Why is it that people think Mormons aren't christians?

Question

Isn't the full name of the church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"? Wouldn't is stand to reason that since this is their name that they would be christian? and if not, then why not? What makes you christian- belief in Christ as our savior, or being saved?

I don't want this to turn into mormon bashing. I just want serious, intelligent answers please.

I feel I need to add something here so some of you may understand a bit more. The church was organized by a man named Joseph Smith, not John Smith, and we believe in the bible and in fact, I am reading it right now. We do have another book that we read, but it isn't our only set of scripture. We believe that Jesus died for our sins and that he was resurrected to save us all. So, let me rephrase my question, now do you think mormons are christian?

Answer 1

first- notoriousnick- Are you LDS?

Anyway, back to the question- Why do others think Mormons aren't Christian....

I think it all has to do with definitions.
If you define a duck as a waterfowl with webbed feet, a big bill, a bird that waddles, quacks and is white in color, eliminating any animal that does not fit this description... that's a pretty specific definition!... it also eliminates all wild ducks, like malards...

If you define Christians as people who believe in the Bible, both the Old and New Testament, have accepted Jesus as their savior, and accept the Trinity as fact... Again, that could be considered a pretty narrow definition.

Because "Mormons" don't accept the idea of the Trinity, they are often exluded from the label of Christian.

My own definition of Christian-
A Christian is one who
a) accepts Jesus as the Son of God, Savior of mankind (including him or herself), and Redeemer of the world (btw- these characteristics, when applied to Jesus of Nazareth can be found in the Bible, both Old and New Testament).
b) also tries to follow Christ's example as recorded in the New Testament, living the "Golden Rule" throughout their lives.... (this definition could eliminate many who call themselves Christian, simply because they arent' living the "Golden Rule")

In essence, my definition of Christain is someone who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.

According to my definition of what a Christian is- someone who fulfills both parts of what I've written, yes, "Mormons" are Christian.

Answer 2

Because they don't know any better. The response to the question "Is Mormonism Christian?" depends on the substance of the question and its context. If the inquiry is more theological and religious than theoretical and academic, then the question and answer are normative and depend upon the presuppositions that underlie the query. However, the question can be examined by asking about the significance and implications of labeling and naming in the world of religion. While much modern Latter-day Saint literature has emphasized elements in common between the LDS Church and other Christian denominations, the frequent use of "Mormon" among the early Saints shows that the unique doctrines and beliefs of the Saints—such as the Book of Mormon, the gathering, and the leadership of the prophet—enabled the Saints to withstand the centrifugal pull of Protestant hegemony and establish their own identity. Likewise, the Saints referred to everyone outside of their religion as "Gentile," a practice that continued into this century. Now, with their identity firmly established, the Saints no longer feel constrained to be segregated from other denominations. At the same time, however, new conservative Christians have adopted the label "Christian" to unite themselves and to exclude outsiders or those who may differ in their doctrinal beliefs. The need to show this divergence has grown with the increased prominence of the Church and its members and with the realization that conservative Christians share with the Saints a common social and political agenda.

abstracted from "'Is Mormonism Christian?' Reflections on a Complicated Question," BYU Studies 33, no. 3 (1993): 439–65.

Answer 3

Believing that Christ is our Saviour IS being a Christian! There is NO OTHER WAY to be a Christian than beliveing that Jesus died for our sins. I do not know what Mormons believe except that they have extra books in their "bible" and their founder is John Smith. However, I do know that I can start any cult and call it any name (ie: Church of JesusChrist of Wedensday's Saints) but that doesn't make it a "Christian" church if we do not believe that Jesus died for our sins. Read your Bible (most Mormons ar not encouraged to read thiers). Call a local church with questions. Read Romans it is short and may have more answers than you think.

