How Christians Should Engage Latter-day Saints
— Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 —
Christians often wonder why Mormons believe such an incredible system: golden tablets translated with “magic glasses,” an advanced society of ancient American Indian Israelites who left behind no archaeological evidence at all, a “revelation” of polygamy that was reversed when Utah needed to do so for statehood, a “revelation” barring black Mormons from the priesthood that was reversed after the triumph of the civil rights movement, an eternity of godhood producing spirit babies, and special protective underwear.
What we must understand is that Latter-day Saints (LDS) believe these things for the same reason that people everywhere believe the things they do: they want to believe them. Very few Mormon converts become convinced by rational arguments of the prophetic office of Joseph Smith. Indeed, Mormon missionaries don’t ask one to do so; instead relying on a “burning in the bosom” that the claims of Smith are true.
To understand the draw of Mormonism, evangelicals should read the works of Latter-day Saints who explain why they love their religion.
Coke Newell, a convert to the LDS church in his late teens, lays out why a drug culture vegetarian would find the LDS church compelling. In so doing, he glories in the ancient mysteries of Mormon cosmology and eschatology: from a God and a Goddess who produce offspring to a future in which deified humans rule a vast cosmos. Newell makes clear that he isn’t simply convinced by Smith’s claims; he is convinced because he loves the picture of reality they portray.
This should come as no surprise to Christians who have read the Apostle Paul’s revelation of the roots of human idolatry in the first chapter of Romans. Fallen humans have affections and inclinations that they then prop up with beliefs, convincing themselves that their systems are true. With this the case, evangelicals should take more than a scattershot approach to knocking down Mormon claims (although this is necessary). We must also present a counter-story to the Mormon story: one that resonates with the beauty of truth and holiness.
Evangelical “how-to” sermons are not going to reach our LDS neighbors. Neither are anti-theological churches that major on Christian experience and piety disconnected from doctrinal content. Instead, we must present the gospel the way the apostles did in the aftermath of Pentecost: as a “mystery” that now explains everything in terms of God’s purposes in Jesus Christ.
For an example of how to proclaim the gospel to Mormons, we should pay attention to Paul’s proclamation of the gospel to a cultural milieu that closely resembled that of Salt Lake City: the pagan enclave of Ephesus. Paul presented Jesus as the key to understanding God’s cosmic plan, as the reason for human existence, human worship, human fatherhood, even human sexuality. Paul did not shy away from speaking of what we intuitively seem to know is true: that there is an ancient warfare of which the affairs of human beings are only a part.
The apostle understood that for the Ephesians, and for the Mormons, and indeed for all of us outside of Christ, the allure of falsehood is because falsehood is parasitic on the truth. We need not just ask whether Mormons believe things that are untrue and dangerous; they do. We must ask also why they believe these things, and counter them with the revealed truth.
Latter-day Saints do not need an unbiblical and unsatisfying vision of Christian hope that is not much more than an eternal choir practice. Instead, our LDS neighbors (and all of us) need to hear of the biblical glory of a restored universe in which human beings will rule with Christ over all things, a universe in which nature itself is freed from the curse and in which human friendship, love, and community continue and grow forever. LDS families don’t just need to hear that we are pro-family. They need to understand that we are pro-family because the family reflects the Fatherhood of God (Eph 3:14), a Fatherhood that finds its meaning not in pre-mortal spirit babies but in the sonship of Jesus Christ (Rom 8:15).
Yes, we need apologetics directed toward Mormons. And, whatever some evangelical leaders may say, we must not back away from the sad reality that Mormonism is not even remotely Christian. But we must remember that we will not convince Mormons with rational arguments alone.
This means we can’t rely on piecemeal attempts to point out discrepancies in the Book of Mormon, or archeological proofs against the Nephite civilization, or philosophical holes in Mormon cosmology. All of these things are important, but we must remember that, deep within their hearts, Mormons fear that Joseph Smith is wrong. They, like we before conversion, are “suppressing the truth” (Rom 1:18).
The Spirit can conquer this kind of deception, and he does so through the word of truth. This doesn’t mean proof-text argumentation, necessarily. It does mean presenting the big picture of Scripture, tying it together in the pinnacle of all truth, Jesus of Nazareth. This is not the subjective, irrational “burning in the bosom” of our Mormon missionary friends. But let’s remember where they found the “burning in the bosom” language.
When Jesus was walking with the dejected disciples to Emmaus, he took them through all of the Scriptures, showing them how the Christ was the focus of them all. After he left them, they said to one another: “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).
This was not, and is not, the anti-propositional relativism of postmodern epistemology, nor is it the irrational mysticism of New Age occultism. It is the human heart created in the image of God, freed by the Spirit, resonating with the truth. This is what the apostle John means when he writes that we know the spirit of truth from the spirit of error because the one who is from God “listens to us,” the prophetic-apostolic instruments of divine revelation (1 John 4:6).
We must remember this when we welcome our LDS neighbors over for dinner, or when we lovingly spend an evening with diligent Mormon missionaries. When divine revelation is presented in all of its Christocentric glory, there is a longing within us for this story. That’s because it is true. And more than that, it is the truth, and the way, and the life. That is good news for Latter-day Saints, and for old-time sinners like us.
68 Responses to “How Christians Should Engage Latter-day Saints”
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As a former mormon saved by God’s sovereign grace I can commend this essay. As you state, it is not enough to show why mormonism is wrong, a relatively simple task, but to tell them in love what is right: Jesus Christ. Far too many Christians are still in the milk stage and cannot explain what they believe and are therefore not in any sort of position to witness to a mormon. Beyond simply reaching our mormon neighbor for Christ, we need to strengthen our own ranks so that we have a ready answer to the hope that we have.
@Arthur Sido,
I agree with you Arthur that far too many Christians are still in the milk stage and cannot explain what they believe or why they believe as they do. That is going to change really fast. Visit my website and spread the Good News!
In Christ’s Service,
David Behrens
Sola Gloria Dei!
I think you make some good points about Mormons, i.e. they believe what they want to believe, what resonates with them spiritually.
I also like your reference to the “road to Emmaus” incident. When I was a Mormon missionary I felt that this was the model of proselytizing. I still do.
As a Mormon, I have met a few Evangelicals or other traditional Christians who have convinced me of the depth and reality of their relationship with Jesus, but most don’t want to go there. Most interactions become more about proving me wrong or denouncing, or trying to change me.
