Lesson 1 Witnessing to Mormons

Witnessing to Mormons
Lesson 1
Jeff Bixby
March 8, 2001
Scripture: 1Timothy Ch.1:15-16 "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and recieve eternal life."

During these lessons you as a believer in Jesus Christ will gain the tools to help witness to a mormon. However some ground work will need to be laid, you should know the background or history of the mormon church to help you understand and answer questions.Maybe you know a mormon or have a family member that is a mormon, whatever the case this religion denies the Diety of the Lord Jesus Christ, denies the trinity and the Holy Ghost can only be in one place at one time. Typically when we are talking about Mormons we are talking about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints out of Utah. Usually these are the most common kinds of Mormons, also known as LDS but for us I will call them just Mormons that way during these lessons you will know who we are reffering to. You can literally spend thousands possibly even millions of hours researching mormonism. These lessons are going to give a brief overview and tools to help you witness the gospel. The one thing you need to understand is this: Mormons firmly truly believe in thier faith and that they are in authority over all non-mormons, so if you are witnessing to a mormon they may get very defensive.
What do you think of when you here the word mormon or mormons?(many wives etc. let the group discuss for a moment) Will see what you think of when you hear it at the end of these lessons, I know you will think differently. First we need some background on how this "mormonism" got started and what do they use as scripture. Also Christian terms are used but new meaning are put to them, for example when we say the "Gospel" referring to death resurection etc. mormons use the term gospel to mean mormonism.

Summary of information
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Founded by Joseph Smith Jr. 1805-1844
Purpose on this earth is to evangelize the world with the message of Jesus Christ according to Mormonism teachings; to baptize people that are dead to save them; for members to hopefully attain godhood and have a planet of each’s own on the basis of personal merit.
Source of Authority comes from personal revelations of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and other presidents/prophets of the church who proclaims revealed teachings from God.
Some Occultic dynamics exist such as, necromatic(ghosts) the development of a sort of physic power is deemed as gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture: Bible(as far as it is translated correctly by mormons) Book of Mormon(Which resembles a 1823 manuscript called A View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith, no relation), Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. These are considered Mormon cannon but the words of any mormon president of the church is to be used as scripture but not always included as canon.
Authoritive literature for teaching; Journal of Discourses(early teachings) Joseph Smith History of the Church, Mormon Doctrine and Doctrinal New Testement Commentary

Background: The other mormon texts used as thier scripture will be explained in later lessons, but for this lesson we