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| − | {{Articles FAIR copyright}} {{Articles Header 1}} {{Articles Header 2}} {{Articles Header 3}} {{Articles Header 4}} {{Articles Header 5}} {{Articles Header 6}} {{Articles Header 7}} {{Articles Header 8}} {{Articles Header 9}} {{Articles Header 10}}
| + | #REDIRECT [[Question: Did Mormons only recently claim to be Christian?]] |
| − | {{Resource Title|Are Mormons Christian?}}
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| − | {{JesusChristPortal}}
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| − | <onlyinclude>
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| − | == ==
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| − | {{Criticism label}}
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| − | Some observers claim that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not "Christian," and that they have only recently claimed to be so.
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| − | A related claim is that the Church has only recently begun to portray itself as "Christian" in order to gain adherents.
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| − | == ==
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| − | {{Conclusion label}}
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| − | Claims that the Church has only recently been asserting its Christian status are false, as attested by LDS scripture, practice, doctrine, and public statements of its leadership and its early critics.
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| − | == ==
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| − | {{Response label}}
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| − | ==Did Mormons claim to be Christian only recently?==
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| − | This claim is absurd. The critics depend on their audience not knowing much about LDS history for this claim. Enemies and members of the Church have long known that Church members consider themselves "Christian" (italics added in all cases):
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| − | ===1830s===
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| − | ;1830: “They call themselves the church of Christ, and the only church of Christ. All professing Christians who do not adhere to their system, they consider as formalists; ‘having the form of Godliness, but denying the power’”. <ref>{{ldsorg|Gospel Topics, "Abuse"|http://www.lds.org/topics/abuse}}</ref>
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| − | ;1831: “Old Joe . . . and several others . . . admitted [that the new faith] was an improvement in Christianity”. <ref>{{CriticalWork:Morning Courier:1 September 1831:Mormon Religion|pages=xxx}}</ref>
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| − | ;1832: The Mormonites “say the Millennium is soon to commence and that Christ is to come personally and take up His residence with them. . . . In its general principles this sect entirely coincide with others which have from time to time sprung up in Christendom”. <ref>{{CriticalWork:Farmer's Herald:6 June 1832|pages=xxx}}</ref>
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| − | ;1833: There is “a civil war between the Mormonites and their brother Christians”. <ref>{{CriticalWork:Liberal Advocate:30 December 1833|pages=xxx}} </ref>
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| − | ;1834: "Brother Joseph . . . went on to show the brethren how wicked and unchristianlike such conduct [among them] appeared before the eyes of truth and justice”. <ref>{{HoC1|vol=2|start=83}}</ref>
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| − | ;April 1834:The only name given under heaven, whereby man can be saved, is Jesus Christ. Men in days of old heard the glad tidings, that the Son of Man would come in the fulness of his own time, to make intercession for the children of men, and suffer, the just, for the unjust, and rise from the dead, that the bands of the temporal death might be broken, that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that they might stand in the presence of God to be judged according to their works.—These glad tidings were communicated from heaven to earth, by the ministering of holy angels and by the voice of the living God. Thousands have looked forward with an eye of faith, and a confidence unshaken in the promises of God, to the time when the great and last sacrifice should be made for fallen man. Many have rejoiced to see the day of the Son of Man, have seen it, and were glad; and have fallen asleep after obtaining the promise, that they should see God in the flesh and should reign with him on the earth a thousand years....The news that the gospel brought in days of old, was, that Jesus Christ would come into the world; that he would suffer according to the flesh; that he would rise from the dead, and thereby redeem his people from the power of the grave. <ref>{{EMSfairwiki|article=The Gospel|vol=1|num=11|date=April 1833|start=81|end=83}}</ref>
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| − | ;1835: “the doctrine promulgated by the ‘latter day Christians’ in the newly discovered Bible”. <ref>{{CriticalWork:Painsville Telegraph:4 September 1835|pages=xxx}}</ref>
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| − | ;1836: “This morning a minister from Conne[c]ticut by the name of John W. Olived called at my house . . . . [He] asked me wherein we differ from other Christian denomination[s]”. <ref>{{PWJS1|start=144}}</ref>
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| − | ;1836: “they have the appearance of being devout Christians. . . . They call themselves ‘Latter-day Saints,’ and profess to be the only true church, to have the only gospel order, consisting of apostles, elders, bishops, etc., etc., which several orders of the Christian hierarchy have been distinctly brought to light in the Book of Mormon”. <ref>{{CriticalWork:Eells:To Joshua Leavitt|pages=59}} (letter written on 1 April 1836 by James H. Eells who lived in Elyra, Ohio)</ref>
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| − | ;1837: “a large society of Christians who style themselves ‘Latter-day Saints’ or Mormons.” (''Painesville Republican'', vol. 1, no. 31, 15 June 1837).
