JANE STORY |GUEST

I was two years post-college and alarmed to learn how hard it was to make nonbelieving friends. I struggled to find people to share the gospel with because my primary social outlet was church. I began asking God to bring non-Christians into my life. I could not have predicted the mission field that was about to open to me.

Plopping into the gray cushioned chair at my new doctor’s office, my eyes fell on a Bible and a Book of Mormon. My heart began to race as I struggled to interpret what I was seeing. Either he was a Mormon, or he was religiously open, allowing people leave literature in his waiting room. Could this be an answer to my prayers?

I tried casually bringing up faith at the end of the appointment: “Hey I noticed a Bible and a Book of Mormon in your waiting room. Can you tell me more about that?” His flustered response surprised me:  “I… uh… well… I’m a Mormon!” he blurted, like a child caught with a hand in the cookie jar.

He then revealed that he was the local bishop, which is the top Latter Day Saints (LDS) authority in a given area. I was intimidated, yet undeterred. That simple question spawned a friendship that lasted for years. Here are a few key lessons I learned about reaching Mormons:

Everyone Wants Respect

We decided I would read the Book of Mormon and discuss it together during appointments, since I needed to see him regularly. I thought it was odd, but agreed, when he asked me not to research anything about the religion. In a rare moment of vulnerability, my new friend explained how Evangelicals had cherry-picked the strangest Mormon doctrines in order to deride him. He was also deeply offended at their insistence that the LDS church was a cult.

This powerful, successful, burly man had nonetheless been deeply hurt by others. Stereotyping had hardened his heart to the gospel. The bishop wanted to be seen for who he was, and speak to his own beliefs, rather than bear others’ assumptions. He wanted respect.

God Can Do Anything

From day one I began praying for specific milestones: an invitation into his home, an opportunity to read the Bible with his family, and for all of them to come to saving faith. These felt impossible. How many of you have been invited to your doctor’s house for dinner?

Yet within a month I was pulling into his driveway for just that! In that first year I also attended his daughter’s school musical, and his eldest’s graduation party. His wife even taught me how to sew a pillow! By the work of the Holy Spirit, I was welcomed into their family to do life together.

I was never able to do a formal Bible study with my Mormon friends. To my knowledge they have not yet become Christians. Yet I know the teenage daughters were involved with a Christian group at their high school, and I still marvel at the Lord! Who could have imagined sharing the gospel, and my life, with the bishop and his family? The Lord can do whatever He wants!

The Bible is Unparalleled

Reading the book of Mormon is a chore and was my least favorite part of my friendship with my doctor. It was so tedious, repetitive, and empty, that it took me over eighteen months to complete this brief volume.

I have had similar experiences with the Quran and the Bhagavad Gita. Most religions claim their texts are divinely inspired, but my experience with the Bible is unique. I gain wisdom, guidance, conviction, and comfort in ways that have never happened with other sacred books. Additionally, even secular scholars tout the Bible as a masterpiece of literature. For example Richard Dawkins insisted there be a copy in every British primary school. Subjectively and objectively, it is in a class of its own.

The bishop repeatedly refused to read the Bible with me. He read it occasionally on his own, but claimed Mormon scriptures were more important. This problem is not unique to him; people often refuse my offer to read the Bible together with no clear reason. I am convinced that its inherent power is known, if subconsciously, and that resistance to God manifests as resistance to His Word. Yet we must continue to offer. The Bible contains the gospel, which has the sole power to save (Romans 1:16).

Mormons are Not Christians

The most important moment in our conversations came one evening at the bishop’s house. Following dinner and a religious presentation by the local sister missionaries, he and his wife stayed up with me until almost midnight.

He tried to end our tense conversation with, “Well, at least we all believe in the same God.” I stared at him, pondering our three-hour conversation to the contrary. His wife piped up, “…but she doesn’t think that we do! She believes in the Trinity, that the Son, Spirit, and Father are one being. We believe that they are separate beings. To her, our gods are not the same God.”

Mormonism diverges from Christianity in innumerable ways, but if this was the only difference it would be enough. They do not believe that Jesus and God the Father are part of the Trinity, instead believing in multiple god figures. While we can love and respect our Mormon neighbors, we should not mistake them for fellow Christians.

Our Response

Over time I’ve lost touch with the bishop and his family. Last I heard they had not accepted Christ. Nationwide at least 1.5% of American are LDS church members, and erroneously believe they follow Jesus Christ. Some estimate this to be as many as 7 million lost souls.

Yet there are many stories of Mormons coming to saving faith! We must respectfully reach out to our friends and neighbors, sharing our lives with them, and teaching the gospel. With prayer, patience, and polite discussion, we can and will see some of them come God’s Kingdom. Next time you see meet a Mormon, remember the Bishop, and reach out a hand of friendship and gospel truth.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash