Is Mormonism Biblical Christianity? Are the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints Biblical?
In the many conversations I’ve had with Mormons over the years they are usually quick to become offended at the notion that they aren’t true Christians or that they don’t believe in the Bible like other Christians do. Mormons do consider themselves Christians, will affirm that they worship only one God, and do believe in the Bible, and that Jesus died for our sins. While we do share some similarities and some common ground, we should view these similarities not as a reason to believe they’re still saved and not to worry about, but rather—as a bridge to build healthy dialogue upon.
The Mormons who truly believe, follow and adhere to Mormon doctrine are not yet saved and we should see them as lost people outside of the Body of Christ—perhaps even more so because they may still lead a very devoted religious life and live with a false sense of security in their salvation. It’s one thing to outright reject the gospel of Jesus, but its another thing to believe you’re on the right track when you’re not. In an effort to share the true gospel with, and effectively witness to, our Mormon friends it will require more knowledge on which beliefs are absolutely necessary to be a Christian, what it means to be a biblical Christian, what the official Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints actually teaches, and why those differences are extremely important. For a quick overview of which beliefs are shared by all biblical Christians we recommend our article: What are the basic beliefs of Christianity that most all Christians can agree upon?
Biblical Christianity is based on theology that can be formed based on the Bible alone. One of the five tenants of the Protestant Reformation was Sola Scriptura, meaning “scripture alone.” All Christian traditions and beliefs outside of what we can properly find a foundation for in the Bible alone come from additional sources such as church authority, divine revelation, or personal interpretation or preference.
Who’s The Authority?
Mormonism, or the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is not based on the Bible. It does include the Bible, however it is NOT based on it. The Bible is a supplementary resource—rather than an authoritative one. Even when it is considered an authoritative source, it is considered an incomplete or corrupted source. Thus, whenever there is doubt, or a conflict, all texts written and revelations received by Mormon prophets post-Joseph Smith are considered the authoritative arbitrator and interpreter of WHAT IS RIGHT. The 8th Article of Faith from the LDS Church states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.“
All Mormon theology hinges on the reliability of Joseph Smith as a true prophet, and subsequent revelations by other LDS prophets after him, and deems all of these not only more reliable—but more essential—than the Bible. Key texts include the Book of Mormon, Doctrines & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Whenever key doctrines are concerned these later documents (in fact the entire religion of the LDS church) is based on creating a reformation to correct what was previously lost or corrupted. The LDS church completely hinges on the teachings of Joseph Smith and the LDS prophets who came after him. The presupposition is therefore that the ancient Bible, as well as all doctrine proceeding it from it, is not trustworthy.
Additionally, if one were to examine it, if the Bible was an authority (the LDS church claims it is and uses the KJV Bible to prosthelytize) then why does the Joseph Smith Inspired Translation differ SO MUCH from the KJV? Joseph Smith sought out to correct and update the Bible with new revelations/inspiration from God and added and subtracted even huge portions of the text. Since this translation has rightly-so been given harsh criticism and denounced by biblical scholars for some time now, most modern LDS scholars, confessing the inherent problems that have arisen, by claiming that Smith intended it more so as a “loose paraphrase.”
However, how can any sensible person deny that Smith maliciously butchered and rewrote much of the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) by adding and removing giant sections of main texts? What paraphrase does that? A paraphrase rewords what is there to make it more understandable. And not only did he change the text he intentionally and essentially removed and rewrote all scripture that would lead a person to the conclusion of traditional, monotheistic, trinitarian Christian doctrine and towards polytheistic LDS doctrine.
Furthermore, Smith claimed it was, and even named it so, “inspired” by God. This completely contradicts the fact that the Bible is God-breathed and full of references to God’s Word being inspired and holy, and God’s warnings not to tamper with HIS WORD or the full wrath of God would be upon them. God also promises that His Word would never perish and the scriptures themselves testify that ultimately God Himself was the primary author.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (2 Peter 1:20-21) (2 Kings 17:13-14) (Nehemiah 9:30) (1 Corinthians 2:13) (1 Peter 1:10-11)
Smith evidently thought that his authority as prophet-reformer was above the authority of the same God that authored the Bible. Thus, we have a conflict, and a choice to make: either Joseph Smith is the only true prophet and we have to reevaluate everything that came before him—or the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God and Joseph Smith is a false prophet. Either way, these two can’t be reconciled. Either believe the Bible or believe Smith. They contradict one another, so only one of them can be the authority.
Historical Christianity was birthed out of Judaism
Think about it like this. In order to become a Christian (follower of Christ) you had to first accept that Jesus was a Jew. Christianity was birthed out of Judaism. The record of historical Jesus shows this. Any attempt to link Jesus with Gnosticism is very weak. The sacred Scriptures (Tanakh/Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) are quoted numerously in the New Testament. Jesus said this in response when He was questioned by an expert in the Law/Prophets (i.e. the Old Testament):
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40)
Any effort to understand Jesus at all in the New Testament scriptures MUST be reconciled with first believing in and pledging allegiance to Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament, and all of His claims about being the One and Only God.
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ “Right, Teacher, the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him,” (Mark 12:28-29, 32)
Then it comes down to accepting Jesus as that same one-and-only-one-eternal-God’s promised Messiah. Then you need to reconcile all the ways that Jesus relates Himself to the Father and their unity, His Sonship, divine birth, divinity, humanity, and the fact that it was a monumental thing for Him to “come in the flesh.” Every other human on the planet always is born this way. Jesus was conceived miraculously for a reason.
