It's truthful. It's very common for Christians to accuse Mormons of trying to "appear" mainstream. There is often talk about how the church deceives people by trying to look like "traditional" Christianity.
But, the bottomline is that Mormonism gets rejected by some, in traditional Christianity, based on criteria and standards from traditional Christianity, which LDS have never claimed. That does not, however, exclude LDS from the broader umbrella of Christianity.
Just a note here. When one states "traditional" or "orthodox" Christianity--that has to be defined in order to reflect a correct relationship of meaning.
That is usually a meaning that reflects the commonly accepted beliefs of Christianity today--not Biblical Christianity.
Sects such as faith alone cannot match their theology with Biblical Christianity, but they are accepted as the orthodox or traditional state of Christianity.
What is taught and practiced within the Biblical NT--the LDS hold in common those doctrines. The faith alone do not.
Like temple marriage?
Like becoming a god?
Like working your way to heaven?
Like a temple for the NT church?
Like Aaoronic and Melchizedek priesthood among members of the NT church?
Like a mother in heaven?
Like you being the brother of Jesus and Satan?
Etc.
The whole reason that Christians say that Mormons are not Christian is because they don't resemble any of the mainstream Christian churches and doctrine.
Come on Libby who do you think you are kidding?
If Mormonism was close to Christianity then Christianity would welcome them but they don't and the reason they don't is because Mormonism teaches a completely different gospel and a completely different god.
Did I say anything about being "close" to traditional Christianity?? You do have a way of twisting words, Billy. That's not a good thing.
I said, there are some parallels...and there ARE. LDS follow and believe in the same Jesus in the Bible that you do...the Jesus who was born in Bethlehem and who suffered and died on Calvary..(whether you want to acknowledge that or not). Same Jesus, with some different beliefs about him.
Many conservative Christians don't even accept Catholicism as "Christian", Billy. Some are, notoriously, very narrow in their definition of Christianity.If Mormonism was close to Christianity then Christianity would welcome
All I'm saying, Billy, is that the LDS Church allows others the ***le of "Christian"....they don't try to say that, those with whom they disagree, are not Christian. At least, not the contemporary LDS Church. I'm sure you can dig something up from the past that will have someone saying differently.
1 Nephi 14
10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the ***** of all the earth.
Yes, I think we've had that conversation, already. The First Counselor in my Ward said that the Church of the Lamb includes many who are not currently LDS....and the church of the devil may very well include those who are currently LDS. (in a nutshell)1 Nephi 14
10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the ***** of all the earth.
I know for a fact that LDS do recognize other Christian denominations as Christian.
1. Which church is the Church of the lamb of God?Yes, I think we've had that conversation, already. The First Counselor in my Ward said that the Church of the Lamb includes many who are not currently LDS....and the church of the devil may very well include those who are currently LDS. (in a nutshell)
I know for a fact that LDS do recognize other Christian denominations as Christian.
2. Which churches fall under the church of the devil?
I never, personally, witnessed that, but I would guess that the reasoning was that, once you have the "fulness", only satan could cause you to go to something less.