Please explain the specific ways Mormonism departs from true Christianity?

Question

Mormons claim to be Christians, but from my own research, I tend to disagree. I want to know more about how Mormonism departs from Biblical Christianity. Also, can someone explain some of the more "odd" and/or "secret" aspects and practices of the Mormon religion? Thank you.

Answer 1

Mormonism did not depart from Christianity, but Christianity from the true gospel established 2000 years ago by Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the restored church that existed at the time of Christ, the time of Adam, of Noah, of Abraham, and of Moses. We do not follow the bible and only the bible, but all of God's word.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe the bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated directly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said:

"We are not an institution which has broken away from the Roman Catholic or any other church. We are not part of a reformation. We declare that this is a Restoration. The teachings and organization of the Church are as they were anciently."

M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said:

"There are many who say that Latter-day Saints believe in a 'different Jesus' than do other Christians and that we are therefore not 'Christian.' . . . We believe in the Jesus of the New Testament, and we believe what the New Testament teaches about Him. We do believe things about Jesus that other Christians do not believe, but that is because we know, through revelation, things about Jesus that others do not know. . . .

"What we want most of all is for Christian and non-Christian alike to understand that we love the Lord Jesus Christ. We revere His name. We count it a great honor and privilege to take upon ourselves the name of Christ as Christians and as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

Let's see... true Christians, as per the early church, practised baptism for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). They didn't believe in the three-in-one-substance version of the trinity because that wasn't dreamt up until 325 AD. They believed that the church should always be led by a prophet and 12 apostles (Amos 3:7, Acts 1:21-26). They believed that the gift of tongues was about enabling the saints to preach to those who spoke another language, not showing off how "spirit-filled" you are (Acts 2:6-11).

I think a more appropriate question might be how modern-day Christendom and Evangelical doctrine departs from true Christianity. Because "Mormonism" IS true Christianity.

Also, to correct two previous answers: Mormons DO NOT believe in salvation by works. We believe in salvation by faith. Neither do we believe we can become God. And what guy in Michigan?

Answer 4

They don't go to church on Christmas unless it falls on a Sunday. They don't receive communion under both auspices (bread and wine); they have water, not believing that the bread and wine are mystically and symbolically turned into the body and blood of Christ. They don't have Mass or a recreation of the last supper; instead their bishop (who functions more as a parish priest), selects someone from the congregation to speak/teach on a subject. The committed Mormons who have been married and dedicated in the Temple wear plain cotton undergarments beneath their clothes. They don't drink alcohol, nor caffeine. After a certain time, the men who are Mormons become sort of like priests (this all explained to me by a fellow worker who's a devoted Mormon), but they can and do marry and are encouraged to have many children, and tithe 10% of their income minimum. Apparently the Temple ceremonies are not revealed to those not attending. She also said they each can have their own island or planet if they live a good Mormon life. They also increase their numbers, she said, by baptizing in absentia their deceased non-baptized and/or non-Mormon relatives. When I asked about the polygamy and all the wives the original leaders had, she explained it that women were very vulnerable in those times, and they married them to protect them.

Answer 5

Non-mormons can't give you a full, experienced answer and Mormons can't give you a straight one.

But from what I've read, in his day, Joseph Smith seems to have been a rather persuasivesort of rascal as a young man who seems to have put together many different types of details into what he decided to call a calling; that is, he even insisted upon having had some sort of vision of modern-day visitation by he didn't know exactly what type of beings. All he said is that this and that were the things he was being told to do. He never really was able to get pinned down to real proof of anything (that's what makes spirit being-visitation so undisputable; it's as ethereal as a prophet wants it to be).

I, too, dispute all the claims of Mormonism, and realize that God isn't with that group of people because they immerse themselves in and legitimize their actions with what they even call 'another Gospel'. It's all based upon the pronouncements of a 'prophet'. In that way, it parallels Islam, Buddhism, and many other godless disembodied and slippery-to-deal-with so-called religions.

The world's filled with good people. Good in a world-accepted way, anyway. Human to the core. Hopeless, noneternal and good. Mormons are all that but none of His.

Answer 6

I'm not Mormon and this might be offensive to some but it's just my own conclusion.
The degree of control used in communities is'nt really what the rest of the Christian world believes could be very "Christain".
The case is not how did they arrive at that interpretation for me because some of what they do is beyond rational doubt not even neutral but against Christs' words.

Answer 7

The primary issue that mainstream Christian religions have with Mormonism is that Christians believe that they are 'saved' by the grace of God, and Mormons believe that you are 'saved' by the works that you do here on earth.

The funny part of all this is that the Book of Mormon (the Mormon's other scripture) also says that you are saved by the grace of God. Make of that what you will.

Answer 8

I would like to know, what is true Christianity, In the assembly of the New Testiment, people omitted writings, or just changed the altogether to converte the pegans.

However the bible teaches to be where of false Gods and Prophets.

The Jews, Muslims, and the Christians all pray to the same GOD!

Answer 9

How can you say that Mormons aren't Christian when the actual name of the church is The church of JESUS CHRIST of latter day saints. A Christian is one who believes and follows Christ. I challenge anyone to find a religion that is more Christ centered than the Mormons

Answer 10

First of all, I have met Mormons who have expressed to me that they had a personal relationship with Jesus, and for that I say PTL!! My experience, however, with their beliefs has been alarming. I babysat for a Bishop as a kid and obviously they had a lot of children. I asked once why they, as parents chose to have that many, and he told me that we all are up in Heaven as spirits to begin with and we must come down to earth through a human form and live our lives so that we can attain the sameness of Jesus. In other words, after we die and go back to Heaven we will be just like Him. I disagree!