Are Mormons Christian? It depends on who you ask.

Are Mormons Really Christians or Not? 🕊️ Let's delve deep into the intricate web of semantics, doctrines, and practices that surround this age-old debate. 🤔 Mormons staunchly claim their Christian identity, pointing to the Church's full name, 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.' They argue that their worship of Jesus Christ as their savior places them squarely within the Christian fold.

Yet, dissenting voices, especially from non-denominational Christians, raise eyebrows. Why? Mormons diverge from traditional Christianity on key fronts. The Trinity, a cornerstone for many Christians, is rejected by Mormons, who view God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost as distinct beings. They supplement the Bible with additional scriptures like the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants, a departure from the exclusive reliance on the Bible seen in traditional Christianity.

Baptism, a common ground, takes a different turn in Mormonism, where Temple ordinances like the endowment and washing and anointing are deemed essential for salvation. This isn't merely a doctrinal divergence; it's a profound shift in focus. Mormons place a heavy emphasis on obedience and righteous works – from abstaining from coffee to correctly wearing sacred garments – as integral to salvation. This stands in contrast to mainstream Christianity's emphasis on the grace of Jesus's atonement as the primary means of salvation.

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[madisonlay]

Most Christians I know across denominations would say Mormons aren’t Christians in the same way Muslims aren’t. You can love and revere Jesus sincerely but once you add other books, doctrine, and prophets it’s no longer accurate or helpful to consider yourself the same group. Similar to how Buddhism is not considered Hinduism despite similar origins or how Christianity is not considered Judaism despite sharing holy books. Additionally, I think it’s weird Mormons want to be called Christian but also teach that all other churches have origins in a great apostasy and their members need to be converted or else they obtain a lesser degree of glory.

[AmericanwrCymraeg]

Definitely not. Different God, different cosmology, different almost everything.

It's as if the rights to the Christian story were sold to Disney who tried to add in poorly written fanfiction without bothering to learn the original story.

It's one of the weirder parts of Americana, though!

[mostlikelyaperson]

I would say the biggest reason many don't believe Mormons are Christians come down to some things not mentioned in this video. The belief that God was once a man who became exalted that Mormons hold is a completely different god than what Christians believe. Joseph Smith said, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens". Christians believe that God is eternal, has always been here, is a completely different being from us. Christians also do not believe any kind of celestial/terestial/telestial kingdom like Mormons do. Christians and Mormons have almost completely different beliefs about the afterlife, such as Christians don't believe there's marriage in the afterlife (Matthew 22:30). Christians don't believe in a spirit realm that Mormons do. These very strong and significant belief differences that lead most to say Mormons are not Christians, because they don't seem to believe in the same God.

[haliefaith]

Bread and WATER?!?! I'm Catholic and that part really surprised me. At least Evengelicals use grape juice to symbolize wine

[txlambda]

Former Baptist/Current Denomination of non-denominational Christian here -- We don't believe baptism is required. It's just a step to show the public that you believe that Christ died for your sins and rose again < the only thing that actually saves you. No works, or anything is required. Only thing is your belief. Now it is good to do more (and it's a good desire to want to do more) but it is not required. -- Also to answer the question, no, I would say mormons are not Christians. Book of Mormon/other items are considered to be false gospels or w/e the right word for it is.

[REDACTED-SINCE-YESTERDAY]

One thing that really started the decline on my testimony was when I was told that even though we use the King James version of the Bible there are many things in it that we do not believe and that the only reason we keep them in there is to make it easier for "Other Christians" to transition into the true faith, Mormonism. That was one of many ways I realized I was being taught to lie to people while on my mission and made me see how much I'd been lied to. That being said I don't think they are Christians. There are similarities but the differences are downplayed or out right hidden to bridge the large gap between the two.

[TheNostalgicKitchen]

“The sacrament of bread and water” is already not Christian, it’s bread and wine and always has been.

[RachelDee]

Thank you for representing this fairly. No, Mormons incorrectly take the label without disputing or recognizing the tenants that comprise of core Christian theology across all denominations. This is one of the simplest and most accurate representations I’ve seen someone give about the differences. As other comments said, salvation dependent on baptism is where there’s differences amongst the denominations.

[ssjbears]

I don't remember where I heard it, but I once heard someone argue that Mormonism should be considered separate from Christianity in the same way that Christianity is separate from Judaism.

Judaism follows the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible. Christianity follows the Hebrew Bible, but adds to that the New Testament, and therefore has become a distinct religion with a new set of principles. Mormonism follows the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, but adds to that the Book of Mormon, and similarly therefore becomes a distinct religion with a new set of principles.

[melinaouzouni]

I love how you summarized it so well!!

