Are Mormons Christians?

   A few years ago, my wife and I were in the mall. She was walking on my left with a couple of our younger children between us as we made our way past some smaller shops. At one point, something in the window of a store to our right caught my eye and I began to engage my wife about the item while looking at the display. For about the next 15-20 seconds I walked next to her telling her my thoughts about this store and its products. Normally by this time, I would've received some kind of response so as I continued to speak, I turned toward her to see why she was ‘ignoring’ me. I quickly realized the reason. Earlier as I turned towards the display, one of our children needed to be attended to. So without me noticing, she stopped with the children as I kept on walking. It just so happened that during all of this, a young lady started walking beside me in the same direction. And you guessed it. When I turned to see my wife, I found this young lady looking back at me with a smile that told me she knew of my mistake. I nodded embarrassingly to her as I stopped and thought to myself, ‘Okay, I’m going to go talk to my ‘real’ wife now…thanks for the conversation.’

   I tell you this embarrassing story because I genuinely thought that I was walking with my wife. My peripheral vision confirmed that I was walking next to someone, and I sincerely believed it was her. But when I took a closer look, I realized I had been mistaken.

   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka ‘Mormons’) claim to be Christians.  When asked this question, Mormons will likely retort, ‘Jesus Christ is in our church’s name…of course we’re Christians.” And at first glance, it appears that the LDS church is just another denomination following the teachings of Jesus Christ. But one must look further to accurately gauge if this is indeed the case.

   In the Bible, we get our first introduction to the term Christian. “…The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Acts 11:26b. The church in Antioch began calling the disciples Christians. Who were the disciples? They were those who believed and followed the teachings of Jesus (The Christ) of Nazareth. They were so passionate in their pursuit of Jesus that most of the original twelve died for their faith and teachings about Him. From this first occurrence and the two other times the term is mentioned in the New Testament, we can conclude that a “Christian” is someone who has a relationship with Jesus Christ and is obedient to His teachings as outlined in The Bible. So the question is better stated, do Mormons follow the historical Jesus of the Bible? The following chart outlines the differences between what The Bible teaches about Jesus and what Jesus looks like to the Mormon faith:

The Mormon Jesus Christ	The Biblical Jesus Christ
A created being, & the elder brother of Lucifer (Satan)	Uncreated God (John 8:54-59; 10:30; 14:9)
Common (one of many gods)	Unique (the Second Person of the one and only Godhead) and of supreme importance throughout time, eternity, and all creation
Conceived by a physical sex act between God the Father (Adam or Elohim) and Mary, thus not through a true virgin birth	Conceived by the Holy Spirit, who supernaturally ‘overshadowed’ Mary, thus a true virgin birth
Once sinful and imperfect	Eternally sinless and perfect
Earned his own salvation (exaltation to godhood)	He’s God, and never needed salvation
A married polygamist	An unmarried monogamist

   Clearly, there are major differences between the two belief systems. You cannot claim to follow the same person and describe them in conflicting ways. Therefore, Mormons are following someone other than the Jesus of the Bible.

   This is a result from differences between The Bible and The Book of Mormon. Which is to be trusted? Can the Book of Mormon withstand scrutiny? Does it compliment or negate the Bible? While the manuscript evidence for the Bible is abundant (in the thousands) and has withstood critical review for almost two-thousand years. The Book of Mormon was the work of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, and has been around less than 200 years. During which time, there hasn’t been one shred of evidence (historically or archeologically) that proves that this ancient American civilization, its pages describe, ever existed. Furthermore, Emma Smith, one of Joseph Smith’s wives wrote to their children, ‘In writing for your father [compiling the Book of Mormon], I frequently wrote day after day…He sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us.’ (The Saints herald, May 1888) It is quite apparent that the Book of Mormon was produced through the fabrication of Joseph Smith’s mind and crystal gazing (a known occult practice). As well, former Mormon, now excommunicated, Dr. D. Michael Quinn (Ph.D. in History from Yale) stated, ‘Astrology was important to members of the Smith family…Brigham Young stated in 1861 that ‘an effort was made in the days of Joseph [Smith] to establish astrology.’’ (Quinn, ‘Early Mormonism’) [Parens. added for clarity].    

   There are numerous other similar instances that are too extensive for this post, but further prove occult practices in the making of the Book of Mormon. And as a result, it cannot be trusted.

   People may call themselves followers of Christ. They may even place Jesus Christ in the title of their church’s name. But The Christ Who The Bible speaks about is not who Mormons are following. The founders of the Mormon religion have ‘made up’ their own god and named him Jesus Christ. They have convinced many that it's the same Jesus of The Bible. But like me in the mall, they're 'walking' with a different person.