Ask the Pastor: Immanuel. Are Mormons Christian?
by the Rev. Walter Snyder
Religion Columnist

Immanuel! God is with us, in the person of Jesus Christ. The Creator has become part of his
own creation that he might save us from our sin. People sometimes talk about "the miracle of
Christmas," but there are many miracles: The Virgin did conceive; she bore a son without a
human father; God joined himself to mankind by taking on our flesh; a human woman is,
literally, God's mother. Still, all of these miracles point to the even greater miracle:
God became human so he could live a perfect life on our behalf, then suffer and die to atone
for our imperfection, and finally be raised again to life that we also might live forever.

We also hear in the Scriptures how different people reacted to the miracles of Christmas.
Mary pondered these things in her heart; the shepherds came to see, then went home praising
God; wise men traveled from afar to worship; Herod sought to destroy the newborn King. How
do you receive the message? How do you react? Do you regularly bring to mind God's love for
you in Christ? Do you regularly go to his house to hear his Word? Do you live a life that
tells others, "It's a miracle that I'm alive"? If not, then return to the Source of the
miracle, Christ and his holy Word, and experience---perhaps again, perhaps for the first
time---the joy of having him born in your own heart.

God give you a joyful, Christ-centered time of celebration throughout the twelve days of
Christmas and throughout time and eternity.

Q: Are Mormons Christian?

A: This has been asked several times in the wake of an announcement that The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons) has purchased land in Concordia. For
those who don't know, the LDS is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. While there are
similarities, there are also many differences between them and the Reorganized Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) of Independence, Missouri and smaller organizations
that have splintered off of one of these.

The LDS is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. Some Christians are ready to
welcome them fully into the ranks of Christendom while others are certain that the LDS is
completely outside the Christian faith.

Rather than express my opinions, I'll lay some of the Mormon Church's basic teachings
along-side Biblical Christian teachings and let you draw your own conclusions. Remember that
the quotes and summaries are specific to the LDS, although some of them may also be shared
by the RLDS and others. Note that in these and many others, Mormons and Christians use the
same words. These words, however, often have vastly different meanings.

To be Christian, knowing and believing in Jesus Christ is an absolute. Here's the LDS
understanding of Jesus: He is the first spirit child of Heavenly Father; He is Jehovah; He
is the only begotten Son (that is, he is the only child Heavenly Father physically, through
sexual intercourse begat on this earth). He is Savior, and as such defeated physical death
for all mankind and paid our debt of sin, but patiently awaits repayment from us.

Christianity teaches forgiveness of sins by grace for Christ's sake. It cannot be earned and
is never deserved. The Mormon book Gospel Principles, p. 252, quotes President Spencer
Kimball: "To every forgiveness there is a condition. . . . The fasting, the prayers, the
humility must be equal to or greater than the sin. . . ." Compare this to the Bible, where
we are taught that God forgives freely because Jesus has paid the entire debt already.
Neither time nor all eternity could repay God for Jesus' suffering and death on our behalf.

Regarding God, Mormons teach that Heavenly Father was once a man who has achieved godhood.
They teach that he still has a physical body. A common LDS expression is, "As man now is,
God once was; as God now is, many may be." Heavenly Father was conceived by another god in
ancient days. Meanwhile, the Bible describes God as spirit and as eternal, without beginning
or end.

The Mormon "godhead" is not a Triune God but a triumvirate of Gods---Heavenly Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost. Sharing the Gospel Manual, p. 104 says, "He is not fully like the
Father and the Son in that he does not have a body of flesh and bones, He is a personage of
Spirit." And when Mormons speak of the "Holy Spirit," they don't mean the same thing as the
Holy Ghost, but are thinking more of an impersonal spirit. Under close examination, we see
precious little to remind us of the Holy Trinity as revealed in the Bible.

These brief but essential points should show that while the LDS may have "Christ" in their
church's name, they do not have the Christ of Holy Scripture, the Christ of Bethlehem and
Calvary, as the object of their faith and their hope for life eternal.

How is it, then, that Christians, who know about total forgiveness of sins and absolute
freedom under the Gospel, so often lag behind the Mormons in reaching out to others? Mormons
are trained from youth to look to help others and to use times of trouble to befriend
"Gentiles" (non-Mormons) and bring them into contact with a church that "cares for them."
This kindness, care, and personal contact is one of the biggest "selling points" for
Mormonism. How much more could we Christians do, as we remember that there is no more debt
to be paid, that all sins are forgiven, and that heavenly bliss is secure for all who
believe in the God-man Jesus Christ as Savior?

To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send
email to askthepastor@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."

Ask the Pastor is copyright (c) 2000 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced  in totality,
including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said
republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note
the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural
injunctions concerning the property of others.