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My Dad's mother was from Cork in the Irish Republic and when these missionaries came to her front door she would talk with them at the door. Various English groups would recruit from lonely Irish workers in England and a few were recruited. If my Nan detected an Irish accent she woule usually ask "does your mother know you are doing this" and then were off and gone down the road a shade of red around their ears, prro fellows.

Ray and others interested,

In listening to a podcast this morning, they recommended a website specific to Roman Catholicism and Mormonism. It is called Catholic Mormon Podcast. Apparently one of the couple that produces this podcast was a Mormon and converted to Catholicism.

I noticed the most recent upload has to deal with a visit from "The Missionaries".

The link is: Catholic Mormon Podcast [catholicmormon.libsyn.com]

I hope this helps.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Thanks Father Anthony!

LOL! pity I haven't run across any Irish Mormaons in my area, I'd love to try that, just to see the reaction!

I love it when I get a visit from the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, or similar groups. Gives me a chance to tell them that Grandpa has been reincarnated as a cow.

Last spring the Bishop honored our Church with a visit. He said two Mormon Missionaries stopped by his house and not knowing that he was a priest they began to speak to him. He said he respected those yound men for getting out there, and said too bad more Catholics don't evangelize. I think it is good to know Apologetics before opening your mouth about what the "Church teaches". It could be crash and burn for the Church if someone without strong knowledge of the Church's teachings talks to these people of good will that are almost brainwashed in their religion. A good reason to learn what the Church teaches, huh?

I often worry about people inviting them into their homes or even engaging with them on the street. If they are not particularly trained up beyond what most of us know then they can get themselves into some awful strife. It is often forgotten that missionaries for the various sects are trained up. Where as very few of us are. No one has to be rude to them but disengaging prompty is my advice.

ICXC
NIKA

After presenting what they want you to believe they testify and challenge you like this: "I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true". And, "If you pray and ask God you too will know the truthfulness of this". Then, "If you knew that what we say is true would you be baptized" [i.e. Mormon baptism by Mormon priesthood authority]. Instead of letting them do this, present to them what you would like them to believe.

It is easy to disprove Mormonism, but it is hard to prove what is true to them. But, a better way is to get them in a position where they must try to prove you wrong and prove to you what they think the truth is. Tell them you believe that there is only One God and that Jesus founded only One Church. Ask them if they believe this � they will have to say "no" to the 1st and "yes" to the 2nd. Ask them to explain to you the meaning of scripures such as: "Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour." Is 43:10, 11. And, "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself" He 6:13. And, ask them to explain the ending of "The testimony of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon", which says " . . . the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, which is One God . . .". As for the One True Church go to the ONLY place in the scriptures where Jesus said he was going to build His Church and ask them if they believe what it says there that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", Mt 16:18. They will speak of a TOTAL apostasy. Ask them how could there be a total apostasy without the gates of Hell prevailing against the Church? TESTIFY to them that you know that there is to be only a partial apostasy; as it says: "In the latter times SOME shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils", 1st Ti 4:1. Ask if they would pray and ask God if He is One and that there no one before Him nor any god greater then Him. Ask them to pray and ask God if the Orthodox Church is still the same Church that Jesus built and said, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". Quote "One Lord, one faith, one baptism", Eph 4:5, and CHALLENGE them by asking them if they knew that what you believe is the truth would they be baptized into Christ with that authority of the One True Church � the Orthodox Church.

As you do all of this pray in your heart that God will grant to you a true love for these honest, sincere, yet deceived young men. Try not to augue with them, rather, just ask them to explain to you how these scripture can be made to harmonize with what Mormons believe. This will help them because they will have to meditate on the word of God, and the Holy Spirit will work on them. If you do end up yielding to the urge of auguing with them they will say to you that "contention is of the devil". To this a good answer would be "exhort you that ye should EARNESTLY CONTEND for the faith which was ONCE delivered unto the saints", Jd 1:3; and let them know that love them and only wish to share with them the truth.

I have loads of material about Mormonism and could share it with you via email if you later end up needing it. I was a Mormon for 6 years and served a 2 year mission as a Mormon Missionary. Now I am an Orthodox Christian and have been so for 20 years.

I just say I'm Orthodox and that throws them off. Makes them think your Jewish.

They always ask your name too so when they come back they address you by your name.

So when I was 14 or so, I gave them my middle name which was the name of my late grandfather. They came back a few months later, my mom answered the door and they asked for Nick, and she was like, "He died," thinking they meant her father.

