Very interesting story today in the Deseret News about the baptism of former United States Senator Larry Pressler, Republican of South Dakota. Pressler, 73, was baptized on April 19th (yesterday) at the Chevy Chase Ward in Maryland. He had some pretty impressive missionaries. In addition to Senator Reid, who gave Brother Pressler a Book of Mormon, Clayton Christensen, well-known Harvard business professor and author baptized him. Both Reid and Christensen spoke at his baptism.
He has had many encounters with members of the Church, starting early in his political career by hiring Richard Wirthlin a pollster by profession, brother of late Apostle Joseph b. Wirthlin and a former member of the 2nd Quorum of Seventy. Pressler also had a close association with Senator Orrin Hatch.
I’ll let you read the article for all the other details but it brings up two important points.
1. In spite of the vitriol against Senator Reid, he is a good missionary and a good member of the LDS Church.
2. Using Brother Pressler’s words, “I kept having little coincidental encounters with Mormonism that I can’t really explain,” should convince us that being a good example and being willing to share our beliefs is as good a missionary tool as asking the golden questions.
Wheat & Tares 
What are “the golden questions”?
Naismith: The golden questions was the missionary approach when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. You ask people if they wonder “where am I going? Where have I been? Why am I here? What’s the purpose to life?”
In my day (more70s than 80s), the golden questions were “What do you know about the Mormons?” and “Would you like to know more?”
I think the official golden questions originally were, ‘Where did I come from? Why am I here? and Where am I going after this life is over?” but I think they morphed later on to include what Hawkgrrrl said.
I think last Lemming is also right.
What the materials I have collected over the years, the standard “golden questions” were:
“What Do You Know about the Mormon Church?” , and
“Would You Like to Know More?”
This was supposed to be akin to a missionary door approach for members to use to approach people…. awkward!
The Church produced the famous “Man’s Search for Happiness” film for the 1964 New York World’s Fair which did ask the questions:
“Where did I come from?”
“Why am I here?”
“Where am I going after this life?”
Ooh, how I ‘hated’ the ‘Golden Questions’ back in the day…Gospel sales pitch…really.
Whatever I may think of Bro. Reid’s politics (usually not well), I’ve never questioned his testimony nor his living the Gospel and highly resented those that equated politics and testimony. Now that the Church has more nominal members abroad than stateside (though I’m certain the reverse is true for ACTIVE members), I’d be interested on THEIR views of American politics and personal worthiness (likely they’d see it as utterly silly), especially THIS brother and former Presidential candidate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeah_Samake#Personal_life
Best wishes to new Brother Pressler.
I apologize for threadjacking on the question of questions–apparently that was before my time.
Thanks for drawing attention to this story of Brother Pressler, as it is a delightful example of how different things work for different folks when it comes to missionary work.
Hawkgrrl – I thought the Golden Question was “Have you seen Saturday’s Warrior?” We must have been a pilot program. 🙂
Naismith – It’s a good question. Thanks for asking.
Excellent headline!
Obviously, Larry lacks discernment. Didn’t he endorse Obama?
Sad to say, most everyday Christians have no clue about the bizarre teachings of Mormonism.
And few care to learn so that they can help their neighbor when something like this comes along.
e.g.the Book of Mormon says that the native Americans are descendants of the lost tribes of Israel DNA absolutely refutes this . http://snowfar4.wix.com/mormonconfusion#!about/c2414