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| − | ;1838: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning ''Jesus Christ'', that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are ''only appendages to it''". <ref>{{TPJS1|start=121}}</ref>
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| − | ;1839: "This sect took its rise, A. D. 1830, in the county of Ontario, and State of New York. In April of that year, the society was ''organized as a Christian Church''". <ref>Francis G. Bishop, ''Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints'' (Blum and Son, Salem, Massachusetts 1839), 2.</ref>
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| − | ;1839: The Mormons “were singing a hymn as other good Christians are wont to do . . . . [One of them offered] a very good Christian prayer . . . . [which petitioned that the Mormons might have] Christian fortitude.” (''Peoria Register and North-Western Gazetteer'', vol. 3, no. 17, 27 July 1839)
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| − | :1839: {{CriticalWork:Dobson:Mormons|pages=xxx}}
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| − | ===1840s===
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| − | ;1840: “We want no religion but pure Christianity”. <ref>{{Book:Pratt:Plain Facts|pages=6}}</ref>
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| − | ;1840: The heaven-born doctrines of christianity are so opposite to the vain, grovelling, and selfish sentiments of corrupt human nature, and the self-denying practices of genuine believers are so repugnant to the feelings of those whose nature is “earthly, sensual, and devilish,” that it is utterly unreasonable to suppose that anything like amity, concord or peace, can possibly exist between the church and the world. [{{Book:Taylor:Calumny Refuted|pages=1–12}}]
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| − | ;1840: The citizens of Nauvoo are “a people, professing to be Christians.” (''Quincy Whig'', vol. 3, no. 13, 25 July 1840).
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| − | ;1840: The Mormons retain “many truths which are held in common by different denominations of Christians.” (''The Alton Telegraph'', vol. 5, no. 46, 14 November 1840).
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| − | ;1840: "We want no religion but pure Christianity." [{{Book:PP Pratt:Plain Facts|pages=5}}]
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| − | ;1840: "If every friend to the cause of apostolic christianity, would subscribe and pay in advance for the above mentioned books [Book of Mormon, hymn books]...." [{{TS1|author=Anon.|article=Books!!!|vol=1|num=9|date=July 1840|start=139–40}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=2425&REC=14}}
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| − | ;1841: “I understood from [the Mormons] as follows, . . . that they did not discard the Bible as used by other Christian sects”. <ref>{{TSfairwiki|author=Upper Mississippian|article=Nauvoo Mormon Religion|num=8|start=324|date=15 February 1841|vol=2}}; reprint of an article from the ''Upper Mississippian''</ref>
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| − | ;1841: "why it is, that so many professing Christianity, and so many professing to reverence the sacred principles of our Constitution (which gives free religious toleration to all), have slandered, and persecuted ''this sect of Christians''." <ref>Extract from a Letter in the ''Juliet Courier'', dated from Monmouth, Illinois (June 1841); cited in {{HoC1|vol=4|start=381}}</ref>
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| − | ;1841: "The object of our visit to your city is not to subvert any moral or truly Christian principle, or to promulgate any doctrine other than that which was advocated by Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ and the Apostles; which doctrine or gospel, we believe is the same invariable plan of salvation that it ever was, and that it ought to be taught, administered and obeyed in the present age, precisely as it was in the primitive or golden period of Christianity." [{{Periodical:Snow Winchester:Address to the Citizens of Salem|pages=574-76}}]
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| − | ;1841: "Many of them have given up home and friends in obedience to what they consider the call of Christ, their Master.... The Mormons not only claim to be Christians, but the only Christians." [{{CriticalWork:Auburn Journal and Advertiser:December 1841:Mormons|pages=xxx}}]
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| − | ;1842: “the great Christian city of Nauvoo”. <ref>''Chicago Democrat'', May 1842; editorial by John Wentworth</ref>
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| − | ;1842: [Mormons teach that] "no man can be a Christian, or be admitted into the kingdom of God, unless he is baptized by immersion by an authorized person." [{{CriticalWork:RTM:Mormons|pages=345–46}}]
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| − | ;1842: Hyrum Smith is "one of the most pious and devout christians in the world." (''New York Herald'' (19 February 1842); cited in Veritas, "The Mormon Prophets," ''Millennial Star'' 3 (May 1842): 8.)