[Sigh]
It’s interesting to see how little learned men like Russell Moore still have yet to grasp the fundamental LDS teachings; the ones that are taught week in and week out in Church Buildings across the country, the homes of families, a
nd in the early-morning seminiares attended by youth among other venues. From his admonishment on how to “instruct” mormons is an indicator of his poor understanding of what we believe:
“Instead, our LDS neighbors (and all of us) need to hear of the biblical glory of a restored universe in which human beings will rule with Christ over all things, a universe in which nature itself is freed from the curse and in which human friendship, love, and community continue and grow forever. LDS families don’t just need to hear that we are pro-family. They need to understand that we are pro-family because the family reflects the Fatherhood of God (Eph 3:14), a Fatherhood that finds its meaning not in pre-mortal spirit babies but in the sonship of Jesus Christ (Rom 8:15).”
The problem is we already hear that exact message…in our own churches.
Penned by Joseph Smith in an effort to outline our most basic and fundamental doctrines, called “the 13 Articles of Faith”, this is something that 90% of LDS Children will memorize by the age of 10. Here are two that relate to the above statment:
“We believe…that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
From a very young age, LDS members are taught to have a deep and profound faith in Jesus Christ. We are taught to “love one another” as he did. We are taught that “Jesus is my light”. We are taught that he atoned for our sins. We are also taught that he is the Only Begotten Son of the Father. This is where these theologians need to seek better understanding of what the LDS people believe in the profound parts of their soul. In doing so, they will find that LDS people have probably the most refined, passionate, reverent, and profound relationship with Christ than any other Christian Sect. This is why I have continued to maintain my membership in the church – because it is the MOST Christian insitituition I have found on the entire planet.
“By their fruits ye shall know them”
@Brandon Rawlinson,
Perhaps its not the “Milk” Mormonism - the moralistic monotheism of the BoM, or even the Articles of Faith - that provokes a reaction amongst orthodox Christians, but the “Meat” Mormonism of the polytheistic, paganistic Endowment Ceremony.
Which presents the first problem; the schizophrenic mix of light and darkness within the Mormon world. If there is One God (per Deut 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-13 and Alma 11:28-29), then there is one truth, and it is not divided against itself.
I sincerely hope that the Mormon movement retains it’s impulse to follow Jesus, and the kindness and generosity that makes Mormons such good neighbors. However, Joseph Smith is pulling you in another direction, away from the One who claimed to be “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) and you cannot hold on to both.
I was impressed by an ex-Mormon who wrote that being in the LDS church was the best, most enjoyable time of his life. When asked why he had turned his back on Mormonism, he replied “I didn’t. I turned to follow Jesus and found the LDS Church behind me.”
Many Mormons see the efforts of orthodox Christians to address the shortcomings of Mormonism as an attempt to turn them away from the church, and they ask “where else shall we go?” I wonder, perhaps controversially, whether the best outcome would be to stay in the church they are already in. Only, it has to deal first with Joseph Smith and all his legacy, before it becomes a welcoming environment for Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost that He sends.
The problem here, is that if Mormonism jettisoned Joseph Smith, it would no longer be Mormonism. That, it seems to me, presents an irresolvable dilemma to the LDS movement.
@Brandon Rawlinson,
First of all, Brandon, poor form to call a very distinguished, educated professor like Russell Moore a “little learned [man].” If you want to be persuasive, use your well written argument as you gave after that personal attack.
Second, if you want to be part of the “MOST Christian institution” can you affirm Jesus’ own words: “I and the Father are One;” AND the testimony of the eyewitness John: “the Word [that is Christ] was God.” The simple fact and the overwhelmingly evident and clear teaching of the church for two millennia has always been a complex unity: One God, Three Persons. You can argue text criticism and the errancy of the Bible all you want but the overwhelming evidence is in favor of the evangelical Church.
Not only is historical evidence in our favor but so is the very ground of rational argument. We worship a complex unity because the very universe is a complex unity: one universe with many parts. The God of Mormonism is a simple unity. Where do you see that in the universe? Is the universe essentially simple or essentially diverse? Just something to think about.
@Brandon Rawlinson, You claim that Moore misunderstands Mormonism, yet provide no examples of that. Can you show where this blog post misrepresents Mormonism?
Also, you stated that LDS have more of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ than any other Christian sect, yet Mormons are forbidden to pray to Him. How can you have a personal relationship with someone you don’t talk to?
@Keith Walker:
>>First of all, Brandon, poor form to call a very distinguished, educated professor like Russell Moore a “little learned [man].”
I think you misread the response from Brandon Rawlison, Keith. To rephrase, I think he wrote that “learned men like Moore know little about (etc.)” It’s poorly phrased, but that appears to be the intent vs. an ad hominem attack.
That’s how I read it, anyway. Not defending Brandon’s content by any means, which I think is wrong overall.
@Brandon Rawlinson, One of the more intelligent responses to Dr. Moore. Well done. As I have engaged evangelical anti-Mormons…..most recently at the Manti pageant I was stunned by the total ignorance of our doctrine and church structure. They are so consumed with “gotcha” questions and pet talking points they totally invalidate themselves as supossed experts on LDS beliefs. It was a sad but eye opening experience for me. Even Dr. Moore…an excellent wordsmith but completely misses the bullseye.
This is a very helpful analysis. Christians here in Utah are learning how to share the good news of God’s grace with Latter-day Saints with more cultural discernment, including how to factor in LDS worldview and epistemology. In the past, evangelicals have made the assumption that there is only one way to think about truth - the way we’re used to - and that the recipients of our message process truth the same way we do. By contrast, in my book Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor (Zondervan, 2011) I propose that evangelicals learn to frame theological truth in the language of experience, and in more narrative versus systematic forms, in order to speak in ways that may actually communicate to Latter-day Saints.
I have to admit, when I first saw the title of your post, I thought to myself, “Wonderful. Another out of touch scholar (a la Richard Mouw) who is going to tell me how I’m all wrong in my witnessing methods to Mormons. I was pleasantly surprised.
I love your statement, “The apostle understood that for the Ephesians, and for the Mormons, and indeed for all of us outside of Christ, the allure of falsehood is because falsehood is parasitic on the truth. We need not just ask whether Mormons believe things that are untrue and dangerous; they do. We must ask also why they believe these things, and counter them with the revealed truth.”
As a full-time Christian missionary to Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons since 1999, I want to thank you for this great blog post. Apologetics and polemics are necessary, yet they are impossible if we don’t know our own faith. Thanks for reminding your readers that not only do they need to know what they believe, they need to know why.
