MormonInfo.org

May 7, 2004

Dear Family and Friends,

Last month, for the first weekend, the LDS Church had their biannual general conference (the other one is the first weekend of October). I had a couple buddies, Aaron and Leroy, out from Ohio to help evangelize. (See below in the "MAILBAG" for the links to their detailed write-ups concerning the weekend.) Aaron got his picture with his sign that was advertising his web site (BiggerGod) with in two papers. Here is one of them: Utah Statesman.

I really enjoy advertising my web site as well, and of course preaching at this huge event since there are so many closed-minded LDS. It is very difficult to get in conversations and even get literature out at this venue, so I give the masses something to see and hear regardless of how closed they are.

Sometimes, LDS are so closed that they result to violence. Saturday morning, right before I started preaching, some guy came up behind me and attempted to take my sign away from me. When he couldn't do that, he wrapped me up in a bear hug from behind, and started swinging me around. I tried to turn my video camera on, but I just couldn't reach it. Only after I yelled out for someone to call the cops did this attacker throw me. I taunted him as he went into the mall to turn around, so I could get his face on camera, but I only ended up getting the back of his head. Then later that afternoon, some guy forearmed me in the back and pushed me off the planter I was preaching on. He was wearing a nice white shirt and tie, and blended in with the rest of the LDS masses that went into Temple Square.

On Sunday evening, at the end of my time preaching, advertising the web sites (MormonInfo.org and JosephLied.com), and conversing with people, two girls (Brandy and Christy) both gave their lives to Christ! They weren't LDS, but it's very cool when anyone gets saved. (Among other great things, that means more of a Christian influence here in Utah!) I went up to them after preaching on the planter I was on, and began a conversation with them. Brandy was the more vocal, and she told me that she was going to a Foursquare church for a little while, but had never become born again.

After sharing the gospel with her, and receiving Christ, she said that she had never heard such a clear presentation of the gospel before. They were both so happy. Brandy was a little hesitant at first in giving herself to Christ, since she was afraid of committing and then finding herself letting Christ down. I assured her that if she would simply trust Christ with whatever she could, He would help her in her unbelief and enter her life to begin a life long process of changing her. She would become His responsibility. This made sense to her, and they both ended up praying with me. Aaron and Leroy were there for it; Aaron prayed for them, and we gave them a Bible and some tracts. So they made my time at the conference all worth while!

Later during the month, another buddy of mine, Matt Vessey (who runs perfectrighteousness) stayed at my place for a week. Matt had come up the week before with the Biola University spring break team. He was a little disappointed in the Biola trip, since he felt like they didn't do that much ministry while they were here. But he certainly made up for it the week after they left. We were evangelizing at busy intersections around town, and we also ministered in front of East High School for a couple days.

On one occasion while I was witnessing with Matt, I led a Mexican guy to the Lord across the street from Brigham Young's house. Arturro had no religious background, but knew that he needed a new life ("nuevo vida"). Drugs and alcohol were ruining his life. His English wasn't the best, and neither was my Spanish, but we both know what had happened to him. He turned from himself, and asked Christ to take up residency in his life. I gave him a Spanish tract, referred him to a local Spanish Baptist Church, and then prayed for him.

Some of you have asked me about the guy I was corresponding with in last month's "MAILBAG". He seemed to start off really receptive, but I soon began to notice that he was trying to make things more complicated than they needed to be. He seemed to want to muddy the waters and not commit himself to Christ until he could find out why there are so many different denominations if there's only one true Church. And even if they do agree on essential issues, he wouldn't commit until he finds out what exactly they all are. I told him that I don't know why I should give them all to him (if I could even do that) when he won't even accept one.

He may have been intentionally wasting my time or just seeing how far he could push me, but nonetheless, I don't have that much time. I passed him off to Matt Vessey, but this guy I corresponded with never responded to Matt's e-mail. And that makes me even more suspicious that whatever this guy's motive was, it doesn't seem to be getting at the truth. Until that happens, there's really not much more I could say anyway.

