Stubborn But Willing

[wordsaretrivial]

My b/f is a very very very spiritual person (Goes to church, quotes the bible, listens only to christian music) but yeah, he's not LDS. He's Pentecostal and for awhile now he's been feeling that that's not the right church. He's gone to other churches (except LDS church) and still feels a little confused. He didn't say he was confused but that was the impression I get. We've talked about mormonism and he tells me flat out he doesn't believe in it but he is willing to listen to what i have to say about it.

Here is what i've told him so far:

His name wasn't Jebidiah Smith it was Joseph Smith

I'm only going to get married in the Mormon Temple, no exceptions

I've (tried) to explain what Seminary is

How mormons repent

There was more but those are the main things. I've been wantin to send him a BoM for awhile now (we don't live close by) but since this is really my first real discussion about it to a non-member I've been kind of nervous. He listens but he's stubborn.

any suggestions?

[Josh M]

Let him know whats different about our church (LDS) than any others

[mom_of_jcchlsm]

Invite him to watch a session of General Conference over the internet with you - make it a date, the two of you both listening to conference and IMing each other back and forth the whole time. He can ask anything he wants and you can answer, or you can point out things or comment on how they apply to you.

Send the missionaries to his door. You can leave them a tip to tract out a certain person, without telling him you sent them. He may be curious enough to invite them in, if only to see if they say the same things you do.

Bear your testimony often - just little things as they come up in conversation, not formally (you don't have to say "in the name of Jesus Christ" at the end)

I know that you have a huge emotional interest in wanting him to join the Church, but for this purpose you have to separate your attachment to him as your boyfriend from your love for him as a brother. If he feels pressure to convert or lose you, it will either drive him to put on an act - false conversion, or he will drop you to avoid uncomfortable situations and feelings.

[prisonchaplain]

My b/f is a very very very spiritual person (Goes to church, quotes the bible, listens only to christian music) but yeah, he's not LDS. He's Pentecostal and for awhile now he's been feeling that that's not the right church. He's gone to other churches (except LDS church) and still feels a little confused. He didn't say he was confused but that was the impression I get. We've talked about mormonism and he tells me flat out he doesn't believe in it but he is willing to listen to what i have to say about it.

Here is what i've told him so far:

His name wasn't Jebidiah Smith it was Joseph Smith

I'm only going to get married in the Mormon Temple, no exceptions

I've (tried) to explain what Seminary is

How mormons repent

There was more but those are the main things. I've been wantin to send him a BoM for awhile now (we don't live close by) but since this is really my first real discussion about it to a non-member I've been kind of nervous. He listens but he's stubborn.

any suggestions?

Well, I'll give you the Pentecostal view, how's that?

#1. Ultimately one of you is going to have to change. At this stage in Christian history, pentecostalism and Mormonism are not compatable for married couples. In fact, even amongst Christians groups that share common faith, I recommend that a couple ultimately agree on one church. My wife grew up Presbyterian, but made what turned out to be an easy transition to my pentecostal church. So, your stance that you must be sealed in the Temple (i.e. the b/f must convert) is an admirable start.

#2. If you and he are serious enough to explore your spiritualities together, you might both trying reading the book "How Wide the Divide?" by Robinson and Blomberg. Robinson is a BYU professor and Blomberg an evangelical. The book highlights both that which the two faiths share, and that which keeps them apart. It is an intelligent, but short work (slightly less than 200 pages, I believe).

#3. Just a thought--but rather than send him the standard BoM, you might consider the reader's edition that's out now. It uses updated language, much like the New International Version does for the Bible. I'm not sure if it's considered on par with the traditional one, but it is approachable.

#4. Be ready for disappointment. If this b/f is less confused than you think, he may be hoping you'll convert. IMHO "missionary romance" is ungodly, whoever engages in it.

#5. If he visits this site, he won't be the first to use it as a learning place.

God bless you as you seek to be obedient to Him, yet true to your heart!

[wordsaretrivial]

thank u for all of your comments. i don't pressure him to do anything, in fact i just let him bring up the subject most of the time. if he wants to know, i tell him. if i think he's getting uncomfortable, i stop.

[BenRaines]

Suggest that he go to Mormon.org and there he can learn about LDS faith from our perspective and not from an anti viewpoint.

I would say good luck but have always wondered what someone hopes in a non LDS relationship if you are planning on marrying in the temple.

I have always told my daughters to be careful who you date, non LDS, because you cannot control who you will fall in love with. If you date someone you can marry them too.

Ben

[wordsaretrivial]

yeah it's harder to talk about with him because i think he's been talking with anti-mormons before i met him. so when this all came up i asked him what he knew about morminism and if he's ever been visited by missionaries but he tells me things that anti-mormons would say so....

and yeah, i love him to death, i'd do anything for him and he respects my standards, so i'm just trying to continue that relationship with him and not sound like i'm pressuring him into anything.