Witnessing to a Mormon.

[angeliclj]

I am in need of serious guidance on a matter. I have just recently befriended a wonderful couple of which I have discovered are Mormon. Both devote and from a long line of Mormons.

She is not the first Mormon I have encountered in my life but for some reason, in this situation I feel a strong calling from the Lord to witness to this couple.

I have listened to her explantions of Jesus, the Bible, Prophets and Spirit Children. She expresses thanks that I do not shut her down and tell her she is wrong. I do not want to loose the trust I have gained thus far by bashing her over the head with spiritual truths.

If anyone has literature or any suggestions on where I might be able to start providing some comparative information, that would be great.

I have searched the internet and found some information, but I believe I need more details and even better, specific information on witnessing to Mormons as a Catholic.

Thanks,
Laura

 

[dolphinlove]

Hi Laura,
There are quite a lot of threads on this right here in non catholic religions, have you used the search to try and find them?
There is some great advice in them that could really help you out.
God be with you on this quest.
Dolphinlove

 

[why_me]

I am in need of serious guidance on a matter. I have just recently befriended a wonderful couple of which I have discovered are Mormon. Both devote and from a long line of Mormons.

She is not the first Mormon I have encountered in my life but for some reason, in this situation I feel a strong calling from the Lord to witness to this couple.

I have listened to her explantions of Jesus, the Bible, Prophets and Spirit Children. She expresses thanks that I do not shut her down and tell her she is wrong. I do not want to loose the trust I have gained thus far by bashing her over the head with spiritual truths.

If anyone has literature or any suggestions on where I might be able to start providing some comparative information, that would be great.

I have searched the internet and found some information, but I believe I need more details and even better, specific information on witnessing to Mormons as a Catholic.

Thanks,
Laura

The problem comes when one begins to bash someone over the head with ‘spiritual truths’. But to have a discussion that is pleasant and respectful should be the goal that leads to understanding.

If mormonism works for this couple, then I think that that is great for them. Nothing wrong in that. And if catholicism works for you, well that is great too. Maybe you both can talk about why your religions work for you both.

Nothing wrong in that and it becomes a learning experience.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I am in need of serious guidance on a matter. I have just recently befriended a wonderful couple of which I have discovered are Mormon. Both devote and from a long line of Mormons.

She is not the first Mormon I have encountered in my life but for some reason, in this situation I feel a strong calling from the Lord to witness to this couple.

I have listened to her explantions of Jesus, the Bible, Prophets and Spirit Children. She expresses thanks that I do not shut her down and tell her she is wrong. I do not want to loose the trust I have gained thus far by bashing her over the head with spiritual truths.

If anyone has literature or any suggestions on where I might be able to start providing some comparative information, that would be great.

I have searched the internet and found some information, but I believe I need more details and even better, specific information on witnessing to Mormons as a Catholic.

Thanks,
Laura

I wish I had just the thing to tell you. Pray is about all I have. as this couple share with you about Mormonism be sure ( in a non aggressive manner) to share with them the truths of the Catholic church. slowly showing the Truths of the correct unity of the Trinity. the True Nature of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

 

[AMDGtoo]

I am in need of serious guidance on a matter. I have just recently befriended a wonderful couple of which I have discovered are Mormon. Both devote and from a long line of Mormons.

She is not the first Mormon I have encountered in my life but for some reason, in this situation I feel a strong calling from the Lord to witness to this couple.

I have listened to her explantions of Jesus, the Bible, Prophets and Spirit Children. She expresses thanks that I do not shut her down and tell her she is wrong. I do not want to loose the trust I have gained thus far by bashing her over the head with spiritual truths.

If anyone has literature or any suggestions on where I might be able to start providing some comparative information, that would be great.

I have searched the internet and found some information, but I believe I need more details and even better, specific information on witnessing to Mormons as a Catholic.

My advice is probably not what you are looking for and yet it comes from experience.

Do not engage this couple in religious arguements directly. Instead, pray for them. Instead, be the very best example of a Christian that you can be. Research your own Faith (the early Church Fathers and books on Church history. And after all that you might consider reading Grant Palmer’s book, An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins, Tod Compton’s book In Sacred Loneliness, and even Jerald and Sandra Tanner’s Maze of Mormonism. These last three books are not meant for your new friends, instead they are meant for your information only (in fact, your Mormon couple will refuse to read anything by the Tanners, since the Tanners are excommunicated Mormons and they might refuse to read the other two books even though the authors are still Mormon) because you are being “targeted” as a possible convert to Mormonism. (Mormons believe that every Mormon is a missionary).

