Letter 9 — Come, Let Us Reason Together Vision
Letters To A Mormon Elder
by James R. White
Monday, July 9
Dear Elder Hahn,
Your new partner seems like a nice young man. But, I would rather have heard from you. It’s not that I think you “owe” me anything for the time I’ve spent in writing and talking with you–I do this because I see it as a ministry and an avenue of showing my love for Christ and my concern for you. But to simply be told that you do not wish further contact with me seems more than a little unusual. I don’t feel that your request has anything at all to do with my personality or the manner in which I have pursued the subjects before us. Rather, I feel that the information I have presented to you is of such a nature as to cause you discomfort. I have challenged your beliefs and in the process, you have been faced with tough decisions. That might be painful, or it might just be distracting and bothersome–that all depends upon how seriously you have read my letters and how serious you are about believing that Mormonism is true.
I remember speaking with an acquaintance of mine who was once a Mormon but left the LDS Church when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. While he was on his mission (it was over in England) he encountered people who “rocked his boat” with questions that he could not answer. But, he was counseled to “pray about it” and simply to seek a “stronger testimony.” During his mission, one of the apostles (as I recall it was Mark E. Peterson) came over and met with the missionaries in the area. He was considered a real theologian–one of those who could answer the tough questions and was great as a speaker. After his presentation a young missionary in the back stood up to ask one of the very same questions that had been thrown at my friend. The answer was quick and sharp: “You needn’t worry about those things–talking about them will not help you on your mission. Next!” The missionary sat down rather dazed and bewildered, and everyone else took the cue that asking such questions might not be a good idea.
Just today I listened to a man who left a message on our answering machine (we have a phone message for Mormons). I had been here when he called the first time, and when he began accusing us of being stupid and unaware of LDS beliefs, I picked up the phone and began to talk to him. We spoke for about half an hour. I kept bringing up this fact or that, and all he could say in response was, “Well, you are deceived.” At first he berated us for not knowing what we were talking about, but by the end of the conversation, when I was inviting him to meet with me to talk about these things, all he could say was, “Well, you’ve obviously done your homework, so I’m not going to meet with you.” As I said, he called back and tried to respond to just one item I had raised with him when we originally spoke. He started off by saying, “Please don’t pick up the phone.” He must have called when there was no one here anyway, so he went on. He replied to what I had said and then closed with these rather chilling words (and this is a direct quote of what he said): “I’m not supposed to be in contact with people such as yourself because of the things that you try to make us believe. I am sorry you believe the way you do and have been so misled.” Here is a man with whom I attempted to reason–I pointed out to him the fact that it seems much more likely to me that a person who refuses to examine the issues, refuses to face the tough questions, will be “deceived” and misled than a person who is willing to openly discuss and examine the facts. But he wouldn’t listen. He never provided a name or way of contacting him–so I pray and leave him in God’s hands.
Brigham Young once said something that is actually rather wise:
I say to the whole world, receive the truth, no matter who presents it to you.
Take up the Bible, and compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test. (Journal of Discourses, 16:46
That is what I am challenging you to do, Elder Hahn. I have expressed to you the respect that I have for someone such as you–few people are willing to give of even the barest amount of time, let alone two years of their lives. But what you do brings with it great responsibilities. You are telling people that what you preach is true– yet, if you do not examine these things, and continue to “prove all things, hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), you are shirking your responsibilities, and may end up being responsible for leading others into error. That is a heavy weight to carry, Elder Hahn.
I am asking you to meet with me again–just you and me. There is a park about three blocks north and about two blocks west of your apartment–I’m sure you know which one I’m talking about. I believe you mentioned that your “day off,” so to speak, is Tuesday. Meet me at that park after sunset. We’ve been having strange weather this year– 122° at the end of June, and in early July it’s actually been under 100° more often than not. But the evenings have been beautiful–and I want to speak with you face-to-face. We should be able to do so without interruption at the park. If you really believe that you are doing God’s will, you will come and talk to me. I thank you.
Sincerely,
James White
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