why do some believe mormons aren't "christians"?

Question

whent the name of the church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" and they teach about Christ and read the bible, and share a lot of the same beliefs as other christians?.

Answer 1

You got me, but your right. I'll sit back and see what answers you get, I'm curious too.
You already got some points. Let me make a few more, I’ll try to be brief.

First of all, if being a Christian means following Christ, then we are Christian. If aren’t Christian because we follow a different Christ (how many are there?). Then every Christian church can’t be considered Christian by other churches except themselves. After all we all worship differently.

We do believe through Christ we can get to heaven, but not grace alone as # one states it. As far as becoming a God, deep in the religion we believe to live with God means to be like him, “perfect”. Well if we are like him then that means we are a God as well. Point, this is not preached, but it is understood. And this knowledge has no effect on whether we make to heaven or not.

As far as what sonshine said, who doesn’t have truth mixed with untruth? If you firmly believe in your religion then all others are wrong. That simple, and how can we take away a word from God that was already there. Besides, the passage that states – do not add or take away from these things- is specifically about the book of Revelations. Most the epistles preceding Revelations were written after it.

BrotherMichael gave you lots of quotes from Mormon sources. But he obviously got he’s information from the anti-Mormon site he quoted. So, obviously, they say we’re wrong. First, he says we’re “complicating the gospel and declaring another messiah”, I got a head reading he’s complicated statement and we didn’t clamed a different Jesus. As for the “Pamphlet”, there are very many pamphlets discussing our church. But I find it hard to believe that one said; “Much that is believed and taught on this subject is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one's salvation.” We would say such things for one. We wouldn’t say others are “nonsense” and “palpably false”. Besides, it’s a pamphlet that you throw away, not scripture. The whole point of that quote was to say as Jesus said (Matthew 7:21) “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” In others words, works are also necessary. That’s what we believe.

Bruce McConkie was an apostle, yes. But he had extreme views that are not doctrine. He did write a book called “Mormon Doctrine”; but, we do not study it or read from it unless we really want to. Everything in that book you have to take with a grain of salt.

I’m not sure where they got the quote from (you can get a quote for anything nowadays), but, we do not believe Jesus was a polygamist. Married, possibly; but not a polygamist. He would have been killed (let alone sinning) if he was. Besides that, again, this fact has no effect on whether we make to heaven or not.

Yes, Jesus and Lucifer are spirit brothers, just as we all are. We are all children of God to include all the fallen angels and Lucifer.

Through Joseph smith we can be “saved” because brought back the lost authority of God. However, just like most, it’s through Christ that are sins are taken care of, not Joseph. And as far as Jesus not being God; well, no, he’s not. We believe that God and Jesus are two different people. And it is true we don’t believe in the “Holy Trinity” that was established by a council of men well after all the true apostles left the earth.

As far as Mormons being a cult. One definition of a cult is; “a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.” Well we don’t have a charismatic leader; we tend to be pretty quiet, not extreme. Although we have our own society per se, we’re definitely not hidden. A little unorthodox, maybe because we’re a little different. And, of course, since we are different we’re false to others. Just as protestants are false to Catholics.

Sorry for the long explanation, but when it comes down to it, you make your own choice. One major thing we believe is that, everyone has a right to choose, and not everyone is ready for what we have. Good luck. Research yourself.

Answer 2

With the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we do believe in Christ and are Christians. No Jesus is not God but the Son of God and yes we do believe in the atonement of Jesus Christ. Yes you are judged by your works and will be rewarded according to them. You can believe in God and Jesus and still be a very wicked person committing all kinds of sins and be saved to some kind of glory because you believe but if you think you belong in the same place as a person who believes in God and Jesus and tries to the best of his ability to be a honest trustworthy charitable person then you are sadly mistaken. You would not be comfortable in each other’s company and in the eternities you will be placed where you will be most comfortable. People should learn for themselves what a group of people believes in instead of listening to others that despise them and spread falsehoods.

Answer 3

Boy is there a lot of misonformation on this site. No we do not believe that Jesus was a polygamist, that's ridiculous! We believe that through Jesus Christ we are saved, but yes we do believe that are actions here on Earth are important and that you should repent of your sins. We believe in the Bible and our focus is on christ.

Answer 4

A lot of people like to pick apart the subtle differences among the different belief systems.

Maybe Mormons are wrong in some of their beliefs, but who is anyone to judge them?

