Mormon Recruiting in an Evangelical Church

[drstevej]

A number of years back our Singles Sunday School class had a visit form a Mormon (Ken Hightower) who did not identify himself as such. He attended a class taught by one of our singles (Stan).

After the class Ken wrote a letter [click to see the letter]to the class teacher seeking to recruit him to Mormonism. The class teacher passed the letter on to me.

Later, I arranged a meeting with this Mormon. I asked him if he had been proselytizing members of our church. He said, "Absolutely not." At that time I took his letter out of my pocket and said, "Would you like me to read you your recent letter to Stan?"

He turned beet red and apologized.

I told him that he was welcome to propagate his views off our property and outside our meetings, but if he thought we'd allow him to come to our meetings to recruit people to Mormonism, he was sadly mistaken. He apologized.

Three years later the same guy attended a Bible Study sponsored by our class and tried to do a similar thing.

====

Is it ethical to proselytize like Ken did?

 

[Lovely Jar]

I find this to be a very strange post written by a Chaplain.

 

[drstevej]

Guarding the flock is part of the job of an elder.

Acts 20:28-30

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

 

[Tigger45]

The tactics of Mormonism are very overt on many levels. That's why I think many passionate Christians here on CF try to expose this method of prophesizing so ardently to unsuspecting listeners/readers. When they knock on your door they will use Christian sounding terminology in fairly ecumenically structured teaching techniques. They will also try to draw you in by showing themselves friendly and/or neighborly that is until you "politely" inform them you are a bible believing Christian and then their efforts of friendship suspiciously become relegated to a simple nod of the head, smile or wave, but not much more. By the way this is much more prevalent in Utah where they are born and raised into this culture and they enjoy having a majority. I want to add Mormons as individuals are no better or worse people than the rest of us but IMO they have been conditioned to operate this way.

 

[drstevej]

Ah, I see you are in SLC. Gotta be pervasive there.

 

[RevelationTestament]

A number of years back our Singles Sunday School class had a visit form a Mormon (Ken Hightower) who did not identify himself as such. He attended a class taught by one of our singles (Stan).

After the class Ken wrote a letter [click to see the letter]to the class teacher seeking to recruit him to Mormonism. The class teacher passed the letter on to me.

Later, I arranged a meeting with this Mormon. I asked him if he had been proselytizing members of our church. He said, "Absolutely not." At that time I took his letter out of my pocket and said, "Would you like me to read you your recent letter to Stan?"

He turned beet red and apologized.

I told him that he was welcome to propagate his views off our property and outside our meetings, but if he thought we'd allow him to come to our meetings to recruit people to Mormonism, he was sadly mistaken. He apologized.

Three years later the same guy attended a Bible Study sponsored by our class and tried to do a similar thing.

====

Is it ethical to proselytize like Ken did?

Yes, it is, unless the lie was real - it was not ethical. I wouldn't try to spread the gospel that way.

Paul went and taught in the synagogue. The Jews didn't like it, and he got flogged at times. But it was ethical.

What is not ethical is for "christians" to obtain temple passes and secretly film temple sessions, and then post them on youtube, and then to link to these illicitly obtained videos. Anyone doing this is either lying to the LDS or to God.

 

[RevelationTestament]

I find this to be a very strange post written by a Chaplain.

He's one of a kind.

 

[Tigger45]

Guarding the flock is part of the job of an elder.

Acts 20:28-30

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

I have an example that ties in the OP, Acts 20:28-30 and LDS overt tactics of using Christian sounding terminologies to draw in unsuspecting and might I add ignorant professing Christians.

When I was a single Christian I would look to attend Singles bible studies. There was this one I attended that was held in the home of a member of a mainline evangelical church. Out of the hosts ignorance of sound biblical Christians doctrines and the tactics employed by many LDS, she allowed a Mormon to lead the bible study. Well this now appointed bible study leader tried to assure us that he would stick to ecumenical topics. It wasn't long before he was teaching things that on the face of it sounded like biblical Christianity but as I pressed to flush out the meanings he believed were becoming from his LDS indoctrination that we were embroiled in a biblical debate. And as a poor testament to the lack of study on behave of bible believing Christians most of the bible study attendants were perplexed at who was speaking biblical truth.

 

[drstevej]

He's one of a kind.

You can call me "Dr. I Know Hebrew."

 

[RevelationTestament]

What does YWHW mean?

 

[drstevej]

Yes, it is, unless the lie was real - it was not ethical. I wouldn't try to spread the gospel that way.

Paul went and taught in the synagogue. The Jews didn't like it, and he got flogged at times. But it was ethical.

The lie was real and later acknowledged when he was caught.

When the Dallas LDS Temple was opened they let folks tour it. I went on the tour and when we were inside there was a 45 minute hold up (they said an A/C problem. So we witnessed to folks in line inside the Temple. Very Paul-like.... right?

 

[drstevej]

We allow filming inside our church (except restrooms) an you are welcome to post on Your Tube. We do not do secret stuff or refurbished Masonic ritual.

 

[RevelationTestament]

The lie was real and later acknowledged when he was caught.

When the Dallas LDS Temple was opened they let folks tour it. I went on the tour and when we were inside there was a 45 minute hold up (they said an A/C problem. So we witnessed to folks in line inside the Temple. Very Paul-like.... right?

Yep. Happens all the time. But if you witness like you do here, I wouldn't listen to you. People like yourself make it a point to witness at our temples. I have personally witnessed much extremely crude and demeaning behavior of these "proselytes." If they are being like Christ, I can see why "Christendom" is failing miserably all over the world.

 

[drstevej]

Yep. Happens all the time. But if you witness like you do here, I wouldn't listen to you.

As if you would listen to any non-Mormon who challenged the party line.

 

[RevelationTestament]

We allow filming inside our church (except restrooms) an you are welcome to post on Your Tube. We do not do secret stuff or refurbished Masonic ritual.

We don't do any secret stuff in our services either.
Our temples are not secret, but sacred. As you said you were allowed to visit one. The Lord has "secrets." You just haven't learned that.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

 

[RevelationTestament]

As if you would listen to any non-Mormon who challenged the party line.

You should know by now that I don't always follow the party line. I follow the scriptures and my Savior. I have actually learned quite a bit from non-mormons - even "The Boxer" here, although I usually disagree with him. I don't recall ever learning anything of any import from you - your little laughing head is probably a reason why.

 

[drstevej]

I don't recall ever learning anything of any import from you - your little laughing head is probably a reason why.

Here's something you could learn.....

You can call me "Dr. I Know Hebrew."

It's not, "Mr. I Know Hebrew."

 

[RevelationTestament]

Here's something you could learn.....

It's not, "Mr. I Know Hebrew."

I know you think highly of yourself.
What does YHWH mean?

 

[drstevej]

I know you think highly of yourself.
What does YHWH mean?

These are four Hebrew consonants that are the name of God.

What vowels go with these consonants?

"It ain't bragging if you can do it." -- Yogi Berra

 

[drstevej]

Gotta rune for now. BTW, Rev. Hebrew reads right to left.