Talks about religion can sometimes cause drama, arguments, and even conflict. So most of the time, people’s initial reaction is to avoid any discussion with those who have differing views and ideals. But what if it’s possible to have a peaceful interfaith dialogues with others where you can discuss your beliefs without resorting to disrespect or yelling. Would you be encouraged to stand up and defend what you believe in?

Here are some tips that you can use.

Check your intention at the door.

When sharing your faith and beliefs, it is important that you are clear about your intentions. Is it to prove that you’re right and others are wrong? Or is it simply to share your beliefs and learn from the views of others in the process?

When your intention is the latter, it is highly likely that it will lead to a healthy conversation where common grounds are celebrated, and different views are respected. Often, the faith and beliefs of others all point to one goal—to live good and honorable lives, a common ground that we can all relate to.

Rather than hoping to change someone’s belief, focus on how you can gain a better understanding of their beliefs. You don’t have to agree with them but it’s important that you treat them with tolerance and respect as you would afford to anyone with the same belief as yours.

Sharing your beliefs doesn’t have to be about who’s right and wrong. The main goal should be to inspire others to come unto Christ and share the blessings and joy that come from His gospel. After all, the Lord’s gospel is full of glad tidings.

Check other people’s motives.

Even if your intentions are good, some people will engage in a conversation looking to start an argument. If this is the case, it is wise to know when to walk away especially if they try to rile you up to make it a heated conversation.

Sometimes people think that walking away means that they are not defending their beliefs enough but walking away actually means you’re choosing peace over contention. And that’s a better option. Your faith and beliefs aren’t going to be less true just because you didn’t score some points over a conversation. It’s not a competition in the first place so chill out. Know that the Lord knew that you tried. As President Nelson said, “[T]he Lord loves effort.” One day, your efforts to share the gospel will bring a plentiful reward.

Be mindful of your non-verbal cues.

The most common misconception is that verbal communication is the only important factor to have a good conversation. But guess what, non-verbal cues are also important. In fact, even more so, especially when you are conversing with people who have different points of view.

Rolling your eyes, not maintaining eye contact, looking at your phone, smirking to show disagreement, crossing your arms, and raising your brows are just some of the non-verbal cues that can convey dismissal of what the other person is saying. Although some of these could be unintentional, such as looking at your phone, try to focus your attention on the person you’re talking to. This will convey that you’re engaged and interested. This will also encourage them to continue having peaceful interfaith dialogues with you in the future.

Sharing your faith and beliefs is not a one-way street. The person you’re sharing your beliefs with deserves kindness, respect, and interest when they are sharing theirs—the same expectation you would have while sharing yours.

Tactfully correct misinformation with facts.

During an interfaith conversation, people may bring up incorrect information about your beliefs. It is wise to not consider this as an attack on you or your faith. Think of it as an opportunity to share correct information and encourage them to ask questions or clarify information that they may have read on the internet. This will help them feel safe to come to you when they want to know more about your faith.

It is also wise to stick to facts. If you’re unsure how to answer their questions, you can politely say that you don’t know the answer and that you’ll get back to them. There’s no shame in not knowing the answer. Gospel learning is life-long learning. It’s better to gather the correct information first than to provide incorrect information.

Rely on the Spirit when you’re sharing your beliefs.

In the Bible, we are taught that “we [must] speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth” (1 Corinthians 2:13). When you rely on the Spirit as you share your faith and beliefs, you will be guided and shown “all things [that] ye should do” to invite them to come unto Christ (2 Nephi 32:5). You will also be inspired to communicate with respect and tender regard for their feelings, views, and experiences.

More importantly, the Spirit will bear witness that what you’re sharing is true. It will testify of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and their abounding love for all of us. The Spirit can soften and change hearts, enlighten the understanding, and influence people to learn more about the Savior.

Sharing your faith and beliefs may sometimes feel unpopular amidst all the political and pandemic talks these days. But what better time to have peaceful interfaith dialogues to share the joy and light of the gospel of Jesus Christ than now, when there are so many who want to cling unto hope in their lives. As you share your beliefs, may you do so gladly with compassionate regard for the trials and hardships of the people around you.