I appreciate your intent here. In my view as a theologian and missiologist working among Mormons we need to frame and live out the gospel among the in ways that resonate with their cultural perspective, and not in “evangelical” ways. So while evangelicals emphasis doctrine, Mormonism resonates more with ethics, ritual (in ward and temple), and sacred narrative (such as the pre-existence and the First Vision). Evangelicals need to experiment with various forms of contextualizing the gospel, and developing genuine relationships that are not tied to whether the Mormon “converts.”
As to whether Mormonism is “even remotely Christian,” debating this question is one of the quickest ways to end discussion. While there are certainly significant worldview differences between traditional Christendom and Mormonism, the question of “Is Mormonism Christian?” (or “Is Evangelicalism Christian?”) is best set aside.
Another reminder for evangelicals is that we are not the rational examplars we might imagine ourselves to be. I’ve encountered many in our tribe who emphasize subjective experience, which would is essential to any religious life, and we should pause before leveling charges of “irrationality” in connection with this.
Finally, I’d advise humility in relation to “why people believe.” While some Mormon ideas might seem unbelievable to evangelicals, and while people certainly do believe what they do because they want to (including evangelicals), in a post-Christendom, postmodern world all beliefs are equally as suspect. We would do well to respect what others consider sacred even if it is not sacred to us.
@John W. Morehead,
Your comment is at the head of the line for “least useful for the discussion”.
You failed to define keywords like “contextualize” and while that’s a problem for anyone, it is especially for you as a postmodern missiologist. Given that the average postmodern has no qualms about making up new words or redefining old ones, this makes you suspect.
It’s fairly clear from your comments regarding rationality and the lack thereof in mormonism that you didn’t actually read this article. Maybe skimmed, but not read and understood. Again, not surprising in a postmodern. -
The icing on the cake is your last paragraph where you ignore what scripture has to say about reasons for unbelief and supplant it with your own philosophy.
Overall, i’m glad you’re unskilled at papering over your diseased epistimology and rotten view of scripture. It makes it easy for Jesus’s sheep to recognize you as someone to avoid.
@John W. Morehead,
This is a great comment for people jumping off from your point of view…..except where you somehow come to the conclusion that Mormons do not think of their religion with an eye toward doctrine. This can not be any more wrong. If anything, doctrine is extremely important to us.
Having lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho at the northern end of the I-15 Corridor for most of my life, yes Brandon, I would say the gospel grace produced “fruits” are huge.
When a black sheep member among an LDS family, who has been on drugs and in and out of jail, is born again and is actually living consistently a life of righteousness and good works — this is a beautiful thing in the city.
But it is not an institution that should get the glory. We are just the sinful creatures who taste grace. All glory belongs to the King. King Jesus.
Let the gospel grace of the King be the banner over our conversations, our neighborhoods, our cities.
It seems to me that Dr. Russell rightly perceives the power in his neighbor’s belief yet incrediously ignores that same power operating in his own. This double standard is especially perplexing when coming from one who embraces so emphatically the Calvinistic doctrine of his own depravity. I assure you that both men will pursue happiness in the way they best see fit and no religious prayers, paintings, or persuasions will change this natural human pursuit. Perhaps the best we could ask is that both would be honest about this goal and respect each others methods of obtaining it.
My husband used to be a Mormon. He will tell you that the Jesus of the Mormon Church is NOT the same as the Jesus we worship and serve as Christians. Our Jesus is God of very God, part of the Trinity, who was NOT created, who was and is eternal. He is the Jesus who laid down His privilege as God and came to this earth fully God and fully Man, living a perfect sinless life, dying on the cross for our sins, resurrected, and now who sits at the right hand of the Father.
He is the only Jesus who can save. Our righteousness is filthy rags; only by appropriating His life for ours in faith can we enter the Kingdom of God.
I know myself from conversations with Mormon missionaries that they use many of the same terms we do but the meanings of the terms in Mormonism are different. Those differences matter. This is a serious thing.
@Connie Reagan,
Would it surprise you to know that exactly how you describe your God is exactly how I describe my God? PS I am Mormon. Guess I am going to be o.k.
Trinitarian Christians tell everyone all you must do is confess your sins and believe in Christ. Well, Mormons do this. Then they change their tune and add on ‘Well, you also have to believe in the same Christ as us”. Well, Mormons do this (as shown above). Then they add on “Well, then you also have to believe the same doctrines as us.” Oh good, you finally changed it enough to exclude us. The only problem is that the doctrines you espouse are simply your interpretations of scripture and have changed greatly over time. And the differences between your sects are just as glaring as any between us and the average evangelical.
@Connie Reagan,
Connie: your Christ is indecipherable, and incongruous with sprititual and intellectual thought. Nicea is a dead-end. You might as well be a Papist; at least they claim authority.
“We need not just ask whether Mormons believe things that are untrue and dangerous; they do.”
Dangerous to who, exactly? I’m not Morman and I don’t subscribe to their teachings but all the Mormons that I’ve met are happy and kind people who live in a way that fulfills them. I’m don’t know why that makes them or their beliefs dangerous, but then again I don’t understand why marriage equality is dangerous either.
Being LDS, I found Dr. Moore’s comments interesting about how arguments that attempt to rationally explain things are generally ineffective when trying to convert Latter Day Saints to the Evangelicalism. As I have lived and studied, I have come to have a deep distrust of Man’s rationality and this stems more from secular study than from religious study. However, as these beliefs have developed within me, it is partly the logical impossibility of Mormonism that draws me closer to it and the dependence of Protestantism on Man’s logical interpretations of scriptures and history that push me away. Important to note, I do believe that what is stated in the book of Mormon happened and that Joseph Smith was a prophet, I also believe that God carefully crafted both the book and the man so that it would be difficult to follow them based on anything other than faith and spiritual witness.
I believe that this is a struggle you face when dealing with Mormons, if you are to convert them. We tend to think Protestantism has an over emphasis on appealing to Man’s logic through scriptural interpretation. We generally feel that if the scriptures is all we had, one interpretation is as good as any other but God has provided more ways to communicate his will with us, while still allowing us to grow and develop by relying on faith.
@Riley Balling,
Have you investigated Eastern Orthodoxy? It is the polar opposite of “Protestantism” (more specifically Calvinistic Protestantism), but unlike Mormonism, is still very much Christian. Eastern Orthodoxy emphasizes celebrating the mysteries of the Christian faith, while Western Christianity, following the example of St. Augustine, and taken to the extreme by Jean Calvin, emphasizes trying to explain the mysteries of the Christian faith.
God grant you wisdom in your quest.
So, Let me get this straight.
