It is difficult to speak with those that are extremely antagonistic/unbelieving groups. The Book of Mormon gives a case of this in Alma 9 to Alma 14.
Amazingly - Alma and Amulek convince some people, others die, and others are chased out to another town.
This is a very extreme story in which many are murdered. I must assume it's not in there randomly. Here's some thoughts.
- Alma and Amulek teach some very tough doctrine and some very detailed doctrine: - if you die as a sinner, you will be in a terrible place - your words, thoughts, actions will condemn you before God;
- people were foreordained as high priests in the premortal life based on their acceptance of the teachings of the Savior and faith and repentance; it's the same on earth - critical to repent and exercise faith
Then Alma and Amulek and placed into prison, women and children that believe are thrown into a fire and men who believe are kicked out of town. Alma and Amulek prophesy that the town will be destroyed, which the people say they don't believe. Town leaders tell Alma to free himself and then they'll believe; when Alma and Amulek are freed, their prison tumbles to the ground, killing everyone but themselves. Townspeople see this but still don't repent. Some lessons learned:
- even if everything a prophet says will happen happens, non-believers still don't repent
- terrible things can happen to believers; it's still wise to believe, but don't think it won't be difficult
- when teaching people who are antagonistic, it helps to have 2 teachers
- it's okay to teach very specific doctrine, which I believe shows there's merit to what's being taught (foreordination in this instance) and that the plan is fully formed
- those who are overly skeptical are left with the lesser portion of the word (that which is on the page only) and not the greater portion (that which is revealed)
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