Speaking the Truth in Love

A Guide to Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons

Have you ever come away from a discussion with a Mormon feeling you talked past each other? Have you ever avoided witnessing to a Mormon because you felt unsure of what to say? Witnessing to Mormons is different. But they need to hear the truth of God's Word. And we can speak God's truth to them in a way that they will understand if we keep in mind the following key points.........

Matthew 5:48 and Hebrews 10:14. Other passages cited are used to support these two passages.

1. Start by talking about outer darkness. Outer darkness is the Mormon term for hell. State clearly why you are so concerned. Firmly but lovingly tell your Mormon friends they are on the road to outer darkness because they are not perfect, something God demands in Matthew 5:48.

2. Introduce the idea of "being perfect" by referring to Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is heaven is perfect."

Emphasize that the passage says "be perfect," not "become perfect." Mormons are taught they can eventually become perfect. Therefore you need to show them that this is not what the passage says. You could even show them that the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) also says "be perfect." The JST, contained in the footnote in their Bibles, reads, "Ye are therefore commanded to be perfect." You could also refer to 3 Nephi 12:48 from the Book of Mormon, "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect, even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

3. Expand on the concept of being perfect. Show them the vast difference between being perfect and becoming perfect. Being perfect is a present condition while becoming perfect refers to the future. To illustrate, use examples from daily life. When parents tell their children to be good they want that to happen immediately, not sometime in the future. The same is true when an employer tells an employee to be on time.

Be very patient. To "be perfect" will be a new concept for most Mormons. Consequently, it will be a difficult one for them to grasp.

4. Support Matthew 5:48 with James 2:10, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." This passage emphasizes a total, 100% keeping of the law of God. A 99.9% effort at keeping the law is not good enough.

You want the Mormon to admit that to "be perfect" is an impossibility. When that happens you could also refer to 1 Nephi 3:7 from the Book of Mormon, "I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them." This verse can be effective because it is commonly used in Mormonism. It says that when God gives a commandment he also gives people the ability to keep it. You can say, "How about 1 Nephi 3:7? Doesn't that tell you that God Won't give you a commandment that is impossible to keep?"

5. At this point you can confidently claim to be already perfect in God's sight. This is not the time to talk about your sinfulness. This is the time to clearly testify to God's wonderful gift of perfection. Tell the Mormon that God considers you perfect because Jesus was perfect for you.

6. Support this claim by pointing to Hebrews 10:10-18, especially v. 14, "For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." The one offering is Jesus' suffering and death on the cross by which he has "made you perfect" in God's sight. Emphasize the past tense--"hath perfected." Stress that perfection is an accomplished fact in Jesus Christ. Because of what Jesus did long ago, you are, right now, perfect in God's sight.

Be sure to explain the difference between your perfect status before God and your present state of sin. Although believers still sin, God considers them perfect because they are covered with Jesus' perfection. This is why believers are called "saints" in many New Testament letters, because "by one offering he hath perfected for them that are sanctified."

7. As a result, Christians believers see Jesus not as an example--as a model of earning God's favor--as do the Mormons, but as a substitute--as one who earned Heavenly Father's forgiveness for them--by His suffering and death.

This booklet selection summarizes information contained in the book, Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons, by Mark J. Cares, Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee, WI, 1993.

Also available are three tracts specifically designed for speaking the truth in love to Mormons, "Perfection Now", "The Miracle of Forgiveness", and "A Testimony of Jesus Christ." These tracts can also be purchased from Truth in Love to Mormons and are published by WELS Mass Media Ministry, 2929 N. Mayfair Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53222, phone 414/256-3888.