Mormonism, officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith in upstate New York. Smith claimed to have received divine visions beginning in 1820, including a visitation from God the Father and Jesus Christ, who told him that all existing Christian churches were in apostasy. In 1823, Smith said he was visited by an angel named Moroni, who revealed the location of golden plates buried near his home. These plates, Smith claimed, were translated into what is now the Book of Mormon, a foundational LDS text.
Smith formally organized the LDS Church in 1830. After facing increasing opposition for his claims and teachings—including polygamy and extra-biblical revelation—Smith and his followers migrated westward. Smith was eventually killed by a mob in 1844. His successor, Brigham Young, led the LDS people to Utah, where the movement grew into a global religious body with over 17 million members today.
Biblical Christianity, by contrast, traces its roots to Jesus Christ, who lived in first-century Judea. Based on the Old and New Testaments, Christianity proclaims the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the historical and theological center of God’s plan for redemption. Unlike Mormonism, Christianity is not the product of new revelations but the continuation of a divine covenant fulfilled in Christ.
Principles and Foundational Assumptions
Mormonism teaches that God the Father was once a man who progressed to godhood and that human beings can follow the same path. Jesus is regarded as the spirit-brother of Lucifer, a created being who attained divinity. The LDS plan of salvation includes faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, temple endowments, and enduring to the end through obedience to church ordinances. The Book of Mormon, along with the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, are considered authoritative alongside the Bible—though the Bible is believed to be corrupt and incomplete unless interpreted through LDS prophets.
In contrast, Biblical Christianity holds that God is eternally existent, unchanging, triune, and sovereign. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, co-equal with the Father and Spirit. Scripture is the complete, inerrant Word of God. Man is fallen, spiritually dead, and utterly dependent upon God’s grace. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—not of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Sanctification flows from justification, and eternal life is a gift, not a wage.
Modern Influencers and Institutions
The LDS Church is headquartered in Salt Lake City and led by a President who is regarded as a living prophet. The church owns numerous institutions, including Brigham Young University, and operates a global missionary program. Public figures like Mitt Romney and organizations like Deseret Industries reflect the church’s civic and cultural reach. Twice a year, millions of members watch or attend the LDS General Conference, where modern “prophets” give directives to the church body.
Biblical Christianity lacks a central institutional authority but is expressed through millions of local churches worldwide. Influential Christian voices include pastors, theologians, missionaries, and laypeople who adhere to Scripture. Instead of a modern prophet, Christians affirm that God speaks through His completed Word and the faithful preaching of it by elders and pastors.
Psychological and Cultural Appeal
Mormonism appeals strongly to modern sensibilities. It offers a structured, family-friendly lifestyle; clear behavioral codes; and a positive, success-oriented message. It teaches that everyone is a child of God and can attain divine exaltation through obedience and spiritual development. The missionary program fosters community involvement and early adulthood responsibility.
Yet Biblical Christianity offers something far deeper: rest. Rather than striving to “qualify” for exaltation, the Christian rests in Christ’s finished work. Grace is not a motivational gimmick—it is the ground of acceptance before God. Instead of working for worth, Christians are justified and adopted into God’s family by grace alone. Christianity appeals to the conscience, not just the emotions.
Practical Outcomes and Cultural Fruits
Mormonism has cultivated a culture of morality, civic engagement, and self-discipline. However, it is often marked by legalism, performance-driven identity, and a heavy institutional structure. Reports from former Mormons describe feelings of spiritual pressure, guilt, and burnout. Moreover, the doctrine of eternal progression creates an anthropocentric faith—focused on man’s development rather than God’s glory.
Christianity produces different fruit: peace with God (Romans 5:1), joy in suffering, and a secure identity in Christ. Rather than anxiety over status, the Christian enjoys assurance (1 John 5:13). True good works flow from a changed heart, not pressure to achieve exaltation.
Criticisms that Biblical Christianity Poses to Mormonism
Christianity raises several serious critiques of Mormon doctrine:
- Polytheism: Mormonism teaches that God was once a man who became a god and that humans can do likewise. This contradicts Isaiah 43:10: “Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.”
- False Christology: Jesus is presented as a created being and spirit-brother of Satan—an unacceptable distortion of the biblical Christ (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-20).
- Scriptural Denial: The LDS Church denies the sufficiency and reliability of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16–17), depending instead on modern revelations.
- Works Salvation: Salvation is tied to performance—temple worthiness, obedience, and ordinances—whereas biblical salvation is entirely of grace (Titus 3:5).
- Doctrinal Instability: Mormon doctrines have changed repeatedly, including the nature of God, polygamy, and race-related policies.
Criticisms that Mormonism Offers to Biblical Christianity
Mormonism asserts that:
- The Bible has been corrupted and is unreliable.
- The Christian church fell into total apostasy after the apostles.
- Evangelicalism lacks priesthood authority and true ecclesiastical order.
- Christianity is divided and confused, while the LDS Church offers unity through living prophets.
- God still speaks through prophets; Christianity ignores continuing revelation.
Christian Counter-Responses
Biblical Christianity offers solid rebuttals:
- The Bible has been faithfully preserved through God’s providence. Jesus affirmed its reliability (John 10:35), and manuscript evidence supports its textual integrity.
- Christ promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18). There has been no “Great Apostasy” as claimed by LDS teaching.
- The biblical priesthood is fulfilled in Christ, our Great High Priest (Hebrews 7:23–28). Believers are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).
- Doctrinal diversity exists within Christianity, but the core gospel remains unified among faithful believers.
- God’s Word is complete. The canon is closed. Warnings against adding to Scripture are clear (Revelation 22:18–19). Prophets today are no longer needed because the final revelation is in Christ (Hebrews 1:1–2).
Spiritual Nature of the Conflict
This is not merely an intellectual debate; it is spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). Satan often masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and false religions can have a moral appearance but lead to destruction. The LDS system presents a “gospel” that appeals to human pride and achievement, yet denies the sufficiency of Christ. The battle is ultimately over truth—and souls.
Why Contemporary Christians Must Be Equipped
With Mormonism expanding globally and often presenting itself as a branch of Christianity, believers must be discerning. Many Christians are unaware of how radically LDS doctrines depart from Scripture. We must contend for the faith once for all delivered (Jude 3), training ourselves to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Our neighbors, including Mormons, need clarity, not confusion. Our witness must combine compassion with conviction.
As a last remark, I would like to say to Mormons that I have no issue with them as persons. I have heard positive things about the Mormon missionaries, in particular. Some have been willing to help the communities they have been assigned with various tasks around their homes. However, their worldview is harmful to them and to the persons they are evangelizing. I challenge them to read the Bible like a child, as one former Mormon was told. He took up the challenge and realized that Mormonism wasn’t biblical. Will you take up the same challenge?
S.D.G.,.
Robert Sparkman
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
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