People keep asking whether Mormons are Christian, as if that’s the issue that matters. It’s not. Mormons love this question since its probably one of the tamest aspects of the faith to question.
The other day I was reading some comments on an online post that was debating the issue of whether or not Mormons were Christian, and this interaction caught my eye.
One individual declared that the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) “never were and never will be Mormon.”
Now, I can't imagine that many Mormons will share this same sentiment, considering that the FLDS church literally emerged from the exact same roots as the Utah church. But this interaction ironically demonstrates the exact same mindset that other Christians have about Mormons.
Some Christians don’t consider Mormons Christian because Latter-day Saint teachings reject key doctrines established by early Christian creeds, like the Trinity, original sin, and the belief that God is an unchanging spirit. Instead, Mormonism teaches that God has a physical body, that humans can become like Him, and that scripture extends beyond the Bible through modern prophets.
To traditional Christians, those differences place Mormonism outside the historic boundaries of Christianity, even though Mormons themselves claim center their faith on Jesus Christ.
To me, the fact that mainstream Christians are debating whether a Mormon fits within their ranks is about as absurd as a mainstream Mormon debating whether of not a Fundamentalist is Mormon as well.
Yes, Mormons believe in Jesus Christ. That’s obvious. They pray in His name, read the Bible (and more), and center their theology on Him. But being “Christian” isn’t the point. The problem is how the institution uses that label to claim moral and doctrinal authority while ignoring the systems it built around obedience, hierarchy, and control.
When outsiders call Mormons “not Christian,” members of the church don’t really get offended, they get to play the victim. It reinforces their favorite storyline: that they’re a persecuted people, misunderstood for standing firm in faith.
So, are Mormons Christian?
Sure, why not?
But that question does nothing to address actual issues regarding how the church operates. It distracts from real issues, like the church’s historical deception, financial secrecy, gender inequality, and emotional manipulation.
Whether Mormons count as “Christian” says more about the human need to claim legitimacy than about the practice of a theology itself. The more important question is what the institution does in Christ’s name, how it justifies power, wealth, and control while preaching humility and service.
