Are Mormon's Christians?

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints answer with an emphatic yet humble "YES!" Christ is so central to our faith that it is in the name of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ. In fact, all prayers, meetings, services, blessings and ordinances are performed "in the name of Jesus Christ." The nickname "Mormon" comes from our belief in the "Book or Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ." Members of the Church of Jesus Christ prefer to be referred to as "Christian" or "Latter-day Saints." In fact, Latter-day Saints have been discouraging the use of the nickname "Mormon" since enemies of the church coined the name soon after the restoration of the true church of Jesus Christ in 1930. However, because the church is generaly recognized my the name "Mormon," the LDS church maintains a website at http://www.mormon.org which presents information to those of other faiths who are interested in learning more about the Church of Jesus Christ.

Of course, naming your church after Christ isn't enough to be Christian. The true church of Christ must also be built upon the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ. All members of the Church of Jesus Christ accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and the only way to salvation and exaltation. Members consider themselves true disciples of Christ and strive to follow his example in faith, repentance, obedience to his commandments and service and charity to our fellow man.

3 Ne. 27: 8-11 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.

Now why would so-called "mainstream" Christian churches seek to exclude the Church of Jesus Christ from being considered Christian? That has to do with our interpretation of the Bible with respect to who Jesus is. Catholic and mainstream Evalgelical Christian churches subscribe to the belief in the Trinity which was defined at 1st Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The Nicene Creed as it came to be known has since been amended several times beginning with the Athanasian and Chalcedonian Creeds in 451 AD and, more recently, the Westminster Confession of Faith in 1646 AD. This latter amendment states: “There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions.” Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian churches generally accept these creeds as authoritative doctrine on the nature of God. (http://home.earthlink.net/~ronrhodes/Creeds.html).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not subscribe to the doctrine of the Trinity as defined by the Nicaean Creed of the latter Westminster Confession of Faith. The LDS church does believe in the "Godhead" (Acts 17: 29, Rom. 1: 20, Col. 2: 9) which comprises 3 distinct and separate beings: God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. These 3 individuals are all rightly referred to as God and are considered one in purpose (John 17: 11, 21-22).

Why is it important that Jesus Christ be understood as the literal Son of God? Because, the belief that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God reveals the divine potential of man. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the first-born, spirit son of God and the only physically begotten offspring of God. The Bible refers to all men and women as spiritual offspring of God. As such, Jesus Christ can be considered our spiritual elder brother. As our examplar, he showed us the path to follow in mortality. If we follow, we are promised to share with him the reward of eternal life. And as Jesus Christ ascented to heaven to stand on the right hand of God, so the righteous, faithful, repentant, and obedient in Christ will also be "joint-heirs" with Christ and inherit not only salvation from hell, but also eternal life and exaltation.

Rom. 8: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Matt. 22: 42 What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?

Matt. 16: 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Acts 7: 55 But [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

.

I do not feel mainstream Christian churches are justified in saying members of the Chruch of Jesus Christ are not Christian. Subscription to the Nicean Creed or Westminster Confession is not a prerequisite of faith in Christ when the Bible, modern revelation, and the spirit of prophecy and personal inspiration clearly support the LDS understanding of what we feel is the true nature of God.

John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.