An Outline on LDS
Basic LDS
apologetics/evangelism
- What do Mormons believe about Jesus?
1. Mormons have a very different
view about Jesus but they affirm basic things Christians do.
a) LDS believe Jesus is the
Son of God.
b) LDS believe Jesus was
crucified for our sins.
c) LDS believe that Jesus
rose from the grave.
2. What are the distinctives that
separate them from being Christians?
a) LDS believe Jesus is the
brother of Lucifer.
b) LDS do not believe Jesus is
the only son of God there are many sons of God like Jesus.
c) LDS do not affirm Jesus as
being equally God as the Father.
d) LDS deny the Trinity.
e) LDS do not believe Jesus
was from eternity uncreated.
f) LDS believe Jesus is the
literally only begotten son of God the Fathers seed.
3. What do LDS believe about God?
(though the standard Mormon who knocks
at your door doesn’t know these things his elders do. These are things that should not be brought up while
evangelizing a Mormon)
a) While they affirm there is
only one God what they mean is there is only one God for this world.
b) LDS believe there are many
gods.
c) LDS believe in eternal
progression that they will become gods of there own worlds.
d) LDS believe the heavenly
father "Elohim" has a body of flesh and blood like us.
e) LDS believe God was once a
man like us and progressed to God hood.
- What do LDS believe about the Bible?
1. Mormons are beginning to defend their faith
using the Bible.
a) Mormons believe in the Bible as far
"as it is translated correctly".
b) Mormons do not believe the Bible is
inerrant.
c) Mormons do not believe it is the final
Word of God.
d) They believe "The Book of
Mormon" is the final testament of Christ.
- What kind of typical conversations will you have with a Mormon.
a) They will speak of LDS being the
"one true Church"
b) They will speak of the Gospel being
restored by Joseph Smith.
c) They will speak of the priesthood
being restored.
d) They will not be confronting or on the
offence.
e) They will try to convince you they are
Christians just a different denomination.
f) They will talk about "The Gospel
of The Lord Jesus Christ".
g) They will tell you to pray and ask God
if the LDS is the one true Church, you will feel a burning in you stomach.
Example
of a apologetic
Problem:
They are beginning to use the Bible much more and having answers for their
faith. They are being able to predict what a Christian will say to them. They
have standard answers for many of our arguments. We must take this matter in a
extremely spiritual way beyond academic study. We must be full of the Spirit of
God.
The
academic problem is what they believe about the Bible. "its true as far as
it is translated correctly" Therefore if something contradicts the Book of
Mormon they can brush it of as a mistranslation. I have had that happen many
times. For instance when you quote verses that proclaim the LORD is God and
there is no other (Isaiah 44:6, Duet 4:35, psalm 86:10) They will respond that
what it means is "the only God for this world"
Solution:
In saying you desire to be like Christ you have to say Jesus believed the Torah
was the perfect Word of God and not one jot or title would pass away. Therefore
giving credence to the Torah. You must have some knowledge of the transmission and preservation of the Bible. But Christ
Himself says Heaven and earth will pass away but His Words will never pass
away. (Matt:24-35 Luke 21:33) denoting the truth of the New Testament.
In
truth Mormonism is Gnosticism with different terms.
The
main focus about evangelizing a Mormon is recognizing the presence of God.
While you speak acknowledge the Lord. Mormonism is demonic. Any faith saying
the same lie Satan did in the garden "ye will be as gods" is demonic.
The difference between JW's who use the Bible, and Mormons who use the Bible,
is that we have the Spirit of God, who quickens our mind, and puts a blade on
our words. Have a strong desire to prophecy even just in conversation so that
the secrets of their heart is revealed and they will be cut to the heart and
acknowledge God is with you (1 Corinthians 14:1, 14:24)
Theres
good methods where you can guide the conversation to the Gospel.
Example
#1 Say you work with a Mormon and sometimes you guys speak on spiritual
matters.
One
simple direct way to lead a conversation to the Gospel is simple asking
"what is the Gospel?" to the Mormon you work with. Chances are he
will speak of Joseph Smith restoring the Church and the priesthood.
Then
you, as a Christian can say "well, for us our Gospel stems from 1
Corinthians 15. You should have this memorized and on the tip of your tongue
always this is our foundation.
1
Corinthians 15:
Now I would remind you, brothers,1 of the gospel gI preached to you, which youreceived, hin which you stand, 2 and by which iyou are being saved, if you jholdfast to the word I preached to you—kunless you believed in vain.
3 For lI delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ diedmfor our sins nin accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raisedoon the third day pin accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that qhe appeared to Cephas,then rto the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time,most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared tosJames, then tto all the apostles. 8
Since
now you are leading the conversation you can say why this is so important to
Christians and all men. This is the Gospel and it is the power of God for
salvation. If the conversation keeps going you should show them why the
importants of this Gospel, the Life, Death Burial and Resurrection is central
to all men. By memorizing and sighting Romans 1:16
Romans
1:16
For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to
everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