Biblical Authority
Christianity is built on the foundation that we have effectively traced the truth all the way back to its original source. It is an illegitimate claim that some unknowledgeable people espouse the Catholic Church and the early councils “decided” what was going to be believed. The divine preservation of the Apostolic Scripture, as well as arguments/refutations among early church leaders in the church about key beliefs, and the accuracy of the historical record keeping demonstrate that the decisions made to create the early creeds were absolutely justifiable, responsible, and Inspired.
While we agree that the Roman Catholic Church has continued to instruct members to have firm beliefs and doctrines that are outside of inherently-biblical doctrine that is because the understanding that the Church has is that they possess the apostolic authority via apostolic succession to make those decisions. Not that I am endorsing or supporting these later church doctrines, of which I am not, but at least all decisions that were made after the biblical canon was formed supplemented the canon and the early Church Creeds—NEVER CONTRADICTING the early Creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian, Chalecedonian). Not to mention, the Bible itself hadn’t been changed since the first century!
Even aside from new doctrines creeping in throughout the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church doing this is no different than the LDS Church doing this. Both are creating new, non-biblical doctrine because they feel as though they have the apostolic authority to do so. So this is nothing new. The difference is the Catholic Church never edited the Bible itself. That has always remained untouched.
The fact is, leading up to, and during the Protestant Reformation, the Scriptures themselves were what was used to determine WHO the authority was. Upon analysis by early reformers, including Martin Luther and many others, it became evident to them that God didn’t intend to create a hierarchal church body that would govern in a political, military, and economical way. God intended Jesus to be the head of the Church and His Word and His Spirit would govern the Church.
God had already provided an authority. It was the Scripture itself—whom the Holy Spirit had divinely oversaw and preserved—the everlasting Word of God—used to teach and instruct us as long as it was illuminated, interpreted, and guided by believers who had faith and the Holy Spirit in them.
Is The Bible Itself Divine?
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” (1 Corinthians 2:13)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Luke 21:33)
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
Biblical Corruptions or Interpolations?
Please do not think that these verses were a new invention that were inserted later on by deviant church people in the 2–4th centuries. (We have whole copies of the Bible from the 4th century on) and fragments and references up until then demonstrating their preservation and accuracy. This has been the very truth of the Sacred Scriptures (even when they were only oral words 3,000 years ago). The nature of Scripture being commanded by God to be preserved accurately goes all the way back to MOSES. IF the Scriptures are not God’s Words then NONE of them are reliable at all. In which case we wouldn’t need to believe anything that we believe. The truth is God has preserved His Word, and somehow miraculously used flawed human beings to do it.
“Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.” (Exodus 18:20)
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6–9)
“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.” (Joshua 23:6)
“The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.” (2 Kings 17:13)
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17–19)
Any argument that Scripture has been corrupted is a very poor one. The variety of preserved ancient manuscripts, from various locations and time periods, with various copying mistakes, allows textual critics to see errors or interpolations from the originals. (The Reliability of the Bible New Testament Text). And if deviant church people invented these sayings and added them in then it completely contradicts all that they teach about righteousness, holiness, trustworthiness, etc. So any legitimate “Christian” wouldn’t do this! And if they would then they’re doing it for some gain outside of believing any of what it teaches. In other words, a saved person that intentionally changed sacred Scripture for their own gain would be damning themselves to Hell. Not a convincing argument in the least.
“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2)
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. (Proverbs 30:5–6)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18–19)
Are Mormons the ONLY Religion that claims the Bible was CORRUPTED?
Not at all. In fact, there are also various religions and esoteric faiths who “supplement” other texts with the Bible, referring to it as a corrupted or incomplete text, using it just as long as it doesn’t conflict with more recent ideas or concepts. Additionally, there are a large variety of religions who claim Jesus as theirs, stating that He was actually misunderstood and others have misquoted or misunderstood His teachings. They would suggest that His sayings in the Bible are reliable but it has “hidden meanings” that the church has missed that weren’t uncovered until THEIR prophet came to reveal “the truth.” And you just so happen to need to use their authoritative governing body’s interpretation to know the right belief to understand it. It’s a control tactic as old as time.
However, one has to wonder why are there tons of religions, cults, and faith groups all using the same excuse—that the original has it all wrong? And this has been happening since the very beginning! And these all contradict each other, too, so ultimately, if any, only one can be true. Aside from the reliability of scripture itself, the reliable historical record, and all the other massive evidence for the truth claims of historical Christianity, and just from a position of reason – what’s more reasonable? That God’s plan is secret and hidden so that billions of people over thousands of years will perish and only one little sliver has the truth—or that the original (that actually STARTED Christianity) is true and all these other religions are deceptions?
Sure, the Catholic Church supplemented church teachings “on top” of Biblical Christianity but it believes it has the never-broken lineage of apostolic authority to do so. They never changed The Word ITSELF! They preserved it and held it to the highest esteem! In fact, that is why the global Church has such great historical records and accounting of Christianity’s progression. Christians have ALWAYS considered scripture God’s Word!
DOESN’T Scripture itself warn us that lots of others would come to deceive after the original…and be successful at it? Prior to the historical, biblical Jesus there were NO other Jesus’ running around that’s for sure. They all came after. If Satan’s goal is to deceive by any means necessary—isn’t it at least possible that the LDS church was founded on one person (Smith) being deceived?
“Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many.”(Mark 13:6)
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1–2)
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:3–4)
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)
“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.” (1 John 4:2-3)
