Need advice on Mormon Missionary's

[Elric]

Thanks Kristine, I have found this site a great source of comfort, to be able to express my thoughts and receive advice is wonderful. I’ve enjoyed reading of people’s experiences its informative and helpful and when a few get into a war of words its down right amusing.
PS if you find yourself Down Under drop by for a coffee

Down Under?

Wow thats two people I have seen from here.

And I thought that I was the only one.

 

[RebeccaJ]

And yet, Bart, just how people are treated by other people is a sign of their genuine christianity. Christianity is not just about saying several rote prayers in church or at home. But rather, it is demonstrated in how christians reach out and ‘love’ their neighbor in christ.

You look for perfection in people. Peter denied Christ three times, and surely he was as Christian as they come.

Judging people as non-Christian is telling them that they are denying Christ. Why would you do this, daily, continually?

We all have our faults, But honestly, it gets tiring hearing them listed out by you as though you are some sort of official fault decrier. You beat people down. I for one would appreciate a little peace and quiet.

 

[Kristine1957]

You guys may want to check out the video’s on this website. It’s quite amazing! You can streamline it for free and they really do have alot of information on mainstream and not so mainstream mormons. Video’s on polygamy from “real people” that lived through it.

lhvm.org

 

[why_me]

You look for perfection in people. Peter denied Christ three times, and surely he was as Christian as they come.

Judging people as non-Christian is telling them that they are denying Christ. Why would you do this, daily, continually?

We all have our faults, But honestly, it gets tiring hearing them listed out by you as though you are some sort of official fault decrier. You beat people down. I for one would appreciate a little peace and quiet.

I have no idea what you are talking about. What faults have I listed out? I see none. However, I do see the faults of mormon leaders both past and present listed out by some on this forum.

And so you would agree that Mormons are christians? Or will you judge them as non-christians?

To fellowship and gather together in the body of christ is a sign of the christian spirit. But mormons have their faults in this respect too. No one is perfect.

 

[why_me]

You guys may want to check out the video’s on this website. It’s quite amazing! You can streamline it for free and they really do have alot of information on mainstream and not so mainstream mormons. Video’s on polygamy from “real people” that lived through it.

lhvm.org

This ministry has a fetish for mormonism. There entire ministry is focused on the mormon church. They are antimormon. And it is not very christian because of it.

 

[why_me]

Very scripture and BoM based. Prayer very individual.

The lds church is now studying the Book of Mormon for this year. Last year it was the New Testament and the year before that it was the Old Testament. They tend to cover the scriptures very well.

Before each sacrament meeting there is an opening prayer by one of the lds members and a closing prayer at the end of sacrament meeting. These are public prayers. The same is true for the other two meetings that the lds attend.

And of course the sacrament prayers is a public prayer also recited for the congregation to hear.

But there aren’t any rote prayers that the members say together to my understanding.

 

[Jerusha]

Thanks Kristine, I have found this site a great source of comfort, to be able to express my thoughts and receive advice is wonderful…
PS if you find yourself Down Under drop by for a coffee

I knew you lived South, like maybe Florida, not that far South!!

 

[RebeccaJ]

I have no idea what you are talking about. What faults have I listed out? I see none. However, I do see the faults of mormon leaders both past and present listed out by some on this forum.

And so you would agree that Mormons are christians? Or will you judge them as non-christians?

To fellowship and gather together in the body of christ is a sign of the christian spirit. But mormons have their faults in this respect too. No one is perfect.

Man whyme, don’t you ever read what you write? Anyone who disagrees with mormonism, you immediately label antimormon and not “acting like a Christian”.

No, I do not agree the mormons are Christian. I believe they think they are, but they do not accept the nature of Jesus as God, Incarnate. Christ Himself placed an importance on understanding of who He is.

 

[alavenderluvbug]

Run and don’t look back. Do not get involved with these people any more than you already have. If you are lonely I would suggest you search out other Catholics or at least Christians, actually any religion would be ok but stay away from missionaries from completely false religions that try to get you out of God,s one true church and lead you away from the sacraments!!!

 

[JulieAB]

I think we are confused as to what constitutes a Christian. Is a Christian someone who recognizes Jesus as divine? Or just as Messiah? If the former, then the Unitarians, JWs, Mormons, and several other groups fall out of that definition. The “traditional” definition of Christian sees Him as Son of God, Messiah, and divine, despite the “research” by several groups associated with the Jesus project and the Discovery Channel.

To clarify a previous post of mine, I have found LDS services to include public prayer. Just as in the Catholic Church, they push a great deal of individual prayer outside of their services. I wish we Catholics had as many activities as they do in the communities I have observed. My parish has tons of stuff to do, but a dearth of things for the “tween” ages of say, 10-14. We have Life Teen and such for the mid to late teens, but little for the 'tweeners. Does anyone have anything at their parishes to suggest?

