Witnessing to Mormons

In trying to reach out to Mormons with the Gospel, great care should be taken in defining terms, as some people who have had experience in reaching out to Mormons have come away confused or believing Mormons are Christian which is a lie. Those who have studied even the most basic of their doctrines will know that this is not the case, they cannot remain in the Mormon church and be a Christian. The four main problems the Christian faces are:

1. The Mormons disbelief in the genuineness of the Bible.

2. Their reverence for the Book of Mormon.

3. Their subjective experiences they believe confirms the truth of Mormonism.

4. Their redefinition of terminology which makes them sound Christian. Eg: "We believe in one God, Jesus is God and the Son of God" sounds Christian doesn't it?. But if they were to elaborate further on that statement it would sound more like this: "We believe in one God called Elohim over this Earth who has a body of flesh and bones, who once was a man that lived on another planet and through being a good Mormon became a god. He now lives on a planet near the star Kolob, He has 6 wives and has sex with them to make spirit babies who are you and I in a previous existance. Jesus and the Devil were both made this way also, and are our spirit brothers. Jesus who was known as Jehovah on the planet near the star Kolob was born to Mary when Elohim came to earth and had sex with Mary. Jesus worked out his salvation, was married to 3 women at cana and when he was crucified many people were killed all over the world in catastrophic disasters because of the wrath of Elohim". Now, doesn't that sound a bit more clearer and unchristian?. Well that's a brief summary of just some of their beliefs that show they aren't Christian in the slightest.

Bible's Genuineness

Disarming the Mormons argument that the Bible is not 'Translated correctly' (or wrong as far as the Mormon Church is concerned!) Is of vital importance when witnessing. The Bible is the rule we measure all 'new'revelations, prophecies or teachings by. To ignore the Bible is to be open to deception. If at any stage of your conversation the Mormon missionary disregards your objections to the Book of Mormon or any of their message as being unbiblical, due to their belief that the Bible isn't 'Translated Correctly', then ask them which parts are wrong, and in the course of your discussion you will not refer to them specific passages. This will leave the Mormon missionary with a problem, they must tell you which passages they believe are wrong. The problem is any part of the Bible that disagrees with Mormonism is to them obviously wrong. But they don't have any list of passages that are supposed to be wrong, so they are at a loss!.

The Book of Mormon

The Mormon's reverence for the Book of Mormon is like your reverence for God's Word the Bible. They will not believe it is wrong or changed as their founder claimed "It is the most perfect book ever written", (Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1973 [4:461]). and it's author is supposed to be God. Mormons are raised on the Book of Mormon, it is taught to them in Sunday School and daily in school. Below is an account of how Joseph Smith 'translated' or 'transcribed' the gold plates into the Book of Mormon according to two Mormon historians:

*Translation*

I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God and not by any power of man.

(David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Concord, California: Pacific Publishing Company, 1976, reprint)

They believe when they pray to God about the Book of Mormon that God sends a sign to confirm the genuineness of the book. They get a 'Burning in the bosom', a warm glow in their chest. When they present their 'gospel' to you they will ask you to accept a copy of the Book of Mormon, and pray over it, asking for confirmation. Christians should NOT pray about the Book of Mormon, as it is demonically influenced. The Christian should ask for Scriptural reasons for praying about the book. The Mormon answer is always James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

You can point out at this stage that the context of the verse does not talk about praying for wisdom about a book or a prophet. The context deals with testings, trials and temptations (v:2-3+12). You might at this time show the Mormon how Paul and Silas commended the Beraens because they received the Gospel, but they checked out everything that was taught by the Word of God (Old Testament) (Acts 17:11-12). Again the Mormon may quote from the Book of Mormon this passage:

Moroni 10:4-5 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Here the Christian can ask the Mormon to turn to Chapter Moroni 8:18 and ask the Mormon to read it aloud.

Moroni 8:18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.

This little verse may not sound wrong to you, and it isn't. But to the Mormon it goes against all their doctrines or ideas of God. Ask the Mormon if he believes this verse, if he says "yes", then ask him if his church teaches differently, he will have to say yes if he's honest. If not, then ask him why Mormon teaching disagrees with this, and the Book of Abraham (in Pearl of Great Price) claims there are many gods (ch.4) who consulted with each other about Earth, it's destiny and who would be god over it. If the Mormon doesn't believe this verse, then how can he expect you to accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God?. You cannot pick and choose what to believe and what not to believe in the Bible (2Tim3:16-17) as it is God Breathed. If the Book of Mormon is supposed to be even better than the Bible, (which it isn't!) then it should be obeyed to the letter, and everything in it should be truthful, not contradictory!.

