Answering questions about the LDS Church

"we will suggest some wording that may be helpful in formulating your own answers "

Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron?

Its also important to tell children uncorrelated history and doctrine. That way they can answer with intellegence on those topics too. Instead of saying "oh thats a lie" they can give background on the situation and share why they believe or struggle with a certain topic. (do you have to believe everything 100% to be counted a believer?) Children can also give correlated church answers too, as suggested, for comparing and contrasting purposes.

Which "The Church" are you talking about? The LDS Church isn't the only "The Church" you know.

Put me in the "simply curious" camp with a sincere question.

The first two questions are prominent because of today's national headlines (Romney's presidential campaign, Warren Jeffs' trial). I see a potential link between the two. In my observation, Mormons often (as the Eyres do here) claim to be Christian because of belief in certain core beliefs, although acknowledging differences in other beliefs (e.g. the Trinity). It's as if 80% overlap in key beliefs is sufficient to qualify. Yet they dismiss LDS offshoots as non-Mormon because they do not have 100% overlap in doctrine.

So--
What are the definitive doctrinal tenets that define a Christian? How much deviation from the core doctrines is allowed before a denomination is no longer considered Christian? Who gets to define what a Christian is?

Taking a parallel approach--
What are the definitive doctrinal tenets that define a Mormon? How much deviation from the core doctrines is allowed before a denomination is no longer considered Mormon? Who gets to define what a Mormon is?

In other words, could the RLDS and FLDS still call themselves Mormon because of 80% overlap, even if they are not 100% LDS?

Sauce for the goose, no?

To expand on my previous post a bit...

I don't have a dog in the fight as I'm neither LDS nor observant Christian (though raised Protestant). As a casual observer, I see a double standard at work that could use some clarifying to resolve. On one hand, Mormons seem anxious to be taken in under the Christian umbrella and define themselves as Christians even though some other Christians would exclude them. On the other hand (at the risk of being flippant), Mormons are eager to exclude the FLDS from the "Mormon" label because they are not "true" Mormon-y enough (and the FLDS would respond in kind, of course). I see a parallel between the two cases. In the latter, the LDS are taking the equivalent role of the evangelicals in the former by saying that a newcomer is a poser who doesn't qualify for the club. One could speculate that in both cases the exclusion is (in part) an attempt to avoid the perceived baggage attached to the newcomer.

I don't begrudge any group or organization the right to define its membership requirements. It gets interesting, though, when different groups are competing for the same label.

@Lagomorph
I think the reason behind it is that Mormon is so commonly used to refer to the LDS church in particular. Everyone knows that there isn't a "Christian" church. There's Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Evangelical... etc etc. So while I personally believe that Mormon is a term that should apply to any Book of Mormon believing church, and that LDS, RLDS, FLDS etc should be subcategories of it much like Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist are subcategories of the word Protestant... the term Mormon has been so connected to the LDS church that it frequently causes confusion if used to refer to any BoM believing faiths.

Listen to, and deconstruct your own words. You write Mormons are thoroughly Christian, but are also unique and different from other Christians.
Lets see thoroughly Christian, or at-one-ment in fellowship with Christians all around the world. BUT, unique, or being without a like or equal AND different, or unlike in nature from other Christians.
Are Mormons seeking an INCLUSIVE fellowship or an EXCLUSIVE fellowship? I have lived and worshipped in Utah for a very long time, and I know the answer. This exclusivity keeps the divide too wide.

Lagomorph
Good questions. First for being a Christian, that would apply to anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the standard that has been around throughout history. Now that was broken into other groups as mentioned by ATL134. As for Mormon From 1830 to 1844 the term was used for one group, that being the group lead by Joseph Smith. After that only a hand full of groups popped up before the 1930's most of which have either did out or do not use the name Mormon. The RLDS (now called the Community of Christ) for example do not call themselves Mormons. The Church of Christ Temple lot also do not call themselves Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Strangite do but the vast majority have never heard of them. Now groups like the FLDS actually do not trace back to either 1830 or 1844. They go back to the 1930's when a man claimed that the Presidency of the Church had been secretly handed down to him going back to John Taylor with nothing showing it.

