Opinion: Is Mormonism a cult?

Associated Baptist Press ^ | October 31, 2011 | Jim Denison

[delacoert]

Robert Jeffress made national headlines recently with his assertion that Mormonism is a "cult" and a "false religion." Peter Wehner, a political commentator whose blog I read regularly, immediately criticized what he termed "the theological and political errors of Pastor Jeffress."

What are the facts behind the firestorm? Is Mormonism a "cult?” The answer depends on your definition of the term.

If by "cult" you mean the popular caricature of a manipulative group that practices mind control and exploits its members, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints clearly does not qualify.

However, scholars use the word differently. According to Walter Martin's definitive The Rise of the Cults, a "cult" is "a group of people polarized around someone's interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by major deviations from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly the fact that God became man in Christ Jesus." They claim a founder other than Jesus, follow a book other than the Bible, accept beliefs outside traditional Christianity, and seek salvation in ways other than by grace through faith.

There is no question that Mormons claim to be Christians. Responding to Jeffress, the church released a statement claiming that "Christ is at the center of our worship, study, service and faith." But what do they believe about God?

Their movement was founded 1,800 years after Christ by Joseph Smith (1805-44). He taught that "God was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens" (King Follett Discourses). According to Smith, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). The church teaches that God the Father in his glorified physical body had sexual intercourse with the virgin Mary, resulting in the conception of the physical Christ (Journal of Discourses 1:51; 4:218).

Do they follow a book other than the Bible? In addition to Scripture, they consider the Book of Mormon to be "another testament of Jesus Christ" revealed by Jesus to descendants of Israel living in early America. They also follow Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, compendiums of theology and prescribed practices.

Do they accept beliefs outside traditional Christianity? Smith taught plural marriage as a "new and everlasting covenant" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1,4). Though the church repudiated polygamy in 1890, some splinter groups still follow the practice. They baptize for the dead, believing that this action can speed the progress of the deceased in the afterlife.

Do they seek salvation in ways other than by grace through faith? Mormons believe that baptism purges their Gentile blood and replaces it with the blood of Abraham through the Holy Spirit. In this way they become the actual offspring of Abraham (History of the Church 3:380). They believe in three levels of glory: The telestial kingdom (for those who have no testimony of Christ); the terrestial kingdom (for those who fail the requirements of exaltation); and the celestial kingdom (reserved for members of the Mormon church who will become gods; Doctrine and Covenants 132:20)

Are Mormons Christians? That depends on the degree to which they accept the non-biblical teachings of their faith regarding God and salvation. I have met Mormons who assure me that they have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive their sins and become their personal Savior and Lord. Many do not know as much about their church's doctrines as I do. However, I have also met Mormons who believe that their progress toward the celestial kingdom depends not on Jesus' sacrifice but on their missionary work and other church activities.

One final issue: Should the Mormon beliefs of Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman influence Christians as they decide which candidate to support for president? Our decision should be informed by our answers to two prior questions. First, to what extent do Romney and Huntsman accept the non-Christian elements of their faith? Second, to what degree would decisions made by the president be impacted by uniquely Mormon beliefs?

[greyfoxx39]

I have had conversations with members in my own family (LDS members) who will tell me that they also believe in Jesus, in fact, His name is foremost in their church name, but they do NOT believe that I am a Christian but still tell me that "we're Christians too."

Spouting the "party line", right?

I'll bet all of these family members obey the dictate of the leaders to NOT read anything but church-approved material, and I'll also bet that their actual knowledge of what mormonism preaches is minimal at best.

Ask any one of them if they are aware of this:

SECOND ANOINTING or SECOND ENDOWMENT (Calling and Election Made Sure)

This ordinance is so rare that many good Mormons do not even know that it exists. It is done only by invitation from the president of the church, to one married couple at a time. It is performed in the Holy of Holies room of the temple by one of the apostles of the church. Those who receive this ordinance are guaranteed of their salvation and exaltation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom. The man is anointed as "priest and king" (the wife is anointed "priestess and queen") and their "calling and election [to exaltation] is made sure." Part of the ceremony is performed by the couple in private in their own home, following instructions given during the temple ceremony, and includes the ceremonial washing of feet. One implication of the ceremony is that the recipients will have a personal visitation of Christ. In earlier days many devout Mormons received this ordinance, but since the 1920s it is extremely rare, and probably only given to those in high leadership positions in the church.

