Dear Gramps,
I have a friend who I am afraid is falling away from the Mormon Church. I have heard him bear his testimony many times, but when I talk to him in a small group setting he isn’t the same. I recently heard him say he doesn’t really have a reason to come to church anymore, and I think he is attending in order to impress his parents. How can I help him without hurting his feeling and pushing him over the edge’ so to speak?
Concerned, from Canada
Dear Concerned,
If your friend is falling away from the church, he no longer has the companionship of the Holy Spirit. If he no longer has the companionship of the Holy Spirit, he has committed some sinful act from which he has not repented. Without the companionship of the Holy Spirit, he cannot know that the church is true. Paul tells us—But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, except he has the Spirit of God (JST 1 Cor 2:9-11).So, about the only thing that you could do would be to remain as his friend and pray for him. If you try to convince him of the truthfulness of the gospel, it will fall on deaf ears until he qualifies himself to receive the witness of the Holy Spirit.
Gramps
