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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The Mormon religion (Mormonism), whose followers are known as Mormons and Latter-day Saints (LDS), was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ (Articles of Faith, p. 35) who told him that all churches and their creeds were an abomination (1 Nephi 13:28; Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith - History 1:18, 19). Joseph Smith then set out to 'restore true Christianity' and claimed his church to be the "only true church on earth" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 670; 1 Nephi 14:10). The problem with Mormonism is that it contradicts, modifies, and expands on the Bible. Christians have no reason to believe that the Bible is not true and adequate. To truly believe in and trust God means to believe in His Word, and all Scripture is inspired by God, which means it comes from Him (2 Timothy 3:16).
Mormons believe that there are in fact four sources of divinely inspired words, not just one: 1) the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly" (8th Article of Faith). Which verses are considered incorrectly translated is not always made clear. 2) The Book of Mormon, which was "translated" by Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the "most correct book" on earth and that a person can get closer to God by following its precepts "than by any other book" (History of the Church 4:461). 3) Doctrine and Covenants, containing a collection of modern revelations regarding the "Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored." 4) The Pearl of Great Price, which is considered by Mormons to "clarify" doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible (Articles of Faith, p. 182-185) and adds its own information about the earth's creation.
Mormons believe the following about God: He has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321) but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345). They believe God the Father has a "body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ-although this teaching has been abandoned by modern Mormon leaders.
In contrast, Christians know this about God: there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6-8). He always has existed and always will exist (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17). He was not created but is the Creator (Genesis 1; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 37:16). He is perfect, and no one else is equal to Him (Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25). God the Father is not a man, nor was He ever (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9). He is Spirit (John 4:24), and Spirit is not made of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).
Mormons believe that there are different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness (Mormon Doctrine, p. 348). Where mankind will end up depends on what they believe and do in this life (2 Nephi 25:23; Articles of Faith, p.79).
In contrast, the Bible tells us that after death we go to heaven or hell based on whether or not we had faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. To be absent from our bodies means, as believers, we are with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Unbelievers are sent to hell or the place of the dead (Luke 16:22-23). When Jesus comes the second time, we will receive resurrected, glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). There will be a new heaven and new earth for believers (Revelation 21:1), and unbelievers will be thrown into an everlasting lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). There is no second chance for redemption after death (Hebrews 9:27).
Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus' incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115; Mormon Doctrine, p. 547). Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but that any human can also become a god (Doctrine and Covenants 132:20; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-354). Mormonism teaches that salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697).
Contrary to this, Christians historically have taught that no one can achieve the status of God-only He is holy (1 Samuel 2:2). We can only be made holy in God's sight through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2). Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), is the only one ever to have lived a sinless life, and now has the highest place of honor in heaven (Hebrews 7:26). Jesus and God are one in essence, Jesus being the only man who existed before physical birth (John 1:1-8; 8:56). Jesus gave Himself to us as a sacrifice, God raised Him from the dead, and one day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6-11). Jesus tells us it is impossible to get to heaven by our own works and that only by faith in Him is it possible (Matthew 19:26). We all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God's infinite love and grace have allowed us a way out. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Clearly, there is only one way to receive salvation and that is to know God and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3). Receiving salvation is not done by works but by faith (Romans 1:17; 3:28). We can receive this gift no matter who we are or what we have done (Romans 3:22). "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Although Mormons are usually friendly, loving, and kind people, they are deceived by a false religion that distorts the nature of God, the Person of Jesus Christ, and the means of salvation.
(Editor's note: many of the references in our articles on Mormonism are Mormon publications, such as Mormon Doctrine, Articles of Faith, Doctrines of Salvation, History of the Church, Doctrine and Covenants, and so forth. Others are from the Book of Mormon itself, e.g., books such as 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, and Alma.)
See http://www.gotquestions.org/Mormons.html
Seth Freeman
The quickest and most efficient way to immediately tell if a group, such as the Mormons are a cult is to look at their treatment of Jesus. Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. As a result, Satan will always attack our beliefs about Jesus. While a mystery, Scripture is clear that Jesus is God. Jesus had both a human nature and a Divine nature. The quickest and easiest way to see if a group should be classified as a cult is to ask them if they believe that Jesus is God. The moment a group denies the Divinity of Christ, you know you have a problem, probably a cult. Satan is the master manipulator. So with Mormonism, you can see how it seems to be very similar to Christianity, but when you actually take the time to examine their core theological beliefs, you'll find dozens upon dozens of heretical beliefs.
Emo Tenorio
In my humble opinion Mormonism is indeed a cult, abet with very nice manners, built on works and a rejection of our Lord's completed work on the Cross. The core weakness of their false doctrine is the insecurity and fear of not being worthy to make their cosmic cut and thus suffer outer darkness. The variants of Mormonism would require much verbiage to explain the different precepts of each one, but all have common threads in the books of Galatians and Jude. Consider that no archaeologist has ever found any object to prove the book of Mormon, no cities have ever been located no scriptures or inscriptions, no person, place, name, artifacts or nation. Nothing to demonstrate that the book of Mormon is anything other than myth or invention has ever been found, we have only the testimony of one very colorful Joe Smith! In the Lord's freedom and light.........warrior on
Chris Bray
To cover all that Mormons believe would take an in depth study, but there is an easy way to answer the question based on scripture. The bible tells us Jesus is the only way by which we may inherit eternal life. Act 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Mormons would disagree with this verse because they believe without Joseph Smith, the founder of the religion, there would be no true Christianity. They believe Christianity became corrupted in the early centuries and the true faith was lost. It was restored through Joseph Smith. Logically speaking, this would make salvation possible only through Joseph Smith, another name under heaven by which men can be saved...the Mormon will deny this claiming they too believe Jesus died for our sins, but the fact is if true Christianity was corrupted, and needed to be restored and that restoration came by Joseph Smith, then Jesus is no longer the central figure in salvation, Joseph Smith is. This is a brief, to the point answer to demonstrate how the Mormon belief system rules them out from being Christians. There are many other strange teachings they uphold too you can read about in books you can check out at the library. Many of these books are written by former Mormons who are now true Christians.
