Today was a pretty good day. I got my flight easy enough and then I arrived at 2pm in L.A. Now from here I could either go into work or go home. Since I flew out Sunday, I figured it was owed to me to take the rest of the day off. That's the good part about travel. If you get home early, you can go home early...in most cases anyway. So I got my car washed on the way home which it needed really bad. That's the one thing that stinks about having a black car. It doesn't take much for it to look really dirty, but it's so worth it when it's clean.

Anyways, I have some thoughts from being in immersed in Mormon culture the past couple days. I watched one of their sermons on TV while I was passing the time in my hotel room. It gave me some greater understanding of why Mormons cling so hard to their faith and are ultimately so lost because of it. I don't think their speaker intended for me to get that from his message, but here's the gist of it. The whole sermon was basically a defense for the Mormon faith and although Christians weren't brought up specifically, it was pretty much implied how we are the "disenlightened". I couldn't help but think that the purpose of this sermon was to reassure doubters in their church. I don't think I have ever experienced a sermon in any Christian church that's sole purpose was so defensive. I wonder if they are losing their grip. But basically, every point he made was out of the Book of Mormon. Another thing was they were saying that there are good books on God (implying the Bible), but the Book of Mormon is the "most correct and perfect book" and the final answer. He went on by saying that things that are confusing in the Bible are made clear by the Book of Mormon. I suppose any answer can make something clear if you make it up and then say that is the truth. That's why this cult is so deceptive. Another thing that he told me that I also found very helpful was that he was saying that Mormons have to be right because when two people disagree on the Bible they can still be friends, but when someone disagrees with the Book of Mormon, they react very hostile. So basically, he's telling this congregation, if people call you a blasphemer or a cultist or want to have nothing to do with what you have to say, then that is your medal of service for being faithful to the Mormon faith. I think that is a very effective deception.

I think it is quite a challenge for me because I can get so angry seeing God's word dragged through the mud and to see naive people being deceived by cult leaders. I just have to ask God for his guidance when I come into contact with a Mormon and have a spiritual discussion with one. These are lost people who need a Saviour. It's hard to balance that because most Mormons are false teachers because they are all required to go on a mission and need to be rebuked. I've ran into the Mormons a few times on my missions trips. They are always very friendly and want to strike up a conversation. The balance of how to deal with them is difficult in these situations because I believe there is no greater evil than them in the mission field. Their message is a damnable faith and they and the people who follow them will go to hell. Some of the missionaries I've talked to have told them just that when they've encountered them on the mission field. "Your faith is a damnable message and you need to repent. I will tell you the truth if you want to listen, but if not, you must leave." Now after hearing that message from that Mormon teacher, I know they will just receive that as a badge of honor and go to the next house. How do you get through to these people? I really don't know. I can only ask God to penetrate their hearts and put an end to this cult. This is truly an enemy we need to love.

I can't help but wonder what the Christian church looks like in the mind of a Mormon. I don't think the true church is really seen by many people. They see pedophiles in the Catholic church, they see gay pastors in various denominations, they see infidelity among pastors and it's members, and they see many people believe one thing and do another. I think that may seal in their minds that they are right because they see such a poor witness for Christ among "Christians". I can't change what other people do, I can only aim to be a good witness myself and trust God to do the work in people's hearts and be faithful to tell people what God has prompted me to say what they need to hear. I'm told I'll be going to Utah alot this summer. I have to be mindful and pray for God to prepare me to enter this mission field so that I am ready for whoever He brings my way.