I’ve had multiple discussions with the missionaries and read the Book of Mormon. As I prayed, I got the feeling of confirmation that I was on the right path. However, my mom is vehemently opposed to me being baptized and I don’t want such a happy thing to cause a rift in my family. When we’ve talked about it, she’s had two major problems. She doesn’t believe that the church is truly Christian and she keeps alluding to the Bible warning of being aware of false prophets and books. Do you have any advice/bible verses to show her her misconceptions?
One Response to “I’ve had multiple discussions with the missionaries and read…”
Bruno Paz
2010-01-25 04:45:00
The Book of Mormon has been translated into many languages.
Hi friend. I'm very happy to hear that you're interested in the LDS Church, that you've read the Book of Mormon, and that you've felt that it was true. I pray that that experience will be the first of many spiritual impressions that God will send to guide you through your life's journey.
It's very challenging when someone who's interested in the church encounters opposition from family members. On one hand, family members generally want what's best for you. In this particular instance, however, because of misconceptions and misunderstandings, their good intentions may actually get in the way of your spiritual progress. Joining the church is a marvelous experience, but you're right that that experience can be bitter-sweet when family members oppose it.
Here are some scriptures, quotes, ideas, and videos that might help your mom understand that we are Christian:
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." ~ 2 Nephi 25:26 (Book of Mormon)
"But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." ~ Mark 9:40 (New Testament) The official name of the Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Stephen E. Robinson, an eminent LDS theologian, wrote an easy-to-understand article entitled "Are Mormons Christians?" that you might find helpful.
Gordon B. Hinckley, the recently deceased president of the "Mormon Church," bore a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ entitled "My Testimony."
The Church published an official proclamation to the world entitled "The Living Christ" a few years ago. Here's my favorite quote from that document: "[Jesus] will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles-that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."
C. S. Lewis, a prominent Christian [Anglican] theologian, taught the following: "It is not for us to say who, in the deepest sense, is or is not close to the spirit of Christ. We do not see into men's hearts. We cannot judge, and are indeed forbidden to judge. It would be wicked arrogance for us to say that any man is, or is not, a Christian in this refined sense . . . When a man who accepts the Christian doctrine lives unworthily of it, it is much clearer to say he is a bad Christian than to say he is not a Christian." (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, pg. 11)
Most objective scholars of Mormonism believe it is a Christian religion: " the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints see themselves as Christian, and most experts in comparative religions would view this labeling as basically correct. That they accept the Christian Bible as their first cannon is a good indicator of this. Moreover, 'outsiders' to [Christianity], such as Buddhists, would almost certainly recognize them as belonging to the stream of Christian tradition." (Anthology of World Scriptures by Robert E. Van Voorst)
According to a Pew survey conducted in 2007, most Americans believe that Mormons are Christian.
Even some evangelical leaders, who are generally opposed to Mormonism, believe that Mormons are Christian. When Chris Wallece of Fox News asked Joel Osteen, the pastor of the evangelical Lakewood [Mega]Church in Houston Texas, if Mormons were Christian, he responded: "Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney [a prominent Mormon] has said that he believes in Christ as his savior, and that's what I believe, so, you know, I'm not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that."
Finally, here are some useful videos that explain that Mormons are Christian:
Joseph Smith was the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He received a message from God to restore Christs ancient church in modern times.
