Is Mormonism Christian? A Comparison of Mormonism and Historic Christianity

Institute for Religious Research ^ | 2012

[Colofornian]

Is Mormonism Christian? This may seem like a puzzling question to ask. Mormons include the Bible among the four books they recognize as Scripture and insist that Jesus Christ is central to their faith as evidenced by their official name, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Furthermore, Mormons’ commitment to high moral standards and strong families is impressive. Doesn’t it follow that Mormonism is genuinely Christian?

The question here is not whether individual Mormons are saved (a question we cannot answer) or whether the LDS Church is “Christian” in the sense that any group that professes faith in Christ (as Mormonism does) is part of the world religion known as Christianity. Rather, we are asking whether Mormonism is an authentic form of Christianity that teaches the essential truths of the gospel. To resolve this question, we need to compare carefully the basic doctrines of Mormonism with the basic doctrines of historic, biblical Christianity. To represent the Mormon position fairly and accurately, in addition to the Mormon scriptures (Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price), we have relied on several well-known Mormon doctrinal publications currently published by the LDS Church, including its official magazine Ensign.

1. Is there more than one true God?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have always believed that only one true and living God created and rules all things and that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, though personally distinct, are one God, the Lord Jehovah (Genesis 1:1-31; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; 44:6-8, 24; Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:1; 10:30; 20:28; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 13:14).

By contrast, Mormonism teaches that many Gods made the world (Book of Abraham 4:1-31) and that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate Gods (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 41-42). It also teaches that the Father has a wife, our heavenly mother, and that we are “literally” the offspring of divine parents (Ensign, Jan. 1989).

2. Was God the Father once a man like us?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have always believed that God is Spirit (John 4:20-24; 1 Timothy 6:15, 16) and in His divine nature is not a man (Numbers 23:19; Hosea 11:9; Romans 1:22-23), and that He has always (eternally) existed as the all-powerful God (Psalm 90:2; 102:12, 25-27; Isaiah 40:28; 43:10; 1 Timothy 1:17).

By contrast, the LDS Church teaches that God the Father was once a man like us who progressed to become a God and has a body of flesh and bone (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). It affirms Joseph Smith’s teaching that God is “an exalted being” who “was once a man like us,” and Lorenzo Snow’s statement, “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be” (Gospel Principles [2009], 275, 279; Presidents of the Church Student Manual [2003], 89; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith [2011], 71).

3. Are Jesus, Satan, and all mankind spirit brothers?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have always believed that Jesus is the unique Son of God, the only human being who came down from heaven to become a man (John 3:31; 13:3; 16:28; 17:5). As God, Jesus Christ made everything, including all spiritual powers such as the angels as well as Satan, who rebelled against Him (Psalm 148:2-5; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Human beings start to exist at the beginning of their physical lives (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Job 38:4-7).

By contrast, the LDS Church teaches that Jesus Christ, humans, angels, and fallen spirits including Satan are all eternal beings that were never created and that are all spirit brothers and sisters. In particular, Christ and Lucifer (Satan) were two spirit brothers; Christ supported Heavenly Father’s plan while Lucifer did not (Doctrine and Covenants 93:21-33; Gospel Principles [2009], 9-10; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 355; “I Have a Question,” Ensign, June 1986).

4. Was Jesus literally the physical offspring of Mary and God the Father?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have always believed that the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, became a man by being conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the supernatural creative agency of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:34-35).

By contrast, the LDS Church teaches that Jesus Christ is “the Only Begotten Son of the Father in the flesh,” meaning that He was the literal “offspring” of the Father and Mary, “sired” by Heavenly Father as his only son in the flesh, so that he had two literal, physical parents—his immortal Father and his mortal mother Mary. The LDS Church denies that Jesus was “begotten” by the Holy Ghost, since it understands “begotten” literally to mean sired by a physical father (Ensign, April 1997; Ezra Taft Benson, in Ensign, Dec. 2001; Gospel Principles [2009], 53; Ensign, Dec. 2010, 8).

