My cousin just starting going to a Mormon church. She once used to go to a Christian Church but has started going to church with her ex-mother-in-law. How should I begin to tell that the church she is going is not one of Christ and is pretty much a cult? Any help would be greatly appreciated.<\/p>\n\t
Though Mormonism started in a cult-like fashion (people following a charismatic leader), it did not remain a cult. Cults fade or abruptly end when the charismatic leader dies. Mormonism survived that transition point, though it began to splinter at that point. So calling it a cult is not accurate, nor will it help you make progress with your cousin.<\/p>\n
Mormonism is based on feelings or emotions, very much like charismatic and Pentecostal groups. Logic and facts play little part in the decision to become a Mormon. Rather, a person is urged to pray to the Holy Spirit and find it in their hearts whether the things taught are true or not. In other words, they are being asked to decide truth based on their own personal feelings. And when it comes to feelings, my feelings are just as good as your feelings, so on that level, there is no persuasion of truth.<\/p>\n
Thus we must approach it from a level Mormonism cannot reach. “For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ<\/em>” (II Corinthians 10:3-5). The answer is by contrasting Mormonism with what the Bible teaches. Mormons accept the Bible, at least in part. They are told that it is true, but it has been corrupted over the years. If your cousin is willing to accept the Bible as truth, then start studying it with her. Point out the many ways Mormon teaching differs from the Bible. There are numerous articles and sermon outlines which will help you in your discussions. Keep the discussions civil and to the facts. She will either be interested or she will dismiss the arguments. Either way, know that you have done the best that you could in warning her, but ultimately the choice will be hers to make.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: My cousin just starting going to a Mormon church. She once used to go to a Christian Church but has started going to church with her ex-mother-in-law. How should I begin to tell that the church she is going is not one of Christ and is pretty much a cult? Any help would be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[687],"class_list":["post-10870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-mormons"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33308,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/mormonism-and-marketing\/","url_meta":{"origin":10870,"position":0},"title":"Mormonism and Marketing","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 14, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wendi Capehart Almost five years ago my family accepted an invitation to study with Mormon missionaries. Our studies lasted almost a year, and of course, over time missionaries were transferred in and out (one rather quickly) and others brought in to 'discuss' things with us. There were several parts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55467,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/changing-the-revelations-of-mormonism\/","url_meta":{"origin":10870,"position":1},"title":"Changing the Revelations of Mormonism","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 4, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Dudley Ross Spears via\u00a0Valley View Church of Christ Website Realizing the importance of having correct copies, the leaders of the Church determined to publish them. Because the originals contained spelling and grammar errors, a Church conference moved that Joseph Smith should make the necessary corrections. (Far West Record, p.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35082,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-to-take-classes-from-a-university-connected-to-a-denomination\/","url_meta":{"origin":10870,"position":2},"title":"Is it wrong to take classes from a university connected to a denomination?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: When I was trying to earn my high school diploma I took five online high school courses from BYU independent study. BYU is a Mormon university, which I believe is funded by the Mormon church. Was it wrong for me to take these courses? Would it be considered supporting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8289,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thank-you-for-helping-to-defend-my-beliefs-against-mormonism\/","url_meta":{"origin":10870,"position":3},"title":"Thank you for helping to defend my beliefs against Mormonism","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I just wanted to say thanks for the article \"The Mormon Plan of Salvation\".\u00a0 My new husband is Mormon and loves the fact that I have strong faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.\u00a0 However, he, of course, feels like I am missing a vital part of true salvation.\u00a0 Therefore,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30327,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/origins-of-denominations\/","url_meta":{"origin":10870,"position":4},"title":"Origins of Denominations","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Over the years, I've done lessons that look at various issues that caused the rise of the various denominations that we see today. Rather than leaving them scattered, I'm gathering them up on a single page so that they will be more easily found. Where Did\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53718,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-you-call-joseph-smith-a-liar-then-you-are-calling-the-prophets-of-the-bible-liars-too\/","url_meta":{"origin":10870,"position":5},"title":"If you call Joseph Smith a liar, then you are calling the prophets of the Bible liars too","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Sir, I must protest your accusation that Joseph Smith was a liar. 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