This is a dialogue with a Mormon on Facebook. He quickly appealed to feelings as the basis for staying a Mormon.Β Apparently, earlier I had challenged him with some facts and Bible verses contradicting Mormonism.Β Following is what he said.Β It is short.Β I changed his name to Larry.
Matt: What is the reason you want to stay a Mormon?
Larry: Because I have been with it since I was 17 and I love the teachings.Β I am 19 now. So I have been a member for a while.
Matt: Being with it since you were 17 doesn’t mean it is true. Loving the teaching doesn’t mean it is true either.
Larry: The spirit testified to me that it is true.
Matt: When Eve was deceived by Satan in Gen. 3:1-6, she undoubtedly loved the teaches of Satan… that she would be the one who would judge what truth was.
Larry: The power and gift of the Holy Ghost.
Matt: How do you know it was the Spirit of God and not a deceiving spirit?Β There are deceiving spirits that imitate the truth… they can deceive you and help make you feel good about something ungodly. It happens in all sorts of religions.
Larry: Because it was a good feeling like a powerful burning in the bosom.
Matt: Drugs can make you feel good. So? How do you know the good feeling wasn’t from a deceiving spirit? βNo wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,β (2 Corinthians 11:14).Β If Satan is behind Mormonism, then he would WANT you to trust your feelings over God’s word.
Larry: Because of the fruits of that still small voice of joy and happiness and great pleasure.
Matt: There you go again trusting your feelings: “happiness and pleasure.” So far everything you’ve said is consistent demonic deception where the deceiving spirits appeal to peoples’ feelings. You have offered me nothing biblical yet.
Larry: That’s okay.
Matt: In Gen. 3:1-6 Satan deceived Eve by first doubting God’s word (v. 1) and then getting her to determine truth by her feelings (v. 6). How are you any different? Can you please tell me how what you believe in is true since you trust your feelings over God’s truth? Remember, Mormonism says there are many gods, but the Bible says there is only one (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5). It says God the Father cannot be seen (1 Tim. 6:15-16). Just as Satan got Eve to take her eyes off of the absolute truth of God’s word, so too you take your eyes off of God’s absolute word and trust your feelings. Can you please tell me how you do NOT fit into the same pattern of Eve in Gen. 3:1-6?
At this point, he gave up.