5. Was the fall of Adam and Eve a great blessing?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the disobedience of our first parents Adam and Eve was a great evil. Through their fall, sin entered the world, bringing all human beings under condemnation and death. Thus we are born with a sinful nature, and will be judged for the sins we commit as individuals. (Ezekiel 18:1-20; Romans 5:12-21).

By contrast, the LDS Church teaches that Adam’s sin was “a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us” (Book of Mormon—2 Nephi 2:14-26; Book of Moses 5:10-12; Preparing for Exaltation: Teacher’s Manual [1998], 13-14; Gospel Principles [2009], 29).

6. Can we make ourselves worthy of God’s forgiveness?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in God’s presence is a free gift of God on the basis of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross (John 3:16; Romans 3:21-26; 5:6-11; 6:23; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 10:12, 19; 1 John 1:9). We cannot earn or be worthy of God’s forgiveness, but must receive this gift by acknowledging our helpless, sinful state and trusting solely in Christ (Luke 24:47; John 11:25-26; Acts 2:38; 16:31; Romans 10:9-13). Those who trust in God’s grace in Christ alone for their salvation will show their faith by their good works, but those works in no sense save them (Romans 6:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26).

By contrast, Mormonism teaches that a person must become worthy in order to obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the presence of God the Father through obedience to all the commands of the LDS Church, including exclusive Mormon temple rituals. Good works and ritual ordinances are requirements for this full, individual salvation, and Christ’s atonement makes up what is lacking in a Mormon’s best efforts (Book of Mormon—2 Nephi 25:23; Articles of Faith 3; Gospel Principles [2009], 62-65, 109-112, 277-78).

7. Does the atonement assure immortality for those who reject Christ?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that Christ’s atoning death on the cross provides the complete solution for humankind’s sin problem, but that those who reject God’s grace in this life will have no part in this salvation but are under God’s judgment for eternity (John 3:18, 36; Hebrews 9:27; 10:26-27; 1 John 5:11-12).

By contrast, Mormonism teaches that the atonement assures resurrection and immortality to all people, including those who reject Christ in this life. While only faithful Mormons and those who accept the Mormon gospel in the afterlife can live in God the Father’s presence, practically everyone else will be given immortality in a heavenly kingdom of lesser glory, even those who rejected Christ in this life (Doctrine & Covenants 76; 88:16-33; Gospel Principles, 61-62, 242-44, 271-73).

8. Are there scriptures more reliable than the Bible?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the Scriptures that preserve the words of the ancient prophets and apostles and of Jesus Christ himself (contained in the Bible) are the unique, final, and infallible Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 3:15-16). God’s providential preservation of the text of the Bible was marvelously illustrated in the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

By contrast, the LDS Church teaches that the Bible has been corrupted, is missing many “plain and precious parts,” and does not contain the fullness of the gospel (Book of Mormon—1 Nephi 13:26-29; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 206; Gospel Principles [2009], 45-48). It also claims that the Book of Mormon is more accurate and reliable than the Bible (Articles of Faith 8; Book of Mormon Teacher Resource Manual [2004], 20).

9. Is the LDS Church the only true church?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the true church was divinely established by Jesus and could never and will never disappear from the earth (Matthew 16:18; 18:15-18; 28:18-20; John 15:16; 17:11; Ephesians 3:21; Jude 3). Christians acknowledge that there have been times of corruption and apostasy within the church, but believe there has always been a remnant that held fast to the biblical essentials.

By contrast, the LDS Church claims to be the only true church on earth and that all other churches are part of a great apostasy that prevailed throughout church history until Joseph Smith. It teaches that only Mormons are authorized to preach the gospel or to perform baptisms and other ordinances (Doctrine & Covenants 1:29-30; Articles of Faith 4-5; Joseph Smith—History 1:18-19; Gospel Principles, 67, 92).

