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Back in the Mormon Business

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  • Back in the Mormon Business

    I am often at my Church office alone, and I have a TV on the wall that provides several security camera angles. It helps to know when somebody is stopping by, because we have two different parking lots, and three different entrances to the buildings.

    On Friday afternoon, I noticed a young man skateboarding in our West parking lot. No big deal - that happens frequently.

    After a while, I noticed he was carrying his skateboard, walking back to the rear of the West parking lot. That's unusual, because the kids' playground is back there, but nothing else. I can see that view just by looking out my window, and I saw him walk past the playground toward the East parking lot. Presently, he showed up on that security camera view, dropped his skateboard, and zoomed around the basketball court for a bit. Again, no big deal, lots of kids from the public school across the street come to shoot hoops or ride skateboards on our parking lots. As long as they behave, we don't mind at all.

    Next thing I knew, he was walking toward the front of the East parking lot, carrying his skateboard, but he kept stopping to look at the entrance to our office area. I'm guessing he saw my car, knew somebody was in the building, and was contemplating something, I knew not what.

    I went to the front door, and motioned for him to come over. He very politely asked if we had a drinking fountain. I thought I'd get him a couple bottles of water - one to drink and one for his backpack. We have two refrigerators where we keep bottled water, but both were completely out. I got him a large styrofoam cup of water, for which he expressed gratitude, and I offered to get him a refill. He expressed his appreciation, and explained that he was attending summer school across the street, and was ready to head home.

    He seemed hesitant to leave, so I asked, "something else on your mind?" He had that "well, yeah, but I don't want to talk about it" look. There was a picnic table nearby, so I invited him to sit down, and I'd get some more water.

    When I came back, he blurted out "I belong to the Mormon Church just down the street, and I'm really confused, because something just doesn't seem right". I told him I knew a few things about the Mormon Church, but asked "what is it that concerns you".

    He said, "well, some friends told me that a lot of the stuff that Mormons teach is not true, and I was looking stuff up online, and my dad found out and got really angry". I asked if his dad frequently got angry, and he said, "no - that's just the thing -- he got very unreasonably angry like I was surfing porn or something". I asked if his dad knew what he was looking up online, and he said, "yeah, I was comparing the different versions of Joseph Smith's First Vision". I asked if that's the only thing that concerned him about Mormon teaching, and he said, "No, the whole thing about the various versions of how Joseph translated the Golden Plates bothers me, too".

    I didn't have to do any work. The young man was obviously aware that, even in official Mormon teachings, there are major discrepancies with fundamental teachings.

    I told him I had just finished teaching a series on cults, and one of those Wednesday nights was about Mormonism. I was surprised when he said, "yeah, I know - my Aunt has been attending your Church, and she told me I needed to talk to you". (I have a suspicion who his aunt is, but not certain yet) I asked if he would like a copy of my notes, and he reached in his backpack and said, "I already have a copy". I was pretty surprised, and asked "what did you think?" He said, "at first I was angry, but I started looking stuff up, because I was going to write a rebuttal, but I found out there are a lot of problems with Mormon teachings". He explained that he had to go to the public library, because his home computer has "filters" that won't let him look up "faith destroying subject matter". (Interesting, I want to find out more about that - and apparently how his dad knew what he was up to)

    He looked at his watch, and said, "My Mom is going to be picking me up in front of our Church, so I need to get down there". I asked "what can I do?" He said, "I'm supposed to go on Mission next year, but I want to do some research first, so I'm going to be spending more time at the public library doing some more research". I told him I'm available, he knows where to find me. And he waved my "Mormonism 101" study at me and said, "I have plenty to keep me busy for now".

    His name is Josh. He could use your prayers.
    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

  • #2
    God brought him to you preacher CP. It's amazing watching Him work, isn't it?


    I fear there is going to be some stress in his family soon. Hopefully, him and his aunt can reach the rest of his family.

    Praying.