 

[alavenderluvbug]

I have no idea what you are talking about. What faults have I listed out? I see none. However, I do see the faults of mormon leaders both past and present listed out by some on this forum.

And so you would agree that Mormons are christians? Or will you judge them as non-christians?

To fellowship and gather together in the body of christ is a sign of the christian spirit. But mormons have their faults in this respect too. No one is perfect.

Mormons are NOT Christian. It is not judgement it is a FACT!

 

[JulieAB]

I don’t want to see us get into a “pissing” contest over stupid definitions. I don’t see them as Christian, either, simply because I define a Christian as seeing Jesus as divine. Just because someone says they are Christian, doesn’t make them so, just as someone who says they are Catholic and never steps inside a church or refuses to follow the Church laws is deceiving themselves. That isn’t the point of these posts. We have gone off track. The original post asked for advice re the missionaries. We need to stick to that and stop ‘throwing rocks’. Many LDS members are good, faithful people trying their best, just as we are. We, however, have been blessed with the true Faith. Our job is to pass it on, not stand in judgement. As St Chrysotom said, “There but for the grace of God go I”.

 

[Poppyseed]

Dear Melmac,
My sister-in-law is a devout Mormon, however, understands thatI feel strongly about my Catholic faith so she does not try to evangelize me. If you feel pulled by the Mormon faith, first know this so you aren’t blinded (because they do NOT explain their faith in full when questioned, maybe because some beliefs might turn people off from joining; they tell them later… after they join): Mormons don’t believe in Jesus quite the same way as Christians do; Mormans are not considered Christian by the World Council of (Christian) Churches; Mormons believe after death, “some” who are perfect will become “gods” just like and equal to Jesus, and master of their own planet/universe, literally. I am not making this up. One of their members wrote a book titled, “As God is We May Become,” by Steven C. Colwell (Horizon Publishers, Springvill, UT); ISBN 13: 978-0-88290-805-7 and also ISBN 10: 0-88290-805-7 (one is probably a hardback, the other paperback); see Chapter 25, “To be as God.” He talks about many worlds/planets and that they will be responsible for creating mountains and seas, lakes and rivers, birds and all animals, etc. They will make man and woman in “their/our” image as they/we have been made in the image of their/our Heavenly Parents (they believe God had sex with Mary). They believe Jesus returned to Earth (to the “Americas”) after his resurection in order to preach a different gospel because what Jesus taught during his life before had become corrupt. That’s why Mormons follow the Book of Mormon, info given to Joseph Smith by a spirit named Moroni who appeared to him. It’s Moroni’s statue that is on top of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City (I saw it). If Mormons believe in Jesus, why is Jesus’ statue not on top of their churches and temples? Who exactly do they honor? Melmac, you need to know more about their doctrine before jumping in blindly, however, they aren’t going to tell you everything beforehand. I suggest you talk to an apologist via Catholic Answers, or check Catholic Answers website and search “Mormon.” You will find a lot of info there and at other Catholic websites. Yes, Mormons are wonderful people, but they believe misguidedly in a false doctrine (they also believe Jesus and Lucifer were brothers). Joseph Smith said TWO people appeared to him, Jesus AND God. Now how can that be possible since God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are ONE in the Trinity; well, Mormon’s don’t believe in the Trinity as such. The Mormon religion is considered a cult. Jesus rose from the dead; who else has done that? Certainly not Joseph Smith. I want to rise from the dead as well, so I’m going to follow the One who did. – Seek the truth within your own faith first. There are questions that can stop Mormons in their tracks; you need to ask an apologist what they are. I will pray for you – Poppyseed

 

[abcd]

Hi I’ve been recently visited by 2 mormon missionary’s and invited to their church. The people are friendly, very earnest in their beliefs. My dilemma is that i like these people and their friendship but the more i learn about this religion the more farfetched it seems. I feel i don’t have the right to “put down” someone else’s beliefs. The missionarys have an answer to all my questions so much so it leaves my head swimming. The forum seems a great place to put forward opinions, but I’m dealing face to face and i don’t know what to say. I’m a little worried of getting in to deep because the community spirit is so enticing. Any ideas people?

