Mormonism seems to be on the rise. I read recently that some estimates suggest that by the end of this century there may be close to 300 million Mormons in the world. With the Mormon obsession with proselytizing and with their skill at winning converts, it seems a given that we will hear more and more in years to come about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Once considered little more than a fringe cult, it is fast entering the religious mainstream.
Many Christians seem unsure of how to react to the rise of Mormonism. Mormons are adept at using Christian language and in affirming their love of the Bible and of Jesus Christ. But behind the language and behind the similarities is a whole world of difference. Christians do well to arm themselves with some knowledge of this religion and of those who adhere to it. In his new book Mormonism Explained, Andrew Jackson offers a book that can do just that. A short study and one geared to the popular level, the book, well, it simply explains Mormonism. I do not mean to be flippant but in this case the title really summarizes the book. Jackson looks at the religion’s origins, its teaching and then spends several chapters teaching about the Mormon concept of salvation. In about 200 pages he gives a ground-level introduction to this religion and shows how it is not consistent with the Christian faith.
Perhaps a useful way of summarizing the book would be by providing this, an endorsement I wrote for it many months ago: Mormonism Explained is a lucid and steady guide to the beliefs and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Relying on Mormonism’s original sources, Andrew Jackson shows what Mormons believe and how they practice their faith. With this religion ever more in the mainstream and with much confusion as to what it really teaches, this book is a valuable, accessible and timely contribution.
Comments (14) »
1. Arthur Sido
April 12, 2008
3:51 PM
The real danger of mormonism today is that they no longer proselytize Christians based on the differences between mormonism and Christianity, but that they parade their religion as just a different, better form of Christianity. My wife and I were mormons in the late 90’s and the church has changed it’s approach a lot even since then, emphasizing similarity over difference to draw people in to mormonism. It is only then that they spring the quirks on them (becoming gods, the temple ceremony, etc.) Every Christian needs to be well versed in what mormonism teaches, but more importantly needs to know what the Biblical truth is. Only then can we discern a lie.
2. Tim
April 12, 2008
6:43 PM
As long as they sing “Shout to the Lord” and want to get rid of AIDEs in Africa then it shouldn’t matter what they believe, right? I mean, they still talk about Jesus.
3. mikbry24
April 12, 2008
10:46 PM
As long as they…. want to get rid of AIDEs in Africa
Do you mean that Mormons do not want African people to have a staff, assistants or any people that help them? That seems odd. Is that covered in the book? :-)
4. Tim
April 12, 2008
11:09 PM
Well, I asked my wife if there was an “e” at the end and she said yes so I blame her! :)
5. Georges
April 13, 2008
6:56 AM
Either I’m completely blind to their presence or they are very discreet (not sure if I spelled that right) but I am not awhare of their whereabouts in my area (I don’t mean that they are not around just that I don’t know).
I have to admit I am not very familiar with mormonism and would probably do well to read up on them a bit more.
Thanks for the tip on this book.
6. Mark
April 13, 2008
1:37 PM
Tim (theirvins.com Tim) I hope you were being sarcastic in your first post. Thats not true. Their Jesus is just a man. The Biblical Jesus claims to be God, yet Mormon’s disregard that. They are teaching a wrong Jesus, a wrong Gospel and Heresy.
7. Tim
April 13, 2008
2:50 PM
Mark,
I wasn’t really aiming at Sarcasm as much as stupidity. I was parroting the argument that’s going on about the “Idol” broadcast. To me, it’s the same thing except in one we have Hollywood and the other we have Mormons.
The Mormons are like the woman at the well. They don’t know who or what they worship. They’re nice folks though.
8. Adam Denison
April 13, 2008
3:53 PM
To Tim and Mark,
I think you both have it wrong. We indeed do believe in very same Jesus Christ of the Bible. We believe He is the Son of God and the Savior of all mankind. We believe that He and suffered and died for all of us so that we might return to live with Him again. We believe He was resurrected on the third day following His death. We believe that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can enter heaven.
While I respect Mr. Jackson’s attempt to explain “Mormonism” in his book, I would recommend that everyone take some time to also listen to what we have to say as well.
9. Tim
April 13, 2008
4:32 PM
Adam,
If you are a Mormon then I’m certain you will admit that you don’t believe that Jesus is God. You believe that He is a Son of God in the same manner in which you believe Lucifer is a Son of God.
Mormons do NOT believe in the same Jesus as Christians. Your Jesus is not the great “I AM”. He is fashioned by your own imagination with a little help from the Book of Mormon.
10. Mark
April 13, 2008
5:28 PM
OK Tim. Good. I now understand.
And Adam. If you believe in the same Jesus as Me please say that Jesus is God in Flesh. Jesus claimed to be God, that is why the Pharisee’s wanted to kill Him. If we was saying He was an ordinary man, they wouldn’t have killed Him. They would have considered Him a lunatic. I’m trying to do this as lovingly as possible but it’s hard because you can read this in any tone you want.
Mark
11. Wayne
April 13, 2008
6:29 PM
I certainly don’t wish to minimize the danger of Mormonism. It is a pernicious collection of heresies. But, I would note that the membership numbers published by CJCLDS are massively inflated.
The Church boasts 13 million members, but this includes growth by birth (children become members of the church at age 8) and all inactives who have ever been baptized into the Church but who have not specifically requested their names to be removed from the Church rolls.
I’ve encountered (for example) many now-atheist non-believers in Mormonism whose names are still officially on the rolls. They count in the grand tally.
Mormon missionaries push for investigator baptisms—and they push hard. Once you’re dunked, you’re on the rolls, whether you ever darken the door of the chapel again. This sort of thing is especially prevalent in Latin and South America.
According to some sources, the LDS Church couldn’t find more than 4-6 million active members worldwide if they tried.
Frankly, they don’t really try, though.
I don’t believe there will ever be 300 million active Mormons on the planet. The Internet has made Mormonism untenable in developed countries. Converts are increasingly drawn from developing countries with no access to modern information exchange via the Internet.
Mormon history is really its own worst enemy in terms of LDS missionary proselytizing.
At any rate, while I view Mormonism as pernicious and horrifically heretical, the “official” numbers are incredibly overinflated.
Wayne
12. Arthur Sido
April 14, 2008
10:59 AM
Adam, if you are a mormon then one of two things has happened in your post. You are either uninformed of what your church leaders, men who claim to have special priesthood inspiration, have stated about Jesus Christ and their relationship to orthodox Christian teachings -or- you are being willfully deceitful. I am sure that the book in question, like so many other books aimed at mormonism, take their information directly from primary quotes from mormon authorities. If we can’t trust the word of a “living prophet” to explain mormonism, who can we trust? You?
13. Mitchel
April 15, 2008
10:38 AM
I have a question that is a cousin to Mormonism. In my opinion all false religions that claim to be Christian and mimic or affirm much of orthodox Christianity are extremely dangerous. I recently got into a conversation with someone about Catholicism. Catholics have so much in common with Biblical Christianity that often times Christians are ignorant of what they actually believe that is different. Most Christians recognize Mormonism as being a “cult” but they are not able to see the same dangerous teaches in the Catholic Church.
Why is it that so many Christians are willing to link arms with Catholics and call them brothers but are not willing to do the same with Mormons? Isn’t one heresy just as bad as another? Both religions do not teach the correct view of salvation, so aren’t they both equally dangerous?
Mitch
14. Arthur Sido
April 18, 2008
8:24 AM
Mitchel, I think that it is because we have lost what the Gospel means. If the Gospel is all about moralism and political pragmatism, it is a lot easier to link arms with Catholics and mormons and others who share our cultural beliefs.