Ron Ray
Yes, Mormonism or more properly "The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints" is a cult. The other offshoots of Mormonism are also cults. This would include the Fundamentalist LDS and the warmer fuzzier RLDS. This religion changes the nature of Jesus Christ, claims that Satan was his brother, claims that God the Father was once a man who was elevated to God status by His Heavenly Father, claims that God has a wife, claims that we are all of God's spirit children as products of He and His wife, claims the Bible is fallible, claims that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on earth, claims that through elevation in the Mormon church and being deemed worthy is the true path to the highest heaven, claims through Brigham Young that humans lived on the moon and on the sun, does not allow their faith to be tested and shuns anyone who speaks in contradiction to their beliefs. A living Mormon also believes that they can be baptized for someone else and through that act baptize that person into heaven. Ironically, the Mormon religion was started by a con man (Joseph Smith) who was convicted of money digging (fraudulent scams) in New York. Smith only declared that all other Christian denominations were abhorrent after he had been refused admission to every single one. Smith was known to be a sexual deviate who preferred young girls and openly practiced polygamy. His deviant practices got him and his clan driven out of New York and Ohio. Eventually Part of Smith's clan broke off and started their own faction. The succeeding series of events eventually led to a gun battle in which Smith and his brother were killed in a gun fight at the hands of former followers.
Bruce Lyon
Yes Mormonism is a cult. They believe that they will all become as God, equal to Him able to create their own worlds, universe or what ever just as God has done.
Andy Mangus
Yes, it is a cult! In fact, it is one of or the best modern day examples of "man-made religions" that God warns us about in The Old Testament and New Testament. Man made religions all stem from man being tempted to be, do, listen, notice, participate-in, or strive to learn about a "god" from none other than SATAN himself via his countless forms of deception which (we ALL KNOW...began in The GARDEN OF EDEN...! And, THE ONE AND ONLY WORD OF GOD IS given to us via ONLY ONE book, which includes 2 parts: THE OLD TESTAMENT and THE NEW TESTAMENT. (i.e. ***Even a small child before being able to read can easily understand these very simple truths. Take me for my best example: I was understanding at Sunday morning and evening worship services a lot of what my Sunday school teacher was explaining, teaching, etc.-and- the preacher in the church sanctuary which was after Sunday school class.) These very early in life "God's teachings, lessons, principles, guidance, etc., were ingrained in my earliest memories due to the fact that my parents went to church every single Sunday morning and evenings unless major bad weather, sickness, etc,. Virtually nothing prevented my parents from taking my older brothers and I to church services. ((i.e. my mother was breast feeding me in the babies nursery room behind one way glass and with speakers to hear the worship singing when I was 4 1/2 weeks old!). So, from the earliest mental images and memories I can recall numerous testimonies, baptism's, etc. These included my grandfather preaching on 15-25 occasions and any number of Sunday church services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Broken Bow, Oklahoma in which he was the preacher. And, there were summer time revival services as well. ***For me, to be blessed by the fact that I was born and raised in a very strict Christian home is to me --as I look back into my earliest memories--the pinnacle of any of life's blessings I have received! ***The night of my receiving JESUS CHRIST, as my personal Lord and Savior: in 1979; is the precise pinnacle moment that my life changed for all eternity and the single most definitive understanding of *WHAT THE TRUE meaning of what JOHN 3:16 meant for MY eternal LIFE"! "Praise GOD that HE provided a SAVIOR"! And, HIS name is JESUS CHRIST! -Andy-
David Huffman
Yes it is a cult. I find the most significant proof text in scripture that lays out the exclusivity of Christianity is in Galatians. Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— Gal 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Though it may sound noble to some that Joseph Smith was correcting corruption from early church power mongers, the faith, the truth, were never lost as they were preserved in scripture. Church history is replete with reformers from the 1500's, much earlier than Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith's version of Mormonism, the original, is quite perverse. The practice of polygamy and bigamy were a staple of his behavior. It is a requirement even today that the young men go on two year missionary trips. In Joseph Smiths' day he took it upon himself to visit the wives who were out on apostolic trips. What a thoughtful man. We ought to keep in mind that these are a deceived people. Their theology is inconsistent and incoherent. While the name Jesus Christ is a part of their banner there beliefs about who he is are contrary to scriptural description of Him. They are a lost people in need of salvation and compassion. So while this question may ultimately be about what is truth (remember Pilate), there can be no doubt that we are commissioned to give them the truth in love. There are significant similarities in the three big religions considered by Christians to be cults. They all have single leaders who claim to have received special angelic instruction and special writings all indicating the "true" understanding. Charles Russell Tayes founded Jehovah's Witnesses, Joseph Smith, and Muhammed the founder of Islam, What did Paul write? Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. If their claims were true it means that by apostolic authority Paul has cursed the Mormon created angel Moroni, and I think Muhammed and Tayes credited Gabriel. In any case, if accurate, those angels are then anathema (cursed). And so then are those who fall under that leadership, they are cursed and without redemption. Beware, you who think all religions are just a variation of the truth. Only one can be true.
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