics are cannibals.
There also aren’t restrictions on attending Mass - they are always open to believer and non-believer alike. (And we’re open about what the Eucharist is during Mass).
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brgregmack
Guest
I thought I was prepared by going straight for their polytheism and belief that “Heavenly Father” had a father, and going back ad infinitum. They flat out denied polytheism and skirted the non-eternality of God by saying that it’s “only speculation.”:banghead:
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silicasandra
Guest
They can do that because there is enormous “fluidity” in Mormon teaching. If a doctrine becomes inconvenient it is thrown out (see: black people are inherently inferior, polygamy.)
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DavidFilmer
Guest
Yes, it is true that non-Mormons are not welcome at Mormon services. But there is nothing in the Mass which clearly establishes a belief in transubstantiation for any visiting Mormons.
The Anglicans have essentially the same service (especially after the recently revised Roman Missal translation, which brings our Mass very close to the Anglican version) but, theologically, they disavow transubstantiation and its underlying principles:
This teaching would be called nonsubstantial receptionism. But you could not infer the differences in the underlying theological principles simply by observing Catholic and Episcopal services - they are outwardly very much alike.
meltzerboy
New member
I don’t know if Mormons lie, but years ago I had an odd experience with a group of missionaries. They approached me on a New York City street, introduced themselves, and then asked if I am Christian. When I responded no, they simply walked away. I was sort of insulted, thinking why don’t they wish to proselytize me to join their religion? What kind of evangelization is this? I wondered whether they are only interested in Christians.
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eo_chibears
Guest
Wow, they actually thought that about black people?
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Marie5890
Guest
Not likely.
What is more likely is that they dont have a full grasp of what their church teaches.
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DavidFilmer
Guest
If you are a Christian in the USA then you are most likely a protestant, and protestants change their religion all the time. Atheists are the hardest people to evangelize, and Jews and Muslims rarely convert to another faith (their religion often carries a cultural identity). Protestants are often poorly grounded in theology and are converted much more easily than other groups.
They were looking for a target of opportunity. Maybe they were novice missionaries, or maybe they were just lazy.
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Jim_Dandy
Guest
Mormons have a practice of “lying for the Lord.”
20truths.info/mormon/lying.html
Google “Mormons lying for the Lord” for more references.
20truths.info/mormon/lying.html
Google “Mormons lying for the Lord” for more references.
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runningdude
Guest
Well, Catholics usually genuflect to the Tabernacle when the Host is reserved bow to the altar. As Catholics we consider these to be outward signs of our belief in Transubstantiation. These actions might confuse a visitor… but by performing these overt acts of worship we really aren’t hiding our beliefs.
Now a Mormon service is basically too hours of classroom instruction, interspersed with worship and sometimes their version of communion. I would hope that during this instruction, they go through the details of their beliefs.
As for what missionaries tell those they hope to evangelize, well, that I can’t speak for. However, the LDS are pretty up front about most doctrines, including their rejection of the traditional understanding of the Trinity (lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-only-true-god-and-jesus-christ-whom-he-hath-sent?lang=eng&query=polytheism).
As for God the Father having a Father, I haven’t been able to find any reference to this on the LDS site. Perhaps the missionaries were telling the truth that this was only official speculation. I have certainly heard this before online, but never from any Mormon’s I know personally.
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Jim_Dandy
Guest
Mormons claim the Catholic Church became “apostate” at the death of the last Apostle .(and therefore all Protestant organizations that derive from her were affected). They may have felt that since Jews have no background for accepting the “restored” church they preach, there wasn’t much of a chance that you would be receptive to their spiel. So they moved on to another, more potentially productive target.
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Jim_Dandy
Guest
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith
TEACHING ON THE PLURALITY OF GODS, ABRAHAM’S REASONING
[Quoting the words of Joseph Smith]
“Paul says that which is earthly is in the likeness of that which is heavenly. Hence if Jesus had a Father, can we not believe that He had a Father also?” Page 373.
From the index:
Gods (plurality of)
our God has a father (373)
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Michael_Francis
Guest
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
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