DiscussMormonism.com

A lawyer friend of mine who is generally (and genuinely) interested in foundational religious texts asked me a week or so back if I could get him a Book of Mormon.

I found one at church Sunday sitting in a little box marked "Free Stuff" and grabbed it with my friend in mind.

I ran it over to his office yesterday and presented it to him.

I didn't mark it up, or write my testimony in the front cover, or stick a photo of me and my family inside.

I did, however, point out to him 2 Nephi 29:3 because it reminded me of something he had said to me; something about how we need to be more open to the religious texts of other cultures and find out for ourselves their various truths. (So you don't have to look it up, the passage is the famous one about "A Bible, a Bible! We already got a Bible and we don't need no more stinkin' Bible!")

He thought that was pretty good.

Then he starts asking me penetrating questions like, "Why is it that you believe this book as opposed to other books out there?"

So here I am presented on a silver platter an opportunity to bear my testimony, which I naturally took full advantage of. But I did it in such a way as to avoid giving my opinion as to the truth of it, but just described in as much detail as I could the experience I had praying my way through the Book of Mormon at the age of 18.

I worked him around to Moroni 10:4. He was amazed I knew the text so well. (Here I almost laughed out loud. Perceptions are remarkable sometimes, I suppose.) He read it and asked me if I felt the Holy Ghost had witnessed to me it was true. So I had to say that I did. It was like I could not have scripted it better. The only thing missing was for me to call him Mr. Brown.

My friend was very interested, said he would read it as time permitted, and asked if I would mind if he called me when he had questions.

I said that would be fine; that he didn't have to worry about me checking up on him or anything.

I am amazed at what a wonderful missionary opportunity was presented to me with no prayer, no goals and no particular intention of accomplishing anything.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

That is so awesome. I would have also asked him to give me his opinion on the verses describing Nephi beheading a drunken man. As an attorney, he would likely have some excellent insight in that regard. I wouldn't do it with any intention to put the book in a bad light but rather to ask him whether he thinks Nephi was justified in doing the deed.

Consig, why didn't you try to date him for baptism?

I would also ask him what he thinks about judgment calls on entire populations. I mean, what does he think about the author (a prophet) claiming that an entire population is ripe for destruction, including the dumb, blind, infirm, poor, children, women, grandparents. Just curious what a nevermo attorney thinks about that.

Oh, and as an attorney, how would he judge Isabel? Does he think Isabel really was a harlot or maybe that was a story conjured up by Corianton... or maybe by Corianton's father to make the homosexual affair look better on paper?

Oh, and maybe I would ask him whether he thinks all the anachronisms appear significant to him. I'm sure they appear different to me, having grown up with the book.

All of these are wonderful questions that may come up in time.

I think I will just sit back and wait for him to propose what he thinks is important.

I did mention that the Mormon Church today is quite different from that founded by Joseph Smith, in that it is much more rigid and controlling.

He said, "Sure, that's what happens all the time with religions. That is why I am most interested in their early founding documents and scriptures, because those usually come about at the outset before the rigidity sets in."

I added a quote a like from Joseph Smith; that Mormonism embraces all truth, let it come from whatever source it may.

He really liked that one.

My friend says he thinks this kind of stuff is happening all over the world; only that we don't know about it so much, because the people it is happening to don't go on camera to brag about it or try to get some air time.

I mentioned that Alma 29 agrees with that, saying that God reveals to every nation and people through their own prophets everything . . . .

I was surprised that he filled in the rest of the quote for me by jumping in and saying, " . . . that they can handle."

I think I have him pretty sold on an early 19th century version of Mormonism.

The problem, I fear, lies in the path not taken.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

If it leads him to an experience with God and coming to know him better, you have done a great service for your friend. And I think that is all that matters in the end. I don't view the Book of Mormon or Mormonism as valuable otherwise unless it leads you to that end.

You overlook the value of mission baptism stats.

Meh. I read the Book of Mormon 17 times when I was TBM. Listened to it numerous times on tape while working. I gained absolutely nothing other than the ability to know where everything was if asked.

Waste of time. Waste of resources.

Why not print the Mormon Curtain and hand it to him? It would have been a hell of lot more informative than that chloroform in print.

Tobin wrote:If it leads him to an experience with God and coming to know him better, you have done a great service for your friend. And I think that is all that matters in the end. I don't view the Book of Mormon or Mormonism as valuable otherwise unless it leads you to that end.

I'm unconvinced the Book of Mormon will help a person know anything more about God and His angels.

To be clear, the reason I like the OP so much is that the Book of Mormon sale was not there. How refreshing.