Hey, what do you do about Mormon missionaries trying to brainwash you into thinking that you are God?

Question

The Bible teaches us a great many things but what I remember most is where it says not to follow false prophets (LDS) and that we need to evangelize. Every time I get a Mormon missionary at my door I give him a coupon for a free meal at my restaurant and when he tries to teach me about the Book of Mormon I try to teach him about Jesus. The real Jesus who is God and who died for our sins. The Jesus who arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. Not the man they call Jesus who came to the United States to teach Indians that human beings can become God.

Answer 1

You know...I have had the same problem. It is so sad because 3/4 of Mormons do not actually know the underlying beliefs until they are so far into the church years and years later. They are incredibly kind and nice people who have been sucked in to a church because it sounds great on the surface.

http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm

http://www.carm.org/lds/diff_questions.htm

Great website!

The one question that I always ask...If Jesus is all we need to guide us and come to the Father, then why does the Mormon church need living, elected prophets? Current one is Gordon B. Hinkley. I also have them explain how they can become Gods or Goddesses of their own planets. My mormon friends try to change the wording to say, "joint heirs of Christ." Check out those websites because they will help.

Answer 2

We have a pair of young men in our town that bike everywhere and claim to have visited just about everybody. They are really polite young men and I tell them they cannot come in b/c it would be improper for me to be alone with them. I keep a stack of SDA 'sharing' books by the door and distribute to them the ones they haven't had yet. I try to be polite and Christian-like. But under NO circumstance do I study with them. I shred their material. I am sure they throw mine away too. I don't agree with LDS doctrine, but I try to not be rude. Since everyone thinks I belong to a cult too, I have some empathy, but not too much. At least Adventists can back up our doctrine solely with the Bible. And don't start e-mailing me the EG White crap. Not all of us accept her anyway. I have never read one of her books and I probably never will.

*sigh* now that I have said I am SDA I will get 40-50 hateful messages from other Christians who want to save me. Sad that atheists are nicer to me than other Christians on this forum.

Answer 3

As far as Mormon doctrine, the easiest to quickly refute is their polytheism. Just two passages that relate to this are the following:

"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43:10-11 NASB)

“Declare what is to be, present it—
let them take counsel together.
Who foretold this long ago,
who declared it from the distant past?
Was it not I, the LORD ?
And there is no God apart from me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none but me.
Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:21-22NASB)

There are many other such passages in the Bible. The only problem I have found is that Mormons don't care what the Bible says if it contradicts LDS doctrine. They just smile and say they are sure these passages must have become corrupted through textual transmission. No amount of explanation concerning the reliability and verifiability of textual transmission will move them because they have the "burning in their bosom" and nothing seems to phase them.

I believe the most effective criticism of Mormonism is to expose the Book of Abraham as a fraud. Joseph Smith supposedly translated the hieroglyphics in the original text "by revelation." No one could contradict him for some time. At the time no one could test his claim since no one knew how to translate hieroglyphics. After scholars had learned to translate hieroglyphics the original manuscript was misplaced for some time. The original has been found and Egyptologists unanimously testify that Smith's "translation" has nothing to do with the original meaning. Mormon elder Dee Jay Nelson, a highly respected Egyptologist, withdrew from the LDS after translating this work, saying he no longer wished to be a part of an organization "based on lies."

If you are serious about witnessing to Mormons I recommend three things. First, take the time to read the Book of Mormon and other works such as the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants. Second, pray about Mormonism. Of course God won't reveal to you that such an unbiblical cult has his truth but having read their literature and having prayed about Mormonism will give you the high ground in any conversation with a Mormon. Third, although you must be quite assertive in the conversation you must mantain a kind and loving tone. Mormons take a very subjective approach to religion and if they perceive you to be mean spirited they will think that is a sign that you are in the wrong.They are very hard to reason with but they do deserve to hear the true Gospel from people such as you. God loves them and wants to deliver them from the darkness of the LDS cult.

Answer 4

I like the song "peek-a-boo" by Devo, pretty strange punk song, anyways, the last time they sent the missionaries after my son, they ran over some nails I placed on the grass becasue I told my nieghbor to stop her gangbangers from parking partway on my property and hers (i didn't want people to think I had gangstas comign over to my house) and the mormons guys just happen to park their. What about their bikes, I guess they got tired of me not answering the doorbell, they brought the caverlery to, three guys showed uo and they were lying to me about being my son's friend, anyways, I think its a nice thing for you to try and argue with them over scripture, but I am afraid their eyes are blinded, it took me 36 years to get out of that church and I went thru wicca and atheism, until I finally got saved, but I would not tell you to stop trying either, and pray, pray, pray 2 corinthians 4:3-4 over them, that the blinders be taken off their eyes.

Answer 5

You've summarized a complex dogma into a very compressed statement that appears to offend your belief in your potential.

LDS doctrine at the very least, offers more than praising god and singing hallelujahs for eternity. It offers management.

Why does your god require glad handing, constant worship, singing and praising ALL the time for the rest of forever? As a human, a little variance in an eternal existence would be welcome. How about a crack at being an "Ultimate Deity" yourself? I bet Jesus would be proud of you if you made the 'final cut', eh?

Actually both prepositions are a bunch of hooey, but the LDS position seems to be more attractive if you're going to believe in any kind of nonsense.

Answer 6

John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

Answer 7

What about people like you who try to brainwash them into believing the God of the Greek philosophers rather than the God of the Bible and the Book of Mormon?

You're no better than they are, are you?

Answer 8

I have them come in and ask them to explain and reconcile their cardinal doctrines of God, salvation or the priesthood with the Bible.

Answer 9

I actually don't care. That is nice that you offer them a free meal though...I have a family member on a mission and know they are very thankful for people who provide meals.

Answer 10

This testimony makes you feel pretty special doesn't it. How would you feel if you knew that doing this self aggrandizement goes totally against what Jesus teaches and in fact supports the Mormon tenant that other Christian Churches have been mislead? Jesus did say that he had other people to attend to and testimonies belay humility.