It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten an anti-Mormon slam. I agonized for the day whether or not I should respond. So far in my experience, nothing good has ever come from the halls of debate when it comes to religion. It only seems to breed anger and perpetrate ugliness. On the other hand, while arguments do not create convictions, a lack of one can lend to false beliefs and somewhere we have a responsibility to set the record straight. In my mental duel with these two principles I’ve concluded that it just depends on the person’s intention. Are they genuinely curious or are they attacking you? What is the Spirit prompting you to do? In this case, it became clear to me that this was an obvious attack. I actually enjoy a good debate, but a good debate takes two good debaters, and there is no rationalizing with an irrational person. Plus, I’ve learned through experience to heed this counsel:
“For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirith up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the the hearts of men with anger, one against another: but this is my doctrine that such things should be done away.” (3 Nephi 11:29, 30)
Also, insofar as debating goes, nothing can take the place of the witness of the Holy Spirit. We could dig up the Arc of the Covenant and most would still not believe. In fact, when Jesus comes again, we know many will still not believe. While many are arguing for facts, the facts, frankly, won’t convert them. John the Revelator said, “The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10) and the Apostle Paul said, “No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Corinthians 12:3) Many people mistakenly believe that they need external evidences when in reality it is only the Holy Spirit, an internal evidence or witness, that will convert us. Hence why the Latter-day Saints believe in the counsel of Moroni:
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, you may know the truth of all things. And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.” (Moroni 10:4-6)
This is not to say that I don’t believe in studying a matter out – I absolutely do. In fact, I studied the Church and its doctrines for a couple of years before heeding the counsel of Moroni officially. Our Heavenly Father gave us a brain and he wants us to use it insomuch that we are not victims of cognitive dissonance. Critics often accuse Latter-day Saints to be such ill-informed dupes. In reality, our Church doctrines make much more common sense than mainstream Christianity’s views on the godhead and other topics, and we happen to have a variety of extremely intelligent converts.
As I wrap this up, I’d like to make a note of something I find very interesting. Most non-LDS Christians would probably not bash their Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist friend publicly for their religion – even if only because it would cross this invisible line of being highly politically incorrect and their own conscience wouldn’t allow it. Notice, though, how acceptable it seems to bash the Mormon. Brigham Young sums up my thoughts on this very well, “It is light, intelligence, the power of God that make the wicked tremble and wish ‘Mormonism’ out of the way. If it were a false doctrine or a false theory, the Devil would not endeavor to disturb it, wicked men would not fear it, Heaven would not smile upon it, nor give a revelation to any man or woman to believe it, and we should have poor success; and Heaven forbid that we should have success or gain influence upon any other principle than the revelations of Jesus Christ.”
In His Name,
Angela
