Proselyting Techniques of Mormon Missionaries

[The Learner]

"God is not only our Ruler and Creator; He is also our Heavenly Father. All men and women are literally the sons and daughters of God. “Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal [physical] body” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 335)."

Is this your understanding or pre-existence?

Spirit Children of Heavenly Parents

Gospel topic information and links to additional resources

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Other LDS links on this topic:

Premortality

Premortality refers to our life before we were born on this earth, when we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as His spirit children.

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Chapter 6: Our Premortal Life

Chapter 6: Our Premortal Life

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Man, a Spirit Child of Heavenly Father

Man, a Spirit Child of Heavenly Father

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Spirit Children of Heavenly Parents

Gospel topic information and links to additional resources

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Come, Follow Me - Study Manuals - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 

[The Learner]

Other Church's have a Statment of Faith

example of one I know of: What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe?

https://www.adventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ADV-28Beliefs2020.pdf

OUR 28 BELIEFS IN BRIEF​

• 1. Holy Scriptures
• 2. Trinity
• 3. Father
• 4. Son
• 5. Holy Spirit
• 6. Creation
• 7. Nature of humanity
• 8. The Great Controversy
• 9. The Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ
• 10. The Experience of Salvation
• 11. Growing in Christ
• 12. The Church
• 13. The Remnant and its Mission
• 14. Unity in the Body of Christ
• 15. Baptism
• 16. The Lord’s supper
• 17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries
• 18. The Gift of Prophecy
• 19. The Law of God
• 20. The Sabbath
• 21. Stewardship
• 22. Christian Behavior
• 23. Marriage and the Family
• 24. Christ’s ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
• 25. The Second Coming of Christ
• 26. Death and Resurrection
• 27. The Millennium and the End of Sin
• 28. The New Earth

Our 28 Fundamental Beliefs

Wickford SDA Church, a Seventh-day Adventist church in North Kingstown, RI. Looking for a church to join? Visit your local Seventh-day Adventist church in North Kingstown, RI and see how you and your family fit in to the Christian community provided by this SDA church.

www.wickfordsdachurch.org

Beliefs | North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture.

www.nadadventist.org

 

[The Learner]

Please, list your personal Statement of Faith and in next post, the same for LDS beliefs in a similar format.
Thanks, Daniel, You may call me my tiger, lions name.

 

[The Learner]

The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith.

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Please, expand on each article.

 

[David in NJ]

With that interpretation, then there is much agreement.

Other interpretations, not so much. I've seen Trinitarians that describe God like He's the Force from Star Wars, others that act like "God" is supernatural sparkly stuff, and many others that say "1 God in 3 persons" but for all purposes mean modalism (1 person in 3 roles). So many many LDS Christians think Trinitarians are modalists.

The Father, Son, and Spirit are 3 different persons. 1, 2, 3. You can send out 3 invitations to dinner. Super simple. They are united as 1 God as they are on the EXACT same page about everything. 100% united. "We are One". For example, you can't follow the Son and rebel against the Father-- that doesn't even make sense. Versus in polytheism, you could totally follow Poseidon and go against Zeus.


Nope, that's a different faith. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (mainstream "Mormon").

This is the One True Elohim(plural) = Elohim FATHER Elohim SON Elohim HOLY SPIRIT

THEY are ONE in UNITY of THEMSELVES since Eternity

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

The Word became flesh

When the Word became flesh, HE/JESUS with the HOLY SPIRIT prayed to His FATHER = 3 are ONE/UNITY

 

[The Learner]

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/book-of-mormon-1830/7#X02A8B111-EFC2-4E07-B7AC-71EBFAD1D368

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/book-of-mormon-1830/38?p=38

 

[The Learner]

LDS books

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

The Book of Mormon: ... 1830 : Joseph Smith, Junior : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The Book of Mormon: ... 1830..Digitized from IA40414302-02.Next issue: per_utah-and-the-mormons_mormonism-exposed-in-it_john-bowes.

archive.org

Joseph Smith begins his work : Wilford C. Wood : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

archive.org

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[The Learner]

first editon BOM https://www.latterdaytruth.org/pdf/100030.pdf

 

[The Learner]

https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/13.2JensonVariations.pdf

 

[The Learner]

The Book of Mormon Critical Text Project | The Book of Mormon Critical Text Project

criticaltext.byustudies.byu.edu

 

[The Learner]

https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V10N04_10.pdf

 

[The Learner]

Good Night all, Boss, I mean wife is kicking me off.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Due to quantity of questions, I'm keeping answer really short. They are good questions :)

After reviewing thread, I have questions friend.

1. What kind of Baptist is your hubby?
2. What kind of Methodist are they?

Hubby in very generic Baptist, and friend / sister-in-law is United Methodist, also very generically.

3. Please explain deeper, "LDS Christians believe that a person's spirit existed for eternities before being born to mortal life."

You and I have always existed. Simple at that. A newborn baby is not <1 year old, but their spirit is > billions x billions of years old. Forever.

4. How do people accept Christ after their mortal death?

Your spirit still lives and can still make choices.

