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Institute for Religious Research Latter-day Saints (Mormonism)
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Are Mormons (Latter-day Saints) Christians?
“Are Mormons Christians?” may be the most common question people ask about the LDS Church. Since we do not try to judge each individual Latter-day Saint, we prefer to frame the question as, “Is the LDS Church a sound form of Christianity?” Here are some resources on this issue.
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Latter-day Saints, Mormons, or Christians? How We Refer to Members of the LDS Church
When discussing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the terminology used often becomes the flash point of debates that can distract us from the most important issues. This article explains how we use such terms as Latter-day Saint and Mormon, why we use them the way we do, and why we do not consider members of the LDS Church to be "Christians."
Introductory Articles on Christianity and the LDS Religion
Mormon Belief: The Doctrine of the LDS Church
Start here for an objective, fair-minded overview of what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint teaches, based on its current teaching publications.
What the LDS Church Says about Traditional Christianity
Documentation from the LDS Church’s official website that Mormonism is sharply critical of traditional Christian beliefs and churches—even going so far as to describe them as being of the devil.
What Some Christian Denominations Say about the LDS Church
Consistent with the radical differences between the LDS Church and traditional Christianity, several major Christian denominations have issued statements explicitly denying that the LDS religion is an acceptable form of Christianity. We present these statements in order to document that evangelical Protestants are by no means the only Christians who view the LDS Church as a false church.
Mormon Missionaries: The Movement and Their Message
This article explains the origins and significance of the LDS missionary program and provides an overview and biblical commentary on the five missionary lessons (Gospel Principles and the Bible, part 33).
Bottom-Line Guide to Mormonism
The articles listed here provide short, basic introductions to a variety of topics of major importance in Mormonism.
Why Christianity Is True but Mormonism Is Not: A Dozen Reasons
This article provides an overview of twelve major reasons why historic, Bible-based Christianity is true but the LDS religion should not be accepted as a sound form of Christianity. Covers such issues as Jesus’ resurrection appearances, true and false scriptures, true and false prophets, the basic Christian doctrine and gospel, and religious practices. The overview links to twelve articles that discuss these issues in more depth and provide references to additional resources.
Is Mormonism Christian?
A comparison of Mormon and historic Christian beliefs on ten basic doctrinal issues.
5 Simple Steps to Impact Mormons or JWs at Your Door
These guidelines will be especially helpful for those who have never been members of the LDS or JW religion and who do not know a great deal about these religions.
Finding Help
Help for Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Those Who Care about Them
Whatever your interest or concern is regarding the LDS religion, you can start here to find resources of special relevance to your need.
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Going Deeper: Exploring Christian Responses to LDS Religion
Love, Honesty, and the Defense of the Faith
An appreciative response to chapters 30-31 of the LDS manual Gospel Principles, affirming the values of charity and honesty discussed in those chapters, and explaining that these values motivate and guide our defense of the historic Christian faith against the claims of such religions as the LDS Church (Gospel Principles and the Bible, part 30-31).
Mormon Statements Affirming Biblical Tests for Prophets
Provides support from both the KJV Bible and statements by LDS publications for four basic tests of any individual’s claim to be a prophet of God.
An Analysis of LDS Scholar Stephen E. Robinson’s Arguments for Accepting Mormonism as Christian
Evangelical scholar Robert Stewart critiques the arguments of a respected Mormon scholar on the subject of whether Mormonism is an authentic form of Christianity.
Is Mormonism Christian? A Respected Advocate for Interreligious Cooperation Responds
Richard John Neuhaus gives an informed perspective on this question as a Catholic scholar.
An Appeal for Authentic Evangelical-Mormon Dialogue
Evangelical scholar Ron Huggins responds to the comments of Fuller Seminary president Richard Mouw about dialogue between evangelicals and Mormons.
Statement On Richard Mouw And Evangelical Countercult Ministries
A response from EMNR (now called Evangelical Missions to Non-Christian Religions) to Richard Mouw’s public claims that evangelical “countercult” ministries are wrong when they state that the LDS Church teaches that God was once a man like us.