10. Can humans become gods just like their Heavenly Father?

The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that God is an absolutely unique being, existing from eternity to eternity as God (Psalm 90:2; 102:25-27; Isaiah 40:18, 25; 43:10). Redeemed human beings, though they will become perfected creatures bearing God’s image and like Christ in moral and physical perfection, will not become gods or beings of the same transcendent, divine nature as the Father, Jesus the Son, or the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:44-48; Romans 8:14-29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17-21; Philippians 3:7-21; 2 Peter 1:3-7).

By contrast, the LDS Church teaches that faithful Mormons who fulfill all of their spiritual, moral, and ritual obligations can eventually attain the status of gods, beings of the same essential nature as God the Father ruling over their own worlds. “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be” (Lorenzo Snow, in Presidents of the Church: Student Manual [2004], 88, 90; Gospel Fundamentals [2001], 201; Gospel Principles [2009], 275-79; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith [2011], 71).

Conclusion

Mormons share some common beliefs and values with orthodox Christians. They believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose bodily from the grave. They are pro-life. We respect Mormons as good neighbors and good citizens. However, that respect should not keep us from recognizing the serious differences between Mormonism and historic Christianity. There are fundamental and irreconcilable differences between the two. The LDS Church’s founder, Joseph Smith, forced this issue when he claimed to be a prophet of God with new revelations that impugned the trustworthiness of the Bible, contradicted the teachings of historic Christianity, and claimed

that only the LDS Church was the true church. Jesus Christ and his apostles specifically warned us about false prophets who would claim to speak in his name but who would teach “another gospel” (Matthew 7:15-23; 2 Corinthians 11:4, 13-15; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1). As documented here, Mormonism teaches a radically different view of God, Christ, and salvation. It denies the validity of all churches except itself and all baptisms other than its own. Based on this evidence, we are convinced that Mormonism represents just such a counterfeit gospel.

Mormons are free to believe as they choose—a freedom we have no desire to infringe—and to consider themselves to be the only true Christian church. By the same token, however, those who accept the historic Christian faith taught in the Bible have the freedom and responsibility to draw a clear line between authentic Christianity and the unbiblical religion of Mormonism.

[Elsie]

if you prefer a muslim in office rather than a morman, that’s fine.

Thanks; but I 'prefer' neither one of these DECEIVED persons to actually be the Leader of the Free World.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

It’s like talking to 4-year-old: you give them a simple two-option choice, and they simply can’t conceive of a two-option option choice. The stupidity would be amusing if it weren’t so chronic.

[bobo1]

Christians died forming this nation and fighting against religious persecutions.

I believe that Catholics are wrong? what are you?

I believe that Episcopalians are wrong, along with the Reformed, many Baptists and a lot of Pentecostals. The Anglicans are silly too.

Didn’t care for Calvin or Luther in particular.

So what branch of christianity would u like to defend and explain the truths of it for me.

Do you have the true religion?

I divide religion from politics.

Sorry you would rather have a muslim in office.

Cutting and pasting scripture will not do it for me. been in too many theological debates.

Blessings, Bobo

[bobo1]

yeah, i would take Palin in a heartbeat over the obamanation.
She would have been my first choice. wish she would have run.

but, alas, there are 2 choices. It is between the obamanation and romney.

wishful thinking and reality. i would rather live in reality.

will let’s see I have a choice between hitler and calvin, o, wait, he was a killer too. think i will go with wesley, even finley. yea, mormans killed people in the past. that was 150 years ago. and there are some still practice polygamy, but that is not their position today.

Of course, some people do not FORGIVE and will hold the CHILDREN accountable for the sins of their FATHERS.

Do I think that mormanism is christianity? No.

But i THINK THAT MOST OF THEM ARE VERY MORAL PEOPLE AND LIKE MANY OF OTHER CULTS, THEY DISAGREE WITH HOMOSEXUALITY, ADULTERY, AND ALOT OF MORE NONSENSE THAT IS APPROVED BY WHAT IS CONSIDERED MAINSTREAM CHRISTIANITY.

GO AHEAD TELL ME YOU SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS BENT IF YOU DARE TO.

I am sure I can refute you without cutting and pasting

BTW, I will still vote for romney.

i do not want the fascist obama to be in office again.

if he is, i will probably thank all the religious freaks and puritans who would allow a roman emperor to crucify the common man to make some silly point.