5. "His guidance/speaking usually comes in the form of a quiet internal prompt"
He uses a 4'x6' with me.

Haha. Hey, we're all different

"I already believe that you are going to be living for eternity with Christ."

6. Do you believe everyone is going to be living for eternity with Christ?

All Christians, whether they've converted before or after their mortal death. Those whom are still hard-hearted and refuse still get to live for forever and be happy beyond their wildest dreams. It's just a lesser beyond-your-wildest-dreams happiness (compare the brightness of stars for non-Christians and moon for Christians).

"Becoming like God (the LDS Christian belief) is about that: learning and reflecting His knowledge, character, etc. It's not about gaining superpowers."

7. What exactly is your understanding friend becoming like G_d?

Sharing in 100% on that infinite goodness, mercy, love, justice, patience, etc. 100% perfect, aka complete, even as He is. Having Christ's image reflected perfectly in me.

8. Poseidon?

Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. In that polytheistic belief system, people would routinely choose to follow one god over the other, and the gods themselves would fight amongst themselves.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

"

1. In the premortal life we were spirit children and lived with our heavenly parents (Hebrews 12:9).
2. Jesus was the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Father (D&C 93:21) and is the older brother of our spirits.
3. Lucifer, who became Satan, was also a spirit child of Heavenly Father.
4. Heavenly Father called a meeting for all his spirit children. At this meeting he explained his plan for us to become like him. He told us that he wanted us to go to earth to get a physical body. He explained that on earth we would be tested to see if we would keep his commandments.
5. At this meeting Heavenly Father also explained that on earth we would all sin and we would all die. Heavenly Father needed someone to be the Savior, to suffer for our sins, and to die for us so that we could be resurrected.
6. Lucifer wanted Heavenly Father to change his plan. Lucifer said he would save everyone by taking away their freedom to choose, which would have made it impossible for us to make mistakes or be righteous. Lucifer also wanted all the honor (Moses 4:1).
7. Because he loved us (John 15:13), Jesus volunteered to be our Savior. He wanted to follow Heavenly Father’s plan and give the glory to Heavenly Father (Moses 4:2).
8. Heavenly Father chose Jesus to be our Savior. Lucifer was angry and rebelled against Heavenly Father (Revelation 12:7–9; Moses 4:3–4)."

Come, Follow Me - Study Manuals - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

This is where from LDS Site where I get the idea that Satan and Jesus are spirit brother.

Reminder of an important thing here: for Creedal Christians "born" means to come into existance. In contrast, for LDS Christians, "born" is moving from one stage of existence to another (never was there a time of non-existence).

As to brothers: Heavenly Father is everyone's Father including Lucifer's. This is likewise believe by Creedal Christians, they just don't go about thinking of it that way and (frankly) neither do LDS Christians.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Joseph Smith.

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Please, expand on each article.

"Expand" while I'm also trying to keep things short rather than right 13 essays :).Starting big picture: these are similar and different to Creeds and "What we believe" statements found in other churches. Similar in that they are "what we believe statements". Different in that the "Articles of Faith" are believed to scripture, ultimately from God (Joseph Smith serving as an imperfect instruemnt). We also do believe in continuing revelation (aka open scriptures), so that's always different. Another difference: application. LDS Christians don't go "you got sign your name here or you're not a Christian.".

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

We talked about this one earlier.

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

Adam alone holds the blame for his Fall. Neither I nor you will be punished for this, and newborns have zero sins. No need to wipe away Original Sin from them. Now, that being said, while neither you nor I have guilt, there's obviously consequences resulting from our foreparent's actions.

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Taking these two together. We are saved through the atonement of Christ, and every single person has this opportunity. Every single one. In order to be saved, you got to have faith. This is the foundation of everything and nothing matters without it. Second: repentance. Acknowledging your errors / turning away from God, having that broken heart, and earnestly asking for His forgiveness. Third, you got to be baptized, and then also receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

These two also go hand in hand. Not just anyone who says "hey I'm God's servant, listen to me" is actually that. And you can't just appoint yourself to that calling. Rather God Himself has to call you. He does this in an orderly fashion and does have a structured physical church organization, generally the same as in Christ's time. Offices like Apostle, prophets, pastors, etc.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

Straight forward.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

Bible and Book of Mormon are words of God. For the Bible you want to get a high quality translation that gets stuff right. I'll pass on the JW's version, and stick with my KJV.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

Believe all that God's revealed thus far and know much more marvoulous revelation is coming. Scripture is open, not closed.

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

Christ is literally going to come reign on this earth in person doing the Second Coming.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Everyone has the right to believe & practice as they do.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Straight forward.

 

[The Learner]

Due to quantity of questions, I'm keeping answer really short. They are good questions :)


Hubby in very generic Baptist, and friend / sister-in-law is United Methodist, also very generically.

You and I have always existed. Simple at that. A newborn baby is not <1 year old, but their spirit is > billions x billions of years old. Forever.

Your spirit still lives and can still make choices.

