MORMONISM
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
Mormonism
By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.
© God’s Breath Publications
History of Mormonism
Joseph Smith Jr. was born December 23, 1805 in Sharon, Vermont.
When Joseph was 10 years old his family moved to Palmyra, New York.
His mother and three of the family children joined the Presbyterian Church in Palmyra in 1820.
Joseph Smith and many of his relatives were superstitious and had supposed visions and visitations from spirits.
Joseph was troubled by all the denominations, so upon reading James 1:5, he decided to go into the woods and seek an answer from God as to which church was correct.
There are contradictions between the historical and Joseph Smith accounts of the events in the 1820’s dealing with the visions he received and the writing of the Book of Mormon.
He received his first vision, supposedly, in 1820, where God and Jesus visited him in the woods near Manchester, New York and told him all the Christian sects were wrong and he was not to join any of them.
He received his second vision in 1823 where the angel Moroni (some early accounts say the angel’s name was Nephi?) Visited him. He was instructed to go to the hill of Cumorah between Palmyra and Manchester and find the golden plates of the Book of Mormon.
He went there, two accounts exist of what happened next. One (according to the Mormons) is that he was told to wait to remove the plates for four years. The other account says he tried to take them twice but was knocked down by something, a Spanish soldier who was cut from ear to ear and bleeding. The Spaniard told him to leave them alone for four years.
Joseph went back each year to talk to the angel and receive instructions as to how God wanted His church organized.
In 1826 Joseph Smith was tried and convicted of glass-looking (something similar to crystal ball gazing) not to mention at least five other convictions over the following years for unlawful money dealings.
On September 22, 1827, he received plates from the stone box on the hill of Cumorah. Joseph and Martin Harris were going to translate them on Isaac Hale’s farm in Harmony, Pennsylvania.
Translation was accomplished by one of several means. There are several stories as to how this was to be accomplished, (according to the Mormons) looking through the “Urim and Thummim” (spiritual spectacles) which were found with the Book of Mormon. The other story was that a special stone was placed into a hat and the English translation of the Egyptian would appear in the stone.
No one had seen the plates at this time except Joseph. He would read the translation to Martin Harris who was on the other side of a sheet that divided the room in which they worked.
Martin Harris borrowed some of the “reformed Egyptian” characters that the Book of Mormon was written in and visited Samuel Mitchell (President of Rutgers Medical College) then Charles Anthon (Professor of Greek and Latin at Columbia College) to verify them to be genuine. Mormons say Charles Anthon verified them, but he denies this.
After the first 116 pages were translated, Martin Harris borrowed them and they were lost/stolen/or destroyed, no one knows. Joseph got very upset and was told by God not to start over because evil men might change the words and say the Book of Mormon was false. So Joseph received the revelation to start form page 117 and go on from there.
Oliver Cowdrey now helped to translate the Book of Mormon.
In 1828 in the Amboy Journal there are records that Joseph sought to join the Methodist church and was on the class record for 6 months, even though in his first vision he was told not to join any church.
On May 15, 1829, John the Baptist appears in a vision. He was supposedly sent under orders of Peter, James and John to confer the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph and Oliver Cowdrey. They also laid hands on each other and baptized each other.
Soon afterwards Peter, James and John Conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood on each of them.
In June of 1829 the translation of the Book of Mormon is completed.
At this time, the three witnesses (Oliver Cowdrey, David Whitmar and Martin Harris) see the golden plates with “eyes of faith”.
This even was repeated with the eight witnesses, (Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith and Samuel H. Smith).
The golden plates are returned to the hill of Cumorah. The story goes that they were returned to a cave in the hill, where many other plates were stored.
In 1830 Martin Harris repents of his sin (as commanded by God in the Doctrine and Covenants 19:20) and supplies $3,000 to print the Book of Mormon.
On April 6, 1830, Joseph and his brothers form “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”.
Due to persecution the Mormons move to Kirkland, Ohio and also Independence, Missouri and reside here from 1830-1839.
During this time, Joseph is continually receiving revelations concerning how the Mormons should conduct their lives and worship God.
On July 20, 1837, Mormon missionaries land in Liverpool, England to spread their faith.
With more persecution the Mormons move to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1839.
In Nauvoo, John C. Bennett writes a scathing article on Mormons in the Nauvoo Expositor, a local newspaper.
Joseph and a gang of Mormons destroy the Expositor office and printing press.
