Reader comments
A Christian queston: LDS seek to define faith on their own terms

I really don't have a problem with the Evangelical community calling the LDS Church a cult. I'm a Mormon, and a proud one, and I think that great damage is done when we try to project ourselves as mainstream protestants. I simply don't care what others think of us. And when I say "us" - I realize that I speak only for myself.

I also find it shallow of the Deseret News to link any news with Mormonism to Mitt Romney, and any news of Mitt Romney to Mormonism. Mitt Romney isn't a General Authority, and does not speak for the Church. Mitt Romney is a New England Liberal, and speaks for New England Liberals.

The terms being defined seem to be 'absolute mainstream'. More baptist than baptist, more evangelical than that crowd. No more references to other planets or another testament. Strictly Jesus and the bible, strictly churchy looking belfries on the buildings. JESUS CHRIST is in big font on the new buildings.
That's where the political power is today.
What happened to the past?

I'm glad the Church is being proactive about the claims that we are not Christian. I appreciate it. It's so undeserved, so unjust. I was Methodist, then Lutheran as a youth. My feelings about the Savior didn't change when I became LDS 35 years ago, they just deepened. I became more devoted to Him and to loving others. My faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus just increased.

That important point stated, on to something less so... Wow! Jimmy Carter still had his marbles ten years ago. I'm impressed! His comment in this article is the first of his I can remember in a LONG time that I agreed with. I can't believe he said it--but I'm glad, nonetheless.

Carter has really, totally LOST his mind in recent years (or should I say decades?). He's become a complete, anti-semitic, anti-American blowhard. I have little respect for the man anymore, and his common sense is nonexistent.

He's done some good with popularizing Habitat for Humanity, and that's commendable, but these days he's WAY off the reservation intellectually. He's offensive and pathetic. He should go back to Georgia and do some gardening instead of stirring up strife and creating resentment towards the USA.

"Sick and Tired", If you do more research, you will find that Mitt is very conservative.

These constant inquiries as to whether Mormons are Christians, in my opinion, come from ignorant people who choose to be ignorant. If they were genuinely interested they would do what others have done and read up on the Church's doctrine - from an official Church source. They would subsequently discover that the very foundation of that doctrine is based on the life and teachings of JESUS CHRIST. A simple and easy to understand explanation is readily available to anyone who sincerely wants to know.

I think its interesting that the people accepting of Mormons in public office are the liberals (why harry reid is in such a high position... would the GOP ever put Orrin in such a high position? No!). President Carter is was even a Baptist sunday school teacher. Don't you get offended that so many people in your party disrespect your religion? I would, and do, when that happends. Its good to be a Democrat.

How is it a religion when only until it was politically correct did it allow African Americans as equals to join. That is not until the IRS threatened the church of tax exempt status.

What have we lost by seeking to be accepted of vthe world? Perhaps too much. It reads in James 4:4:

"know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."


I fear that our attempt to come out of obscurity will result in condemnation by our God.

Oy veh! This tired old subject again. Why are people so worried about what the LDS church teaches? And why are the Baptists so set upon being the religious proctors to make sure people pass their test? I am sure that God is displeased with the dissension.

As a practicing member of the Church, I welcome news that Church leaders are becoming more proactive in making themselves accessible. Polls show that 35-45% of Americans would not vote for a Mormon for President. Why? Are they uncomfortable with our doctrine, beliefs and practices? Probably not as much as they are with their perceptions of what these doctrines, beliefs and practices are. In other words, we have a long way to build "public relations" with others. We are much better to define ourselves, or others will define us for us. Ask any Mormon if they wonder if they are Christian, or belong to a cult. They would find such an inquiry insulting and puzzling. But we shouldn't be completely suprised either. We are taught to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believe in the Bible and another testament of Jesus Christ (the Book of Mormon). We are taught over the pulpit and in General Conference. But peoples perceptions are formed in the public eye as well. And if Church leaders and members are more accessible - and proactive - in affirming our beliefs, then others will see us more how we see ourselves.

I love it! Thank you!

That is the only game the SBC knows how to play: defining Christianity buy there terms and function. For the SBC Christianity is Evangelical and narrowly defined in an attemp to create an authenticity that is not there. Without defining Christian Faith in evangelical terms they would be not be any different than any other off-shoot of the Catholic Church.

I was raised Pentecostal and am now proud to say that I am LDS. I can see the differences in the two churches. Other churches are forever changing their views on certain topics, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been unwavering in these topics. Our leaders don't get paid to be leaders in the LDS church, while leaders in other churches do. Jesus wasn't paid to preach the Gospel, why should anyone else be? The LDS church is consistent, while others are not. People need to remember "The Church is Perfect" while not all members are not.

I am very upset to hear that Senator Reid is to speak at a BYU Devotional. His conduct and speech over the last few months has been anything but exemplary of the highest standards of public service. Because of his questionable leadership of the Senate at this time, politics as a whole has taken a mean and disrespectful tone to fellow colleagues and to the President of the United States. I think a better example could be chosen to speak in front of the students of BYU rather than the obvious hypocrite that Harry Reid portrays to us over the media every day.

It is a bit unnerving that in 2007 we would be having this controversy. One of Mitt's opponents is a Protestant MINISTER and no one bats an eye about his fitness for office or his ability to govern fairly.
Mitt's problem is that he continues to run with the pack, albeit due to his own money.
The media dislikes conservatives ... and the LDS Church represents solid, traditional values.
It's just target practice but the people who would normally expose such nonsense are the ones taking shots at Mitt and the church.

Being a Christian means " Christ like". If we are not that then what are we? We believe in Christ, in the ressurrection, and in the Second Coming. We believe in the Bible. The Book of Mormon testifies of the Bible and vice versa. The oposition doesn't come from the CORE beliefs, it comes from nit picking the finer points. Once you understand the basics, then you will understand the finer points.

Why cant we all just get along.

You know... If I don't like Pickles, I don't go around bashing "Pickle lovers". Why would I even care if other people like pickles. Why would I even care if the pickle lovers went around getting others to love pickles too?

I guess my point is... If you have a problem with what a church believes in, then keep it to yourself. If the LDS church teaches people to ask God if the Church is true or not, then let GOD tell people if they should join or not. I think God would be a good judge of religious matters.

And LDS are not Protestant. The very definition of that term, means that a Church came out of another Church because of some thing they did not agree on (or Protested).... The LDS believe they are "restored", or that God thru a Prophet brought the truth back to the earth. So... by definition they can not be "Protesting" anything.

As members of the Church, we may be somewhat skeptical of polls that show that 35-45% of voters would not vote for a Mormon president. Are they uncomfortable with our doctrine, belief or practices? Or do they really know enough about the Church where our religion would factor into their decision? Ask a member of the LDS Church if they are Christian or belong to a cult, and you will likely find us bewildered by the very question. We are taught to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the New Testament, and we believe in the Book of Mormon - another Testament of Jesus Christ. We teach each other these doctrines over the pulpit in Church, in our seminaries, institutes and conferences. But many people's perceptions come from what they read in the paper, see on the Internet, or hear from others. As Church leaders and members speak more openly and frequently to others outside of our faith, we will find they understand us better. Then it will be their choice -and not ours - if they accept us or not.

I'm tire of so-called Christian churces (most are relative newcomers to the Christian world) defining who is a Christian and who is not.

Nobody covered our forum, where we discussed are evangelicals really a cult. Man, this fairness doctrine is unfair. Who cares what other people label others.