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cestusdei
Guest
I am planning on visiting a Mormon temple. Maybe do a little apologetical work. Any advice?
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CARose
Guest
Whoa nelly,
Tell me you aren’t intending on going to their temple and do apologetics there, in their space. How inappropriate.
It’s fine to go to their temple to see what it’s all about, so that you might better converse with Mormons you know or encounter. But to go with the expectation of doing apologetics work while you’re there, seems highly inappropriate to me.
Yes we should seek to share the truth with all we encounter, but to do so in a way that is likely to bear fruit. I doubt you’d be likely of helping anyone to better know Christ as taught through the Truth of the Catholic Church if you approach them in their worship space.
I wish you luck in your efforts to share the truth, I simply hope you reconsider how you intend to approach things.
CARose
Tell me you aren’t intending on going to their temple and do apologetics there, in their space. How inappropriate.
It’s fine to go to their temple to see what it’s all about, so that you might better converse with Mormons you know or encounter. But to go with the expectation of doing apologetics work while you’re there, seems highly inappropriate to me.
Yes we should seek to share the truth with all we encounter, but to do so in a way that is likely to bear fruit. I doubt you’d be likely of helping anyone to better know Christ as taught through the Truth of the Catholic Church if you approach them in their worship space.
I wish you luck in your efforts to share the truth, I simply hope you reconsider how you intend to approach things.
CARose
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Mom_of_5
Guest
We complain when other churches stand on the steps of our churches and cathedrals with their phamplets in hand. Let us not be like those we chastise. Visit the temple, you won’t see much unless it is new and undedicated. Your good example can go a long way. Always be a kind guest! AMEN.
Love and peace
Mom of 5
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Affirmed
Guest
“Any advice?”
Yup. Don’t.
Yup. Don’t.
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cestusdei
Guest
I would go to their houses the way their missionaries do, but they seem reluctant to give out the addresses of their members. This is the best I can do. Maybe if they stopped dropping by uninvited to other peoples homes…then they would have the right to complain.
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TOmNossor
Guest
I am to understand that you are an ordained priest correct?
Either way, I will be happy to give you my address you can come by any time you like.
Or if you are really missionary minded you could actually go from door to door offering gospel truth, service, and love. I guess I do not understand why you only feel LDS could be served by this. There are many less religious, non-religious, and lost people in the world not just LDS.
Of course it sounds like you might just be trying to take revenge upon LDS for either disturbing your peace or perhaps leading Catholics away. Revenge is not a particularly good course of action in my opinion, but I may have misread your intent.
I think the best Catholic antidote to the LDS missionary is the combination of a few things.
Teach Catholics well. I believe if you can get a Catholic to KNOW that the real presence exists in the Eucharist, they probably could never leave.
Be a Catholic Community. I recognize that the Eucharist is the main reason for going to mass, but love and support of each other cannot be neglected. This it seems would be obvious when one considers that the profession of faith for the baptized infant is a community profession not an individual profession. I really think you could do much better if most Catholic Churches actually missed parishioners who were absent, but it has been my experience that most do not (oh and I can visit and not have anyone say a word to me too).
Many of the folks here are more than just 1/168th Catholic, but many of the people in the pew with them are just Catholic for one hour on Sunday (unless they can find one of these priests who can bust out a 3 minute sermon). This is not the way to change lives and create disciples.
That is my advice to you, but I would love to see you (collar and all) handing out anti-Mormon pamphlets at the entrance of a LDS temple. I would certainly stop to hear your message and I am unconvinced you would lead many LDS away from what I consider to be the truth.
Charity, TOm
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paul_barlow
Guest
please do come to one of our temples and ask to speak to one of the temple presidents. ask them about our temples feel free.
love paul
love paul
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flameburns623
Guest
I have to concur that going to an LDS temple just to pass out tracts would be in bad taste, though we had already established during the death of Pope JPII, (when you sneered at officials of the LDS Church who expressed condolences to Catholics for their loss), that you have no class. Why not go to one of the ward meetinghouses instead? Just as tacky, just as ill-advised. Member lists of names and home addresses are of course private but isn’t that the same as with the RCC? Or do you subject your membership to the whims and wiles of every mass marketeer who comes along?
It’s really difficult for me to credit your claim to be a Catholic priest–most priests I have known–I’ve known a few, even a few true-believing priests–have been perfect gentlemen. By the way: Jehovah’s Witnesses are FAR more aggressive in door-to-door work than are the LDS. The JW’s systematically cover our neighborhood at least once every four to six months. LDS Missionaries make through here probably once every 18 to 24 months. In most parts of the US that I have lived, the same seems to be true. I’d think you want to focus more energy on the JW’s.