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| − | ;1842: Mormons “are Christians in the fullest sense of the term, believing in the Old and New Testaments.” (''The New York Herald'', vol. 7, no. 419, 16 May 1842).
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| − | ;1842: Mormons are described as – “A ''Christian'' sect in Illinois.” (''Alton Telegraph and Democratic Review'', vol. 7, no. 25, 18 June 1842; emphasis in original).
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| − | ;1842: "All these letters and documents [about the Mormons] disclose a most extraordinary movement in human affairs. What they mean we can hardly tell, but is it not time for some great religious revolution, as radical as Luther's, to take place in the ''Christian'' world?...Unlike ''all other Christian sects'', they adopt at once all the modern improvements of society, in art and literature; and from their singular religious faith give the highest enthusiasm to the movement at large. There is nothing odd, or singular, or absurd about them.” ("Wonderful Progress of Joe Smith, the Modern Mahomet.—Spread of the Mormon Faith, and a New Religious Revolution at Hand," ''N.Y. Herald'' (17 June 1842); emphasis added). <ref>Cited by {{WE | author=Helen Mar Whitney | vol=10|num=13|date=1 December 1881|start=97|end=99 }} Available in {{WV1|start=149}}</ref>
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| − | ;1842: "Mr. Whitney then asked if we acknowledged any to be Christians except those who embraced our doctrines and joined our church." (Orson Hyde letter, ''Times and Seasons'', vol. 3, no. 18, 15 July 1842, 849).
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| − | ;1842: A Baptist complained that a Church preacher "declined making an honest confession of those peculiarities which separate them as widely from the Baptists, as from every other denomination of the ''christian'' church." <ref>{{TSfairwiki|author="A Baptist," letter to the editor published in the ''North Staffordshire Mercury''|article=Difference Between the Baptists & Latter-day Saints|vol=3|num=23|date=1 October 1843|start=931|end=932}} {{ia}}</ref>
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| − | ;1842: Wrote the ''Daily Sun'' of Cincinnati:
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| − | ::Whatever this new doctrine may be, it is extremely pleasing to the world, and death to the constituted church creeds of every name but that of Mormon. It is destined to spread, for every man that takes it upon him to speak in its favor, is fully competent to make out his case. One is very much surprised to see with what facility they prove their doctrine from the holy scriptures. Mr. Adams remarked, that he did not care whether a man believed the Book of Mormon or not, so that he came forward with a broken heart, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and in baptism for the remission of sins—let him come forth, and if God did not reveal to him the truths of the Book of Mormon, he need not believe it. [{{TS1|author=Anon.|article=Mormonism [Reprinted from the Daily Sun, Cincinnati]|vol=4|num=2|date=1 December 1842|start=28–29}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3386&REC=5}}
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| − | ;1842: "The Mormons were Christians in belief, and looked for the second Advent of Christ—when he shall come, surrounded by the angels of Heaven to dwell in person upon the earth....We confess that Mr. Winchester has changed our opinion of the sect; for we held them in contempt if not in abhorrence, from the representations we had read of them, whereas, if what Mr. Winchester states be true (and we have no reason to doubt him,) we can recognize them as professing Christians, tinged with peculiarities on particular points." [{{TS1|author=Anon.|article=Mormons, or Latter Day Saints|vol=4|num=2|date=1 December 1842|start=27–28}} Reprinted from the ''Baltimore Clipper''. {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3382&REC=6}}]
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| − | ;1843: "So far we are agreed with ''other Christian denominations''. They all preach faith and repentance. The gospel requires baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, which is the meaning of the word in the original language—namely, to bury or immerse". <ref>{{TPJS1|start=314}}</ref>
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| − | ;1843: Joseph Smith, in a public discourse, compared the Mormons to other denominations of Christians. (''New York Spectator'', vol. 46, no. 46, 23 August 1843).
