Should We Ever Assume Mormons are Saved?
In an age of information overload and media consumption, the influence of popular culture on our perspectives and beliefs cannot be overstated. It's not uncommon for prominent figures within the public sphere to shape or even reshape our understanding of faith and theology, subtly or overtly. Consider the charismatic television personality and political commentator, Glenn Beck, a known Mormon, whose engaging persona and conservative viewpoints have won him a considerable following. He often weaves his religious beliefs into his rhetoric, thus subtly introducing Mormon theology to the broader conservative audience.
Similarly, the rising popularity of shows like "The Chosen," a series centered around the life of Jesus Christ, has captured the attention and admiration of diverse Christian audiences. Yet, it's producer, Dallas Jenkins, is an outspoken ally of the Latter Day Saints and closer scrutiny of the show reveals the subtle infusion of Mormon theology within its narrative, despite its overt Christian veneer. It's essential to approach such influential media with discernment, ensuring that our understanding of our faith remains firmly rooted in the inerrant Word of God.
"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)
It is upon the foundations of this sacred Scripture that we build this exposition, examining a question that continues to stir the hearts of many within Christendom: Can we ever assume that a Mormon might be truly saved? There is an urgent need to address this question with utmost scriptural accuracy and honesty. This article attempts to boldly, yet with great respect, argue from an decidely biblical perspective that the answer to this question is an unequivocal "no." It will grapple with a series of common arguments, then biblically refute each of them, elucidating why belief in Mormon doctrines prevents adherents from receiving the true saving gospel.
Before delving into these arguments, it is essential to affirm the sovereignty of God over salvation, a fundamental belief held by biblical Christianity. Scripture is clear that "salvation belongs to the Lord" (Psalm 3:8), and therefore, God can save whoever He pleases. Yet, as God's chosen vessels, we are called to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). This mandates us to critically examine the professions of faith that any so-called believers make not just via their own words an actions, but also through their affiliation with religious organizations.
Let us then address the Mormon view of God, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and their doctrine of works-based salvation.
The Mormon View of God and the Trinity
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church, does indeed profess a superficial belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, a close examination of their doctrinal statements and foundational texts reveals an interpretation vastly divergent from traditional Christian orthodoxy.
The Mormons' conceptualization of God the Father is a stark departure from orthodox biblical Christianity. Their fifth Prophet and President, Lorenzo Snow, famously espoused, "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be," implying a fundamentally different conception of God the Father, presenting Him as an exalted, perfect man with a physical body.
This false teaching finds its grounding in the Doctrine and Covenants, one of the canonical texts of Mormonism, which states, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). In stark contrast, the biblical portrayal of God is of a spiritual, not physical, being: "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
Furthermore, Mormonism rejects the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity—one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Instead, Mormons propose that these three are separate and distinct beings. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, stated, "I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370).
Contrarily, the Bible clearly affirms the oneness of God: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This divine tri-unity is consistent throughout the New Testament as well. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His disciples to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," indicating a singular name and essence for the three Persons of the Trinity.
The Mormon concept of a plurality of gods further compounds the divergence. Mormonism teaches that there exist countless gods in the universe, with God the Father merely being the god of our particular world. Brigham Young, the second Prophet and President of the LDS Church, stated: "How many Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not Gods" (Journal of Discourses 7:333). Yet, the Bible firmly insists upon monotheism: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).
Therefore, despite superficial similarities, the LDS Church's doctrines represent a drastic departure from orthodox Christianity. The mischaracterization of the nature of God in Mormon theology deviates significantly from the Christian understanding, thereby demonstrating a core misalignment with the biblical truth. These deviations, particularly concerning the nature of God, the Trinity, and the plurality of gods, erect an insurmountable barrier to reconciling Mormonism with orthodox Christianity. The Scriptures warn us against such divergences: "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2: