As I was running around late to pick up my mom for her birthday "date", the doorbell rang and I greeted two Mormon "elders". I think they were about 17. They asked if I had time to let them share with me. I didn't, but I was polite about it. The persistent little buggers made an appointment to come back and share with me next Tuesday at 6...

Now, I'm used to the JW's coming door to door and I know the basics of their tenents, but I really don't know much about Mormons.

Can anyone give me a crash course in witnessing to Mormons so I can share with them?

This is exactly why I don't think I know what I believe.

How can I believe in something, but then, not know what other people believe, know what makes us different, and why I don't believe that?

And... I've never heard of mormons going door to door. Personally, I get a little offended. I feel like it's being pushed at me... and I'm pressured to respond to whatever they have to say. When the JW's come by, I explain this to them, and nicely tell them to leave. Sometimes they get pushy and I have to be a little rude. Just take their phamplets, nod, smile, and shut the door... If you roll the papers really tight, they work great as fire wood... If you start your collection in the summer, you'll have enough to last you the winter.

I feel you Ashley...and that is what makes me question the things I "know" as well. How on earth can I know that what I have been taught is true? Do I just think it is because that's what I've been taught and accustomed to all my life? I mean, someone who's brought up in another country and has never been exposed to the Bible...well, how does that work? I don't know...are they destined to hell because of where they were born? Hmmm...???

Sorry embie...I don't know a thing about mormons either.

That's ok, but I do have an answer for both of you...I think...

That's the whole point of our existence on this planet, to bring the Word of God to those who do not know it. That's what Jesus is waiting for. He wants it that all might be saved. That's why we have missionaries all over the world.

For those people in other countries that do not know the Word of God, and have never been exposed to it, they are not just destined to hell. The Lord promised us that everyone will have an opportunity to choose. When He returns, there will be that opportunity. They will be given the Gospel, then the will have to make a decision to believe it or not. It's that eternal life changing moment that will decide...

I am certain about what I believe, I just didn't know what they believed that differs. JW's and Mormons will take single scripture and slant it to their beliefs, that's how they try to sway people. They do not look for supporting scripture. We are never to take just one line out of the Bible, because sometimes it's out of context and can seem like something else. When Paul was talking about sin and grace and he says that the more we sin, the more grace the Lord bestows on us. People might use that to say, hey...if you want grace, just sin. But he then goes on to say, so, does this give us license to sin, of course not.

Be very careful in that way. You know in your heart what you believe. And the bible tells us to question everything and seek Him for your answers. If you're not certain about something...ask about it, research it. Along with asking here, I've mailed a pastor friend in the UK and am also searching the net. I just wasn't sure if anyone had any experiences with Mormons.

We are never going to have a full understanding of anything until we get to Heaven. And if we're wrong, are we any worse for trying to live a good and moral life? I don't think so...

I was looking for things that they might believe like...Trinity, Virgin birth, who Jesus was, crucifixion and resurrection, salvation.

This is the easiest way I know to do it:

http://www.new-jerusalem.com/

Try there, or put in the search engine "mormon beliefs" and you'll get plenty of answers to the questions you have, I'm sure.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I also got some info at church and from my UK bud.

I can't answer all of your question.

But here is what I do know.

Mormon as a tenet of their belief system say that God was just a man who through holiness was elevated to God status. Jesus was just a man also and through his walk got Godhood as a "graduation present" as it were. It doesn't stop there they take that scripture that say "we shall be as God" and take it to mean that we will also one day have our own planet to be "God" over. Most of the flock probably don't even know the real in's and out's of the mormon belief system it is carefully guarded and select people are taught in it and how to defend it.

JW's believe that only 144 thousand people actually get to go to "Heaven" because of the scripture about God's "elect" They don't like to admit it but they believe that your body and your spirit stay in the grave until the new heaven and new earth, at which time you will rise again in your new body and get to just hang out on a brand new planet with no pollution etc.

If you corner them they will make one more appointment and bring out their scriptural big gun to your house and if you can hold you own against that person (usually an older man) then they black mark your address and never visit you again LOL It was odd. I had some JW's visit for like four weeks in a row and each time they kept bringing one new guy and finally I haven't seen them in four years...... hmmmmmmmmm

ROFLOLOL I pray that you can plant a seed because they come in already in defense mode against us "unenlightened" folks!!
God bless ya

If only 144 get to heaven, why would they come to your door telling you about it? That just lowers their chances.