As Christians you believe in a Bible that constantly refers to visions, angels, revelations, miracles and then you have the temerity to tell the Mormons who believe in the life and mission of Jesus Christ, that there are no more visions, angels, revelations and miracles. How far you have all come from the true and living gospel. Tell me. When Jesus returns to the earth (I assume you still accept this Biblical prophecy) and he opens his mouth, will you turn and run away holding your hands over your ears because the Bible is all there is?
If you do not believe in continuing revelation you reject one of the foundational premises of the Bible.
For those who still have an open mind and understand that Russell D. Moore has made a parody of what Mormonism really is, I would suggest mormonscholarstestify.org
I find it fascinating when people debate or comment on my testimony as a “Mormon” of the divinity of Jesus. I love that Jesus atoned for our sins and believe that his love for us provides a way to Salvation. I believe he is the creator and my Lord. So, go ahead and call me a “non-Christian”. It is without merit.
And while you criticize my belief in the Godhead, where Heavenly Father and Jesus are two separate beings, The Father being the Father and the Son being the Son- you conveniently ignore the differences of interpretation of the Holy Trinity and that roughly 17 million Pentecostals and Apostolics believe in modalism. I admit, you get some funny explanations when you ask someone from my church to explain the Godhead but you get equally head scratching results when you ask someone from other churches to explain the Holy Trinity.
I have a friend that I have known many years that is Mormon. Her faith, like many in any religion, is born from the tradition of her parents. She sincerely believes it though, with a sweetness that I wish I would see in many Christian homes. It breaks my heart because I don’t know how to help her see the differences. She feels that Christians ridicule her and it isolates her from them. She does not seem concerned that I am not Mormon. I think she feels that we believe basically the same thing but that she just has more information that I do that has been revealed. I can see in the Book of Mormon the interwoven scripture from the Bible and it seems to give credibility to the book for those who believe it to be truth. From my vantage point it seems scary to add to God’s holy and inpired word. However, to those deceived by it, I would assume that it would give them faith and encouragement to see some similarities and believe then that it is further revelation. She also loves the people that she goes to church (the ward) with her and I truly believe that I would love them too. They sound like a family, very giving and kind. One thing that she talks very little about is sin and repentence. She doesn’t talk much about needing a savior. I don’t know if that is just her or related to their general teachings. I know I need a savior every day. I am very aware of my wretched flesh. I have prayed and prayed that God will open her eyes to see. She is blinded and it tears me up to think that my dear friend cannot see what only God could have revealed to my sinful, wretched heart.
@Malaya MacMurray, please do not be sad for your friend.
Each week your friend experiences the sacrament or Lord’s Supper to renew the covenants of baptism.
It is central to the worship service of Latter Day Christians.
I recommend going to church with your friend, I am sure she will not deny you nor will she have a problem if you want her to go with you to church. If you want to see for yourself who your friend worships go to Church.
I teach Sunday school and the last lesson was titled “Repent and Return unto the Lord”.
Imagine what it was like at the time of Jesus, the Messiah had come and was teaching new doctrines to the Jews. No longer was it an eye for an eye, but to love your enemies. He taught them to be kind and to love.
Peter, James, John, Mark, Luke and Paul all added their words to the early saints that was new for them. Revelations from God that were his holy and inspired word. Later their testimonies, letters and words were complied into a book long after their deaths we know as the Holy Bible which is scripture to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Today inspired men of God are again here on the earth with the same powers, authority and inspiration to speak in the name of the Lord. Apostles of Jesus Christ are real and teaching us today if we will listen. Miracles, blessings and the gifts of the Holy Ghost are being poured out upon the world.
The invitation and call has gone out to the wretched in heart and the sinner. Come unto Christ. He will make your burdens light by obedience to his commandments. Jesus said, “Come and follow me.” Where are we following Him to?
The presence of the Father, our Heavenly Father.
How do we get there?
Article of Faith 4, expanded with commentary by me.
First is Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God and atoned for our sins and weaknesses.
Second is Repentance. A commitment not only to confess and forsake our sins to do as Jesus said, Go and sin no more, but to follow him. Keep his commandments and love one another as it appears you love your friend.
Third is Baptism. It is an absolute requirement that everyone must be baptized. Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness by one holding the proper authority to baptize. If he needed to be baptized so do we.
Fourth is the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Only those with authority of God can give this gift of the Comforter. To be your constant companion to give you the gifts of the Spirit.
Now these are the basics of the LDS faith which are found in the Articles of Faith that declares the beliefs of Latter Day Christians to the world.
These are just the beginning of the journey. If you and your friend are worthy, keep the commandments and the Holy Ghost as a constant companion in your life God will bless you further.
The blessings found in the Temple of God can be yours. To have a fullness of joy. Salvation not just for you, but all your loved ones who have passed from this life to future generations not yet born. The fulfillment of the prophecy of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers.
Those blessings are sacred and precious to the Lord which is why they are performed in his holy house where the saints are worthy by following the teachings of Jesus and the admonishment of Paul the Apostle. (The 13th Article of Faith.)
I have no doubt that your friend too needs God everyday just like you. We pray to the same God, our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ to help us in our daily struggle to follow the teachings and the commandments of the Son of God.
It is not easy. It is only made harder when people tell you that you don’t believe in Jesus when on the first of the month there is testimony meetings where you declare before the assembly of saints your faith in Jesus Christ.
When you partake the sacrament to remember him. His body that was crucified and his blood that was shed for us.
See for yourself that your prayers are answered by going with your friend to Church and even inviting your friend to yours.
Pray before you go to have the Holy Ghost with you and make your prayer a reality as an instrument in his hand through your life as an example of Jesus Christ of his teachings.
On October 5th and 6th is the Simi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You can hear and see for yourself the Apostles, Prophets and organization of the Church of Jesus Christ speak to you. You can hear their testimonies and teachings for yourself.
God bless you, God bless your friend. May we all strengthen our love and devotion toward Jesus Christ to follow his commandments and endure in faith until we return to our Father in Heaven to be in his presence.
I am so sorry, but this article has me laughing my head off–rolling on the floor actually. It is filled with so many false assumptions it is not to be taken seriously on any level. As a life long LDS who spent several years in Bible study with evangelicals (w/a So Baptist bent), I can assure you that that real question is how can Protestants believe what they believe? Their premise is sola biblia, yet as Mike Bennion points out above, Protestantism does not square with the Bible.
This contradiction was the catalyst for the Restoration in the first place: a sincere desire to discover New Testament Christianity. This argument between “reason” and “emotion” is a false one. For me the doctrines of the Restoration are entirely reasonable–AND biblical. The truths of Mormonism make the Bible make sense, both the Old and New Testaments.
