Intro if derogatory: “What Mormon told you that?”
1. I am so glad you asked me about that. My faith is
very important to me and I appreciate the chance to
clear this up.
2. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. I’m a Christian and believe in the
Bible, do you?
3. In the Bible we read… (give example)
4. That is why…(answer question & testify)
5. Did that answer your question? Do you have another?
PRINT A 3X5 WORD TRACK CARD HERE:
Background:
I have worked retail my whole life and because I often work evenings, I tend to stay up late. Instead of coming home tired, I usually come home a little wired. My family just loves this. Just when they are winding down for the evening, I come home wanting to go, do and play. Anyway, one late night I was up alone watching David Letterman.
That reminds me, we have all heard there are two types of people in this world. The answer to that leading statement differs depending on who you talk to. I have always joked that the two types of people are those who like Neal Diamond and those who don’t. I am of the latter persuasion. I have also heard the two types are those that like Leno and those that like Letterman. I am definitely of the latter persuasion there as well. My favorite answer though comes from David O McKay who said the two classes of people in this world are "builders and murmurers". So true!
Back to Letterman. This night, Letterman went up to the stands to play one of his audience participation games like “Brush with Greatness”, “Name that Cut of Beef” or some other silly game that seems a lot more funny at 12:30 AM. He chose an audience member, a cute BYU co-ed from Provo who was in NYC on her honeymoon. So, Letterman asked if she was Mormon which she confirmed. He said something like, “Hmm, a Mormon bride enjoying her honeymoon with her new husband. Well I have a question.” Then he paused and the crowd cheered a bit like they were all thinking the same thing. “Do you mind telling me if you are your husband’s only wife?” Again the audience laughed and cheered. I will never forget her response to an inappropriate yet sadly expected question. “David,” she said, “I am so glad you asked me that.” To this day I still don’t remember all that followed. I do remember that her answer seemed a bit weak but hey, she was being asked an awkward question in front of a live studio audience along with 5 million viewers in TV land. I definitely cut her slack.
But- what I absolutely loved was her initial response. Thanking Dave for asking a question about her faith, even a difficult one. Well- my mind started racing. In sales, we often use word tracks and commit them to memory. Most success in sales comes from effectively utilizing word tracks to help keep your message centered, engaging and on task. All of a sudden, I thought to myself, if I was asked a question like that in such a public and impromptu way, would I be prepared to answer the question more effectively?
So over the next few days, I developed this simple 5 step word track to memorize and incorporate whenever I am asked a question about my faith. And as you can see, I pay homage to that brave BYU co-ed by copying her incredible question as step number one.
In teaching this to my priest quorum shortly afterwards, one of the young men asked what to do if rather than being asked a question, you simply hear someone saying something wrong or derogatory about our beliefs. Another quorum member responded, “Ask them, who told you that?” I loved that take, but I suggested we tweak it to; “What Mormon told you that?” This sets you up to be the authority because 99% of the time, they got their bad information from someone who is also ignorant of the facts.
Everyone has the right to their own opinions, just not their own facts!
So using this word track helped many of our young men and family members I have shared this with better take advantage of the opportunities we have to spread the good news of the restoration in a concise and appropriate way.
The apostle Peter counseled “… be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (i.e. reverence) 1 Peter 3:15
Key points to remember;
Intro- only use this if what was said or asked is derogatory or flat out wrong. If not, simply start with step #1.
Step #1- I am so glad you asked me about that. My faith is very important to me and I appreciate the chance to clear this up. This is where you are letting them know you are anxious to set things straight.
Step #2- I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I’m a Christian and believe in the Bible, do you? This is an introduction to the name of our church and a chance to establish some common ground. As the brethren have counseled, we may be known as Mormons, but we should not refer to our church as the Mormon church.