Joseph and others are arrested and taken to the Carthage, Illinois jail.
On June 27, 1884, a gang of rebels killed Joseph as well as Hyrum. Joseph Taylor is wounded and William Richards escapes unharmed.
Mormons state that Joseph Smith was innocently killed and died a martyr’s death.
But, Joseph had a pistol (which a friend had smuggled into the jail) that he used to wound several individuals of the attacking mob.
Brigham Young takes over at this time as leader for the Mormons.
Brigham was born, June 1, 1801, in Whitingham, Vermont. He worked on a farm early in his life and became a painter and cabinet maker.
In 1832 he was an established cabinet maker in Mendon, New York.
Brigham was introduced to Mormonism through the Book of Mormon.
On April 14, 1832, he was baptized into the Mormon Church. This year his wife died so he moved to Kirkland where the church’s headquarters were at that time.
Brigham became a missionary and went to many countries to spread the faith.
In 1846, Brigham announces they (the Mormons) are to leave for the West.
On July 24, 1847, they arrive at the Great Salt Lake.
Brigham serves as governor of the State of Deseret.
In 1850 Utah becomes a state and Brigham becomes its first governor.
Brigham Young founded:
Deseret University (now Brigham Young University)
Brigham Young Academy (now Brigham Young University)
Brigham Young College (now discontinued)
Brigham Young died at his home in Salt Lake City on August 29, 1877.
In 1982 the Book of Mormon’s title was change to the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Mormon
It is the story of the wanderings of three ancient people’s.
The Jaedites came from the Tower of babel led by Jared and Mahonri Moriancumer. They left because they didn’t want their language confounded, (Ether 1:34-37). This conflicts with Genesis 11:7-9.
The other two tribes came from Jerusalem or close by (they were called Semites). Lehi was their leader and he died in the wilderness, but his tribes arrived in the New World around 600 B.C.
The son of Lehi (Nephi) was supposed to lead the tribes, but quarreling arose so they split.
There arose the righteous Nephites led by Nephi and the Lamanites who were led by Laman.
Nephi, Mormon and Moroni all kept records of their history that is the Book of Mormon and buried them before they were annihilated by the Lamanites.
The Lamanites are the ancestors, supposedly of the American Indians, though this contradicts all archaeological and anthropologic data. The physical type of the American Indian is Mongoloid not Hebraic.
There are theories and much evidence to indicate that the Book of Mormon was written by Soloman Spalding, a retired Congregational minister. The title of his work was “Manuscript Found” a fictional novel of Indian tribes in America. It is believed a copy of it was left in a printing office near Joseph Smith’s home and was procured by Signey Rigdon, a friend of Joseph Smith.
Some interesting facts concerning the Book of Mormon are that over 25,000 words appear copied from the King James Bible. Over 3,900 changes from the original printing have occurred. These changes are not always minor grammatical ones, but often involve the changing of names and whole sentences.
Most of the archeological claims of the Book of Mormon are directly contradicted by modern archeology. Out of 38 cities mentioned in the book, none have ever been found to exist. No Mormon names have been found in New World inscriptions of hieroglyphics. No ancient copies of the Book of Mormon have ever been found.
Concerning statements in the Book of Mormon as to living and non-living things: Barley and grapes are mentioned (Mos. 9:9, 7:22, II Nephi 15:2-4) but never existed in Middle America at that time. horses, elephants, chariots, etc. (Alma 18:9-12, Ether 9:18-19) never existed in 600 B.C.. According to Mormons they did. Steel (I Nephi 4:9, 16:18) that the Mormons claim existed in 621 B.C., never reached American till 1200 A.D. and has never been found archeologically in Central America.
No archeologist or Institution outside of the Mormon Church supports the Book of Mormon’s claims and assumptions.
The Book of Mormon:
1. Conflicts with the Bible
2. Has internal inconsistencies
3. Has many external inconsistencies
Mormon Church Organization
Believers are divided into Wards (in densely populated areas) and Branches (in sparsely populated areas). These consist of from 450 to 1200 members and can be in the size of square blocks or miles. These are similar to Catholic Parishes. Several Wards make a Stake, which is similar to a Diocese. There are 5,000 Wards in 750 Stakes in the world.
There is no paid professional ministry but 54 General Officers and Presidents of missions are given living expenses.
