1. “Have you prayed about the Book of Mormon?”

• Doctrine and Covenants Section 9:8: “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right.…”

• Doctrine and Covenants says that we must first “study it out” in our minds before we pray about it. As I was studying it, I ran across an interesting verse — Moroni 10:32. Could you help me understand how to “clear ALL ungodliness” out of my life as this verse is talking about?

2. “We have the ‘fulness of the everlasting gospel.’

• Joseph Smith taught that the Book of Mormon “was the most correct of any book on earth…a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” — History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461

• What are the “precepts” taught in the Book of Mormon that are not found in any other book? Where does the Book of Mormon teach the following LDS doctrines?
  
  
  • God has a body of flesh and bones
  • God is married in heaven
  • There are many Gods
  • Men can become Gods
  • Temple participation is necessary for exaltation
  • Males must hold the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods
    
    
• 3 Nephi 11:39-40: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine.…and whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil….”— Book of Mormon, (See also Galatians 1:6-9 in the Bible)

3. “Does your church have a living prophet? We have Latter-day revelation.”

• Luke 16:16: “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
  
  
• Hebrews 1:1-2: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.…”

• Since “prophets” existed “until” John the Baptist, why do I need a living “prophet” when the Bible says that I can go directly to Jesus for daily revelation through prayer and the study of His Word?

4. “We are Christians just like you. We have Jesus Christ in our Church name.”

• If you’re a Christian just like I am, does this mean that I’m a Mormon just like you? If being a Christian does not make me a Mormon, then what are the differences that separate Mormonism from Christianity?

• “In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints ‘do not believe in the traditional Christ. No, I don’t. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak.…’ ”—Church News, June 20, 1998, p. 7

5. “We believe in Jesus Christ so doesn't that make us saved?”

• Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven….Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?…and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

• It is easy to gain knowledge about someone, but one can only “know” a person through relationship. Jesus said “many” will call Him “Lord,” but only those who “know” Him personally will be saved. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Do you pray to Jesus? How can you have a personal relationship with someone you never talk to? Paul prayed to Jesus a 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 and Stephen prayed at Acts 7:59.

6. “Why do you believe in the Trinity?”

• Matthew 1:18, 20: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise; When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph….she was found with child of the Holy Ghost….for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

• If the Holy Ghost is a separate God from God the Father (as Mormonism teaches), why is Jesus called the “Son of God”—rather than the “Son of the Holy Ghost”? Doesn’t this prove that the Holy Ghost is the same God as God the Father?

• The Trinity is not Tritheism (3 Gods), nor is it Modalism (1 Person in 3 modes). The Father is God (Phil 1:11), the Son is God (John 1:1; 20:28), the Holy Ghost is God (Acts 5:3-4) and yet there is only 1 true God (Isaiah 44:6, 8). Can you see why we define the Trinity as 3 persons in 1 God (Matt. 28:19)?

7. “Have you been baptized by one with the proper authority?”

• The Book of Mormon claims to be the “fulness of the everlasting gospel.” Where in the Book of Mormon does it say one has to be baptized by a man holding the “Aaronic” and “Melchizedek” priesthoods? Jesus is the only one who is qualified to hold the “Melchizedek” priesthood (Hebrews 7:3), and He could not hold the “Aaronic” priesthood (Hebrews 7:11-12, 14) because He was not of the linage of Levi, so how can any LDS male claim to be ordained to these priesthoods?

• Does your baptism into the Mormon Church give you the assurance that if you were to die today, you have eternal life with Heavenly Father? Regardless of your baptism, the Book of Mormon says that if you are not “stripped” of pride and envy you are “not prepared to meet God” (Alma 5:27-31). Have you cleared yourself of “all ungodliness” (Moroni 10:32)? Have you repeated a sin after asking for forgiveness (D&C 82:7)? If you’ve repeated any sin, you are held accountable for your former sins and are guilty of “procrastinating the day of your repentance” (Alma 34:33-35). Have you repented of ALL of your sins? If not, “you are subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his!” So, how can Mormonism save me through baptism? What does Mormonism have to offer me?

8. “Why do you believe that salvation is by faith alone? The Bible teaches that faith without works is dead (James 2:17).”

• Romans 11:6: “…if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace….”

• You are correct that a dead faith cannot save as true living faith produces works, but what would you say if I gave you a birthday gift that cost me $5,000 dollars and you offered me a nickel in return to pay me back? How do you think that would make me feel? God’s gift of salvation is a lot like a $5,000 birthday gift, but so much greater. It cost God everything and for us to try to pay God back for this gift is insulting to God. It’s like saying to God that His gift is insufficient—that the death of His Son was not enough to pay for our sins. Can you see why we cannot earn our salvation?

9. “I sense a spirit of ‘contention’ here. Why do you persecute us? We don't go to your churches to try to prove you wrong.”

• Have you ever served a “mission” for you church or do you know someone who has? Well, that’s why I’m here talking to you. I’m on a “mission” to share the true “gospel” of Jesus Christ. The Bible commands true Christians to “contend” earnestly for the faith (Jude 3). If you saw a house on fire, wouldn’t love for the people inside compel you to “contend” earnestly with them to persuade them to leave the house and escape the flames? Well, that’s why I care enough to share with you what I’ve found. I’ve seen the flames of Mormonism and have come to reach out to as many as will listen. It is out of love for Mormons that I want to see you saved.