Truth Soup

Kudos Joel! Mormonism is most definitely NOT Christian. It is a shame that so many are sucked into this deceptive cult. Keep writing the truth!

I know enough about Mormonism to never want to be one, but too little to make any final judgement on the ultimate verity of the religion.
My personal conclusion, based on what I do know, is that Joseph Smith probably started out with a sincere and honest desire to heal the deep sectarian rifts in Christianity that existed during his day.
However, at some point, his path veered off into personal claims of direct Divine Revelation, a contention that always raises red flags for me.
However, I do take issue with your reference to the LDS Church as a "cult."
In the sociological sense of the word, at least, a "cult" is a small, disticntly isolated group, usually controlled by a single charismatic leader.
(It's worth noting here that all the Great Religions started out as small, marginalized groups focused around a single leader -- Jesus The Christ and Siddartha The Buddah each with 12 Disciples, Muhammed The Prophet with a small band of the faithful, and so on.)
And true, the LDS Church also started out as a small, isolated group centered around one person that could have at one time been called a "cult."
But given that the Mormon Church now is so widespread and its members are part of society at large, the definition of the contemporary LDS Church as a "cult" fails.
Again, in order for a group to truly be considered a "cult", its leader and members must deliberatly and completely isolate themselves from the rest of society.
So, while the Rev. Jim Jones, David Koresh and their followers could clearly be classified as "cults", the Mormon Church could not.
Clearly, Mormonism is a bona fide religion.
Some people, such as you, have come to the conclusion that it is not religion of true Divine inspiration.
And you've obviously done a commendable job of researching data to bolster your conclusion.
But again, to call it a "cult" is unfair and inaccurate.

Mark,

It depends on your definition of cult. From the Christian perspective, the doctrines of the LDS church are completely different from the teachings of Bible. For example, the Bible is clear that there is ONE God. In Mormonism, it teaches that man can BECOME a god, and that you can have spirit children that worship and pray to you! The Bible teaches that Jesis IS God and that Satan is a fallen angel, Lucifer. Mormonism teaches that Jesus and Satan are BROTHERS. And the list goes on.

http://www.irr.org/mit/Is-Mormonism-Christian.html

"And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ'; or, 'Behold, He is there'; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. "But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. - Jesus' Words in Mark 13:21-23

I'd say it is clear that Jesus would label the LDS church as a cult.

Merry Christmas!

Mormonism is definitely a cult. I was born and raised a mormon. My whole family are mormons. I found the real Jesus when I was 27. I then had a strong desire to read the bible. Mormonism & Chrisianity are opposites. Mormons don't realize that they are in a cult. They won't realize it until they find Jesus like I did, then there eyes will be opened. Until then they are trapped in this mormon maze of thinking they are in the one true church. With all my heart and soul I tell you questioning mormons there is a real God and it's not the one you've been taught about in the Mormon Church. I know this seems frightening but it's true.

Joel--how do you know that the Bible is the true Word of God? Since you base your opinions (they are opinions, even though you assert them as facts) on your interpretation of the Bible versus Mormon doctrine, you should be able to explain to me how you know the Bible to be true and the Book of Mormon not.

Secondly, when you say that "it depends on your definition of 'cult'" when disagreeing with a previous poster about whether Mormonism is a cult, you betray your gross subjectivity on the issue. I could call you a devil worshipper, and when you disagree, say that it just depends on my definition of devil worshipper. Kind of disingenuous, isn't it?

"The LDS Church fits the description of cult, as Jesus described. It adds to the work of Christ. It subtracts from the character of God. It multiplies what is necessary for salvation. And it divides the Word of God wrongly."

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about here. First, please show me in the scriptures Jesus' definition of "cult". No extrapolations, no interpretations--just give me the facts. Second, what on earth do you mean "subtracts from the character of God"? What is the character of God, and how do you know? If you point to the Bible, then how come a bajillion other Christian sects disagree on that same critical issue? Please articulate a full and complete description of the character of God for me, and then try to show that it is incontrovertibly so.

Your turns of phrase are nice, but seriously, your arguments are full of logical holes, let alone doctrinal ones. How are YOU sure that the Bible is true? How are YOU sure that your interpretation of it is the correct one? How are YOU sure that the "scholars" and archeologists you point to are correct, and not the ones on the other side of the fence?

You prove to me that you are right, and not just that I am wrong, and then we'll have something to talk about.

"And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ'; or, 'Behold, He is there'; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. "But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. - Jesus' Words in Mark 13:21-23

I'd say it is clear that Jesus would label the LDS church as a cult."

Soooo, there will be false Christs. There will also be a true one, no? So do we apply that same thinking to "false prophets", or is that different because the Joel School of Biblical Interpretation doesn't allow for prophets?

And please, if you don't mind, tell me how you bridged the massive intellectual chasm between the verse you cited and your conclusion that you know what Jesus would think about Mormons? It really is unflattering for you to make such logically absurd statements.

I read the comments and it is clear to me that a mormon must be speaking. Have you ever considered the fact that when Paul was speaking to the people and he said "if anyone comes preaching any other gospel than what Christ gave us even if it be an angel let him be cursed." Well, it is my understanding from the studies of the mormon doctrine that you cannot believe in the holy word of God and its fullness and be a mormon as well. So you must decide, "Do I follow Jesus Christ and his teachings, or do I follow Joseph Smith and his teachings." Jesus said, "I am the truth, the way, and the life. NO man shall enter the kingdom of heaven except if be by me." I too used to be a mormon. When I started studying the bible I found a great conflict between the two. I chose Jesus Christ and his teachings. It is my prayer that you humbly get on your knees and ask God to show you the truth.

Well it is obvious you dont know anything about the mormon churh. my wife is a member and so are my parents andd brothers but i am not. i WILL NEVER BE ONE, but the FALSE ideas you recieve from them is prety dumb because i know them better than you. You see, i try to understand one religion insead of looking for faults, because i can find SO MANY FAULTS with the Catholic and others and if you are one, then you know a few of them. You just revolve around blind ignorance and that what makes you unreasonalbe. they are a better church than most that promotes more "good stuff" than anyone else i know. if i dont know anything in my life, then i know this: the mormon church will still grow and never be removed by anyone including those X-TREMIISTS that claim jeering and threating si jESUS'S plan for sinners. Basically, you people dont know a thing and i am sorry to see that. pLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK AND WHY.

and le me say this again: I AM NOT A MORMON.