DiscussMormonism.com

Today I took an extended lunch downtown, near the "old town" area.

I was strolling along the old streets lookng for a place to grab a bite of lunch and enjoying the very lovely weather when I happened upon two young boys doing their best to sell some magic undies to an unwitting college aged couple. Yes, two Mormon missionaries speaking to a young couple, the young woman seemed quite interested and was doing most of the talking with them.

It was quite obvious as they had their BoMs out and were seemed to be reading and discussing things..

They were sitting at an outdoor table of a Panera Bread store. Curiosity and the desire to share the truth got the best of me and I quickly decided to eat lunch there.

I wasn't able to sit close enough for any effective eavesdropping, but was able to assume their discussions by just watching.

After about 20 minutes, they finished talking and off the mishies zipped on their bikes.

Remembering KA's post on this board, I felt it was my turn to ensure this unwitting couple were given a balanced overview of LDS Inc.

As the couple walked by my table to drop their trash, I asked them if those boys were Mormons.

"Yes, they are.. missionaries for that church" the young woman replied, as she and her boyfriend paused.

"I hear they have some very interesting ideas and theology!" I quipped.

"OH YEAH", the boyfriend quickly responded, "weird in my book..."

"Like what?", I asked as I moved over a chair to invite them to sit a spell.

"Like being married forever!", the girlfriend jumped in as she pulled her boyfriend in closer "I think its romantic!"

"Yes many people believe that as well", I replied. "I hear they have their own Bible or scriptures?"

"Yeah, that's what we were talking about", said the boyfriend, "some other or extra testament of Jesus..."

"Ohh reaaaaahhiiillly?", I began......

Soon we were off talking about what they had been discussing thus far with the mishies.. the first vision, moroni, plates, Book of Mormon, Joe the prophet, blah blah you know the drill...

Were were there for about an hour. I showed them many things on my iPhone. Panera has free WiFi and I took full advantage of it revealing polygamy(thanks familysearch.org!)
I showed them clips on Youtube from the PBS docu, "The Mormons", stuff about the temple ceremony, parts of the Book of Abraham DVD etc...

Needless to say, they were shocked and said they would not meet with the missionaries again.

Thanks to my iPhone, WiFi, and exmos around the world posting youtube clips and information on the web, a young couple has averted a life of certain misery!

I can envision the missionaries' response when they get rejected by the couple for a follow-up visit. They might even write home and tell how they had a golden investigator couple ruined by a run-in with an evil anti-mormon.

Sethbag wrote:I can envision the missionaries' response when they get rejected by the couple for a follow-up visit. They might even write home and tell how they had a golden investigator couple ruined by a run-in with an evil anti-mormon.

The boyfriend was already skeptical, but the girlfriend seemed drawn to it.. I feel I helped him confirm his skepticism and helped her see the reality of things.

They asked me if they would have ever been taught all of these things I showed them. I said that they probably would not be taught very much if any at all. They both agreed they could understand why the missionaries would hide all of the "wierd stuff" as people would not listen to them for very long! duh!

I enjoyed it and look forward to my next time!

A Christian friend at work has asked me if I would speak to his congregation about Mormonism. I said hell yeah! His minister was working on a series of Mormon awareness sessions and asked if anyone knew of a former member who would come and speak. It is coming up in June. I am excited!

Sethbag wrote:I can envision the missionaries' response when they get rejected by the couple for a follow-up visit. They might even write home and tell how they had a golden investigator couple ruined by a run-in with an evil anti-mormon.

You mean: ruined by an evil cybernetic anti-mormon from the future! Yeah, even a terminator borg, sent back in time by Lie-Net, a demonic computer brain bent on spoiling the salvation of humanity with faith-demoting, unhelpful truths about Mormonism.

Boaz & Lidia wrote:A Christian friend at work has asked me if I would speak to his congregation about Mormonism. I said hell yeah! His minister was working on a series of Mormon awareness sessions and asked if anyone knew of a former member who would come and speak. It is coming up in June. I am excited!

Don't be a tool.

Boaz & Lidia wrote: I showed them many things on my iPhone.

"And many plain and precious things did I show them on my mobile handheld device."

Actually, if the LDS Church was smart they'd take a clue and develop web applications for iPhone and put one in the hands of every missionary out there.

But wait, maybe that would backfire on them. Never mind.

I think the whole Eternal Families thing is a POWERFUL selling point for the religion.

Young couples dig it cause they get their kids forever.

Elderly dig it cause they get to be with their companion forever.

I just wonder why you felt the need to be deceptive--in that you represented yourself as not knowing about Mormonism?

Scottie wrote:I think the whole Eternal Families thing is a POWERFUL selling point for the religion.

Young couples dig it cause they get their kids forever.

Elderly dig it cause they get to be with their companion forever.

Yea if you don't dwell on the logic or logistics..

Logic... God is limited by the need of a special secret oath to let people who want to be together - be together??

Logistics.. You have your wife/husband and kids, and parents and their parents, and their parents etc.. etc.. and with proxy work.. for a thousand years forward and backward.. then the kids have their spouses and their kids and their kids for a thousand years forward and backward.. Boggles the mind! In the temple wedding where they have the mirrors on both sides and tell the couple to look both ways.. everybody else in the room should be standing there too to show the real LDS concept of eternal families..