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Greetings,

I am the President of a new organization, the "Anti-Mormon Crusade".  My group calls the Book of Mormon phone numbers and orders them so nobody else can read the FALSE testimant of Jesus Christ.  The missionaries come to our houses and waste their time trying to talk to us about their cult.  They also have given us many copies of the book of mormon.  You mormons are pretty stupid.  The missionaries haven't even begun to realize that I'm really just taking them for a big ride.  You can bet that in time my organization will keep on growing and take many more of your books.  The book of mormon is just a big lie that gets people very confused about Jesus.  I hope you can realize that the Bible is the one and only word of God before it's too late.

Yours truly,

Adam Scott

Scott:

I am wondering if someone who is "smart," as you seem to be claiming for yourself, actually tells people about their master plan.  This would work so much better if no one knows--unless, of course, you have some kind of urge to brag about such matters and inflate your pride.

Now the missionaries normally keep track of where they have been and also what they have done there.  They also keep pretty careful notes and these they pass on to the next missionaries to take their place.  So you will forgive me if I am a bit skeptical about your claims.

I am also curious if you have an argument to back up your unsupported assertion that the Book of Mormon "is just a big lie?"  Why bother sharing this with me?  I have an opinion-- to say nothing of a faith and a hope--that is exactly the opposite of yours.  And I happen to believe that you will get closer to God through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ than through silly sectarian notions about the Bible being "the one and only word of God."

So let me take this opportunity to urge you to shed your sectarian bigotry and read and pray about the Book of Mormon with a sincere heart and real intent, as we say, and to experiment upon the word of God.  I am confident that if you are able to do this and thereby also repent of your pride and follies, you too will be able to share in the fruits of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Gary

novak@teleport.com

>-----Original Message-----

[deleted for brevity sake - see Letter One]

Dear Mr. Scott:

A friend shared with me your e-mail message, in which you boast of your unethical behavior in attempting to fight the Church of Jesus Christ.  Assuming you are not jesting, not masquerading as an anti-Mormon in order to make anti-Mormons look bad, your pride in your deceitfulness is both sad and revealing -- and not a very good advertisement for your brand of Christianity.

I have heard of your technique several times recently from other enemies of the Church.  Perhaps it is a new fad ("Morally Blind Zealots for Jesus," or something of the sort).

Sincerely,

Daniel Peterson

---Daniel Peterson <dcp6@email.byu.edu> wrote:
>
> Dear Mr. Scott:
>
> A friend shared with me your e-mail message, in which you boast
> of your unethical behavior in attempting to fight the Church of
> Jesus Christ.
> Assuming you are not jesting, not masquerading as an
> anti-Mormon in order to make anti-Mormons look bad, your pride in
> your deceitfulness is both sad and revealing -- and not a very good
> advertisement for your brand of Christianity.
>
> I have heard of your technique several times recently from other
> enemies of the Church. Perhaps it is a new fad ("Morally Blind
> Zealots for Jesus," or something of the sort).
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Daniel Peterson

Dear Daniel:
Your response to my e-mail was filled with many mistakes. First of all, it's not the Church of Jesus Christ, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Secondly, it really is not a church at all, but a cult formed by the devil himself.  I think you mormons need to realize the book of mormon is just a lie made by Satan to confuse people, and the more I intercept you have to give out to people who don't know what a big lie it is.

Adam Scott

Mr. Scott:

I am going to be entirely frank with you.

"It's not the Church of Jesus Christ," you incorrectly claim, "but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

In fact, it IS the Church of Jesus Christ, restored to earth again -- and flourishing, despite the worst efforts of ignorant and sometimes even murderous religious bigots . But if you insist on the full title of the Church, it is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."  Note the punctuation and capitalization.  Before proceeding with your theological errors, you should at least clean up your mechanical ones.

"Secondly," you falsely state, "it really is not a church at all, but a cult formed by the devil himself."

