So, I Invited the Mormons into My Home to Talk...

It was two very nice young men who came to my door (even though I put the dog out to discourage them). They were the sort of fellows you see walking in pairs, nicely dressed and with their backpacks, that you know are coming to your door to evangelize. Since they were persistant and rang my bell despite the dog, I answered the door.

After they introduced themselves, I told them that "we are a family of faith so thank you..."...but the blonde fellow interrupted and asked where we went to church. I told him as I pointed in the direction of the Catholic Church about four blocks away. He was still polite in manner, but he did suggest the "Church was in apostasy [and] that the Bible even talks about it."

I used to teach the "convert classes" at the church I had gestured to, so I was actually aware of how Mormons view the Catholic Church (and basically all others), so I wasn't offended, but a little surprised he was so direct. Anyway, I said I'd be very interested in the Bible verses that attested the apostasy of the Church, and invited them in....

It was a very interesting conversation. We prayed together and spoke intelligently about scriptures.

It was a very interesting encounter. I hope that I gave the two gentleman a few tidbits to consider. We talked of Prophets and people who fall away from faith and of the Trinity (Mormons don't believe Jesus and God are One Being--they view them as separate entities--John 1 is the stumper on that belief of Mormons). I told them that a part of why I became Catholic was the study of history and the early Church (that was the discussion about what he claimed to be a Church that was in apostasy). My comment was that certainly people wander from the truth all the time, but Jesus promised to be with the Church He established "until the end of the age" and that even when people stray, I trust Jesus' promise. He seemed a little bewildered by that one, so I used the metaphor that there can be disease and canker in a tree, but the roots still have life--and in a diseased Church, Jesus is that life. I think he understood, then, but changed the subject.

I learned that Mormons believe that Joseph Smith (their Prophet) was supposedly taught by John the Baptist. It was funny because I said..."you mean John, who baptized Jesus? the one who got his head cut off?" The blonde one explained that John was alive and in a risen body. He implied there were other risen people too, but he didn't get specific about who. Nor would he be specific about other Prophets other than Smith. I don't know if that was because they believe Smith is the only one after Jesus (which wouldn't fit with his explanation about how Smith could be a Prophet like the OT Prophets--there should be others if that was the case), or he just didn't want to explain those details...

One of the two guys had been raised Catholic in Mexico--he didn't talk much, but I know he saw my statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and I know that he knew exactly what I meant when I explained to them part of why I became Catholic is the encounter with Jesus that I have at every Mass when I receive His Body and Blood. Perhaps in their attempt to interest me, God used me to plant a seed for that young man.

He closed with how the fire burns inside you when you read scripture, and that is how he knows the Book of Mormon is true. I told him that God made us with a soul and a body, so we need to read scriptures with our heart and our brains. As we said goodbye, I told them that as a Catholic, I believe that all who believe in Jesus are brothers and sisters in Christ, and I thanked them for the interesting discussion.



My husband thinks I'm a loon for letting them in the door. But, then again, he the kind of guy who will swat a fly from your forehead with a hatchet, so...he's not so good in those kinds of discussions.

 

That's nice. I usually get Jehovah Witnesses ( a lot). They are always nice and courteous and I never let them in because....I don't see the point. But I always pray they stay safe as they knock on those doors. I am in sales...and I see knocking on doors as simply a quest to find someone who is thankful you showed up.

My boss is a Jehovah Witness...and though I don't share much of her beliefs we both share same values and mutual respect.

 

Normally, I turn them away too. I don't know why, but this time I didn't. I can't say my house was unusually calm and so I had the time--I didn't. It was the usual kids and their friends running in and out slamming doors, etc... I just did it.

Perhaps it was for that young man from Mexico--I think God works like that if we let Him. I hope that's the case, it would be such a blessing.

 

so even tho he's a brother in chtist, youre still not satisfied??

 

Well...technically they don't believe that Jesus is God...so...

And, just because you may be a brother in Christ, that doesn't mean you're not horribly in a state of heresy.

 

what a typically sick thing to say

 

What an Alfred E. Neuman-ish thing to say

 

yes it was. Alfred would never be so judgemental.

 

Ummm...I don't think its Felicity being judgemental in this thread. Of course...its the opposite. I think you should read your own posts....and get that log out of your eye.

 

Not at all. Some of my best friends are heretics. I may tell them they're going to hell when the die, but that doesn't mean we can't spend quality time together.

 

well I do so keep your opinion to yourself

 

The modern world doesn't like the H-word that much. It's a stumbling block to them that believe in religious indifference and indifference to everything else it seems.

 

Kinda sad how "heretic" is so "offensive," but prime-time TV and Jay-Z are perfectly fine. What-ever...

