FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Questions: Are Mormons Christians"
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Furthermore, Latter-day Saints do not wish for those who hear them to abandon the knowledge and faith in Christ which they already possess. Rather, they hope only to add to what non-members already believed about Jesus. It would be counterproductive, then, to focus on differences without first making clear the great truth that Latter-day Saints believe with the rest of the Christian world—that Jesus was the Son of God, that he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, and was resurrected the third day to reign in glory forever and ever. | Furthermore, Latter-day Saints do not wish for those who hear them to abandon the knowledge and faith in Christ which they already possess. Rather, they hope only to add to what non-members already believed about Jesus. It would be counterproductive, then, to focus on differences without first making clear the great truth that Latter-day Saints believe with the rest of the Christian world—that Jesus was the Son of God, that he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, and was resurrected the third day to reign in glory forever and ever. | ||
{{QandA|The focus of tonight’s presentation seemed to stress that Mormonism is like other “Christian denominations.” That seems odd, given that Joseph Smith’s reason for founding Mormonism was that all the existing Christian denominations were wrong. Please explain this apparent contradiction.}} | {{QandA|The focus of tonight’s presentation seemed to stress that Mormonism is like other “Christian denominations.” That seems odd, given that Joseph Smith’s reason for founding Mormonism was that all the existing Christian denominations were wrong. Please explain this apparent contradiction.}} | ||
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+ | Joseph's reason for restoring the Church was that God told him that all existing Christian denominations were in error ''in some way(s)''. They had also lost the priesthood authority of God. | ||
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+ | It was the Bible that lead Joseph to his decision to pray to God. He believed that the Bible was true and a guide to life, but was confused by the fact that each denomination understood it differently—correctly concluding that God was not the author of such confusion, he sought to learn the correct path to walk. | ||
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+ | Latter-day Saints do not wish to be confused with "other Christian denominations." But, they strongly object to being told that they are not Christian at all. | ||
{{DVDHeadingBox|Salvation}} | {{DVDHeadingBox|Salvation}} | ||
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Eternal life is a gift from God. He promises us this gift if we enter into a keep a covenant with Christ. This covenant is made through faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As part of the covenant, members promise to serve God and Christ and to walk in newness of life through the grace of God. | Eternal life is a gift from God. He promises us this gift if we enter into a keep a covenant with Christ. This covenant is made through faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As part of the covenant, members promise to serve God and Christ and to walk in newness of life through the grace of God. | ||
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+ | {{QandA|Explain the works part of your ministry? Is this mandatory, and why?}} | ||
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+ | Answer | ||
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+ | {{QandA|Question: If salvation is not by faith alone, how can man be forgiven?}} | ||
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+ | ANSWER | ||
{{DVDHeadingBox|Jesus}} | {{DVDHeadingBox|Jesus}} | ||
{{QandA|Question: In Mormonism, is it believed that Jesus is God’s only Son? Because it has been stated that all people are literal spirit children of God, yet in {{s||John|3|16}} it states that “God sent His only son...."}} | {{QandA|Question: In Mormonism, is it believed that Jesus is God’s only Son? Because it has been stated that all people are literal spirit children of God, yet in {{s||John|3|16}} it states that “God sent His only son...."}} | ||
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* [[Deification_of_man|''Theosis'' or human deification]] | * [[Deification_of_man|''Theosis'' or human deification]] | ||
+ | {{DVDHeadingBox|Another gospel?}} | ||
+ | {{QandA|Question: {{b||Galatians|1|6}}, 59 A.D. Paul said, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.” Why have the LDS moved from the Gospel of the Bible? “Let him be accursed who moves away!” {{b||Galations|1|9}} | ||
+ | {{QandA|Question: {{b||Galatians|1|8-10}} --- No other Gospel!}} | ||
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+ | The authors of these questions are "begging the question"—they are assuming that which they wish to prove. They are presuming that ''their'' version of Christian doctrine and belief is true, and assuming that it was the same as the doctrine taught to Paul's converts in Galatia. | ||
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+ | Latter-day Saints agree with this scripture—but, insist that because of apostasy, the doctrine, rites, and practices of modern "creedal Christians" have been altered from the days of Paul. This is a good example of why an appeal to our own Bible interpretation alone can never resolve the question of God's truth. These issues are discussed further in the section below. | ||
− | {{QandA|{{b||Galatians|1|8- | + | {{QandA|Question: How can you be sure the angel Moroni was sent by God? Please explain {{b||Galatians|1|8-9}}.}} |
− | + | The question can be turned around: how can the critic be sure that the angel Moroni was ''not'' sent by God? Such matters can only be settled by appealing to God for an answer, as discussed below. | |
{{DVDHeadingBox|Testimony and determining truth}} | {{DVDHeadingBox|Testimony and determining truth}} | ||
{{QandA|Question: Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus, etc. all have prayed about the truth of their beliefs. How is your prayer test objective?}} | {{QandA|Question: Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus, etc. all have prayed about the truth of their beliefs. How is your prayer test objective?}} | ||
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Critics on this point must realize that only something from ''outside'' a holy book or religious teaching can prove the truth or falsity of the book or teaching. And, Latter-day Saints believe the only reliable source is God. | Critics on this point must realize that only something from ''outside'' a holy book or religious teaching can prove the truth or falsity of the book or teaching. And, Latter-day Saints believe the only reliable source is God. | ||
+ | {{DVDHeadingBox|Scripture}} | ||
+ | {{QandA|Are the Bible & Book of Mormon equally important for LDS?}} | ||
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+ | The Book of Mormon itself says that one of its roles is to reinforce and confirm the truth of the Bible, just as the Bible will reinforce and confirm the truth of the Book of Mormon ({{s|2|Nephi|3|12}}). Asking which is more important is a bit like asking which eye a person values more—both provide valuable insight, and one would rather have one than none, but the view is better with both than with either separately. | ||
{{QandA|How can you say that you believe the Bible is the word of God if it is fallible?}} | {{QandA|How can you say that you believe the Bible is the word of God if it is fallible?}} | ||
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Only God is without error and infallible—he is able to do his own work, and teach truth from any source in which it is to be found. | Only God is without error and infallible—he is able to do his own work, and teach truth from any source in which it is to be found. | ||
− | + | {{DVDHeadingBox|Miscellaneous}} | |
{{QandA|Who is your living prophet?}} | {{QandA|Who is your living prophet?}} | ||
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In a different sense, all Latter-day Saints aspire to be "prophets," since "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" ({{b||Revelation|19|10}}). Like Moses we "would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" ({{b||Numbers|11|29}}). | In a different sense, all Latter-day Saints aspire to be "prophets," since "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" ({{b||Revelation|19|10}}). Like Moses we "would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" ({{b||Numbers|11|29}}). | ||
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{{QandA|Question: Do you believe there are people who follow a false Christ? How would you define what a false Christ is?}} | {{QandA|Question: Do you believe there are people who follow a false Christ? How would you define what a false Christ is?}} | ||
ANSWER | ANSWER | ||
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{{QandA|Endnotes}} | {{QandA|Endnotes}} |
Revision as of 22:27, 24 August 2009
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Questions at a Recent Public Meeting |
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