Four "Sisters" &
The Big Bad Security Guard
Dear FPW's (Faithful Prayer Warriors),
I am certain that not all of you will be able to read all of our Manti Pageant Updates... but I committed myself to send a daily update for those who promised to pray every day for our outreach - so if you don't have time to read these we totally understand. But, PLEASE KEEP PRAYING whether you have time to read these or not.
THE FOUR (LDS MISSIONARY) SISTERS AND THE BIG BAD (LDS) SECURITY GUARD
On Monday we took the Manti Week #2 Mission Teams to the Salt Lake City Temple so they could experience the deception of Mormonism first hand. We sent about 40 Christian missionaries into the various venues surrounding Temple Square while the TGM Staff (myself, Shane, and Josh), went to the North Gate of Temple Square to witness on the public sidewalks. We of course talk with anyone who wants to talk but primarily we pass out the Jesus Christ / Joseph Smith DVDs. These DVDs are wonderful seeds that compare the teachings of Jesus and Joseph Smith and we were able to pass out over 100 DVDs to Temple Square visitors.
In the afternoon, something very unusual happened - four LDS Missionary Sisters came out onto the public sidewalk and leaned against the wall (it was a very hot day and I am sure the shade the wall provided was the draw). Well, of course we saw this as a God given opportunity to share the truth with these young ladies. So we all, one by one, tried to engage the sisters in conversation but they had obviously determined that they were not going to talk with us. This really bothered me and after praying about it for several minutes I again walked up to them very deliberately and said, "I am really bothered by the obvious tension that exists between us. Do you believe that Jesus is the most important person who ever lived on this earth?"
They all nodded and said, "Yes, of course we believe that."
I then asked, "Do you believe that the words of Jesus Christ are the most important words that have ever been spoken in this world?"
Again they all nodded in agreement.
And I said, "We also believe that Jesus and His words are the most important thing in the world. So why can't we talk?"
One of the sisters very hesitantly said, "What do you want to talk about?"
And I held up side one of our boasting visual and asked, "Do you agree with Alma 26:12? It says, "I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things."
They said, "Yes, do you disagree?"
I said, "No I agree with Alma 26:12 because it contains a true principle taught in the Bible." I then flipped the visual around and asked this, " The greatest prophet that ever lived said this about Jesus... "He must increase, I must decrease." Who was this prophet? (Hint, he was the prophet who baptized Jesus.)
They all said, "John the Baptist."
I said, "Right, and why do you think Jesus said that he was the 'Greatest' prophet?"
They all looked at me and shrugged their shoulders so I said, "It was because he said, 'Jesus must increase and I must decrease.' John wanted all the glory to go to Jesus."
I then flipped to the other side of the tract and said, "Would you agree with this statement from Ezra Taft Benson (he was an LDS prophet about 20 years ago), President Benson said, "In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride - it is always considered a sin... Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God's... As Paul said, they "seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." (Beware of Pride, April General Conference, 1989)
Again the girls asked, "Are you saying you don't agree with this statement?"
And again I said, "No, I actually do agree that pride is pitting your will against God's will. Pride is when you lift yourself up and push Jesus aside."
By this time the girls were looking a bit puzzled because we were agreeing on every point - we all agreed that pride was bad and that Jesus should receive all the glory. This is where things began to get interesting because I flipped the tract and asked, "Would it ever be okay for a person to make this claim... 'I have more to boast of
than ever any man had... I boast that no man ever did such a work as I.' "
One of the Sisters immediately responded by saying, "I have seen this before... are you trying to say that Joseph Smith said this?"
I said, "Right now I am only interested in your opinion about this statement. But, let's say that it was Joseph Smith who said this, would that be okay? Would it be okay for a prophet of God to say, 'I have more to boast of than ever any man had... I boast that no man ever did such a work as I' "?
She said, "I think that even prophets can make mistakes, so if he did it wouldn't bother me!"