Your mom is right that the Bible warns of false prophets. However, that doesn't mean that all prophets are false, nor does it mean that Joseph Smith or the modern leaders of our church are false prophets. In fact, the Bible teaches that God's true church is always led by prophets and apostles (a kind of prophet). Here are some scriptures that might help:
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." ~ Amos 3:7 (Old Testament)
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." ~ Ephesians 2:19-20 (New Testament)
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" ~ Ephesians 4:11-13 (New Testament)
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (New Testament)
Regarding "false books," your mom seems to be concerned that Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon in addition to the Bible. Many Christians of other denominations think that God cannot reveal scripture outside of the Bible, even though the Bible nowhere says that it is itself the sole source of God's revealed word. Mormons think it is wrong to limit God in this way. While the Bible is a very sacred book, God is greater than the Bible. If He wants to reveal more information through additional holy books, He can certainly do it. As one non-Mormon Christian author, Floyd V. Filson, explained,
"It is possible, however, to stress the Bible so much and give it so central a place that the sensitive Christian conscience must rebel. We may illustrate such overstress on the Bible by the often-used (and perhaps misused) quotation from Chillingworth: 'The Bible alone is the religion of Protestantism.' Or we may recall how often it has been said that the Bible is the final authority for the Christian. If it will not seem too facetious, I would like to put in a good word for God. It is God and not the Bible who is the central fact for the Christian. When we speak of "the Word of God" we use a phrase which, properly used, may apply to the Bible, but it has a deeper primary meaning. It is God who speaks to man. But he does not do so only through the Bible. He speaks through prophets and apostles. He speaks through specific events. And while his unique message to the Church finds its central record and written expression in the Bible, this very reference to the Bible reminds us that Christ is the Word of God in a living, personal way which surpasses what we have even in this unique book. Even the Bible proves to be the Word of God only when the Holy Spirit working within us attests the truth and divine authority of what the Scripture says. Faith must not give to the aids that God provides the reverence and attention that Belong only to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is in God; our life is in Christ; our power is in the Spirit. The Bible speaks to us of the divine center of all life and help and power, but it is not the center. The Christian teaching about the canon must not deify the Scripture."
Your mom may be confused by Revelation 22:18-19, which reads, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
This scripture seems to suggest that there cannot be additional books of scripture beyond the Bible. However, scholars universally agree that this scripture refers only to the Book of Revelation, not to the whole Bible. How can they be so sure? Because when this verse was written, the many books of our modern Bible had not been compiled into a single book. The Bible did not yet exist.
I hope these explanations help to calm your mom's concerns about our church. Let me know if she has any additional questions. Good luck!
It's very challenging when someone who's interested in the church encounters opposition from family members. On one hand, family members generally want what's best for you. In this particular instance, however, because of misconceptions and misunderstandings, their good intentions may actually get in the way of your spiritual progress. Joining the church is a marvelous experience, but you're right that that experience can be bitter-sweet when family members oppose it.
Here are some scriptures, quotes, ideas, and videos that might help your mom understand that we are Christian:
- "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." ~ Amos 3:7 (Old Testament)
- "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." ~ Ephesians 2:19-20 (New Testament)
- "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" ~ Ephesians 4:11-13 (New Testament)
- "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (New Testament)
Regarding "false books," your mom seems to be concerned that Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon in addition to the Bible. Many Christians of other denominations think that God cannot reveal scripture outside of the Bible, even though the Bible nowhere says that it is itself the sole source of God's revealed word. Mormons think it is wrong to limit God in this way. While the Bible is a very sacred book, God is greater than the Bible. If He wants to reveal more information through additional holy books, He can certainly do it. As one non-Mormon Christian author, Floyd V. Filson, explained,"It is possible, however, to stress the Bible so much and give it so central a place that the sensitive Christian conscience must rebel. We may illustrate such overstress on the Bible by the often-used (and perhaps misused) quotation from Chillingworth: 'The Bible alone is the religion of Protestantism.' Or we may recall how often it has been said that the Bible is the final authority for the Christian. If it will not seem too facetious, I would like to put in a good word for God. It is God and not the Bible who is the central fact for the Christian. When we speak of "the Word of God" we use a phrase which, properly used, may apply to the Bible, but it has a deeper primary meaning. It is God who speaks to man. But he does not do so only through the Bible. He speaks through prophets and apostles. He speaks through specific events. And while his unique message to the Church finds its central record and written expression in the Bible, this very reference to the Bible reminds us that Christ is the Word of God in a living, personal way which surpasses what we have even in this unique book. Even the Bible proves to be the Word of God only when the Holy Spirit working within us attests the truth and divine authority of what the Scripture says. Faith must not give to the aids that God provides the reverence and attention that Belong only to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is in God; our life is in Christ; our power is in the Spirit. The Bible speaks to us of the divine center of all life and help and power, but it is not the center. The Christian teaching about the canon must not deify the Scripture."
Your mom may be confused by Revelation 22:18-19, which reads, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
This scripture seems to suggest that there cannot be additional books of scripture beyond the Bible. However, scholars universally agree that this scripture refers only to the Book of Revelation, not to the whole Bible. How can they be so sure? Because when this verse was written, the many books of our modern Bible had not been compiled into a single book. The Bible did not yet exist.
I hope these explanations help to calm your mom's concerns about our church. Let me know if she has any additional questions. Good luck!