Presiding over all Mormon affairs in the world is the First President, the President and two Counselors. Working along with these leaders is the Council of the Twelve Apostles (The President is chosen from these twelve men.). Two other Quorums and an Evangelist make up the Organization of the General Authorities. One of these Quorums is the First Council of the Seventy.
Wards are presided over by Bishops.
No collections are taken in church but tithes are given (10% of each family’s income).
The first Sunday of each month is Fast Sunday where believers refrain from two meals that day and give the cost to relief of the poor (the Mormon poor, that is).
Women are active in and support the Relief Society. One of the marks of a good Mormon wife is to store up enough food to last a year for her family.
Mormon Temple Rituals
Within the Mormon Temples, various rituals (plays) are preformed and specific clothes are worn.
Five laws exist: 1. Obedience, 2. Sacrifice, 3. Gospel, 4. Chastity, 5. Consecration.
Four tokens (Handclasps) are learned: 1. 1st Aaronic, 2. 2nd Aaronic, 3. Melchizedek Sign of the Nail, 4. Melchizedek Sure Sign of the Nail.
Four marks refer to the marks on the Holy Garment worn by Mormons within the temple and for eternity. This is the “Garment of the Holy Priesthood”. This Garment that temple Mormons and missionaries wear resembles old fashioned “long johns”. Recently these have been updated to resemble more modern undergarments. There are marks on these clothes that have great spiritual significance. There is a pair of button holes over the right breast sewn in the form of a square. There is another pair of button holes over the left breast sewn in the form of a compass. There is one button-type hole over the navel and another identical hole is over the right knee. These holes stand for spiritual beliefs or standards. The Garment is said to have spiritual and physical protection.
Temples serve to provide a place where three ceremonies can be preformed. 1. Endowments, 2. Baptism for the dead, and 3. Celestial marriages. Endowments are a series of special handclasps that are called Tokens. Specific words used are called Names. Special movements of the arms are called signs. The acting out of specific punishments is called Penalties. Your participation in the endowments is necessary to be able to achieve your full exaltation. Baptism for the dead entails living people (Mormons) being baptized for the dead individuals by proxy. Because the Mormons believe baptism is necessary for salvation, those who have died unbaptized are dependant on the living for this to insure that they go to heaven. Celestial marriage (eternal marriage or sealing of families) involves the marriage of people for all eternity. Men can be sealed but not married, in the earthly sense, to more than one woman in the temple. This relates to their theology regarding exaltation in heaven. Polygamy though not practiced on earth, is an important part of heaven for the Mormon. They believe they will eventually become gods themselves and will have planets to rule and populate with the wives they have been sealed to.
Mormonism, Masons and Magic
Space does not allow an extensive covering of this topic but briefly a few facts should be mentioned regarding this area.
Various medallions, relics and papers owned by Joseph Smith and the early Mormon Church have strong resemblance to those used in astrologic, magic, occultic and Masonic groups. How strongly these emblems, rituals and practices influenced Joseph Smith when he formed the Mormon Church is not known. When you examine the practices occurring within the Mormon temples and the historical documents of the early church they appear to be closely related to those used in Masonic meetings and occultic demon worship.
Mormon Beliefs Versus The Bible
I have included below and on the following pages a listing of some of the major beliefs of the Mormon Church. Under these beliefs I list Bible verses they use to support these doctrine. I do not go into great detail to show how they misuse these verses to support their doctrine, but if you will study the context of the verses, you can see how they err. You should have a good understanding of these verses and other to properly defend the faith when encountering Mormons. LDS stands for Latter Day Saint’s beliefs.
PRE-EXISTENCE
LDS: Everyone pre-existed before they were born. There are spirit beings that wait in heaven for physical bodies to inhabit on the earth. When they are born they forget their previous lives in heaven; Job 38:2-4, 7, Ecc. 12:7, Jeremiah 1:4-5, 9-10, 14, Exodus 9:16, Matt. 6:9, 13:55, Luke 3:38, John 3:13, 6:62, 9:2, Rom. 9:17-18, I Cor. 13:9-12, Titus 1:2, Heb. 12:9.
BIBLE: Jesus Christ is the only one who has ever pre-existed in heaven before being born. We begin our existence when we are conceived in our mother’s womb; Exodus 3:14, John 1:1-5, 9, 10, 14, 3:13, 6:62, 8:23, 24, 58, 17:24, I Cor. 15:46-48, Col. 1:16-17.
