Deseret News | Reader comments: LDS Church News: Elder Holland teaches by the spirit

Reader comments
Elder Holland: Teaching by the spirit

Spiritual perception | 1:11 p.m. July 9, 2009

Elder Holland’s advice to missionaries to listen to the Spirit first and then to really listen to investigators is wise.

It has been my experience that missionaries are not good listeners, but are instead wanting to convince. I hope the assertive missionary tactics of the past are gone. Learning to listen is the most crucial part of communication.

“If we will listen with spiritual ears just the way we must see with spiritual eyes, the investigators will tell us what lessons they need to hear!” says Elder Holland. How can missionaries be taught this subtle spiritual perception?

I disagree with Elder Holland’s exhortation to missionaries to use the Book of Mormon “in their teaching as often as possible.” It’s more important to teach the words of Jesus.

Anonymous | 1:34 p.m. July 9, 2009

Unfortunately, missionaries teach so much false doctrine and their own opinions, and try to mix in some emotionalism and pawn it off as "the Spirit". It damages the Church in several ways, not the least of which is getting people converted to the missionary's own "gospel" rather than to the official doctrine of the Church.

Nicki | 1:36 p.m. July 9, 2009

I still have a bad taste in my mouth from a few Conferences ago when Elder Holland made fun of other religions that believe in the Trinity. That was in very bad taste and seriously offended many of my family members.

Comments continue below

John in Texas | 2:55 p.m. July 9, 2009

Spiritual Perception, the Book of Mormon is filled with the words of Jesus. Elder Holland has given the same counsel that latter-day prophets have always given. The BOOK OF MORMON is the great converter. Don't be wishy washy when it comes to the Book of Mormon. I was not present at the devotional Elder Holland spoke at but had I been I would have said "amen" to his counsel. Remember that the young elders are indeed that - they are young and inexperienced but in a short space of time they become very experienced and adapt at "listening" to the spirit. This is all I have to say on the matter.

Anonymous | 3:16 p.m. July 9, 2009

To John in Texas,

There is nothing from Jesus in the Book of Mormon that isn't already in the Bible. All the other stuff in the Book of Mormon you could get just as easily from reading Lord of the Rings or some other fantasy book.

I agree with Spiritual Perception. Lose the Book of Mormon in your missionary work.

RE: Anonymous | 4:46 p.m. July 9, 2009

Funny, it seems you teach more false doctrine than anyone.

And constantly making claims But NEVER back any of it up.

weak, weak indeed.

Dutch | 4:57 p.m. July 9, 2009

Nicki - I see you are critical of the Trinity talk but seemed to have forgotten his talk on Jesus Christ this past April Conference. One of the best sermons on Christ ever given - It was a for all people and did not single out any Religion

John Cobert in Texas | 5:55 p.m. July 9, 2009

Now, anonymous, you know who I am. I recommend that you read the Book of Mormon before comparing it to Lord of the Rings. I have read it many times and accept it as scripture. That was my choice. I am 65 years old and have been around the block a few times so I do have a little experience with life.

Bill | 10:30 p.m. July 9, 2009

It has been taught for many years that the Missionaries need to teach with the spirit. They are also counselled as are members to use PREACH MY GOSPEL as the basis for teaching the Gospel. You can not remove the BOOK OF MORMON from our teachings of the Gospel. As Joseph Smith has stated and every Prophet since, the BOOK OF MORMON is the keystone to our religion. Faithful reading and gaining a testimony of the BOOK OF MORMON, insures the investigator gain a testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet. If the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith is a prophet then and only then is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true and living Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. Those factors alone prove the Church as true. To just use the Bible or anything else is counter to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and removes the value of the Book of Mormon.

Nicki your family may have disapproved of Elder Holland's talk but the vision of Joseph Smith spells our emphatically that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are separate beings.

Free to disagree | 12:49 p.m. July 10, 2009

To say that the Book of Mormon is the great converter may have been true in the past, before people were better educated.

Mormon archaeologists and geneticists, for example, have proven that indigenous Americans were not descended from an ancient tribe of Israel.

Like Mark Twain, I find the BoM a dull, poorly written story, but I realize everyone has different taste.

The point is that this book can no longer be considered a sure-fire way to convert people.

Bill | 1:53 p.m. July 10, 2009

Actually it is still true that the BOOK OF MORMON is still the great convertor. Also, it has not been totally proven that indigenous Americans were not descended from ancient Israel. What has been proven is that not all of the Native American tribes are not. Through the centuries everyone changes and so does history. I know the BOOK OF MORMON is well written for what its task is. There are those who have to have proof to all things and think science is that proof. However, what science proves one day is often disproven the next. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true. (Heb 11:1). There is many things that tend to disprove the Bible and the Book of Mormon but yet in the great scheme of things it is faith that determines that which is true.

To know the nature of God one must learn it through faith, not through books of man. Neither the Bible, when translated correctly, nor the Book of Mormon will ever be completely disproven because it is by Faith that God works all of his miracles.

I stand as a believer.

Better emphasis | 2:30 p.m. July 10, 2009

The Book of Mormon can be considered a book of faith, but not a book of accurate history. If it provides inspiration to some, that is fine.

Since the main point of the LDS church is following the path of the Savior, it is best to focus on the teachings of Jesus in missionary work. The Book of Mormon is a quaint but outdated relic, best left at home and out of the missionary field.

Honesty | 3:52 p.m. July 10, 2009

OPINIONS about the BOM, whether it is mark twain's or ANYBODY'S,

are irrelevant.

The BOM wasn't written (or compiled by Mormon) for entertainment.

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