While it may be true that many Christian denominations define orthodoxy by the early creeds, from an LDS perspective, Christianity is defined by following Jesus Christ himself. We believe in Him as the Son of God, the Savior, and as our Redeemer; we strive to live up to His gospel. That’s why we identify as Christian.
It’s true we don’t frame doctrine the same way the Nicene or Apostles’ Creed does, especially regarding the Trinity. But difference in interpretation doesn’t erase our faith in Christ. In fact, by your definition, only creedal churches would count as Christian, yet historically, the word has always described anyone who accepts and follows Jesus as Lord.
Except Mormons don't believe in one God. They believe that any man can become a god and create worlds. They get to marry all the women they want and their children will be the people of their new worlds. Three in one and one in three is pretty simple compared to the celestial kingdom.
That’s a distorted version of what Latter-day Saints actually believe. We do believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, united in purpose. That is our understanding of the Godhead. Teachings about exaltation (that we are children of God with eternal potential) are more complex than “any man can become a god and create worlds.” They’re rooted in the idea that through Christ’s grace, faithful disciples can share in His glory, not in a caricature of polygamy and universe-making.
The Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds are one way of framing Christian theology; Latter-day Saints frame it differently. That doesn’t erase our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, which is why we still identify as Christians.
You self identify as christians, but are not included as christians by christendom any more than Jehovah Witnesses are. If you want to be included as christians start by putting Crosses on your churches.
That feels like a very superficial way to define Christianity. Symbols on a building don’t determine whether someone is a disciple of Christ, faith in Him does. Latter-day Saints worship Jesus Christ as the Son of God, crucified and resurrected for our salvation, which is the heart of Christianity.
Insisting that we’re not Christian because our churches don’t display a cross isn’t about theology, it’s about gatekeeping. Just think about what you're suggesting for a moment, and question whether your pride and judgement against the LDS for "self-identification as Christians" is something that Jesus himself would care about. Different traditions use different symbols, but discipleship to Christ has never been measured by architecture or the supposed approval of different sects of followers.
I agree on the polygamy issue. Their entire gospel rests on it. However over the years many mormon doctrines have changed in order to make the religion more palatable to christians. They whitewash their history, and they are able to curve their teachings by modern day prophecy as they claim their current leader to be a modern prophet. One big example of this is huge changes in their temple ceremonies from what they were originally taught was absolutely needed to enter the celestial kingdom of heaven. Many of those things are no longer required, but tithing is a steadfast requirement. The whole thing is just weird. I did enjoy the youth programs as a kid growing up in it. Scouting, sports, many activities.
Technically those who follow Christ are only known as “Christians”, first by the Gentiles at Antioch, according to the Bible. It’s mentioned at least three times in the Bible that “we” are known as Christians by others, not actually those who follow Christ. So really those who follow Christ are called Christ followers. Or Jesus followers. Christians, the term is made up from those who didn’t follow Christ. And labeled those who did. Although it’s fine to call yourself one. Nothing wrong with it. It literally means those who follow Christ. But, someone who doesn’t label as such, isn’t wrong to say. Many of us are ignorant to this information. I myself was until recently.
That’s a fair note; the earliest use of the term “Christian” was indeed outsiders in Antioch labeling Christ’s followers. But the meaning was simple: those who follow Christ. By that definition, Latter-day Saints clearly fit, since everything in our faith is centered on Jesus as Savior and Redeemer.
So while different traditions frame doctrine differently, it doesn’t make sense to deny the label altogether. If “Christian” means a follower of Christ, then Latter-day Saints are Christians.
Yea it just reminded me when you say you’re not technically called Mormons, it’s a label you have by others. Same for those who follow Christ. From what I know yes LDS are as much “Christian” as I am in my southern Baptist church. There are some beliefs I find interesting..something about Jesus being a brother to Lucifer? But the foundation of Jesus seems the same. Which is the most important imo. God’s free gift. There are some thought that differ, but you seem to have salvation with Jesus the same as I do. and that’s beautiful. I don’t see you any different brother. We follow Christ. That’s what’s important.
I’m LDS as well, and it’s illogical - and really counter to what the church itself stands for - to suggest that calling yourself a Christian if you’re LDS is “abhorrent.” Our entire faith is built on Jesus Christ. His divinity, His atonement, His resurrection, and His role as Savior and Redeemer. How could it possibly be “abhorrent” to follow Christ?
My age isn’t relevant to the point I’m making; pushing this line of argument just makes it sound like you're deflecting for points. That's not a rational point to this discussion.
The question here is whether it’s “abhorrent” for Latter-day Saints to identify as Christians. Whatever era someone grew up in, the church has always officially been The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its teachings have always been centered on Christ as Savior and Redeemer. That hasn’t changed before or after 1968.
Do I you believe Jesus is the spiritual brother of Satan? No Christian sect believes that nonsense.
That's part of your Orthodoxy.
You will never admit your religion is a lot like Islam, it centers around the teachings of a man, not those of God.
That’s a distortion of what we actually teach. The Latter-day Saint belief is that all of God’s children - including us - are created by Him with agency, and that Christ is uniquely divine as the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, our Savior and Redeemer. His role is utterly distinct and central, and to equate our faith with Islam or dismiss it as “centered on a man” ignores the reality that everything in our doctrine points to Jesus Christ as the source of salvation.
You don’t have to agree with our theology, but mischaracterizing it doesn’t make your point stronger, it just takes the focus away from the very Christ-centered discipleship we actually live.
