Mormon Chat

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inomcoke

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I saw an ad on Pandora Radio today for a mormon chat room which is available on the main mormon website.

I went ahead and visited to ask them some questions as well as try my hand at a bit of entry level apologetic’s. I ended up talking to two different people, who were very nice, but every time I go to what I thought was a good question they said they would email me some more information and that they had to go. They also offered to schedule a time to chat more later.

My question is, do you think this is a good use of my (or anyone’s) time, going to their chat service and trying to lead them to the Church? I understand that if you’re not strong in your faith it might not be a good idea, but for those of us who are I mean.

Any insight is appreciated. Also, if you think it is a good idea, maybe include some good questions to ask them as soon as you connect since they don’t seem to want to chat for too long to any one person.

Thanks!
 
No.

We don’t like it when other religions who have had an adversarial spirit towards our faith come here to try to get our members to leave and join theirs.

Likewise, I don’t go to their sites because I believe it is their site and it exists to promote their faith…just like we do ours here.
 
inomcoke said:
I saw an ad on Pandora Radio today for a mormon chat room which is available on the main mormon website.

I went ahead and visited to ask them some questions as well as try my hand at a bit of entry level apologetic’s. I ended up talking to two different people, who were very nice, but every time I go to what I thought was a good question they said they would email me some more information and that they had to go. They also offered to schedule a time to chat more later.

My question is, do you think this is a good use of my (or anyone’s) time, going to their chat service and trying to lead them to the Church? I understand that if you’re not strong in your faith it might not be a good idea, but for those of us who are I mean.

Any insight is appreciated. Also, if you think it is a good idea, maybe include some good questions to ask them as soon as you connect since they don’t seem to want to chat for too long to any one person.

Thanks!
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I have no problem with it. Consider Elijah spending so much time in the desert but periodically was called to leave and enter into conflict with unbelievers. Happens you know because as Catholics we ARE called to help others understand their actual nature. But I would not fight with them. I would say my piece and leave in peace until called to go back.
 
Talk to them in person maybe. Others here have a good point. Mormons would not appreciate a Catholic going onto their site anymore then we would them here.
 
inomcoke said:
I saw an ad on Pandora Radio today for a mormon chat room which is available on the main mormon website.

I went ahead and visited to ask them some questions as well as try my hand at a bit of entry level apologetic’s. I ended up talking to two different people, who were very nice, but every time I go to what I thought was a good question they said they would email me some more information and that they had to go. They also offered to schedule a time to chat more later.

My question is, do you think this is a good use of my (or anyone’s) time, going to their chat service and trying to lead them to the Church? I understand that if you’re not strong in your faith it might not be a good idea, but for those of us who are I mean.

Any insight is appreciated. Also, if you think it is a good idea, maybe include some good questions to ask them as soon as you connect since they don’t seem to want to chat for too long to any one person.

Thanks!
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Some advice I would give:
  1. Don’t try to lead them to “the Church.” Lead them to Christ - the true Christ, not the heresy and blasphemy that is the Mormon Christ. That is, the only Christ that can truly save them.
  2. Don’t go expecting there to be a great revival with millions listening to you and flocking to your words. This isn’t an attack against you, but rather a statement of reality. Remember if they reject you, they’re not rejecting you, but Christ. Remember, they hated him before they hated us (cf. John 15:18). Their hearts will only be turned by the work of the Holy Spirit. Just remember you are serving God as a servant of truth, not for personal glory.
  3. Take it slow. Don’t go in there guns blazing. Open up dialogue, remain calm, and show them you’re willing to discuss things. If you’re chatting with someone on the spot, don’t feel afraid to say, “I can’t answer that right now, is it OK if I do some research/reading before I give an answer?” At the same time, don’t compromise on truth, and don’t feel like “because they’re nice to me” you have to make theological sacrifices. In order to lead them to the truth, you must be an example of one.
  4. If you’re talking to Mormons, try to understand where they’re coming from. Try reading some Mormon apologetics if you can, or reading books written by Mormons - including the books they consider inspired. In this manner you can better prepare yourself for answering contentions or questions they might have, and if it seems like the two of you are talking the same language but with different meanings of words, you’ll now know why.
  5. Have someone you’re accountable with in real life. If you’re active in a local church, keep at it, and feel free to talk to others about your experiences, or seek advice. I mean this on a personal level, not just online.
 
Byz…good advice.

I don’t join any other forums, except NewAge Islam to share some truths of our faith and to affirm their site that is working on the issues of Islam.
 
I’ve used their “chat” service before, just to clarify some understandings I had.

It is definitely a one way service so to speak. If they can get you to the point where you might consider converting, they are all ears, willing to send missionaries, the whole bit.

If you try to engage them in serious, honest discussion, you get the “I’ve got to go line”.

When I used it, everything I talked about was fine until I asked about the Journal of Discourses. Then, the Sorry, I have to go line".

