How is Mormon different than other Christian denominations?
536913
The response to the question "Is Mormonism Christian?" depends on the substance of the question and its context. If the inquiry is more theological and religious than theoretical and academic, then the question and answer are normative and depend upon the presuppositions that underlie the query. However, the question can be examined by asking about the significance and implications of labeling and naming in the world of religion. While much modern Latter-day Saint literature has emphasized elements in common between the LDS Church and other Christian denominations, the frequent use of "Mormon" among the early Saints shows that the unique doctrines and beliefs of the Saints—such as the Book of Mormon, the gathering, and the leadership of the prophet—enabled the Saints to withstand the centrifugal pull of Protestant hegemony and establish their own identity. Likewise, the Saints referred to everyone outside of their religion as "Gentile," a practice that continued into this century. Now, with their identity firmly established, the Saints no longer feel constrained to be segregated from other denominations. At the same time, however, new conservative Christians have adopted the label "Christian" to unite themselves and to exclude outsiders or those who may differ in their doctrinal beliefs. The need to show this divergence has grown with the increased prominence of the Church and its members and with the realization that conservative Christians share with the Saints a common social and political agenda.\n\nWhile the debate usually centers on determining whether certain Latter-day Saint beliefs and practices should be considered Christian, there are renowned and influential spokesmen and writers in all the major wings of Christendom who have defended and taught ideas that Joseph Smith taught almost alone a century and a half ago. For instance, in the 1960s many were beginning to question the impersonal nature of God, preferring to see him in terms of a more definite personality. Also, many writers emphasized the divine within man and pointed out man's potential. In contrast to the feelings of earlier centuries, theologians feel a need for continuing revelation and unity, rather than diversity, in the body of Christian churches. Certain trends emphasize spiritual gifts and the sacred nature of marriage, both important to Latter-day Saint beliefs. Finally, the explosion in the discovery of ancient documents also presents parallels between ancient Christian and modern LDS beliefs. As of 1974, patterns of revision in some churches reflect growing similarities between these churches and Latter-day Saint practices. It must be acknowledged, however, that these movements have correspondingly powerful countermovements, and there exists a tremendous chasm between what professional writers say theologically and what actually penetrates to the grassroots.
1117590
Anti-Mormons often twist our doctrines out of context to make people falsely believe that Latter-Day Saints denigrate Jesus and consider Satan and the Lord to be equals. Of course, anyone familiar with our beliefs about Jesus Christ knows that we have the utmost respect and reverence for Our Savior and Redeemer.\n\nFirst, Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father (and is therefore divine) and the mortal virgin Mary. Satan, a malignant spirit, does not share this parental heritage of Jesus, and cannot be considered divine in any respect. Therefore, in the usual way that we speak of brothers and sisters, Jesus and Satan are not brothers.\n\nHowever, Latter-day Saints believe that God is our Father in Heaven. Before we came to this world, we all lived as spirits under his care and guidance. We believe that God begat or created the spirits of Jesus, Lucifer, and all of the human family as his children. Our Heavenly Father is literally the father of our spirits. Jesus Christ is considered the preeminent "firstborn" or "firstbegotten" (see Hebrews 1:4-6; Firstborn in the Spirit)\n\nEven though God the Father created all of our spirits, we were not equal in that premortal state. Jesus was a member of the Eternal Godhead, through his own innate worthiness, and created the universe under the Father’s direction. The Godhead is comprised of our Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Since the Fall of Adam, the Father has represented himself to the world through Jesus Christ. Jesus was Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament.\n\nLucifer, who was never a member of the Godhead like Jesus, rebelled against God, and was forever cast out. He became Satan, our adversary. Unlike Jesus or us, Lucifer will never be born into a physical body. \n\nLatter-day Saint scriptures summarize this issue as follows:\n\nAND I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying--Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.\n\nBut, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me--Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.\n\nWherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;\n\nAnd he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. (The Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:1-4)\n\nSo it can be said that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers, in the sense of both being spiritually begotten by the Father, but it is a misrepresentation to say so without giving the contextual background. Whatever similarities in background exist between Jesus and Satan pale compared to the differences. Jesus is the Beloved and Chosen, who is the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh.
