Are Mormons Christians?
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Series · Mormonism 6 of 6
Exhibit AKey Evidence
- Authority. "Historic Christianity recognizes the 66 books of the Bible as the authoritative Word of God." The LDS Church accepts the Bible "only as far as it is translated correctly," and it also accepts the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price as authoritative revelation, along with continuing revelation through modern prophets.
- God and Man. Scripture draws "a clear distinction between the Creator and his creation. God is eternal." LDS teaching says Heavenly Father "once was a man who was exalted to Godhood," and that human beings are spirit children of heavenly parents who can themselves be exalted to Godhood. Lorenzo Snow's famous couplet puts it plainly: "As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be."
- Who Is Jesus? "They talk a lot about Jesus, but they do not have the same Jesus." Historic Christianity teaches that Jesus is "the eternal God, the uncreated creator" (John 1:1-3). LDS teaching describes Him as a spirit child of heavenly parents, our elder brother, and the spirit brother of Lucifer. "So simply asking someone, do you believe in Jesus, isn't enough. We need to ask, who is Jesus?"
- Faith and Salvation. The Bible teaches "salvation through faith in Christ and his finished work apart from our own works" (Ephesians 2:8-9). The LDS system includes faith and grace, but it also requires baptism, ordinances, covenants, and obedience, with works necessary for exaltation to the celestial kingdom. It also teaches that people may respond to the gospel after death and receive proxy baptism through temple ceremonies. But "it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
- Ultimate Destination. Scripture presents two eternal destinies: "eternal joyful life with God or eternal punishment." LDS teaching describes three degrees of heavenly glory (the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms), with outer darkness reserved for the sons of perdition. Under that system, virtually everyone receives one of the heavenly kingdoms.
- The closing verdict: "These are substantial doctrinal differences. Don't evaluate a religious claim simply by asking whether someone uses Christian language… The goal should not be hostility, but grace and truth, pointing them to the rest and assurance found in trusting Christ alone and to the authority of God's word."
Exhibit BFrom the Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
“‘You are My witnesses,’ says the LORD, ‘And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.’”
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Video by Answers in Genesis
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ClassifiedFull Briefing
"I'm a Christian. I believe the Bible. I believe in Jesus." When a Latter-day Saint says this, do we mean the same thing? Answers in Genesis opens the file on five key doctrines and lets the Word of God weigh the evidence, with grace and truth.
A friendly Latter-day Saint says, "I'm a Christian. I believe the Bible. I believe in Jesus." Many believers don't know how to respond. In this video, Answers in Genesis sets historic Christianity beside LDS teaching on five points: the authority of Scripture, the nature of God and man, the identity of Jesus, how we are saved, and where we spend eternity. The words sound alike, but the meanings are very different: another scripture, a God who was once a man, a Jesus who is the spirit brother of Lucifer, salvation by works and ordinances, and three heavenly kingdoms. The answer isn't hostility. It is grace and truth: ask "Who is Jesus?", open the Word, and point our neighbors to the rest and assurance found in trusting Christ alone.