Question:  Dear Greg,

            I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints back in 1981.  I have noticed some comments in the Q and A section about “Mormons” having an imperfect idea of Jesus Christ.  Please explain where we depart.  We believe he was the same as the God of Abraham who came to earth in the flesh, was crucified, died and rose on the third day.  I realize we differ on many other issues, but essentially, Christ is Christ, Lord God and Savior.

            It is a bit much for people to believe in fairly recent revelation, such as with Joseph Smith at the age of 14.  Our faith is just that—entirely based on faith and revelation in modern times.  The Lord never said he wouldn’t speak with us if we turn to him.  We may not have broken off from Catholicism, but we believe profoundly.

            “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”  (John 1:1-3)

            This quote from the Bible draws a lot of consternation from many, but our faith believes that Jesus Christ was Jehovah and he was the Creator.  Is this where we disagree?

            Thank you,

            Gina

Answer:  Dear Gina,

            One of the unbiblical official teachings of the Mormons is that Jesus was born as a spirit child of heavenly parents.  This teaching denies what the New Testament teaches about Emmanuel—God with us.  The New Testament teaches that Jesus was and is God in the flesh, adding flesh to his divinity without being diminished in his deity.  He had a human body, was born of the Virgin Mary, and that body was raised from the grave (not a spirit, but a body).

            The Mormon teaching that Jesus married is also unbiblical and without historical documentation.  Other major unbiblical official teachings of the Mormon Church include:

1.      the denial of the Trinity (the Mormons teach that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate persons.  The Bible teaches that they are all one God, existing eternally as three co-essential, co-equal separate divine Persons.

2.      the claim of being the “true church” (the claim being that the true church must have prophets and apostles—because Mormons have living prophets and apostles, it is therefore the true church).

3.      the teaching that the destiny of humans is to become god is polytheism—an outright denial of monotheism, a biblical imperative regarding the nature of God and the central foundation of Christianity.  Polytheism in any form is a denial of the central tenet of monotheism.

4.      salvation by works, as opposed to God’s grace.

5.      claims that the Book of Mormon is another holy book on a par with the Bible. Once again, this practice removes Mormonism from Christianity.

            Thanks for allowing us to be of service Gina.  We hope this is helpful.  May God bless you.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht