Is Mormonism Christian? This may seem like a puzzling
question to many Mormons as well as to some Christians.
Mormons will note that they include the Bible among the four
books which they recognize as Scripture, and that belief in
Jesus Christ is central to their faith, as evidenced by
their official name, the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Furthermore, many Christians have heard
the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing Christian hymns and are
favorably impressed with the Mormon commitment to high moral
standards and strong families. Doesn’t it follow that
Mormonism is Christian?
To fairly and accurately resolve this question we need to carefully compare the basic doctrines of the Mormon religion with the basic doctrines of historic, biblical Christianity. To represent the Mormon position we have relied on the following well-known Mormon doctrinal books, the first three of which are published by the Mormon Church: Gospel Principles (1997), Achieving a Celestial Marriage (1976), and A Study of the Articles of Faith (1979) by Mormon Apostle James E. Talmage, as well as Doctrines of Salvation (3 vols.) by the tenth Mormon President and prophet Joseph Fielding Smith, Mormon Doctrine (2nd ed., 1979) by Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie and Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
1. Is There More Than One True God?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that there is only one True and Living God and apart from Him there are no other Gods (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; 44:6,8; 45:21,22; 46:9; Mark 12:29-34).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that there are many Gods (Book of Abraham 4:3ff), and that we can become gods and goddesses in the celestial kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20; Gospel Principles, p. 245; Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 130). It also teaches that those who achieve godhood will have spirit children who will worship and pray to them, just as we worship and pray to God the Father (Gospel Principles, p. 302).
2. Was God Once a Man Like Us?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that God is Spirit (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:15,16), He is not a man (Numbers 23:19; Hosea 11:9; Romans 1:22, 23), and has always (eternally) existed as God — all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere present (Psalm 90:2; 139:7-10; Isaiah 40:28; Luke 1:37).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that God the Father was once a man like us who progressed to become a God and has a body of flesh and bone (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" from Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-347; Gospel Principles, p. 9; Articles of Faith, p. 430; Mormon Doctrine, p. 321). Indeed, the Mormon Church teaches that God himself has a father, and a grandfather, ad infinitum (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 373; Mormon Doctrine, p. 577).
3. Are Jesus and Satan Spirit Brothers?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that Jesus is the unique Son of God; he has always existed as God, and is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father (John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 14:9; Colossians 2:9). While never less than God, at the appointed time He laid aside the glory He shared with the Father (John 17:4, 5; Philippians 2:6-11) and was made flesh for our salvation; His incarnation was accomplished through being conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:34-35).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Jesus Christ is our elder brother who progressed to godhood, having first been procreated as a spirit child by Heavenly Father and a heavenly mother; He was later conceived physically through intercourse between Heavenly Father and the virgin Mary (D&C 93:21; Journal of Discourses, 1:50-51; Gospel Principles, p. 11-13; Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 129; Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 546-547; 742; Ezra Taft Benson, Come unto Christ, p. 4; Robert L. Millet, The Mormon Faith: Understanding Restored Christianity, p. 31). Mormon doctrine affirms that Jesus, all angels, Lucifer, all demons, and all human beings are originally spirit brothers and sisters (Abraham 3:22-27; Moses 4:1-2; Gospel Principles, pp. 17-18; Mormon Doctrine, p. 192).
4. Is God a Trinity?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost are not separate Gods or separate beings, but are distinct Persons within the one Triune Godhead. Throughout the New Testament the Son and the Holy Spirit, as well as the Father are separately identified as and act as God (Son: Mark 2:5-12; John 20:28; Philippians 2:10,11; Holy Spirit: Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 3:17,18; 13:14); yet at the same time the Bible teaches that these three are only one God (see point 1).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate Gods (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577), and that the Son and Holy Ghost are the literal offspring of Heavenly Father and a celestial wife (Joseph Fielding McConkie, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 2, p. 649).
5. Was The Sin Of Adam and Eve a Great Evil Or a Great Blessing?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the disobedience of our first parents Adam and Eve was a great evil. Through their fall sin entered the world, bringing all human beings under condemnation and death. Thus we are born with a sinful nature, and will be judged for the sins we commit as individuals. (Ezekiel 18:1-20; Romans 5:12-21).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Adam’s sin was "a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us" (Gospel Principles, p. 33; Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 2:25; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 114-115).
