Why Mormons Are Christian

[jonny]

I just wrote a blog post on this subject (with a video of the talk & everything!), but wanted to bring it here for discussion also.

Jeffery R. Holland, an Apostle in the LDS Church, gave a talk on the subject of whether the LDS view of the Godhead is Christian or not. What it gets down to is whether or not the Mormon view of the Godhead is supported by the New Testament or the Nicene view of the Trinity is supported by the New Testament. Elder Holland makes it crystal clear that Mormons view of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost being three separate beings, but united in purpose IS what is taught in the New Testament.

I especially loved this quote, from a fourth-century monk. I'm assuming it was shortly after the councils defined the trinity - “Woe is me! They have taken my God away from me, . . . and I know not whom to adore or to address."

You often hear that Mormons worship a "different Jesus." That may be the case, but the Jesus that Mormons worship is the Jesus found in the New Testament.

 

[jonny]

This blogpost at Times & Seasons discusses the quote from the Monk: Times & Seasons » Serapion

In 399, when a letter from Theophilus, the bishop of Alexandria, insisted that the biblical description of God was only allegorical and that the monks must not attribute to God any anthropomorphic characteristics, one Sarapion, an elderly monk of great reputation, found himself unable to pray to the new God, this God of the philosophers, at all. Falling on the ground he groaned: “Woe is me! They have taken my God away from me, and I have none to grasp, and I know not whom to adore or to address.”

 

[Halcyon]

The New Testament can be used to support many different cosmologies, hence Category:Ancient Christian denominations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[jonny]

The New Testament can be used to support many different cosmologies, hence Category:Ancient Christian denominations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I guess for those who claim that you must accept the Nicene Creed in order to be Christian, the question is whether or not these "Ancient Christian denominations" can be considered Christian. I've seen many who base extending the label of Christianity on accepting these creeds on this forum.

 

[Halcyon]

I guess for those who claim that you must accept the Nicene Creed in order to be Christian, the question is whether or not these "Ancient Christian denominations" can be considered Christian. I've seen many who base extending the label of Christianity on accepting these creeds on this forum.

Perhaps that's because they're closed minded and so aren't worth spending time trying to counter?

 

[jonny]

Perhaps that's because they're closed minded and so aren't worth spending time trying to counter?

I'd agree with that, but those who use the "Nicene" definition are in the majority of Christians, so I believe it is a relevant discussion.

 

[Halcyon]

I'd agree with that, but those who use the "Nicene" definition are in the majority of Christians, so I believe it is a relevant discussion.

It certainly is.

 

[KingM]

It seems hypocritical to complain that other churches don't consider you Christian and then trash the foundational beliefs of the majority of Christian sects.

 

[jonny]

It seems hypocritical to complain that other churches don't consider you Christian and then trash the foundational beliefs of the majority of Christian sects.

The only belief that I'll trash, and gladly trash, is the belief that if you do not accept the Nicene Creed that you are not Christian.

Call me a hypocrite if you want. I've been called much worse.

Now that we have that out of the way, do you have something relevant to add to the discussion, or are you just planning on attacking the messenger?

 

[KingM]

The only belief that I'll trash, and gladly trash, is the belief that if you do not accept the Nicene Creed that you are not Christian.

Call me a hypocrite if you want. I've been called much worse.

Now that we have that out of the way, do you have something relevant to add to the discussion, or are you just planning on attacking the messenger?

It sounded like you were trashing the Nicene Creed. Sorry if I was wrong.

Here's a question. Do you consider the polygamist communities of Colorado City to be Mormon? They revere Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Oh, and they call themselves Mormons.

 

[Katzpur]

Here's a question. Do you consider the polygamist communities of Colorado City to be Mormon? They revere Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Oh, and they call themselves Mormons.

Mormon? Maybe. Latter-day Saint? Definitely not.

 

[jonny]

It sounded like you were trashing the Nicene Creed. Sorry if I was wrong.

Here's a question. Do you consider the polygamist communities of Colorado City to be Mormon? They revere Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Oh, and they call themselves Mormons.

Watch the video. He doesn't "trash" the creed, but he does explain why we don't believe in it.

I don't consider the polygamist communities to be members of the same church that I belong to. I don't care what they want to call themselves. I believe that most of them probably still consider "Mormon" to be an insult, as do many members of the LDS Church today. Most members of the LDS Church have gotten over that, but Fundamentalist are, well, still living in the past.

 

[ChristineES]

While I certainly have my doubts about the Book of Mormon (sorry), I call Mormons Christians since they do believe in Jesus and follow His teachings. And I have known a lot of Mormons and they are always incredibly kind people.

 

[mcteethinator]

Mormons believe Jesus is divine. Therefore they're Christian.

 

[Aasimar]

Mormons believe Jesus is divine. Therefore they're Christian.

Yeah, I was gonna say that... again

And for the record, everyone follows a different Jesus, I have yet to meet 2 people who totally agree on everything Jesus said, meant, etc. It's kinda a make it up as you go along sort of thing.

 

[Tigress]

I consider anyone who centres their faith around Jesus, and his teachings, whether they believe him divine, prophet, or teacher, to be a Christian. It's a loose definition, but as the bible is open to interpretation, I see it as the only fair definition in essence, even if some Christians themselves disagree. I digress; since the Latter-day Saints fit the above criteria, I attest to them as being Christian. Period.