Jesus Christ revealed though His prophet of the last days: “I will tell you in your mind and in your hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.” Doctrine and Coveants 8:2
Moore’s premise that Protestanism is reason and Mormonism a desire to believe without reason is not only offensive but reveals a serious lack of understanding of Mormonism–and may I suggest Protestantism.
You have a long way to go before you “convert” this Mormon.
It is important to me that I understand who I worship. Without trying to fan the flames, I don’t think I will ever understand the concept of the Trinity. I have had countless of my Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical friends and church leaders attempt to explain it to me, but the whole concept of a multi-form God (Form A = God the father, Form B = Jesus Christ, Form C = Holy Ghost) cannot be explained to my satisfaction. I cannot accept the nebulous, multi-form mystery described by as the trinity when I find example after example of God and Christ being more distinct and corporeal.
Genesis 1:27 - Man created in Gods image
Exodus 33:11 - Moses spoke to God face to face
Matt 3:16-17 - Christs baptism: Christ in river, voice from heaven, Holy Ghost in form of a dove.
Matt 26:39 - Gethsemane - Who is Christ praying to, and who’s will is he subjecting himself to? The Father, but if they are the same being, wouldn’t he be praying to himself?
Acts 7:55-56 - Martyrdom of the Apostle Stephen where he looks up into heaven and sees Christ on the right hand of God.
Another commenter said that at the end of the world, the only begotten of the Father (Christ) will be on his right hand. How can the Trinity be on it’s own right hand?
Until a Trinitarian can use logic, not fall back on mystery and faith to explain the nature of God to me, I’ll stay put, because what I know makes infinitely more sense to me.
Further more, which ONE of the evangelical churches is the right one? They can’t all be right…Matt 7:13-14, Eph 4:5.
Thank you for the pro-Hussein daily anti Mormon article. Keep up the good work, you probably will be successful demeaning an honest and patriotic man who could have done some good salvaging what is left of American Capitalism form your beloved mixture of European Collectivism and Moslem leadership which is destroying this once miraculous county.
Dumb question; where is your daily expose’ of Hussein’s perverted form of religion, Black Separatism? Just asking.
I’m a Mormon too. I don’t understand why evangelicals don’t understand that Mormons embrace the same basic truths about Jesus Christ and His gospel. We do! We pray about it and receive revelation through the Holy Spirit, just the same. God wants all to come to Him and learn more of Him and act more like Him. They can learn about Him in many churches. The virtue of the LDS Church is that we believe we have the priesthood restored to earth again, which is the authority of God to act in His name on earth. Only with the priesthood can earthly ordinances such as baptism be binding. I respect evangelicals’ desire to save souls, including mine, but I’m already on the road to salvation. Salvation isn’t a competition, it’s an invitation. The more the merrier. Thanks for listening.
I love how the author recommends that people get to know the LDS faith a little better in order to understand where they are coming from, only to repeat falsehoods and misrepresentations on his own. Physician, heal thyself! (For openers, there ARE archaeological evidences which Latter-day Saints can turn to in support of their Book of Mormon claims. When someone makes a definitive criticism about LDS belief in “an advanced society of ancient American Indian Israelites who left behind no archaeological evidence at all,” any attempt to sway has already been lost, with the critic dismissed as either ignorant, or intentionally bearing false witness.
@Tom Walker, I’m really interested in studying these archaeological evidences. Can you provide a website on them?
@Tom Walker,
Check out http://www.jefflindsay.com/BMEvidences.shtml
@Tom Walker, Hey Tom, While youre at it, please provide a website with archeological proof of: Scorch marks from Elijah’s ascent into heaven, petrified manna from while the wilderness, the remains of the fiery furnace where Sharach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were thrown, skeletal remains of the fishes on the mount.
Come on Anna, no website (or book) will definitely prove anything to anyone in regard to faith.
As a lifelong member of the LDS church, here’s some tips about how NOT to approach us:
1. Criticize our beliefs. Criticism of one’s beliefs is analogous to criticizing somebody’s mother: not at all productive and only creates or perpetuates antipathy toward the critic. I belong to a community interfaith group. A few weeks after 9/11 we met to discuss ways to increase understanding among believers in our community. An Imam made a very mild reference to his belief that “Jesus Christ was a great man, but not God.” The evangelical members of the group went ballistic, and the meeting quickly adjourned. The criticism of the LDS church is regularly criticized in much more hostile ways without overreaction. Criticism of closely-held beliefs is never productive.
2. Tell us that we are evil or going to hell because of what we believe. As a child I grew up in a community with a local bible college. Students (and some professors) would regularly come to our home. Many would stand on the sidewalk preaching to their own group preaching against the Mormons. On Sunday afternoons, while we studied the scriptures, a knock would frequently come to the door with a group telling whoever answered the door that their beliefs were leading them to hell. As a 10 year old I was more confused about such a statement; and not the least bit engaged. I was approached on the playground after school several times by bible college students telling me that if I wanted to go to heaven I had to believe what they did. In the 1960’s this was a common experience for LDS children in my community. In 2012 such a practice would be called “stalking.”
3. Tell us what we REALLY believe. Any article on the Internet about the LDS church or member of the LDS church (ie. Mitt Romney) is followed in the “Comments” section by a diatribe of Internet trolls who feel compelled to expose the LDS church’s “secret” or heretofore unacknowledged doctrine. One of the favorite methods is to take LDS church history out of context, and usually explained by a “former” Mormon. Two examples. First, the LDS canon consists of the four standard works: Old and New Testaments, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. To quote the “Journal of Discourses” -a journal of doctrinal opinion and discussion- is non-canonical and does not depict the doctrine of the LDS church. Second, in a political season it’s very apparent how words of candidates are twisted and misrepresented by the opposing side. LDS church history is not represented by those who choose to spin their message to their own advantage. LDS church historical events are nearly always misrepresented and taken out of context to attack the church.
As a former Mormon, I’m perplexed by your approach here. First of all, there’s an undercurrent of real contempt for Mormon beliefs in this essay, and in my view, if you approach anyone with contempt, you probably won’t get very far with them.
It’s interesting that you equate Mormon belief with fallen humanity and idolatry. “Fallen humans have affections and inclinations that they then prop up with beliefs, convincing themselves that their systems are true.” Do you not see how this applies to you as well? Even if it didn’t, what you are saying is that Mormons believe because they want to “prop up” or justify their own affections and inclinations. Again, that reeks of contempt and is, in my view, a nonstarter for talking to Mormons.
