altersteve Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 -Do you see the evangelizing as a threat to the church?Nothing can "threaten" the Church of Jesus Christ.
Nathair/|\ Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 What do you think about the evangelizing, done by critics of Mormonism, at various LDS sites, like Manti or the SLC Temple gates?-Do they have a constitutional right to be there, in your opinion?-Should they be there? Are they fulfilling the "Great Commission" or, possibly, missing the mark, by turning people off to their message? I think they are using poor tactics, few people will be attracted to their message by their behavior. Also, any "success" they see will limit their few converts' future happiness.-Do you see the evangelizing as a threat to the church?The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done (History of the Church, 4:540).-Have you ever had an encounter with an evangelist, at one of these locations? If so, how did it go?no.
Libs Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 I know many of you have mentioned the method (the screechers and some who are rude and disrespectful) as being the main problem, so I was wondering if that is the main complaint...or is it just, generally, not a good idea to proseltyze at Temples and other LDS places.Would it be as bad, to, simply, have people standing outside the gates quietly handing out tracts or CD's that people can take or leave? (and read or watch, later, if they care to?) Or is it just an inappropriate thing to do, no matter how it's done?
Libs Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage' date=' mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done (History of the Church, 4:540).[/quote']That raised a question for me (totally off topic question, so I might make a new thread out of that quote, if you wouldn't mind?)..
Nathair/|\ Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 I know many of you have mentioned the method (the screechers and some who are rude and disrespectful) as being the main problem, so I was wondering if that is the main complaint...or is it just, generally, not a good idea to proseltyze at Temples and other LDS places.Would it be as bad, to, simply, have people standing outside the gates quietly handing out tracts or CD's that people can take or leave? (and read or watch, later, if they care to?) Or is it just an inappropriate thing to do, no matter how it's done?That wouldn't bother me much as long as the material was honest and they weren't trying to pass themselves off as LDS.That raised a question for me (totally off topic question, so I might make a new thread out of that quote, if you wouldn't mind?)..Not at all. Go right ahead. I just realized, I forgot to mention that it was Joseph Smith who said it. Even if I cared, it's in the public domain, so I would have no grounds for complaint.
TAO Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 (edited) Protesting the LDS Church at Angel Stadium? Was it during a baseball game or some other event there? Interesting. Never heard of that.Nah, not against the church... though I believe it WAS mormon night (not 100% sure) XD. They were just doing the doomsday thing, I guess. =P. Lots of signs and stuff. Not much yelling though, which was nice =D. I like no yelling a lot better =). Maybe it wasn't Mormon night after all... Edited July 1, 2011 by TAO
TAO Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Would it be as bad, to, simply, have people standing outside the gates quietly handing out tracts or CD's that people can take or leave? (and read or watch, later, if they care to?) Or is it just an inappropriate thing to do, no matter how it's done?Depends on the CD/tract. You know... us apologists on here would blow up if it was the same critical stuff that appears on websites. I'd appreciate something positive instead, if you know what I mean =).
Libs Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 Yeah, I was thinking of a CD that was totally Christ-centered and not bashing the LDS Church. Just giving Christ's message of salvation (by grace alone...for example). Not a hit-piece on the LDS Church.Nathair, thanks! I'll go ahead and make a new thread, then.
Sky Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 I know many of you have mentioned the method (the screechers and some who are rude and disrespectful) as being the main problem, so I was wondering if that is the main complaint...or is it just, generally, not a good idea to proseltyze at Temples and other LDS places.Would it be as bad, to, simply, have people standing outside the gates quietly handing out tracts or CD's that people can take or leave? (and read or watch, later, if they care to?) Or is it just an inappropriate thing to do, no matter how it's done?It would certainly be better if the protesters were to quietly pass out their litature as opposed to being loud and disrespectful. The Mormons should be able to attend their conferences and go to their temples in peace.However, I personally think it’s still a questionable tactic. It subtlety sends the message that Mormonism is wrong, and that Mormons need to let go of their false religion and convert to ‘Biblical’ Christianity.I mean, how well received do you think it would be if a pair of LDS missionaries were to quietly pass out literature around the gates of the Vatican?
