Questions about Church members
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Recently, one unit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a public information session entitled "Are Mormons Christians?" Many members and non-members attended, including clergy from other denominations. Written questions were taken from the audience, and answered extemporaneously.
These questions are reproduced below by the kind permission of those who held the fireside. FAIR volunteers have here suggested some answers to these questions—many of which are commonly asked—and then provided links to further material for interested members and non-members who wish to learn more about these issues.
| Latter-day Saints as Christians |
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Question: If Mormons believe their church is the only true church on earth, wouldn’t it be more important to define the differences in Mormonism and not be so concerned with whether others consider you Christian or not?
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Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that their first and most important duty is to testify of Christ. They have each made a covenant to "stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places that [they] may be in, even unto death, that [they] may be redeemed of God and be numbered with those of the first resurrection" (Mosiah 18꞉9). Therefore, Latter-day Saints consider themselves honor-bound to rebut the common claim that they are not Christians.
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.
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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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ANSWER
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Question: What must a Mormon do to attain eternal life forever with God?
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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.
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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 John 3꞉16 it states that “God sent His only son...."
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Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of the Father. This means that only he has God as the father of his physical, mortal body.
To be a spirit child of God is an entirely separate matter.
| "Only one God" and the Trinity |
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Question: Isaiah 44:6, 8 says: “I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” “Is there a god beside me? Yes, there is no god; I know not any.” The LDS Church does not believe God is the first or the last and believes there are a host of other gods. How do you answer scripture on this point?
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Question: Teachings of Joseph Smith, p. 370 --- Joseph Smith teaches multiple gods. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577 --- “As each of these persons is a God, it is evident from this standpoint alone that a plurality of Gods exists.” How does this compare with Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalms 90:2, Isaiah 43:10?
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Question: In the King Follett discourse, Joseph Smith said, “You have got to learn to become gods yourselves, the same as all gods have done before you.” How does this work with clear verses like Isaiah 43:10 (Please read aloud . . .)
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Question: How do you explain these two verses? Isaiah 43:10-11 (lists passage)
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ANSWER HERE
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John 1:1, 14 teach that Jesus is God, God the Son. Philippians 2:5-11 clearly indicate that Jesus is “equal with God,” but gave up his place with the Father to become the Savior of mankind. Why does the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS not teach this truth?
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The Church does teach this truth. Jesus was God. He voluntarily gave up his exalted state, and condescended to come to earth to become the savior, in accordance with the will of the Father. He was resurrected and returned to dwell in glory with the Father, exactly as this scripture teaches.
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Is there more than one God in the Godhead? ["Godhead" is an LDS term often used as other Christians use the term "Holy Trinity.]
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This question turns on the question of how language is used. In one sense, there is only one God. In another sense, there are three beings to whom the title "God" is rightly applied: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Thus, in one sense the answer is, "No," because these personages together make up "one God." In another sense, the answer is "Yes." One must first be clear about which sense one means before answering the question. And, in answering the question, one must realize that the other sense is not suddenly false.
All Christian groups must grapple with this issue. Much of Christianity settled on the Nicene creed as a solution. The Latter-day Saints reject that solution as unbiblical.
To learn more:
| Theosis or Humans Becoming Like God |
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Question: In what ways, specifically, can Mormons become like God?
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Latter-day Saints accept the teachings of the Bible that the Saints can become like God and Christ. We regard Christ as the model or pattern toward which the believer is journeying:
- Said Jesus, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21).
- "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3꞉2-3).
- "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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" (Romans 8:17).
Latter-day Saints are always mystified when creedal Christians dispute this point—the Bible teaches clearly that the believer will be like Christ in every way: a joint-heir with him of his glories, attributes, and powers, through his grace.
To learn more:'
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Question: In DC 132꞉37, it says we have the ability to become gods. Is that Christian? Nowhere in the Bible does it state that we can become gods. If so, where?
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- Said Jesus, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21).
- "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3꞉2-3).
- "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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" (Romans 8:17).
