Don’t Back Up the Dump Truck

When Christians share about witnessing to a Mormon, I sometimes imagine the sound of a dump truck backing up: “Beep… beep… beep…” It comes to mind because they describe how they unloaded one Bible verse after another in rapid succession.

While their intentions are good—wanting to ground everything in Scripture—the effect can be overwhelming. Especially for someone unfamiliar with the Bible, it can feel like a truckload of truth just got dumped on them.

This is understandable. Many biblical Christians love to stack multiple verses together to support a point. The more Scripture, the better! However, for someone from a background like Mormonism, it can be a lot to absorb.

To understand how this might feel, imagine a Muslim friend reading verse after verse from the Quran. Even if you’re genuinely interested, you’d probably say, “Wait—slow down! I need time to process this.” The same is true for the missionaries at your door.

Instead of rapid-fire verses, it’s often better to walk through a few passages slowly and thoughtfully. Take time to explain them in context. That’s something we often say we value but sometimes forget to practice in real conversations.

Think of it like this: reading isolated verses without context is like showing someone movie clips without explaining the plot. They may miss the entire point. But when you help someone sit with a passage—understand who’s speaking, what’s happening, and why it matters—they’re more likely to see its beauty and truth.

Limiting the number of passages also helps you. One of the most common fears Christians have about witnessing is, “What if I forget what I want to say?” Preparing just two or three key passages is far more manageable than thirty. It allows you to relax, speak with clarity, and stay focused on the heart of the message.

So don’t feel pressured to share everything at once. Don’t back up the dump truck. Instead, share a few nourishing morsels from God’s word. When given with care, those simple truths may linger in their hearts longer than you’d expect.