ldsfaqs Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 In the course of regular invited conversation, sure. That's basic nature and a great part of being human. But knocking on someone's door unannounced to push whatever product is being pushed is plain rude. I'm not singling out the LDS Missionaries here. I'm a big fan of Heinz 57 Ketchup, but I don't go around my neighborhood disturbing my neighbors to tell them how great it is.And they are FREE to not knock on my door. I have a No Solicitation sign up, that applies to Goods and Gods. Is it that unreasonable to expect to be left alone in the privacy of one's own home?Well, normally when there is a "no solicitation" sign then that means they aren't supposed to knock.Also, if you want total privacy, you should move to the woods. What you are asking is unreasonable.Are you saying if a neighbor knocked on your door to ask you something or invite you to dinner, you would think they are "bothering" you?How is what a Missionary does any different?Yet, if you had a million dollars that you wanted to give away to people, you would most certainly go knock on their doors.I don't care about the message. I just don't want to be disturbed. If Richard Dawkins knocked on my door to extoll the vitues of Atheism I'd think he was being rude too.Please don't misrepresent yourself in order to try and win the argument. You know very well that if someone you know, especially someone you liked or was famous, you would not at all be upset that they knocked at your door. Are you really trying to tell us that if "Publishers ClearingHouse" knocked on your door to give you a million dollars, you would say "why are you bothering me"? Just like the Gospel, it's worth a million dollars to many people. You are free to be not interested in the million dollars, for maybe you already have your own million, such as your own ideology. But, that doesn't make it unreasonable to people to come to your home and ASK you something, and introduce themselves.I'm not saying that the conversation with anyone listed above is inherently unpleasant. I'm saying that knocking on someone's door to share your opinion with a total stranger without any sort of invite is a rude activity in and of itself. Even Vampires need an invite!This is the real world, not Vampire stories. In the real world, people "interrupt" you and introduce themselves to you for MANY different kinds of things and reasons.Yet, you don't have a cow that they do this. Thus, the ultimate conclusion is that you simply don't want to even have to deal with a pluralistic society that has religion in it. You don't want to see it, hear it, or anything unless YOU want to, on your own terms, etc. You've said as much yourself already.As to the word "incorrect". LDS Missionaries are hoping to convert people to a lifestyle and belief system they believe is correct in the eyes of "God". By nature, a lifestyle outside of that paradigm is incorrect in the eyes of "God".Yes, by nature that is true, but that is not what you said, and it's also not what missionary's do. Missionary's teach a pro-message, not a negative one. You said they were teaching a negative one, similar to how anti-mormons go around teaching a negative one about whatever "cult" is their current target. Thus, you factually misrepresented the actions of LDS Missionary's. You should be more careful in your words.
ldsfaqs Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Don't know why I can't "edit" my posts. Anyway, I wanted to clarify that Missionary's are in fact trained to not knock on doors that have No Soliciting signs there.It's also possible that they didn't see the sign.
TAO Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Don't know why I can't "edit" my posts. Anyway, I wanted to clarify that Missionary's are in fact trained to not knock on doors that have No Soliciting signs there.It's also possible that they didn't see the sign.It's based on the number of posts you have. It unlocks after a bit =).
silvermoon383 Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Don't know why I can't "edit" my posts. Anyway, I wanted to clarify that Missionary's are in fact trained to not knock on doors that have No Soliciting signs there.It's also possible that they didn't see the sign.They are? I don't ever remember being told that. In fact, I had to stop my companion once (though No Solicitation signs were pretty rare in Jamaica.)
bluebell Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Don't know why I can't "edit" my posts. Anyway, I wanted to clarify that Missionary's are in fact trained to not knock on doors that have No Soliciting signs there.It's also possible that they didn't see the sign.When i served my mission in 98-99, we weren't trained not to knock on such doors. In fact, we were specifically trained that we since we weren't 'soliciting' (which my mission took to mean 'trying to sell something'), they didn't apply to us.
blueadept Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 I always find the antis amusing at special events such as GC. When I went to GC 3 years ago with my wife, I was amused at their efforts which I've always viewed as poor efforts in evangelizing. I've also been amused by the lunch time entertainment of antis at my yearly LA Religious Education Congress event in Anaheim with 40,000 other Catholics. Definitely some loud-mouth spiritless individuals IMHO.I'm fortunate to be attending a large young Catholic gathering (440,000+) in Madrid in August to see the Pope. I'm sure it will be the largest gathering of Antis as well. I'm actually looking forward to seeing the Anti efforts... If anyone has any special prayers they wish for me to bring, please PM them to me.
