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Mormon Beliefs
"Are Mormons Christians"
According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary a
Christian is a person who, "professes belief in the teachings of
Jesus Christ." So in this sense are Mormons Christian? Yes because
Mormon beliefs clearly state that, "We believe in God, the
Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy
Ghost." 1 The Mormon Church's official name is The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints and bears the name of Jesus Christ
testifying that members believe in Him.
Joseph
Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, said, "the fundamental principles of our religion are the
testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ,
that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended
into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are
only appendages to it." 2
Many non-Mormons question whether Mormons are
Christian because they believe in the
Book of Mormon
as well as the Bible. The Book of Mormon itself states that it is
"another testament of Jesus Christ." 3 An interesting study found
that the Book of Mormon although shorter than the New Testament made
"108 more references to Deity than the New Testament"4 and had a
total of 476 references to Jesus Christ by name alone.
The Book of Mormon truly testifies of the divinity
of the Savior Jesus Christ. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet says,
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ,
we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies,
that our children may know to what source they may look for a
remission of their sins." 5
Visitors who have toured a
Mormon temple
before its dedication have learned that the Mormons are Christian
because of the many pictures of Christ that decorate Mormon temple
walls. One visitor who toured a new temple said, ""I know now that
what I’ve been taught about this church not being Christian is not
correct."6
Just like other Christian religions members of the
Mormon Church take the sacrament each week. In the prayer it states
that members who are taking the sacrament agree to "take upon them
the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his
commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his
Spirit to be with them." 7
Mormons do believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ and so when
one asks
are Mormons Christian, the answer by definition is yes.
(1) Pearl of Great Price. Article of Faith 1.
(2) Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121
(3) Book of Mormon, title page.
(4) Charles D. Tate. "Book of Mormon references to
Deity" Ensign, Apr. 1992, 62
(5) 2 Nephi 25:26
(6) “News of the Church,” Ensign, July 2002, 74
(7) Moroni 4:3
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