THE FALL
LDS: The fall brought mortality and physical death, not a sinful nature. Adam was given two conflicting commands by God and could not fulfill both of them so he had to sin. Adam wisely chose to sin. It was one of the great steps toward external exaltation and happiness. Gen. 3.
BIBLE: God tempts no one; James 1:13-14. Man is basically a sinner; Rom. 8:5-8, I Cor. 2:14. The fall brought judgment upon man and all creation; Genesis 3, Rom. 6:23, 8:20-22. God never gives you conflicting commands.
SIN
LDS: Sin is specific acts a person does and is not man’s nature; Eph. 2:2-3, John 1:12-13.
BIBLE: We are in a spiritual rebellion until conversion occurs; Eph. 2:3, Rom. 3:23, 5:6, I Cor. 2:14, Is. 64:6. We are all basically sinful and this has been our basic nature since the fall.
REPENTANCE
LDS: You must repent of specific acts not your nature or attitude. Man can be perfect as Jesus was, a god in his own sense.
BIBLE: You must repent of your basic sin nature. You must acknowledge you are a sinner and choose to obey God. Man cannot be a god. II Cor. 7:10, Luke 5:32, Acts 3:19, 26:20,
I John 1:9, Rev. 3:19.
HELL
LDS: People stay in hell till their debt is paid, but no one stays there except Judas and Satan with his angels; Rev. 20:13, Luke 12:47-48.
BIBLE: There is no support in the Bible for the idea that someone will get out of hell once he is there; Rev. 21:8, matt. 13:24-43, 47-50, Luke 16:26, John 3:36, Matt. 25:32-33. See also the Book of Mormon’s indications of contradictions between it and Mormon doctrine about hell; I Nephi 14:3, II Nephi 9:16, 21, 23, 28, Mosiah 3:25, Alma 34:35, 30:60. Hell is a final place where those who fail to accept Christ’s sacrifice fall under judgment.
THE TRINITY
LDS: The Father God is a resurrected man with a physical body. Christ is a separate resurrected man with a physical body. The Holy Ghost is a separate man with a spiritual body. In other words there are three Gods, actually in Mormonism. Gen. 1:26-27, Luke 24:39, Heb. 1:3.
BIBLE: God is not equal to a man; Numbers 23:19, Hosea 11:9, Is. 46:5. Mormons often quote verses which talk of the loving arms of God and other anthropomorphic terms used to describe God’s personality or to show God is a man. To combat this try verses such as the following in your witnessing to them; John 6:51, 10:9, 14:6, 15:1, Heb. 12:29, Ex. 33:9, 11, 23, 24:9-11, Gen. 5:24, 6:5-9, Deut. 4:24, Ps. 57:1, 91:4. There is but one God; Is. 43:10-11, 44:6-8, 45:21,22, Deut. 6:4, Mark 12:29. God the Father is spirit and is invisible; John 4:24, I Tim. 1:17, Luke 24:39, James 1:17. Each part of the Trinity is called God; John 1:1, 4:24, 17:3, Acts 5:3-4, The Book of Mormon contradicts the Mormons own doctrine even; II Nephi 31:21, Alma 11:44, Mormon 7:7, III Nephi 11:27,36.
HOLY SPIRIT
LDS: The Holy Spirit is separate from the Father and the Son, and is an influence manifestation of God. The Holy Ghost is not the same as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is a person. Early in the Mormon Church the Holy Ghost was considered MIND. Later it was viewed as a FLUID power or energy that could take on any form. Finally the Holy Ghost was said to only be able to be in one place at one time and could not take on any form except that which he already was.
BIBLE: The same Greek word is used for both the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit; I Cor. 3:16, 6:19. The Holy Spirit has always been viewed by the Christian church as part of the Trinity and therefore equal with the Father and Son. The Holy Spirit is not an it or an impersonal power, he has a personality just as the Father and Son do; Acts 5, Eph. 4:30. He possesses a will and emotions.
THE VIRGIN BIRTH
LDS: God the Father is the literal father of Jesus. The Father came and had sexual relations with Mary for Jesus to be conceived: Matt. 1:18, is claimed by them to be in error.
BIBLE: The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and caused her to conceive Jesus. The power of God accomplished this event not some physical act by a man or god-man; Matt. 1:18,20, Luke 1:35.
THE BIBLE
LDS: The Bible is only correct as it is correctly translated. In other words, if it goes along with Mormon doctrine.
