Mormons

[seanom]

Hi I’m a 15 year old catholic and very devout about my faith. Recently these Mormons came up to me and my friends and started talking. I talked about the bible with them and then they gave me a book of mormon and also invited us to a movie in their prayer house, it’s about their prophet and mormonism. Would it be wrong if I went?

 

[Benay]

Hi I’m a 15 year old catholic and very devout about my faith. Recently these Mormons came up to me and my friends and started talking. I talked about the bible with them and then they gave me a book of mormon and also invited us to a movie in their prayer house, it’s about their prophet and mormonism. Would it be wrong if I went?

I don’ think there is anything wrong about going to a movie about Joseph Smith. They are using this method to evangelize you and make you a Mormon convert. If you are not strong in your faith and well read on the bible, you might find yourself intimidated.

I suggest you listen to the CDs by Thomas Smith, a former Mormon missinary, on Mormonism. (Available through LighthouseCatholicMedia.com) Remember that Joseph Smith believed he was a direct descendant of Jesus and the Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha. He believed that Jesus did not die but came to the new world where he evangelized the Native North Americans. He believed that after the first century, Christianity became corrupt (as in the Catholic Church) and that he had been called to proclaim the true word.

Mormons will quote scripture to you, out of context, and if you don’t know your Bible, their explanations are inviting.What they will not tell you, however, is that they believe that only true married Mormons will get to the “third heaven” where they will become gods. Unmarried faithful Mormons will go to the same heaven but as servants to the true married Mormons. Everyone else will go to one of the other 2 heavens (murders and rapists alike) while Mormon apostates will go to the outer darkness with Satan.

As I say, listen to Thomas Smith first before you go. You need to be well prepared, and well armed. They are very convincing. Their greatest growth in the last 2 decades has been among uneducated Catholics.

 

[ANNE_2]

Hi I’m a 15 year old catholic and very devout about my faith. Recently these Mormons came up to me and my friends and started talking. I talked about the bible with them and then they gave me a book of mormon and also invited us to a movie in their prayer house, it’s about their prophet and mormonism. Would it be wrong if I went?

At the age of 15, it would be best if you talked to your Parents about this.
They can help you discern if you are knowledgable enough and mature enough in your own Faith first.

For example - have you read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” yet?
It has a dark green cover and was published in the USA in March 2000, and states on the cover - “revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II”.
You can get a copy in most bookstores, Catholic Catalogues on the internet, and even Amazon.

If anyone can read the book of Mormon, they can read their own “CCC, 2nd Ed” first.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi I’m a 15 year old catholic and very devout about my faith. Recently these Mormons came up to me and my friends and started talking. I talked about the bible with them and then they gave me a book of mormon and also invited us to a movie in their prayer house, it’s about their prophet and mormonism. Would it be wrong if I went?

yes it would be wrong because you are very young and have not enough grounding in your own faith to answer they challenges and objections. You should spend that time studying your own faith and worshipping in your own Church.

 

[Jesus_123]

• I posted this on another thread . . . thought it might help here . . . it would be most unwise for you to become involved . . . in any way . . . with these people and their distinctly . . . false religion . . . with all its. . . grave errors . . . it would be much better for your soul for you to spend your time learning more of the wholesome wonderful truths of your Holy Catholic Christian Faith . . .

• … I was raised as a child in the heart of “Mormon” country here in the United States … Though I knew many Mormons as friends in school and our neighborhood . . . their belief system is known to Catholics and Protestants alike essentially as a CULT . . . and it is an immensely large one . . . and their understandings, definitions and usage of the same religious and scriptural words are RADICALLY different . . .

Definition:

 

[Saburo]

I have never known a Mormon who was not well intentioned, polite, and likeable. There is nothing wrong with talking to them on neutral ground. Yet, it is not impolite for you to simply say, “Thank you for inviting me, but I am perfectly content with my Catholic faith and not interested in any others. Again, thank you, but no. God bless you.”

You are not quite ready to take on Mormons, JWs, etc., but you will be someday. You can return the book or read it when you are older and better positioned to defend your faith. It does not hurt to learn comparative religion, but know your own backyard before you start looking around in that of others lest you mistake weeds for wildflowers.

 

[Captain_America]

It’s a serious subject to talk over with your parents, no doubt.

If you want to follow up on it on your own, consider checking out of the library Robert Remini’s short Penguin biography of Joseph Smith. This might give you a good, neutral view of much of Mormon belief.

 

[NewSeeker]

Hello from Germany,

I used to be a Mormon. In fact, I was once a missionary, exactly like the young men you spoke to. I used to approach people with my mission companion, discuss the Bible with them, hand them a copy of the Book of Mormon, and invite them to view church films. Their intent is to convert you, no matter how nice they are (and Mormons are very nice). When I was a missionary, I received specific guidance from leadership not to invite teenagers and children to learn more about the church without first obtaining parental permission. You should definitely share this with your parents and ask for their permission before you do anything. Having said that, odds are these missionaries are just as I was - knowledgeable in what I was taught to me by church leaders, teachers, and parents, but completely ignorant about true Christian history and the actual origins of Mormonism. The official story taught in Mormon churches, which the missionaries take to the world, is a carefully-packaged whitewash of what really happened historically when the Mormon church was founded. They also won’t tell you about some teachings you won’t find out about until after you become a member or conduct some research by yourself (for example, polygamy; denying men of African ancestry the priesthood; the idea that you, Satan, and Jesus are spirit siblings, living together with God as spirits in a pre-earth existence). So, I advise caution. Definitely, talk with your parents first. The missionaries should not take you to the local church for a film without your parents’ knowledge and permission.

NS

 

[KathleenGee]

I would not advise anyone, especially a minor or young adult, to go to one of these houses.