 

arrogance of people who believe THEY know truth and the others are heretics is whats offensive

 

Aren't you doing that right now? Hmmmmmmm.

 

no I have my ideas on what is true and what is not but I dont say someone who disagrees with me is a heretic.

 

I didn't say that either.

BTW--what's your hang-up with the word "heretic?"

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Are you Mormon, Gabriel?

 

they should reciprocate

 

you all seem the same to me

 

Interesting story OP. I did the Mormon thing for a couple years and use to drive the Missionaries to visit members who were home bound and such. I have never understood the need to do "cold calls" to random homes though. Spreading the word is awesome, but when someone says "thanks but no thanks" and the Christian keeps trying to convert you... it just comes across as pushy and disrespectful. Probably why I failed at a job in telemarketing... in real life I am respectful... which will probably be surprising to those that I have sparred with here.

 

I enjoyed your little story Felicity, very well written too I must say..

For my own interest, can you direct me to the passage where Jesus establishes a church?

I have trouble with the Hell word, though not the heretic word. The trouble with the hell word is that youre implying that many people are going to eternal torture as they understand the word.

Although this is preposterous it is quite frightening to many people, and therefore one should always be very circumspect about these things as essentially we are really speaking about real life. Whereas your prime time TV and Jay Z etc are not actually real life but mere entertainments.

 

thanks.

Matt 16
[17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
[19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Matt 28
[19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
[20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

I understand that explanation. But I'd like to direct you to yet another "H" word-- Hope. As long as there is breath, there is hope.

God constantly calls us to His truth. We have our brain and our heart and we should use them. I believe that God loves sincerity, also. Those two kids were very sincere as far as I could tell. I don't doubt that God gives special aid to a sincere heart at the time of judgement when we freely decide to believe in him as He really is or believe what we want to believe about Him. They are young...life has a way of kicking you around enough to direct you to what you need spiritually, and we choose to grab on to those opportunities, or reject them. My letting them in the door, I think was one of those kinds of "opportunities" for both of us. I came away more convinced of the gentleness and love of my Faith. I wonder what they thought.

You know...I could be wrong. I don't think I am because I have sincerely sought to know God with my brain and my heart. I have fought some of the ideas I found, but the truth is hard to deny. If somehow I am wrong, and I die in this error I sincerely believe to be truth...I trust that God, upon my death, will reveal Himself truthfully to me and I will have the opportunity to humble myself to that truth. God is Merciful and Just.

So...while there is breath, there is HOPE.

 

Thats fascinating, so was an actual church built on that rock? Or did he likely mean all rock?

Indeed I profoundly believe Hope is the fundamental psychological driver of humans in general. I also agree with your entire post about opening fateful opportunities. My conception of God is not as a personality of course but as our higher selves, where we are linked throughout time and space.
As such there is indeed a hell, but its our own hell. Made of our own self torment when we finally understand the truth of our lives at the end - a more perfect judgement and punishment there could not be.

I think they thought that you were/ are woman with God very much along the lines they see things also. A good meeting was had by all, and therefore all are blessed.

 

Actually, there's a lot more to it than that, although there probably is a literal church building at what is thought to be the location where it is believed that occurred. There's a lot of them in the area celebrating different biblical events.

Anyway, Peter's name wasn't originally Peter. As Jesus called him by his given name "Simon" as you can see in verse 17. But then Jesus changes his name. Jesus likely spoke Aramaic, however. Peter is the Greek word for the name Jesus gave to Peter. Basically, Jesus changed Simon's name to "Rock" and made a play on words. There's no indication Jesus was on a literal "rock" when he said this, but he very well could have been and he may have gestured to the literal "rock" as he also re-named Simon "Rock." Also, by the construction of the sentence, "rock" can also refer to Simon's confession of Jesus as Christ, revealed to Simon by God the Father. But he did change Simon's name to "Rock"--"Kepha" or "Cephas" in Arimaic, and translated to "Peter" (from petra) in a masculinized form from Greek. So Jesus clearly founded a literal Church on the faith of Peter and gave Peter the "keys keys to the kingdom" and the power of "binding and loosing." Both of those terms are terms of Judaic authority. All of them would have understood what Jesus was saying about taking the power of the Jewish authority and giving it over to the Apostles led by Simon, now called Peter or Kepha.

Interesting fact: Biblically, many people received name changes when they were given a new role by God: http://godwords.org/posts.php?id=109

I believe God is a distinct and unique entity.
However...

...this description of Hell you give is pretty much exactly how I perceive the reality of Hell.

Do you perceive a "Heaven" sort of awareness as well?

Thank you. I hope that is so.

 

Right. Only your (church's) interpretation of the bible is the correct one.

*chuckle*

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The close of the age, i.e. the end of the Age of Pisces, Jesus the ichthys's age..