Is Mormonism of Christian origin? Or do Mormons believe in God? This might be a difficult question for many Mormons and some Christians alike. Mormons will claim that they include the Bible among the four books they consider Mormon Scriptures and claim that belief in Jesus Christ is central to their faith as indicated by their official name, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
The Mormons, or “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” is a sect that was founded by Joseph Smith (1844). He was revealed to the angel Moroni, sent by God, who informed him that his mission was to restore the true faith and lay the foundations of the new Christian church. The book he would follow to complete the Bible was written on gold plates.
The contents of the “revelation” are contained in the “Book of Mormon,” “Pearl of great price,” and “Doctrines and Covenants.” These are in addition to the Holy Scriptures, which they complement, having the same authority as the Old and New Testaments.
How is Mormon different from Christianity?
The Bible teaches and Christians throughout the ages have believed that God is a Spirit (see John 4:24; 1 Tim. 6:15,16), that He is not a man (Num. 23:19; Hosea 11:9; Rom. 1:22,23), and that He has always existed (from eternity) as God – omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient (Ps. 90:2: 139:7-10; Rev. 19:6; Malachi 3:6).
According to historical resources, Mormons differ from Christianity in accepting the possibility of more than one deity. The Mormon Church holds that many gods have other names, and there is not just God Yahweh (Book of Abraham 4:3…) and that we, in turn, can become gods and goddesses in a heavenly kingdom. Mormons also teach that those who attain godhood will have spiritual children who will pray and worship them as we pray and worship God the Father.
At the same time, the Bible teaches that throughout the ages, they have believed that there is only one True and Living God and that there is no other besides Him (Deut. 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; 44:6,8; 45:21,22; 46:9; Mark 12:29-34).
Read also: Bible Quaran Differences. Facts about Muslim beliefs
Differences between Christian and Mormon Beliefs
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Who is God in the Mormon religion?
The Bible strongly warns us about false prophets who will preach “another gospel,” proclaim “another Jesus,” and be accompanied by “another spirit.” Based on the evidence presented above, we argue that Mormonism represents a counterfeit gospel.
According to the Mormon religion, God is a powerful being who created Himself by self-will, and like Him, there are numerous other deities. The Mormon Church teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct gods, the Son and Holy Spirit being the literal offspring of the Heavenly Father and a heavenly spouse.
Mormons hold with Christians many of the essential moral precepts of the Bible. However, the points described above are examples of the fundamental and irreconcilable differences between biblical and historic Christianity and Mormonism. While these differences do not prevent us from being on friendly terms with Mormons, we still cannot consider them brothers and sisters of faith in Christ.
Read also: If Jesus Was without Sin, Then Why Was He Baptized?
What do Mormons believe in?
Mormons adopt many Christian beliefs but have their own distinct set of philosophies, values, and practices. They consider themselves Christians, but many do not consider Mormonism an official sect.
Mormons believe in the crucifixion, resurrection, and divinity of Jesus Christ. They also claim that God sent several prophets after Jesus’ death. This religious group is guided by four texts: the Christian Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrines and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
According to followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Adam and Eve lived in Daviess County, Missouri, after being cast out of the Garden of Eden. In Mormonism, there is a belief that only those in the heavenly kingdom will live in the presence of God.
Do Mormons believe in God and Heaven?
Mormons follow a strict healthy lifestyle that does not allow them to consume alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or tea. Family life, good deeds, respect for authority, and missionary work are essential values in Mormonism.
Mormons do not believe in Heaven and one God but that every human can become God and create their own Paradise. Speaking of Heaven, Christianity believes there is only one. Mormon beliefs say there are three heavens, which are based hierarchically on how good you are as a human being. They uniquely view cosmology and believe that God created many planets. And that each world has its god. The Mormon religion goes even further, stating that if you are a good person, you will be rewarded by being a god on your planet.
Not all Mormon churches accept the label “Mormon” because the term has sometimes been used in a derogatory way and does not allow for the variety of beliefs among churches that follow the Book of Mormon and the teachings of Joseph Smith.
Read also: Did Jesus descend into Hell? Harrowing of Hell
Key Verse related to Mormons
“Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof until all events transpire.”
Do Mormons use the Bible?
The Book of Mormon manuscript has come into the possession of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for $35 million, setting what is believed to be a record for the most expensive manuscript ever sold, according to The Guardian.
Mormons believe in the Bible of Christ but do not use it. The Mormons rely on the teachings of Joseph Smith in the Book of Mormon. They rely more on a book than the Bible, but when you want to know God, it is essential to study the Bible and approach God from the right motivation, not from material interests.