Engaging them in any kind of apologetic discussion is fruitless. Even with the missionaries. If they feel they are talking to someone strong in their faith, or has a strong understanding of the Bible, and/or mormon history, they’re gone in a heartbeat.
 
KathleenGee said:
No.

We don’t like it when other religions who have had an adversarial spirit towards our faith come here to try to get our members to leave and join theirs.

Likewise, I don’t go to their sites because I believe it is their site and it exists to promote their faith…just like we do ours here.
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I would think we (Catholics) would be happy to have a Mormon come to CAF to discuss their faith as it gives us an opportunity to convert them that we wouldn’t have otherwise. I agree that going there with an adversarial spirit is not good, but going to their site in a loving and charitable way seems like a good thing to me. We, as Catholics, have nothing to hide or fear in a debate and should be ready and happy to engage in a discussion everywhere we go.

I asked them honest questions about their faith, and then based on their answer asked more questions which ( I believe/hope) show how and why their ‘church’ is not the one True Church, and by extension why the Catholic Church is.
marywarfield said:
I have no problem with it. Consider Elijah spending so much time in the desert but periodically was called to leave and enter into conflict with unbelievers. Happens you know because as Catholics we ARE called to help others understand their actual nature. But I would not fight with them. I would say my piece and leave in peace until called to go back.
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I would never fight with them either. When they had to end the chat conversation the Mormon ‘missionary’ thanked me for my time and said she enjoyed chatting. I felt the same way, it was a very pleasant experience for us both I believe.
red85 said:
Talk to them in person maybe. Others here have a good point. Mormons would not appreciate a Catholic going onto their site anymore then we would them here.
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I’d be glad to talk to them anywhere, but I happen to have the time for it while at my computer at work in between other work assignments. Plus I think when ‘debating’ or discussing serious things such as faith it is helpful to be able to look up things such as scripture verses and quotes quickly and accurately using the computer.
 
Byzantine_Wolf said:
Some advice I would give:
  1. Don’t try to lead them to “the Church.” Lead them to Christ - the true Christ, not the heresy and blasphemy that is the Mormon Christ. That is, the only Christ that can truly save them.
  2. Don’t go expecting there to be a great revival with millions listening to you and flocking to your words. This isn’t an attack against you, but rather a statement of reality. Remember if they reject you, they’re not rejecting you, but Christ. Remember, they hated him before they hated us (cf. John 15:18). Their hearts will only be turned by the work of the Holy Spirit. Just remember you are serving God as a servant of truth, not for personal glory.
  3. Take it slow. Don’t go in there guns blazing. Open up dialogue, remain calm, and show them you’re willing to discuss things. If you’re chatting with someone on the spot, don’t feel afraid to say, “I can’t answer that right now, is it OK if I do some research/reading before I give an answer?” At the same time, don’t compromise on truth, and don’t feel like “because they’re nice to me” you have to make theological sacrifices. In order to lead them to the truth, you must be an example of one.
  4. If you’re talking to Mormons, try to understand where they’re coming from. Try reading some Mormon apologetics if you can, or reading books written by Mormons - including the books they consider inspired. In this manner you can better prepare yourself for answering contentions or questions they might have, and if it seems like the two of you are talking the same language but with different meanings of words, you’ll now know why.
  5. Have someone you’re accountable with in real life. If you’re active in a local church, keep at it, and feel free to talk to others about your experiences, or seek advice. I mean this on a personal level, not just online.
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Excellent advice! Thank you.
#1 - Very helpful, I’ll keep this in mind!
#2 - I don’t expect to convert anyone (much less millions), only God can do that. If, however, God can save even one person through something I say then it is worth any effort! I certainly recognize that the sin of Pride can come to play here if I’m not careful to always keep in mind that only the Holy Spirit can do any true converting. I appreciate the reminder!
#3 - Excellent advice. I started with an honest question I had, not really knowing where it would lead. The question was about whether they believed the Bible or the Book of Mormon was ‘more important’. From there we chatted for about 15 minutes until it got to direct questions on the subject of authority. Overall it was a very pleasant conversation.
4 - Excellent advice again, I’ll have to get some more information about this…It is hard for me to want to read their apologetic’s when there is so much great Catholic material I want to read still!
#5 - Once again, very important advice! My sister, who is also a devout Catholic, and I talk frequently about matters of faith and I’m quite sure she will have no problem keeping me accountable. 🙂
 
KathleenGee said:
No.

We don’t like it when other religions who have had an adversarial spirit towards our faith come here to try to get our members to leave and join theirs.

Likewise, I don’t go to their sites because I believe it is their site and it exists to promote their faith…just like we do ours here.
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This is the way I was raised. Don’t bother them unless they bother you. Then, all bets are off. :knight1:
 
IF you are very knowledgeable in BOTH faiths, I would do it. BUT LDS & sects who promote mostly though door to door evangelization are trained to twist one doctrinally into a pretzel -for those less than knowledgeable.

Are we not required to share to TRUTH whereever we go, including the internet???
 
