Mormons- here's an answer to a question that deserves follow up- what if Catholics called themselves Mormons?

Question

Suppose Catholics decided to start calling themselves Mormons. Suppose we say we believe in Joseph Smith: we believe he walked the earth, founded a church, and was killed by his enemies. We don't believe he was a prophet, and we don't believe the church he founded is the true church. But, we say, we believe in Joseph Smith, therefore we're Mormons.

Would you accept that we are true Mormons? You might say, "sure, you can call yourselves Mormons, I won't stop you; I don't care." But I'm not asking if you care, or if you will allow us to call ourselves Mormons. I'm asking if you would believe that we really are Mormons.

To take it further, what if we went walking through Mormon neighborhoods and told the people that we are Mormons just like they are, and we just want to talk about faith. And we proceed to try to convince them that Catholic beliefs are the true religious beliefs. Under the guise of being Mormons ourselves. Would you have any problem with that?

This is part of an answer to this question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al7mQo6XXxdmlXUwarUDBPrsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071217105219AAIAXJz&show=7#profile-info-OrFglAtjaa

Answer 1

Yeah. Why not?

But imasis, it's not exactly the same....we are excluded primarily on the basis of our disbelief in the trinity. Which is sketchy in and of itself. Our belief on that is so similar (three bodies united in purpose, but not one co-eternal being), yet we are excluded like a group of uncool 12 year old girls!

The thing is, using that logic, are Protestants Christian? You aren't comparing equal categories here. Mormons are not protestants, Protestants are not Catholics, but all are Christianity. That's like saying that if baptists are protestants, then Methodists aren't protestants.

Hey, imasis, I'm gonna follow up on your answer, kewl?

Answer 2

Do you believe Joseph Smith was a prophet? Do you accept the Book Of Mormon as Scripture?

I think those are some basic things that you would need to consider yourself Mormon. Even all those other break off sects, that call themselves Mormon, but are not LDS, believe in the Book of Mormon and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I guess if those other groups want to call themselves Mormon, more power to them. They are Not LDS though.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ Is the savior of the world. They believe that he is the only Begotten of the Father. They believe that he is literally the Son of God and was Born of the Virgin Mary. Christians believe that He was Divine. Christians believe that Salvation comes through Christ. Those are all things that Mormons believe too. We don't call ourselves Catholic, nor do we call any other Christians Catholic, Catholics are Christians, just like many other sects out there. We say we are Christian, because we believe in all the things I mentioned above. We even use the KJV Bible, which most Christian Faiths use.

BTW I have heard some say that Catholics are not Christian because they pray to Saints. Isn't that the same as saying that LDS are not Christian because we don't believe the Trinity(which by the way is not biblical- it is a concotion of the council of Nicea).

Yeah I see where you are going, but it is a very weak agruement.

Answer 3

Believing in Joseph Smith doesn't make you LDS. But I wouldn't have a problem with that because you're calling yourself Mormon and not LDS, which is the REAL name of the church. Do some research.

Answer 4

To be Mormon means to follow the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entirely. Not just believe Joseph Smith. So no you wouldn't be, and no I wouldn't like that. I am sure the Church wouldn't like it if you started going around pretending to me Mormons and teaching Catholic beliefs either.

Answer 5

By definition a Mormon is someone who has been baptized and become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

So....your catholic friends would not be Mormons, they would be liars.

By definition a Christian is someone who professes to believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth. We believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ as they appear in the Bible. We believe that ONLY through him can we be saved. He is our Lord, our Redeemer, our Saviour, and the son of God. He suffered for our sins in Gethsemane and died on the Cross on Calvary. On the third day, he raised himself from the dead. He lives today. We teach of Christ, we rejoice in Christ. He is our hope.

............now how can I have those beliefs and not be Christian?

If I say that a human "has blue eyes and is over 6'5" tall", does that mean I am a human and you are not? Or does that mean that I've got a screwed up definition of "human"????

Answer 6

Can we say Apples and Oranges? Sorry, just doesn't hold water. IOW Flawed Logic.

Believing IN Joseph Smith is no biggie. How can you NOT believe in him...IOW He existed etc... That has nothing to do with being a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aka A Mormon. And calling yourself a Mormon just because you believe he existed makes no sense.

OTOH If you believed he was a prophet of God and was the instrument in the Hands of God to restore Christ's Church to the Earth and translated the Book of Mormon, and with this knowledge you Had faith in Jesus Christ, repented of your sins, was baptized by one holding the authority, received the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the Laying on of Hands, and lived your life in faith, enduring to the end in Christ, then Yes, you can then call yourself a Mormon.

Now, as far as wanting to be considered "Christian"...it is sorta a two edged sword. We follow Christ, we preach of Christ, we teach our children of Christ. There is nothing in our teachings that goes against Christ. The only reason we even care about the label is because without it, people get the impression we don't have Christ as the central focus of our faith. I personally think we should just be content to be "Followers of Christ" and allow those who wish to keep Christ in a box the label of "Christian".

Answer 7

No you can't call yourself Catholic, like I can't call myself a protestant, but we all are Christians. The answer you gave Peter Priesthood in the question link is only a protestant answer.
The problem you have is that you only think the protestant view is the true christian view. Actually to be a Christian, is to believe that Jesus Christ walked the earth, preached the gospel, died on a cross for our sins and rose in his own body in three days. After that there are differences between Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant churches and other non - aligned with the big churches like LDS, SDA, and others that are Christian.

Answer 8

If you truly followed the tenants of our religion, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then the world would be a better place, Mormon or not.

How about showing some love and kindness to others for a change? All of this animosity against the LDS church is really not very christian.

Answer 9

If you were baptized by true Priesthood authority, you would be Mormon. Isn't that what you're arguing about? Who has the authority and who doesn't? Believing in Joseph Smith doesn't make you Mormon, as there is so much more to it.

Answer 10

Your narrow view and litmus test as to who is and is not a Christian would disqualify billions of Christians that lived throughout history....

You claim:

"Do you believe Christ paid for your sins- or do you think He paid to give you the opportunity to pay for your own sins?

Whether you are a Christian or not depends on your answers to these questions."

Hypothetically, If someone believed that not only did Christ die for man's sin, but that in order to receive his full glory, Faith, true repentance and good works were also commanded of him, that that person will be damned because of this going the extra mile from your point of view?

This hyper-doctrinal perspective is what you hold your hat on when it comes to the label Christian? lol...absurd.