“Is Mormonism properly defined as a cult?”……Much controversy has occurred in recent years regarding how Bible-believing Christians should view the teachings of the Mormon Church. Mormons call themselves "Christians," and they take exception to Mormonism being called a "cult."……First, we should clearly define cult. One general definition found in dictionaries defines a cult as "a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies." According to this wide-ranging definition, any religious group could be labelled as a cult. However, Christians have often defined a cult more narrowly, using a definition such as "a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth." A cult holds views that are unorthodox and spurious. It claims to be part of a religion yet denies essential truths of that religion.……When considered in light of this narrower definition, does Mormonism fit the characteristics of a cult? The technical answer is "yes." Some Mormon teachings are unorthodox, and the claims of Joseph Smith are spurious (see explanation below). Mormonism claims to be part of Christianity yet denies some of Christianity's core truths. For example, Mormons reject belief in the Trinity; hold to an unbiblical view of the afterlife; and teach that Jesus is a created being, that salvation is by faith and works, and that the Book of Mormon is Scripture in addition to the Bible.……Despite recent attempts to reposition Mormonism as evangelical Christianity-or to at least make the two seem compatible-the Mormon Church continues to hold to its aberrant teachings. No one can claim to be a Christian yet hold a vastly divergent view of salvation, God, Jesus, and Scripture. A Mormon may claim to follow Christ, but it is a very different "Christ" than what is found in the Bible.……Another question remains. Even if Mormonism can properly be defined as a cult, should it be called a cult? This question addresses not only teaching but association, because the word cult carries a negative connotation.

For example, a wide variety of religious cults exist, and some cultists have performed violent acts or led people to make unhealthy, irrational choices.

Is it helpful, especially when dealing with Mormons personally, to call Mormonism a "cult"? ……It is unwise to use derogatory terms when referring to other religions.

Words like cult are generally unhelpful when referring to Mormonism. Even if its teachings can be defined, theologically, as cultic, based on a certain definition, the negative connotation of the word remains.

Christians are called to reach Mormons with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:16), and the use of the term cult is a distraction. This is not a matter of compromise, but of speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

It is sufficient for Christians to clearly state that Mormon teachings are incompatible with biblical Christianity.

These differences are important. Christians should pray for and reach out to Mormons with the message that salvation is a free gift of God, apart from works (Ephesians 2:8ÔÇô9).

…“Who was Joseph Smith?”……Joseph Smith is widely known as the founder of the Mormon Church also known as Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Joseph Smith from an early age was thought to have certain occult powers. He was known at a young age as a seer and reportedly used a seer stone to tell him where he could find such precious metals as silver. Both he and his father were known "treasure seekers" and used divination and magic to carry out treasure seeking excursions. This of course brought him a name and a reputation. To this day, he is considered by some a saint and by others a complete charlatan. ……Joseph Smith grew up during a time of spiritual revival in America known as restorationism. It was at this time, 1820, that Joseph Smith claimed to have received a marvelous vision in which God the Father and God the Son materialized and spoke to him as he was praying in the woods. He reportedly said that the two "personages" took a rather dim view of the Christian church and for that matter the world at large, and announced that a restoration of Christianity was needed, and that Smith had been chosen to launch the new dispensation. Since its beginnings until the present day, the Mormon Church holds the position that they alone represent true Christianity.……Mormon leaders have consistently taught that after the death of the Apostles, true Christianity had fallen into complete apostasy, making it necessary for a "restoration". But even after the supposed heavenly visitation, Joseph Smith and friends continued to dig for treasure using occult methods. These methods were illegal in that day, and Smith was convicted of "glasslooking" in 1826. But before that conviction in Chenango County New York, the new "prophet of the Lord" continued to stir up controversy with yet another amazing close encounter with heaven. In 1823, Smith claimed to have been contacted by an angel named Moroni who revealed that there were golden plates at a certain location near Palmyra, New York. On the golden plates was a history of an ancient man named Mormon and his fabled ancient Hebrew tribe, who were said to be a new revelation, "another witness" to the truth of the Christian gospel. It was recorded in Mormon historical documents that the angel had provided special spectacles needed to help Smith translate the writings from the golden plates. It was also reported that during the translation, the man who was helping him had the privilege of having John the Baptist, accompanied by Peter, James and John, come to Pennsylvania on that day May 15, 1829 to confer upon the men the "Aaronic Priesthood". These and other amazing stories are recorded in Smith's book, Pearl of Great Price. ……Joseph Smith claimed to have special visions and an incredible opening up of heaven to him. But a statement signed by sixty-two residents of Palmyra, New York, who wanted others to know that they had known him, his family, his beliefs, and his occultic excursions to find treasure declared him to be "entirely destitute of moral character and addicted to vicious habits." Yet, he claimed to be God's mouthpiece, and when he spoke, he claimed that God was speaking. This powerful position was taken seriously by many followers, and when Smith had a vision it was to be taken seriously, no matter if it flew in the face of "Christian" moral standards. His new "revelation from God" on polygamy is but one example.……Popular or not, his pronouncements "from God" took him quite a ways for quite a few years. His highly imaginative stories always read like science fiction, mixing and twisting Biblical truth with imagination. He was always careful to imitate Biblical truth, and many times he rewrites the Bible. To many, his theology is a twisted mirror image of real theology. It tempts by using a smattering of the real thing, the things that people know as Bible truth. ……Joseph Smith met his end at the hands of an angry mob. Having attempted to quiet the polygamy issue after the church had settled in Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith and his followers destroyed an anti-Mormon newspaper building and consequently were arrested and in a jail awaiting trial. The jail was stormed by an angry mob of two hundred people and Joseph Smith and his brother were murdered. After his untimely death, there was a split in the "church". The church he established remains centralized today both in Missouri, (the Community of Christ-RLDS) and in Utah, where many Mormons had followed their new leader, Brigham Young.

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