Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

By Evangelical Christian Readers

Q: I have a dear friend or loved one that I care about deeply who is a Mormon. Can you give me some advice about how to be a witness to him/her?

A: I am heavily involved as a lay person witnessing to Mormons, and have been taking mission trips to Utah each summer. Over the years I have learned some things about reaching Mormons for the real Jesus. Apologetics and arguing the issues generally requires a high level of knowledge, since Mormonism is very complex. If you do know Mormonism very well, you can pretty well devastate the most knowledgeable Mormon with the facts, but the problem is that you can often win the argument and lose your friend's soul. The other problem, of course, is that most Mormons will not even let you talk to them at length about the facts. So how do you reach them?

Talk about their highest goal, to dwell with their Heavenly Father. We can agree on that much, and we can agree that no unclean thing can dwell in His presence, so His forgiveness of our sin becomes the central issue of witnessing to a Mormon. So ask them about their "way of salvation" and how they are doing. Is it working? Are they forgiven right now? Ask, "Do you know for certain that you are pardoned of all your sin for time and all eternity?" Ask lots of these kinds of questions. When they say that they do not have this assurance, respond from your heart that this is very, very sad. It is. If they say that they are already forgiven of all their sin, it is doubtful that they really believe it unless they misunderstand their own doctrine. Either way, at this point in the conversation ask them if they would explain their understanding of what the official church teachings are regarding the requirements for obtaining the forgiveness of all their sins forever. Insist that they give you actual church doctrine that can be supported, rather than simply their opinion. Take plenty of time going through their own doctrines on these matters, not arguing, but clarifying the things they are placing their hope in. Mormonism turns out to be incredibly hopeless, even for the leaders. Keep asking whether they have been successful at fulfilling these requirements that they believe in. I have a tract available that follows this overall approach that I would be happy to send you without charge. Click here to find out how to get this little yellow booklet in printed form.

(This same material is available on this web site by clicking here.) Read this little yellow tract over about 5 or 6 times to become very familiar with its contents. Then you can even go through it with your Mormon friend, discussing it with him as you go. It is not offensive to Mormons, but it places issues in front of them that they cannot ignore. In a very real way you will be teaching them their own doctrine, because there is a lot of "folk Mormonism" out there that the church simply does not teach. (Such as "I'll get to the celestial kingdom if I just try my best.) Once they realize how hopeless Mormonism is, then you will have an opening to present the true gospel of grace to them, and they will be much more receptive. Don't ask them to leave their church before they receive Jesus as savior, but take them to the true Jesus first. They'll want to leave soon enough if they are saved. Above all else, pray. No Mormon ever leaves the church without a miracle of the Holy Spirit within them, opening their eyes, then turning them from darkness to light. Pray without ceasing.

In Christ,

Mark Champneys

P.S. *I am asking my Christian brothers and sisters to consider enclosing a dollar or two to help offset the cost of printing and sending these tracts free to Mormon folks. This is completely voluntary. Larger quantities of these tracts are also available as my expenses allow. Just send me your address and the quantity desired, and I'll do my best to send what you need while I can afford to meet all such requests.