Posted on 06/01/2007 6:12:31 AM PDT by pby
Edited on 06/01/2007 6:55:53 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Is Mormonism Christian?
A Comparison of Mormonism and Historic Christianity Copyright © 1999 Institute for Religious Research. All rights reserved.
Is Mormonism Christian? This may seem like a puzzling question to many Mormons as well as to some Christians. Mormons will note that they include the Bible among the four books which they recognize as Scripture, and that belief in Jesus Christ is central to their faith, as evidenced by their official name, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Furthermore, many Christians have heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing Christian hymns and are favorably impressed with the Mormon commitment to high moral standards and strong families. Doesn’t it follow that Mormonism is Christian?
[snip]
Why the vitriolic attack on the Mormons, folks?
What is it about them that gets the bile flowing as opposed to, say, the JWs or the Unitarians? Come on, get a grip. This thread is much nastier than many of the ones dedicated to Catholic bashing. This is not worthy of this site.
When a Jehovah’s Witness or Unitarian runs for President, those two might earn some scrutiny as well.
Joseph Smith
"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I" (D.H C., vol. 6, p. 408-409).
Brigham Young
"I say, rather than the apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath my Bowie knife, and conquer or die. [Great commotion in the congregation, and a simultaneous burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration.] Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment will be put on the line ... If you say it is right, raise your hands [All hands up], let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p. 83)
"I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins ... This is loving our neighbor as ourselves, if he needs help, help him, and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, p. 220). [Many were killed under what is called the "Blood Atonement Doctrine" Leaving Mormonism was one of the sins that the blood of Jesus could not atone for, and a person's own blood must be shed by Mormon priests as an atonement for sin.]
"I intend to meet them on their own grounds. ... and if any miserable scoundrel comes here, cut their throats." [And they obeyed; a wagon train of innocent men, women, and children were massacred at Mountain Meadows under the orders of Brigham Young. They were passing through Utah, and Brigham thought they were from Illinois where Joseph Smith had been killed. Many more were "atoned."]
GHW is NOT a Methodist....Presby I think.
I do not support Mormonism.
What’s the golden salamander?
I reject Gnosticism as well.
You really believe that you per Joseph Smith has KNOWLEDGE about Jesus that we don’t have? What would that be that you just learned inthe 1800’s?
If you have seen the recent barrage of Mormon ads on television, you have your answer about what Mormons consider themselves.
They don’t consider themselves Christian, but a special club that has the answers to all of life’s questions.
More than that, they believe “the truth about life’s great questions is now restored.”
Ooops...if you are a member of any other church, you don’t have the truth. The Mormon church is restoring it for you.
That is what the Mormons teach.
They don’t believe they are Christian, and considering their apostate beliefs, neither do I.
As every blasted advertisement on tv now is saying, the Mormon church is restoring the truth.
If you have the truth, by implication, everyone else does not.
If everyone else does not, they are not Christian. Only you are.
Apparently a golden salamander was involved in leading Joseph Smith to the discovery of the golden tablets.
Ah ha.
So, you believe that to be saved, you must be baptized.
You admitted it right here.
That is apostate and heresy. That is not Christian.
Face it, Mormonism is works righteousness.
It trusts not in the grace of God.
In the early 1980's an obscure book dealer in Salt Lake City named Mark Hofmann began unearthing a series of previously unknown documents relating to the early history of Mormonism. Most troublesome among these was a letter purportedly written in 1830 by one of Joseph's first disciples. Brimming with references to treasures and enchantments, the letter related how Joseph Smith actually obtained the Book of Mormon not from an angel, but from a magical white salamander which transfigured itself into a spirit. When disclosed publicly in 1985, the "Salamander letter"--as it became known--received prominent discussion in the national media, and stimulated intense new activity in circles studying early Mormonism.
Unsettled by the damaging publicity brought by the letter, Mormon church authorities began negotiating with Hofmann to purchase and sequester other "newly discovered" materials, particularly any that might impugn orthodox versions of their history. These secret and highly irregular dealings tragically unraveled after a Mormon historian involved with the documents was the victim of a brutal bomb murder. Complex forensic investigations revolving around the murder eventually revealed the "Salamander letter" and several companion documents to be bogus--the pathologically intuitive creations of Hofmann, a master forger turned killer. 4
By then, however, several historians already had undertaken detailed reevaluations of Smith, focusing careful attention towards any overlooked associations he might have had with things magical. Ironically, investigators soon brought to the surface a wealth of unquestionably genuine historical evidence--much of it long available but either misunderstood, suppressed, or ignored--substantiating that Smith and his early followers had multiple involvements with magic, irregular Freemasonry, and traditions generally termed occult.
Logo is parsing words. He says to be saved, you must be baptized, but to be Christian, belief is okay.
He is a tricky snake, but what he is saying is that you must be baptized in order to go to heaven and truly be saved.
I know next to nothing about Mormonism, but what I DO know is that it’s made up of nice, vanilla people (Reid is just vanilla), but it is a FAUX RELIGION.
Exactly....they consider some things that real Christians do of the devil.
That is why they are cheerfully parsing their feel-good advertisements that have recently started running on television that beat around the bush but do admit that they believe Mormons are “restoring” the truth.
Mark, when the Mormons have television advertisements saying only they are “restoring” the truth, I tend to get a bit pissed off at their heresy.
It makes me angry when they tell me my faith is deficient.
The proper names of members is Latter Day Saints!
You as well as many others choose to call us Mormons etc.
LDS are also council not contend so all I can do is tell you what proper name beyond that the ball in your court to be courteous or indifferent!
It seems you choose to be indifferent
I remember TV commercials in the past where it would say brought to you by the Church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints The Mormons.
That is so the listener is fully informed of the aka of the what the media chooses to calls us.
Pe 4:16 but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.
I was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and I took upon the name of Jesus Christ NOT Mormon!
1 Cor. 1:
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
• • •
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
D&C 49:
13 Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the holy commandment, for the remission of sins;
D&C 59:
5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
D&C 88:
133 Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.
Quit joking....I was asking a SERIOUS question.
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