I think you guys have a screwy idea of what it means to be a Christian. If a Mormon is Saved by Grace through Jesus Christ, they are a Christian. Just because the church has some wacky beliefs doesn’t mean every member walks in locked step with that belief. A quick perusal of Anti-Mormon sites shows that a lot of members don’t exactly toe the line even though they still attend church.
Ya’ll starting to get that Pharisee thing down to a science.
Galatians 1: 6-9
No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Just one of many warnings in the Bible. You should "peruse" it some time.
Mormon is as Mormon does.
If a Mormon is Saved by Grace through Jesus Christ, they are a Christian.
Oh, I see. So you scratch out 1 Corinthians 2:14 regarding the Paraclete as being the only key to understanding the Gospel. And since the Paraclete is the one that leads a person to knowledge of our LORD, you must also categorically reject 1 Cor 14:23 where God is not the author of confusion concerning Truth.
Ya’ll starting to get that Pharisee thing down to a science.
In Acts 23:6 and 26:5 Paul admits to being a strict Pharisee so in view of that I suppose you also reject Galatians 3 where Paul says there is only one Gospel taught by the Spirit - because Paul was a Pharisee.
(sigh)
Well...just guestimating now...
* 20% of Mormons are temple Mormons. Only the Lord knows their heart, but I'd be surprised if this group would be primarily focusing on "grace."
* At the other end are (who knows 20%?) jack Mormons. Inactive Mormons who have enough trouble id'ing as "Mormon" -- let alone any other religious adherence.
* Another 20% are kids & teens. Their parents, seminary teachers, & Boy Scout leaders have them zeroed in upon merit badges in both scouting and in life.
* What does that leave? Perhaps 40% in the middle?
Well, what about this group? While indeed I have the greatest hope for this group, unfortunately, most of them who give ongoing "testimonies" don't tend to "testify" to knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent -- what Jesus Himself defined as "eternal life." (John 17:3)
(But hey, let me know when you find Mormon "testimonies" that are openly throwing their leaders under the bus re: countering the # of gods their leaders have emphasized)
But aside from the sheer guesswork of numbers -- which I concede is what I just offered...sheer guesswork...the key is actually in the phrase I highlighted in your statement: "Saved [present or past tense] by grace."
For one, Mormons are so engrained to think that works trump grace -- or that grace won't kick in until YOU've done everything [see 2 Nephi 25:23 in Book of Mormon]. The problem with that Biblically -- per Paul -- is that a works orientation nullifies God's grace (see Romans 11:5-6)...If works were possible to "set us apart," then guess what? (Christ died needlessly...see Gal. 2:21).
But even worse -- and this is true for a lot of pew-sitters in Christian churches...not just Mormons...too many people think of "salvation" as only future tense. Hence, Mormons (and way too many "Christians") think of "saved" as only some future threshold to cross.
So even by THEIR own "self-application," saved -- present/past tense -- makes no sense to them. It's not even a claim they are asking to have applied to them.
The key to turning that around for people...
...outside the Christian Church,
...people inside the Christian church,
...and people in the cults would be to take what Jesus says to heart...and just believe Him at face value:
* 36 Whoever believes in the Son HAS eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. (John 3:36)
* 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me HAS eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
* 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes HAS eternal life. (John 6:47)
* 3 Now this is eternal life: that they KNOW YOU, the ONLY true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
* See also 1 John 5:9-13
Unless you have Mormons -- and many members of Christian churches -- embrace these passages and believe in a present-tense relationship with the ONLY God and Jesus Christ...then eternal life tends to remain a future foggy mystery for too many.
They deny the very primary teaching of Jesus about what eternal life is: A relationship with Him that is so HIM oriented that it actually qualifies to be called salvific this side of the veil.
ALL who take this to heart: Pray with me: "Lord, knowing You IS eternal life. I believe You grant salvation to me as a free gift...NOW...I trust You. I trust and rely upon Your righteousness (Phil. 3:9; 1 Cor. 1:30) as inserted on my behalf; your blood shed to cover my sin. I am forgiven now by Your grace and mercy, not by what I have spiritually earned or accumulated. I take You at Your Word (John 11:25; 1 John 5:13). Work through me as a result of this present-tense salvation You are giving me. Help me not to see my works as a cause of my salvation. Thank You, Oh, Ultimate Lord!"