Link

Additionally there is more regarding the "Calling and Election" at this LDS/BYU site:

Calling and Election Made Sure

[dragonblustar]

Mormons are not Christians

Christians don't practice polygamy or believe they will become gods..

Christians don't worship another "gospel".

Gal 1:6-9

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Christians don't claim to be better than Jesus.

Christians don't accept Joseph Smith for their salvation.

[delacoert]

Cite the source of your, “characteristics of a cult.”

I googled the phrase “characteristics of a cult” and looked through the top twenty hits finding nothing like the list you are touting. But boy does Mormonism fit the lists I did find.

[Colofornian]

Dependency on the group? The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is just the opposite. Mormons want members to be self-reliant and independent so they in turn can help others.

Rather than addressing these in their entirety, I'll respond popcorn-style to each individual bullet point.

"Dependency" in cults can be material, social-psychological, and spiritual.

You chose to reduce this issue of "dependency" to the mere "material." Of course, after you've forked over 10% of your lifetime income to the Mormon church would they not want to ensure that you get any of that back!

[Tell you what: Go ask an insurance agent what he would think if you told you'd give him 10% of your lifetime income and, almost as good, you won't ever likely rebound to him to pay off on your death, auto accidents, med bills or anything else! Think he'd think that was a good deal -- or not? Why, the 100% "independent" client of an insurance agent is the dream client! You're making them drool right now!]

So, let's focus on what you missed:

(a) Social-psychological Dependency:
On this one, you as the cult leader make it up out of thin air that you will be married for eternity & your kids will all join you on the same planet when you become a god. Of course, the logical problem with that is which Mormons are going to qualify as "patriarch-gods" and which won't? Because, simply speaking, you're not the only "in-laws."

If YOU claim your daughter and her husband -- and other mother & father in-law claim your daughter and their son -- and you all claim the grandkids...who gets them living in their world. And that's just three generations...

What happens when you multiply that by countless interlinked generations -- and apostates -- and temple rec-less Mormons who aren't "celestial material"...whoa! Talk about family disruptions of this idea of some happy family living eternally together!!!

But the cult members don't ever think this out logically...all because they've bought in hook, line and sinker to their leaders' social-psych emotional sentimentalism of a family living together forever!

Now, how does this impact the Mormon individual, dependency-wise? Well, who's gonna want to break up the family dynasty by leaving the Mormon church? Or even by staying in the church but not getting a temple rec?

Talk about incredible social psychological pressure to conform!

(b) Spiritual dependency
Let's say I am a Mormon general authority. And I tell you that unless you give 10% to the Mormon church, you won't be allowed to see your daughter's wedding in the temple.

(No "pressure" to conform there, right? No "dependency" issues there, eh?)

Furthermore, if you fail to give 10% of your lifetime income, I tell you that even worse, you won't get to be married to your sweetheart forever -- that she'll be sealed for eternity to another "qualified" man -- and that your children will live with that family forever...

No "dependency" issues, there, eh?

[Colofornian]

Btw the last post not only applies to Mormon cultic "dependency" issues, but is a form of control by threats as well [another of Bot's bullet points]

We see this in the worst form in the breakaway Mormon group in the twin "polyg" communities of Colorado City and Hildale (So Utah/No AZ). The fundamentalist Mormon "prophets" have routinely kicked men out of the community and simply reassigned their wives to other men.

Some men decided, upon those threats, to conform and were thereby allowed to keep their wives.

Since Joseph Smith claimed the wives of 11 women who then wound up sleeping with both their hubbies and Smith, one has to wonder over the spiritual threats implied had the men told Smith "no." Orson Pratt, an Lds "apostle," told Smith, "no, he couldn't have his wife." And paid a short-term consequence for that.