If you would like a theological discussion, try me. Otherwise, cutting and pasting does little. I have seen that for years, and probably I have more references than you.

blessings, Bobo

[bobo1]

great, when my grandchildren are raped and killed and we become a fascist state, we can appreciate that you held your ground.

The muslims do the same thing. They want a shariah state. What particular branch of christianity would you like to be in charge?

Please, no cut and pastes.

Blessings, bobo

[bobo1]

Fine, grab a gun and overthrow the system. The tree of Liberty needs to be watered with the blood of the martyrs and tyrants.

get tired of us “christians” that refuse to do anything but whine and criticize.

you have no solution? guess what the founding fathers did!

I hear from you people that won’t vote for either and will not do anything. then you hang your head up thinking you have a better moral position than anyone else.

As far as i am concerned some of these types have done more to flush America down the toilet than the liberals. UR complacent, then u hide behind the Bible to justify yourselves. I think I probably know the Bible better than u.

What are u going to do? well i know, u will do nothing. u admit it.

U will vote for no one, will do nothing. So inform us of your righteous plan to save America?

Blessings, Bobo

[bobo1]

Give us an alternative! U said nothing.

Much like u ostrich Christians. you stick your head in the sand, have no answer, and warn everyone not to do anything.

Christ sacrificed Himself. NUFF SAID!

Blessings, Bobo

[Dagnabitt]

I'm Barack Hussein Obama and I approved this thread!

[bobo1]

thanks for avoiding the post. so i suppose it is better for a muslim to crash his plane into your house than a mormom being president.
no solutions, just criticism. throw scriptures around like u think u know what u r talking about.

What Are You Going To Do About IT?

Nothing, all talk. Like u people. U always tell me what u are not going to do, what everyone else should not do, criticize everything and have absolutely no answers.

So the solution is to stick your head in the sand and hope everything goes away.

Blessings, Bobo

[bobo1]

Ya don’t have to. let obama back in.

do nothing. sit back and watch. that’s what our founding fathers did! They just complained and said whatever will be will be.

Blessings, Bobo

[Cronos]

What are you yammering about? I agree with your point and I will vote for Romney (though I despise him) over Obama. If Palin was there, that's a different matter but we're stuck between R and O and R is the lesser evil

I despise Romney not because of his religion. In fact, for Mormons it's good it's Romney rather than another Mormon who isn't a flip-flopper. With R you can forget he's a Mormon when you despise him as he's got so many other things to despise.

But he's our candidate and more importantly, he's not as bad as Obama and has a chance to de-throne O

[bobo1]

I do not impose anything on anybody. I am a libertarian!

Then answer the Q I asked instead of ducking it: Why do I HAVE TO (your words) divide the political from the religious?

Bobo: That is pretty simple. Which religious bent would u like to place on Me? are u a catholic? Perhaps a Baptist? Perhaps a lutheran? maybe a calvinist? an episcopalian? a pentecostal? a wesleyan?

I can name a lot more.

Upon what authority do I HAVE to do that? (That was point in the 3:16 angle — getting you to convey to me by what authority you were claiming I HAD to do that)

I would personally kick every religion out that is intolerant of another, so Islam would not be allowed in the US, and I would volunteer to drive the bulldozer.

bobo: Islam is not Christianity, and was not part of the founding of this nation. now u turn around and try to defend it. I think u r rather mixed up on this point.
Believe I said a “Christian Nation”.

By your own personal standard, you’ve just booted yourself OUT of this country! Because you’re soooo intolerant you would actually bulldoze certain religions out of this country that you disagree with!

Bobo: Yep, sure would. muslims would not be here. ever read the koran?

What’s “funny” is you said the above in a paragraph that started out: Religion is a freedom that we are allowed in a Christian Nation.

(It’s rare that we have a poster who so quickly contradicts himself on these threads)

Bobo: Ah! that was silly! I said a CHRISTIAN NATION! NOT A MUSLIM NATION! can u read?

