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SHARING THE WITH Mormons The Heart and Mind of Mormon -The LDS church is far more than a building or a set of doctrines that one in

-Culture and identity

-Not just explain what they believe, but why they believe it.

-Equip to engage in more meaningful conversations with the LDS community

-Provide practical tips and techniques for evangelism

Testimony Testimony Testimony SHARING WITH Mormons Modern Mormons Modern Mormons Modern Mormons Modern Mormons

In the top 3 results for google: - Christ - Family - - Church - Etc. Modern Mormons Modern Mormons

● Rebranding ● “We are Christians too” ● “I’m a Mormon” ● Social Media

● American Dream ● Working dad ● Stay at home mom ● Successful, accomplished, happy ● Civil duty Beginning of the LDS Church

● Joseph Smith's Vision (1820)

●

● Formally Organized in 1830

● Early Persecutions

● Utah Exodus (1847) Church Structure

● 1-3-12, local to global ● Wards - Stakes - Region - General ● Geographically structured ● Universal ● Doctrine ● Weekly Teaching ● Volunteer based “Callings” ● Extra Activities: Mutual, Seminary, Conferences, Boy Scouts, Pioneer Trek, etc. Other Information

● Temples

● Prophet

● Priesthood

● Personal Revelation

● Scripture

● Plan of

LDS Gospel- Who is ?

● Gospel = Plan of

● Godhead not Trinity ● God the Father ● -Once a man, has a body ● -Literal spiritual Father of everyone ● -Is perfect, omniscient, loving, just, “desires to see his children return to him” ● -Sovereign except over Man ● -“Heavenly Father” LDS Gospel- Who is God?

● Godhead not Trinity ● Jesus Christ ● -Elect among children- makes Him our brother ● -Creator, Savior ● -God of Old Testament ● -Distinctly separate from God the Father ● -Given unique power by the Father on earth LDS Gospel- Who is God?

● Godhead not Trinity ● Holy Ghost ● -Omnipresent ● -Indwelling at Baptism/Laying on of hands ● -Does not have a body ● -Function: Comforter, protector, and conviction ● -“Still small voice”- how God speaks to man, personal revelation LDS Gospel- Who is Man?

● Literal spiritual children of God

● The Fall = Necessary for Progression ● (can't know good with out knowing evil)

● Flesh is naturally sinful

● Light of Christ (Conscience)

● Agency- choosing good or bad LDS Gospel- The Problem

● Main Focus: Not sin, its progression/mans happiness ● Gain a body ● Be reunited with God ● Learn Joy ● Exercise agency

● Sin ● Part of the problem, not the entire problem ● Foundational to LDS Gospel, but other components LDS Gospel- The Solution

● Plan of Salvation

● Atonement of Christ ● Paid for sins in Garden of Gethsemane ● - less focus on the cross ● Salvation –on going, ● , Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Ghost ● Sacrament (Communion) Tips, Strategies, and Techniques

st ● 1 Corinthians 9- 19For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. ● Tips, Strategies, and Techniques

● How Mormons view Christians: ● Divisions and squabbling ● Arrogant and Intolerant ● Don’t know or ● Misinformed

● How Mormons in Bozeman view Grace Bible Church: ● Grace and MBC Targeted Evangelism ● -Anti-Mormon ● -Persecuted and attacked Tips, Strategies, and Techniques

● Avoid the “Jenga/Sink the ship” temptation ● Blind Faith Tips, Strategies, and Techniques

● Culture ● Community ● Lifestyle ● Identity

● Experiential and emotionally based, not doctrinal Tips, Strategies, and Techniques

● Speaking a different language ● Different definitions/connotations: ● -, Righteousness, Gospel, the Church, Faith, , Godhead, , Priest, , etc. ● LDS unfamiliar: ● -Saved, sanctification, justification, knowing Christ, the heart, big Christian words (Omnipresent, Sovereignty, etc.) ● Christian Unfamiliar: ● -Ordinances, families are forever, sacraments, baptism for the dead, sealings, endowments, priesthood keys Tips, Strategies, and Techniques Do: -Set a timeline -Pick and choose your arguments -Be winsome -Ask LDS missionaries / members if you have questions -Give and take -Be humble, and willing to listen -Treat like any other evangelical situation, Grace has resources -Converse don’t dominate Tips, Strategies, and Techniques Don’t: -Don't take to city brew or Starbucks -Don't call a -Don't be abrasive. (2nd Timothy) -Don’t believe everything you hear about the LDS church -Don’t discuss older or sacred doctrines -Don’t get distracted from the gospel Tips, Strategies, and Techniques Other Things to Know: -Mormon church meetings are very conservative -Band/ music seems irreverent -Expect to be invited to church/events -Use it as an opportunity to invite them -Utah vs Montana Mormon -Case by case scenario -Type of Mormon -Mormon vs. LDS vs. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Tips, Strategies, and Techniques All theological and doctrinal errors with in originate from a misrepresentation of who God is and a distortion of the nature of man. Tips, Strategies, and Techniques FAITH + WORKS -Focus on “How do we become right with God?” or “How do we go to heaven?” -Romans 3:28-30, Romans 4:3-6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:11, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:7-9, Luke 18:9-14, Titus 3:3-7, Romans 11:6, Galatians 5:4-6, Romans 10:1-4, Galatians 2:15-21 -Isaiah 64:6 –Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags before God - = fruit of salvation, not cause for salvation -James 2, Galatians 5

Tips, Strategies, and Techniques NATURE OF GOD AND MAN -Gospel Packet -Book of Romans Emphasis on: -Gods justice and wrath towards sin -The purpose of man before the Fall -The gravity of our sin -Glorifying God/His worthiness and holiness Romans 5:1

Danny Johnson CrossLife 9/27/2018

Summary

● Preach the gospel and proclaim Christ, don’t attack Mormonism ● Let them disagree with Gods Word, not you ● There is no perfect step-by-step strategy ● Be winsome ● Listen and ask questions ● Remember Gods role and your role in the salvation of others 2nd Timothy 2:23-26 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH Mormons