Mormon friend?

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Placing BoM’s in the hands of non-Mormons is just part of “spreading the gospel” for them.

I remember when I lived in BYU wards, once a year (or was it a semester) there would be a day set aside (ward mission day? maybe?) and we would write our “testimonies” in them, pay for the cost of the BoM, and then the BoM would be shipped to some mission for distribution.

I dont know about present day attitudes towards the effectiveness of the BoM in missionary work, but back then, it was believed that if a person would read the BoM, pray over it, they would receive a testimony of it’s “truthfulness”

Now a days, I have no doubt with the access of the internet, if people are reading the BoM, they then go and google it to research it.

I cant see it being a very strong “conversion” technique anymore. But, maybe I am wrong. 🤷
 
Regardless of whether you decide to read the BoM or not, make sure you are very strong in your faith and ready and willing to share it when the opportunity comes. Remember that Christ is Truth, not just a subjective feeling within you. As Catholics, history, science, creation and divine revelation all lead us to Christ and his Church. As someone who spends quite a bit of time around LDS individuals, it is important to cling to the Truth and not be drawn in by the lure of the Mormon community and devotion.
 
FireFromHeaven said:
Oh don’t worry the book already looks fake to me. But I still think I will accept it.
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Fire -

Have you ever watched “Alice in Wonderland” ?

You can be Alice but remember Wonderland is not real.

Make sure you know what is real by reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church…

Perhaps invite your friend to RCIA…to learn more about the Catholic faith.
 
Porknpie said:
Make sure you know what is real by reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church…
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I would say that it is only fair that his friend read the Catechism while he reads the BoM. Then they could have a discussion.
 
FireFromHeaven said:
Ok thanks.
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Hi Fire -

Highly recommend that you read some of the threads on Mormonism before you spend any time with this girl. I’m thinking like 20 hours of reading time… Many resources on-line as well to help you…
 
Mormon Convert to the Catholic Church here.

First of all, the Book of Mormon is basically florid 19th prose and not very literary at that. Don’t give it too much respect.

If you want to convert your Mormon friend, here’s the way to do it. At the core of their beliefs is that they must have priestly authority (Apostolic Lineage) to be a Church that goes all the way to St. Peter. This is the Achilles Heel of their beliefs. They claim that the the Apostolic authority “fell away” and had to be restored. Their priestly authority was restored because the Peter, James and John (magically) appeared to their leader Joseph Smith and “restored” the priesthood. Of course they only have Joseph Smith’s word for it.

Show him that the Apostolic lineage did not fall away, by showing him the succession of popes as in this link:
newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
Explain how the local (arch)bishop gets his authority from the Pope Benedict XVI, who got his Authority from Pope John Paul II, etc. etc.

When I was growing up, I sometimes heard Mormon teachers say: “Either we’re right, or the Catholics are.” Show your friend that he doesn’t have to take Joseph’s Smith’s word. The Catholic Church has had the Apostolic Authority all along, and has the witness of history to prove it. :signofcross:

That’s what converted me. I figured out the Catholics were right all along…
 
Several years ago a Mormon “missionary” . . . they call themselves Elders . . . gave me the Book of Mormon which I still have. I didn’t burn it. Neither did I burn my copies of Marx’s “Capital” or Hiitler’s “Mein Kampf”. I also have a copy of the Koran and the King James Bible.

The Book of Mormon will tell you absolutely nothing about the LDS cult. Obtain a copy of the “Doctrines and Covenants”, generally referred to as “The D&C”. This is the Mormon
“Catechism” which will tell you much more about this bizarre . . . even sinister . . . belief system.

I also rrecommend Fawn Brodie"s “No Man Knows My History”. A prize-winning biography of Joseph Smith. She was a Mormon and a tenured professor of History at UCLA, most noted for her biography of Thomas Jefferson. Her biography of Smith exposed him for what he was, an unscrupulous con artist. She was excommnicated by the LDS “church” and pressure was put on UCLA to fire her as well as the publisher to stop printing.the book. Neither effort worked.
 
I am not sure how strong you feel you are in your faith but I strongly suggest you read the Book of Mormon with another person or at least a companion Catholic text. I admire your willingness to understand your friend but be careful my friend! I did something similar years ago and long story short finally returned to my Catholic roots about 5 years ago! So proceed with great caution
 
FireFromHeaven said:
I have a Mormon friend. Recently he asked if I would want a copy of the book of mormon. I said yes as it will help me understand their religion. How should I go about from here?
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Fire, if you don’t have the habit of reading the bible and catechism, I would not start reading another religions text, even if done with a ‘religious studies’ mindset. Spend time reviewing your faith before opening up to defend it.
lax16 said:
If Joseph Smith was speaking as God’s “prophet,” then what he taught in 1830 should be consistent with was is taught today by the Mormon Church. Truth does not change.
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I find this position confusing myself. While the New Testament clearly mentions the church office of Prophet and describes the ‘gift’ of prophecy (from Holy Spirit), I don’t think that matches how mormons see that role.
 
Jack_726 said:
I also rrecommend Fawn Brodie"s “No Man Knows My History”. A prize-winning biography of Joseph Smith. She was a Mormon and a tenured professor of History at UCLA, most noted for her biography of Thomas Jefferson. .
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She was also niece to then Pres David O McKay and was given access to the church historical archieves that the general public did not/do not have…
 
FireFromHeaven said:
I have a Mormon friend. Recently he asked if I would want a copy of the book of mormon. I said yes as it will help me understand their religion. How should I go about from here?
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I have a wonderful friend who is Mormon. He adores his faith and wants to share it with everyone. He also offered me a Book of Mormon. I respectfully declined! I stated that I do not view it as Sacred Scripture so therefore it is best I do not accept his gesture. He was taken back a bit but then respected my views.
 
aidanbradypop said:
I have a wonderful friend who is Mormon. He adores his faith and wants to share it with everyone. He also offered me a Book of Mormon. I respectfully declined! I stated that I do not view it as Sacred Scripture so therefore it is best I do not accept his gesture. He was taken back a bit but then respected my views.
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You did the right thing.
 
The Book of Mormon is very dull reading. I read the abridged version, for children and that was a good read! But the unabridged is very very repetitive and boring. The Bible is a good read, but not the Book of Mormon. Good luck getting through it.😃
 
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