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When we watch the performances of athletes during the Olympic Games, we’re often amazed by their talents and think that they must have been born with such gifts, which is usually true. But behind their awesome performances are many years of steady and consistent preparation and practice they’ve done to reach the level of performance required to compete in the Olympics. And one of their most effective tools during these years of practice, is repetition.

Building a solid spiritual foundation is like training to compete in the Olympics. It requires repeated practice and consistent commitment. We can see this pattern of learning in the way the angel Moroni instructed Joseph Smith about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. In the Pearl of Great Price we read that Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith four times and delivered the same message. However, although he delivered the same message, there was also an additional message in every appearance—”a foretelling of future events, a personal warning, and a commandment.” Joseph learned about what he should do through repeated instruction.

The pattern of instruction in Joseph Smith’s account is the same pattern that the Lord wants us to embrace. When we hear a story from the scriptures, the Lord is not just teaching us the same story over and over again for it to become firmly rooted in our hearts. The Lord is also trying to add to our understanding. Some of us may have heard others sharing that even if they have read the Book of Mormon many times, they still learn something new whenever they read the book. This is a fulfilment of His promise that those who “receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light.”

We might sometimes feel that we already have enough knowledge, or that our foundation is already firm enough. But the Lord warned that to them who say, “We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.”

So the next time we hear a message that we have already heard before, let’s not tune it out. Instead, let’s ask ourselves, “What is the Lord trying to teach me this time?” or “What additional knowledge or instruction can I learn from this message?” When we are willing to listen to what the Lord wants us to learn, our hearts and minds will be ready for increased understanding and further light and knowledge from Him.

Our lives here on Earth are like competing in the Olympic Games every day. We are constantly faced with choices and circumstances that test our spiritual stamina. The Lord knows that winning these tests require a solid spiritual foundation that can only be built through consistent, often repetitive, spiritual learning and nourishment. If we embrace this pattern of learning that the Lord has set, our spiritual foundation will not be shaken by the repetitive waves of temptation and challenges in our lives.

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We are all encouraged to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ and proclaim our faith to others. Because we know of the blessings that come from the gospel, we desire others to experience the same. But as we share our faith with others, we must be careful not to fall into the trap of unconsciously labeling other faiths and beliefs as incorrect. Belief in God brings out the best in our natures, and we don’t seek to put down anyone’s beliefs, only to take the good that they already have and add to it.

In our Articles of Faith, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” In proclaiming our beliefs, this article of faith should become our guiding principle. God bestowed this privilege on all people, and we do not have the power or right to deprive anyone of that privilege. Think of the early Latter-day Saints who endured hardships and prejudice just so they could have the liberty to worship God freely. People of other faiths desire the same. Don’t we all?

We should also recognize the tremendous good that they do. If we think that we are the only ones doing good in a world of 7 billion, we need to think again. Imagine what the world would look like if only 15 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did good in the world. People of other faiths also have divine natures given by God. Even though they do not have the gift of the Holy Ghost, they are blessed with the Spirit of Christ, which encourages all men to do good. And even though others do not have the fullness of the gospel, their righteous efforts are pleasing to God. We are also not the only people who have access to God’s blessings. God blesses all His children no matter their faith, even those who do not believe that He exists.

When we share our beliefs with others, we should not compare beliefs in an effort to convince people that we are better. Sharing our faith without despising other faiths is what the Lord wants us to do. Let us avoid finding fault and inconsistencies in the beliefs and principles of other faiths. Instead, let us focus on learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ that we may increase our understanding and be able to better articulate our beliefs to others.

We are indeed blessed because we know the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ but we must remember that we are not God’s only people. People of other faiths are also His people. Even those who do not believe in God are His people. God sent His Only Begotten for all of us because every one of us is a part of His fold. We are all His children and His people regardless of what religion we belong. Sharing our faith with love for ALL of God’s people is what sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ really means.

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