5. Point out that it is impossible for a man Spaulding. They claim the manuscript was Mormonism in 1830 to establish a better church that stolen by Sidney Rigdon (a friend of Joseph Jesus did 2,000 years ago. Smith's) just before Spaulding's death. A Guide for when they Knock on Your 6. Ask him or her why they believe Christ 11. Tell them how Christ promised us that Door would go through all the trouble of coming the gates of hell would not prevail against to earth and dying, just to let his church die His church (Mt 16:18), that He would be This is a delicate but necessary topic to out within just a few decades! with us "always" (Mt 28:20). Mormons must address. Catholics must support individual 7. Show them a list of the Popes and ask answer, "well, the gates of hell only Mormons in their search to know God. Yet, them exactly where the Papal/apostolic prevailed for about 1760 years, until Joseph as long as the Mormon Church claims for lineage broke down. Smith came along." itself the chair of St. Peter, which has 8. When they bring up "unity" and 12. Remind them that our church is the belonged to the Pope in Rome for 2,000 "righteousness" bring up the "Danites", the "pillar and foundation of the truth" (1 Tim years, and so long as The Book of Mormon "Mountain Meadows Massacre", their many 3:15). for all practical purposes labels the Catholic "apostatized" leaders, and the 6 Mormon Church as the, "whore of all the sects that now claim to be the only "true" Address Mormons with patience, prayer, earth...whose founder is the devil" (1 Nephi Mormon church! and love—they won’t be convinced by 13 & 14), we must render a just defense and 9. Scholars agree that the Bible is the most anything else... testify to the truth of Jesus Christ and the accurate ancient document in existence. It is Catholic Church He instituted. the Book of Mormon that claims to tell of If Mormons are not alienated and thus events from 600B.C. to 421A.D. without forced to cling to unsound beliefs, their What is it that Mormons claim that any supporting documents dating back to church's sandy foundation will give to the should concern Catholics? before 1830, not to mention the fact that weight of its own internal contradictions . . . archeology doesn't back the Book of And remember, we are built on the rock. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Mormon up. Saints—better known as the Mormon 10. When they show you "the testimony of Written by The Rock of Inspiration. Church—boldly claims to be what the three witnesses" to prove that the golden Printed with ecclesiastical approval. Roman Catholic Church is . . . the one true plates existed, make sure they know that Church established by Jesus Christ. It is these three men (Oliver Cowdery, David The Evangelization Station unlike Protestant denominations which grew Whitmer, and Martin Harris) all later left the Hudson, Florida USA out of the Catholic Church beginning in the church! When missionaries provide "the E-mail: [email protected] 16th century and which admit the Catholic testimony of eight witnesses," investigate the www.evangelizationstation.com Church can still offer salvation. The tricky wording closely—they really don’t Mormon Church is totally unassociated with testify to what Mormons claim they do. Pamphlet 219 all of Christian history, and it claims that Many of these eight people also later left everyone who is not baptized into the and worked against the Mormon church. Mormon Church either in this world or the And point out that eight other people also "spirit world" following death, will go to testified, under oath, that the Book of hell. Today, most Mormons lead exemplary Mormon was actually a novel written by a moral lives and they must be respected for Presbyterian minister named Solomon their deep religious convictions, but they he was in Jail for burning a publishing house 4. It conducts baptisms for the dead. will hide this, and all their peculiar beliefs which exposed him for practicing 5. "Righteous" Mormons believe that they from you by hiding the harsh reality of their polygamy—up until 1852 the Mormon will be married for all eternity and become a beliefs by sugar-coating them with church claimed not to practice polygamy. true God—with all the power our God euphemisms and false-definitions (e.g. in The Mormon church was heavily persecuted currently has—plainly contradicting Mormon terminology Jews are Gentiles). at the time (they persecuted others, too), Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25, Luke 20:35, causing its members to move from Ohio to Heb. 1:3, etc. What are some positive characteristics of Missouri to Illinois and finally to Utah in the 6. It officially encouraged polygamy from Mormons? late 1840s. 1852-1890. Church prophets such as Lorenzo Snow, Brigham Young, and Joseph Most Mormons are sincerely trying to serve What Mormons are unlikely to tell you is Fielding Smith also taught that God was the Lord as best they know how. They that Joseph Smith was a treasure hunter and lawfully married to, and had sex with, Mary usually dress nice, work hard, attend church, even convicted of being a fraudulent to create Jesus, and that Jesus and the and often dedicate years of their life to fortuneteller in the 1820s. In 1837 church apostles were polygamous. missionary work. Catholics today can learn leaders organized the "Danite" vigilante 7. The Book of Mormon teaches that a lot from how seriously Mormons put their band to combat all internal and external African Americans and American Indians faith into action. enemies, sometimes using murder. Mormon have dark skin because of sins they leaders also led the Mormon militia in the committed before living on earth (II Nephi What are some similarities between notorious "Mountain Meadows Massacre" in 5:21-22 and Alma 3:6). Mormonism and Catholicism? Utah in 1857 (look it up in the encyclopedia), and prophet Brigham Young How do I handle a Mormon missionary? Mormons accept Jesus Christ as their Lord cashed in on the affair. and Savior and they honor the Bible (albeit 1. Love them and realize that YOU can be an erroneous King James Version). They What are some distinctive beliefs of the missionary for Christ to them. have many similar sacraments to Catholics Mormon church? 2. Ask to see and read a copy of the and their church is organized similar to ours, Doctrine & Covenants and Joseph Smith's with the leader called a "prophet" instead of 1. It maintains that God was once just a King Follett Discourse. The odd ideas speak a Pope. Anything the prophet says as man with a God above him. Mormons serve for themselves! prophet is considered the words of God. one Heavenly Father but accept that many 3. Point out that the Book of Mormon may exist. They teach against the Trinity teaches that God is God from all eternity and What is the history behind the Mormon and believe that God, Christ, and the Holy changeless (Mormon 9:9-10, Moroni 8:18, 1 church? Spirit are totally separate beings. Nephi 10:18), yet in 1844 Joseph Smith 2. The Book of Mormon teaches that the taught just the opposite—that God was once Joseph Smith (1805-1844) founded devil founded all churches but their own (1 a man—in his King Follett Discourse. Mormonism 1830 after he had supposedly Nephi 13:26, 14:9-10). 4. Ask the missionary if they really believe found the Book of Mormon written on 3. It proclaims that all early apostles were the Catholic Church was founded by the golden plates in New York (he claimed the killed or corrupted and thus Christ took His Devil as 1 Nephi 13 & 14 state (and listen to plates were later taken into heaven). Smith church from the earth in the first century how skillfully they deny it). was killed by an enraged mob in 1844, while AD!