Haha. Hey, we're all different

All Christians, whether they've converted before or after their mortal death. Those whom are still hard-hearted and refuse still get to live for forever and be happy beyond their wildest dreams. It's just a lesser beyond-your-wildest-dreams happiness (compare the brightness of stars for non-Christians and moon for Christians).



Sharing in 100% on that infinite goodness, mercy, love, justice, patience, etc. 100% perfect, aka complete, even as He is. Having Christ's image reflected perfectly in me.



Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. In that polytheistic belief system, people would routinely choose to follow one god over the other, and the gods themselves would fight amongst themselves.

Cool friend, That's for expanding your understandings. My should replacement is in pain.

 

[The Learner]

"Jude, one of the last books to be included in the canon before it was closed, says, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 1:3). The words the faith in this passage refer to the sum of what Christians believe, all of the apostles’ teachings, or the whole body of Christian beliefs. In other words, everything we believe in the Christian faith has already been delivered or revealed to the saints through the apostles and prophets. Through the Scriptures, God has given us a final and complete body of knowledge for living the Christian faith.
...
Proverbs 30:5–6 cautions us not to add to God’s words: “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 warns us not to add or to take away from God’s commands: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you” (see also Deuteronomy 12:32).

At the close of the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, we read a similar warning: “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18–19)

Acknowledging a closed canon means accepting the idea that God has already revealed everything His children need to know. It also means that everything He has revealed in the Scriptures is divinely inspired. Nothing should be added, and nothing ought to be taken away or ignored.

A closed canon doesn’t mean God has ceased to reveal Himself to people today but that there will be no new revelation of truth outside of what He has already revealed in the Bible to the church. God has placed in the closed canon of Scripture everything we need to know about Himself, and about who we are, how we ought to live, and what will happen in the future (see 2 Peter 1:3)."

The closed canon—what are the implications? | GotQuestions.org

The closed canon—what are the implications? Why is it important to understand that the biblical canon is closed?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[The Learner]

Special revelation reaches its ultimate historical goal in the apostolic witness to the person, words, and work of Jesus Christ. And this inspired apostolic witness reaches its final covenantal form in the canonical writings of the New Testament. Since special revelation has reached its ultimate goal and final form, the church should not expect any more scripture-quality revelation until the bodily return of Christ. I develop this argument with some detail in my three-part lecture series “The Necessity of Scripture.”2

This has been the historical position of the Christian church, both Catholic and Protestant.

https://sharperiron.org/article/canon-closed-cessation-of-special-revelation

Hebrews 1:1-2: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Theologically the canon is closed. God has inspired only so many books and they were all completed by the end of the apostolic period (first century A.D.). God used to speak through the prophets of the Old Testament, but in the “last days” he spoke through Christ (Heb. 1:1) and the apostles whom He empowered with special signs “(miracles). But because the apostolic age ended with the death of the apostles (Acts 1:22), and because no one since apostolic times has had the signs of a true apostle” (2 Cor. 12:12) whereby they can raise the dead (Acts 20:10–12) and perform other unique supernatural events (Acts 3:1–10; 28:8–9), it may be concluded that God’s “last day” revelation is complete (see Acts 2:16–18). This does not mean that God’s visitations are over, because there are many other things yet to be fulfilled (see Acts 2:19–20). Nor does it mean that there will be no new understanding of God’s truth after the first century. It simply means that there is no new revelation for the church. Indeed, this does not necessarily imply that there have been no miracles since the first century. Supernatural acts will be possible as long as there is a Supernatural Being (God). It is not the fact of miracles that ceased with the apostles but the special gift of miracles possessed by a prophet or apostle who could claim, like Moses, Elijah, Peter, or Paul, to have a new revelation from God. Such a prophet or apostle could back up his claim by dividing a sea, bringing down fire from heaven, or raising the dead. These were special gifts bestowed on prophets (apostles), and they are not possessed by those who are not the recipients of new revelation (Acts 2:22; Heb. 2:3–4).

Historically the canon is closed. For there is no evidence that any such special gift of miracles has existed since the death of the apostles. The immediate successors of the apostles did not claim new revelation, nor did they claim these special confirmatory gifts. In fact, they looked on the apostolic revelation as full and final (see chaps. 6, 16, and 17).

Closing of the Canon | Bible Exposition Commentary

versebyversecommentary.com

 

[The Learner]

Another argument is that many of the failed contenders for the canon introduce new information that has non-biblical origins or non-biblical doctrines (e.g. gnosticism), many of which directly contradict the earlier works. They promote the ideas of their authors rather than confirm the teachings of Jesus. Meanwhile, the accepted books tend to complement and support each other. Even ideas that seem new aren't actually (e.g. Peter's discovery that the gospel is for all mankind wasn't a spontaneous extra, but simply the inevitable result of what Jesus had already said would happen.). –
Ray Butterworth
Dec 29, 2022

 

[The Learner]

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=questions_101

Can we add new books to the Bible? – Is the canon of Scripture closed?

You will discover five important reasons why we cannot add new books to the Bible since the canon of Scripture Closed. The meaning of canon will be given.

www.neverthirsty.org

"the faith … was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).