[Amanda-bk]

It honestly never ceases to amaze me how the Mormon church and JWs are so much alike

I'm an ex JW and a Wiccan

[chaoticgood]

Mormonism would reject the majority of the Nicene Creed, it’s ‘lore’ is completely different than that of mainstream Christianity, to the point that each of the major branches (Protestantism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy) have far, far more in common with each other than any of them have with Mormonism. I feel like Mormons get lumped in with (usually white) American evangelicalism because of the cultural and other superficial similarities, and people ignore that literally everything else is completely different.

[lililululalabooboo]

Exmormon here. I remember being puzzled when I was a church goer being told that we are Christians because we believe in Christ, and that's what being a Christian means. I was puzzled as I didn't understand why it was needing to be said. I later realized other Christian faiths didn't consider Mormons Christian, but I never understood why. Mind you, this was long before smart phns and Google so I couldn't look things up. Anyways I didn't know till just now what other Christians believe or that being baptised isn't required (thanks commenters). It is interesting to learn all this.

[mrmadness]

Honestly I’m a Former Catholic and I remember getting quite a bit of “you’re not a REAL Xtian” too.

[JJoy-bkyr]

I take the Apostles' creed and the Nicene creed as basic touchstones for what constitutes Christian belief (though I do not consider them imfallible and I consider some parts of them to be subject to differing interpretations). As I understand LDS, they flat-out reject most of what those creeds are saying. So no, I do not consider them Christian.

This video does a good job summarizing Christian belief but there are a couple things I quibble with:
Baptism - some Christians do believe it is required for salvation, but many of us don't, because Christ finished the work of our salvation himself, without needing our works. But, baptism is a symbol of receiving saving grace, through faith. It is only right that we should be baptised, as a way of showing our faith.
Works - while it is true we are not saved by our works, a Christian will feel a desire to do good works, because faith in God is part and parcel with faith in all that is good and a desire to advance good in the world. Those who love God, love humans who are made in the image of God and will love all of God's creation.
Sin - yes, Christ covers all our sin, but that is not a license to sin willfully. People who have faith in God will try to avoid sin. We blunder around, but if we have faith, we are at least trying. Christians do differ on whether that means following their church leaders. I tend to not regard a rule set forth by a church leader as authoritative if it is not biblical and doesn't make any sense, but some people who I consider Christians will follow their church leaders' rules without ever questioning anything. I think that's super dangerous. There are also some Christians (a minority, thankfully!) who believe that since they are saved, they have become perfect and incapable of sin so whatever they want to do is fine. I run in opposite direction of those folks.
So anyway, I belive there is some variety of belief among Christians. I hope and pray that we Christians are collectively growing and learning the truth. But LDS doctrine is so far afield that it is not Christian.

[alandracoffey]

As a Christian, I will add that baptism is not necessary for salvation but an outward example of our faith. You don't have to be baptized to be a follower of Christ

[DStead]

Thank you for making these posts/reels.
You are. doing a great job. Good testimony on Mormon stories and so glad for your new book. I hope you will not turn away from studying the true gospel in the Bible. don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! God’s word is true, and I’m praying that you will pursue it.

[Eilfylijokul]

"traditional Christians believe in only the Bible as being the word of God" this isn't strictly true. There's been a lot of debate throughout church history on the infallibility of the Bible but it's always been recognised as a collection of writings from various men spanning a millennia who were divinely inspired/influenced.

This is an important point in this discussion because the Mormon belief is that Joseph Smith was translating the actual word of God. Similar to how Muslims believe Mohammed spoke directly the word of God which was recorded in the Quran. It should be noted that Jesus is a prominent figure in Islam too (the Christ who will return on the day of judgement, but not himself a God or a part of God). Muslims however don't claim to be Christian because like Mormons, they aren't.

The point is really a theological one. Mormonism radically changes the way we think about God (or Gods as the case may be). It's a revisionist movement in Christianity, just as Christianity was a revisionist movement in second temple Judaism. However because of the theological differences between Christianity and Judaism it cannot be called Judaism, despite believing in the God of the Israelites (and even adopting Jewish scripture). There's also points to be made about the practices adopted by all the religions I've mentioned but that is downstream from their theology and this comment is long enough.

[alexc]

I read an article about the matter and have taken related courses. In short, one take is that Mormons, as you describe, are theologically not Christian as their beliefs are too different, but they are sociologically Christian. They come from the same demographic group, evangelize (albeit more), share so many of the same stories and mythological figures of the culture, have similar table manners, etc.

[Randy_]

*i too was brought up LDS, but in Orange County. Coming up to SLC to vist family always blew my mind. The UT Mormons were always crazy. The funny thing, my wife and i moved up to Ut back in 2018. Since i haven't been a practicing member since I was 14 and seeing how the LDS up here have changed... its crazy.*