Mormon Missionaries?

Question

My husband and I visited Nauvoo earlier this year on our way back from a vacation. We had heard that the area was beautiful which it was. While there, we toured the sites and visited the temple visitors center. A missionary gave us a tour and a book of mormon. I was really interested but my husband was being polite. He thinks that mormonism is a cult. I put the book away when we got home, but have since picked it up and read it. I am really interested in speaking with someone locally about the religion. I don't have any mormon friends to discuss it with. I have read that missionaries want to meet with the whole family, and I am not sure that I would be able to convince my husband to do that. I would like to learn more on my own and then go to my husband with it. Is there anyone out there that would like to talk to me about the religion? I would so very much appreciate it.

Answer 1

I'm so glad that you were able to attend Nauvoo.. What an exiciting site. I returned from serving a mission last year in Colorado. I'd definitely can help you out in answering questions. You can reach fellow missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints in your local area by clicking into this website.

http://www.mormon.org


In the Book of Mormon you recieved I'd suggest that you'd read :

- Introduction
- 3 Nephi Chapter 11 which is on page 427
- Moroni Chapter 10 verses 3-5 on page 529

If you have any trouble not being able to find the missionaries you can definitely e-mail me..

I definitely know that the Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ.. if you don't believe me then pray and ask Heavenly Father yourself. simple..

Answer 2

I'd be more than happy to talk to you via telephone, IM, or email.

I'm LDS and would be more than happy to chat with you and answer any questions that you may have.

The missionaries prefer to teach families and they don't like to cause dissent. However, if your husband doesn't mind, invite the missionaries over anyway.

There are both male and female missionaries....If they teach just you they'll want him to at least be home (if they're male missionaries) or they'll have female missionaries talk to you if that isn't possible.

Remember the way you felt in Nauvoo.....remember that feeling and look for it again.

Drop me a line if you'd like. Click on my profile and you can send me an email.

If you want to find a local congregation, you can do so here:
http://www.lds.org/basicbeliefs/meetinghouse/

If you decide to attend a meeting, you'll be most comfortable if you dress nice (like a dress), show up a few minutes early, and tell someone that this is your first time and that you're not sure where to go. You'll be treated well and are always welcome.

Answer 3

I don't know why a missionary would know anything about the Coromos theory. It is obscure at best. She answered you truthfully. Just because someone has no clue what you are talking about, doesn't mean that logic is on your side. The tiny settlement of Moroni wasn't found on any map in 1830. It didn't become map-worthy until it was made the capital, well after Joseph Smith's death. It has no logical connection to the Book of Mormon. She was also correct when she said that the Smith family were not treasure seekers. To my knowledge, only Joseph Smith has been accused of this, and it isn't a fair evalutation. I'm pretty sure all of us looked for "treasure" when we were kids. From all available testimony, Joseph actually had a knack for finding things. None of this detracts from his labors as a farmer. Although it is true that Joseph Smith was briefly associated with a Masonic order, it is not true that any of their ceremonies are religious in nature. The Masons are not a religion. The Temple ceremonies bear little resemblance to the Masonic ceremonies. The Masons did not baptize for the Dead, marry for eternity, perform washings and anointings, or endow their members with power from on high. The Masons are just a fraternal organization.

Answer 4

I just finished serving my Mormon mission a few months ago. Your problem is actually quite common. Many times the men didn't want to listen to the missionaries while the women did. And every once in a while it was the other way around. Often there can be a bit of opposition when once of the two wants to listen and the other doesn't, but the other usually will give it a chance once he/she see how interested his loved one is. It would be my pleasure to answer any questions you might have about the religion. Contact me via e-mail if you would like. Yes, Nauvoo is beautiful!

Answer 5

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and already some goods answer and offer for help. Let me add that like any religion the LDS faith is not for everyone, but they are definitely willing to teach and help those who request it. If you were to study the past of the church (as a few here suggested) you may find some questionable items. But, no religion is safe from the mistakes of men. Catholics had the crusades and killed most of the Protestants and France in the past. Protestants did the same in other countries.