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| − | ;1844: The Mormons are “calling themselves Christians . . . . Christians, as they claim to be.” (''The Warsaw Signal'', NS no. 4, no. 121, 6 March 1844).
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| − | ;1844: “The ''[Saturday] Courier'' should for the sake of truth and consistency, strike its flag of neutrality in RELIGION, while it wages a war of extermination against the Mormons; the only sect in Christendom, who in this nineteenth century can exhibit the irresistible evidence of martyrdom, in support of its cause”. <ref>{{TS1|author=Philadelphia Sun reprint|article=Magna est veritas, et praevalebit’ (Not sure of translationvol=5|num=15|date=15 August 1844|start=621}}</ref>
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| − | ;1844: "On Sunday I was invited to give, in a public discourse, the points of difference between faith of the Latter-day Saints and ''other professors of'' [p.417] ''the Christian religion''." <ref>D.S. Hollister to Joseph Smith, 9 May 1844; cited in {{HoC|vol=6|start=416|end=417}}</ref>
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| − | ===1850s===
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| − | ;1853: Now, we ARE believers in the Bible, and in consequence of our unshaken faith in its precepts, doctrine, and prophecy, may be, attributed "the strangeness of our course," and the unwarrantable conduct of many towards this people. Come, my brother Presbyterian; come, my brother professors of every persuasion of long standing and popular distinction in the world, who are dubbed with the word "ORTHODOX;" come, ''we are all good Christians''; I find no fault with you—why should you find fault with me? <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=Effects and Privileges of the Gospel|date=24 July 1853|vol=1|disc=35|start=237|end=237}}</ref>
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| − | ;1854: “Mormonites . . . . call themselves Christians, it is true” (''The Daily Globe'', vol. 6, no. 261, 5 October 1854).
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| − | ;1857: "Their religious teachers of Mormonism, preach to them, as they call it, "Christianity in its purity." (S[olomon] N. Carvalho, ''Incidents of Travel and Adventure in the Far West; with Col. Fremont's Last Expedition'', chapter 22. {{link|url=http://www.jewish-history.com/wildwest/carvalho/carval22.html}}
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| − | ;1859: We, as Christians, are divided and subdivided into many systems varying in doctrinal points. This one says, "I am right;" and that one says, "I am right;" another rises up and varies, more or less, from the doctrines of the Church he has left, and says he is right. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|date=22 May 1859|vol=7|disc=22|start=148|title=Government of God}}; {{DN1|vol=9|num=13|date=1 June 1859|start=104|article=Government of God|author=Brigham Young}}</ref>
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| − | ===1860s===
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| − | ;1861: "…who is there that was not startled when he heard that a sect, affecting to be Christian beyond all other sects, which had sprung up in broad day from amidst the civilization of the United States…" <ref>Juley Remy, ''Journey to Great Salt Lake City'' (1861), 2:82–83; cited by {{WorksOfAbraham1|start=195}}.</ref>
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| − | ;1863:Should you ask ''why we differ from other Christians''...Are all this people, in the Scriptural sense, Christians? They should be. Do they all serve God with an undivided heart? They should. Many of them do, seeking daily to do his will. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=Advice To California Emigrants. — The Principles Of The Gospel, etc.|date=8 July 1863|vol=10|disc=46|start=230|end=231}}</ref>
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| − | ;1864:The Latter-day Saints ''differ from their Christian brethren''. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=Difference Of Ideas Entertained Respecting God, etc.|date=31 July 1863|vol=10|disc=60|start=318|end=319}}</ref>
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| − | ;1866: Now, ''we as Christians'' desire to be saved in the kingdom of God. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=Remarks by President Brigham Young|date=19 August 1866|vol=11|disc=41|start=268|end=268}}</ref>