Shaking the beehive (Utah) in love,

Rob
Rob@Mormon Info.org
Mormon Info

****PRAYER LIST****

1. For more salvations
2. For God to move more people to do street ministry downtown
3. For Utah churches and individual Christians to support each other's various ministries
4. For financial provision
5. For the ability to get my rough draft comprehensive done soon
6. For God to use my web site
7. For love, protection, and wisdom as I minister

****MAILBAG****

Thanks for the newsletter Bro! What a joy it is to read of all your hard work and success! May God continue to increase your faith and your desire to further His Kingdom! What a lucky dog you are. . .Ravi is my favorite speaker and apologist of all time, how cool it would be to meet and talk with him. PS Can I post some more of your site onto Theology Web?

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[From Leroy (one of the Christian workers who came out for the LDS general conference):] Hey guys, that was truly one of the best weekends of my life. While it was going on (like in a battle or boot camp I guess) it was hard and the lack of response was frustrating and basically repeating myself over and over on Saturday got kinda boring but after it's all over it's *all***good*. literally. Thanks to God and blessings for both of you. Let's remember to pray for Brandy(?) and Christine(?) brother Leroy

[You can read more of Leroy's write-up of conference weekend, and for Aaron's (the other Christian worker) detailed account]

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just wondering if you have ever read the book of mormon or prayed about it?

[I responded:] Yes, I have read it (and continue to read it) and have prayed about it (and continue to pray about it). And I take it for many different reasons that God told me it's false.

[She responded:] Rob, thanks for writing me back. I have just started reading the book of mormon and I love it. Everything in the book goes along with my bible studies and the entire book proclaims that jesus is the christ and our eternal savior. I dont see how that is bad? What have you got out of reading the book that you feel is false? thanks p.s. have a wonderful day!

[I responded:] Check out my tract on "Racism in Mormonism". Also, 2 Nephi 25:23 and Moroni 10:32 flatly go against the gospel of grace (e.g., Romans 4:5, 11:6, and Ephesians 2:8-9). You may also be interested to check out my review of The Book of Mormon movie. Especially watch the video at www.MormonChallenge.com... the Indians aren't Jewish; they are Asian. The Book of Mormon is a fictional book that tries to be Christian, but it only does a mediocre job at that. The Book of Mormon isn't as bad though as the other books of LDS Scripture that clearly teach the things listed on the opening page of my web site. LDS use the BM to get people praying about it, they get a good feeling that they think must be from the Holy Ghost, and then it's easier to suck them into believing the other books.

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I have just one question for you. Why are you spending your time ripping on others beliefs and harassing their freedom of religion? I don't see them doing that to you. What a waste of time!

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If you believe that the only requirement to being saved is to believe that Christ is the savior then why not preach to those that do not believe in Christ. Mormons believe that Jesus is the savior. And yes they believe that you must take steps to be saved & maybe some other differences in belief, but so what! They believe in Christ they even use the same bible. Therefore by your own belief all Mormons will be saved just by their believe in Christ. And the argument that it's not the same Christ is just stupid.

[I responded:] Well Jesus spoke very clearly about warning us of "false Christs" that would come and deceive many (Matthew 24:24), and His apostle warned of "another Jesus" (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15). And if the LDS Church isn't teaching another Jesus, then I don't know who is. Look, if I said that I believe the same Bible as you and then said that Jesus is really your mother, that would be a rather obvious false Christ, right? Well, in the same way, when you look at what the LDS Church teaches about Jesus (cf. my chart when you open up my site or my tract on the "7 Differences"), Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox hold that the LDS Church is teaching a weak, foreign, and ultimately imaginary Jesus. Now you're welcome to call us all "stupid", but we think you're deceived. We deny your Jesus, and submit to you that this "Jesus" will lead you to hell. Jesus thought knowledge of Himself was central to eternal life (John 8:24 and 17:3).