You could answer something like this "Since the Book of Mormon contains so many teachings that are different to the Word of God, God has already given us His answer. His wisdom is displayed throughout the Scriptures, where He warns us to ignore those false prophets who want us to follow other gods, and false teachings, knowing that Scripture is where we will find our answers."

Their missionaries may try to side step the issue of mistakes and 4000 changes by saying something like "Well Joseph Smith was an uneducated farmer, he might not have had as good an education as you or I have had, the Book of Mormon is just a historical account". Or "The mistakes were just grammatical or spelling mistakes." This kind of reply actually goes against everything the Mormon church rests on, and the missionary is not being entirely truthful to you at all. Remind them that their 8th Article of Faith specifically says the Book of Mormon is actually the Word of God, and implies it is better than the Bible

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. (Article of Faith 8)

(You might just show them what was written in the section above marked *translation*.)

So strong is the Mormons belief in the correctness of the Book of Mormon that they even believe that the 'Martyrdom' or spilled blood of Joseph Smith was God's seal on their scriptures:

Doctrine &Covenants 135:3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his words with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

At this point you should be able to sow some seeds that make Mormons doubt the genuineness of their doctrines and beliefs. Listed below are indescrepencies that are in the Book of Mormon. Some are quite Scriptural, and go totally against Mormon beliefs. Others show up the other doctrines of Mormonism that are not mentioned in the Book of Mormon to be conflicting (eg: many gods, man becomes a god, 3 heavens, God isn't eternal but had a beginning, god isn't the creator but an organizer, god has wives etc.)

Remind them that Joseph Smith said "If anyone teaches doctrine contrary to the Book of Mormon, mark him as an imposter." (times and Seasons, Vol .5, pg. 490.)

By this you may be able to show the Mormon/s that they are no only victims of false doctrines, but also guilty of teaching and spreading them. The Book of Mormon is supposed to contain the "Fullness of the Gospel", ask any Mormon. But salvation by works such as Temple sealing for time and eternety and Baptism for the dead are nowhere mentioned in the Book of Mormon!.

Discrepancies in Book of Mormon

These discrepancies may not a first sight seem wrong to many, and in fact some are Christian doctrines. But to the Mormon, they contradict what they believe. Eg: the Trinity, plurality of gods, and some other Mormon doctrines which will be further explained in the notes.

Jesus is Eternal

Inside title page, Introduction. How can Mormons reconcile this statement in the introduction to the Book of Mormon, with their doctrine that Jesus was born spiritually, the spirit child of Elohim, that is He had a beginning, if here He is called ETERNAL?

-And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations-

One God

In the testimony of the three witnesses, this sentence appears before the end. Here Mormons cannot say that there were three gods who were one in purpose, note the singular sentence structure 'which is one God'. If there were more than one God, the sentence would have to use 'who' instead of 'which', and 'are' instead of 'is'. Furthermore the use of the number 'one' would have to be qualified by the words 'in purpose' (which it doesn't), or the sentence would just look ridiculous.

And the honour be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. /s/ Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris

One God, not many gods, note also the word creation, point it out to the mormon. Why?, because according to Mormon doctrine God organized matter, He didn't create!.

2 NEPHI 11:7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

'Name', singular, not plural 'Names'

3 NEPHI 11:25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

One God, not three gods 'in purpose', but one God

3 NEPHI 11:27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.

Book of Mormon blunders:

Blunder I!

Jesus was born where?, and I always thought Jerusalem was a city, not a land??

ALMA 7:10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

That last verse sort of makes you wonder if any of the Mormon leaders ever read the Book of Mormon, for evidence look at this.

The birth of the Saviours was a natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood, was begotten of his Father, as we were of our father (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses. London: Latter-Day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-56 8 Vols. (Vol.8 P.115))

And Christ was born into the world as a literal Son this Holy Being; he was born in the same personal, real, and literal sense that any mortal son is born to a mortal father. He was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events. There is nothing figurative about his paternity; for he is the Son of God, and that designation means what it says (McConkie, Bruce: Mormon Doctrine, p.742)

Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers (McConkie, Bruce: Mormon Doctrine, p.547)

Blunder II!

