Mormons

Hi everyone,
I know that I have not written a post for awhile now. As an update to my last post about Officer Bealls, since that day when our relationship seemed to be going so well, we have had a strained relationship. I do not know the whole situation behind the scenes of our relationship, but please be in prayer for her salvation.

A couple weeks ago now two Mormon missionaries walked down the sidewalk. Being that I cannot stand having Mormon missionaries walk past me without talking to them, I walked down to meet them. We talked for a little bit. Elder Kunzler and Elder Rice were planning to do a booth, the Book of Mormon Experience. One elder is almost done with his mission and the other one is only 6 months in. After talking for around 1 minute the one missionary said that I seemed to know a little about Mormons. He asked if I had any friends who were Mormons. I told them that the missionaries in our area would not meet with me anymore. When asked why I told them that I shared the Gospel with the missionaries and told them that Mormonism is false. After I told them that, the one missionary went on to tell me that there is a lot of confusion in our world today and that he is glad that we are doing what we are doing (being outside Planned Parenthood sharing the Gospel). They also liked our shirts that say "JESUS CHRIST IS KING!" I told them that they could come down on Fridays to talk and they took tracts and I told them that they could write to me. I have left them a message on their phone but they have not called me back. We will have to see what happens.

The missionaries in our area will not get together with me for a meeting. Caleb and Matthew were the missionaries that were here. They came once but then would not come again. I spoke with one of the other missionaries that is now here. Jaren talked to me once but after that I would call and they would not answer me and they would not return my message. I finally stopped calling on our home phone and used Daddy's cell phone. They answered. We talked and Jaren said that based on past experience and talking with Elder Petersen, (Matthew), that they would not get together with me for a lesson. Since then we have not spoken.

Mormons are a very interesting group of people. If you do not know how to talk with a Mormon things can be interesting because they use the same terms, Jesus, Salvation, Heaven, Repentance, they use the same words as Christians but mean very different things. If you do not know this you could think that we actually agree. For instance, a Christian and a Mormon can both say that Jesus is the Son of God. The Christian would mean that Jesus is the second Person of the Triune God. The Mormon believes that Jesus is the son of Elohim who is one god among many, and that Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer. Very different views described with the same words. When talking with Mormons you have to make sure you know what they mean when they use Christians sounding words.

I highly suggest James White and Jeff Durbin for resources on what Mormons believe and how to talk to Mormon missionaries. Both men have gone out to the Mormon Temple to witness to the Mormons there. I am just entering this world of witnessing to those of the LDS faith and let me tell you they have some strange beliefs that sound more like science fiction than a religion that people would actually devote their lives to.

Mormons believe that there are many gods and one day if you are a good enough Mormon man you can become a god yourself. They believe that there are 3 levels of Heaven. According to LDS theology we were all once spirit children of Elohim. There are many different things about Mormon beliefs that you can learn but one major issue is that of the nature of God. The Bible teaches that God was God from all eternity. (Psalm 90:2) Joseph Smith taught in the King Follett Sermon:

"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!"

"In order to understand the subject of the dead, for consolation of those who mourn for the loss of their friends, it is necessary we should understand the character and being of God and how He came to be so; for I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see."

"It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the Bible."

Hopefully it is clear to you that the teaching of Joseph Smith in this sermon is contrary to the Bible. 

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. " Psalm 90:2. Joseph Smith says that "We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see." That is clearly in contradiction to the Scripture. Joseph also says that the first principle of the Gospel is to know that God was once a man. Whereas in Christian theology it is clear that God was never a man. He has been God from all eternity. So when a Christian and a Mormon talk about "Heavenly Father" the god talked about by Joseph Smith above, who was once a man, is the true "Heavenly Father" of Mormonism.

While there are many things that I disagree with Mormons about, the nature and character of God is definitely a big point. Joseph Smith says it is the first principle of the gospel. Again, I am just entering this field of witnessing to Mormons. Please check out this Youtube page which belongs to Dr. James White. Alpha & Omega Ministries: Mormon  And these videos by Jeff Durbin, Jeff Durbin: Mormon 

Please be sure to pray for those of the LDS faith. Some of them are very involved in the Mormon Church. Their live the Mormon  life, it is more than just Sunday morning Sacrament Meeting. They believe in their works. As Romans 10 says: "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

Mormons have a zeal for their god. The problem is their god is not the One True God. They seek to establish their own righteousness by their works. That is a sad life to live. They will never be good enough for God. They are dying in their sins. Will you love them enough to share the Gospel with these precious people? Some young Mormon men give up 2 years of their lives to spread the false gospel of Mormonism. Some young women give up over a year of their lives to do the same. That is commitment.

Christians, we could actually learn from their example. If they are willing to do that for a lie, what are you willing to do for the true Gospel? Are you willing to give up your time, your entire life, to serve the one you call King? Go forth with faith in Christ and love for the lost souls of the world! In Jesus' Holy Name. For He is worthy!

With love in the Lord,
Virginia