Are Mormons actually Christians?

Question

Or are they a fring cult that believes in some weird stuff? Please elaborate.

Answer 1

I offer the following items, you decide:

A common question asked of Christians who make an effort to witness to Mormons is: "Why are you attacking Mormonism? We never malign your faith, so why attack ours?"

The fact is, proving Mormonism to be a false doctrine is not an attack but a defense of the Christian faith. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism made the first attack by claiming that all Christian denominations are an abomination in God's sight.

If a Latter Day Saint should ask you this question, you need only look as far as their own scriptures and to the words of their leaders for an answer:

Journal of Discourses 5:73--"When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was groveling in darkness."

Journal of Discourses 8:99--"With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world."

Journal of Discourses 6:25--"What! Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute beast."

Orson Pratt (Mormon Apostle)--"..all other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God; and any person who receives baptism of the Lord's supper from their hands highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt of all people" (The Seer, pg 255)

Heber C. Kimball (First Counselor to Brigham Young)--"Christians - those poor, miserable priests Brother Brigham was speaking about - some of them are the biggest whoremasters there are on the earth..." (Journal of Discourses 5:39)


What the Mormon Missionaries Won't Tell You

Most of us have had a Mormon Missionary knock at our door. If you have ever invited them in and listened to a presentation of their beliefs, you probably found most but not all of what they said very similar to those beliefs held by Christians. However, while trying to convince you that your Church is wrong and the Mormon Church is right, there are several points they intentionally leave out. Below is a list of Mormon beliefs the missionaries will be reluctant to tell you about:

They will be reluctant to tell you that the God they worship was not always God.
"We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 345)

They will be reluctant to tell you that they believe Jesus Christ is the spirit brother of Satan:
"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 spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind." (Milton R. Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages, pg.15)

They will be reluctant to tell you that, according to Mormonism, Jesus Christ was a polygamist.
"I discover that some of the Eastern papers represent me as a great blasphemer, because I said, in my lecture on Marriage, at our last Conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children." (Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 2:210)

The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based upon polygamy, according to the testimony of the philosophers who rose in that age. 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'" (Jedediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses, 1:346)

They will be reluctant to tell you that for at least half a century church leaders were teaching that Adam was really God and the only God with whom we have to do.
"Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken--He is our Father, and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:50)

"I have learned by experience that there is but one God that pertains to this people and he is the god that pertains to this earth--The first man. That first man sent his own son to redeem the world..."(Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 4:1)

They will be reluctant to tell you that Brigham Young, who held the office of President of the Mormon church longer than any other man, taught that men must practice polygamy in order to become Gods.
"The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." (Journal of Discourses 11:269)

They will be reluctant to tell you that the book of Mormon fails to contain any Mormon doctrine
Many portions of this Mormon Scripture even contradicts Mormon theology.

They will be reluctant to tell you about their secret temple ceremonies which, until April 1990, portrayed Christian ministers as hirelings of Satan. Nor will they tell you about the sacred underwear they are wearing which, they believe, actually protects them.

They will be reluctant to tell you that Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus was conceived by way of a sexual relationship between God and Mary.
"..how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father. The difference between Jesus Christ and other men is this: Our fathers in the flesh are mortal men, who are subject unto death: but the Father of Jesus Christ in the flesh is the god of Heaven" (Joseph F. Smith, Family Home Evening Manual, 1972, pg. 125)

They will be reluctant to tell you that they believe the bible has been corrupted throughout the centuries and cannot be trusted fully by itself.
"I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph smith, pg.327)
"But the Bible has been robbed of its plainness; many sacred books having been lost, others rejected by the Romish Church, and what few we have left, were copied and recopied so many times, that it is admitted that almost every verse has been corrupted and mutilated to that degree that any two of them read alike." (Orson Pratt, The Seer, pg.213)

They will be reluctant to tell you that the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, which they claim to be both sacred and without error, contradict each other many times.
For example, in the Book of Mormon, God called David and Solomon's act of polygamy an abomination, whereas in the Doctrine and Covenants He claims to justify it. Jacob 2:24 in the Book of Mormon says, "Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord." Section 132:1 in the Doctrine and Covenants, however, states: "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines."

They will be reluctant to tell you that they use Christian terms with Mormon meanings.
For example, a Mormon would probably agree with you that a person must be born again. To the Mormon, however, "born again" is a process which begins with water baptism. Another example are the words "salvation" and exaltation," which are synonymous in the Christian's mind. However, general salvation to the Mormon merely means the resurrection which everyone in the world will receive at death. Exaltation, or individual salvation, is the reward earned by the Mormon by following the laws of the Moron church. "Eternal Life" to the Mormon means Godhood. Regarding the word "scriptures," the Christian thinks of the Holy Bible while the Mormon could be thinking of not only the Bible but the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price as well.

They won't want to tell you that in order to gain entrance into the highest form of Mormon heaven, the Celestial kingdom, you must accept Joseph Smith, Jr. as a prophet of god. Faith in Jesus alone, Mormonism teaches, will force you to spend eternity in a lower form of heaven.

Tenth LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith stated in his book, doctrines of Salvation, that there is "No salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. The word "salvation," used in this context, must really mean "exaltation" because former Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie stated in his book Mormon Doctrine that general salvation is given to everyone regardless of belief. Personal salvation or exaltation to the highest form of Mormon heaven comes only by accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of god and by following the laws of the LDS church.

They will be reluctant to tell you that their founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., made many false prophecies which, according to the Bible, would classify him as a false prophet rather than a true prophet of God.

