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Do you know of a “fair and balanced” website that explains Mormonism? I always thought they were Christian, but I’ve had friends-—mostly Baptist-—saying they’re not and I want to get to the bottom of it.

I recommend you start with Mormonism Research Ministry. Their executive director, Bill McKeever, is a Christian pastor who has ministered to Mormons for more than 30 years. They have a wealth of information on their website including articles explaining Mormon beliefs. Be sure to also check out their multimedia section and their links.

Do you know of a “fair and balanced” website that explains Mormonism?

If you want to know what Mormon's believe, ask one. :)

Churches who believe in the Nicene Creed don't consider Mormons as Christians. The Nicene Creed was defined by Councils in Nicaea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381), Ephesus (A.D. 431), and Chalcedon (A.D. 451).

The differences between the god defined by the Nicene Creed and the Mormon understanding were discussed by Mormon leaders in their October 2007 conference. You can read their teachings directly here (all links open in a new window):

The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent, by LDS Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland: HTML Text, MP3 Audio, or WMV Video.
The Stone Cut Out of the Mountain, by LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley: HTML Text, MP3 Audio, or WMV Video.

Other formats and languages and other LDS General Conference talks are available here.

There will be many who will share their opinions about LDS doctrine from a non-LDS (or anti-LDS) perspective. If you have questions about Mormon beliefs, Mormon.org offers the ability to research or ask a Mormon directly about their beliefs by email or anonymous online chat.

BTW, My current preference is #1: Hunter, #2: Thompson, #3: Romney. I have no interest in the rest.

“Do you know of a “fair and balanced” website that explains Mormonism?”

Mormonism Research Ministry is anything but fair and balanced. There are official websites like mormon.org and lds.org. There you can read over our Sunday School lesson manuals and our scriptures and conference reports and nearly 40 years of church published magazines. You can go there and see what Mormons teach for yourself then make up your own mind.

There are also unofficial pro-Mormon sites, and other sites who make it their mission to attack Mormonism. I have never seen an anti-Mormon website that I would consider fair and accurate in it’s portrayal of our faith.

“I always thought they were Christian, but I’ve had friends-—mostly Baptist-—saying they’re not and I want to get to the bottom of it.”

First you will have to define what a Christian is. If you go by what the dictionary says, Mormons are Christians. We accept the Bible as scripture, we believe Christ is the Son of God and the Savior. That alone justifies our claim as being Christians by definition.

Those who call us non-Christians claim that to be a Christian requires accepting the Trinity and other elements of orthodox Christian theology. The dictionary puts no such requirement for orthodoxy on the definition. We claim those parts of orthodox Christianity that we reject were invented by men after the apostolic age and were not part of original Christianity.

The most accurate thing to say is that Mormons are Christians, but not part of orthodox Christianity.

Do you know of a “fair and balanced” website that explains Mormonism?

(Depends on who you ask ;^)

There are one's with really good info that the LDS members just HATE if you read and believe them.

You can get a glimpse of SOME of what they beleive on their official website: LDS.ORG

Your best bet is to hang in these threads and watch the exchange of facts and spin.