Ah yes.  Vintage anti-Mormon definitional games.  It's not a church because it isn't precisely like YOUR little sect of western Christendom.  If it ain't like you, it's evil and wrong by definition -- because you and your beliefs are the cosmic standard by which all others are to be judged.

And just how, exactly, do you define the word "cult?"  I have looked at dozens of silly definitions offered up by anti-Mormons like yourself, and, without fail thus far, they have all lacked historical support and logical rigor.  I am quite confident that yours will, as well.  The general meaning of "cult" as used by religious bigots turns out to be "a religion or church of which I, God's favorite, disapprove."  It is about as significant as a grunt -- but less intellectually honest.

"Formed by the devil himself"?  I wonder how much you really know about the history of the Restoration, that you would make so outlandish, sweeping, offensive, ignorant, and laughable a claim.

Without, I suspect, actually thinking at all, you say, "I think you mormons need to realize the book of mormon is just a lie made by Satan to confuse people."

Well, I think it isn't.  And I'll bet that I know a whole lot more about the subject than you do.  YOU need to realize that it is true, and that your opinion is baseless, false, and, what is more, completely uninteresting.

Finally, rather incoherently, you conclude by saying, "the more I intercept you have to give out to people who don't know what a big lie it is."

Thus, you continue to boast of your unethical behavior in attempting to fight the Church of Jesus Christ.  And your shameless pride in your deceitfulness continues to be both sad and revealing.  It remains a very poor advertisement for your recent minority western European brand of Christianity.  I am sure that I speak for others in saying that I am tired, very tired, of uninformed, narrow-minded chauvinists strutting about and spouting nonsense about my faith.

Rather than boasting about your dishonesty and crowing about your unbiblical theology, you should repent.  And, then, have a nice day.

Quite sincerely,

Daniel C. Peterson

---Daniel Peterson <dcp6@email.byu.edu> wrote:

> Mr. Scott:

> I am going to be entirely frank with you.

> "It's not the Church of Jesus Christ," you incorrectly claim, "but
> the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

> In fact, it IS the Church of Jesus Christ, restored to earth again --
> and flourishing, despite the worst efforts of ignorant and
> sometimes even murderous religious bigots.  But if you insist on
> the full title of the Church, it is "The Church of Jesus Christ of
> Latter-day Saints."  Note the punctuation and capitalization.
> Before proceeding with your theological errors, you should at least
> clean up your mechanical ones.

> "Secondly," you falsely state, "it really is not a church at all, but a
> cult formed by the devil himself."

> Ah yes.  Vintage anti-Mormon definitional games.  It's not a church
> because it isn't precisely like YOUR little sect of western
> Christendom.  If it ain't like you, it's evil and wrong by definition --
> because you and your beliefs are the cosmic standard by which all
> others are to be judged.

> And just how, exactly, do you define the word "cult?"  I have
> looked at dozens of silly definitions offered up by anti-Mormons
> like yourself, and, without fail thus far, they have all lacked
> historical support and logical rigor.  I am quite confident that yours
> will, as well.  The general meaning of "cult" as used by religious
> bigots turns out to be "a religion or church of which I, God's
> favorite, disapprove."  It is about as significant as a grunt -- but
> less intellectually honest.

> "Formed by the devil himself"?  I wonder how much you really
> know about the history of the Restoration, that you would make so
> outlandish, sweeping, offensive, ignorant, and laughable a claim.

> Without, I suspect, actually thinking at all, you say, "I think you
> mormons need to realize the book of mormon is just a lie made by
> Satan to confuse people."

> Well, I think it isn't.  And I'll bet that I know a whole lot more about
> the subject than you do.  YOU need to realize that it is true, and
> that your opinion is baseless, false, and, what is more, completely
> uninteresting.

> Finally, rather incoherently, you conclude by saying, "the more I
> intercept you have to give out to people who don't know what a big
> lie it is."