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| − | ;1866: President B. Young preached a very interesting and instructive discourse, in which he showed that professing Christians believe all that the Jews believe, which appertains to life and salvation, and have accepted principles in advance of the Jews, including faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and that the Latter-day Saints receive all believed in by other professing Christians, appertaining to life and salvation, accepting, as a part of their religious faith, principles in advance of them which are taught in the Scriptures. He touched upon the history of the Jewish people, showing the penalties which they had incurred by disobedience to the commandments of God, and pointing to the promises made to the patriarchal fathers concerning them. And deduced that if the condition of professing Christians is to-day better than that of the Jews, for believing more of the revelations of God, so the condition of the Saints is preferable to that of the other inhabitants of Christendom, in accepting all the revelations which the Lord has been pleased to give. <ref>{{DNW1|author=Brigham Young|vol=15|num=109|date=4 March 1866 |start=page?}}; cited in {{BYA1|vol=5|start=32}}</ref>
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| − | ;1866: "On one occasion one of the native brethren who had been persecuted, claimed his rights as a Swiss citizen, and the question was brought up in the Swiss Congress, Are the 'Mormons' Christians? After some discussion, the conclusion was arrived at that they were, and must accordingly be protected." <ref>{{MS1|vol=28|num=12|date=24 March 1866|start=179|author=William W. Riter|article=Minutes of a General Council; Birmingham,England; January 5, 1866}}</ref>
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| − | ;1869: Thomas J. Turner (a critic):"...Mormonism is a form of religion 'grant it, a false religion' nevertheless, it claims to be the true Christian religion...."<ref name="defining">{{Article:Bradshaw:Defining Adultery/Full title|pages=416n45, citing ''Debates and Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Illinois, Convened at the City of Springfield, Tuesday December 3, 1869'' (Springfield, April 29-30, 1870), 1561}}</ref>
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| − | ===1870s===
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| − | ;1870:Have you embraced truth, Latter-day Saints? Have you anything different from ''other Christians''? <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=The Saints Are A Strange People Because They Practise What They Profess|date=20 February 1870|vol=13|disc=26|start=237|end=238}}</ref>
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| − | ;1871: If you should have visits here from those professing to be Christians, and they intimate a desire to preach to you, by all means invite them to do so. Accord to every reputable person who may visit you, and who may wish to occupy the stands of your meeting houses to preach to you, the privilege of doing so, no matter whether he be a Catholic, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Baptist, Free-will Baptist, Methodist, or whatever he may be; and if he wishes to speak to your children let him do so. Of course you have the power to correct whatever false teachings or impressions, if any, your children may hear or receive. I say to parents, place your children, as far as you [p.196] have an opportunity to do so, in a position or situation to learn everything in the world that is worth learning. You will probably have what is called a ''Christian Church here; they will not admit that we are Christians'', but they cannot think us further from the plan of salvation as revealed from heaven than we know them to be, so we are even on that ground, as far as it goes. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|date=3 June 1871|author=Brigham Young|vol=14|disc=26|start=195|end=196|title=Discourse by President Brigham Young}}; {{MS|vol=33|num=27|date=4 July 1871|article=Discourse by President Brigham Young|start=418|end=420|author=Brigham Young}}; DNW 20:235.</ref>
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| − | : We are preaching to the people far and near; our Elders are traveling through the earth; strangers are coming here, and we are declaring to them that the Gospel of the Son of God is true. Whether they believe or not, it is no matter. That book (the Bible)contains the words of the Almighty…. I know of the bright promises which he gave to his disciples anciently. I live in the possession of them, and glory in them and in the cross of Christ, and in the beauty and holiness that he has revealed for the salvation and exaltation of the children of men. I do wish we would live to them, and may the Lord help us. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|date=27 August 1871|vol=14|disc=31|start=227|title=Remarks by President Brigham Young}}; {{DN|vol=20|num=31|date=6 September 1871|author=Brigham Young|author=Discourse by President Brigham Young|start=357|end=358}}</ref>