For instance, in 1835 Smith claimed that the Lord would again come in just 56 years. We would gather from this "prophecy" that Jesus Christ would again come to earth on or before 1891; no doubt Joseph Smith was incorrect (History of the church 2:182). In 1832 Joseph Smith claimed he had a revelation concerning the building of a temple in Independence, Missouri. According to section 84, verses 4 and 5, of the Doctrine and Covenants, he stated this "temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily this generation shall not pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it..." to this day the spot consecrated by Smith fails to be the sight of a great temple, but instead is covered with a well-kept lawn. In fact, the Mormon church does not even own the land.

Answer 2

Yes the Mormons are a cult.
What is a cult? A cult is a group that claims to be Christian, but significantly changes or alters at least one of the basic beliefs about Christianity: who God is, Jesus, the Bible, the nature of humanity, or the nature of sin.

Mormons are not Christians. They do not believe in Christ. They do not believe that salvation is found in Christ's death on the cross. They believe you must earn your own salvation through good works and obedience to Mormon teachings.

Get a copy of the book Kingdom of the Cults to learn more.

Answer 3

No, Mormons are Mormons, not Christians

Answer 4

HA - Mormons are NOT Christians!!
Definitely a fringe cult that believes in some weird stuff.
:-)

Answer 5

Mormans are Protestants. Meaning they separated from the Catholic church, and protested the Spanish inquisition and other attrocities of the Roman Catholics. But the Protestants are still Christians. The Protestants are even more divided, because some wanted to hold on to some of the Catholic teachings, and others wanted to get rid of them all. But all are still Christians. Some divisions of the Protestants, decided to make their own bibles, and follow teachings of others. These would be the cults. Mormans, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Scientology etc. are all some of these cults. And all are still Christians. This is why the term Christian is used so loosely today. The growing confusion is probably why the athiests and the agnostics are growing in numbers today.

Even though their confused beliefs are not Christianlike, and WE don't think they are Christians because of their beliefs, they still are considered as Protestants, as in Not Catholic, so the world still views them as Christian.
I personally don't think that Catholics should be called Christians, since their beliefs exalt Mary as being a queen in heaven. This is idolotry. They say that Jesus is a lesser god in heaven, when the bible clearly states that He said, "I and the father are one".

Answer 6

Yes, Mormons are Christians. Yes, they are a fringe cult of the Christian super-cult.

Answer 7

The Mormons claim that Joseph Smith found golden plates of an additional book of the Bible, called "The Book of Mormon." The plates were said to be written in Egyptian. Joseph Smith "translated" the plates by "looking through" the Egyptian to reveal the English.

It is all freakish, and "dubious" is too mild a word.

Are they a cult? I don't think so. Members are free to leave. Members' wills are not subjected to the church leaders, and they are not punished corporally or by death if they disobey.

Are they Christians? Well, I reckon. They believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior.

They're just extremely weird, is all. They believe that something found in the mid-1800s and translated by someone who didn't even know the language is the word of God.

Answer 8

I had to live in Utah, the heart of Mormons persay, and it was HELL. Not because of what they believe! I respect peoples decisons of religion. Don't we all have that right?
But it's funny, I've never been with so many partying kids in my life. They were outrageouse! Some were real fun, others just down right, yes cultish! LOL. My parents used to say Mormon was a cult. "They" aren't. But there is some "Communities" that are well, out there if it is something "strange" to you. Like "Big Water" Utah. No other states could pull off what Utah gets away with under the name of religion and what they were founded on. It was like living in another country. My mormon friends were playing with Ouija boards and unmormon were ranting about not being able to take the mormon religious class for one hour in school and could they could not. It was chaos. But funny really. Everyone wanting to be or be included in something else.
There is so many different ways at looking at things, we get caught up in it. If you step back, and look at it, your surroundings, what do they tell you? Is it any different than what is going on all over the world? In different parts of the country, you will find such nonsense, but people will follow blindly. So is Mormon weird? Well only if the rest of the world is too! :) But I personally wouldn't move back to Utah for anything. Or maybe I would to find a real good party! You never know, things change. Like people.
Oh, I had Mormon friends, but then they claimed to be "re-vised". (They were not like their founders and ancestors, who were palygamists (sp?) They considered those groups or communities to be cults. I never understood that one!! Still don't. I don't try to figure them out anymore; I just accept they are like everyone else, searching for the truth that is "out there" and not within themselves. Cause I couldn't get an answer out of the kids, without being told they would have to ask the Elders. I have the LDS come to my home still after leaving Utah, here in Colorado. How they knew where I was.... that was disturbing. When my boyfriend told them we were not Mormon.... They came back to talk to me when I was outside. They are persistant lil people I tell ya. All the rest would be pointless to tell ya about. That's it thou, they are people with their own. Just as us. I myself looked at how they got here and the history, and that was all I needed to know. I did find them to be the most "family oriented" folks I'd ever known thou. But in a freakish way within my experiences. The dads of my friends were mostly abusive to the moms.
I think I will look back on this question you ask from time to time, because there is going to be an outpoor of response if any Mormon see this!
I will predict you get yes' and nos' on this one!!! :)
Blessings, Tesra

Answer 9

They are Christians. They study the Bible in addition to the Book of Mormon. They are no longer considered a cult.

Answer 10

I would not refer to them as Christians although they do believe in Christ.

It's kind of like asking are Christians really Jewish.

Christians believe that Jesus came into the world with a message that changed the basic Jewish message.

Mormons (if I'm correct) believe that their leader received an additional message on top of what Jesus presented in his lifetime again going in a slightly different direction from Christians.

So no I would not say they are Christians.

Answer 11

Yes they do believe in Jesus ...but where I get off the boat is the book of Mormon...yes I have a copy..I have also read from the many X-Mormons and what they have to say. I do believe them to be a cult