Part of my role as hostess on our Colorado Springs and Worldwide Internet Ex-Mormon Meetup is to remind members of the wealth of information available to them at our website www.4mormon.org
Taking into consideration that we actually have more activity from members interested in witnessing to Mormons than from ex-Mormons themselves, I try to find articles of interest to meet the needs of our most active members. In April, I posted a question from a letter titled “I’M FRUSTRATED! HOW CAN I GET THROUGH TO MORMONS?” which can be found on our website under the heading “FAQ about reaching loved ones.” I copied and pasted the whole letter into the post and invited our Meetup members to respond with this: Okay Meetup members, how would you respond? What could you share with the writer who is looking for a way to talk to their Mormon friend? What would you do?
One member responded with “I think this question is THE defining question when dealing with them. The problems outlined here are verbatim the same problems everyone with a heart for Mormons encounters. I’ll be following this thread closely…….”
And another member included a 4 minute video clip called Missionaries featuring ex-Mormon Shawn McCraney.
Shawn uses a method he humorously names “My Jesus can beat up your church.” He puts the burden of proof upon the Mormon missionary just like the frustrated writer of that letter said she wanted to do in writing “After all, the burden of proof lies with the one making the claim. They must prove to me that the Book of Mormon is God’s inspired Scripture and that Joseph Smith was indeed a true Prophet of God.”
Shawn offers a way to do that with his opening question.
“What will becoming a Mormon do for me that my relationship with Jesus doesn’t already do?”
GREAT QUESTION!
The elder might respond with “well… we have a living prophet…”
What a wonderful opening to share the first few verses in the letter to the Hebrews…
“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, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Heb 1:1-2 KJV)
You can share with the elder the need for such prophets were outdated by Jesus.
Perhaps the elder will respond by saying, “well, we can offer you the ordinances of the church…”
What a great opportunity to share Colossians 2:14-15
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:14-15 KJV)
Hmm…. sorry elder so-and-so, looks like the ordinances were nailed to the cross and Jesus triumphed over those too. What can the Mormon church really offer you? Perhaps a dose of guilt? Extra burdens? Exhaustion? False claims? Jesus seems the better bet.
Throughout the month I hope that more members on our Meetup will add to the discussion with their own thoughts and experiences or helpful video links like this. In this way, we are using our Meetup to equip those who have a heart to minister to Mormons and also provide reading material for the ex-Mormons who visit the site looking for answers to their questions.
Keep yourself in God’s love, Julie