Heber Kimball, another Lds general authority, also didn't want to tell Smith a "point blank no" -- and offered his 14 yo daughter as a "trade" of sorts instead. She was told by Smith that it would go well for her family in eternity if she submitted.

No "controlling threats," there, right, Bot?

[Zakeet]

Here are the characteristics of a cult:

HERE ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CULT ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN SOURCES

1. The Christian definition of a cult is a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of Biblical truth. Or, in more simple terms, a cult is a group that teaches something that will cause a person to not be saved if they believe it. For example, teaching that Jesus was not God, or that salvation is not by faith alone – these two things are prime examples of a cult.

   The two most obvious example of cults are the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons believe many things that are in agreement with and/or similar to what the Bible teaches. However, they also believe numerous doctrines that are in clear contradiction to the Bible and the Biblical Gospel of salvation.

2. From a Christian perspective, a cult is a group of people who follow one man or the group's spiritual teachings and practices that, when compared with orthodox Christian doctrine always contradict them, as well as exalt the group's own unique religious perspective as the only way to truly serve God.

   From a purely Biblical perspective, 2 Corinthians 11:4 gives us the clearest and most concise description of how cults may be discerned. False teachings, the apostle Paul warned here, will introduce three major errors to the unsuspecting in the name of Christianity:

   1. First they will preach their own determination of who Jesus Christ is, denying his Biblically revealed identity as God the Son and exchanging it with another. They'll point to "another Jesus."

   2. Second, cult teachers will proclaim a "gospel message" that is ultimately is a message of works-centered salvation, in sharpest contrast to the Good News of saving grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). They'll preach "another gospel."

   3. Third, the revealed spiritual nature of the work of the cult claims to be, but actually is not, inspired by God the Spirit. Instead, a chilling reference is made to spiritual entities who lend tremendous spiritual power to their natural human puppets to preach deceptive gospels. They'll be empowered by "another spirit." This is the work of demonic agents in allegiance with Satan, the opposer of God throughout history.

In short, a cult will energetically claim to follow the Bible and be the only group to be found anywhere who really are interpreting it correctly (hence the rationale for some countercult workers calling some groups "Bible based"). Ultimately, once examined, a questionable group's doctrines will always deny orthodox Biblical truth in some manner.

CATEGORIES OF CULTS

1. Eastern Mystical: groups related to Hinduism, Buddhism and other pantheistic Eastern religions; examples in this category are Hare Krishnas and Self-Realization Fellowship.

2. Aberrant Christian: groups that claim to be Bible-based but which deviate in practice or belief, such as Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, The Way International, the Boston Church of Christ and the Shepherding Movement.

3. Psychospiritual or Self-Improvement: groups offering seminars or workshops providing self-improvement or personal transformation (a growing cultic trend), includes Transcendental Meditation, Lifespring and The Forum (formerly est).

4. Eclectic/Syncretistic: a combination of several religious traditions, includes the Unification Church ("Moonies") and the Church Universal and Triumphant.

5. Psychic/Occult/Astral: these groups offer "secret wisdom" and "lost truths;" examples include UFO cults and Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment.

6. Extremist/Political/Social Movements: groups cultic in the psychological or social sense including the Black Muslims, Aryan Nation, White Aryan Resistance and the Ku Klux Klan.

TEN COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF ABERRANT CHRISTIAN CULTS

Note: Any of the below is indicative of cults. The more attributes that apply, the more serious the problem.

1. A Founder who typically:
   1. Is charismatic (at least in the eyes of cult members)
   2. Has little or no formal or theological education
   3. Has poor character (e.g. dishonest, sexually licentious)
   4. Has noticeable personality disorders
   5. Is revered by cult members
   6. Claims special authority (e.g. prophet, apostle, divine messenger, etc.)

