ARE MORMONS CHRISTIAN?
What is a Christian? As defined in the dictionary, a Christian is, "one who believes or professes…to believe in Jesus Christ and the truth as taught by Him…[and] one whose life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormons, qualifies as Christians under these definitions.
The Mormon
Church is founded upon Christ and His
teachings. He leads His Church through his prophets and apostles today, just as
He did when He lived upon the earth. Mormons are true Christians; their worship
is the pure, unadulterated Christianity authored by Christ and accepted by
Peter, James, and John and all the ancient saints."1
Faithful
members of the Mormon Church who are called Saints or Latter-day Saints qualify
as true followers of Jesus Christ. It is the belief and the actions of faithful
members that demonstrate that Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of their
lives and of their faith. The actions of those members will speak more
piercingly than anything they say – their honesty, clean speech, dress,
attitude, and friendliness will radiate the example set by the Savior.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, a
member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Mormon Church stated that,
"There are many who say that Latter-day Saints believe in a 'different
Jesus' than do other Christians
and that we are therefore not 'Christian'…We believe in the Jesus of the
New Testament, and we believe what the New Testament teaches about Him. We do
believe things about Jesus that other Christians do not believe, but that is
because we know, through revelation, things about Jesus that others do not
know…What we want most of all is for Christian and non-Christian alike to
understand that we love the Lord Jesus
Christ. We revere His name. We count it a great honor and privilege
to take upon ourselves the name of Christ as Christians and as members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
The first Article of Faith
is: "We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ and
in the Holy Ghost." It is through Jesus Christ that all teachings are
based and in which all faithful members yearn to pattern their life after.
For more information about the Mormon Church or other topics, please see the following websites:
1 "Mormon Doctrine", Bruce R. McConkie, 1966, p.513