BTW–how did you like St. Louis? Are you still there? I work only a couple of miles from SLU, near Choteau and Jefferson.
If you wanna go to an LDS temple to tour one during an Open House, that’s a wholly-different story.
It’s really difficult for me to credit your claim to be a Catholic priest–most priests I have known–I’ve known a few, even a few true-believing priests–have been perfect gentlemen. By the way: Jehovah’s Witnesses are FAR more aggressive in door-to-door work than are the LDS. The JW’s systematically cover our neighborhood at least once every four to six months. LDS Missionaries make through here probably once every 18 to 24 months. In most parts of the US that I have lived, the same seems to be true. I’d think you want to focus more energy on the JW’s.
BTW–how did you like St. Louis? Are you still there? I work only a couple of miles from SLU, near Choteau and Jefferson.
If you wanna go to an LDS temple to tour one during an Open House, that’s a wholly-different story.
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amgid
Guest
The grounds of LDS temples are generally marked as private property. Non-members are generally welcome to visit in order to explore and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, or to learn more about the Church; but if you go there to raise hackles you will be very politely escorted out. If you wanted to do that kind of thing you would have to do it outside the temple grounds; and many people do. But they are usually ignored.
amgid
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tkdnick
Guest
AMEN!!!
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majick275
Guest
In my most angry moment of “righteous indignation” or my most (name removed by moderator)ired moment of “evangelism” I would NEVER go to someone elses church, temple, mosque, synagogue, etc. and “beard the lion in it’s den”.
It just seems wrong.
It just seems wrong.
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Mom_of_5
Guest
I cannot believe that this person is actually a CATHOLIC PRIEST!! the Catholic Church would NEVER consider this appropriate behavior. I am truly embarrassed!!
Love and peace
Mom of 5
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Forest-Pine
Guest
I find it hard to believe that an actual Catholic priest is here asking us for advice on how to be a jerk.
If a Mormon shows up at your door uninvited, you are free to discuss with him what you would like. If there isn’t one at your door, why would you go to theirs?
Note to any out there reading this from other faiths: as you will notice by the many Catholic responses, this is NOT how we “do business” and is not approved by the church. I ask you not to judge us by people such as the OP.
If a Mormon shows up at your door uninvited, you are free to discuss with him what you would like. If there isn’t one at your door, why would you go to theirs?
Note to any out there reading this from other faiths: as you will notice by the many Catholic responses, this is NOT how we “do business” and is not approved by the church. I ask you not to judge us by people such as the OP.
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cestusdei
Guest
I don’t remember saying I would hand out tracts. I was thinking more of asking rather difficult questions of the missionaries working there. Revenge isn’t the motive. I haven’t lost any parishioners to the Mormons and have rescued at least one Catholic from their clutches. No, I would be quite low key. Of course you might remember my mentioning Mormon missionaries handing out tracts at St. Peter’s and the Sistine chapel, placing them in pews in Cathedrals, accousting people outside of churches when they were heading in to Mass, not to mention what they do in South America, and other such behaviors. I myself saw them accousting folks outside the Cathedral in Madrid. If you think the LDS always play nice then you are simply being foolish. I am surprised, but I shouldn’t be. Mormons are very good at PR.
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majick275
Guest
first of all, LDS missionaries don’t work in the temples. Some LDS temples have visitor centers but even those are pretty low key.
I realize that LDS missionaries have misbehaved severely upon occasion. (book burnings, “bash” meetings, etc.) but two wrongs don’t make a right.
Unless this is a new temple giving tours to the general public, there won’t be anyone to ask difficult questions.
Teach Catholics well so that they won’t be deceived. Evangelize some if you want to gain converts. Have some social events or something.
I just don’t see God approving your original plan here.
I realize that LDS missionaries have misbehaved severely upon occasion. (book burnings, “bash” meetings, etc.) but two wrongs don’t make a right.
Unless this is a new temple giving tours to the general public, there won’t be anyone to ask difficult questions.
Teach Catholics well so that they won’t be deceived. Evangelize some if you want to gain converts. Have some social events or something.
I just don’t see God approving your original plan here.
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cestusdei
Guest
You are correct. I should say the visitors center. I don’t think they will let me in the temple.
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arieh0310
Guest
I don’t think what cestusdei is going to do is unchristian or out-of-bounds. Remember that Paul in Acts 17 is in Athens in a pagan temple preaching. Now, what he did was appropriate because after he shared the good news in the marketplace they invited him to further discussions in the temple. So, if cestusdei is on property that is open to the public and he asks respectful and challenging questions to the missionaries I say, “more power to him”.