2. Divine Revelation claimed by the founder (or by cult leadership) which is:
   1. Non-verifiable
   2. Easily discredited (by science, archaeology, internal inconsistency, etc.)
   3. Usually changes and/or evolves over time
   4. Often similar (or identical) to earlier documented heresies, especially: Aryanism, Gnosticism and paganism
   5. Intolerant – members cannot challenge (or even question) cult doctrine or decisions made by cult leadership

3. Overriding Authority (i.e. "correcting", amending or even replacing the Bible) attributed to the special divine revelation

4. Non-Biblical Doctrine derived from the overriding authority, most commonly:
   1. Denial of the authority and completeness of Scripture
   2. Denial of the deity of Christ
   3. Denial of the Holy Trinity
   4. Salvation by works

5. Sin resulting from the non-Biblical doctrine, such as:
   1. Poor treatment of women, disparagement of minorities and/or other forms of bigotry
   2. Sexual immorality
   3. Falsehood and deception
   4. Theft

6. Secrecy particularly relating to:
   1. Group finances
   2. Membership (and frequently leadership) rosters
   3. Doctrine – which may be only partially revealed (even to cult members) or may be revealed in a piecemeal fashion
   4. Rites, rituals and/or initiations
   5. Signs, signals or other means of identification and/or recognition

7. Seclusion, Isolation and/or Separation from society by:
   1. Living in isolation (or at least in separate housing quarters)
   2. Dressing differently, sometimes in special uniforms or costumes
   3. Special group manners and/or mores
   4. Unusual dietary requirements, or required abstinence from certain foods or other products (e.g. television, telephones, newspapers, etc.)

8. Control of Persons and/or Property such as:
   1. Forfeiture of individual identity
   2. Denial of an individual's decision-making
   3. Imposed poverty often through forfeiture of possessions (sometimes waived for cult leadership)
   4. Mandatory tithing
   5. Assigned duties and responsibilities
   6. Communal raising of children; shared parenting; forced attendance at cult schools
   7. Group sex, sharing of partners, and/or other forms of promiscuity
   8. Celibacy (sometimes waived for cult leadership)
   9. Involvement with psychogenic or hallucinogenic drugs

9. Strict Discipline through:
   1. Rigid enforcement of (often numerous and arcane) cult rules
   2. Guaranteed blessings and/or punishment in the afterlife
   3. Harsh punishment (often both physical and/or psychological) for disobedience
   4. Various ranks or levels of membership (e.g. priesthood), often with increasing benefits

10. "Group Think" by members frequently shown by:
    1. Blind obedience and/or unquestioning loyalty – members cannot (or will not) question or challenge cult doctrine or decisions made by cult leadership
    2. Inability to reason with cult members without their prior "deprogramming"
    3. Feelings of persecution
    4. Mass hysteria
    5. Personal or third party destruction (e.g. suicide, murder, etc.)

OTHER SATANIC PRACTICES

Note: Sometimes, it helps to offer a contrast. As noted above, cults are organized "groups" of persons. The below are not formally structured, therefore are cannot be classified as a true cult – but are similar in that they are evil, anti-Christian and have fanatic adherents.

1. Persecution of Christians and/or Christian beliefs (especially by Hollywood, the courts and Main Stream Media)

2. Promotion of false doctrine
   1. Relativism (e.g. denial of absolute truth, "personal belief systems")
   2. Abhorrent sexual behavior (e.g. homosexual "rights", sexual "liberation")

3. Promotion of false religions such as:
   1. Darwinism -- attributing mythical or magical properties to animals or inanimate objects (i.e. animism)
   2. Islam (e.g. advocating special rights for Muslims, overlooking Islamic deficiencies)

4. Destruction of life (e.g. abortion, euthanasia)

[zerosix]

I feel confident that my daughter and her husband have had such a ceremony as they are more than “Temple Worthy!”

[ejonesie22]

Bully for you for taking a stand.

Of course there are a couple o’ wee issues with your presentation, like Excessive devotion to Christ is not the issue and “threaten” can be far more subtle and is not the only means of control.

We saw that here the other day...

Being works based is an ace in the hole for LDS leadership, and that godhood thing is on heck of a draw...

[svcw]

Really? It’s the lds who call Catholics the “whores of Babylon”.

[delacoert]

LDS as well as FLDS church takes on many prevalent cult characteristics.