490481
I am a christian and i dont belive that Joseph smith is a true prophet of God. Nor do i believe that the lds church is christian. Since they belive in earning them selfes in heaven. Just ask them, this is what they belive. There is no eternal marriage Jesus said there is no reason for it that is why we have a marriage till death do you part. Speaking as a true christian and not as other.
303881
Mormons believe: God is an exalted man.  Elohim, the God of this universe, was previously a man in a prior existence.  As a result of having kept the requirements of Mormanism, he was exalted to godhood and inherited his own universe.  God is confined to a body of flesh and bones and yet is thought to be omniscient and omnipotent.  He obviously can not be omnipresent.  There are an infininte number of gods with their own worlds.  These too were previously men, The Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ and "Heavenly Father" comprise 3 separate and distinct gods. Heavenly Father sires spiritual children in heaven destined for human life on earth.  All humans, as well as Jesus Christ and Lucifer, are gods heavenly children.  Every human being has the potential of becoming a god by keeping the requirements of Mormonism.  The Morman plan of salvation is built on the idea that all people have eternal life, but only the most faithful Mormons have godhood or enter the celestial kingdom.  In order to obtain this ultimate step, Mormons must exercise faith in the God of Mormonism, its Christ, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; exercise repentence; and be baptisted in the LDS church.  Additionaly Mormons must keep the "Word of Wisdom" by abstaning from alcohol, tobacco, and caffiene; tithe to the church; attend weekly sacrament meetings; support the Mormon prophet; do temple works; and be active in their support of the Church.  \n\nIs this Christianity, I think not.
277522
As you mentioned, since both Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians, we have a lot in common, such as a belief in Jesus Christ and a belief in the Bible.  For that reason we probably have much more in common than what we disagree on.\n\nIn addition, my understanding of another thing we have in common is that we believe that God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate beings.  In other words, neither religion is Trinitarian.  (I think this is why many other Christians say we are not Christian, because they think that you have to be Trinitarian to be Christian.)\n\nOne belief I'm aware of that we disagree on is resurrection.  The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that Jesus Christ was the first person to be resurrected.  However, I believe that Jehovah's Witnesses teach that many people were resurrected before Jesus Christ.  I think that this stems from a different understanding about what resurrection is.  I believe Jehovah's Witnesses believe that resurrection means simply coming back to life after death, such as when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  However, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, resurrection is used to refer to the immortal state that we will receive after death.  So although people were brought back to life from the dead before the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they were brought back to a mortal state, not an immortal one, so they weren't resurrected.\n\nAnother doctrine that I believe we disagree on is the identity of Jehovah.  I think that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jehovah (the God of the Old Testament) was God the Father, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that He was Jesus Christ, operating under the authority of the Father.\n\nI have not studied enough about the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses to be able to identify more about what we do or don't have in common, but I hope this answer has been helpful.
104366
Mormons are a cult and are not Christians.
536444
As a Christian, I have to say the Christian Church.  The denomination doesn't really matter.  The differences are not of the essentials of the Christian faith level.  They are minor differences so Baptists, Presbytarians, Lutherans, Pentacostals, etc. are all part of the true Church of Jesus Christ.  I might add that Mormons, though they like to claim to be Christians, are not Christians.
