As Mormonism spreads throughout America, evangelical Christians need to be prepared to confront Mormons with the Gospel of Christ. In Have You Witnessed to a Mormon Lately?, James Spencer carefully examines the errors of Mormonism, presents tactics for defending Christian truths, and reveals specific strategies for witnessing to Mormons. With this practical guide, youll find the information and encouragement you need to meet the challenge presented by the "Latter Day Saints."
About the Author:
James Spencer, an evangelical pastor, has written and lectured extensively on Mormonism and is a widely recognized authority in this area. Before he accepted Christ as his Savior, Jim Spencer was a missionary and Elder in the Mormon Church. His story is told in his first book, Beyond Mormonism: An Elders Story. Jim lives in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Margaretta. They have three daughters.
Some of the names in this book have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.
Unless otherwise indicated, the Bible translation quoted is the New International Version, copyright © 1978 by New York International Bible Society. Italics have been added by the author.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Spencer, James R. Have you witnessed to a Mormon lately?
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsControversial literature. 2. Mormon ChurchControversial literature. 3. Witness bearing
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.
Orignially published by Chosen Books
Copyright © 1986 by James R. Spencer
This book is dedicated to the victims of Mormonism. To the victims, really, of Joseph Smith, an imaginative necromancer who fell into something bigger than even he could imagine.
Contents
Part 1: Initial Encounters
Chapter One: Talking to Mormons
Chapter Two: The Special Problems of Talking to Mormons
Chapter Three: Beginnings
Chapter Four: Preparing for the Encounter
Chapter Five: Opening the Dialogue
Chapter Six: Encountering the Three Mormon Types
Chapter Seven:Expanding the Encounter
Part 2: Encounters of the Best Kind
Chapter Eight: The Nature of God
Chapter Nine: Revelation
Chapter Ten: The Book of Mormon
Chapter Eleven: How to Answer Mormon Questions
Part 3: Advanced Encounters
Chapter Twelve: Some Topics You Should Understand
Chapter Thirteen: The Mormon Family
Chapter Fourteen
Encountering Mormon Salvation Theology
Part 4: Wisdom for Exiting Mormons
Chapter Fifteen: New Hope in Dealing with Mormonism
Chapter Sixteen: How to Resign from the Mormon Church
Appendix A: The Book of Mormon and the Nature of God
Appendix B: Brigham H. Roberts: Mormon Giant Who Lost Confidence in the Book of Mormon
Appendix C: Solomon Spaldings Manuscript and the Book of Mormon
Appendix D: Psychological "Snapping in the Cults
Acknowledgments
My deepest appreciation to my wife, Margaretta, for helping me with the manuscript and for putting up with a man obsessed with what he thinks is a divine mission to rescue people (who, in most cases, dont want to be rescued) from the hell of religious oppression. I also thank Margaretta for the hours of proofreading and for her many useful suggestions.
I thank my congregation for their continued support of what is sometimes a controversial ministry.
Jim and Helen Close graciously provided a placefar from phonesfor me to work.
I thank Jim Witham for his enthusiasm and editorial help.
Im grateful to John Sherrill for his editorial suggestions.
And, last but not least, I thank those people who have touched my life with their zeal and love for those who are captive to the cultspeople like Ed Decker, Walter Martin, Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Pat Matrisciana, Dave Hunt, Johanna Michaelson, Hal Lindsey, Bob Larson, and John Ankerberg. Some of these have touched me personally, others I know only through their work, which is surely engraved in golden libraries in heaven.
Authors Note
Since I wrote the story of my own involvement in Mormonism (Beyond Mormonism: An Elders Story), I have received thousands of letters from all over the world. Many of them are from Mormons who write to say how the book has helped them sever the myriad gossamer threads of unholy doctrine.
I feel somewhat self-conscious sharing the private thoughts of these correspondents, which some will see as self-servinga sales pitch for my earlier book.
But I want (and Im sure those who wrote me share the same desire) to show the readers of this book how desperate and lonely their neighbors can be. Desperate for a listening earfor someone who will understand and who will pray.
The hope of these letters is that Mormons are being touched with the message of a Christ who loves, accepts, and forgives them.