BIBLE: The Bible is the only true gospel; II Peter 1:20-21, I Cor. 2:11-13, Deut. 4:2, II Tim. 3:16, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:18-19. Contrast these verses from the Bible to those from the Book of Mormon; I Nephi 1:3, 19:6.
MARRIAGE
LDS: Marriage is for eternity in heaven. The Mormons say God condones plural marriage. He himself has many wives. They try to deny that Mormon doctrine teaches this. The leaders in the church do not teach this today, but in church historical publications and other doctrinal sources it is taught. In Mormon theology it is an important part of the celestial heaven and glorification of Mormons.
BIBLE: Marriage ends on this earth with death or the return of Christ; John 8:23, Rom. 7:23, Mark 12:19-25. The Bible does not support Polygamy of any sort.
JESUS CHRIST
LDS: He was simply another of the many spirits which reside in heaven waiting to be born into a physical body. Jesus was the spirit brother of Satan. Any human can possess the divinity of Christ. Jesus was married to Mary, Martha and also the other Mary.
BIBLE: Jesus is in no way related to Satan. Though we as Christians may possess God’s spirit within us when we accept Jesus as our Savior, this in no way means we are divine. Only God is divine. Jesus was both God and man in the complete sense of each. He has always existed and always will; Matt. 16:15-18, John 1:1-5, 8:58, 14:9, 17:5, 20:31, Matt. 1:20-21, Luke 1:35, I Peter 2:22, I John 3:5.
SALVATION
LDS: Christ’s death brought release from the grave, and universal salvation for all men. To Mormons, salvation by grace is universal and general salvation involves the resurrection of everyone. Beyond this, man must earn his place in one of the three divisions of heaven. Individual salvation relates to each person’s exaltation. To obtain exaltation, one must be a member of an LDS church, keep commandments, accept Joseph Smith as a prophet and restorer of the true church, accept his successors as God’s prophets, have faith in Jesus, repent, be baptized in the Mormon church and receive the laying on of hands; Rev. 20:12,13, Rom. 5:18, I Cor. 15:22, Acts 8:18, 19:6.
BIBLE: There is no such thing as universal salvation. Each person is responsible for his or her own actions and decisions. We are saved by grace through faith and any good works we do are simple evidence of our salvation. We as Christians will be rewarded for our obedience when we reach heaven: John 3:5, 10:9, 14:6, Acts 2:21, 4:12, 16:31, Rom. 1:16, 3:24-25, 28, 5:1, 10:9-10, 13, II Cor. 6:2, Eph. 2:8-9, I Tim. 1:15, Heb. 9:28, 10:10.
THE TRUE CHURCH
LDS: The Mormon church is the only true church. This is due to the fact that the church started by the Disciples of Christ fell away from true teachings and had to be restored. Joseph Smith did this when he received his vision and established the Mormon faith; Ez. 37:16-17, Amos 3:7, Is. 11:11, Matt. 17:11, Luke 10:1, 24:39, I Cor. 15:29, Eph. 2:19, 4:11-12, II Thess. 2:3, Heb. 5:4, I peter 3:18-19, Rev. 14:6.
BIBLE: All Christians make up the true Body of Christ and this is the eternal universal church. The church never fell away from true belief. Though there are dark periods in church history, a remnant has always remained who continue to hold to the teachings of Christ. The church was established by Christ and is maintained by God through his Spirit; I John 4:4, John 14:16, I Cor. 12:12, 14, Matt. 18:19, 20, 16:18, Eph. 4:5.
AUTHORITY AND THE PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS
LDS: According to the Mormons, only they possess the true authority to baptize and hold such offices because their church is the only true church. The Mormons place great importance on this belief in their church. It is important to them that every male in the church is a priest and that there are various steps of service and responsibility that you progress up to achieve levels of priesthood. They believe in two categories or types of priesthoods, that of Aaron and that of Melchizedek; Ex. 28:1, Heb. 5:4.
BIBLE: Christ brought an end to the Aaronic priesthood. The Melchizedek priesthood was used in connection with Christ only as a description of His unique position with God and His attributes. In the Greek it is indicated that it is a unique position that is non-transferable to any other person; Ex. 4:27, Num. 3:6-12, John 14:6, I Tim. 2:5, II Tim. 2:2, Heb. 5-10. Christians, each one, have God’s authority to lead the Christian life; John 1:12, I Peter 2:9, II Tim. 2:2.