Answer 4

I don't have a clue why Mormons have Jesus in their church name, they don't think Jesus was anything but a good person. that denies who HE is, and the Bible tells us that Jesus is the ONLY way to obtain salvation. what makes us Christian is our belief in CHRIST. which were are saved by our faith in HIM..alone.

maybe you aren't considered a Christian because you aren't following CHRIST. all the answers above are correct, about what Mormons believe, honestly, doesn't that shoot up some sort of red flag to you, that this religion isn't on the up and up?
I never could get over the fact you have baptism by proxy. you get baptized for all those family members that failed to be baptized! that is completely UN-Biblical!
and it's true that you have another Bible, if you read the last paragraph in Revelation you will see that it says that ADDING to or TAKING away from the contents of the Bible is wrong and carries some stiff punishments. please read it for yourself. the book of Mormon is what they call an extenuation of the Bible...right? which constitutes ADDING to the Bible.

Answer 5

I don't think that Mormons are non-Christians, I think that they have been mislead by Joseph Smith. In Romans ch. 3, it says that the Jews were in trusted with the oracles of God. Joseph Smith was not a Jew, so from that stand point alone, the concept of Mormonism could not be true. But of course, if you have truely converted to Mormonism, this fact want matter.

Answer 6

I am A Mormon and we are what you call saved because we are baptized, And It is true that Joseph Smith translated The Book Of Mormon. I would post my testimony but that would take a bit.

Answer 7

It is true that many of the Christian churches worship a different Jesus Christ than is worshipped by the Mormons or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." LDS Quorum of the Seventy member Bernard P. Brockbank, The Ensign, May 1977, p. 26

"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ.' 'No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.'" LDS Church News, June 20, 1998, p. 7

"Christ was not begotten of the Holy Ghost...He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God." Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:18

"Now remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. ...If the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children to be palmed upon the Elders by the people bringing the Elders into great difficulties." Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 1:51

"The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based on polygamy, ...a belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives caused the persecution of Jesus and his followers. We might almost think they were 'Mormons.'" Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 1:345-346

"The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this sprit-filled brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind." Milton R. Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15

* Brigham Young said that the "Christian God is the Mormon's Devil..." (Journal of Discourses, Volume 5, page 331).
John Taylor said that Christianity was "hatched in hell" (Journal of Discourses, Volume 6, page 176) and "a perfect pack of nonsense...the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work..." (Journal of Discourses, Volume 6, page 167).
Bruce R. McConkie said, "What is the church of the devil in our day, and where is the seat of her power?.... It is all of the systems, both Christian and non-Christian, that perverted the pure and perfect gospel.... It is communism; it is Islam; it is Buddhism; it is modern Christianity in all its parts. It is Germany under Hitler, Russia under Stalin, and Italy under Mussolini." (The Millennial Messiah, pp. 54-55.)

Answer 8

I ran into some Mormons on the street one day, and we began to talk. I told him that I was catholic and one said that I wasn't christian because we worship Mary and bow down to idols (which I have never done a day in my life), I told them that there is a lot of symbolism in Catholicism and that he might confuse that as idlo worshipped We don't bow down to idols and I never seen anyone do that we honor Mary becasue she was chosen by God. Some thing he said prompted me to ask him this- I asked them if they believed in Jesus Christ one replied, "we believe in a man called Christ" I'm like, "what do you mean" he's like "we believe in your Christ", I was very puzzled and we began to talk about his beliefs I thought he had a lot of nerve calling me an idol worshiper and they don't even believe in my Jesus-
Then again I get called a non christian on Answers all the time

Answer 9

because the mormons have all types of crazy stuff that normal christians don't. For example a whole extra book written by a man who claimed only he could see them and they were translated with magic glasses. Also there's that whole "magic underwear" thing and all the other craziness involved with mormonism.

Answer 10

Mormons believe strange things about Jesus, for example that Jesus and Satan were brothers. Their belief about Jesus is not considered "orthodox" or standard, as in belief about his divinity, and unique identity as the Son of God.