Step #3- In the Bible we read… (give example) This is where we use scriptures or teachings already familiar to the contact, again to establish credibility and common ground. You don’t need to know chapter and verse, although that helps. Usually you will not have scriptures with you in such impromptu opportunities, but you should have a few standard scriptures that can help in almost any circumstances. For Example:
Word of Wisdom questions- Our bodies are referred to as the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 6:19
Temple questions- Christ felt temples were so sacred that he cleared the temple. Mark 11:15-19
Sabbath day observance- The Ten Commandments Exodus 20
Questions about Joseph Smith and modern revelation- God’s pattern is to use prophets. Amos 3:7. God loves all his children the same ( no respecter of person) Acts 10:34 So we too need a prophet.
Polygamy- God’s ways are not man’s ways. Isaiah 55:6-11. God allowed or commanded many of the Old Testament prophets to have more than one wife. Ex. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, even Moses.
Step #4- That is why…(answer question & testify) Answer the question, in just a sentence or two. Keep it simple and don’t wear out your welcome. Speaking too much might remind them to never ask you a question again.
Step #5- Did that answer your question? Do you have another? Now that you have developed some trust and in a real way set yourself up as an authority on the subject, now is the time to ask if you can clear up anything else. I have heard it said that everyone wants to know someone in the car business. The reason being is the trust factor, knowing you will get the straight stuff on things most people know little about. I think the same rule applies with religion. We all need to be the Mormon someone knows and can trust.
Here are a few examples on how to effectively use the word track. Simply use steps # 1, 2 and 5 exactly as outlined. All you need to alter is steps 3 and 4 depending on the question.
“Why don’t Mormons drink coffee or soda?Step #3- In the bible Christ and his disciples taught that our bodies are temples of the God and were created by Him. (1 Corinthians 6:19). So we respect and protect our bodies by observing a health code which includes eating a healthy diet and not using tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs. It also forbids tea and coffee.
Step #4- What is amazing is this health code was given over 150 years ago, well before modern medicine and science proved the real danger of these substances. Because caffeine is a potentially harmful and addictive drug that both coffee and tea share, many members of the church choose to avoid caffeine all together. In fact, a recent study by USC found that Mormon men who observe this health code live 5 years longer than the average American male.
“Do you perform secret rituals in your temples?”Step #3- Temple worship was very important to those who believed in God, both in the Old and New Testaments. All the ancient prophets worshipped in temples and even Jesus Christ went to the temple often. These temples of coarse were different and separate from the synagogues or churches where people met on the Sabbath.
Step #4- We are the only Christian religion that still worship in temples like Christ did. What we do there is not secret but sacred. Because the worship, weddings and baptisms done there are so special to us, we don’t talk publicly about them so they will remain unique and sacred.
“ You don’t believe in the Bible, just your own gold bible, is that true?”Step # 3- I love the bible. In fact, for two whole years during high school, I attended an early morning Bible study class at 6:00 AM five days a week. In the bible Jesus taught that God loves all his children the same wherever they are. He also told his disciples before his resurrection that he had other sheep which were not of the fold in Judea that he would visit and teach.
Step #4- We believe these other sheep were living anciently on the American continent. They kept a record of God’s dealings with them similar to the bible. This ancient history was named after the prophet Mormon who last compiled the history. The Book of Mormon is a second witness along with the bible that testifies that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of all mankind. Most Christians hope to know Jesus as much as possible; studying this second and companion witness has sure helped me.
“Are Mormons polygamists?”Step #3- The prophets and apostles of the bible have taught that God’s ways are not always man’s ways. Any student of the bible knows that God allowed most of the great prophets of the Old Testament to have more than one wife. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to name a few. In fact, even Moses had two wives, and the bible tells us that God cursed Joshua for questioning it. So as strange as it may seem to us in our day, God has allowed and even blessed polygamous relationships throughout history.
Step #4- There was a time in our early church history where between 10 and 20% of the church membership were polygamists. The church officially discontinued this practice over 100 years ago. And so no, we are not polygamists. Any modern day polygamist you may hear about are not and most have never been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We simply don’t allow it.
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