Let me offer you this advice: Study on your own, Ask questions from members, pray about what you feel and think, then make your own decision. If you decide you believe in it, great, you could only make your life better. Not necessarily easier but most definitely better. If you decide it is not for you, that’s fine too. The LDS church firmly believes although they are the “one true church’; everyone still has their own right to choose whether to believe or not ,and they won’t go to “hell” just because of that decision.

Quick story that might help. After my grandparents had their eighth and last child (which was my mother) my grandfather was introduced to the church. He was open minded and intrigued with what they believed and wanted to know more, just like yourself. However, my grandmother was a “dyed in the wool Baptist” (her exact words) and would not here a word of it. Months later my grandfather was so impressed that he and a of his children that were old enough were baptized. Now, My grandfather respected my Grand mother was not going to force her to do anything. But after he was baptized, My grandmother couldn’t help get to know what my grandfather now believed. A few more months later everyone in the family that was over 8 years old was baptized as a member.

My mother in-law also converted, before she married into an LDS family. To her it wasn’t the fellings or the stories that caught her attention. It was some of the doctrine that many believe as wrong and inappropriate that just made sense as correct.

Good luck in your search, don’t let those with “ill will” sway you one way or the other. You are intelligent enough to found the truth out for yourself.

Answer 6

Sounds like a wonderful end to a vacation!
I am a long time member of the Church, you have received a lot of good advice so far, and a few loonies.
Sounds like you will have plenty of people to E-mail or call and the lds.org web site to read and chat with real missionaries during the day time hours.
If you need a mans perspective, well experienced with most originations in the church E-mail, or if your husband some day wants to have him E-mail, I can then give my phone number or call. I have a son serving a mission in Russia right now, my wife and i have a total of 12 children, (8 adopted). I have been a teacher in Sunday school for many years, and attend the Temple when I can.
I hope all goes well for you!
Bart

Answer 7

Hello, I am a Latter-day Saint in my mid-30's, have been married/sealed to my wife in the Portland Temple, served a mission to Georgia. I have 4 children and live in the Pacific Northwest USA. I would be happy to discuss practical religion with you, to help you understand why the LDS Church has such great opposition against it, and yet why the LDS Church is the greatest organization on Earth for families and individuals, in learning about the full Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But I want you to understand that the Church considers your husband as the head of your home, and will not attempt to disrupt your home and family by stirring up your heart to oppose your husband's beliefs. It is great that you are interested in these things, but the principles and doctrines of the Church, regarding the sanctity of the family unit, extend even to the situation where if the head of the household does not want anybody in his house to investigate the Church, the Church officially will not oppose that authority.

On an individual basis, perhaps as you learn of and exercise the principles that are taught by the Church regarding the family unit, as well as other teachings, perhaps your husband will see the positive influence our doctrines and teachings can provide to him and his family. So feel free to private message me if you would like.

Answer 8

Wow! There have certainly been a lot of members of the LDS church respond to your inquiry. You should definitely research what you find on the websites they recommend. I would also suggest that you talk to your husband and find out why he feels that the LDS church is a cult. If there is nothing to hide then there is no reason to fear looking into what the critics of the LDS church say. If there are things to hide then you really do owe it to yourself to really look into it so you know going in what you are affiliating with. Most of those who have posted answers to your question are not aware of the full history of the Mormon faith or what the early leaders really espoused. I recommend you find out before making any real commitments.

Answer 9

You can always contact the local church and ask if you can meet the missionaries there on your own to discuss this b/c your husband is wary of the church. The missionaries will be more than happy to meet with you and answer any and all questions you have. When i was first investigating the church I surprised them with alot of questions they didnt have answers to and they found the answers though. You can also find more information at www.lds.org

Answer 10

People confuse the term "Cult" with "Occult"

All religions, separate churches of the same "denomination" and any group that kneels in prayer, can be called a cult.

However the difference is that there are cults and there are cults.

Branch Davidians
Jamestown "Note They are All Born Again Chrisitans"
Heavens Gate
These are cults with a leader who lead them to certain death.
_______________________________________________

Jews
Catholics
Mormons
Jehovahs Witnessess

These are cults that while people get killed for their belief, their leaders have never led them to their complete extermination.