Then on the other hand, you state that Mormons don’t really believe what they say they believe: “we must remember that, deep within their hearts, Mormons fear that Joseph Smith is wrong. They, like we before conversion, are ’suppressing the truth’ (Rom 1:18).” This is wrong. One thing I have learned is that Mormons do not fear that their beliefs are wrong; that thought wouldn’t even occur to most Mormons. In fact, most of the ex-Mormons I know (myself included) say that merely pondering the possibility that Mormonism isn’t true was the first step in figuring out the truth. Assuming that, deep down, Mormons don’t really believe and are suppressing truth is another recipe for failure.
Finally, people generally do not listen until they are ready to listen. I can’t imagine how assuming that Mormons don’t really believe what they say and rationalize their belief because they want earthly affections is going to get anyone ready to listen.
It is amazing that traditional Christianity has not taken a moment to examine the very basic doctrine of the Trinity. If they do so they will realize that it was not taught nor believed by the Church in the first two centuries. It is something that crept in over time. There is no record of it until Tertullian is called to defend it late in his life.
Evangelicals will quote St. John 17 by saying “The Father and I are one” and then forget to quote the rest of verse 21: “That they ALL may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one IN us; that the world may believe that thou sent me” (emphasis added). If the Father and the Son are one then ALL of humanity is one also.
Evangelicals also fail to answer a basic question that many of us have, “what will happen to my native American ancestors who never knew Jesus?” I don’t buy it that God condemns them to Hell for not having had the opportunity to accept Jesus. A fair and loving God gives all of mankind a chance to come to Jesus.
There are flaws in Mormonism, no question about it, but they pale in comparison to Evangelism. Hence why many of us grow past Evangelism and join the Mormon Church. We find a home among others who also love and worship a Jesus who loves ALL of mankind, not just those lucky enough to find Him.
As a Mormon, I feel a little bit like I have been eavesdropping on a private conversation, so I apologize for that. But I confess that I have found this discussion to be fascinating. If I may be so bold, I would suggest that tweaking your “witness” is not the answer to reaching more Mormons.
We Mormons are a very practical, results-oriented people. You will reach more Mormons if you can show them that your way of understanding the teachings of Jesus Christ and the churches you have built around them will make them better disciples of Him and will provide more profound opportunities to learn the lessons of humility, love and service that are the true “meat” of his gospel. In my humble opinion, your ability to do so will have less to do with your “witness” and much, much more to do with your own examples of humility, love and service.
As an aside, my advice is usually the same to my coreligionists.
I am Mormon. I have to say that so that those of you who wish to dismiss me on that basis alone won’t have to continue reading. But do so at your own peril; I have been a lot of places geographically and ideologically. In so doing, I have not encountered any church or ideology on the face of this earth which requires more Christ-centered discipleship of its members than the LDS Church (that acronym sells the church short–it is actually the Church of Jesus Christ).
I see members volunteer their time and sometimes work their fingers to the bone for the purpose of bringing souls (yes, even their own) to Christ.
And yet, our well-intentioned, kind-hearted, and no doubt God-fearing author wheels out the same stinging and sadistic low blow, and I quote, “sad reality that Mormonism is not even remotely Christian.”
Mr. Moore, if your definition of Christianity does not permit inclusion of the doctrines, beliefs, behaviors, and membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day, then I want no part of your Christianity. Like most of my fellow active Mormons, I am getting way too busy volunteering my resources for the glory of God to go around putting out belief-damaging brush fires started by ideological arsons.
It is rather hypocritical for Evangelicals (protestants) to criticize the LDS for what they believe is heresy. The LDS and the Witnesses have only taken the protestant model of personal independent interpretation of Scripture out to its logical conclusion of continuing sectarianism. As of 2012 in the U.S. we have about 30,000 different protestant denominations. And the list will continue to further grow.
The funny thing is each of these 30,000 protestant denominations all claim they have the Holy Spirit guiding them. This has become chaos. The famous Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “It seems odd that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to them should think so little of what He has revealed to others.” How can one protestant church who claims they have an “internal witness” guiding them criticize anyone else who claims they have the same “internal witness” guiding them out to a different interpretation of Scripture?
These “Christian” cults have every right to look the Evangelical in the eye and say, “we did not establish independent interpretation of Scripture as the highest authority. You did this. Now, on what basis do you say our interpretation is wrong? You have cast aside the tradition of the early Church and rejected the teaching authority and cling to your new man made doctrine of sola Scriptura. Who are you to condemn us? You say private interpretation is the highest principle of the Christian faith and then claim your interpretation is the only correct one. Make up your mind. All we’ve done is follow your principles out to their logical conclusions.”
Likewise, if the Church has no teaching authority by which to interpret Sacred Scripture, then everyone’s individual and contradictory interpretation or opinion is equally valid (since it claims to be from the Holy Spirit), and this completely nullifies and denies any existence of unity or sanity in the Body of Christ and makes a mockery of absolute truth and unity. If private interpretation is the final criterion, who has the right to condemn the Mormons or the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are interpreting the Bible according to THEIR own principles and private judgment? By necessity, moreover, each must deny that the other has the Spirit. “If you had the Holy Spirit leading you into all truth, you would certainly agree with me, since the Holy Spirit led me to this contradictory interpretation.” We are thus brought back to the question, “What does this Bible verse mean to you?”
Mormonism is protestantism taken out to its logical deduction. And others shall follow their path. Remember what Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me . The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one…” John 17: 20-23.
The Lord Jesus gave mankind one Church. As the apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 3:15: ….”if I am delayed you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” and Paul also said in Titus 1:7 “For a bishop (the greek is episkopos) as God’s steward, must be blameless….” and in 1 Timothy 3:5 it says one who holds the office of Bishop cares for God’s Church (or is the steward of God’s Church as Titus 1:7 said). Remember, a steward is an administratior over the household of another. Paul is suggesting that a candidate for bishop must be fit to oversee the affairs of God’s household, which is the Church (1 Timothy 3:15).
And since the Bible call the Church the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15) , how can 30,000 different denominations all teach different truths? This makes a mockery of the absolutism of truth. If further sets itself totally against what Our Lord Jesus said in the Gospel of John: That he wanted his followers to be of one flock.
As a Mormon I have a few thoughts:
1. If Evangelicals want to proselytize to Mormons on a larger scale then the first step is to stop bashing Mormon beliefs. Instead, give Mormons some respect. As a Mormon, I love having religious discussions with friends of other faiths as long as they remain respectful. My friends share what they believe and I share what I believe. We ask questions of each other. I’ve learned a lot about other faiths and I’ve developed more respect for other faiths which has helped shape my personal views. But the second someone shows up to tell me how stupid Mormonism is, then the conversation is over.
