AM I DECEITFUL TO TALK TO MORMONS?

UPDATE!!!!!  THEY CAME CAME BACK~~Hubby wasn't home, soooooo.....

We sat on the front porch and talked for over an hour.  I explained that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  They shared, "If it wasn't for the Book of Mormon their faith would all come crumbling down."  I said, "Exactly."  They let me pray for them at the end and who knows?  They may come to revival Wednesday night.  I invited them and they took a book-marker.  Every time Elder Nelson shared that the Book of Mormon was the authority and Joseph Smith was given authority to build Christ's church in America, the Oklahoma wind almost blew us off the porch!!!  Seriously!   Elder Nelson said, "What in the world?"

I said, "The Lord is trying to tell us something."  Then I'd share about the mighty rushing wind of the Holy Spirit. You wouldn't believe how little those guys know about the Word of God.  Unbelievable!  It was so exciting.  I need to write it all down.  One thing neither of them knew was the meaning of John 3:5 when Jesus answered Nicodemus, "...I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born again of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God."  They thought that meant being baptized.  I said, "Oh, no, son.  That means when a person is in their mother's womb they are in a protective water and when they are born, they are born of the water.  Then when we believe in, adhere to, cling to Jesus and His saving grace through the attonement of our sins through His shed blood, we are born of the Spirit and He lives within us."

When they talked about LDS being the only church to baptize with authority, I said, oh but baptism is a command of Jesus and the authority wasn't given to just the LDS and Joseph Smith.  Indeed, we had a great time discussing everything.  And would you believe when I asked them if they knew why Jesus died on the cross, that they didn't have an answer?  And when I asked them why He came to earth they didn't know that either?  They were a bit surprised that I knew my scriptures so well.  I told them I had to know them because there would be many false prophets in the last days that would come and try to lead me astray.  Goodness, friends, what a mighty God we serve.  Couldn't have asked for a greater presence of God with the wind.  It went from a 60-degree calm day to 40-degree gale-blusters of about 40 miles per hour right up onto my front porch in one hour's time. selahV 2/25/08

~~~~~~~ 

2/23/08  When two Mormons showed up at my door yesterday [WHICH WAS 2/22/08~~], I was elated.  I greeted them with a joyful smile.  The one "in training" was flabbergasted.  The one standing behind but waiting to pounce on my every word (because he is the real deal in all things Mormon), was a hair skeptical of my kindness.  He asked, "Have you seen people like us before?"  I almost busted out laughing, but God checked my emotional weakness.

"Of course, I've seen people like you before.  You are Mormons."  They were both holding some pamphlets, videos and The Book of Mormon.  "Are you going to give me some of those things you have?"

They almost gasped.  They were controlled but definitely not expecting a nice response from me.  Obviously people had been shutting the door in their faces all day.  I live in a fairly large subdivision with quarter-acre lots connecting one another for several acres.

I felt sorry for them.  After all, I know the Truth, and they are peddling untruth and believing it is the ONLY truth.  So, being the kind of person I am, no fear here, I decided I'd ask for their periodicals.  I've been wanting the Book of Mormon but didn't want to buy one.  I've been conversing on line with a Mormon off and on for over a year now.  He's been trying to get me to read the book, and so this was a great opportunity for me.

Also, I thought, how can these poor young men ever know the love of Jesus without knowing Jesus?  And if I'm hateful to them, then how can my actions be justified?

They wanted to know if they could come in and talk.  I told them no because my husband wasn't home.  They asked if they could come back and I said, "Sure, but wait a couple of weeks because I want to read this Book of Mormon before you return."

They wrote down their number and I gave them mine and the more seasoned Elder beamed with excitement as he handed me their book.  He assured me that this book was not about Jonas Smith, but about Jesus Christ.  I said I understood.  I suspect he thinks I will accept this as fact because he said so.  So, am I being deceitful for allowing them to come back knowing full well that I will not believe a word they have to say?  The front cover of their book reads:

"Another Testament of Jesus Christ".  Well we all know that the other "testament" is an addition to the "New Testament" which we hold to be evidence of Jesus Christ and His only testament of Himself through His apostles and His Spirit.  And the other "testament" is all false doctrine sent from the pits of hell to confuse and thwart the message of Jesus and the Father in heaven.

So here I go.  I'm rather excited to be able to witness of my Lord to some folks who may or may not ever be able to hear me.  But one thing I know: if the Word of God is spoken, it will not come back void.  And so therefore the Elder-in-training is worth my time and efforts, don't ya think?  selahV 

Comments

[Rob Ayers]

C'est la vie,

The key to Mormonism is righteousness. Is it earned, or imputed? These boys have been working awful hard to get where they
are. They are probably tired. Speak to them about the Jesus who bears our every burden.

Rob

[Trish]

Well, according to some of the teaching that I am currently getting, you missed an opportunity to share the gospel and that is unfortunate, maybe even an eternal mistake if for some reason they do not make it back for you to share the gospel with upon their return. According to my professor, we are to make opportunites to share the gospel with a lost person and we are to do it right away if at all possible.

I see the point my professor makes, but I don't think it is as black and white as he makes each encounter out to be. I have a tendency to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit in these situations and have the conversation that is necessary to plant seeds,open the door, etc. if I do not feel led to do a gospel presentation because I've also been taught that the parable of the sower teaches that the soil is not always right to have the gospel be heard and the roots go deep. Therefore, there are times where the soil has to be cultivated first. I believe the Holy Spirit knows who needs cultivation and who is ready for the gospel.

If you didn't feel led to share the gospel with them, then I do not believe you are doing anything deceitful, you are preparing the soil by showing them a willingness to listen to them, you are establishing yourself as someone who has respect for them. When they come back, you will have the opportunity to hear their presentation and be prepared to lovingly tell them you do not agree with them and hopefully, you will have earned the right to tell them why. Then, you can share the gospel with them and let the Holy Spirit work in the soil that has been cultivated. They may not accept the gospel at that point, but hopefully you will have been able to sow more seed for the next person the Spirit puts in their path.

Sorry for the long answer, those are some of the thoughts that have been brewing in my head recently and you gave me a perfect opportunity to put them to paper. I hope they made sense and that someone else will come along and educate me about how I am right or how I am wrong, or a little of both. I truly want to understand this evangelism stuff better and have some confusion right now.

Blessings,
Trish

[Steve]

Take the opportunity...
I think anything that opens the door for the gospel to these folks is fine.
I asked a pair what they thought of Roman Catholic cassocks etc...
of course they despised them.. then I asked how they managed on such a hot day with scratchy linen underwear.. one went bright red with embarrassment (how did you know what underwear he was wearing?) the other realised the incongruity of criticising "priestly garments"...when he was wearing so called priestly garments.. (am I mean to have fun when I am sharing the gospel?)
It lead into a fruitful conversation about the ONE mediator between God and men (the Lord Jesus Christ) and the ONE sacrifice that took away the need for priestly intercessions, His atoning death. Which brings us to the point of assurance of salvation as the need which folks have: everyone needs to know they are forgiven...F.A.I.T.H.
Steve