https://www.quora.com/What-do-Protestants-and-Catholics-think-of-Mormons/answer/James-Hough-1

[CaptainPrudeman]

Yeah, I and others have explained this to you to no end. The fact that you ignore all our explanations and instead choose to continue to attempt to mislead people with that argument shows that you have quite the axe to grind, and it’s very disturbing that you refuse to acknowledge that your argument holds zero weight.

 

[Pattylt]

I’ve been following this thread and might I point out that it would be perhaps helpful if both sides defined “gods”. The meaning today isn’t the same as during the ECF’s.

 

[TOmNossor]

I point out that it would be perhaps helpful if both sides defined “gods”. The meaning today isn’t the same as during the ECF’s.

The ECF before the 4th century believed that whatever Jesus Christ was men may become. If you believe the ECF held a non-Catholic Christology then I understand what you mean and PARTIALLY agree with you.
If you refer to something else, then I don’t know what you mean.
Charity, TOm

 

[TOmNossor]

I and others have explained this to you to no end. The fact that you ignore all our explanations and instead choose to continue to attempt to mislead people with that argument shows that you have quite the axe to grind, and it’s very disturbing that you refuse to acknowledge that your argument holds zero weight.

I have experienced Catholics raised on the Baltimore Catechism (Catholic High School and Catholic College in the case I specifically reference) scream that we (we Catholics) do not believe the exact words of CCC460.
As long as folks say the “IDEA that men can become gods” is blasphamy, I will point to the MODERN belief of the Catholic Church as contained in the CCC and as best elaborated upon by Catholic scholar Daniel Keating.
Your previous post about change IMO evidences you don’t recognize the radical transformation that is happening in the Catholic Church. The encouragement Keating offers towards the ancient doctrine of deification is a positive IMO. There are other changes that are not back to the more original understanding that I think call into question the understanding of Catholicism I was taught by Catholic Answers a decade ago.
Have you read Keating’s book? If so, then perhaps you can offer what you think about his position. If not, I think it worthwhile that I as a non-Catholic even, try to offer a correction to the misunderstandings I see. I assure you my view of what Catholics can and should believe is more informed and charitable than much of what anti-Mormon Catholics say about the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Charity,
TOm

 

[lokisuperfan]

I’m settling this “monotheism or polytheism” debate once and for all. Right off of the LDS answers website (fairmormon.org), it says that Latter-Day Saints are NOT polytheists, nor are they monotheists. They are henotheists, which is the worship of one God without denying the existence of other gods, as compared to polytheism, which is the worship of multiple Gods. According to them:

"We worship God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ - not glorious angels or Abraham or Moses or John the Baptist, no matter how great they may be in the kingdom of heaven as sons of God who have become “like Christ” (1 Jn 3:2). The only reasonable definition of polytheism requires that plural gods be worshiped - but the beings that Christ calls “gods” are not who we worship at all. In terms of worship, we are properly called monotheists.[1]

And as for the argument about whether or not they’re Christians…
https://www.lds.org/topics/christians?lang=eng

 

[Horton]

Quoting the LDS organization’s claim that they are Christians is NOT proof they are.
Do the LDS believe Jesus Christ is God?
Do the LDS believe Jesus was God BEFORE the incarnation?
Do the LDS Jesus Christ was fully divine AND fully human?
Do the LDS believe Jesus Christ is one person of the trinity?
Do the LDS believe in the Trinity?

If they can answer these questions with a yes, then they are Christian and not LDS. The LDS reject the basic principles of Christianity. They are not a Christian church.

 

[TOmNossor]

…
"We worship God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ - not glorious angels or Abraham or Moses or John the Baptist, no matter how great they may be in the kingdom of heaven as sons of God who have become "like Christ" (1 Jn 3:2). The only reasonable definition of polytheism requires that plural gods be worshiped - but the beings that Christ calls "gods" are not who we worship at all. In terms of worship, we are properly called monotheists.[1]

I think FAIRMORMON typically claims:

Monolatry might be a better definition for LDS worship. Monolatry is the worship of one God who alone is worthy of worship, though other gods are believed to exist.

I would go a little farther and suggest that God the Father is supreme. The Book of Abraham says that there are many intelligences and one that is more intelligent than them all. I consider myself a monotheist for two reasons that go farther than Henotheism and a little farther than Monolatry.

God the Father is supreme. God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have eternally communed with God and are properly called one God, but God the Father is the fount of divinity. In addition to this, all humans are called to enter into this communion. When they do they will be gods. Not partially gods or kinda gods, but gods. They will be gods through union with the Father, through the atonement of the Son, and through the witness offered by the Holy Spirit.

Most of the above is Ostler. I think he well describes this here:

http://www.smpt.org/docs/ostler_element1-1.html

It looks like you will be studying the teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. This IMO is a satisfying and worthwhile pursuit. That being said, LDS do not have a book like the Catechism of the Catholic Church that attempts to provide from an authoritative source a systematic theology. To be a LDS IMO is not to be orthodox (holding the right beliefs from a LDS point of view) in ones theology. To be a LDS is to be orthopraxic (practicing the right things from a LDS point of view). We worship God. We seek to Perfect the Saints, Proclaim the Gospel, Redeem the Dead, and Care for the Poor and Needy. We sustain the prophet. And we fall short and repent (we are sinners who keep trying).