I think you get to take a number, like "now serving #128,942" - it kinda holds your place in line... kinda like getting tickets the day before spiderman was released

OH they don't get to go they are all bucking for position in the "new earth" I don't have my bible warmed up, I will look here in a bit, but there is a verse that says something about heaven coming to earth. See they are fixated on the physical, they can quote you the reason that there can't be more than 144K people in Heaven is because of the size of Heaven. Another bible verse sets out the exact dimensions for the "city" and it isn't very large. I will dig it up too. hang on I will be right back! LOLOL

Their heaven on earth thing:

Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

(now I am not saying it won't happen, heck it is here in scripture but not like they interpret)

And the size of Heaven:

Revelation 21:15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. [16] The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. [17] He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using.

I don't think for a minute that Physical size will matter once we do get out glorified body. I don't think that much in the way of the physical world will matter anymore, for that matter. How can it when the God that created the universe in six days (actually He did it in ONE and spent the rest on planet earth!) hear every prayer and know every heart and be an intimate friend to every one?? Nah the physical world we are confined to won't have much pull!

I'm cancelling my appointment...

I wonder if they were considering whether or not it was little people or not... you could stack mebbe 700,000 mini-me's in a city that size pretty easily

ROFLOLOL Allen!!!

I used to belong to that chruch, talk about strange. I was young about 12 when I joined and left at 16. Those people never really leave you truly alone. Most of all I told them when they came over the other day I go to a different chruch, a non demoninatinal one. They still keep calling, one of these days if god wants me to speck in tounges in front of them then maybe they will leave me alone. That chruch is scary, there is alot of hidden stuff, that just gives me the creeps. I hope I have not hurt anyone feelings, sorry if I did. Bran

To be honest with you embie, i had some really good friends in high school that were mormon. they were straight-laced people who believe strongly in family and against birth control. hence the addage "big family ? must be catholic or mormon". they are also very health conscious. i am not sure where this ties into their faith, but they are very into treating the body as a temple. also, the dean of graduate studies at lamar (our local college) was mormon, and his life's work in ministry was very commendable.

i dont mean to speak out of turn, but i am really against denomination bashing. sometimes we tend to criticise things we dont know much about and dont quite understand, i am catholic and am often on the recieving end of this.

try listening to them, it could be educational so that you dont feel in the dark next time. it helps me feel more secure in my faith when i do anyhow.

allen, you might know more anout this, remember d'anne from medical records ? your friend ? she was mormon, and i figured you might have known her beliefs a little better than others who knew her. just a thought

I understand your point Jenn, but the fact of the matter is that Mormons deny the Diety of Christ. They believe that Jesus was just a prophet. The Book of Mormon is titled "Another" Testament of Jesus Christ. They also believe that they become gods when they work their way to a certain level. I called them and told them that I decided I didn't want the visit. My understanding from people who have had direct experience with them is that they are very very well trained to debate scripture. They prepare for the comebacks of Christians and are able to manipulate scripture. Since I am not equipped in that area and I don't know enough about the historical aspect of the bible and theological origins, it was best to not try right now.

And I understand how you feel about being Catholic. I was raised Catholic. It's very difficult to convert, and it's even moreso if you are Italian, as it then becomes a cultural thing as well. My mom is both...Catholic and Italian, and she's waiting me to ride off on the end of the next comet...

hehe, yeah, i understand your point. i didnt know they didnt call themselves christian. i was unaware. i dotn debate scripture as well, i try to choose my battles carefully, and i live for chirst, rather than yell for him.

lol, hey, y'all! ummm..I am new to this site, and I registered to respond to this forum. But, uh, i'm a little confused on if this is a singles' site. I am also confused on if there is an age limit thing...'cause most of the replies from everybody seems to be from more adult, mature people, and well, I'm only seventeen. hmm...if yes to this being a single adult forum, i'm sorry. I'll leave after I say the little I know about Mormons.

I have tons of friends that are Mormons. A few weeks ago, I had the awesome opprotunity to go with a Mormon friend of mine to a thing her church put on. It wasn't like a preaching thing, but it was enough to know that I love where I am standing with God. I am not a Mormon, nor do I intend to offend anybody. Forgive me if I am wrong about what I am going to say. You also have the right to correct me for this is all from gathering of what all I have observed and discussed with them.

