It quickly became apparent that his purpose was to disprove The Book of Mormon using the Bible. And he spouted off just about it every anti-mormon philosophy ever conceived.

Using only the Book of Mormon my companion and I very successfully warded off his theological attacks. But I quickly tired of the game when I realized the spirit was not with me.

That’s when I realized that he had in front of him for different Bibles with 4 very different translations and he would have to read through a passage from each of the various translations until he found an interpretation that best fit his argument.

I pointed out that he used the Bible to attack the Book of Mormon and he had failed to make an argument against our faith that even he really believed. We used one book that only strengthened the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

The man humbly agreed and accepted a copy of our Book as I grabbed my companion and left.

It’s true that there are many anecdotes that the Church isn’t necessarily proud of; but it has compiled much material of such nature anyway as it’s commitment to historical accuracy is paramount. The truth, not all of it convenient, stands on its own. I have read, much to my consternation, quite a bit of “Anti-Mormon” literature. some of which is simply a matter of doctrinal differences, and, while often greatly mistaken about the LDS Church and its people, aren’t necessarily malicious. But then there’s that category, often hawked by agitators who have built rather lucrative businesses (re: “Ministries”), writing lurid books and even some films that would be down right comical in nature, were they not so false, if not terribly slanted, in their presentation of LDS beliefs and practices. And this coming from those that claim to follow Christ, who are only doing it out of “love and concern” for the LDS! They are masterful hucksters, for sure, but to give these cretins any heed is to egregiously waste pulp, celluloid, and bandwidth! These works are intended to INFLAME, not inform. Why waste time on them?

There are indeed genuine scholars of other faiths who have doctrinal differences with the Church, that’s to be expected. There’s nothing wrong, IMO, with reading their works, though the material tends to be a tad dry. But please stay away from the “professional” anti-LDS hucksters, who are pretty much in it either for money, or spite, or both, and their “Christian” backers, many whom fear losing members of their congregations to those nice young men with those white shirts and ties, riding those bicycles. However, I prefer they keep it up, as it seems to generate interest..the only “bad publicity” is NONE.

I was unprepared for the hollow, unsettled, aching feeling that settled into me as I read. At first, I wondered if I was feeling doubt because of what I read… and then I realized what I was feeling was the complete absence of the Spirit as the Holy Ghost fled my company.

In seeking wisdom from God’s ENEMIES about my OWN RELIGION, I was demonstrating the opposite of faith. The danger there is that when the Spirit leaves us, we are left to our own weak understanding, and it is easy for our own confusion and doubt to swallow us. You don’t ever, EVER want to do something that will drive the Spirit away… and that’s what reading anti-Mormon literature will do.

If you want to be educated about your own religion, and able to defend yourself against unrighteous attack, go to the SOURCE. The first rule of studying history is to get as CLOSE TO THE SOURCE AS POSSIBLE. Read diaries, memoirs, and letters from the time. Educate yourself with the abundance of Church history that the LDS Church has made available to the world. When you know how it REALLY happened, it will become easy to see when someone is lying. And if you have the Spirit with you, you will never be deceived.