Answer 5

The Mormon's view of Christ, as mentioned above, differs so drastically from any other Christian denomination. That's why they aren't really considered Christians, but rather a cult.

Answer 6

Mormonism is derived from copticism, which is the Egyptian version of 'Pagan Judaism'. The original Mormons would be the Early Israelites who built the Golden Calf below Mt. Sinai. They weren't called Mormons until the 1700s, but they're the same.

Answer 7

They do not teach that Jesus was God, only that he was "a god" and they believe any of us can become that same sort of god. They also don't believe the way to heaven is God's grace through Jesus' death and resurrection; they believe they can earn their way to heaven. They are NOT Christians.

Answer 8

they have a lot of untruths mixed in with the truths of the bible...they have distorted the Word of God and that is wrong...God says in His word that one is not to add to it or take away from His Word......they will be judged for that alone...

Answer 9

You can place any name you want on your cult or religion, doesn't make it Christian.

Mormon Views of God & Christ

But I fear, lest any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. for if he that preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if we receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. II Corinthians 11:3,4

This warning from Paul makes it clear that we should beware of those complicating the gospel and declaring another messiah; even though they claim their messiah is the Jesus of the Bible.

The Bible is full of verses proclaiming the saving power of Christ's blood that was shed for us on the cross. Despite all the verses forcefully declaring the importance of Christ's blood, the Mormon pamphlet found in almost every LDS visitors centers titled, What the Mormons think of Christ, refutes the saving grace of Christ's sacrifice. On page 22 we find this written, "Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and it's cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one's salvation. For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept Him as our personal savior we are thereby saved. They say His blood, without any other act than mere belief makes us clean."

In Romans 4:20 Paul declares "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight." The Apostle John wrote, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:7) As with most false religions Mormonism emphasizes works over grace, however; no one can walk in the light without first being cleansed by Christ.

One of the main fundamentals of orthodox Christianity is belief in the virgin birth of the Savior. Statements from the LDS church leaders show that they have a different view of Christ. Bruce McConkie, a Mormon Apostle, teaches in his book, Mormon Doctrine, "Christ was begotten by an immortal father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers." (p. 547) Joseph Fielding Smith, tenth President and Prophet of the Mormon Church claimed, "Christ not begotten of Holy Ghost...He was not born without the aid of Man and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:18). By worshipping such a being the Mormons fall under the condemnation of Romans one by changing "the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man" (1:23).

The Jesus of Mormonism was also a polygamist. Mormon Apostle, Orson Pratt states on page 172 of his book, The Seer, "it will be seen that the great Messiah, who was the founder of the Christian religion, was a polygamist." Orson Hyde, also a Mormon Apostle, taught "It will be born in mind that once on a time, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee...no less person than Jesus Christ was married on that occasion." (Journal of Discourses 4:259).

The Jesus of the Bible created all things. Colossians 1:16, "For by Him all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible, and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him." The God of Mormonism however needed help. In the book Mormon Doctrine, page 169, the LDS Church teaches that Jesus was helped by many when creating the earth, including the help of Joseph Smith! "Michael or Adam was one of these. Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter, James and John, Joseph Smith, and many other noble and great ones played a part in the great creative enterprise.

Colossians 1:16 causes even more problems when you look at the Mormon doctrine concerning Jesus and Satan. The Bible teaches that Jesus created all things including the devil, however Mormon doctrine teaches that Jesus and Satan are "spirit-brothers". Milton R. Hunter, who was a member of the First Council of the Seventies writes in his book, The Gospel Through the Ages, "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." (page 15)

The Bible teaches that Jesus is the only giver of salvation and that no man cometh unto the Father but by Him (John 3:16 & John 17:6). The Jesus of Mormonism claims no such authority. Mormonism teaches that in order to be saved on must believe in Joseph Smith, their founder, as well as believe in their Jesus. In his book Doctrines of Salvation, 1:189, Joseph Fielding Smith proclaims, "NO SALVATION WITHOUT ACCEPTING JOSEPH SMITH". Brigham Young said, "From the day the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, Junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are." He also said, "No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of god without the consent of Joseph Smith" (Journal of Discourses, 7:289).

In short, Mormons worship a Jesus who they claim was a polygamist and the spirit-brother of Satan. They believe in a Jesus who was not always god and whose blood does not cover all sins. The Jesus of the Mormon Church is not the Jesus of the Bible.

Answer 10

Because there not