I would object if he were to preach hellfire and brimstone and pass out the anti-Mormon equivalent of Jack Chick tracts, but I don’t get that impression.
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cestusdei
Guest
I think arieh understands what I have in mind.
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CARose
Guest
I don’t recall denying that others might do to Catholics as you have suggested doing to the Mormons and I don’t question your claim that you have observed this, although I am happy to say I have been spared such a mess.
However, just because they are doing something which we would rightly find inappropriate (at the very least) does not mean that it would be ok for us to do the same in return.
I am pleased to learn that you do not intend to hand out tracts, and that you are only planning on approaching their employees rather than their congregants. Even so, I think you can anticipate a rather poor response to any apologetics efforts. An employee of their church has a lot at stake when it comes to their belief in their teachings. They have among other things, their livelihood and community position on the line. The odds of your unsolicited approach to them, in their work environment none-the-less, actually being the catalyst to their examining their beliefs seems a bit far fetched to me.
But if this is something you truly feel called to do, and you are certain you can do so with Charity in the forefront, who am I to dissuade you from your plans. I did not realize you are a priest until reading the responses from other posters. You obviously know that your actions reflect on the entire Catholic Church in ways that go well beyond the help or harm that can be done by those of us in the laity. Please be certain that your love for each person you encounter is readily evident to all who see you during this visit. Know also that it will generate much talk which can either help or harm the image of the church among others in their community. I believe that regardless of how you handle yourself, the stories told will primarily reflect poorly on you.
I still believe it is ill advised, but if you are determined to go, know that you will be in my prayers. I will pray that you properly discern God’s will for you in this matter, that you take action accordingly and that you receive an abundance of Grace to accomplish His will according to His plan.
God Bless,
CARose
However, just because they are doing something which we would rightly find inappropriate (at the very least) does not mean that it would be ok for us to do the same in return.
I am pleased to learn that you do not intend to hand out tracts, and that you are only planning on approaching their employees rather than their congregants. Even so, I think you can anticipate a rather poor response to any apologetics efforts. An employee of their church has a lot at stake when it comes to their belief in their teachings. They have among other things, their livelihood and community position on the line. The odds of your unsolicited approach to them, in their work environment none-the-less, actually being the catalyst to their examining their beliefs seems a bit far fetched to me.
But if this is something you truly feel called to do, and you are certain you can do so with Charity in the forefront, who am I to dissuade you from your plans. I did not realize you are a priest until reading the responses from other posters. You obviously know that your actions reflect on the entire Catholic Church in ways that go well beyond the help or harm that can be done by those of us in the laity. Please be certain that your love for each person you encounter is readily evident to all who see you during this visit. Know also that it will generate much talk which can either help or harm the image of the church among others in their community. I believe that regardless of how you handle yourself, the stories told will primarily reflect poorly on you.
I still believe it is ill advised, but if you are determined to go, know that you will be in my prayers. I will pray that you properly discern God’s will for you in this matter, that you take action accordingly and that you receive an abundance of Grace to accomplish His will according to His plan.
God Bless,
CARose
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majick275
Guest
I don’t think you realize how these Temples work.
Only in a visitors center is there any opportunity for any type of conversation. The very few temples that have these don’t really have what I would call a “missionary” environment where there would be an opportunity to have any menaingful Q&A on doctrine, etc. You might get a very brief tour that would allow for asking about restroom locations or water fountains but it’s doubtful there would be much more.(think one way conversation) Further, The LDS church has a very extensive security service that is not going to allow much of anything in SLC. Other temples tend to have less security but also little if any visitor center. They will not hesitate to remove anyone being “disruptive” and they get to define what is “disruptive”.
There are so many things that I think would be infinitely more successful in bringing souls to Christ. Please try and think of something else. I just can’t see this ending well.
Only in a visitors center is there any opportunity for any type of conversation. The very few temples that have these don’t really have what I would call a “missionary” environment where there would be an opportunity to have any menaingful Q&A on doctrine, etc. You might get a very brief tour that would allow for asking about restroom locations or water fountains but it’s doubtful there would be much more.(think one way conversation) Further, The LDS church has a very extensive security service that is not going to allow much of anything in SLC. Other temples tend to have less security but also little if any visitor center. They will not hesitate to remove anyone being “disruptive” and they get to define what is “disruptive”.
There are so many things that I think would be infinitely more successful in bringing souls to Christ. Please try and think of something else. I just can’t see this ending well.
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