Coke, I wouldnt go to their site. They will twist the Scriptures and try and make it sound as if Catholic teachings and their teachings are in sync. I dont know how many times ive heard mo’s say that they are just like the Catholics, not even close. Beware!!!
 
kmg…this is exactly what they are doing…once they began to disown Joseph Smith’s teachings and various claims…and how they will some day overcome the Catholic Church as the true church…gleaning all they can from our teachings and then altering them here and there…

I wouldn’t be surprised that in so many years they have a catechism that you can lay down next to ours, and see it structured so much like the CCC but the subtle twists…

They are already doing it to our Early Church Fathers…

And new Mormons not knowing anything about its history of beliefs, practices, and effect on its people.

You go into a Mormon site…it depends, but they could be gleaning you…just like all the Mormons who lurk here but do not reveal themselves…they are studying our beliefs very deeply.
 
KathleenGee said:
kmg…this is exactly what they are doing…once they began to disown Joseph Smith’s teachings and various claims…and how they will some day overcome the Catholic Church as the true church…gleaning all they can from our teachings and then altering them here and there…

I wouldn’t be surprised that in so many years they have a catechism that you can lay down next to ours, and see it structured so much like the CCC but the subtle twists…

They are already doing it to our Early Church Fathers…

And new Mormons not knowing anything about its history of beliefs, practices, and effect on its people.

You go into a Mormon site…it depends, but they could be gleaning you…just like all the Mormons who lurk here but do not reveal themselves…they are studying our beliefs very deeply.
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I agree with you Kathleen. They are trying to study our teachings to give their missionaries a new tactic in conversion. Very scary!
 
Serious question: do you guys keep pretending your religion isn’t ******** when you’re within your family and friends or does it stop when you’re outside of the world’s eyes.
 
I just came out from Ex-Mormon.org.

I just read a link dated from 2012 that the LDS Church says that it never taught Mormon men and women could become gods.

I think back on Tom’s posts here and how he was drawing on all the EFC’s…but by passing many of their statements of faith, ‘ONE GOD’.

Now another interesting point came up as well.

They no longer do baptisms of the dead, but merely as…consider the term now and where you have heard it in your own ecclesial life…baptisms of the dead are now done more as ‘free will offerings’.

Oh boy…incredible.

I think the whole LDS should just fold up. The internet is exposing them. Ex Mormons came own showing statements of their teachings of last year and before about becoming gods.

And after reading Orson Pratt’s ramblings from the 1840’s and '50’s about the Great Roman Church and her (& Protestant daughters, he did not just die, he was shot in the back by the husband of Pratt’s 9th polygamous wife.

How the Mormons have changed their lingo, their beliefs in the past few years…

I pray again for the Mormon people…‘May the truth set you free’!..may you not lose faith in the One True God. Seek and you shall find.’
 
inomcoke said:
Excellent advice! Thank you.
#1 - Very helpful, I’ll keep this in mind!
#2 - I don’t expect to convert anyone (much less millions), only God can do that. If, however, God can save even one person through something I say then it is worth any effort! I certainly recognize that the sin of Pride can come to play here if I’m not careful to always keep in mind that only the Holy Spirit can do any true converting. I appreciate the reminder!
#3 - Excellent advice. I started with an honest question I had, not really knowing where it would lead. The question was about whether they believed the Bible or the Book of Mormon was ‘more important’. From there we chatted for about 15 minutes until it got to direct questions on the subject of authority. Overall it was a very pleasant conversation.
4 - Excellent advice again, I’ll have to get some more information about this…It is hard for me to want to read their apologetic’s when there is so much great Catholic material I want to read still!
#5 - Once again, very important advice! My sister, who is also a devout Catholic, and I talk frequently about matters of faith and I’m quite sure she will have no problem keeping me accountable. 🙂
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Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders, then. 🙂 Some people (especially brand new converts) get an unhealthy zeal, and they want to be Athanasius contra mundum and take on everything and everyone, so when I hear someone say “I wanna do apologetics!”, I try to lay it out on what to expect and what to be aware of.

One last thing I’ll do is quote one of my favorite parts of Ezekiel:

“The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions.” [Ezekiel 2:4-6]
 
Hi Byz, after reading some posts on Ex Mormon.org…I am holding to my convictions…‘you can’t pour fresh wine into an old flask or it will burst.’

I think it wiser we share our faith with Mormons here…and in the way you have shared.
 
I should troll there as a Remnant LDS…that should shake them up a bit… A Latter Day Saint who disagrees with Utah Mormon doctrines…hehe:D (j/k)
 
batman1973 said:
I should troll there as a Remnant LDS…that should shake them up a bit… A Latter Day Saint who disagrees with Utah Mormon doctrines…hehe:D (j/k)
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I wonder if someone at a Mormon forum is going to come across this post and now assume any Remnant LDS member is a troll. 😛

Then again, sometimes I come across Roman Catholics here that are so far removed from what their church believes that I can only hope they’re trolls.
 
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