    Comment


    • #3
      I just love it when the Holy Spirit has done all the heavy lifting, and all we need to do is "show up".
      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
        I just love it when the Holy Spirit has done all the heavy lifting, and all we need to do is "show up".
        I remember asking God to send someone to me one time and about a minute later some homeless guy walked up to me on the street asking for money for food. So I bought him lunch, and while we ate, I talked to him about Jesus, and gave him $5 and told him about a church shelter nearby. I still remember him. He was a character, and called himself "Super Dave" - I don't know what happened to him after that. I look for him sometimes in the same area but I don't see him. I hope he got help, found Jesus and got off the streets. Sometimes we are just stops along the way of someone else's journey.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
          I just love it when the Holy Spirit has done all the heavy lifting, and all we need to do is "show up".
          "Showing up" is about the limit of my capabilities.
          Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

          Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
          sigpic
          I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

          Comment


          • #6
            By the way, I know some of you know this, but for the record -- it seemed like I was frequently getting "divine appointments" with Mormons, but that kinda seemed to dry up. This was a pleasant surprise. That's why I said "back in the Mormon business".
            The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

            Comment


            • #7
              Did you ever hear back from the missionary you met in the grocery store?
              Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by QuantaFille View Post
                Did you ever hear back from the missionary you met in the grocery store?
                No, but I was thinking about him as I wrote about Josh. Even though the Mormon Church is "just down the street" (literally, on the same street, on the same side of the street) I really don't see Mormon "missionaries" here much at all.
                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                  No, but I was thinking about him as I wrote about Josh. Even though the Mormon Church is "just down the street" (literally, on the same street, on the same side of the street) I really don't see Mormon "missionaries" here much at all.
                  I live right next to a Mormon ward building and have never had missionaries at my current house. I used to see them all the time before I moved here. I used to live next to the temple in Salt Lake City and never had them visit there, either.
                  Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by QuantaFille View Post
                    I live right next to a Mormon ward building and have never had missionaries at my current house. I used to see them all the time before I moved here. I used to live next to the temple in Salt Lake City and never had them visit there, either.
                    Maybe they figure anyone living next to a temple is a mormon. You should stick out a sign that says, "I am not a Mormon" and see what happens!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                      Maybe they figure anyone living next to a temple is a mormon. You should stick out a sign that says, "I am not a Mormon" and see what happens!
                      The whole time I lived in Utah, I had missionaries come by once and that was when I had a Mormon roommate in an apartment south of Salt Lake City. After that I lived in other apartments (including the one next to the temple) with non-Mormon roommates and never saw missionaries again. The non-Mormon roommates may not have appreciated any attempts to draw the missionaries in, lol!
                      Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        1/ Make an appointment to meet with Mormon missionaries on a given date and time
                        2/ Make an appointment to meet with Jehovah's Witnesses on that same day and time
                        When the two groups are present, all stiff and uncomfortable and glaring at each other
                        from opposite sides of the room, offer an ice-breaker. "Should we start with drinks?
                        A coffee or a glass of wine, perhaps?"
                        Never hear from either group again.
                        1Cor 15:34 Come to your senses as you ought and stop sinning; for I say to your shame, there are some who know not God.
                        .
                        ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛
                        Scripture before Tradition:
                        but that won't prevent others from
                        taking it upon themselves to deprive you
                        of the right to call yourself Christian.

                        ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          The last time (or maybe a time or two before that) I invited the Mormons into my living room, I said, "Before we start, let's have a word of prayer".

                          I closed my eyes and began praying "Father, I ask that you guide our conversation, give us wisdom to.....

                          [I heard the door open and close so quickly I couldn't believe BOTH of them got out in that brief time!]

                          ....Thank you, Lord, amen".
                          The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                            The last time (or maybe a time or two before that) I invited the Mormons into my living room, I said, "Before we start, let's have a word of prayer".

                            I closed my eyes and began praying "Father, I ask that you guide our conversation, give us wisdom to.....

                            [I heard the door open and close so quickly I couldn't believe BOTH of them got out in that brief time!]

                            ....Thank you, Lord, amen".
                            Wow! Wonder what made them nervous? They do believe in the Father...
                            Watch your links! http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/fa...corumetiquette

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              They hardly stop by my house. Last time I was leaving for somewhere so I couldn't stop. Ah well.

                              I do make them nervous with my discussion of Book of Mormon.
                              Watch your links! http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/fa...corumetiquette

                              Comment

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