We are all allowed to have a different viewpoint of Christianity. Guess you missed it when I said “Christian Nation”.

You have refuted yourself, Bobo...you first said you want to “kick out” the intolerant religions — yet that in and of itself shows extreme intolerance...which means you need to leave this country — by your own standards.

Bobo: Nah, u missed it, I said we were a “CHRISTIAN NATION”
Not muslim, buddist or whatever. I would bulldoze down their nonsense. Go pray to mecca

Now, if you can’t — or won’t — consistently apply your own personal standards...that why are you are you trying to impose them on others...like I “HAVE TO” compartmentalize politics from religion???

Bobo: You don’t have to buddy. But like so many others that call themselves conservatives. When it gets down to brass tacks, all they can do is criticize, tell everybody not to vote and do absolutely nothing, then blame others when the vote is counted.

Where are the gonads that our founding fathers had? not here. we have our panties in a wad, mentally agree, but are too afraid to do the right thing. God, I don’t believe in a lot of things that Teddy Roosevelt did but the man did have enough gonads to back up what he believed.

I really don’t believe that there are too many that post would do that. Shucks, we find reasons not to vote for romney (bad choice but i cannot let the obamanation back in).

Blessings, bobo

[bobo1]

I actually think that in the heat of irritation and the gentle nagging of my wife and the confusion of the out of control wonderful loving grandchild, that i actually hit the wrong button and responded to the wrong person.

I hope that you will graciously accept my apology and forgive me that I was distracted.

BTW, I do agree with you

Thanks.

Blessings, Bobo

[Elsie]

It’s like talking to 4-year-old: you give them a simple two-option choice, and they simply can’t conceive of a two-option option choice. The stupidity would be amusing if it weren’t so chronic.

It’s like talking to a LIBERAL: they give you a simple two-option choice, and they simply won't accept that there are ONLY two options!

The similarity would be amusing if it weren’t so accurate.

[Elsie]

I divide religion from politics.

And, apparently, politics is your first priority.

I can accept your choice.

[Elsie]

I believe that Catholics are wrong? what are you?

 

I believe that Episcopalians are wrong, along with the Reformed, many Baptists and a lot of Pentecostals. The Anglicans are silly too.

 

 

This is the same claim that MORMONism makes!   (reply #48)

 

 

 

 

 

Every one of these DENOMINATIONS of Christianity are UNITED in asserting the MORMONism is a HERESY.

 

Do you claim that it is not?

[Elsie]

Cutting and pasting scripture will not do it for me.

Are you admitting that you do NOT read Scripture?

Or that you cannot defend your veiwpoint when shown Scripture?

(It's a simple two option choice.)

[Elsie]

(It's a simple two option choice.)

10. False Dilemma - Giving two choices when in actuality there could be more choices possible. Example: You either did knock the glass over or you did not. Which is it? (Someone else could have knocked the glass over)

Example: Do you still beat your wife?

---

I have 17 more logic fallacies waiting to post...

[Elsie]

So what branch of christianity would u like to defend and explain the truths of it for me.

So what branch of MORMONismwould u like to defend and explain the truths of it for me.

---

With the Mormons (to be precise, the members of The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - based in Salt Lake City) intent on being called “Christians” after so many years of eschewing that word, and despite the fact that there are so many fundamental theological differences between Christianity and Mormonism, I often wonder: 

How do members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints feel about calling the members of its various spin-off sects Latter-Day Saints, Christians, or Mormons? Or about those sects calling themselves Mormons or Latter-Day Saints? (There was an earlier campaign by LDS to have journalism style books use the word “Mormon” to refer only to LDS, and not RLDS, FLDS, or other LDS sects).

For a man who bragged about holding things together, Joseph Smith, Jr. doesn’t appear go have done a good job of it during his lifetime. Wycam Clark’s “Pure Church of Christ” spun off in 1831. This trend continued. There were six LDS sects spawned in the 1830s, eight in the 1840s, two in the 1850s, and seven in the 1860s.