While it may be true that many Christian denominations define orthodoxy by the early creeds, from an LDS perspective, Christianity is defined by following Jesus Christ himself. We believe in Him as the Son of God, the Savior, and as our Redeemer; we strive to live up to His gospel. That’s why we identify as Christian.
It’s true we don’t frame doctrine the same way the Nicene or Apostles’ Creed does, especially regarding the Trinity. But difference in interpretation doesn’t erase our faith in Christ. In fact, by your definition, only creedal churches would count as Christian, yet historically, the word has always described anyone who accepts and follows Jesus as Lord.
Except Mormons don't believe in one God. They believe that any man can become a god and create worlds. They get to marry all the women they want and their children will be the people of their new worlds. Three in one and one in three is pretty simple compared to the celestial kingdom.
That’s a distorted version of what Latter-day Saints actually believe. We do believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, united in purpose. That is our understanding of the Godhead. Teachings about exaltation (that we are children of God with eternal potential) are more complex than “any man can become a god and create worlds.” They’re rooted in the idea that through Christ’s grace, faithful disciples can share in His glory, not in a caricature of polygamy and universe-making.
The Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds are one way of framing Christian theology; Latter-day Saints frame it differently. That doesn’t erase our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, which is why we still identify as Christians.
You self identify as christians, but are not included as christians by christendom any more than Jehovah Witnesses are. If you want to be included as christians start by putting Crosses on your churches.
That feels like a very superficial way to define Christianity. Symbols on a building don’t determine whether someone is a disciple of Christ, faith in Him does. Latter-day Saints worship Jesus Christ as the Son of God, crucified and resurrected for our salvation, which is the heart of Christianity.
Insisting that we’re not Christian because our churches don’t display a cross isn’t about theology, it’s about gatekeeping. Just think about what you're suggesting for a moment, and question whether your pride and judgement against the LDS for "self-identification as Christians" is something that Jesus himself would care about. Different traditions use different symbols, but discipleship to Christ has never been measured by architecture or the supposed approval of different sects of followers.
Oh wow. That's a really huge change from what we were taught. That was the reason for polygamy.
I agree on the polygamy issue. Their entire gospel rests on it. However over the years many mormon doctrines have changed in order to make the religion more palatable to christians. They whitewash their history, and they are able to curve their teachings by modern day prophecy as they claim their current leader to be a modern prophet. One big example of this is huge changes in their temple ceremonies from what they were originally taught was absolutely needed to enter the celestial kingdom of heaven. Many of those things are no longer required, but tithing is a steadfast requirement. The whole thing is just weird. I did enjoy the youth programs as a kid growing up in it. Scouting, sports, many activities.
Technically those who follow Christ are only known as “Christians”, first by the Gentiles at Antioch, according to the Bible. It’s mentioned at least three times in the Bible that “we” are known as Christians by others, not actually those who follow Christ. So really those who follow Christ are called Christ followers. Or Jesus followers. Christians, the term is made up from those who didn’t follow Christ. And labeled those who did. Although it’s fine to call yourself one. Nothing wrong with it. It literally means those who follow Christ. But, someone who doesn’t label as such, isn’t wrong to say. Many of us are ignorant to this information. I myself was until recently.
That’s a fair note; the earliest use of the term “Christian” was indeed outsiders in Antioch labeling Christ’s followers. But the meaning was simple: those who follow Christ. By that definition, Latter-day Saints clearly fit, since everything in our faith is centered on Jesus as Savior and Redeemer.
So while different traditions frame doctrine differently, it doesn’t make sense to deny the label altogether. If “Christian” means a follower of Christ, then Latter-day Saints are Christians.
Yea it just reminded me when you say you’re not technically called Mormons, it’s a label you have by others. Same for those who follow Christ. From what I know yes LDS are as much “Christian” as I am in my southern Baptist church. There are some beliefs I find interesting..something about Jesus being a brother to Lucifer? But the foundation of Jesus seems the same. Which is the most important imo. God’s free gift. There are some thought that differ, but you seem to have salvation with Jesus the same as I do. and that’s beautiful. I don’t see you any different brother. We follow Christ. That’s what’s important.
When I grew up in the mormon church we never identified as Christian. Never. Doing so was as abhorrent as the cross.
I’m LDS as well, and it’s illogical - and really counter to what the church itself stands for - to suggest that calling yourself a Christian if you’re LDS is “abhorrent.” Our entire faith is built on Jesus Christ. His divinity, His atonement, His resurrection, and His role as Savior and Redeemer. How could it possibly be “abhorrent” to follow Christ?
How old are you? I know what I was taught, pre 1968.
My age isn’t relevant to the point I’m making; pushing this line of argument just makes it sound like you're deflecting for points. That's not a rational point to this discussion.
The question here is whether it’s “abhorrent” for Latter-day Saints to identify as Christians. Whatever era someone grew up in, the church has always officially been The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its teachings have always been centered on Christ as Savior and Redeemer. That hasn’t changed before or after 1968.
Do I you believe Jesus is the spiritual brother of Satan? No Christian sect believes that nonsense. That's part of your Orthodoxy. You will never admit your religion is a lot like Islam, it centers around the teachings of a man, not those of God.
That’s a distortion of what we actually teach. The Latter-day Saint belief is that all of God’s children - including us - are created by Him with agency, and that Christ is uniquely divine as the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, our Savior and Redeemer. His role is utterly distinct and central, and to equate our faith with Islam or dismiss it as “centered on a man” ignores the reality that everything in our doctrine points to Jesus Christ as the source of salvation.
You don’t have to agree with our theology, but mischaracterizing it doesn’t make your point stronger, it just takes the focus away from the very Christ-centered discipleship we actually live.