Are Mormons Christians?

Another Testament -- A New Covenant?

By Douglas K. Hollen

If you spend time with Mormon people, you will hear phrases like, “a covenant people,” “the fullness of the gospel,” “the restored gospel,” “this dispensation,” and the “apostasy of the church.” The Book of Mormon is referred to as “another Testament of Jesus Christ.”

If we are truly going to understand the Mormon people, we need to first understand how these phrases are part of the foundation of their faith. We must understand how they intertwine with each other creating a net result of a completely different gospel than that of New Testament Christianity.

The key to understanding is first to understand the “apostate” world. Joseph Smith put it this way in The Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History 1:19 “I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt….” This quote comes from Joseph Smith’s account of his first vision when he asked God the Father and God the Son which church he should join.

To further understand the meaning of “apostate,” let us turn to The Doctrines of Salvation, Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, Vol. III, compiled by Bruce R. McConkie. In chapter 14, The Apostate World, Joseph Fielding Smith paints a picture of the Apostate world:

“Universal Nature of Apostasy. All the men holding the priesthood should have a thorough understanding of the development of false doctrine and the gradual change which took place, after the death of the apostles, which transformed the Church of Jesus Christ into a system as far removed from the primitive Church as are the poles of our hemispheres. Nothing by way of ordinance and very little by way of doctrine, given by revelation in the days of our Savior and during the lives of the apostles, was left remaining….” (p. 268, italics in original)

“Nothing But Restoration Could Cure Apostasy. Joseph Smith was perfectly consistent in the course he took. The fact that there was not found on the earth in 1820 an organization which in any sense resembled the primitive Church, and which claimed to have received authority, is almost beyond the possibility of dispute.” (pp. 270-271)

Also found in The Doctrines of Salvation, Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, Vol. I, compiled by Bruce R. McConkie: “Such was the case in Israel preceding the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. The long dark day of apostasy, preceding the middle ages and continuing until the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith, was another benighted period of this kind.” (p. 155)

So what can we conclude from this? Mormon doctrine would have us to believe there were three “covenants,” or “Testaments.” The first began with Adam and progressed through Noah, Abraham and Moses. Then there was the first “apostasy,” – The Old Testament.

Jesus Christ then came to restore the gospel, but it soon died out as well with the death of Christ and the apostles, and thus, the second “apostasy,” – The New Testament.

Finally, we get to this dispensation, and once again, the New Testament Church had a great “apostasy,” so God had to send Joseph Smith to restore the gospel once again, and thus, “The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”

What is the concern with this line of doctrine? Simply put, with this one doctrine, the Mormons destroy the authority of Scripture. If a great apostasy happened in the Old Testament, and a great apostasy occurred since the days of Christ, then nothing in the Old Testament, or the New Testament can be trusted – it is all “apostate.” Therefore, on this premise, the only thing you can trust with any confidence is The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a new and restored covenant, the restored gospel, or the fullness of the gospel, the teachings of Joseph Smith.

As a God-fearing, New Testament believer in Jesus Christ, I find such a conclusion very disturbing. Mormons want to wear the title “Christian,” while totally denying the doctrines of the Old and New Testaments. What is the danger? While they claim “Christianity,” and use Christian words and phrases, they teach another gospel as we are warned against in Galatians 1:8: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

The Bible teaches us:

· The Word of God will stand forever, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35 – Christ speaking)

· Christ will establish His Church, “And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 – again Christ speaking)

If the Word of God stands forever, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church that Christ established here on earth; how did this apostasy happen? It didn’t -- unless Christ was wrong! Don’t fall into this trap! We should be searching the Scriptures (the Bible, the inerrant Word of God) daily to confirm that those things we hear and are taught are really true. Referring to the believers of Berea, God’s Word says: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

I encourage you to test the Scriptures! You will find that they can stand up under any and all scrutiny, because the truth of God’s Word will always stand. Very few Mormons are willing to test their own scriptures…I wonder why?

Witnessing point: Ask your Mormon friends what they mean by the “restored gospel.” Why did it need to be restored? Who restored it? Then ask them who was greater – Jesus Christ, or Joseph Smith? (Even Mormons will answer, “Jesus Christ.”) If Jesus Christ was the greater prophet, and Jesus said that His Church would not pass away and the gates of hell would not prevail against it; then why do you believe it failed? Why do you have more confidence in a church built on Joseph Smith? Isn’t it more logical to conclude the greater prophet would have the strongest church? Then take them to the old, old story of Jesus and His love – you can find it in the Gospel of John.

Remind your Mormon friends that John is a first-hand account, written by a man who lived with Christ for three years. Whose testimony will you trust? Will you trust a first-hand account from a man who walked and talked with Jesus Himself that can be collaborated with dozens of witnesses; or that of one man that cannot be collaborated with anyone, or anything?

Douglas K. Hollen is a financial consultant and is attending Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. God is in the process of using Doug’s investment planning business to support and underwrite his “eternity planning” business – serving our Lord…building His kingdom…taking the Gospel of Christ to the front lines. He is available to speak at your church or small Bible study group about the dangers of Mormonism. Please contact him at (314) 691-5418 for scheduling.