At this church thing, we watched videos that various Mormon church youth groups made about Bible stories and the Book of Mormon stories. They have a seperate book called the Book of Mormon. They believe that (sorry I cannot recall his name) a man found a book (somewhere in Utah) made with gold-plated pages with more stories and books from God.

They also believe that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. He came down from God, died for our sins, and God forgave everyone. And because God forgave us for our sins, nobody is sentenced to hell. They know there is a hell, but they do not believe that anybody goes to hell. According to them, heaven is divided up into levels. (I do remember hearing somebody telling me that one of the reasons they have lots of children is to get higher in heaven.) They believe that God judges them by their good deeds in life, and the better the life, the higher the level in heaven. My friend's dad had some scripture ready for me on the drive home. lol, I think he was expecting me to ask questions. I just wanted to know more about thier denomination b/c I want to establish what I believe more. (I hope that made sense!)

My friend's dad told me to better understand why they believe in levels in heaven to read 1 Corinthians 15:41. "The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and a star differs from a star in splendor." From this I gathered that they believe that each person deeds will be rewarded in heaven, some more than others.

The other thing that struck me as odd, and I do not know if any other religion believes it, is they see the Trinity as three seperate beings. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are seperate. They cannot see how Jesus could be part of God while being a man. (I say, God is God, He can do whatever he feels like. Heck, He's walked in my shoes for crying out loud!) I was struggling with this seperate-being belief because I never had thought about what I believed in this. Then, thankfully a close friend referred me to the passage of John 1:1-2. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God. He was with God in the beginning." So, the Trinity is three-in-one.

Most Mormons also try not to do drugs, drink, etc. Most do not drink caffeine for it is a form of drugs. This goes back to anangelsarms' post about how they treat thier body as a temple. This is very true, for most Mormons consider drinking as degrading to their temple, and also modesty is a must (for most of them, at least.)

I do not recall my friends ever referring to becoming like gods. I will ask them about that if any of you are curious.

I do not know if I have just been redundant and said what has already been said. But, this is the way I interepret the way they are. I hope I haven't offended anybody. So, basically, Mormons are Christians, but they interpret the Bible different than most Christians. For me it's hard to think that they cannot believe that people go to hell. I know that there are many interpretations of the Bible, but sometimes, I just do not want to worry about it. I figure that different religious and denominational studies are good for gaining knowledge. But, I do it in order to confirm what I believe even more. I just want to be the best Christian I can be...even in front of Mormons. (oh boy, it's hard, too!)

Oh, hey, what are your thoughts about Christian Scientists? My dad is one, and I've got some view of it, but it's a little confusing. I was also wondering about JWitnesses. Do they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior?

And that's all I have to say about that...

Hi Sarah!!!!! Welcome to PJ!!!!

I am one of the old fogey's 'round here. Thank goodness there is NOT an age limit or I would prolly be getting the boot from the other side! You are welcome to stay this site is about Christian singles irregardless of age. BUT More important than that we also have a heart to reach out to the lost and those that are seeking. (ps I am married and I would hate to get kicked out for that too! LOL )

Wow! Cool! Way to jump right in and start posting, you haven't offended anyone that I know of and don't be afraid of stepping on peoples toes, none of us can grow unless we disagree enough to look up the truth!

Just a couple of quick points

The mormon can't recognize the trinity because their belief system is based on God and Jesus being first human and through piety and personal holiness achieving Godhood. Yes they claim "Jesus" as their savior but they do not believe exactly as it is written in the bible. It is unfortunate because many many mormon are nice family oriented people. Sadly being a good person does not get any of us into heaven. I cannot jusdge them I can only do my personal best to learn what is in the book that God had put together and none other.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a "works" salvation which is contrary to waht is written in the bible as well even though they use the same book!

I don't know much about Christian Scientists but what little i do know I disagree with. I knowe that they too have written their own book and the peices that I have read are very "new-age" sounding (aka God is in you and all you have to do is get "in touch" with your innner self and you can become like God) That is pretty rough estimate of what they beleive. One of their key people L. Ron Hubbard is very much trapped into the "God in self = Self is God" theory. Sorry I just don't read that anywhere in the bible.

God bless you very much and stick around and post. I enjoyed reading your thoughts so far!

Steve