Do those responsible for the “Mormons are Christians” campaign consider these denominations to be Mormons or Latter-Day Saints? Surely many of these denominations are much closer to mainstream LDS than LDS is to Christianity. Many stick to Smith’s teachings and old temple endowment ceremonies.

Short Creek Community
Latter Day Church of Christ
Apostolic United Brethren
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness [sic] of Times
Church of the Lamb of God
Church of the New Covenant in Christ
Confederate Nations of Israel
Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
School of the Prophets
Centennial Park
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God
True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days
The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven

Blackmore/Bountiful Community
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ
Order of Enoch
Aaronic Order
Zion’s Order, Inc.
Perfected Church of Jesus Christ of Immaculate Latter-day Saints
Church of Jesus Christ (Bullaite)
Community of Christ
Church of Jesus Christ (Toneyite)
Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches
Church of Jesus Christ Restored 1830
Church of Christ (Lion of God Ministry/Clarkite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Zion’s Branch)
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Church of Christ (Temple Lot) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Fettingite) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ at Halley’s Bluff (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Restored) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ “With the Elijah Message” (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Hancock) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Burtite) (Hendrickite)
Church of Israel (Hendrickite)
Church of Christ with the Elijah Message (The Assured Way of the Lord) (Hendrickite)
The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
True Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
Restored Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
Holy Church of Jesus Christ (Strangite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Drewite) (Strangite)
True Church of Jesus Christ Restored (Strangite)
Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Whitmerite)

Or these defunct sects:

Pure Church of Christ (Clarkite)
Independent Church (Hotonite)
Church of Christ (Boothite)
Church of Christ (Parrishite)
Alston Church
Church of Christ (Chubbyite)
Church of Jesus Christ, the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife
Church of Christ (Pageite)
True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (this one was particularly curious - started by William Law, editor of The Nauvoo Expositor, just one of many sects started in opposition to plural marriage)
The Church of Zion (Godbeite)
United Order Family of Christ
Church of the Potter Christ
Church of the Firstborn (Morrisite)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Gibsonite)
Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Most High
Church of the Christian Brotherhood
Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion (Rigdonite) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
Primative Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
Church of Christ (Aaron Smith)
Church of the Messiah (Adamsite)
Church of Christ (Wrightite)
Church of Christ (Whitmerite)
Church of Christ (Brewsterite)
The Bride, the Lamb’s Wife
Congregation of Jehovah’s Presbytery of Zion
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Gladdenite)
Independent Latter Day Saints of Nigeria
Independent Latter Day Saints of Ghana
Apostolic Divine Church of Ghana

Are members of those LDS groups “Mormons”? “Latter Day Saints?” “Christians?”

Do the folks in Salt Lake City have a problem with any of those groups, who believe in the restoration of the original church by Joseph Smith, calling themselves Mormons or Saints?

Most of these divisions in the Latter-Day Saint movement occurred over the issue of polygamy or succession of the Prophet. Sects broke off when Joseph Smith was still alive, and when Brigham Young was named prophet, because they didn’t believe in the practice of plural marriage – either publicly, or in some cases when it was practiced in private and denied in public.

Of course, there was the great split between Rocky Mountain Saints and Prairie Saints, when LDS members couldn’t agree on a successor prophet to Smith, Jr., and the church went to Utah, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania under Brigham Young, Sidney Rigdon (senior member of the First Presidency), James Strang, Lyman Wight, Alpheus Cutler, William Smith, David Whitmer (a BOM witness), or Joseph Smith III (son of Joseph Smith, Jr.). Almost all of these individuals still has multiple sects in existence that date to an 1844 decision about who should be the next President/Prophet of the church.

The Prairie Saints split into sects over the issue of whether Smith practiced polygamy. Rocky Mountain Saints had many, many spinoff sects after the 1890 Manifesto – groups that still practice plural marriage.

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Thanks to ScoutMaster for all the hard work here!

[Elsie]

but, alas, there are 2 choices. It is between the obamanation and romney.

Alas; neither the R's or the D's have had their convention yet.

BOTH parties could DUMP the losers they've been given!