2. This is really an extension of my first thought. Attacking Mormonism exudes insecurity in your own faith. It’s the classical behavior of tearing people down to your own level. If your faith is the correct and superior one then help people see it through the brightness of your lives and your doctrine.
3. Attacking fantastical claims by Mormons is not going to win over Mormons on a large scale, especially when your own faith relies heavily upon fantastical claims.
Jesus is the Christ.
The Son of God who died on the cross and took upon us our sins. He atoned for us as the Lamb of God, perfect, innocent sacrifice for the world that crucified him. The atonement made Jesus the mediator and only obedience to his commandments and teachings of his gospel found in the New Testament can save us.
Faith, Repentance, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands is the Gate to the narrow path of obedience to the commandments of God is the only way. The way to God provided by the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.
We are to prepare ourselves in our lives through belief on the name of Jesus Christ to enter into the presence of Heavenly Father. How can we do that if we don’t keep the commandments of God?
How can Jesus Christ declare to his Father we believe on his name when we don’t follow his commandments or teachings?
Do we have faith when we don’t trust God or believe by disobedience and sin?
Only through the grace of Christ we are saved by enduring to the end of our lives in the commandments, teachings and faith on the name of Jesus Christ. That by His works we are saved and we show that faith by our works in being a follower of Jesus Christ.
If we have faith alone we are as the devils for they believe too. James 2:19.
Our actions show our faith. There is no act or work I can do to save myself. All fall short of the glory of God. So there is only one way and that is on the merits of Jesus Christ.
To have Faith, Repent, be Baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
These are works which show devotion, trust and faith in Jesus Christ. You can be a good person, but a good person is not enough, will never be enough to be saved into the kingdom of God when his authorized servants are available to perform his holy ordinances to enter the kingdom of God on earth.
Without these works of God, your faith is in vain and your works are dead. This is the gospel, teachings and commandments of Christ from the New Testament.
Follow the Christ taught in the New Testament and be saved.
Mormons are Latter Day Christians. We agree we are not creed or traditional Christians. We reject those teachings or creeds. The Trinity is not biblical and already been proven by the New Testament. However if you want to believe the creeds or teachings of traditional Christianity you are welcome to do so. God will judge between us by the light of Christ we live by. Just know Mormons, Latter Day Christians, will not point to the creeds for confirmation of Christianity, but rely on the merits and mercy of Jesus Christ and his gospel through the New Testament.
To the author of this article I would simply say that you really have no understanding of the teachings and doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is nothing more than a veiled cheapshot at LDS people and their beliefs. First, who are you to decide what the requirements are for Christiandom? Second how have you received this supposed authority to arbitrate who is Christian and who is not. Third, how have you come to a complete and full knowledge of the workings, makeup, and characteristics of Heaven so as to pontificate that the LDS teachings of the role and progression of man in the afterlife are, logical and theological nonsense?
1. You are a Baptist minister and the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Your authority is academic at best, certainly not divinely ordained (as Jesus Apostles were), and extends only to the farthest corners of the BAPTIST segment of the Christian world. You cannot say with any authority who is not Christian. You may be able to say who is not Baptist, but your tenets vary from those of others in your Christian tent (lutherns, methodists, etc.). Simply put you have no authority over all of Christianity in order to exclude other denominations.
2. Your authority stems from either your alleged “calling” by the holy spirit, or your attainment of certain academic/theological degrees from an academic institution for which you now serve as Dean. Did Jesus establish the School of Theology and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary? No. Does Jesus or any Apostle ordained by Him direct this school? No. By definition, your only revelation is contained in the Bible. The only Apostles you recognize have been dead for millenia, and you have no direct link to their authority. Therefore you have no authority to arbitrate, in the name of Jesus, who is His follower and who is not.
3. You ridicule the LDS view of the afterlife, its claim of continuing revelation, and every other LDS tenet that enhances and clarifies doctrines that are at best unclear in the historical compilation we call the Bible. I am assuming that you are not nor have ever been dead. Therefore, how in the world do you know without a doubt what Heaven will be like or what we as children of God will be doing in Heaven. Your response, based on this article, is that those things are just a “mystery”. And yet you claim logic is on your side, essentially saying it is better to believe nothing but a mystery over an actual explanation of who we really are, where we came from, and where we are headed. I posit that the most you can possibly assert is faith in your “mystery” concerning the afterlife. Sure you have some hints in the Bible to point the way, but these are just that, hints. If the Bible was infallable and represented EVERY word that came from God, Joseph Smith would have had no need to try and decide which of all the Christian Denominations is right (because we would know the correct answer to such cosmic questions as does a man need to be baptized to enter the Kingdom of God, is there a ressurection, and other tenets that are still quibbled over by the various denominations. Also there would NOT be SO MANY different Christian denominations.)
On a side note, your arguments concerning the “revelations” about polygamy and the race issue (which you have totally mischaracterized) show a deep naivete regarding the circumstances of the early LDS church. The United States was trying to and would have crushed/erased the early LDS church (the only church in US history whose assets were seized by the US government, whose members were as a group disenfranchised, and who were ordered to be exterminated by State law). Why would Christ not reveal to end the “offending” minority practice of polygamy, in order to have the church survive and grow? It is His church. He condoned the plural marriage of Abraham and others when he sanctioned such. Was Abraham going against God? No. Does God change some of his laws from time to time? Yes (think of the gospel being preached only to the children of Isreal until Peter received the revelation to share the gospel with the Gentiles). You simply do not know or refuse to acknowledge the history.
finally, Mormons don’t secretly fear Joseph Smith was a fraud. The leaders of the Christian sects who ridicule and disparage the LDS, as you have done–leaders who make a handsome profit for so doing–truly fear that God still speaks as he always has throught prophets (Amos 3:7). You fear your own lack of ordained authority, and the possibility that Christ himself has restored His church, with Apostles and prohets today (you not being one of them).
@Jon Saline, Fantastic rebuttal
Reverend Moore and his coreligionists, if they wish to have any credibility in their statements comparing Mormon beliefs to their own, need to put some effort into understanding what those beliefs really are. I suppose it is an advance that he has recognized that Mormons actually want to believe what they believe, but with your caricature of our beliefs you are unable to understand why Mormons choose be Mormons.
And it is a real choice. Sociologist Randy Stark says that religions that demand more of their faithful also have more assets and benefits, tangible and intangible, that reward members. He notes correctly that Mormonism is one of the highest demand religions in terms of sexual morality, personal service, donations, and lifestyle such as.avoiding alcohol. You need to study Mormonism well enough to understand why Mormons are willing to invest so much in their faith.