6. Can We Make Ourselves Worthy Before God?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages
have believed that apart from the saving work of Jesus
Christ on the cross we are spiritually "dead in trespasses
and sins" (Ephesians 2:1,5) and are powerless to save
ourselves. By grace alone, apart from self-righteous works,
God forgives our sins and makes us worthy to live in His
presence (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6). Our part is only to
cling to Christ in heartfelt faith. (However, it is
certainly true that without the evidence of changed conduct,
a person’s testimony of faith in Christ must be questioned;
salvation by grace alone through faith, does not mean we can
live as we please — Romans 6:1-4).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that eternal life in
the presence of God (which it terms "exaltation in the
celestial kingdom") must be earned through obedience to all
the commands of the Mormon Church, including exclusive
Mormon temple rituals. Works are a requirement for salvation
(entrance into the "celestial kingdom") — Gospel Principles,
p. 303-304; Pearl of Great Price — Third Article of Faith;
Mormon Doctrine, pp. 339, 671; Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi
25:23).
7. Does Christ's Atoning Death
Benefit Those Who Reject Him?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages
have believed that the purpose of the atoning work of Christ
on the cross was to provide the complete solution for
humankind’s sin problem. However, those who reject God’s
grace in this life will have no part in this salvation but
are under the judgment of God for eternity (John 3:36;
Hebrews 9:27; 1 John 5:11-12).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that the purpose of
the atonement was to bring resurrection and immortality to
all people, regardless of whether they receive Christ by
faith. Christ’s atonement is only a partial basis for
worthiness and eternal life, which also requires obedience
to all the commands of the Mormon church, including
exclusive Mormon temple rituals (Gospel Principles, pp.
74-75; Mormon Doctrine, p. 669).
8. Is The Bible The Unique and
Final Word of God?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages
have believed that the Bible is the unique, final and
infallible Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1,2; 2
Peter 1:21) and that it will stand forever (1 Peter
1:23-25). God’s providential preservation of the text of the
Bible was marvelously illustrated in the discovery of the
Dead Sea Scrolls.
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that the Bible has
been corrupted, is missing many "plain and precious parts"
and does not contain the fullness of the Gospel (Book of
Mormon — 1 Nephi 13:26-29; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3,
pp. 190-191).
9. Did The Early Church Fall Into
Total Apostasy?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages
have believed that the true Church was divinely established
by Jesus and could never and will never disappear from the
earth (Matthew 16:18; John 15:16; 17:11). Christians
acknowledge that there have been times of corruption and
apostasy within the Church, but believe there has always
been a remnant that held fast to the biblical essentials.
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that there was a
great and total apostasy of the Church as established by
Jesus Christ; this state of apostasy "still prevails except
among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored
gospel" of the Mormon Church (Gospel Principles, pp.
105-106; Mormon Doctrine, p. 44).
Conclusion: The above points in italics
constitute the
common gospel believed by all orthodox Christians through
the ages regardless of denominational labels. On the other
hand, some new religions such as Mormonism claim to be
Christian, but accept as Scripture writings outside of the
Bible, teach doctrines that contradict the Bible, and hold
to beliefs completely foreign to the teachings of Jesus and
His apostles.
Mormons share with orthodox Christians some important moral
precepts from the Bible. However, the above points are
examples of the many fundamental and irreconcilable
differences between historic, biblical Christianity and
Mormonism. While these differences do not keep us from being
friendly with Mormons, we cannot consider them brothers and
sisters in Christ. The Bible specifically warns of false
prophets who will teach "another gospel" centered around
"another Jesus," and witnessed to by "another spirit" (2
Corinthians 11:4,13-15; Galatians 1:6-9). Based on the
evidence presented above, we believe Mormonism represents
just such a counterfeit gospel.
It has been pointed out that if one claimed to be a Mormon
but denied all the basic tenets of Mormonism — that Joseph
Smith was a prophet of God, that the Book of Mormon is true
and divinely inspired, that god was once a man who
progressed to godhood through keeping the laws and
ordinances of the Mormon Church, and that the Mormon Church
was divinely established — the Mormon Church would reject
such a person’s claim to being a Latter-day Saint. One
cannot fairly call oneself a Mormon if one does not believe
the fundamental doctrines taught by the Mormon Church. By
the same token, if the Mormon Church does not hold to even
the basic biblical truths believed by the greater Christian
community down through the ages, how can Christians
reasonably be expected to accept Mormonism as authentic
Christianity?
If the Mormon Church believes it is the only true Christian
Church, it should not attempt to publicly present itself as
a part of a broader Christian community. Instead it should
tell the world openly that those who claim to be orthodox
Christians are not really Christians at all, and that the
Mormon Church is the only true Christian Church. This in
fact is what it teaches privately, but not publicly.
Statements of 5 Christian Denominations on Mormonism
Christian churches teach belief in God as an eternal,
self-existent, immortal being, unfettered by corporeal
limitations and unchanging in both character and nature. In
recent years, several Christian denominations have made
studies of Mormon teaching and come to the conclusion that
there are irreconcilable differences between LDS doctrine
and Christian beliefs based on the Bible.
-
Statement of the
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod
- Statement of the
Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Statement of the
Roman Catholic Church
- Statement of the
Southern Baptist Convention
- Statement of the
United Methodist Church