A little clash in statements when they claim, “We believe that the Bible is the word of God as long as it is translated correctly,” the Mormons’ eighth article of faith says. But it goes on to state, “We also believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.”
Read also: Is Jesus vegan? Was Jesus a pescatarian?
What is the Book of Mormon about?
Joseph Smith is the prophet of Jesus, and he brought the one true church back to earth. Man can become like God, but there are two obstacles. The first is the physical body, imperfect and mortal; the second is sin.
The Book of Mormon relates that the purpose of coming to earth is to be like the divine father. The body is imperfect and mortal, but it is a stepping stone to salvation. Death is part of the plan of salvation. Those who have known God’s will and the new faith, but have not followed the plan of salvation, will go to hell. Others will receive an immortal body and live forever.
In contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that the Bible has been corrupted, that it lacks many of its “clear and valuable parts,” and that it does not contain the fullness of the gospel (Book of Mormon – 1 Nephi 13:26-29; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 190-191).
4 Mormon beliefs:
- Mormon doctrine says that if you want to be with your partner in the afterlife, the marriage ceremony must be performed in the temple of the Mormon church. All marriages that take place outside the temple are considered inferior.
- Coffee and tea are forbidden. If you are a big tea or coffee lover, you should know that it does not suit you to choose to be Mormon. This sect bans the consumption of coffee and tea altogether.
- Tithing is rarely mandatory in the religion, but Mormonism’s theology holds that to be in the Kingdom of Heaven, you must pay 10% of your gross income (tithe) to the church.
- Mormons believe that fossilized dinosaur bones came from other creatures that lived on other planets that were destroyed when the Earth was created.
Read also: How Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament?
Do Mormons believe in Christmas?
The Mormon religion has one of the fastest-growing religious denominations in the United States. With 6 million adherents, Mormons are now the fourth largest religion in the US, according to the latest Pew Research Center data. The church expands by about 1 million new members every three years. But their teachings are very different from Christian teachings.
According to historical and hormonal researchers, Mormons do not believe in or celebrate Christmas. Because they think that we should not only give on holidays. So, in conclusion, they don’t celebrate Christmas but live it as a typical day.
Another piece of information about them is their church’s wealth, estimated at over $30 billion. The primary source of the Mormon church’s wealth is tithing: Mormons must donate one-tenth of their annual income to the church to earn the right to pray in the temple. The church raises more than $5 billion each year from this source.
Primary Takeaways
- Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who wrote “The Book of Mormon,” which is divinely inspired and authentic. God was once a man who progressed in acquiring deity by following all the laws and precepts of the Mormon Church. And that God also founded it. One who denies all these beliefs cannot be called a full member of the Church of Latter-day Saints, specifically, a Mormon.
- Mormons are a religious group that accepts the concepts of Christianity. As well as the revelations made by their founder, Joseph Smith. So they belong primarily to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has over 16 million members worldwide.
- The Mormon Church, by its official title, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” declares its founding document, “The Book of Mormon,” to be “Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” or “A New Revelation of Jesus Christ. We believe it is really “A Testament of Another Jesus” and that, therefore, Mormonism cannot be Christian.
Read also: Was Jesus scared to die?
Conclusion
In America, the 19th century was the century of religious fools (and crooks). While in Europe, the local religious market was already established, the social, political, and economic context overseas fostered a spiritual effervescence with the emergence of a host of innovators who managed to attract the faithful to their new ‘churches.’
Indeed, Joseph Smith, the founder of the sect, was born in 1805 into a low-income family in the eastern United States. Therefore, his father worked hard to provide them with a decent living. Along with other men of very modest means, he was best at searching for legendary treasures left over from ancient Indian tribes. In the region where the Smiths lived, there were legends of ancient Indian tribes. Who had buried their treasures there, and not a few people scoured the hills for such coffers?
Thank you for joining us in understanding Mormonism. To test your knowledge of the Bible and Mormons, you can visit the following link for countless Bible Quizzes. Have a great day!
Bibliography
- O’Dea, T. F. (1957). The Mormons.
- May, D. L. (2001). Mormons. Mormons and Mormonism: An introduction to an American world religion, 47-75.
- Barlow, P. L. (2013). Mormons and the Bible: the Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion. Oxford University Press.
- McLellan, T., Jorde, L. B., & Skolnick, M. H. (1984). Genetic distances between the Utah Mormons and related populations. American journal of human genetics, 36(4), 836.
- Winn, K. H. (1990). Exiles in a Land of Liberty: Mormons in America, 1830-1846. Univ of North Carolina Press.