Mormons believe that God was a man that became a God. they believe Jesus is a brother of Satan. They believe they will all become a God when they die. There is much more wierd stuff but thats enough to know they are not “Christian”

 

[JulieAB]

Poppyseed is correct. Mormons believe in 3 levels of ‘heaven’. The highest level, the Celestial Kingdom, is reserved for the faithful Mormons who do it all right. And the best of those will be ‘exalted’, that is, given godhead and allowed to go off into the universe and create their own spiritual children and planets to populate. It was Joseph Smith himself who stated in one of his big speeches that “what we are now, God once was. As he is now, we can become.” They believe that God put Adam and Eve into an impossible situation in Eden. In order for sin to enter the world, thereby allowing salvation through Jesus, Adam had to sin. If there was no sin, salvation would not come. What does this say about God’s ultimate care and sinlessness? They believe that St. Michael was Adam, that Jesus and Satan are real brothers and sons of God. In order for the Incarnation to occur, God the Father had real, physical sex with Mary, thereby actually breaking one of his own commandments and making Mary an adultress.

My question is: If God is only a glorified being, like Buddists believe Buddha to be, aren’t we worshipping the creature rather than the Creator? And where is the Creator? Shouldn’t He be worshipped by their God?

 

[MaHeRsHaLaL]

Hi I’ve been recently visited by 2 mormon missionary’s and invited to their church. The people are friendly, very earnest in their beliefs. My dilemma is that i like these people and their friendship but the more i learn about this religion the more farfetched it seems. I feel i don’t have the right to “put down” someone else’s beliefs. The missionarys have an answer to all my questions so much so it leaves my head swimming. The forum seems a great place to put forward opinions, but I’m dealing face to face and i don’t know what to say. I’m a little worried of getting in to deep because the community spirit is so enticing. Any ideas people?

Pray constantly, pray about each and everything they teach you. Write them down, read about them in the scriptures and pray about them. That is the best defense against being mis-lead.

 

[melmac]

And I thought that I was the only one.

It’s a small world

 

[melmac]

I don’t want to see us get into a “pissing” contest over stupid definitions. I don’t see them as Christian, either, simply because I define a Christian as seeing Jesus as divine. Just because someone says they are Christian, doesn’t make them so, just as someone who says they are Catholic and never steps inside a church or refuses to follow the Church laws is deceiving themselves. That isn’t the point of these posts. We have gone off track.

I read an email that said " going to church doesn’t make you a christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car"
:yup:

 

[BfloPolska]

It does seem that in some Catholic churches. if you are a single woman over age 30, there’s no outreach to you. If you are a man, the Knights of Columbus seems to foster friendships. There are lots of activities for families, teens, and couples but not singles.

Don’t leave the Catholic church just to have friends. Try to make friends in the church. Pray that God will put people in your life who will bring you closer to Him. God bless you.

It is not limited to Catholic churches, though my experience with the parish of my childhood led me into the arms of the LDS, where I stayed many years before exploring eastern faiths, particularly the Sikhs. Where I grew up we had no CYO, nothing for the youth after confirmation, so we were cut adrift. I lived in a very small town and when the missionaries came I was ripe for them. Unfortunately I joined because not because of any great love of Christ or the doctrine, but because of infatuation for one of those missionaries. Worst possible reason ever, EVER to get involved with any religious movement. I hung about for 7 years, even after he went back home and got married. I was what they called a “Jack Mormon.” One who still drinks and smokes, doesn’t keep to the dietary laws, etc. (Ironically I didn’t quit smoking until I met the man I would marry.)

Even among the LDS there is unfortunately little outreach to singles over 30, especially women, and this is ultimately why I left. Like with the Knights of Columbus, it’s easier as a man. There are singles groups but there is also a gulf: young singles for people under 30, and the over-30 crowd is largely made up of older widowed members. At least it is so in the birthplace of the LDS, Western New York. More irony.

I may be in the wrong here and I apologize if I step on some toes, but I do hold the church–any church–responsible if there is something in its organization lacking to its members. A parish or any congregation is supposed to be a community, a family. If you neglect one kid in a family but heap bounty on the ohers, it’s still neglect. No wonder there were scads of kids leaving St. John’s in my high school days. We were not provided for. It was like we made our confirmation, now it’s over, even at the age when sex and dope are the foremost things thrown at us. Those who didn’t go for the sex and dope went to the youth groups at the other churches, and a lot of them stayed at those other churches.

To the OP, if something doesn’t exist, make it happen. Please. For your good and the good of others who need it. You amy keep something like me from happening again.

Blessed be,
Polska

 

[alavenderluvbug]

There is 2 books that deal with mormons that I would recommend. Both are by Isaiah Bennett one is called “Inside mormonism” the other is When mormons Call"
“When mormons Call” is probably the best I have seen especially when dealing with the door to door missionaries. It tells you what steps they go through to try to convert you from their first visit up to the last it tells you exactly how to respond to them. It is very helpful!!! The other book of his is more about the history and beliefs ect. It is a much bigger book. They are both really great books and if you don’t already have them I would suggest that you get them ASAP!!!