Check out www.Mormonthink.com that shows the intention and constructs for their beliefs, as well as their practices. They go hand in hand.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Pressuring to receive commitment (from you) is a basic Mormon missionary tactic. Please read this.

lds4u.com/Discussions/commitment.htm

 

[SteveVH]

Hi I’m a 15 year old catholic and very devout about my faith. Recently these Mormons came up to me and my friends and started talking. I talked about the bible with them and then they gave me a book of mormon and also invited us to a movie in their prayer house, it’s about their prophet and mormonism. Would it be wrong if I went?

Don’t do it. If you are devout in your fatih, as you say, what do you hope to gain by attending this little event? Do you have a youth group in your Church? If so, why don’t you invite these folks to come with you instead. These are missionaries. Missionaries have one purpose in even contacting you and that is to convert you. Why would you place yourself in that position?

I am a youth minister in my parish and spend a lot of time with people your age. As others have said here, spend this time learning about your own faith and the value of belonging to the one, true Church. It takes many years for some to find what you already possess. Thank God for the faith that has been given to you. You are already home. It isn’t out there somewhere, and it certainly isn’t in the Mormon church.

You are in my prayers.

God bless.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Interesting how Mormons who’ve we’ve had discussions with re: proselytizing minors are silent.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Very telling isn’t it.

Peace

 

[SteveVH]

Interesting how Mormons who’ve we’ve had discussions with re: proselytizing minors are silent.

I’ve told my story here several times, but this is the entire reason that I came to CAF in the first place. A student of mine in our Catholic youth group became fascinated with a Mormon boy and was soon to be baptized into the Mormon church. She was 17 years old and came from a broken home. I watched as they surrounded her. When I asked to have a conversation with her and the bishop of the local ward she agreed. I wanted her to be present to observe their answers to certain fundamental questions in an attempt to open her eyes. When the meeting happened, she was nowhere to be found; just the bishop and two missionaries. She never did give me an explanation of why she failed to show. When I asked where she was, the bishop simply told me “if you have questions about our church I’m sure we can answer them”. Unbelievable.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Hi I’m a 15 year old catholic and very devout about my faith. Recently these Mormons came up to me and my friends and started talking. I talked about the bible with them and then they gave me a book of mormon and also invited us to a movie in their prayer house, it’s about their prophet and mormonism. Would it be wrong if I went?

The real issue in society today is the Wolfs don’t come dressed as Wolfs. They would scare you off. Stranger Danger is a falacy thats enabled the real wolfs to operate un-noticed.

However I’m not relating this to Mormons. Yet its a good indicator of how real danger works.

Peace

 

[Lefty0908]

Interesting how Mormons who’ve we’ve had discussions with re: proselytizing minors are silent.

I am VERY troubled by this. In my opinion Seanom, you should follow Anne2’s adivce. Under no circumstances should you meet with anyone without the knowledge and consent of your parents.

I don’t know what a “prayer house” is. That is certainly not terminology used by Mormons, which adds to my concern. I’m also leery of the notion that a movie was to be shown in this “prayer house.” LDS church policy strictly forbids the showing of movies in any of our chapels, and though a movie could be shown in a classroom, I suppose, that is still something that strikes me as being an unusal practice.

These missionaries answer to a mission president. The president has an office with a phone number. I think it would be worth having your parents contact the president’s office with the names of the missionaries (they’d better be wearing name tags!) and make sure he is aware of you having been approached in this manner.

 

[RebeccaJ]

lefty, I don’t think your concerns are aligned to the discussions I was referencing. But they are valid concerns.

 

[Lefty0908]

Thank you, Rebecca. This kind of thing drives me crazy, and all of you who have expressed concern (and disgust!) are certainly justified.

 

[SteveVH]

I am VERY troubled by this. In my opinion Seanom, you should follow Anne2’s adivce. Under no circumstances should you meet with anyone without the knowledge and consent of your parents.

I don’t know what a “prayer house” is. That is certainly not terminology used by Mormons, which adds to my concern. I’m also leery of the notion that a movie was to be shown in this “prayer house.” LDS church policy strictly forbids the showing of movies in any of our chapels, and though a movie could be shown in a classroom, I suppose, that is still something that strikes me as being an unusal practice.

These missionaries answer to a mission president. The president has an office with a phone number. I think it would be worth having your parents contact the president’s office with the names of the missionaries (they’d better be wearing name tags!) and make sure he is aware of you having been approached in this manner.

Thanks for this post, Lefty. The OP should avoid these folks like the plague if they are intentionally posing as Mormons. I may not want my kid going to a Mormon missionary’s meeting but I would not be in fear of their physical well being if they did. If I were this kids parent I would be getting to the bottom of this one, pronto.

 

[CopticChristian]

Hi I’m a 15 year old catholic and very devout about my faith. Recently these Mormons came up to me and my friends and started talking. I talked about the bible with them and then they gave me a book of mormon and also invited us to a movie in their prayer house, it’s about their prophet and mormonism. Would it be wrong if I went?

My usual response to Mormons is this.

Do you believe that God the Father came down from heaven to have relations with Mary to produce Jesus?

Do you believe that the agony in the garden as opposed to the crucifixion is the salvific work of Christ?

Do you believe that Christians worship a 3 headed God?

Do you believe that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers?

Do you believe that we will become gods when we die and will have a planet?

Do you believe that there are three heavens, celestial, terrestial and telestial?

Do you missionaries believe that you are of the order of Melchezidek?

Answer yes to any and all of the above usually means I cannot attend your functions. It would serve no purpose.

Sometimes I ask about the planet Kolob where God the Father resides but not always. If any Mormons read this and find error, please correct it so I can ask the correct questions.