Needless to say they didn't come back, until there was a new duo working the neighborhood.

-uc

Or if they come by, I say I loved that Mormon movie, Napoleon Dynamite.

It's unerving to read that the Mormon Missionaries approached and asked for the name of a 14 year old. I hope this was a long long time ago in a land far far from where I am.

oh MY!!!!!!!
just think, a long time ago, a certain Catholic turned Mormon, left the Latter Day Saints after eight years, and has been back in Holy Mother Church ever since. does his Orthodox prayers everyday, ain't that sumpin. oh, as far as the Mormons are concerned, he hasn't looked back to Salt Lake, but has his eyes ever Eastward.
Much Love,
Jonn
P.S. oh, enigmatic me! forget to add that I was the person in this post.

Well was that not a good move on your part? It would be strange to be not seeing your postings here. Were there any repercussions for you when you left them?

ICXC
NIKA

I was a Mormon for 18 years, and left the Catholic Church for it when I married. I stopped believing in it after just a few years and was too scared to leave for fear that my wife would leave me.

Now, I'm in the process of returning. This whole metanoia thing is harder than I thought it would be. Ridding myself of the trappings of this cultish organization requires a lot of faith, discipline, and constant remembrance of God. I've tried to surround myself with Catholic things - the Catholic radio station nearby, prayer, the Lenten season, etc.

It's really a simple proposition - either Christ was a liar when he promised that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it', meaning, of course, the Church with Peter as its visible head, or he was a madman or fool. I found the booklet published at:

http://www.transporter.com/Mormonism/continuity.html

to be very helpful. Perhaps you can print out the pages of the booklet and give them to the Mormon Elders to read. It's highly unlikely they would - no doubt they'd 'not feel the spirit' - i.e., not have their own self-fulfilling misty-eyed, warm feeling that it was true like they do about the Book of Mormon. I think that the whole Mormon argument boils down to what premise you're going to accept - that a warm, fuzzy feeling IN SPITE OF FACTS is 'the Truth' or 'The Spirit' or that humans should use evidence, rationality, and soul-searching combined to discern what is true and what is false. For me, the straw that finally broke the camel's back was staring at that verse about the 'gates of hell' and being forced to come to grips with it. It was NOT easy - I came to realize, though, that ultimately Christ was who the Church teaches, and that the ecclesioligy (sp?) of the Church as a visible, continuing organization was genuine and historically and factually provable. In one sense the Mormons have it right - a person will choose what they feel is best for them, but from a Catholic p.o.v., the submission of the flesh (i.e., the natural instinct to make yourself the center of the universe) to the intellect and to faith are paramount.

So maybe I've rambled a bit - bottom line: Christ either told the truth or he was a liar. Period.

Slainte mhath,

Daibhidh

Hello....

Christ hasn't lied and He never will...

Satan is the father of all lies...so...hence you should be aware where lies come from...

So, don't fear. Christ is the Way, the Truth and Life.

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

PS, Please keep praying on your journey. Always ask questions about Catholicism and/or Orthodoxy. CHALLENGE it! So you could find the truth at the end.

actua, it was the best move. I still have Mormon friends, and we avoid the subject of my leavig, and the ensuing excommunication. I still hum or whistle Mormon hymns, know more of them than I know Christian (f whatever tradition)hymns. I spen my youth as LDS (Mormon), which included Scouts, and it was a rewarding experience, it is till part of who I am. in fact, what also remains is m hesitance to volunteer in Church. I still have the idea that you don't volunteer, but are called by the Bishop (pastor) to do something in the congregation. I have the idea of "realms of authority", and as a former ROTC cadet (UT Chattanooga), that translates into chains of command. I still have a healthy skepticism as to the infallibility of clergy,and that can be good
but the best thing is the idea of Apostolic Succession that both we as Catholics and Orthodox hold fast to,and believe it or not, so do the Mormons, but in very different modes. the Mormons hold that the Succession comes from the restoration of the Church due to visitiations of John the Baptist and later visitations from Peter James, and John thus ordaining Joseph Smith and company, and reestablishing the Succession. We have a bit more plausible and less ethereal view of how Succession was established.oh, I am still a Priest after the Order of Aaron, but due to my excommunication, I do not have the authority to practice my Priesthood. but it doesn't bother me at all.
Much Love,
Jonn