This belief is also, contrary to the views of some conservative Protestants, entirely Christian. Many early Christian writers and thinkers discussed it:
- Irenaeus: "We were not made gods at our beginning, but first we were made men, then, in the end, gods." [1]
- Clement of Alexandria: "yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god." of alex
- Justin Martyr: "[By Psalm 82] it is demonstrated that all men are deemed worthy of becoming “gods,” and even of having power to become sons of the Highest."[2]
There are many others.
In addition, such Christian groups as the eastern orthodox continue to hold the belief today. It is the modern conservative Protestant, not the Latter-day Saint, that is out of step with the larger sweep of Christian thought and belief on this issue.
Latter-day Saints are always mystified when creedal Christians dispute this point—the Bible and the early Christians teach clearly that the believer will be like Christ in every way: a joint-heir with him of his glories, attributes, and powers, through his grace. They were not shy about using the term "god" to describe this state.
To learn more:'
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The Bible teaches in Colossians 1:16 and John 1:1-3 and other places that Jesus created all things, including Satan. How does this work with the Mormon view that Jesus is a created being and Satan’s brother?
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If Christ is a created being, please explain how Christ created everything but himself. According to John 1:3, all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” Christ could not have been created and yet create everything that was made.
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Question: Jesus is not Satan’s brother.
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ANSWER
{{QandA|Galatians 1:8-10 --- No other Gospel!
ANSWER
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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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This question presumes that these other faith groups use prayer to God to determine the truth of their beliefs. In fact, it has not been our experience that most religious groups (including those mentioned) used prayer for knowledge in the way enjoyed upon Latter-day Saints.
The question could also be turned around and posed to the questioner with even greater force: Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Hindus all have holy texts which they study and regard as evidence for their beliefs, just as Christians have their Bibles. All of them are convinced that their holy texts are accurate, and that the interpretation which they give them is the correct one which will lead them to God. How is your reading of the Bible or your holy book "objective"? How do you know that you have gotten it right and they are all wrong?
Quite simply, there is no "objective" test for a spiritual reality that will convince another person. A conservative Protestant's reading of the Bible is no more objective than a Mormon's reading of the same Bible, or a Muslim's reading of the Qu'ran. All may be sincere, all may do their best, but all cannot be right.
The only being who cannot be mistaken is God. Thus, only God may confirm or correct our best conclusions. The Bible insists: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:4). Latter-day Saints encourage all who hear their message to study it and come to their best conclusion, and then to ask God in the name of his Son if the message is true.
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2 Timothy 3:16 and John 17:17 establish the truth of God’s word. Is the Bible, the word of God, still true if I am not so convinced by a feeling or spiritual experience? John 14:6 --- Jesus stated that He is the Truth.
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Something remains true regardless of what we believe, feel, or experience about it. But, why ought we to conclude that the Bible is true? What would we say to the Muslim or Hindu equally convinced that their book is true? One cannot appeal to the Bible's claims that it is true as evidence—after all the Qu'ran and the Book of Mormon also claim to be true.
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.
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How can you say that you believe the Bible is the word of God if it is fallible?
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Latter-day Saints believe the Bible to be the Word of God because of the testimony of the Holy Ghost which is in them. Because God bears witness through his Holy Spirit of the truth, Latter-day Saints are not troubled by the need for a person or text to be "perfect" or "incapable of error" for God to teach them His truths through it.
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.
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Who is your living prophet?
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The current president of the Church (usually called "the prophet") is Thomas S. Monson. He is assisted by two counselors and Twelve apostles, all of whom are sustained by the Church as "prophets, seers, and revelators."
In a different sense, all Latter-day Saints aspire to be "prophets," since "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (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!" (Numbers 11:29).
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Explain the works part of your ministry? Is this mandatory, and why?
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Answer
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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 (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.
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Question: If salvation is not by faith alone, how can man be forgiven?
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ANSWER
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Question: Do you believe there are people who follow a false Christ? How would you define what a false Christ is?
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ANSWER
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Endnotes
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- [note] Henry Bettenson, The Early Christian Fathers: A Selection from the Writings of the Fathers from St. Clement of Rome to St. Athanasius (London: Oxford University Press, 1956), 94. ISBN 0192830090.
- [note] Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor, 3.1 see also Clement, Stromateis, 23.
- [note] Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 124.
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