When God told Joseph Smith that their “creeds were an abomination,” I do not believe this meant that things like “Christ was born of the Virgin Mary” were untrue. I think this meant that separating and condemning one another due to errors in theology and lack of “orthodoxy” is not God’s way. The CoJCoLDS has done well (though not perfectly) to follow this guidance.

My point is that there is a spectrum of beliefs within the CoJCoLDS and this if fine.

I KNOW there is spectrum of beliefs in the Catholic Church, but as I read things, there is an ORTHODOXY that is the right belief. The CoJCoLDS has much less concern about the orthodox, right LDS belief.

Charity, TOm

 

[lokisuperfan]

Monolatry might be a better definition for LDS worship. Monolatry is the worship of one God who alone is worthy of worship, though other gods are believed to exist.

They are henotheists, which is the worship of one God without denying the existence of other gods, as compared to polytheism, which is the worship of multiple Gods.

Monolatry means the same thing as henotheism.

hen·o·the·ism

[ˈhenōTHēˌizəm, ˌhenōˈTHē-]

NOUN

1. adherence to one particular god out of several, especially by a family, tribe, or other group.

 

[AngelaMarie]

Christ was a JEW. Grew up a Jew. Lived as a Jew. Etc Monotheism

Shema Yisrael

“Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/beliefs/beliefs_1.shtml

 

[gazelam]

If they can answer these questions with a yes, then they are Christian and not LDS. The LDS reject the basic principles of Christianity. They are not a Christian church.

The criteria you propose to define a Christian are man made and cannot be found in the Bible. Here is the definition of a Christian:

John 13:34, 35

34 I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
35_This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another._

Matthew 7:16 By their fruits you will know them.

 

[Stephen168]

I would start with 2 Peter 1:3-4

 

[Lemuel]

Mormonites worship multiple Gods. Just an one example of many:

The Hymn “I Believe in Christ”

I’ll worship him with all my might. He is the source of truth and light …

 

[AngelaMarie]

And Bruce McConkie (writer of this hymn) was sustained a prophet seer and revelator.

I am not sure what Mormonism teaches these days when it comes to their sustaining their leaders “prophets, seers and revelators” but when I was Mormon, their words, especially when spoken in general conference and other official capacities, was seen as superseding the “standard works” (scripture: ie BoM, Biblem D&C, PfGP).

That was the whole point of having LIVING prophets. Their words were more important than the dead prophets. SO their words became gospel, in Mormon eyes.

I have no idea of what it’s like to be Mormon now. I only remember what it was like back in the 80’s and 90s

 

[Lemuel]

When I was a Mormon the general conference issue of the Ensign was regarded as the most current scripture and the Mormon “walk and talk” for the next six months.

 

[Horton]

There you go cherry picking again Gaz. Do you not realize ALL of LDS teaching is man made and is not found in the bible? There is no evidence of the truth of the LDS in scripture at all.

In addition to the verses you quote there are many more warning against false prophets & straying from the teachings of Christ.

 

[gazelam]

There you go cherry picking again Gaz.

Please share all other scriptural verses which help us define who is a Christian. I shared two of them. I believe all viewers of this thread would be benefited by them. Take care and God bless.

 

[lokisuperfan]

There’s also no evidence that the LDS Scripture is false either. The teachings are an extension of the Bible, not a replacement for it. They’re meant to go hand in hand (although, as @AngelaMarie said, the BoM is held in higher esteem than the bible). Seriously, quote where it says we’re wrong. I’m curious.

 

[AngelaMarie]

Jesus was a Jew. A monotheist.
Not a polytheist.
Not a henotheism
Not a monolatry.

A Jew. A rabbi. A monotheist

One God. Uncreated. Eternal. Alpha and Omega. Without beginning or End.
In Mormon theology, it is taught Christ was the first spiritual born of all of the spiritual children That Christ had a beginning. That Christ was not eternal, with a beginning. That he was created at some point.

That is not the Christ of Christianity.
That is a different christ.

 

[AngelaMarie]

There’s also no evidence that the LDS Scripture is false either.

What do you mean by LDS scripture?
Clearly the BoM is not a historical record of the ancestors of Native Americans. Science has shown that.

IIRC, in the BoM is held up as the most correct book on the face of the planet. But Jesus mother’s name was not Mary, not really. That is a continuation of the Greek New Testament (mis)translation.

Her name is accurately translated as Miriam (Maryam). Why didn’t Smith correct that if the BoM is the most accurate book on the face of the planet?

 

[Crocus]

the BoM is held in higher esteem than the bible). Seriously, quote where it says we’re wrong. I’m curious.

Wrong, in opposition to the Bible as revealed in Revelation 22:18, to neither add nor subtract from what is written and interpreted by the power of the Holy Spirit, given to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Christ. Citations given multiple times, on multiple threads.

Btw didn’t you start out saying you are Catholic, you now say: “quote where it says we’re wrong.” When did you make the change? Have you been a LDS apologist all this time? EDIT: re-read few posts up, apparently your parents are supportive of your decision to join LDS and you’ve changed your profile to reflect that. So sorry.