Are Mormons Christian?

I've been surprised by the ferocity with which others have attempted to define what I believe in.  It just doesn't make sense to me that someone not even acquainted with me would try to tell me what I do or don't believe in.  This is how I feel when non-members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints claim that we are not Christian.  I think the reason many say this is to attempt to vilify the Church.  After all, many Christian denominations believe that it doesn't matter what Church you belong to as long as you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Savior; so if they can convince themselves and others that Mormons do not, then in their minds they are free to denounce the Church as false.

Often people confuse the question of "Do you consider yourself a Christian?" with "Do you satisfy my definition of what a Christian is?"  Isn't a person's Christianity a question of his or her own personal convictions and beliefs?  And if that's the case, who really has the right to define those beliefs besides that person and God?

The question:
Are Mormons Christian?



The short answer:
Yes.  We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.  The Church has always taught that.  It is, in fact, the foundation of our religion.

The long answer:
The very first Article of Faith states, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."  The third states, "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."  Furthermore, Joseph Smith—the founder of the Church—stated, "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it" (History of the Church, 3:30).

The Book of Mormon—which, along with the Bible, we believe to be the word of God—has the subtitle "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."  Its purpose is "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations" (Book of Mormon, Title Page).  One of the ancient prophets who wrote in the Book of Mormon explained, "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26).

Leaders of the Church in our day have stated in an official statement entitled The Living Christ, "We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."

I could go on.  Every leader of the Church has testified of the divinity of Jesus Christ.  Our scriptures are full of prophecies of his life and ministry as well as His words and teachings.  We worship Him through the hymns that we sing in Church every week.  Every prayer we pray is closed in his sacred name.  I hope that it is abundantly clear that we do believe in Christ and that He is our Savior.

Still, there are those who will insist on arguing semantics and point out reason after reason why Mormons do not fall into their definition of what it means to be Christian.  But at the end of the day, I know that I am a Christian, and Jesus knows that I am a Christian.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—also known as the Mormons—is a Christian church, and Jesus knows that it is a Christian church.  And it is His opinion that really matters.

I will close with my own personal testimony, which is that I know that Jesus Christ lives.  He is my Savior and Redeemer.  He is my Friend.  I know that He is the Son of God, and that it is only by living His Gospel that we can achieve true happiness in this life and lasting happiness in the life to come.  I know that through His Atonement we can be forgiven of our sins and shortcomings and also be healed of all our hurts, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.  I know that He loves us!  He loves every person on the planet and only asks that we come unto Him that He may heal and save us.  I know these things to be true, and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.