Are Mormons Christians?

By John Ankerberg, Sandra Tanner, Lynn Wilder and Michael Wilder

Is Mormonism the only true church and all of Christianity wrong? Being “temple worthy” is an important practice in the Mormon tradition, but do promises made in this process stand inconsistent with biblical Christianity? What about Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church? How did he receive his revelations and prophecies? This study features 3 prominent Mormons who have left the LDS Church and have become Christians. It will help you learn more about this movement and how you can better discuss your faith with Mormons. Mormon teaching claims to be a restoration of true Christianity and therefore rejects biblical Christianity as being true. This and much more is covered in this series of programs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Ankerberg
• Release date: Feb 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781941135402

John Ankerberg

John Ankerberg, host of the award-winning John Ankerberg Show, has three earned degrees: an MA in church history and the philosophy of Christian thought, an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a DMin from Luther Rice Seminary. He has coauthored the 2-million-selling Facts On series of apologetic books, as well as Taking a Stand for the Bible and Israel Under Fire.

Book preview

Are Mormons Christians?

Study Guide

By John Ankerberg, Sandra Tanner, Lynn Wilder, Michael Wilder

Published by ATRI Publishing

Copyright 2019

ISBN 9781941135402

License Notes

No part of this publication, including the artwork, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations in printed reviews—without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. NIV ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Edited by Dillon Burroughs, Layout by Beth Lamberson, Cover Design by Beth Lamberson, ATRI Publishing, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Contents

Title page

Introduction

Session 1: What Do Mormons Believe about God

Session 2: Are Temple Practices Inconsistent with Biblical Beliefs?

Session 3: Was Joseph Smith an Inspired Prophet?

Leader Resources

Appendix A: LDS Leaders Define Their Concept of Jesus Christ (by Sandra Tanner)

Appendix B: How to Begin a Relationship with God

Appendix C: Praying for Those Who Do Not Believe

About the Authors

About the Ankerberg Theological Research Institute

Introduction

Welcome to the Are Mormons Christians? study guide! What do Glenn Beck, Harry Reid, Steve Young, Stephen Covey, and Mitt Romney have in common? They are all Mormons. A 2011 national survey recently showed that half of all Americans believe Mormons are Christians. It also showed that 39% of evangelical Christians agreed. This finding has caused many to ask, Are Mormons Christians?

The results of this survey are surprising since Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith said he was starting a new religion based on his belief that Christianity was wrong. In the Mormon writing Pearl of Great Price, he asked God—Which of all the sects [Christian denominations] is right, and which shall I join?

He said, 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 abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt. Mormon teaching claims to be a restoration of true Christianity and therefore rejects biblical Christianity as being true. According to Doctrine and Covenants, the Mormon Church founded by Joseph Smith is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth…

But is Mormonism the only true church and all of Christianity wrong?

In Mormonism Jesus is a man who became one of many gods. Biblical Christianity teaches Jesus was always God, and that there is only one God. Further, Mormon apostle George Cannon taught, We are brethren and sisters of Satan as well as of Jesus. It may be startling doctrine to many to say this; but Satan is our brother. Jesus is our brother (Mar. 11, 1894, Collected Discourses, vol. 4, p. 23). Why is it most Mormons do not talk about these and other controversial differences?

Being temple worthy is an important practice in the Mormon tradition, but do promises made in this process stand inconsistent with biblical Christianity?

What about Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church? How did he receive his revelations and prophecies?

In this study, we will address these questions and ask, What do Mormons really believe? It features three prominent Mormons who have left the LDS Church and have become Christians. First is Sandra Tanner, the great-great granddaughter of the second Mormon prophet Brigham Young. She has invested her life to help Mormons investigating doubts about their faith.

This series also includes Dr. Lynn and Michael Wilder who were Mormons for 30 years. Lynn is a former tenured professor at Brigham Young University and has authored more than 50 scholarly publications. She left her teaching position in 2008 after becoming a Christian.

Michael Wilder, Lynn’s husband, served in a variety of leadership roles in the LDS Church, including being a member of the High Council and also serving in two Bishoprics. At the Chicago Temple he made decisions about who would be appraised as being temple worthy to receive the Mormon endowments and allowed to be sealed in eternal