Look at date on bottom of page (for those of you who have copies of the Book of Mormon). How could Jesus have saved her before he had died if the Mormons say to be saved is to be resurrected? Note the tense 'saved' (past tense)

ALMA 19:29 And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!

Blunder III!

"He created" does not agree with current Mormon thought that God only organized things

ALMA 22:10 And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? (Mormons don't!)

If murder is unforgivable to the Mormon god, why did he change his mind here?

ALMA 24:10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.

Contrast that verse with this doctrinal quote:

But man may commit certain grievous sins - according to his light and knowledge (such as murder)- that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone - so far as in his power lies -for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail. Do you believe this doctrine? If not, then I do say you do not believe in the true doctrine of the atonement of Christ! (Joseph F Smith. Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings of Joseph Feilding Smith, Compiled by Bruce R. McConkie. Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft (3 Vols.) (Vol.1, Pg.134)

(interesting huh?)

With repentance and faith in God you can be saved.....strangly no water for salvation mentioned!

ALMA 24:11 And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do, (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain--

Changed since 1830 edition, the underlined phrase was taken out of later books, and has re-surfaced in recent copies. See a version previous to 1978.

ALMA 29:4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

What kind of being supposedly appeared to Joseph Smith? (hint for beginners, an Angel called Moroni!)

ALMA 30:53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

This verse tells God is Spirit. The Bible says so too (John 4:24) But for some strange reason the Mormons choose not to believe this!

ALMA 31:15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.

Possibly because it conflicts with their other scriptures, Doctrine & Covenants...

Doctrine and Covenants section 130:22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones but is a personage of spirit...Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him, and not tarry with him. (Joseph Smith. Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1990)

So which one is correct?!. Which should you believe. The problem arises thatif one of them is wrong, then it proves that Joseph Smith wasn't recieving revelations from God, and was a FALSE PROPHET!. That is something that Mormons cannot believe, because he is the foundation stone that Mormondom is based on, instead of Jesus.

How can Mormons redeem the dead through baptism when their B.O.M. denies this can be done?

ALMA 34:33-35 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labour performed cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

Why don't the Mormons believe and do this?

ALMA 37:33 Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Don't the Mormons believe their own writings?

ALMA 38:9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.

How come the Mormon god keeps changing his mind, yet he says....

ALMA 41:8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.

�

Blunder IV!

Only 55 years after a few men and 24 women got together (Alma 19:26). The Nephites were said to number 10 to 100 thousand. Amazing multiplication!!!

ALMA 43:13-14 And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion of their substance to support their armies; and thus the Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah. Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed.

Have I said this previously that the Mormons mustn't really read their 'scriptures'?

HELAMAN 5:9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

Secret oaths and hidden ceremonies are regarded as abominable in the B.O.M!

HELAMAN 6:25 Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.

Do Mormons actually read the B.O.M at all I ask myself?

HELAMAN 14:8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

Who exactly is being referred to in this verse, the Father or the Son?

HELAMAN 14:12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.

Salvation comes from Christ Jesus not our own works.

�HELAMAN 14:13 And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.

This verse tells me (like the Bible too) that I can become a son of God, not that I was one in a previous existence or anything like that.

3 NEPHI 9:17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.

Eternal????

3 NEPHI 11:0 The Eternal Father proclaims the Christ--the Resurrected Christ appears--The multitude permitted to feel his wounds--Mode of baptism prescribed--Contention and disputation forbidden--Christ the rock.

Eternal Father?, but Mormonism teaches that god was once a man who became god, see here:

God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form. 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. 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 (Joseph F. Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Salt Lake City, UT: Desert Book Company, 1973. 8.Vols. (Vol.6 P.305)

Again, who is telling the truth?

Note 'name', singular not plural (names).

3 NEPHI 11:25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

One God, not one in purpose, as the Mormons are fond of saying.

Same applies here for Trinity doctrine.

3 NEPHI 11:36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

�Having shown the Mormon the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith et al are not truthful and tend to contradict eachother, you can now lead them to the true and living Saviour, Jesus Christ. Make sure you carefully explain the meaning of Salvation by grace, speak plainly, use no terminology if possible. As to why, I will explain in another page, but suffice to say, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons twist the meanings of Christian terminology, thus leaving many Christians confused. Speak in plain english (or whatever language is suitable!)

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