Last night we had the joy delivering the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ while standing in the shadow of Portland's Mormon Temple. We arrived on the beautiful, well lit, tree lined campus around 7:30 to find a large number of cars parked in their several parking lots. What appeared to be married couples trickled forth from the entrance periodically.
We parked just up the road and with Bibles in hand we walked toward the impressive iron gate, noting the sharp spikes at the top. Before we got through the gate a smartly dressed couple (early to mid thirties) came forth directly in our path. We simply approached them with a smile and said that we were Bible believing Christians who were there to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ.
A great Gospel conversation followed in which the false Christ and heretical goal of Mormonism (to become gods and goddesses who produce spiritual offspring through celestial sexual relations that will then populate other planets -part heresy & part science fiction) were exposed by quoting, reading and reasoning from the Bible. The Word of God spoke powerfully and they were not able to mount a theological defense or offense, but rather said something to the effect of, "The Scriptures you read seem to speak pretty absolutely about there being only one God and that He will not permit another... I don't know what to say to that."
Much more was said. It was an excellent Gospel exchange. Sadly, as we closed our conversation the couple stood by their Mormon false Christ and temple rituals for salvation and eventual godhood. Nevertheless, we can take hope that God's Word will not return void; "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). A mighty seed of Gospel truth was planted, and with the seed of truth comes a great seed of doubt in the Mormon lie. May the Lord be pleased to open their eyes and unstop their ears.
You might be wondering if we ever got through that impressive gate. Yes. We departed the company of the couple and went through the gate, up the side walk, and stood within 20 feet of the front doors of the Mormon temple. We approached a suit wearing gentleman in his mid 50's as he was coming from the entrance. Once again we smiled and said we were Bible believing Christians there to talk with our Mormon neighbors about Jesus Christ. Would you believe that we stood under the shadow of the false arch angel Moroni, within steps of the temple doors and had another great Gospel conversation? We were somewhat awed and certainly blessed by the open door to the Gospel at the door of Portland's Mormon Temple.