We
have been meeting with our Evangelical Friend again. Those meetings have had
their ups and downs. The young Elders taught him several times with us. I
thought the first meeting went as well as could be expected, knowing our friend.
The second meeting he obviously wanted to talk about some anti-mormon articles
he had read, when that happened the Spirit was no longer present. The young
Elders felt they wanted to drop him, and I told them that would be okay.
However, he called me several days later and asked if we were meeting? I told him that we could meet if he wanted. He
had sent me an email wanting my impression of Romans Chapter 5. So we invited
him over to watch a half hour segment on the BYUtv Channel where BYU professors
of religion discuss the New Testament chapter by chapter. We showed him the
segment that covers Romans chapters 5 through 7. I didn’t know what his
reaction would be, but he agreed with most all of what they taught. That seemed
to work so we invited him over the following week to view a segment from 2nd
Nephi in the Book of Mormon that he was having trouble with. The young Elders
were not present when we showed the videos and as he was leaving, he asked where
they were. I tactfully but also rather candidly explained to him that it is
common for members of the Church all over the world to pray that our
missionaries would be lead to the doors of the honest in heart. I basically
explained that they did not feel he was honest in heart. I think that took him
a little by surprise. The next day he called me on the phone and we had a long
conversation. He is still spending time on anti-mormon sites, but he did say
several things that I found interesting. He said that he was watching a video
and the speaker said he didn’t agree with us doctrinally, but one thing about
the Mormons, “You can’t out nice them,
so don’t even try”. He said he agreed with that comment. So apparently,
there are members of the Church who are being good examples.
The
night before he had talked about the many phoney TV evangelists, who build up
their own following, take in all this money, and then live ungodly lives. I contrasted that with our leaders who
testify of Jesus Christ, and really are not trying to bring attention to
themselves and live very good lives.
The next day
on the phone he said he had been thinking about that and felt that the leaders
of our Church are sincere and trying to live good lives. I think it will still
take some time before he will have a desire to be baptized, however I do think
he will miss us.