I said, "Really? Because it was Joseph Smith who proclaimed this in a public sermon to the saints. Let me read the entire quote to you, Joseph Smith said, "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together... Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet." (History of the Church, Volume 6, published by the LDS Church, pg. 408-409.) Is is okay for a prophet of God to boast that he has done a greater work than even Jesus?
Again the Sister said, "I already told you that I think prophets can make mistakes."
I now moved to the next point in the Boasting Tract and said, "Do you know that there is a worse sin in the Book of Mormon than pride? It is found in Jacob chapter 2:22-28 which says this, "I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly... For behold, thus saith the Lord: this people begin to wax in iniquity... for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredomes... David and Solomontruly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me... Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. My brethren hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be onewife; and concubines he shall have none; For I the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me."
I then said, "Do you know that Joseph Smith was guilty of exactly what this passage is talking about? He married 10 teenage girls two of which were sisters which is contrary to the Law of God. He also married two sets of Mothers and daughters which is also contrary to the Law of God. And imagine this, he married 11 married women who had living husbands. What do you think the definition of 'whoredoms' is? I think these marriages were abominations to God."
One of the Girls said, "Why are you trying to tear down Joseph Smith, we believe he was a prophet of God?"
I said, "Because we all agreed at the beginning of our conversation that the words of Jesus are the most important words that were ever spoken and Jesus warned us to test prophets by the fruits of their lives. When I obey Jesus and put Joseph Smith's life to the test I see self exalting pride and immorality with multiple women. These are not the fruits of a true prophet of God. Believe me, I am not trying to tear down your faith in Jesus I believe in Jesus with all my heart - I want you to trust Jesus - not Joseph."
This is where the BIG BAD LDS SECURITY GUARD enters the story. He walked up and listened to a portion of our conversation - which was calm and all about Jesus. He then said, "You are not allowed to corner our missionaries like this!"
I said, "Sir, I have not 'cornered' these young ladies. We are simply talking. Do you think I forced them to stay here and talk with me? They can walk away from this conversation any time they wish."
The Guard then pointed to the gate and told the girls to go inside and they all walked inside Temple Square. As they were walking away he sternly said to me, "I am warning you to leave our missionaries alone you do not have the right to trap them like this!"
I just calmly said, "We are on the public sidewalk and I did not trap anyone. I have every legal right to talk with anyone on the public sidewalk who is willing. I was asking the girls questions and they were engaging me in conversation. We were simply talking about Jesus and his warnings concerning false prophets. Anyone who claims to be a member of Jesus Christ's church should follow Jesus and should heed his warnings don't you agree?"
He then said, "The missionary sisters contacted me for help. Whatever you were telling them obviously made them feel uncomfortable so I am telling you to leave them alone."
I said, "Sir, sometimes the truth is uncomfortable! I am a devout follower of Jesus and have based my life on His words. Jesus commanded his followers to proclaim His message to the world. I just want those girls to trust Jesus and follow His teachings even if it is uncomfortable. I also want you to trust Jesus alone and base your live on His words. Are you doing that?"
The Guard then said, "I am not going to argue with you" and he turned and walked away.
Please pray for these missionary sisters. Yes, our conversation was "uncomfortable" but they needed to hear the truth about the false prophet they are following. Also pray for the "Big Bad Guard" he is human too and he has a very difficult job. Imagine being hired by the Church of Jesus Christ to stop Christians from talking about Jesus.
PLEASE KEEP PRAYING! We are looking forward to a very busy week - the Christian missionaries on the pageant streets this week number, we are guessing about 250. The biggest group of missionaries we have ever had on the streets.
Again the girls asked, "Are you saying you don't agree with this statement?"
And again I said, "No, I actually do agree that pride is pitting your will against God's will. Pride is when you lift yourself up and push Jesus aside."
By this time the girls were looking a bit puzzled because we were agreeing on every point - we all agreed that pride was bad and that Jesus should receive all the glory. This is where things began to get interesting because I flipped the tract and asked, "Would it ever be okay for a person to make this claim... 'I have more to boast of
than ever any man had... I boast that no man ever did such a work as I.' "
One of the Sisters immediately responded by saying, "I have seen this before... are you trying to say that Joseph Smith said this?"