467973
To counter some of the misinformation of the previous answers:\n\nMormons "don't have sex" --actually Mormons DO have sex, just not supposed to before marriage and thereafter only with the person you are married to. \n\nMormons "don't drink caffeine" --actually a lot of Mormons do. What is not partaken of is Coffee, Tea, or any Alcohol. \n\nMormons "have millions of kids" --actually they only have a half millions kids. ;) There is currently no doctrine as to how many children families should have. Officially: Husband and Wife should decide (with God's help) how many children to have. \n\nMormons "have arranged marriages" --actually, I live in the heart of Mormonville and have NEVER heard of or seen a single Mormon couple wedded that had an arranged marriage. Official doctrine: it is your choice, not anyone else's. \n\nMormons "believe they are each going to get their own planet" --I dare you to find any high ranking Mormon leader within the last 100 years that has said anything to further that idea. \n\nMormons "also believe in polygamy" --Actually they only believe in it as much as most other Christians, that it was once practiced, but is no longer sanctioned. What Christian could say anything different? Abraham anyone? Isaac? Jacob? Yeah, so Mormons practiced it more recently than Christianity at large--but it is no longer practiced and any member who does practice it is excommunicated. \n\nAnd as for having a list as long as your arm as to what can get you cast into 'outer darkness'?? I would surely like to see that list as I have never even heard of it. As far as I've known in my 20+ years as a Mormon, you could count on one hand the things that will get you cast in to 'outer darkness' (one of the usages of "Hell"). \n\nPlease people, don't speak unless you know what you are talking about. It just gets so annoying.
347069
I have never heard this before, and I have studied a lot on the religion.  Because they are so secrative rumors like this start.  However, there are so many wrong teachings of the mormons that there is no need to make stuff up about them!\n\nMormonism teaches:\n\nThat there is more than one God.\nThat God the Father is really just an exalted man with flesh and bones just like you and me.\nThat we also can become gods.\nThat the apostle John is still alive today, but yet believe that the church went into complete apostacy (meaning John must have left Jesus, too).\nThat Adam and Eve didn't really sin.\nThat salvation is earned and that grace is nothing more than "enabling power" that aids people as they seek perfection.\nTeaches that the Father actually had sex with Mary and that she was not a virgin.\n\nI have been told that the last one is not widely believed by the Mormon church, and is not an "official" church doctrine.  I know that Doctrines of Salvation vol. 1:18 says that Jesus was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.  I do not know if that is one of their "official" sources of doctrine.  I know this does, however, contradict both Matthew 1:18, and even the Book of Mormon (Alma 7:10).  \n\nMormonism IS a cult, IS a perversion of the gospel of Christ, and IS NOT the "true church" as they claim.
95842
No. It differs on the fact that Christianity has a faith different from the others.
901722
Mormons are Christians\n\nThey believe in Jesus, what else consitutes being a Christian?
166473
You have done research on "Mormons", yet you say they don't believe in the resurrected Jesus Christ!? Mormons ARE Christians because they DO believe in Jesus Christ. Why would they name their church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" if they didn't believe in Him? Obviously your research skills are extremely flawed!\nTheir doctrines do not contradict the Bible. They believe in the Bible. They follow biblical teachings. They have another book of scripture that is a companion to the Bible. Again... your research skills need work. \nAs for the original question "are Mormons an occult religion?" The answer is no. the 'Mormon' religion is open to everyone.
1174683
Mormons are Christians, first of all.  According to the teachings of the church, we must follow Christ and accept Him as our Savior.  They pray in the name of Christ, and perform all church ordinances in the name of Christ.  They sing hymns about Christ.  Christ is considered to be the Head of the church.  Yes, they believe Christ also visited the American continent after His death.  Yes, they believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings, yet one in purpose.  And they believe that God continues to reveal His word to man through living prophets.  But how do these doctrines make them non-Christian?\n\nMormons study from the Bible just as much as they do from the Book of Mormon.  In fact, the curriculum for Sunday School lessons this year is the Old Testament.\n\nIf the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only pretended that they believed in Christ, then why would people stay in the church after getting baptized?  Why would the church keep growing at such a tremendous rate if its members only pretended to believe in Christ in order to attract more converts?  More than two-thirds of its baptisms every year are convert baptisms.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fastest growing religion of North and South America.  Joseph Smith, at a time when the church only had six members, prophesied that the church would fill North and South America, and eventually the whole world.  Brigham Young prophesied that the earth would be dotted with hundreds of temples, at a time when they were just beginning to be built.  We are seeing these prophesies fulfilled before our own eyes.\n\nSo many people have been deceived by a pack of liars, who say the Mormons aren't Christian, and consider the Mormon religion to be one of the most evil on the planet.  Christ said "Ye shall know them by their fruits."
