Just finished meeting with another two Mormon missionaries but only for an hour which isn't a very long period of time...it's difficult to meet with different people because the same conversations end up happening over and over again but we made what little headway we could.
There are some recurring problems that continually resurface the more that I talk with Mormons, especially the missionaries. Their goal seems to be to invite an individual to read the book of Mormon and pray about whether or not it is true, often referring to Moroni 10:3-5, yet there is no merit to this model of investigating the truth. To me it seems like a catch-22: if you accept that the Book of Mormon might be true, and read the Book of Mormon, and pray about the truth of it with sincerity and in faith, then God will reveal that it is true. What I hear is that if you accept that the Book of Mormon is true then the Book of Mormon is true...
Moreover, compare this method of investigating the truth with the example found in Acts 17:10-12. When the apostle Paul went to these individuals, the Bereans, to teach them the message of the gospel, they received with eagerness what Paul spoke, but they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true and were described as those of noble character. There is not even a mention of prayer, but a careful examination of the revelation God has already given, to see if what Paul taught was in line with Scripture. Since God has already revealed Himself to us in His Word, should we not also examine every other teaching alongside of it - including the Book of Mormon? Are we not to examine what God has already revealed to us to determine whether or not Joseph Smith really is a prophet from God?
The whole concept of simply praying to determine whether or not something is true is entirely subjective - for if I say to a Mormon that I have prayed about whether or not the Book of Mormon is true, yet God has revealed to me it is not - where does that leave everyone? There must be something more substantial to plant our feet on.
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Hi Sean
ReplyDeleteI would like to comment about your concern which I think is a valid concern. You mentioned that the missionaries asked you to read the Book of Mormon and to pray as to whether it was true. I think that the phrasing of the question might be a little misleading. You're not praying to know whether the book is true, you are praying so that the Spirit will testify to you that the book is true. You need this spiritual confirmation, you need to know for yourself the the book is true. Praying about it will accomplish this goal. I know that the book is true. I have studied it out as well as having prayed about it. This is very important that you study it. There is nothing wrong with studying things out before gaining the spiritual witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon. In fact our church encourages it. Go to the scriptures, study them. If you honestly seek the truth and honestly want to know that the Book of Mormon is true you will receive this confirmation by prayer and study.(see Moroni 10:4-5)
I hope I haven't confused the point. Let me know and I can clarify anything that may not make sense.