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| − | ;1872:''We, as Christians'', believe in God, in Christ and in his atonement, in repentance and obedience, and in receiving the Spirit. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=Riches — Hurry — Fashion — Helping The Poor — Mysteries|date=26 May 1872|vol=15|disc=7|start=42|end=42}}</ref>
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| − | : "we take the liberty to believe the Bible, which our fellow Christians, generally throughout the world, profess to believe in…” <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=John Taylor|date=3 March 1872|title=Discourse by Elder John Taylor|vol=14|disc=45|start=338}} {{DN1|num=36|vol=21|author=Discourse by Elder John Taylor|date= 13 March 1872|start=65, second column}}</ref>
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| − | :: “We are looking for him [i.e. Second coming of Christ]. The Christians of all denominations expect that he will appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The Latter-day Saints expect this in common with all other Christians.” <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Orson Pratt|title=Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt|date=10 March 10 1872|vol=14|disc=46|start=348}}; {{DN1|author=Orson Pratt|article=Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt|vol=21|date=20 March 1872|start=77, fourth column}}</ref>
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| − | ;1876:These are only a few reflections, when we take into consideration ''our Christian religion''. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=Discourse By President Brigham Young|date=15 August 1876|vol=18|disc=26|start=217|end=217}}</ref>
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| − | :Brother Cannon speaks of Christians. ''We are Christians'' professedly, according to our religion. <ref>{{JDfairwiki|author=Brigham Young|title=Discourse By President Brigham Young|date=17 September 1876|vol=18|disc=29|start=231|end=231}}</ref>
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| − | :“How shall we, as Christians, reconcile these words of our Savior with the reception everywhere given by the world to Messrs. Moody and Sankey? They are, professedly, Christian ministers, yet they are largely entertained by the world, extolled by the world, and apparently loved by the world….” <ref>{{MS1|vol=38|date=6 March 1876|start=152|author=Editorial (Elder David McKenzie)|num=10|article=Christianity and Revivalism}}</ref>
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| − | :“But Joseph Smith reiterates the Savior’s promises. He has no fear of being proved a false teacher. He professes to be a Christian minister called and sent of God….” <ref>{{MS|vol=38|date=27 March 1876|start=200|end=201||author=Editorial (Elder David McKenzie)|num=13|article=Gifts of the Holy Ghost}}</ref>
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| − | :“Immediate revelation was the life of primitive Christianity, and when that ceased to be given to men, Christianity waxed feeble, waned and died. With the restored Gospel came immediate revelation, and Christianity was born again upon the earth.” <ref>{{MS1|vol=38|date=3 April 1876|start=217|author=Editorial (Elder David McKenzie)|num=14|article=Evidences of the Truth}}</ref>
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| − | ===1880s===
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| − | ;1881: ''We are a Christian community''; we believe in God and in Jesus Christ... <ref>{{MS1|vol=43|date=9 May 1881|start=292|author=Francis M. Lyman|num=19|article=General Conference (5 April 1881)}}</ref>
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| − | ===1890s===
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| − | ;1892: "What a singular sort of ‘Christian community’ that must be that will not tolerate an unorthodox Christian society in its midst!” <ref>{{DNW1|author=Editorial on citizens of Beaver Dam, Virginia removing Mormon Elders by force to another part of the state|vol=45|num=13|article=A Singular Sort of ‘Christianity’|date=17 September 1892|start=396}}</ref>