 

[FCEGM]

I am in need of serious guidance on a matter. I have just recently befriended a wonderful couple of which I have discovered are Mormon. Both devote and from a long line of Mormons.

She is not the first Mormon I have encountered in my life but for some reason, in this situation I feel a strong calling from the Lord to witness to this couple.

I have listened to her explantions of Jesus, the Bible, Prophets and Spirit Children. She expresses thanks that I do not shut her down and tell her she is wrong. I do not want to loose the trust I have gained thus far by bashing her over the head with spiritual truths.

If anyone has literature or any suggestions on where I might be able to start providing some comparative information, that would be great.

I have searched the internet and found some information, but I believe I need more details and even better, specific information on witnessing to Mormons as a Catholic.

Thanks,
Laura

Laura, these articles from THIS ROCK magazine will help you greatly:

catholic.com/library/problems_with_the_book_of_mormon.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9907conv.asp

catholic.com/library/distinctive_beliefs_of_mormon.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9203fea.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9207fea2.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1996/9611conv.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9712fea2.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1994/9411fea2.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9905fea2.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9701fea2.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1996/9603fea2.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0304fea3.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9506fea1.asp

catholic.com/library/gods_of_the_mormon_church.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0305fea4.asp

catholic.com/library/mormonism_baptism_for_the_dead.asp

 

[RC_Matt]

The problem comes when one begins to bash someone over the head with ‘spiritual truths’. But to have a discussion that is pleasant and respectful should be the goal that leads to understanding.

If mormonism works for this couple, then I think that that is great for them. Nothing wrong in that. And if catholicism works for you, well that is great too. Maybe you both can talk about why your religions work for you both.

Nothing wrong in that and it becomes a learning experience.

I don’t normally agree with WhyMe, but this time he’s right. Don’t evangelize and don’t comment on Mormon doctrine (as bizarre as you may find it to be). In fact, I’m surprised that they’re not working overtime to convert YOU; and I surprised they still speak to you, other than superficially, if they have realized that they can’t convert you. Best thing you can do is just provide an example of good Christian living. Lots of people become atheist when they burnout and bail from Mormonism, it’s all they know and they assume all faiths are the same. If they ever get fed-up or begin to question some of the Mormon tenets, you will have provided a viable alternative and planted a seed that may later flourish.

 

[RebeccaJ]

I don’t normally agree with WhyMe, but this time he’s right. Don’t evangelize and don’t comment on Mormon doctrine (as bizarre as you may find it to be). In fact, I’m surprised that they’re not working overtime to convert YOU; and I surprised they still speak to you, other than superficially, if they have realized that they can’t convert you. Best thing you can do is just provide an example of good Christian living. Lots of people become atheist when they burnout and bail from Mormonism, it’s all they know and they assume all faiths are the same. If they ever get fed-up or begin to question some of the Mormon tenets, you will have provided a viable alternative and planted a seed that may later flourish.

Agreed.

 

[tundramom]

I agree as well. Don’t get into a bashing war. It won’t do either of you any good. PRAY a lot.

in Christ
Steph

 

[nebula]

I am in need of serious guidance on a matter. I have just recently befriended a wonderful couple of which I have discovered are Mormon. Both devote and from a long line of Mormons.

She is not the first Mormon I have encountered in my life but for some reason, in this situation I feel a strong calling from the Lord to witness to this couple.

I have listened to her explantions of Jesus, the Bible, Prophets and Spirit Children. She expresses thanks that I do not shut her down and tell her she is wrong. I do not want to loose the trust I have gained thus far by bashing her over the head with spiritual truths.

If anyone has literature or any suggestions on where I might be able to start providing some comparative information, that would be great.

I have searched the internet and found some information, but I believe I need more details and even better, specific information on witnessing to Mormons as a Catholic.

Thanks,
Laura

One thing that I learned during my sojourn as a Mormon is that many Mormons are under the illusion that non Mormons are not truly happy, not really, not like Mormons are. If I were you I’d make this a slow process, befriend these people, let them see how much joy and fulfillment your faith brings you and let the questions naturally come. When they do come keep in mind that the Mormon definition of words that normative Christianity uses really isn’t the same, so you’ll have to do a lot of study to keep a grasp on what the differences fundamentally are.