1. In Temple recommend interviews, members are told that the interviewer represents Jesus and should answer all questions as if they were talking to Jesus. This is a break down of barriers designed to condition the member to completely submit to church’s authority
2. Naked touching in the temple washing and anointing ritual also breaks down barriers, creates submission to church authority [This eternal ordinance was changed in Jan 2005 see mormon366.htm ]
3. New name, suggests reassignment of identity
4. Temple endowment experience is hypnotic, produces a relaxed, even sleepy alpha like state for receptivity to church indoctrination, oaths, instruction, commitment. Similar to Moonie repetitive indoctrination sessions where chanting, singing, and long periods of lecturing happen.
5. Secret signs, tokens, passwords to get into Mormon heaven. If one does not have this exclusive information, they will be denied access past certain angels along the way back to God's presence. This is an element of control designed to produce exclusivity
6. Requirement to wear church approved underwear night and day, conditioned to believe they possess special protections. Another design to control via exclusivity
7. Strict tithing requirements. Yearly face to face confrontation with a high church authority to declare to him (as the lord’s representative) how much money the member was able to give to the church. Encouraged to give everything that the lord blesses you with even ones time, talents to the building up of the LDS church. In addition to tithes, generous fast offerings are encouraged. Giving to other charities or worthy causes outside the church is heavily discouraged. The member intuitively knows that the tithing, fast offering, missionary funds and perpetual education funds must be donated to first... and only THEN should outside charities be considered. This cult characteristic, to me, falls under extreme duress to give only to the church organization. The member is even told that if the tithing is not "honest" they will literally burn up at the Lord's 2nd coming.
8. Outsiders not permitted to enter the temple. Exclusivity.
9. Members believe Jesus literally walks the halls of the temples and no other buildings on earth receive this privilege. There is only Faith promoting rumors to back this up of course. Yet it is a very strong and widely held belief in the church that this is so.
10. There is a blatant Us vs. Them mentality. The LDS testimony conditions members to “know” based on feelings that they are the only ones on earth with the Truth or approved plan of God. Everyone else is wrong and must be saved or baptized into the LDS church. This doctrine goes as far as to maintain that every living human who has ever lived in this earth must be baptized. While logically impossible, the doctrine is widely believed. God will figure it out. This rationality is supposed to support this impossibility
11. LDS church has more evidence to prove it false than it does to prove it true, yet members see this as a test of faith and God’s way of strengthening his "Elect". Or members have been conditioned to never look at this material. Very similar to the Moonie approach that outside information was evil and falls under satanic origins. Anything that could potentially deprogram a Moonie was satanic. Family members, spouses, newspaper articles, radio... you get the idea.
12. Members are encouraged strongly to never look at “anti” literature. Yet early apostles encouraged the discovery of truth and preached openly that truth would stand up to highest degree of scrutiny. This was before damning evidences to the church's platform of ideology was widely known or even challenged. During this era, the church had a sense of infallibility as the saints were securely sequestered in the desert of Utah. Completely isolated from the outside world.
13. Bishop interviews are obsessed with sexual purity for youth & missionaries. Adults have been told which sexual acts are permissible and which are not. Though, this is not consistent throughout the church. Young people must disclose any sexual acts, even minor ones. This young person (male or female) believes they are talking to Jesus Christ's representative in these interviews. Lying to the bishop is equated to lying to Jesus.
14. Missions are extreme examples of Cult experience

1. 20 hrs a week free labor (Missionary makes no money) in fact the missionary pays largely for his own meals, lodging, transportation and clothing out of his own pocket. The missionary is told that the 2 years in service is a "tithing" of the first 19 years of his life that God gave him/her.
2. When not working in field one is encouraged to read scripture & pray constantly
3. High amounts of self-indoctrination and mass indoctrination at zone, district meetings. Guilt tactics are used. If low recruit numbers are happening, the missionary is frequently blamed. Reasons for low recruit numbers are tied to unlikely reasons such as a lack of dedication or commitment to mission rules or even a suggestion that too many missionaries were masturbating too frequently in the past month. This is a gross abuse of mind control.
4. Encouraged to frequently recite scripture and hymns, carry a prayer in ones heart at all times so as to fortify ones efforts to keep rules, remain "sanctified to the cause" and not have impure thoughts or masturbate.
5. No outside influences, no TV, no radio
6. Must always be with companion except for showers and toilet
7. Confined to one area, not permitted to go outside geographic boundaries
8.  Extreme limited contact with family, letters once a week, no phone call home but twice a year\
9. Primary job is to recruit new members, give the prospect milk and NO meat doctrine. Deception (by only telling the rewritten version of the church's history and doctrine) is encouraged most often without the missionary NOT knowing he is testifying to untruths.
10. Every person met is sized up as potential recruit,
11. Current members are badgered for referrals for new recruits, friends and neighbors
12. Loaded language, acronyms. Outsiders cannot follow many regular LDS conversations
    
