About a few days ago two Mormon missionaries stopped by my house and I let them in to talk. They have given me two cards one has the picture of Jesus and the other was for the challenge of the family.
I was so curious and was touched by the fact that they were willing to go from door to door which other Christians have not done so for their Lord and Savior. So we must give them a good credit for these.
That's when I decided to look up the word mormon via internet and found your stories. With 3 small young ones sound asleep, I stayed up till almost 4 am from the kids went to bed at 9pm to read your entire book via the internet. I was that interested. Your story was moving and sort of similar to mine only I was not in the same position as you were in the material world.
I was desperate for a family relationship and was wondering if anyone could help me. I was a boatgirl and left the country of Vietnam since 1975 and in 1982 when the spiritual world took a curiosity in my life. My search for God took me to many different religions of which led me to the Seventh Day Adventist church. After being a member and still a member until today, I was troubled by many of the internal doctrine and searched out the root and find many inconsistency.
I am in the interim and was looking for another faith to join. So at the present I am attending the Vietnamese Baptist Church out of loneliness. I couln't see that worshipping on Sunday is in line with Christ's observance of the true Sabbath which starts from sunset to sunset starting Friday even to Sunset Saturday. This is my only drawback if I decided to leave the SDA church. On the other hand, as I have observed the Baptist church presently I am attending I couldn't help but notice they still smoke and drink beer. Why is it so?
I am rambling right now as I am trying to write proper English please be patient with me. I need help 'cause I also have a non-Christian husband whom I thought I could convert after marriage. He's committed adultery and I kicked him out. I don't know if I should let him back OR be involved in the church and God would have a Christian husband for me there. But I don't know which way to turn as I don't know the Baptist doctrine too well. The people are kind and warm and show much love towards me though. I felt lonely as my husband is not around to be with the kids and I have no immediate family support as my parents are Catholics and they don't understand anything about salvation by faith.
Could you please pray for me.
Sarah
Sarah,
I am very interested in your story. I pray I can help you.
The very first thing I will say is that the same kinds of inconsistencies you see in the SDA you will find in the Mormon Church. I really recommend that you cut off contact with the Mormons--for a little while at least. Until you are able to think through a few basics.
One thing the Mormons and the SDA have in common is what we call "legalism." It is the idea that you can earn (or keep) your salvation through obedience. That is not what the Bible teaches. You must read the Book of Galatians and the first eight chapters of the book of Romans to undertand what I am saying.
I hope you will read:
https://mazeministry.com/frontpage/jimsjournal/jimsjournal.htm
(read the first two articles)
Also, the articles at:
https://mazeministry.com/worldviews/theology/theology.htm
If you like to listen to tapes, I will send you a bunch of them to listen to. My teaching tapes are simply going through the books of the Bible and seeing what they have to say.
I encourage you to continue in the church you are now attending. It is certainly allright to look around to see if there is another where you feel more comfortable. But you must avoid the cults: SDA, Mormonism, Christian Science, Moonies, The Way International. Most other churches are OK, but look for one where the Bible is taught and where Jesus is worshipped. I don't know where you live, but it Viernamnese is your first language and if you live in a metropolitan area, you can probably find some Vietnamnese Christian churches.
If you send me your postal mailing address, I will send you an information pack, a couple of tracts, and a couple of pamphlets.
And, I will be glad to answer any specific questions you may have.
Beyond all that, I _will_ pray for you. And, if you would like I could even phone you at my expense if you give me your number. If that would be helpful. I wish only to help you find a personal relationship with Jesus.
Jim Spencer