Is Mormonism a Cult? Part II

Examples of unorthodox teaching about God would be that God The Father was a man. Their founder, Joseph Smith wrote, "He was once a man like us..." Milton R Hunter, a mormon leader wrote, "God the Eternal Father was once a mortal man who passed through a school of earth life similar to that through which we are now passing. He became God-an exalted being-through obedience to the same eternal Gospel truths that we are given opportunity to obey."

Yet the Bible clearly teaches that God is eternal, without beginning or end. Psalm 90:2, "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Other unorthodox teachings would be denial of the Virgin birth of Christ; that Christ was married, in fact a polygamist; that Jesus was the spirit-brother of Lucifer.

Regarding salvation, although they "believe in Jesus Christ", the sacrifice of Christ (according to the Book of Mormon Doctrine) does not atone for some grievous sins. Eternal life is only made possible and must be earned. The Bible states; "...and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from ALL sin." (1 Jn.1:7) and that; "By grace are you saved through faith,- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph.2:8-9. One can see that the unorthodox teaching has it root, not in the Bible, but in their own, "New", revelations such as the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price.

The claimed history (Of Mesoamerican Nephite and Lamanite warfare and of hundreds of thousands killed in 385 AD (historically not so long ago) in present day New York) has no factual evidence.But the Mormon church leader, the Prophets, expects belief not questioning. One of their articles states; "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan- it is God's plan...When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy." But the Bible notes in Acts 17:11; "Now the Bereans were of more noble character...for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

One last point I find interesting in this discussion. From its beginnings in 1830, the Mormon church has always sought to distance itself from the Christian church and make the claim as the only true church. Founder Joseph Smith claimed: " I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam...Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I." In Smith's vision, in answer to his question about which church to join, he wrote;

"I was answered that I must join none of them for they were all wrong...all their creeds were an abomination...those professors were all corrupt." Orson Pratt, a leading LDS apostle, said, "All other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God: and any person who receives baptism, or the Lord's Supper from the their hands will highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt of all people." A LDS doctrinal expert wrote, "Mormons...have the only pure and perfect Christianity now on earth...All other systems of religion are false," And George Q Cannon, member of the LDS First Presidency wrote, "The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom...have one thing in common. They all belong to Babylon (Satan). God is not the founder of them."

However, over the years, the Mormons have made great efforts to "return to the fold" sort-of-speak. Because of their unorthodox teaching, I personally would classify them as a cult. This is a religious question, and whether it has any weight in the political arena remains to be seen.