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| − | :“The insinuation in this [written attack on the LDS by a Protestant minister in SLC] is to the effect that a ‘Mormon’ is not a Christian, and the ‘Mormon’ religion is not a Christian religion, and further that the Supreme Court of the United States has virtually so decided…. But if a ‘Mormon’ is not a Christian then there are no Christians in America…. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is at least as fairly entitled to the appellation of a Christian as a member of the Presbyterian Church” <ref>{{DNW1|author="Intolerant Discrimination"|article=Intolerant Discrimination|vol=45|num=14|date=24 September 1892|start=441}}</ref>
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| − | :“[with reverence to Revelation 1. 12] We accept—as all Christians do—that God inspired the words ‘to see the voice.’” <ref>{{DNW1|author="The Book of Mormon"|article=The Book of Mormon|vol=45|num=25|date=10 December 1892|start=780}}</ref>
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| − | ===1900-1950===
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| − | ;1907: If it be true Christianity to accept Jesus Christ in person and his mission as divine; to revere him as the Son of God, the crucified and risen Lord, through whom alone mankind can attain salvation; to accept his teachings as a guide, to adopt as a standard and observe as a law the ethical code he promulgated; to comply with the requirements prescribed by him as essential to membership in his Church, namely, faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost,—if this be Christianity, ''then are we Christians'', and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian church. <ref>{{IE|author=First Presidency|article=Address to the World|vol=10|date=May 1907|start=481|end=495}}</ref>
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| − | ;1917: [W]e are a Christian people, we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we feel that it is our duty to acknowledge him as our Savior and Redeemer. <ref>Joseph F. Smith, General Conference address (April 6, 1917)</ref>
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| − | ===After 1950===
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| − | ;1956: We are not Catholic, Protestant, nor Jewish, and yet this disclaimer should not be taken to mean we are not Christian. You who heard the powerful address of President Clark this morning will know that ''we are Christians'', for central to everything we believe and teach is our faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. We are grateful for our Judeo-Christian heritage, for the Holy Bible which we accept without reservation as the word of God, except as to some errors that have crept in through translations. <ref>{{IE|author=Hugh B. Brown|article=Discourse|vol=10|date=December 1956|start=949|end=949}}</ref>
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| − | ;1997: Jacob Neusner, one of the great Judaism scholars of the twentieth century: "Christianity encompasses a remarkably diverse set of religious systems that have some qualities in common—belief in Jesus Christ—but also differ deeply, especially about matters on which they seem at first glance to concur. For example, who, exactly was, and is, Jesus Christ? No one imagines that by describing a single common denominator Christianity tells us about one unitary religion. Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox, Methodist, Mormon, and Lutheran—each is comprised by clearly delineated groups of Christians, all of them with their respective systems of belief and behaviour...as the world knows Christianities, but no single Christianity, so the world has known, and today recognizes, diverse Judaisms, no single Judaism." <ref>Jacob Neusner, ''The Way Of Torah'', 6th edition, (Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1997), 15. ISBN 0534516033.</ref>
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| − | ;2006: Bart Ehrman, a leading expert on the text of the New Testament: "...just as ''Christianity today'' is incredibly diverse (compare the Roman Catholics with ''the Mormons'' with the Pentecostals with the Seventh Day Adventists with the Eastern Orthodox… and so on!), it was even more diverse in the early centuries..." ("A Few Questions for Bart Ehrman," ''Oxford University Press Blog (OUPblog)'' (9 October 2006). {{link|url=http://blog.oup.com/2006/10/a_few_questions_3/}}
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| − | Clearly, the Church has "claimed" to be Christian for a long time, and even hostile critics realized it. To insist that this is a new, public relations move is false. Neutral observers have also seen the Church as Christian. Only a recent, intolerant fringe of fundamentalist Christianity has tried to exclude the Church from Christianity by self-serving definitions.
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