Hey guys anyone see the Mormon thread last night? I know it got deleted which is good but it got me thinking. Is the Community of Christ (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Christians? Because unlike members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the RLDS actually believe in the orthodox Trinity but they also believe Joseph Smith Jr. was a prophet and in the Book of Mormon.
They formed in the succession crisis of the early Mormon movement. The Mormons who followed Brigham Young became the mainstream LDS Church, but the Mormons who believed only a relative of Smith could succeed him follow Joseph Smith Jr's son Joseph Smith III and they formed the RLDS/Community of Christ.
So is the Community of Christ Christian Mormons, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints non-Christian Mormons?
I don't know much about them. Trinitarianism is a good foot forward though. Do they recognize Joseph Smith's other writings other than the book of Mormon? BoM isn't actually all that bad and most of the actual heresy in Mormonism is in the later writings.
Easton Wilson
This is taken from their website What do we believe? God Jesus Christ The Holy Spirit Creation Humanity Sin Salvation The Church Revelation
Anthony Hughes
Scripture Sacraments Discipleship Ministry The Reign of God Peace Resurrection and Eternal Life Judgment End Time
Aiden Campbell
We Proclaim Jesus Christ
Josiah Morales
Scripture in Community of Christ
Oliver Ramirez
Sacraments Baptism Confirmation The Lord’s Supper (Communion) Ordination
Jaxon Peterson
Blessing of Children Laying on of Hands for the Sick Marriage Evangelist Blessing
Aiden Allen
The Book of Mormon is just a fairy tale. Where there is actual history that backs up the Bible, no archaeological evidence has ever backed up anything in the Book of Mormon. I would steer clear.
William King
(this was all a lot longer than I thought it would be) Based on this, they seem pretty solid. Obviously posters will have some objections, but they seem to have no beliefs that aren't common to most protestant denoms allowed on this board, the only belief they have that's really out there is the inclusion of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants among their scripture. I would never convert, but I think they'd be allowed on this board. They're definitely Christian.
That's true, I even made that point in the LDS thread yesterday. The Book of Mormon is an outright impossibility
Jordan Anderson
kek their succession crisis sounds like the shi'a sunni split
Brayden Ramirez
So they’re Mormon Shiites?
Jose Young
The whole Mormon movement is strikingly similar to Islam.
Hudson Kelly
Yes and no, since the shiites are the more orthodox in this case. But, indeed, it was a funny comparison.
Jaxson Gonzalez
The question remains however, who is their Israel?
Wow, can't believe I wasted my time going through their beliefs as if they were sincere. I should have known Satan was hiding somewhere
Native American reservations, God gave the land to Mormons!
Grayson Johnson
The fact they said “two people” and not “a man and a woman” in the marriage section should have been a give away.
Nathaniel Richardson
Not convinced about this … since Zig Forums pwnd them meaning it was clear what Christians think … but I suppose they did break the rules
#notChristian They're adding to the Word of God expressly against God's exhortation in Revelations. The book of Mormon is not some innocuous "Ten steps to being a better Christian", it contains errant theology and history, and it – worse yet – claims to be from God via some angel. You follow the book of mormon, you're mormon.
That said, perhaps God will be more merciful with them. Who can say. Nevertheless, I would stay away
Isaiah Morales
What's their view on sufficiency? That is key.
This is a novelty. Christianity has firm doctrine.
Overall, reading through their statements, I would not recommend joining them, but I would consider them Christian. I want to see them name, explicitly, the persons of the Trinity. I'd view them in the same bin as Seventh Day Adventists and other Restorationists - all kinds of doctrinal issues but Christian.
Ethan Ortiz
So basically Mormonism can be Christian in certain circumstances but not others? What exactly IS Mormonism then? Should we limit it only to LDS? But RLDS claim to be Mormons of a different denomination than LDS. FLDS claim the same, Strangite LDS claim the same, etc. What is Mormonism?
Lincoln Cox
You're going about it backwards - Christianity can have some tarnishing of error and still be Christianity. Seventh Day Adventists, for example, believe in the prophesy of Ellen G White (who was not a prophet) and have all kinds of beliefs about lifestyle and health but are still Christian.
Now, you have to know God to do this. It's easy to put up an idol. That's why doctrines of the Trinity and basic soteriology are so critical.
It's not that Mormonism can be Christian, it's that Christianity can survive some stain of Mormonism.
Oliver Jenkins
Why would you even consider it in the first place? You know Mormonism is a cult so why bother with it's derivatives.
The giveaway is in the first line of their statement of belief Pay attention to
This SCREAMS cult - "we're Christians, look at all these Christian beliefs we hold… by the way this isn't all we believe but if you want to know more then you have to join us"
Their belief statement is designed to lure would-be Christians by deception, and once they've reeled you in they'll pump your brain full of heresy and blasphemy. Satan isn't hiding, Satan is right there in the beginning of their message
