Questions: Are Mormons Christians

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Questions at a Recent Public Meeting

Questions about Church members Recently, one unit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a public information session entitled "Are Mormons Christians?" Many members and non-members attended, including clergy from other denominations. Written questions were taken from the audience, and answered extemporaneously. These questions are reproduced below by the kind permission of those who held the fireside. FAIR volunteers have here suggested some answers to these questions—many of which are commonly asked—and then provided links to further material for interested members and non-members who wish to learn more about these issues. Question: If Mormons believe their church is the only true church on earth, wouldn’t it be more important to define the differences in Mormonism and not be so concerned with whether others consider you Christian or not? Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that their first and most important duty is to testify of Christ. They have each made a covenant to "stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places that [they] may be in, even unto death, that [they] may be redeemed of God and be numbered with those of the first resurrection" (Mosiah 18꞉9). Therefore, Latter-day Saints consider themselves honor-bound to rebut the common claim that they are not Christians. Furthermore, Latter-day Saints do not wish for those who hear them to abandon the knowledge and faith in Christ which they already possess. Rather, they hope only to add to what non-members already believed about Jesus. It would be counterproductive, then, to focus on differences without first making clear the great truth that Latter-day Saints believe with the rest of the Christian world—that Jesus was the Son of God, that he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, and was resurrected the third day to reign in glory forever and ever. Question: What must a Mormon do to attain eternal life forever with God? Eternal life is a gift from God. He promises us this gift if we enter into a keep a covenant with Christ. This covenant is made through faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As part of the covenant, members promise to serve God and Christ and to walk in newness of life through the grace of God. Question: In Mormonism, is it believed that Jesus is God’s only Son? Because it has been stated that all people are literal spirit children of God, yet in John 3꞉16 it states that “God sent His only son...." Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of the Father. This means that only he has God as the father of his physical, mortal body. To be a spirit child of God is an entirely separate matter. Isaiah 44:6, 8 says: “I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” “Is there a god beside me? Yes, there is no god; I know not any.” The LDS Church does not believe God is the first or the last and believes there are a host of other gods. How do you answer scripture on this point? Teachings of Joseph Smith, p. 370 --- Joseph Smith teaches multiple gods. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577 --- “As each of these persons is a God, it is evident from this standpoint alone that a plurality of Gods exists.” How does this compare with Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalms 90:2, Isaiah 43:10? ANSWER HERE Do You Have Questions? If you have questions about anything you read on this page, we encourage you to ask. FAIR is a volunteer organization, and our members are glad to answer questions. You can ask by using our handy contact page. You will get one or more answers, via e-mail, usually within a short time after asking. Click here to receive our free monthly e-mail newsletter for defenders of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can unsubscribe at any time.