I said, "Right now I am only interested in your opinion about this statement. But, let's say that it was Joseph Smith who said this, would that be okay? Would it be okay for a prophet of God to say, 'I have more to boast of than ever any man had... I boast that no man ever did such a work as I' "?
She said, "I think that even prophets can make mistakes, so if he did it wouldn't bother me!"
I said, "Really? Because it was Joseph Smith who proclaimed this in a public sermon to the saints. Let me read the entire quote to you, Joseph Smith said, "I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together... Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet." (History of the Church, Volume 6, published by the LDS Church, pg. 408-409.) Is is okay for a prophet of God to boast that he has done a greater work than even Jesus?
Again the Sister said, "I already told you that I think prophets can make mistakes."
I now moved to the next point in the Boasting Tract and said, "Do you know that there is a worse sin in the Book of Mormon than pride? It is found in Jacob chapter 2:22-28 which says this, "I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly... For behold, thus saith the Lord: this people begin to wax in iniquity... for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredomes... David and Solomontruly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me... Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. My brethren hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be onewife; and concubines he shall have none; For I the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me."
I then said, "Do you know that Joseph Smith was guilty of exactly what this passage is talking about? He married 10 teenage girls two of which were sisters which is contrary to the Law of God. He also married two sets of Mothers and daughters which is also contrary to the Law of God. And imagine this, he married 11 married women who had living husbands. What do you think the definition of 'whoredoms' is? I think these marriages were abominations to God."
One of the Girls said, "Why are you trying to tear down Joseph Smith, we believe he was a prophet of God?"
I said, "Because we all agreed at the beginning of our conversation that the words of Jesus are the most important words that were ever spoken and Jesus warned us to test prophets by the fruits of their lives. When I obey Jesus and put Joseph Smith's life to the test I see self exalting pride and immorality with multiple women. These are not the fruits of a true prophet of God. Believe me, I am not trying to tear down your faith in Jesus I believe in Jesus with all my heart - I want you to trust Jesus - not Joseph."
This is where the BIG BAD LDS SECURITY GUARD enters the story. He walked up and listened to a portion of our conversation - which was calm and all about Jesus. He then said, "You are not allowed to corner our missionaries like this!"
I said, "Sir, I have not 'cornered' these young ladies. We are simply talking. Do you think I forced them to stay here and talk with me? They can walk away from this conversation any time they wish."
The Guard then pointed to the gate and told the girls to go inside and they all walked inside Temple Square. As they were walking away he sternly said to me, "I am warning you to leave our missionaries alone you do not have the right to trap them like this!"
I just calmly said, "We are on the public sidewalk and I did not trap anyone. I have every legal right to talk with anyone on the public sidewalk who is willing. I was asking the girls questions and they were engaging me in conversation. We were simply talking about Jesus and his warnings concerning false prophets. Anyone who claims to be a member of Jesus Christ's church should follow Jesus and should heed his warnings don't you agree?"
He then said, "The missionary sisters contacted me for help. Whatever you were telling them obviously made them feel uncomfortable so I am telling you to leave them alone."
I said, "Sir, sometimes the truth is uncomfortable! I am a devout follower of Jesus and have based my life on His words. Jesus commanded his followers to proclaim His message to the world. I just want those girls to trust Jesus and follow His teachings even if it is uncomfortable. I also want you to trust Jesus alone and base your live on His words. Are you doing that?"
The Guard then said, "I am not going to argue with you" and he turned and walked away.
Please pray for these missionary sisters. Yes, our conversation was "uncomfortable" but they needed to hear the truth about the false prophet they are following. Also pray for the "Big Bad Guard" he is human too and he has a very difficult job. Imagine being hired by the Church of Jesus Christ to stop Christians from talking about Jesus.
PLEASE KEEP PRAYING! We are looking forward to a very busy week - the Christian missionaries on the pageant streets this week number, we are guessing about 250. The biggest group of missionaries we have ever had on the streets.
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