557344
I was married to a mormon once, and her daddy was a bishop.  For her sake I tried to validate mormonism, but Joseph Smith was a lying con artist who victimized the weak and ignorant.  This is based on the mormons version of the mormon history.\n\nBeyond that, their doctrine is a perversion of Biblical truth on almost every point of their doctrine.
1150851
All christians are not Mormon, but all Mormons are christian.\n\nA Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, believing him to be the Son of God and the savior of human souls from sin and death. Christians believe that Jesus lived a life befitting that of the creator of the universe, free of sin, and at the end of his earthly life was crucified. They believe that he died and then three days later he rose from the dead, to give the message to his followers. Most Christians maintain that Jesus offers eternal life to anyone who believes in him and asks for this free gift. There are somewhat different interpretations of the exact meaning of salvation 'through' Christ, although virtually all Christians agree that it is the perfect form of reconciliation to God, and that this is only possible because of Christ. Christians, by definition, are a part of Christianity. Christians are monotheistic, believing that there is one God. Today, it is estimated that there are around 2.1 billion Christians in the world making up 33% of the world population.\n\n\nMormon is a colloquial term used to refer specifically to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in some contexts to members of smaller denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement. The term is derived from the name of The Book of Mormon, one of the faith's four books of scripture. The book, in turn, derives its name from Mormon, one of the primary prophets described therein.\n\nThe Latter Day Saint movement is a religious movement which began in the early 19th century and is generally considered to be founded by Joseph Smith, Jr., whom those involved in the movement regard to be a prophet. It is one of a number of movements within Restorationism, which includes the Restoration Movement and the Millerite movement. These Restorationists attempted to transcend Protestant denominationalism, and to restore what they considered a form of Christianity truer to their interpretation of the New Testament. The Latter Day Saint movement spawned many religious denominations, some of which include a set of doctrines, practices, and cultures collectively known as Mormonism, although some do not accept the designation Mormon.
457466
I hope you will be fair and clear on your research, and make the distintion between fundamental Mormons and\nThe church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.\n\nAs a LDS for 30yrs, I love the LDS doctrines.\nIt is the best path I choose.\nI always disappointed in most people who missundertood or got the wrong idea about LDS, because so many wrong info out there. \nI could say, LDS can respect other religions, but unfortunately, not all religion can tolerate LDS.
501702
I agree with flexin4uk.  To ask a Latter Day Saint if their church is the true church is like asking the pope if he's Catholic.  I'm sure many Christians of many different faiths would say their church is the only true church.\n\nYes, I do believe the LDS church is the true church.  I have also spent many hours studying the Bible and Book of Mormon.  I have done much praying to know the truth.  It is one thing to ask a question but you can't really know for sure unless you seek for the truth and sincerely ask God if something is true.  God is the ultimate expert in these matters.  Ask God.  He will help you find what you are looking for.\n\nIn The Book of Mormon, Moroni asks the readers to pray about the Book of Mormon and to ask God if it is true.\n\nMoroni 10:4&5\n   "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will  manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.\n   And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."\n\nMy definition of a true Christian religion is one that teaches that Christ died for the sins of the world and a religion that teaches the things He taught- such as: "love thy neighbor as thyself" (oops, I didn't mean to write "worlds" the first time so I edited).  My definition of a true Christian is someone who does their best to follow Christ. If someone claims to be Christian but they always say nasty things about people, I tend to see them as someone who follows Satan.  Those people aren't trying to be more Christ-like.  Christ taught us to love one another, not to argue and be mean.\n\nI think other churches have important truths to teach people.  Each church is good in it's own way and the world needs each of them.  I think people find God in their own way and I'm not about to tell anyone that they're bad just because they have different beliefs than I do.  Where ever you decide to worship is up to you.\n\nP.S.  I haven't really tried answering the second part of your questions.  It didn't make much sense to me.  I do, however, believe that God has not abandoned us as human beings.  I hope you can realize that God really does care about each of us, no matter the religion.