1. Why do you think Mormonism, in so many peopleÕs eyes, is considered outside of genuine Christianity?
He is going to say that most people donÕt feel that way, but a few people with bad attitudes and axes to grind spread lies about Mormonism.
Documentation:
United Methodists claim LDS not really Christian
Idaho Statesman, 5-11-2000, p. A2
CLEVELANDÑUnited Methodist Church delegates approved a new policy
statement Wednesday declaring that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, "by self-definition, does not fit within the bounds of the
historic, apostolic tradition of the Christian faith." As a result, Mormon
members who become Methodists should be treated as converts from another faith
and be re-baptized, the policy said. The United Methodist Church is the
nation's third largest religious body, with 8.4 million members, while the
Mormon church ranks seventh, with 5 million members.
A nine-page paper, passed by the Methodist General Conference
without floor discussion, said Mormonism has "some radically differing
doctrine on such matters of belief as the nature and being of God; the nature,
origin, and purpose of Jesus Christ; and the nature and way of salvation."
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Southern Baptist Convention
have issued similar assessments of Mormon doctrine.
2.
IÕm told that practically any active Latter-day Saint adult can
quote the so-called Lorenzo Snow couplet: ÒAs man now is, God once was; as God
now is man may become.Ó What do
you think that means?
3.
What do you suppose the current President, Seer, and Revelator
(The Prophet) of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, meant when he said:
"Those who observe us say
that we are moving into the mainstream of religion. We are not changing.
We teach the same doctrine." (Ensign, Nov. 2001, p 5)
and
"The
traditional Christ of whom they (non Mormons) speak is not the Christ of whom I
speak." (The
church News,
June 20, 1998)
4.
What do Mormons mean when they speak of the Mormon Church as
Òthe One True Church.Ó
When he tries to say,
ÒWell, we believe all church
contain some goodÉÓ Press him to explain what the term One True Church means
(it means there ainÕt no other!)
5.
If a Protestant minister baptizes someone, does God honor that
baptism?
6.
If a Protestant minister conducts the LordÕs Supper, does God
accept that?
Five an six flow from the
idea that only Mormons have the Priesthood and no ordinance of the Gospel can
be conducted without that priesthood.
7.
If polygamy was given by God as Òthe new and everlasting
covenant,Ó will it be practiced in heaven? Will all those early Mormon men who had numerous polygamous
wives be the only ones in heaven practicing polygamy, or will you, bishop, get
to have more than one wife in the hereafter?
DonÕt know isnÕt good
enough because section 132 of the Mormon Scripture ÒDoctrine and CovenantsÓ says
of polygamy
(verse 4)
For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant;
and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject
this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.
(verse 6)
And as pertaining to the
new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my
glory; and he that receiveth a
fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the
Lord God.
8.
Why does an large three-part series on teen suicide in Utah
(printed in the Mormon Daily Newspaper The Deseret News begin with
these words:
ÒEvery 11 days, a Utah teenagerÉsucceeds in taking his or her own
life. With teen suicide in a
leading role as a kill of Utah young people, state officials could be mounting
a full-frontal attack on the problem.
In fact, the opposite is true.
Suicide is clearly a taboo subject
(read full series at http://www.mazeministry.com/mormonism/statistics/youthsuicide/april23/april23.html
9.
Why
does Utah lead the nation in antidepressant drug use, and rate very high in
child abuse, sex crimes, mortgage fraud, software theft, rape, and divorce and
murder.
See statistics at:
http://www.mazeministry.com/mormonism/statistics/statistics.htm