     

 

15. If one ever leaves the church, they are told and conditioned to think they will be sent to outer darkness in the afterlife. There is a fear of imminent damnation if they leave the group.

16. One man (the prophet figure) speaks for God. Members see this as extremely positive as they believe the prophet will never lead them astray. When confronted that prior prophets in history have been wrong or even preached harmful doctrine that was widely held up as God's word (racial discrimination) the member quickly dismisses this. This is supported by the perceived good works the church produces and the notion that Mormonism produces good people and strong families.

[Tennessee Nana]

Mormons plead guilty to all the strange things that were done by Christians in New Testament times that were lost during the great falling away in the aptly named Dark Ages, among them temple worship,
_______________________________________________

Right there your list is proven fraudulent...

200 years before your savior Joey Smith was even born the Huguenots built Christian churches they called “temples”

There was at least one temple in Rochelle, several others around France, at least one in Leyden, (Amsterdam) in Holland, several in London, one in Bristol, England..

and so on...

Worship in the temple when the Christian huguenots did it ???

it did not include dead dunking people without their knowledge or agreement...

No ghoulish unBiblical goings on...

People regardless of race or gender were allowed into the services and made full members and all were invited to celebrate weddings...

No secret rituals took place that were anathama to the teachings of the LORD Jesus christ and His words and instructions were carefully and faithfully adhered to...

However many of those long ago faithful Christians have now been dead dunked into a blasphemeous pagan religion they would have hated...a religion called Mormonism named for a demon by a charlatan named Joseph Smith, a womanizer and greedy thief and control freak...an idoloter and peep stone fortune teller...a liar and an adulterer...a wife abuser and an enemy of the United States...an excommunicated blasphemer amd a murderer...

What American is safe from the members of this religion who insist on denying them their religious rights under the Constitution ???

What Christian would stand by and just let a sexist, racist, bigotted religion like morm,on be allowe3d to continue to enslave and rot the minds of their own members and not say something ???

What Christian would allow the LORD Jesus Christ to continually be maligned And His Gospel appear to be pulluted ???

Mormonism is NOT Christianity...

Mormonism is a false religion with a false prophet...

[Godzilla]

I think you were talking to me but pinged yourself lol.

If LDS Scouting left the B.S.A., I'm certain that the World Organization of the Scout Movement would recognize LDS Scouting as a separate Scout organization.

IMHO it is too bad that scouting allowed so many groups to claim its name and then slice and dice it to fit the agenda of individual groups.

IMHO lds scouting should split off for honesty in advertizing reasons. In america scouting is generally not seen in the factionalize nature you describe in other countries - but as one unit. Further, since LDS scouting discriminates based upon religion - ie only its boy-priests can hold office - it demeans the greater boy scouting movement in america (or at least when I was a scout) of religious plurality.

But then that is scouting's decision to allow.

That is why I am a Royal Ranger leader now.

[svcw]

• Small? The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) has 14 million members in 132 countries. In America, there are more ;ormons than there are Presbyterians or Jews.

And your source for that is where?

• Excessive devotion? Mormons are devoted to the Savior, but in appropriate measure He would approve of.

What savior....Christians are devoted to the Eternal Christ, not a created one of lds.

• Unethical techniques? Ask the pie-throwers to name one.

Shunning

• Control by isolation? Even if Mormons wanted to, this would be impossible with 14 million members in 28,000 congregations throughout the world.

