Mormons And Christians Are Not The Same

Mormons and Christians have an uncertain relationship. Members of the Mormon faith identify themselves as Christians while many Christians flat out reject that claim. Meanwhile, a great deal of believers support the idea of Mormons and Christians being like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ. I’m here to set the record straight. When it comes to matters of faith, Mormons and Christians are not the same. Not even a little bit.

A Brief Look At Mormon History

The Mormon Church, officially called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), has a long and complicated history. I highly recommend you check out some literature or documentaries on LDS history. It is incredibly interesting, and it will almost certainly arm you with knowledge you need to rebut anyone’s argument for the validity of Mormonism.

An American Prophet

Joseph Smith is the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was born in Vermont in 1805. As a teenager, Smith claimed that God and Jesus appeared to him in a vision and told him not to join any Christian denominations. An angel named Moroni visited him three years later and informed him that he would translate the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon was written around the 4th century, according to Moroni. This book was written on gold plates and hidden in New York, conveniently near Joseph Smith’s residence.

Although Smith knew about the plates in 1823, he didn’t get them until 1827. The Book of Mormon was translated and ready for publication in 1830.

A New Leader

Joseph Smith’s new religion took hold and grew quickly. Mormon communities popped up in Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio. Despite Mormonism’s growing in popularity, Mormons experienced a significant amount of persecution. Tragedy struck the LDS Church when Joseph Smith and his brother were murdered on June 27, 1844 in Carthage, Illinois.

A divide followed Smith’s death, but eventually Brigham Young became the official successor of John Smith. Young led approximately 16,000 Mormons to Utah in search of religious freedom. He founded Salt Lake City and was the first governor of the Utah Territory.

Today, the school Young founded in 1875, Brigham Young University, is successfully running in Provo, Utah. Young’s pilgrimage to Utah, his political and religious leadership, and his school have made Mormons an influential and politically powerful group in the Western United States.

Christians And Mormons: What’s The Difference?

I’m not going to tip-toe around the point today. Christians and Mormons, though both claim Jesus Christ, are not the same faith. Mormonism takes some Christian words and ideas, and then the LDS Church twists them into a completely unbiblical faith that is unworthy of having any association with Christianity.

Let’s get into it.

1. God

The LDS Church teaches that our world has one God, but there are many more Gods across worlds and universes. The God of Earth is known as the Heavenly Father. He is not one with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Instead, they are three separate gods.

Mormons believe God has limited power and is restricted by his human characteristics. Why? Well, he was human once, too, and He worked His way to being God. With that in mind, it becomes clear through Mormon teaching that God can’t be omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. Additionally, he could not have created the world from nothing.

The Truth

Essentially, Mormonism couldn’t be more wrong about God. He created the world (Genesis 1:1). Therefore, He absolutely could not have ever been human. We see the account of God creating humans in Genesis 1 and 2. Not to mention Scripture is filled with references to the trinity (Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 48:16; John 10:30). That is to say, the God of the Bible is one God in three persons. But there is only one God.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

1 Timothy 2:5

2. Jesus

Prepare yourself, Christian, for the utter blasphemy ahead. Mormons are taught that Jesus is the literal son of the Father. So, Jesus is not, according to the LDS Church, equal with the Father. Rather, Jesus worked His way into being a god before coming to Earth.

Mormons believe Jesus is our Savior, but that salvation was solely for our bodily resurrection. His sacrifice on the cross wasn’t sufficient to spiritually save us. WHAT?

Like many people, believers and unbelievers alike, Mormons view Jesus as a good example for us to follow. However, they put a lot of emphasis on emulating Christ in order to be saved. Here is a reference from the Book of Mormon.

“And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.” (emphasis mine)

2 Nephi 31:16 (The Book of Mormon)

The Truth

Christians and Mormons couldn’t be further apart with regard to how they view Jesus. Christians know that Jesus is God. We can see support for that truth in the verses that I already shared to discuss the Trinity.

Also, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was not a partially complete work. He was the perfect lamb that ended the need for sacrificial offerings and began a new covenant with us.

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

John 17:4

Finally, Jesus is not the literal son of God the Father. Jesus is not a creation; He always was.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

John 1:1-3

3. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit in Mormon theology help Mormons make good choices. His work is known as a “burning in the bosom.” Essentially, that refers to a feeling of peace and assurance for the individual regarding her own actions. The Holy Spirit, however, does not offer this help to every Mormon equally. She must prove herself worthy to have Him be her special messenger.

The Truth

Again, we see a significant divergence from what the Bible tells us about the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is not some extra bit of spirituality you receive if you’ve been a good girl. That’s how Santa Claus operates…

The Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer as a promise to us. He is a guarantee that we will be with the Lord one day. The help He provides through things like conviction and discernment are not just for “worthy” Christians. He is a Helper to us all.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:13-14

4. Sin and Sin Nature

The LDS Church teaches that people are born without sin. We all begin as spirits in the “pre-existence.” It is in this realm of being that we mature before coming to Earth. However, we do become sinful once we commit sinful acts. These sins must have forethought and be deliberate.