In particular, Mormons have a strong belief that they have access to a more complete truth about God’s purposes for mankind and the mission of the Savior, Jesus Christ. That is why tens of thousands of Evangelicals and Catholics become Mormons every year. Based on the way you denigrate Mormons, you clearly have.no idea why they believe the.Book of Mormon teaches profound truths about Jesus Christ, and have little hope of persuading them that you can add to what they have.
A recent article in First Things journal was.titled “Mormonism obsessed with Christ”. An evangelical professor finally got around to reading the Book of Mormon and was surprised that the main charater is Jesus Christ, not only as the resurrected Savior but also as Jehovah, creator of the earth, who condescended to suffer with us in the earth. Saying that you don’t recognize this Jesus is disingenuous: he is the Jesus of the New Testament, the Son of God, who fulfills the law, who is full of compassion. He is not the Nicene entity, but neither is the Jesus in the Bible.
Have Baptists, perhaps with other Evangelical Christians, ever hired a neutral research form to talk to people who converted to Mormonism from Evangelical denominations, not to argue them out of it, but just to find out why, and how it has turned out for them five and ten and twenty years down the road? Wouldn’t you expect to have more success holding on to your own members, who have most points in common, than trying to persuade a Mormon who comes from very different premises than you? I know that you publish literature and videos that try to depict Mormonism as.undesirable, but has that actually helped? I understand total Southern Baptist membership has been shrinking despite the campaign to poison the minds of Baptists against listening to Mormons. Your literature promotes the claim that “Mormons lie” about their own beliefs, a slander that strikes me as a blatant violation of the Ten Commandments. Have you ever considered that it is your anger toward your Mormon neighbirs, and defamation of their sincere.beliefs, that has led many people to turn their backs on a church that promotes such an un-Christian practice. Mormons don’t lie, but whem Baptists say we do, the Baptists are lying. Do you think Christ is pleased by that? Or do you think you are so entirelybsaved that you can lie and still pass through the pearly gats
Given the tens of thousands of Baptists who become Mormons every year, have you folks considered hiring a neutral research company to find out what motivates a million peopke who used to be Evangelicals to live as Mormons? Maybe you coyld then address the shortfalks in your own church that disappointed those people. I suggest one of the things that disappointed them was how much Baptists.misrepresent Mormons. The head of the Southern Baptists in South Carolina bragged that his state.would not vote for Romney because they think Mormons lie about everything. So the state that used to pride itself on picking the national nominee lined up with Gingrich, the national third place finisher. I think.people of integrity are troubled by a Baptist church that lies when it accuses 14 million Mormons of lying about what they believe. I think they question how sincete worshippers of Christ can commit such a persistent sin as individuals and an organization. Perhaps you wpuld have better retention of good people if your statements about other religions were more careful about telling the truth, rather than trying to scare your people away from ever listening to a Mormon.
Can any of the LDS/Mormon/etc. readers/commenters in here point to someone outside of the LDS church who has been able to adequately and accurately discuss/articulate/critique LDS beliefs from an evangelical perspective?
@Walter Smith,
Good question. This sounds like a sincere effort at dialogue. I read recently about an evangelical who has dedicated his academic career to studying the LDS faith. From what I read, he really was very objective. Try Dr. Richard Mouw.
and try this link to his interfaith dialogues with the LDS.
http://www.calvin.edu/january/2013/mouw.htm
Having engaged with professional anti-Mormon apologists this summer (Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti Utah) I was truly stunned by their utter ignorance of our doctrine. I did not expect this. Trying to engage me as alleged “experts” on Mormonism (I.e. deeply read or having “come out of Mormonism”) ….. when confronted with MY questions…..their answers and admitted ignorance not only astounded me but totally invalidated their “expertise”. Dr. Moore falls into the same category. His scholarly essay collapses with a single fatal generalization…..”deep within their hearts Mormons fear Joseph Smith was wrong”. I think this is what ancient Greeks might refer to as a “fatal flaw”. Dr. Moore knows a lot about us Mormons — but he does not KNOW US. Hence an empty essay.
Forget everything else, does everyone not see that Mormons and evangelical Christians do NOT worship the same Jesus? We’re not even in the same ballpark to play together. So arguing over the specifics of the faiths is pointless.
Jesus Christ has been and always will be eternally God. He didn’t achieve god hood as a spirit child before Elohim physically had sex with Mary and created his physical body. This is not the same Jesus. The real Jesus was and is God and was birthed by a true virgin.
So the issue isn’t what Mormons are taught and not taught. The issue is that Mormons don’t believe in the correct, biblical Jesus Christ and obviously will then believe other poor doctrine. Until they do they will be happy to live on in ignorant sinful bliss. I love these people but they believe a lie as I did once before I knew the real Christ!
@Chad,
Who said that Mary was not a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus? That is what we, Mormons, believe - the virginity of Mary until Jesus was born.
Jesus is the Son of the Highest God. He is also a God as His Father. How was the baby go in to the belly of Mary? Simple artifcial insemination! Or can doctors do this and God can’t? Heavenly Father never had to touch Maria to make her pregnant. Who says we believe in it didn’t understand the message.
Concentric circles. The innermost circle contains things that every can agree with, for example, the existence of God. Then, around that innermost circle, there is another circle that contains things that require interpretation. A final circle that envelops the two previous circles can contain preference.
God is good.
“Christians” and “Mormons” have at least one thing in common - and that is their belief in God, right? (I hope). If God wants humanity to follow him in whatever manner, communication between humanity and God is necessary, the most common form of communication between God and humanity being prayer, no? And according to preferences, there is no right and wrong and way of communicating with God - prayer can be in any form, ranging from those that start with a “Dear Heavenly Father” and end with an “Amen”, and those that are like a regular conversations or even angry or confused questionings…
So I am hoping that the most important thing is each and every one of our relationships with God. Relationships. Communication with God. Dare I believe that as long as I firmly plant my feet in God, truth will be revealed to me? Yes.
Evangelism has become more of a focus on the end product. or the converting part, rather than the simple “sharing of God” part, or the process.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, “Share God’s Love, and God will do the rest.” And THAT relationship with God will become your religion; label yourself however you would like - Mormon, Christian, Baptist, Presbyterian… you know what I mean. (:
I am a non-denominational Christian with friends of all religions, and I think about this topic a lot, well, because I want the truth. This is something I have come up with so far; I would love any feedback!