Again Source

• Control by threats? Again, evidence? Mormon missionaries may be exuberant, but do not threaten.

Family experience.

• Dependency on the group? The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is just the opposite. Mormons want members to be self-reliant and independent so they in turn can help others.

OK, that's just funny.

• Powerful group pressure? Only if that’s the way the critics prefer to define love.

Family experience, says otherwise

• Strange? Guilty as charged. Mormons plead guilty to all the strange things that were done by Christians in New Testament times that were lost during the great falling away in the aptly named Dark Ages, among them temple worship, vicarious baptism for the dead, definition of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as separate but united in purpose, salvation requiring both grace and obedience to commandments, prophets and apostles, unpaid clergy, and continual revelation to guide His Church

When you say god do you mean the lds god who was once a man or the Eternal God?

When you say christ, do you mean the created christ of lds who was born because the lds god had intercourse with Mary or the Eternal Christ.

Unpaid, so what?

Continual Revelation of the lds just means that the lds god is not perfect because he keeps changing his mind.

Sorry, Christians believe in an Eternal God - perfect for Eternity.

[greyfoxx39]

I feel confident that my daughter and her husband have had such a ceremony as they are more than “Temple Worthy!”

The information I have seen indicates that ONLY the "top level elites" of the mormon church (relatives of the leadership, the Mitt Romneys, wealthy members who foot the bill alone to build a temple) are allowed to have the ceremony...I'd be curious to know if your daughter has even heard of it.

[SZonian]

"Small?" 14 million

How many are active vs. jack mormons or inactives being reported via the membership rolls? My experience is that on average, weekly attendance is running at less than 50% if not less. Paper registrations don't get it.

"Excessive devotion?"

How many hours per week are mormons expected to "devote" to their callings and other misc. "requirements" in order to ensure one's salvation?

"Unethical techniques?"

Lying to Christians in general about Seders for one. Obfuscating about the mormon teachings of Jesus during investigative sessions, especially to those who may not be too familiar with the Biblical Jesus. I named two.

"Control by isolation?"

Temple weddings. Non-members and non-temple recommend holders prohibited from attending. Ostracizing family members who quit the church, pressure from church "leaders" and family members to divorce apostate spouses, etc. I have many more examples.

"Control by threats?"

“Do the women, when they pray, remember their husbands? Do you uphold your husband before God as your lord? What!-my husband to be my lord? I ask, Can you get into the celestial kingdom without him? Have any of you been there? You will remember that you never go into the celestial kingdom (during the temple ceremony) without the aid of your husband. If you did, it was because your husband was away, and some one had to act proxy for him. No woman will get into the celestial kingdom, except her husband receives her, if she is worthy to have a husband; and if not, somebody will receive her as a servant” Apostle Erastus Snow (Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p 291)

Sounds like a "threat" to me.

"Powerful group pressure?"

Conform or be adjudicated in a so-called "court of love".

Here's another I find "entertaining". An apostle telling missionaries that all the women need to be presented to the church leaders before the missionaries can select any of them. SLC wants first pick!

"Brethren, I want you to understand that it is not to be as it has been heretofore. The brother missionaries have been in the habit of picking out the prettiest women for themselves before they get here, and bringing on the ugly ones for us; hereafter you have to bring them all here before taking any of them, and let us all have a fair shake." - Apostle Heber C. Kimball, The Lion of the Lord, New York, 1969, pp.129-30.

[Tennessee Nana]

My son was a member of Royal Rangers...

As I recall their manual was based on tghe Baptist Royal Ambassadors ...

They were some of the best years of his life

My daughter was in a class for little children where they watched Gospel Bill videos...

[Elsie]

Here are the characteristics of a cult heresy:

her·e·sy

   /ˈhɛrəsi/   

 

noun, plural -sies.

 

1. opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system.

2. the maintaining of such an opinion or doctrine.

3. Roman Catholic Church. the willful and persistent rejection of any article of faith by a baptized member of the church.

4. any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs, customs, etc.

