When I was a JW I was fascinated with the Mormon religion. I never believed a word of it of course, but I was interested in their religion like most boys were interested in Star Wars. I’ve read the Book Of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl Of Great Price, Book Of Abraham, watched their videos, read critical books by ex Mormons etc etc… (strange at the time that I never did this with my own religion!).
At this point I’d only ever met Mormons twice. Once when I was about 10yo and they knocked on our door and gave me a little tract and my mum told me off for taking their literature. The second time was in a Park in Widnes. Had a great chat and I refuted their beliefs with JW theology (or so I thought).
So imagine my surprise when there’s a knock on my door at about 8pm. Usually I wouldn’t answer as it could be the TV license people asking to see if I own a TV (long story). But I opened it and there were two very smiley Mormon boys. One was from Colorado, the other from South Africa. I shook their hands and told them I used to be a JW so I know what it’s like knocking on doors and I bet nobody has been interested right? The laughed and said yes.
So I thought, what the heck, I invited them in. (The exMormon reddit people have told me this was my first mistake). I made the schoolboy error of offering them a cup of tea. They, of course, declined. I totally forgot they don’t drink tea/coffee/cola. So instead we had water. (It was either that or beer, wine or milk!).
They shown me a small pamphlet containing a picture of Joseph Smith’s first vision, explained it to me (I already knew about the first vision and the conflicting accounts around it). I told them I’ve just left a high control religion and I have no intention of joining another, and don’t actually believe in God. They bore their testimony about “knowing” that the Mormon church is the one true church and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I didn’t want to sound mean so I said that’s nice… but I don’t believe that. I believe he said he was a prophet. But that doesn’t mean he was.
Long story short – they gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon, a few pamphlets and a little card with their phone numbers on it.
Very nice boys. But I wont be inviting them in a second time. The exMormon Reddit members tell me I’ll be hounded now as a return visit. I know the score. But I’ll have to be a little more controversial with the topics I bring up next time at my door step. Blacks in the church maybe? God living on a star called Kolob?