> Thus, you continue to boast of your unethical behavior in
> attempting to fight the Church of Jesus Christ.  And your
> shameless pride in your deceitfulness continues to be both sad
> and revealing.  It remains a very poor advertisement for your recent
> minority western European brand of Christianity.  I am sure that I
> speak for others in saying that I am tired, very tired, of uninformed,
> narrow-minded chauvinists strutting about and spouting nonsense
> about my faith.

> Rather than boasting about your dishonesty and crowing about
> your unbiblical theology, you should repent.  And, then, have a
. nice day.

> Quite sincerely,
> Daniel C. Peterson

GET A LIFE OUTSIDE OF YOUR STUPID CULT MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Mr. Scott:

I have shared your response ("GET A LIFE OUTSIDE OF YOUR STUPID CULT MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!") with a number of my friends.

I would imagine that they were impressed, as I was, by the logic and persuasive power of your reply, and by your convincing use of evidence.

Most of all, though, I was deeply moved by the charitable spirit of your remarks.  The depth of your Christian discipleship is clearly apparent in your posting to me, and I can't imagine why conservative Protestant churches aren't just bursting at the seams with converts, so long as there are followers of Jesus like you around to exemplify the beauties of the gospel.

Cordially,

Daniel C. Peterson

---Daniel Peterson <dcp6@email.byu.edu> wrote:

> Dear Mr. Scott:

> I have shared your response ("GET A LIFE OUTSIDE OF YOUR
> STUPID CULT MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!") with a number of my
> friends.

> I would imagine that they were impressed, as I was, by the logic
> and persuasive power of your reply, and by your convincing use of
> evidence.

> Most of all, though, I was deeply moved by the charitable spirit of
> your remarks.  The depth of your Christian discipleship is clearly
> apparent in your posting to me, and I can't imagine why
> conservative Protestant churches aren't just bursting at the seams
> with converts, so long as there are followers of Jesus like you
> around to exemplify the beauties of the gospel.

> Cordially,

> Daniel C. Peterson

My Friend,
I hope that your church strongly considers changing it's name yo the church of jesus christ of latter day ain'ts.  I can only hope that my convincing use of evidence will one day be as strong as yours is now.  You have really convinced me to become a mormon.  Maybe one day I can have lots of wives when I am god of my own planet.  You mormons really really know your Bible.  It's real neat how you guys focus on two or three words of a chapter and miss the whole picture.  One day you'll realize the book of mormon is just like people believing the Earth is flat.

Love Always,
Adam Scott

OK Adam, level with me.  How old are you?  If you are a young kid, quarter-educated by our American public schools, insecure, bursting with the kind of adolescent hormonal zeal that fired up the Chinese Red Guards and the Hitler Youth, I might be able to understand your over-the-top hostility.  Otherwise, I would suggest that you stow it.  Somebody, someday, somewhere, will not be as kind (or as non-violent) as I am.

You have gone out of your way -- albeit unsuccessfully -- to offend and insult someone you don't even know, presumably in the name of Jesus of Nazareth (which is an even greater offense and insult -- against HIM).  You are ablaze with ignorant aggressiveness.  You presume to judge things and people of which you clearly know nothing.

If you intend to continue assaulting Latter-day Saints, learn something.  Read something.  Understand something.

But there are more fundamental steps for you to take.

Grow up, Adam.  Read your Bible.  Concentrate for a while on the four gospels.  Try to model your life on that of Jesus.  Learn to control your unfortunate compulsion to lash out at others.  Read 1 Corinthians 13.  Internalize it.  The Bible is not a weapon with which to beat other people.  It is a guide on how to live.  Its primary message is not that OTHER people are wicked, but that the person reading it needs to repent and turn to God.  Do so.

Cordially,

Daniel C. Peterson

Adam:

I have been getting really unpleasant messages from a relative of yours (I presume) by the name of Matt Scott.

Is he your son, or your baby brother?  If he is your son, perhaps I should send you a copy of what he has sent me.  It isn't socially acceptable, you know, to send vulgar messages to perfect strangers.

Daniel Peterson