BAPTISM
LDS: Mormons believe this is necessary for salvation to occur. Of course you must be baptized in a Mormon church for this is the only true authoritative church to have such an important act take place. If you do not, the only other way this can be accomplished is for a Mormon to be baptized for you. This they practice, especially for the dead, those who have passed on without being baptized. They have done this for Mormons and non-Mormons alike; Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Luke 7:30, Heb. 6:1-2.
BIBLE: Baptism’s true emphasis is on the believer not on who performs it. It is not necessary for salvation. It is important that it is done within a local Body so that follow up can occur in growing more mature as a Christian. Proper counseling should be done to insure that this act of obedience is understood as to its meaning spiritually. It is an outward sign and confession of the new life that is begun from repenting and accepting Christ as Savior. It identifies the believer with Christ and His Body; Mark 16:15-16, Luke 23:43, Acts 1:5, Rom. 6:3, I Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:27.
HEAVEN
LDS: There are three levels to the Mormon view of heaven. They are the celestial, terrestial, telestial. Mormons go to the highest heaven the celestial, honorable men who didn’t accept Mormons go to the second heaven the terrestial, the wicked of the world to the third heaven, the telestial; I Cor. 15:15-41, II Cor. 12:2.
BIBLE: There is only one heaven and one dwelling place for believers to go after death. Only those who accept Christ as their Savior and Lord go to heaven and the presence of God; Matt. 25:31-46, 13:41-43, Rev. 21:1-3.
Witnessing to Mormons
When one thinks of witnessing the first question which arises is why do it? For one, it is commanded, Matt. 28:19-20, Jude 3 and I Peter 3:15-16 speak of this. All believers are called to this ministry. Witnessing should occur as an out flowing from your spirit-filled life as a Christian. You, having salvation and eternal abundant life should realize there are those who are spiritually dead and missing the fulfillment only Christ can give.
Mormons are not evil people. They are kind and concerned, but deceived individuals. To ask them to reject all they have grown up with is quite a demand, one only the Holy Spirit can accomplish. Remember Mormons, especially missionaries, are under a lot of pressure (peer, family and church) to continue in their beliefs. They often are well based in their doctrine and when confronted with good Biblical questioning, will be unable to give an answer that is based on their own free will interpretation. This is due to the fact that they are taught what they are to believe. Mormons often do not know much of the beliefs the church stands for. Most do not know the true history of the church. Many people coming out of the Mormon faith have testified to the fact that much of the Mormon history and doctrine is suppressed from the average member. Many Mormons are Christians who have left traditional Christian churches to join the Mormon Church for the family oriented programs and structure. They do this unaware of the Mormon doctrine behind the programs.
Witnessing requires nothing more than a dedicated loving heart. Preparation by studying the Bible and prayer are also great helps to make you an effective witness, II Tim. 2:15. When witnessing to Mormons, it must be done with a spirit of love, Phil. 2:3-5. Do not come from a judgmental attitude. You are not being called to judge them, you are called to witness the truth to them. You are called to bring them closer to a true understanding of the Bible and basic Christian beliefs. Because you are a Christian, a member of the Royal Priesthood, John 1:12, I Peter 2:9, be sure to take the initiative and lead the discussion. Don’t be rude, but simply a leader. Remember, II John 10 you are not to let them into your house to teach you, you are to teach them. They may give you the choice of leading in prayer to start, take it. Within your prayers, opening and closing, include basic beliefs of the Christian faith so if at no other time you are confronting them with the gospel. In the discussion be sure to define your terms such as Holy Spirit, salvation, Christ, etc. Otherwise you both will be using the same words to describe different ideas and it will appear they believe as you do. Discuss the deity of Christ, Col. 2:9, salvation by grace, Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 3:24-31, Heb. 10:10, 9:22. God is spirit, John 4:24, the Trinity and any other beliefs which arise during the discussion. Most of these subjects will come up when encountering Mormon missionaries, but you may have close friends who are Mormons. Remember in your casual conversations to witness as you are led. They can also learn from your lifestyle, but unless you confront them about specific doctrine, you may come across simply as just another religious person.
In whatever degree you decide to witness, please witness. If nothing more than at the door declaring your beliefs and how they disagree with Mormon beliefs. The Holy Spirit is actually the one who moves men’s hearts and who are we to say what degree of witnessing is effective. If you decline any witnessing at all, you have probably quenched the Spirit’s will, I Thess. 5:19. I pray that God will use you to the best of your ability.