Doctor Ninja Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 When i served my mission in 98-99, we weren't trained not to knock on such doors. In fact, we were specifically trained that we since we weren't 'soliciting' (which my mission took to mean 'trying to sell something'), they didn't apply to us.The family we baptized would probably thank us for knocking on their "no soliciting" door. 1
Doctor Ninja Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 I always find the antis amusing at special events such as GC. When I went to GC 3 years ago with my wife, I was amused at their efforts which I've always viewed as poor efforts in evangelizing. I've also been amused by the lunch time entertainment of antis at my yearly LA Religious Education Congress event in Anaheim with 40,000 other Catholics. Definitely some loud-mouth spiritless individuals IMHO.I'm fortunate to be attending a large young Catholic gathering (440,000+) in Madrid in August to see the Pope. I'm sure it will be the largest gathering of Antis as well. I'm actually looking forward to seeing the Anti efforts... If anyone has any special prayers they wish for me to bring, please PM them to me.Yes, pray for less antis!
Doctor Ninja Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 I always find the antis amusing at special events such as GC. When I went to GC 3 years ago with my wife, I was amused at their efforts which I've always viewed as poor efforts in evangelizing. I've also been amused by the lunch time entertainment of antis at my yearly LA Religious Education Congress event in Anaheim with 40,000 other Catholics. Definitely some loud-mouth spiritless individuals IMHO.I'm fortunate to be attending a large young Catholic gathering (440,000+) in Madrid in August to see the Pope. I'm sure it will be the largest gathering of Antis as well. I'm actually looking forward to seeing the Anti efforts... If anyone has any special prayers they wish for me to bring, please PM them to me.Actually, pray for those antis to be baptized into the LDS Church so they can't be against themselves.
blueadept Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Yes, pray for less antis! Antis seem to show up in larger numbers when the church makes some recent controversial statements about Christian values. I actually don't mind seeing the antis. It generally means that my church has made some annoying statement that they can't deal with which I'm fine with. So I'm sorry, I won't be taking that prayer request with me...
blueadept Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Actually, pray for those antis to be baptized into the LDS Church so they can't be against themselves. While I love my LDS wife........I won't be doing that one either.....lol
Doctor Ninja Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Antis seem to show up in larger numbers when the church makes some recent controversial statements about Christian values. I actually don't mind seeing the antis. It generally means that my church has made some annoying statement that they can't deal with which I'm fine with. So I'm sorry, I won't be taking that prayer request with me... I was just trying to be funny which I miserably failed at.Truth be told. Just like you, we need antis, they do more good for the LDS Church than they realize or will admit. Plus it is sick entertainment on my end to work them up in a frenzy.
bluebell Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 The family we baptized would probably thank us for knocking on their "no soliciting" door.I would guess that about 80% of the doors i knocked on on my mission had those signs (they were prolific) and only twice did the person who answered the door get angry about us not heeding theirs. We sometimes ended up inside the home sharing a first discussion with people who didn't think twice about us ignoring their signs and we did end up teaching a few people who were very interested in our message, that had the signs as well.It does make it difficult to navigate such signs since the people who have them on their homes don't seem to agree about who they want to prevent coming to their door.
blueadept Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 (edited) I was just trying to be funny which I miserably failed at. Now that's funny.... Truth be told. Just like you, we need antis, they do more good for the LDS Church than they realize or will admit. Plus it is sick entertainment on my end to work them up in a frenzy.My oh my...we have the same sick sense of what entertainment is. I love it. Edited July 1, 2011 by blueadept 1
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