Mormonism vs. Christianity - The Differences
Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) was birthed in 1820 by a vision in which two celestial personages appeared to Joseph Smith claiming all existing churches were wrong, all their creeds were an abomination, and all their professors were corrupt. According to these personages, Smith had been chosen to restore?not reform? a church that had disappeared from the face of the earth. The Mormon doctrines that evolved from this vision compromise confuse or contradict the nature of God, the authority of Scripture and the way of salvation.
Mormonism vs. Christianity - View of God
First, while Christians believe that God is spirit, Joseph Smith taught, ?God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!? Mormonism also holds to a plurality of Gods and contends that ?as man is God once was; as God is man may become.? Additionally, the Latter-day Saints compromise the nature of the God-man, Jesus Christ. In Christianity, Jesus is the self-existent creator of all things. In Mormonism, he is the spirit brother of Lucifer who was conceived in heaven by a celestial Mother and came in flesh as the result of the Father having sex with the Virgin Mary.
Mormonism vs. Christianity - Revelation
Furthermore, in sharp distinction to orthodox Christian theology, Mormons do not believe that the Bible is the infallible repository for redemptive revelation. In their view, the Book of Mormon is ?the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion.? Two further revelations complete the Mormon quad, namely Doctrines and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. Doctrines and Covenants is a compilation of divine revelations that includes the doctrine of polygamy. Not until threatened by the federal government did Mormon president Wilford Woodruff receive a revelation relegating polygamy to the afterlife. The Pearl of Great Price is no less troubling. It was this extra-biblical revelation that was used by Mormonism to prevent African Americans from entering the priesthood and from being exalted to godhood.
Mormonism vs. Christianity - Heaven
Finally, while Christians believe that they will stand before God dressed in the spotless robes of Christ?s righteousness, Mormons contend that they will appear before heavenly Father dressed in fig-leaf aprons holding good works in their hands. According to the Latter-day Saints, virtually everyone qualifies for heaven. Murderers, unrepentant whore mongers and the world?s vilest people make it into the Telestial heaven; lukewarm Mormons, religious people, and those who accept the Mormon gospel in the spirit world typically enter the Terrestrial heaven; and temple Mormons make it to the Celestial heaven. Only those who are sealed in secret temple rituals, however, will make it to the third level of the Celestial kingdom, become God?s of their own planets.
These and many other doctrinal perversions exclude Mormonism from rightly being called Christian.
Isaiah 43:10 says, "'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD , 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.'"
Mormons add onto the Bible. They have the "Book of Mormon" and "Pearl of Great Price". Books written by their shady founder Joseph Smith. They also believe things not Bible based such as they will be Gods, polygamy in heaven, special holy underwear, baptism for the dead including many of other faiths.....really strange stuff.
a considerable set of difference.
It depends on which kind of Mormon you mean
They use similar terms as protestants, but bottom line is they would have a different gospel a different Jesus as well which Galatians warns against
The Utah ones are 90% of Mormons
They believe in a god and Mrs god who were Mormons on another planet who became gods and the universe is full of gods. It has a gospel of good works. Jesus and Lucifer are spirit brothers in their view and the Bible is corrupt and their books pristine
The Missouri ones
They are actually the more similar to protestants and believe in one eternal god.
They have many Mormon eccentricities though.
Essentially, Mormons (all sorts) accept all of the teachings of Joseph Smith and the later prophets of Mormonism. No other groups accept these teachings (as a whole) as valid Christian doctrine, or consider those people to be prophets.
We're not protestant. We believe we're Christ's restored church.
What's different about us is we have the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price as well as the Bible. We have a living prophet, we believe God continually reveals stuff to us, it's not all contained in the Bible. We have temples where we make sacred covenants with God and get sealed to our families for eternity. We can also do those ordinances by proxy for the dead. We believe we have the restored priesthood, any priesthood holder in our church can trace their priesthood line to Jesus Christ. We like to do missionary work. We don't drink alcohol, tea, or coffee. And we are very family oriented. We also believe that God (aka Elohim), Jesus (aka Jehovah), and the Holy ghost are three separate beings who are one in purpose.
To learn more go to http://mormon.org
PS- a lot of people THINK they know what Mormons believe but they don't really know. For example look at all the answers before me, just about all of them have said something that's incorrect.. except for maybe Fireball.
Martin S: There are some seriously jacked up, purposely anti, twisted things in your little synopsis. Not very accurate at all. I would think twice before using that website as I can promise it is NOT accurate.
If anyone wants the actual truth, especially concerning what is WRONG in his comment, feel free to email me.
In response to fireball I would point out that the trinity is a catholic doctrine that the protestants decided to keep while they were voting and arguing about what they thought they should believe but the LDS believe not only was the trinity invented long after the revelation of st. john, but it is extra-biblical and does not come from the bible.
What is the difference between Mormonism and other sects of protestantism?
