I seem to remember something about a broken and contrite spirit being a desirable sacrifice before the Lord. There is so much that we have in common - the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, first of all.
I am aghast at the contention here. Why? Isn’t this America where we are free to believe as our consciences dictate?
From the LDS hymn book, “Again, Our Dear Redeeming Lord”:
“Again, our dear redeeming Lord,
We meet in thy beloved name,
While from the fountains of thy love
Thy Spirit kindles like a flame.
For all the anguish of thy soul,
For thy great gift so full and free,
With grateful hearts all penitent,
Dear Lord, we do remember thee.
In token of thy bleeding flesh
And of thy blood so freely spent,
. . . .
We seek thy pardon, dearest Lord,
And may thy favor, too, be sent,
While in our hearts we turn to thee,
Renewed in faith and covenant.”
End of song. This is Saundra typing now. When it comes to our sacred beloved Savior, and what He did for us, His Atoning Sacrifice, it seems we should try to be a little more serious. He died for us all and He is no respecter of persons. (He died for Mormons, too.)
This is America and you are free to do as your conscience dictates. But your definition of Jesus and mine are diametrically opposed, and you understate mormonism. You bring the 'milk' of mormonism, hiding the 'meat'.
1. Mormons believe that their church is "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" (D&C 1:30), the only organization authorized by the Almighty to preach his gospel and administer the ordinances of salvation, the only Church which has power to save" (Mormon Doctrine; 1977 ed, p. 136).
2. "Mormons believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."
3. Brigham Young emphasized that accepting Joseph Smith as God's prophet was necessary for one to have eternal life:
. . . I am an Apostle of Joseph Smith. . . . all who reject my testimony will go to hell, so sure as there is one, no matter whether it be hot or cold . . . (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 212).
. . . no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. . . . Every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are . . . I cannot go there without his consent. . . . He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289).
These three points alone tell me we don't share the same Jesus. The apostle Paul made it very clear about people like Joe Smith:
Galatians 1:6-9: 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Paul also warned us about working our way to heaven
Eph 2:8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not of works, that no man should glory.
Finally, Jesus said He was the decider, not Joe Smith:
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
My Jesus is God the Son, Second Person of the Trinity, one in substance and nature with the Father and the Spirit - One God. The Jesus of mormonism is part of a committee of gods among even more gods. That is called polytheism. We have nothing in common - both by the very words of mormonism, as well as by your definition of Jesus incompatibility with that of true Christianity.