In fact, Mormons believe that men and women are born with a natural propensity to do good. I’m guessing no Mormon has ever watched the news, read a newspaper, or been to a Walmart.

Who We Sin Against

Personally, when I think about sin, I think about hurting other people. I think about displeasing God. Conversely, Mormon teaching claims sin is primarily against ourselves.

The Fall of Man

One last teaching on sin I’d like to address is the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. According to the LDS Church, Adam and Eve’s fall was part of God’s plan to bless us. Because Adam sinned (as God had designed), we now have the ability to choose between good and evil. The human race can have babies because of the Fall, and we get eternal life out of the deal.

The Truth

Christians and Mormons may both talk about sin, and even dislike it, but they are not even on the same page! The Bible makes it clear that we are born with sin (Romans 5:12). Not just that, but we also lean toward sin in our flesh. We are not “good” people who sometimes make sinful choices.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

Romans 3:10

When we sin, yes, we hurt ourselves. The severe consequences of some sinful behaviors can be the end of a marriage, bankruptcy, addiction, and death. I don’t want to minimize our experiences, but let’s keep it in a biblical perspective, shall we? Our sin is against ourselves and others, but most significantly, sin is against God.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

Psalms 51:4

As for God planning our sin for the purpose of blessing us, it makes no sense given God’s character. He cannot allow sin in His presence. His desire is for us to turn from our fleshly impulses to sin and toward righteousness. He would never set us up to sin, and He doesn’t need sin to make His plans reality. We could have babies and eternal life prior to sin. In fact, sin complicated those two things, not allowed them to come into being.

5.The Family Of God

Mormon teaching takes the idea of being God’s family very literally. Mormonism teaches that we are all God’s literal spirit children. We are the offspring of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. Not to mention, Satan and demons are His children, too. Due to their rebellion, though, they have been cast out.

The Truth

Despite what many people say, even professing Christians, all people are not children of God. We are made in His image, but we are not His child until we come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 1:12-13

The uncomfortable truth is that we are all children of the Satan until we are saved. We are in bondage to sin and serve the devil’s purposes until our salvation.

“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

1 John 3:10

6. Salvation

If you take nothing else seriously in this post, make this the part you take to heart. How we are saved is a gospel issue, and the LDS Church is not preaching the gospel of Christ.

Mormonism’s plan of salvation includes committing themselves to keeping the commandments of Mormonism. Through these commands they are trying to prove their worthiness. Mormons never know if they were worthy enough or which eternal destination they have earned. They don’t find that out until Judgment Day.

Can you see the issue here? This is a works-based salvation. Mormons have no hope for the future because they are relying on what they can do to earn a good afterlife. They live the best they can, and they plan to be judged by their works.

What about Jesus?

You might be wondering where Jesus comes into the picture. Well, He is said to “make up the difference” between what we can do and perfection. I don’t know, but it seems like you have to think a lot about yourself that you can get close enough to perfection that Jesus can just make up the difference. But that’s what Mormons are being taught!

“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

2 Nephi 25:23 (The Book of Mormon)

The Truth

Mormons don’t know the gospel. They don’t have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The LDS Church teaches a false gospel, and those who believe salvation is through works will be judged by those works. And it can only end in punishment.

We cannot save ourselves or even have any hand in our salvation. Rather, it is a free gift from God. It is 100% His work.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

The Law has its place, but thanks to Jesus, we are no longer under the Law. It is there to demonstrate our need for salvation and to prick our consciences about our sin.

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (emphasis mine)

Romans 3:19-20

Our salvation is completely out of our hands. Jesus did that work, and we can trust in Him for our spiritual needs, including salvation.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Our hope is in Christ Jesus. We can know upon salvation that we are saved and have a place with the Lord in eternity.

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

2 Corinthians 1:22

7. Our Purpose

So, what are Mormons looking for? What is their purpose in life? Mormons work to follow their commandments so that they can become perfect. The point of this is not to avoid eternal punishment (though, I’m sure everyone wants to stay away from that) or be with the Heavenly Father. The point of life for a Mormon is to become a god of her own planet. They want to be the Heavenly Father or Heavenly Mother of their own world.

Everything, it seems, is about self. Self-progress, self-improvement, and becoming worthy enough to be gods, themselves. Nothing about this sounds like Christianity.

The Truth

Christians and Mormons can agree on desiring to be better people. The reasons, however, are completely different.

