Our second meeting began with a brief exchange of greetings and an opening prayer. The missionaries expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue the conversation and explore Mormon beliefs in greater depth.
The focus of our discussion centered around scripture, truth, revelation, and the relationship between the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
We first addressed the role of the Bible within Mormonism. The missionaries emphasized that they fully accept the Bible as the word of God and believe it contains essential truths about Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry and teachings. However, they also explained that the Book of Mormon plays an important complementary role.
They described how numerous Christian denominations have emerged due to differing interpretations of biblical texts. According to them, the Book of Mormon helps clarify certain biblical teachings and reduce interpretative confusion. For instance, differences in translations and interpretations can lead to theological disagreements, such as infant baptism or the nature of God (Trinity versus Godhead).
One missionary illustrated this by referencing his own journey, emphasizing how the Book of Mormon provides clarity, describing the Bible and Book of Mormon as “two points on a piece of paper” through which only one clear doctrinal line can pass. The missionaries stated that rather than contradicting or replacing the Bible, the Book of Mormon functions as a second witness, supporting and clarifying biblical teachings.
Our conversation shifted to the question of authority. I asked whether the Bible or the Book of Mormon holds greater authority. The missionaries explained they view both scriptures as equally authoritative, serving as complementary tools inspired by God to help humanity better understand Jesus Christ. They emphasized that the ultimate authority rests with God and Jesus Christ themselves, with scripture serving as a guide to understanding divine truths.
We discussed the concept of inspiration and the human element in scripture. They clarified that Mormon belief acknowledges human imperfection in scripture writing, suggesting minor errors or biases could appear. However, they emphasized these imperfections do not negate the essential spiritual truths contained within the Bible or Book of Mormon.
A significant portion of our discussion explored how individuals determine spiritual truth. We acknowledged the challenge of discerning truth amidst diverse religious claims. The missionaries emphasized reliance on the Holy Spirit, which they believe testifies personally to individuals about spiritual truths.
I shared my personal journey of faith, describing how my beliefs were shaped through a variety of means, including scriptural study, historical evidence (such as fulfilled prophecy and archaeology), logical arguments (like the cosmological argument for God’s existence), and personal spiritual experiences. The missionaries affirmed the value of these methods but reiterated their emphasis on the necessity of spiritual revelation through the Holy Spirit to confirm truths personally.
We agreed that personal experiences alone, though impactful, should be tested against scripture and other sources of revelation to discern whether they truly come from God.
We then explored the LDS Church’s understanding of prophets and revelation. The missionaries explained their belief in ongoing revelation through modern prophets and apostles who guide the church today. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, is considered the initial modern prophet who restored Christ’s true church, and subsequent prophets continue his authoritative legacy.
When asked how they differentiate true prophets from false prophets, the missionaries cited Christ’s teaching about judging by "fruits," emphasizing the importance of a prophet’s teachings aligning with scripture, pointing believers towards Jesus Christ, and producing positive spiritual results. They acknowledged historical instances where even recognized prophets expressed personal opinions not officially inspired by God, indicating the need for discernment.
We delved deeper into the Book of Mormon’s origin story. The missionaries clarified misconceptions about its history, explaining that the book originated from plates containing ancient records compiled by a prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. They recounted how a man named Lehi and his family left Jerusalem around 600 BC, traveling to the Americas. Over centuries, these peoples split into two main groups: the Nephites (more righteous) and Lamanites (less righteous).
Jesus Christ, according to Mormon belief, visited the Americas after His resurrection, preaching His gospel to these ancient inhabitants. Mormon later condensed these historical and spiritual records into a single set of golden plates. Moroni, Mormon’s son, eventually buried these abridged plates, which Joseph Smith was guided to recover and translate into what became the Book of Mormon.