ARE THE MORMONS CHRISTIANS OR A CULT?

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
Mormonism is perhaps the most native of all American religious groups, in its early history and development it was chased out of Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois. The faithful settled in what at the time was Mexican territory, but which later became part of the American west. It all began in Sharon, Vermont, the birthplace of Joseph Smith. There he was born to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. He was a prophet in his own right, having had visions that were very similar to the later ones alleged by his son. Joseph Smith’s mother would have been seen as a “psychic” today. His maternal grandfather, Solomon Mack displayed a great knack for the occult. One biographer, Fawn Brodie, summed up Joseph Smith JR’s youth with this description, “a likable, ne’er-do-well who was notorious for tall tales and necromantic arts and who spent his leisure leading a band of idlers in digging for buried treasure.”[1] In 1820 Smith had his first vision. In 1823 Smith “met” the angel Moroni who was reportedly a resurrected saint who had died in AD 400. Moroni introduced him to a set of gold plates that contained the text of the Book of Mormon. In 1830 this new revelation was published in Palmyra, Illinois. Later that year the church was founded. In 1844 Smith was martyred by a lawless militia near Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1847 Brigham Young lead the Saints to Utah which was not a part of the United States at the time. Young offered a knowledge of business in place of Smith’s visions.
The most notable characteristic of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (AKA. Mormons) is their door to door evangelistic efforts.. Most have encountered Mormon missionaries or elders, and can spot them very readily. The typical missionaries are males, traveling in pairs, they are 19 to 21 years of age, and they serve for a period of 18 months to two years. Their normal attire is black pants and white shirts. Some things not so readily known is that they are volunteers, it is not compulsory that a Mormon young person serve in this capacity. They are unpaid, and have had to raise their own support for the work. They are given some training before being sent out. A training period of three weeks is given, with nine weeks being allowed if a foreign language must be learned.. They are taught to present a set presentation of their beliefs concerning Jesus Christ and His Atonement for all people.. There are approximately 60,000 missionaries at work at any one time, and this work may include evangelism as well as community service.[2]

PLEASE NOTE - You may want to review my previous article which outlines very briefly the tenets of conservative Christianity.

The Mormons and the Scriptures
When one of these young men come into a home they will be carrying a book which they revere as much as we do the Bible. In a single bound volume they have the King James Version of the Holy Bible.[3] In addition to the Bible are the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. All of these additional works are considered divine and authoritative.
Concerning the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith is quoted as saying, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God… we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”.[4] The Book of Mormon was allegedly given to Joseph Smith by the Angel Moroni who had compiled it in 421 AD It is a sacred record of the peoples of ancient America written on metal plates and supernaturally translated by Smith. The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of divine revelations and inspired declarations. These were received through Joseph Smith Jr. beginning in 1829 when he was fourteen years old. It was subsequently added to by later Presidents and Prophets of the Mormon Church. The Pearl of Great Price is a collection of writings by Joseph Smith. It was first published in 1851, and later accepted by the church in 1880. Included in it are the Book of Moses, Book of Abraham, Book of Matthew, Book of History, and the Articles of Faith.[5]

The Mormons and The Trinity
When answering the question “Who is God?” the Mormons offer a mix of descriptions and definitions. Some of their definitions sound true and legitimate, but others sound extremely far fetched. The Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 offers this description, “God the Father is a glorified and perfected man, a personage of flesh and bone.”. Another definition offered by Joseph Smith says, “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!…God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same s Jesus Christ himself did.” (Teachings, p. 345).[6] We to can become a god. Christ became God, “By obedience and devotion to truth he attained that pinnacle of intelligence which ranked his as a God…As such he became, under the Father, the Creator of this earth and of worlds without number.”[7]
The Spirit of the Lord has three distinct meanings in Mormonism. First it is referencing the spirit body of Christ our Lord, the body he inhabited from his birth as the First born of the Father until he was born of Mary in mortality. It also means the Spirit of Jesus Christ, or light of truth, the Spirit which is impersonal and fills immensity of space; the agency by emas of which God governs and controls in all things. Finally the Spirit entity of personage who is a member of the God head.[8] The Prophet Joseph Smith did not accept the Spirit as a part of the Godhead. In Lectures on Faith he writes, There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things, by whom all things were created and made…They are the Father and the Son.”[9]

The Mormons and Salvation
One of the most notable teachings in Mormonism is the fact that anyone may attain a position of Godhood. God hood is defined as, “…to have the character, possess the attributes, and enjoy the perfection which the Father has. It is to do what he does, have the power resident in him, and live as he lives, having eternal increase.”(Doctrine and Covenants 132:17-20, 37)[10] Eternal life is described as, “To inherit the same power, the same glory, and the same exhaltation, until you arrive at the station of a god, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before..”(Teaching, p. 345)[11]
The Mormons also teach a salvation for the dead. This is a system where those who would have accepted the gospel in life, had they been permitted to hear it, will have a chance to accept it in the spirit world. This involves a baptism for the dead where a living subject acts as a proxy fulfilling the ordinance of baptism. A Mormon may be baptized numerous times for numerous people. One of the young elders I dealt with had already been baptized over 20 times.

The Mormons and the Ordinances
The Mormons believe in two types of baptism. Water baptism, by immersion, by the power of the Aaronic Priesthood and Baptism of the Spirit by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Baptism serves four purposes in Mormon doctrine. Baptism is for the remission of sin, membership in the church and the kingdom, it is the gate to the celestial kingdom, and finally, the door to personal sanctification. [12] Communion or the Lord’s supper is not considered a sacrament, but simply a rite or ceremony of the church.

MY CONCLUSION
Comparing the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the basic beliefs of conservative Christianity it becomes apparent they are a cult. They deny the divinity of the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They also add to the Scriptures.

[1] Gerstner, p. 8
[2] This information has been taken from the official web site of the Mormon church.
[3] Some have contended that the Mormons adapted or changed the KJV, but I found no evidence of this.
[4] Articles of Faith, Article 8
[5] This information has been taken from the official website of the Mormon church
[6] McConkie, Bruce R., Mormon Doctrine, (Salt Lake City, UT., Publishers Press, 1966), p. 321
[7] Ibid. p 129
[8] Ibid. P.752
[9] Ibid. p. 319
[10] Ibid. p.321
[11] Ibid. p. 321
[12] Ibid. p. 70