Letters To A Mormon Elder
by James R. White
Conclusion
Some may not like the way I chose to end this work. Many continually ask me, “So, how many Mormons have come to the Lord in your ministry this month?” The “numbers mentality” is rampant in our country. If someone doesn’t hit their knees and “pray the sinner’s prayer,” then somehow you have failed. The idea that we share the gospel solely to glorify God and that it is God who brings the harvest in His own time11 Corinthians 3:7
So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. seems to be an old-fashioned concept. It would not have been realistic to finish the story in any other way. You have no guarantee that if you say “all the right things,” and present “all the right information,” that the person with whom you are speaking is going to respond positively. But even if Elder Hahn never came to Christ, would I be right to say that I wasted my time? Most certainly not. Whether our fictional Elder Hahn is ever saved is God’s business, not mine. I pray, I care, I hope. God does the saving.
Leaving Mormonism is not like quitting a book club. It is normally a very long process. Mormonism is an entire culture that includes family, friends, schoolmates or co-workers. I have known people who have remained in the LDS Church long after they stopped believing it was true. But just because you might be called to invest hours of your time, and yes, even a good bit of your heart, in sharing with a Mormon without the joy of seeing them come to Christ does not mean that you should not do so. “Seed-planters” are desperately needed — people who care enough to share over and over and over again in faithful trust that the Lord will accomplish His will. It is not easy work — few would go along as far as Elder Hahn did. Some will insult you, some will try to ignore you. If you love God and the gospel, those things won’t bother you. You just share with them anyway.
A word to the Latter-day Saint who reads this book: First, thank you. Thank you for reading this far and for considering what has come before. Some of you have read this book only so that you can be “prepared” to answer the objections that might be raised by the next Christian you encounter. I can only pray that God’s Spirit will so convict you of the truth of what you have read that you will not be able to rest until you deal with the true God. Some others are really searching, really looking. I hope you have been helped by this book. I hope you have seen that it is not simply my desire to “tear down,” but also to “build up.” I have tried to take away falsehood but also to replace it with truth. I pray for you as I did for Elder Hahn — trust in God’s grace. He is sufficient for you.
A word to the Christian reader of this book: I pray that you have read this book so that you can in love and tenderness share the truth with Latter-day Saints. I hope you will study it, memorize the verses used, and fearlessly share the gospel with Mormons. That is truly my desire. And I pray that if you are simply seeking information with which to “win a debate,” you will think twice before befuddling some young missionary with your tremendous knowledge and then walking off victorious with your sword in the air. That accomplishes little. Christian truth demands Christian love, just as much as Christian love demands truth. They go together.
There are thousands of Elder Hahns pedaling their bicycles around the world right now as you read this page. One of these young men is probably close by, doing his best to fulfill his “calling” in sharing the message of Mormonism with those around him. When he comes knocking on your door, what will you do? You might begin like this:
I wanted to write and thank you for the time you spent with my wife and me last Friday evening . . .
Letters To A Mormon Elder is available on Amazon.