Mormonism, more formally known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, can be difficult to discuss because so much of its language sounds familiar. Latter-day Saints speak about Jesus, grace, Scripture, family, prayer, and salvation. A group can hear those words and assume the meanings are the same.

They are not. That does not mean we should be rude, suspicious, or careless. It means we need to listen closely, define terms clearly, and let the Bible shape the conversation.

A good small-group study will help people do exactly that. It will also prepare them to treat Latter-day Saints as neighbors, not as labels.

Start by using the name people use for themselves: Latter-day Saints or LDS. “Mormon” is widely understood and still used in conversation, but it is not always preferred. Small details like this show your group that respect is not the same as agreement.

Also remind your group that LDS people are not all at the same place spiritually. Some know their tradition deeply; others are carrying it mainly as a family or cultural identity. Do not assume you know a person’s beliefs before you hear them explain them.

Your aim is not to embarrass anyone or collect unusual facts. Your aim is to understand official LDS teaching and compare it carefully with historic, biblical Christianity.

Latter-day Saints use the Bible, but they also recognize the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price as Scripture. They believe God has restored the true church through Joseph Smith and continues to guide it through modern prophets and apostles.

That raises a question your group should consider: what is the final authority for Christian belief? Historic Christianity receives the Bible as God’s inspired and sufficient Word. The question is not whether God can speak; it is whether later claims should alter the apostolic gospel already given.

LDS teaching differs from historic Christianity in its understanding of God, the Trinity, and the nature of Jesus. Christians confess one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. LDS teaching does not affirm the historic doctrine of the Trinity in that sense.

The difference matters because the gospel is not merely about a religious teacher named Jesus. It is about the eternal Son of God who became man, died for sin, rose bodily, and reigns as Lord.

Use clear biblical passages such as John 1, John 8, Colossians 1, and Hebrews 1. Do not throw verses at the group as weapons. Read them, ask what they say, and let their claims be heard.

Latter-day Saints use the language of grace, but their understanding of salvation is connected to faithfulness, ordinances, temple work, and progression. Biblical Christianity teaches that sinners are justified by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. Good works follow salvation; they do not secure our standing before God.

Ephesians 2:8–10, Romans 3–4, and Galatians 2 are useful places to work slowly. Ask the group what it means to receive a gift rather than earn a wage.

It is easy to spend an entire evening on LDS history, temple practices, or topics that feel unusual to outsiders. Some background is helpful, but do not let secondary details become the main event.

Keep bringing the group back to three questions: Who is God? Who is Jesus? How are we made right with God? Those questions reveal the essential differences without reducing a person to a list of beliefs.

A simple session plan might include a short overview, a biblical text, and several discussion questions. You could ask:

• Which Christian words can carry different meanings in LDS and historic Christian teaching?
• Why does the authority of Scripture matter?
• What makes grace genuinely good news?
• How can we ask questions without pretending agreement where we do not have it?

If you meet with an LDS neighbor or missionary, do not begin with a speech. Ask what they believe. Ask how they understand Jesus, grace, Scripture, and the gospel. Listen to their answers.

Then speak plainly about your own conviction. You can say, “I trust the Bible’s teaching that Jesus is eternally God and that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works.” Clear words are kinder than vague agreement.

LDS families often place a high value on community and family life. Share a meal. Be hospitable. Be dependable. Do not treat friendship as a long setup for a debate.

At the same time, do not hide your faith to avoid discomfort. Genuine care and genuine conviction can live in the same relationship. The goal is not to win a point. It is to bear faithful witness to Christ.

Your group may have hard questions about LDS history or theology. Answer what you can, and do not pretend to know what you do not know. It is better to say, “I want to check that before I answer,” than to repeat a claim you cannot support.

The better your group understands the biblical gospel, the less it will need a rehearsed argument. It will recognize why words like Jesus, grace, and salvation must be defined by Scripture, not merely shared vocabulary.

For a clear teaching outline, biblical comparisons, and discussion questions that keep the session on track, turn to the Leader’s Guide as you prepare.