Lagomorph the question is about definition. Who gets to define Christian and Mormon will always be disputed I'm sure. My take is that a Christian is someone who believes in and follows Jesus Christ. A Mormon is a member and believer in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

@KC Mormon, As for Mormon From 1830 to 1844 the term was used for one group, that being the group lead by Joseph Smith.
The original name when founded was The Church of Christ. David Whitmer (An address to All Believers in Christ p73.)
Then the Church of Latter Day Saints (HofC v. 2 p.63) 1834, and now the current name.

Re: Atl134, Everyone knows that there isn't a "Christian" church. There's Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Evangelical.... The Apostles creed . I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic(universal) Church, the communion of saints. The true Church is the invisible Church=(elect) of God not a building or a place.
The Roman Catholics and the vast majority of Protestant churches consider Mormonism a false religion.

You missed blacks and the priesthood, but that's a good start.

@sharrona,
The original name when founded was 'The Church of JESUS Christ' (See HC 1:79,124-125).
And that same church exists today. Its international headquarters are in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.

Mormons, or LDS.....it's still Christian. Officially, it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I don't understand what part of that title doesn't sound Christian to people?

sharrona
I am very much aware of the fact that the name of the Church under Joseph Smith Started out as the Church of Christ in New York then Changed to the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Ohio because a religion already used the name the Church of Christ in Ohio again under Joseph then Joseph received the revelation to change the name to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I did not go into the long detail because of a lack of space not because I did not know it.

Michigander
In Joseph Smiths own Journal he called it the Church of Christ while in New York even on History of the Church the three pages you quote only one shows actual scripture quot that being HC1:79 it says "Revelation to the CHURCH OF CHRIST..."

@KC Mormon, this was an early error made by JS (in April 1830). He should have properly named it "TCOJC", as noted in the following extract from JS's 'The History of the Church':

"The Church of Jesus Christ Begins its Career.

We now proceeded to call out and ordain some others of the brethren to different offices of the Priesthood, according as the Spirit manifested unto us: and after a happy time spent in witnessing and feeling for ourselves the powers and blessings of the Holy Ghost, through the grace of God bestowed upon us, we dismissed with the pleasing knowledge that we were now individually members of, and acknowledged of God, "The Church of Jesus Christ," organized in accordance with commandments and revelations given by Him to ourselves in these last days, as well as according to the order of the Church as recorded in the New Testament." (HC 1:79)

Michigander
Do you understand what the History of the Church is? It is a compilation of different peoples journals written into the standard of the time of using the first person of Joseph Smith. The documentation is very clear both in New York, in The revelations of the time and in Joseph Smiths own journals that the name was in fact "THE CHURCH OF CHRIST". A margin note in a persons journal does not override the actual revelation given to Joseph Smith or the records of the State of New York or the Journals of Joseph Smith.

Oh what tangled webs we weave when we attempt our children to deceive about the nonsense we believe. Think that about sums it up.

Lagomorph, in answer to your question, like the LDS,I believe that the RLDS and FLDS can consider themselves Christian because they believe in Christ as their Savior. They are not "Mormon" any more than a Catholic is a Protestant. Protestant and Catholics do not completely agree on everything, but they are both Christian. Just because the RLDS and FLDS also have some beliefs the same as LDS, they also have differing beliefs, which make them unique and not LDS, but they are all Christian. Hope that this makes sense.

To: KC Mormon I did not go into the long detail because of a lack of space. Me too,
Nowhere in the Bible do we find true believers belonging to any âchurchâ per se, with the name Christ on it. Instead we find the elect(church=G.,ekklesia). For instance the Apostle Paul identified the believers in Corinth as âthe church of God ,which is at Corinth.â To those in Galatia he addressed as âthe churches of Galatiaâ. In 1st and 2nd Thessolonians he refers to Christians as belonging to âthe church of the Thessoloniansâ. God recognizes His people by their faith in Him, not by the name written on a door.

Christians Scientists,are not all scientists, and they deny the bodily resurrection Of Christ, are they followers of Christ?

Any intelligent person will see right through these rehearsed and coached answers. Why give answers that only have half truths. This is one major problem with the church. Instead of just telling the whole truth up front, ugly or pretty, the church often advocates half truth or lying for the lord. This method may work for the blind who don't seek the facts. But the church loses all credibility by doing this.