Jesus Christ/Accusations that Latter-day Saints aren't Christians

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Criticism

Critics claim that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not "Christian."

A related claim is that the Church has only recently begun to portray itself as "Christian" in order to gain adherents.

Source(s) of the Criticism

  • There is no rightful claim by historic Mormon doctrine to the name Christian, because they deny almost every one of the major fundamental doctrines of Christendom." - Norman Giesler, founder of Southern Evangelical Seminary, cited in Elise Soukup, "The Mormon Odyssey," Newsweek, (17 October 2005)*.

Response

LDS aren't Christians?

At its base, this claim is an excellent example of the No true Scotsman fallacy.

The claimed bases for the charge that the LDS are not Christians include:

Saints claims to be Christian only recently?

This claim is absurd. The critics depend on their audience not knowing much about LDS history for this claim. Enemies and members of the Church have long known that Church members consider themselves "Christian" (italics added in all cases):

1839
This sect took its rise, A. D. 1830, in the county of Ontario, and State of New York. In April of that year, the society was organized as a Christian Church.[1]
1853
Now, we ARE believers in the Bible, and in consequence of our unshaken faith in its precepts, doctrine, and prophecy, may be, attributed "the strangeness of our course," and the unwarrantable conduct of many towards this people. Come, my brother Presbyterian; come, my brother professors of every persuasion of long standing and popular distinction in the world, who are dubbed with the word "ORTHODOX;" come, we are all good Christians; I find no fault with you—why should you find fault with me?[2]
1863
Should you ask why we differ from other Christians. Are all this people, in the Scriptural sense, Christians? They should be. Do they all serve God with an undivided heart? They should. Many of them do, seeking daily to do his will.[3]
1864
The Latter-day Saints differ from their Christian brethren.[4]
1866
Now, we as Christians desire to be saved in the kingdom of God.[5]
1870
Have you embraced truth, Latter-day Saints? Have you anything different from other Christians?[6]
1872
We, as Christians, believe in God, in Christ and in his atonement, in repentance and obedience, and in receiving the Spirit.[7]

Conclusion

A summary of the argument against the criticism.

Endnotes

  1. [note] Francis G. Bishop, Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints (Blum and Son, Salem, Massachusetts 1839): 2.
  2. [note] Brigham Young, "{{{title}}}," Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt (24 July 1853), Vol. 1 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1854), 237–237.off-site wiki
  3. [note] Brigham Young, "{{{title}}}," Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt and J.V. Long, (8 July 1863), Vol. 10 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1865), 230–231.off-site wiki
  4. [note] Brigham Young, "{{{title}}}," Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt and J.V. Long, (31 July 1863), Vol. 10 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1865), 318–319.off-site wiki
  5. [note] Brigham Young, "{{{title}}}," Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt, E.L. Sloan, and D.W. Evans, (19 August 1866), Vol. 11 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1867), 268–268.off-site
  6. [note] Brigham Young, "{{{title}}}," Journal of Discourses, reported by D.W. Evans and John Grimshaw, (20 February 1870), Vol. 13 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1871), 237–238.off-site
  7. [note] Brigham Young, "{{{title}}}," Journal of Discourses, reported by D.W. Evans, J.Q. Cannon and Julia Young, (26 May 1872), Vol. 15 (London: Latter-day Saint's Book Depot, 1873), 42–42.off-site

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