Christians know that our purpose in life is to serve and glorify God. We are supposed to be witnesses to others of the great work that Christ can do in those who believe. And as we know from John 3:16, that work made his salvation available to the whole world. We want to be more Christ-like to glorify God, praise Him, and point people to salvation.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”

1 Peter 2:9

8. Repentance And Forgiveness

Two major components of the Christian faith are repentance and forgiveness. The Mormon Church would claim the same is true for them, but they look quite different in Mormonism.

Repentance

Repentance among Mormons comes in several steps. First, an individual will feel sorry for the sin. Second, she will never again commit that sin. Third, restitution will be made. Fourth, the repentant person will take any applicable punishment. Fifth, she will keep the commandments. Finally, she should forgive others.

Maybe I’m just a pessimist, but some of this seems a little…impossible. The bar for repentance is set so high that I wonder if anyone ever feels like they can possibly achieve it.

Forgiveness

The LDS Church teaches that forgiveness from God is conditional on Mormon repentance and our actions. There is a rejection of the idea of full and free forgiveness. Jesus Christ, according to Mormonism, only bought us time to pay for our sins.

A popular argument among Mormons is that forgiveness can’t be free because then people would keep sinning. This sounds like people who have so much faith in themselves and a need to control their eternal destiny that they cannot see they are in bondage to their own works-based system. There can be no freedom or forgiveness in that. That life is as fruitful as a hamster on a wheel. Work, work, work, but you get nowhere with it.

The Truth

Repentance is much simpler than Mormonism makes it out to be. We just need to change our minds about sin, turn away from it, and move toward Jesus and His ways.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

Acts 3:19

Christians and Mormons want to be forgiven, but the Bible teaching that Christians accept is nothing like Mormons believe. We are freely and fully forgiven when we are saved. The end.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Ephesians 1:7

9. Life After Death

What happens when we die? That’s the question, isn’t it? We all want to know.

Mormons believe that they can go to spirit prison or spirit paradise when they die. Where they go depends on their worthiness based on their works here on Earth. The LDS Church teaches that people can continue to work to improve their afterlife. Additionally, anyone can accept Mormonism at this point. So, dying without the Mormon faith doesn’t mean one cannot earn a spot among the Mormons.

Technically, there are four possible destinations after death: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. The last destination listed, outer darkness, is reserved for those who reject or persecute Mormonism.

Meanwhile, the celestial kingdom is when a Mormon becomes a god. At this level (sorry, but it sounds a bit like a video game) the god will populate a planet with spirit children just like the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother did.

The Truth

The Bible is clear. We will die once and then face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). There is no posthumously working our way out of eternal punishment. We are with the Lord or we are turned away to Hell. Second Corinthians says it well.

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:8

10. Authority

A major disagreement between all kind of groups that identify as Christian has to do with authority. Specifically, who has authority and who doesn’t. This could be a book chapter, so I’m going to give an overview.

The LDS Church recognizes several sources of spiritual authority.

1. A Mormon’s feelings

If a Mormon is sincere, then God will show her the truth through her feelings.

2. Mormon Scriptures

This includes the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the King James Bible.

3. Prophets and Apostles

The president of the LDS Church is a prophet. He can receive revelation from God and is considered an infallible servant of God.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second highest body of leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormonism teaches that the early church failed in not calling more apostles to replace the ones who had died.

So, this Quorum includes twelve men who are chosen to be apostles by the president of the LDS Church through inspiration. These men are to represent Jesus today and teach salvation to others.

The Truth

Jesus is our authority.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Matthew 28:18

We need no other prophets, for He is our Prophet (Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:16; Mark 6:4).

No other books are necessary because the Bible is the Word of God. It carries the authority and truth of Christ because He is the Word.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (emphasis mine)

John 1:1

Also, we don’t need new revelations from men.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

2 Timothy 3:16

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

Proverbs 30:5-6

Final Thought

I know we don’t want to hurt people’s feelings or put anyone down, so we sometimes let things go that we know aren’t right. In the case of the LDS Church, we cannot allow ourselves to lazily accept Mormonism as a Christian denomination.

I could have written volumes on the differences between Mormon beliefs and the truth of Scripture, however, I chose to focus on what I view as the essentials. Hopefully, by now it is abundantly clear that Christians and Mormons hold vastly different beliefs about nearly every spiritual topic we can come up with.

So, what is the next step? I’m not trying to harass Mormons or suggest that we aggressively confront them. Instead, would you join me in praying for them? If you know a members of the LDS Church, then would you show them kindness and also look for authentic opportunities to share the true gospel of Jesus Christ with them?

The LDS Church is teaching a false gospel that can’t possibly make people feel confident about their eternal future. And we know for certain that Mormons are trying to achieve a goal that doesn’t exist while working their way straight to Hell. Instead of accepting them as Christians, let’s tell them how they can be one for real.

Have you ever witnessed to a Mormon? Tell me about it.

Image courtesy of Michael Hart via Unsplash.