Mormonism as a Christian religion

The question of whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian church is controversial, with strong feelings held on both sides of the issue. For example, it is astonishing to Latter-day Saints who generally accept the historicity of the Bible and whose church is named after Christ--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--to be labeled as non-Christians. On the other hand, members of mainstream Christianity find it difficult to accept Latter-day Saints as Christian when their doctrines differ greatly from (modern) mainstream Christianity--differences which Latter-day Saints unobjectionably recognize. Positions on this subject and the history and relationship between Mormonism and mainstream Christianity follow below.

In his book, Are Mormons Christians?, Stephen E. Robinson, a Latter-day Saint scholar, addresses the issue of excluding Latter-day Saints as Christians by definition. Generally, Latter-day Saint detractors deny that Latter-day Saints are Christians by using the term 'Christian' in a (usually implicit) historical, traditional, canonical, doctrinal or sectarian sense to exclude Latter-day Saints. However, using 'Christian' in such a way is merely a way of saying that it is only one particular history, tradition, canon, doctrine or sect that is justified when such justifications are debatable; in some uses such specialized definitions could fairly exclude the primitive church and Jesus Christ himself. Robinson also observes that detractors sometimes exclude the Latter-day Saints by contrasting a biased definition of Christian with a misrepresentation of Mormon doctrines, and also exclude by labeling the the Church with ad hominem tags like cult. The exclusion phenomena which Robinson observes may be seen between relatively antagonist sects (or even between sects of other religions) past and present. Robinson's contribution is unique in presenting how the exclusion phenomena is applied to Latter-day Saints in particular (with an acknowledgement that some Latter-day Saints have also excluded other sects in a similar manner) and in presenting Christian history, tradition, canon, doctrine, etc. that supports a definition that is inclusive of Mormonism.

Table of contents 1 Historical 2 Pro: Mormonism is a Christian Religion 3 Con: Mormonism is a not a Christian Religion 4 External Links

Historical

Early leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at times voiced views concerning "the Christian world" which could be considered antagonistic. This is understandable in light of the sometimes violent conflicts that early Mormons had with those professing to be Christians.

The Church's founder and first prophet, Joseph Smith, at times criticized what he saw as important flaws in Christianity. He once said,

"we may look at the Christian world and see the apostasy there has been from the apostolic platform; and who can look at this and not exclaim, in the language of Isaiah, 'The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant?'" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg 15).

In another instance, Smith said,

"The teachers of the day say that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God, and they are all in one body and one God. Jesus prayed that those that the Father had given him out of the world might be made one in them, as they were one [one in spirit, in mind, in purpose]. If I were to testify that the Christian world were wrong on this point, my testimony would be true" (Ibid, pg 311).

As for Catholicism and Protestantism, Smith had these words:

"Here is a principle of logic...I will illustrate by an old apple tree. Here jumps off a branch and says, I am the true tree, and you are corrupt. If the whole tree is corrupt, are not its branches corrupt? If the Catholic religion is a false religion, how can any true religion come out of it?" (Ibid, pg 375).

These grievances seem to be largely doctrinal in nature. Smith and the Latter-day Saints weren't often critical of other faiths. No doubt remembering the injustices the Latter-day Saints suffered because of religious intolerance, Joseph Smith also said,

"I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves" (Ibid, pg 313).

Smith's successor, Brigham Young, also sounded a conciliatory tone, saying,

"Some who call themselves Christians are very tenacious with regard to the Universalians, yet the latter possess many excellent ideas and good truths. Have the Catholics? Yes, a great many very excellent truths. Have the Protestants? Yes, from first to last. Has the infidel? Yes, he has a good deal of truth; and truth is all over the earth." (Discourses of Brigham Young, pg 10).

The Church's 11th Article of Faith (penned by Joseph Smith) states,

"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may" (Articles of Faith (http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1)).

In the last several decades, the Church has been making a sustained effort to demonstrate that Latter-day Saints' beliefs are associated with Christianity. These efforts have included participation in ecumenical endeavors, addition of the sub-title "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" to The Book of Mormon, and emphasis on the official name of the Church including a recent re-branding of the Church's official logo to place more emphasis on the phrase "The Church of Jesus Christ."

Pro: Mormonism is a Christian Religion

Latter-day Saints profess a belief in the Biblical account in the New Testament, which explains that Christ:

• Was born in Bethelehem of divine origin
• Is the Son of God and Redeemer of mankind
• Lived a perfect life, set a perfect example, and taught a perfect lifestyle
• Gave his life voluntarily and atoned for the sins of all people
• Was resurrected on the third day to conquer death

In response to criticism claiming that Latter-day Saints don't fulfill the requirements of Christianity, Latter-day Saints offer these justifications:

• To the claim that Mormonism denies the saving grace of Christ's sacrifice by emphasizing the importance of doing good works, Latter-day Saints point to the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus explicitly asserted the same thing, saying, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." [italics added]. According to the Latter-day Saints , other so-called Christian religions that deny these words of Jesus cannot be correct.
• To the claim that the Church's doctrines differ significantly from historical Christianity, Latter-day Saints claim that some tenets of traditional Christianity were largely decided in the centuries following Christ's death not by revelation, but by counsels of men, including rejection of the Trinity in favor of a Godhead containing three separate individuals.

Con: Mormonism is a not a Christian Religion

Many mainstream Christian faiths claim that Latter-day Saints have a conception of Jesus Christ which deviates from traditional beliefs. Thus, the reasoning goes, the Jesus of Mormonism is not the same Jesus of the Bible. These deviations include:

• Latter-day Saints believe Jesus visited the American continent after his Ascension
• Latter-day Saints believe Jesus is a separate personage from that of God the Father.
• Latter-day Saints believe salvation comes not only through belief in Christ (grace), but that men will be judged by their actions. Most Christian religions deny the need for works.
• Latter-day Saints reject much of the core of Christian thinking, doctrine, and creeds that were established during what they refer to as the Great Apostasy.
• (others...))

External Links

• Stephen E. Robinson; Are Mormons Christians?; Bookcraft, Inc.; ISBN 0-88494-784-X (Hardcover 1991)
• Joseph F. Smith; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith; Deseret Book Company; ISBN 0-87747-655-9 (Softcover 1976)
• John A. Widstoe; Discourses of Brigham Young; Deseret Book Company; ISBN 0-87747-664-0 (Softcover 1954)