[Godzilla]

Here are the characteristics of a cult:

***************************************

Build your own strawman so you can tear it down. Here is a good statment on lds big a cult from an expert.

What is a Cult?

By Sandra Tanner

Mormons object to the application of “cult” to Mormonism, but it fits many of the basic elements. There are two ways to look at the word cult, in the social/psychology sense or in the Christian/religious sense.

A social scientist would list marks of a cult as:

The Doctrine is Reality

There is no room in a mind control environment for regarding the group’s beliefs as mere theory, or as a way to interpret reality or to seek reality. The doctrine IS reality. ...cult doctrine always requires that a person distrust his own self. The doctrine becomes the ‘master program’ for all thoughts, feelings, and actions....

Reality is Black and White, Good Versus Evil

Even the most complex cult doctrines ultimately reduce reality into two basic poles black versus white’ good versus evil;...us verses them.... The ‘huge conspiracies’ working to thwart the group are, of course, proof of its tremendous importance....

Elitist Mentality

Members are made to feel part of an elite corps of mankind. This feeling of being special, of participating in the most important acts in human history with a vanguard of committed believers, is strong emotional glue to keep people sacrificing and working hard. ...As a community, they feel they have been chosen (by God, history, or some other supernatural force) to lead mankind out of darkness into a new age of enlightenment...

Group Will over Individual Will

In all destructive cults the self must submit to the group. The ‘whole purpose’ must be the focus; the ‘self purpose’ must be subordinated....Absolute obedience to superiors is one of the most universal themes in cults. Individuality is bad. Conformity is good. ...

Strict Obedience Modeling the Leader

A new member is often induced to abandon his former behavior patterns and become ‘dedicated’ by being paired with an older cult member who serves as a model for him to imitate. ...One reason why a group of cultists may strike even a naive outsider as spooky or weird is that everyone has similar odd mannerisms, clothing styles, and modes of speech. ...

Happiness through Good Performance

...The cult member learns that love is not unconditional but depends on good performance....Competitions are used to inspire and shame members into being more productive....Relationships are usually superficial within these groups because sharing deep personal feelings, especially negative ones, is highly discouraged....

Manipulation through Fear and Guilt

The cult member comes to live within a narrow corridor of fear, guilt, and shame. Problems are always the fault of the member and are due to HIS weak faith, HIS lack of understanding, ... He perpetually feels guilty for not meeting standards....

No Way Out

In a destructive cult, there is never a legitimate reason for leaving. Unlike non-cult organizations that recognize a person’s inherent right to choose to move on, mind control groups make it very clear that there is no legitimate way to leave. Members are told that the only reasons why people leave are weakness, insanity, temptation, brainwashing (by deprogrammers), pride, sin, and so on. ... Although cult members will often say ‘Show me a way that is better than mine and I will quit,’ they are not allowed the time or mental tools to prove that statement to themselves. They are locked in a psychological prison.” (from the book Combatting Cult Mind Control, by Steven Hassan, Park Street Press, pp. 78-84)

Many people coming out of the LDS Church report just such things in their experience as a Mormon, especially the returned LDS missionary.

Briefly, a Christian perspective on marks of a cult would be:

They add to the Bible.

They may have additional books of scripture or their leaders are the only spokesmen for God. These are considered more reliable than the Bible.

They subtract from the person and work of Jesus.

Mormons claim to be the same species as Jesus, with the same potential. He is literally their older brother, all born in a pre-mortal life to Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. Jesus is “a” god, but not “the” God of the Bible. They subtract from the atonement by adding temple work as a necessity for eternal life.

They multiply the requirements for salvation.

Jesus’ atonement on the cross is not enough, a person must add all sorts of works for the organization to merit eternal life, such as temple marriage.

They divide between themselves and Christianity.

Mormons say they are “the only true church” and the only ones who represent God on earth. They thus divide themselves from the Christian community. They do not recognize any Christian baptism as valid, only those performed by the LDS priesthood.

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There are plenty more where these came from including this one

http://4witness.org/jehovahs_witness/jw_lds_cults.php

[svcw]

Do you understand that when the Eternal Christ was Crucified on the CROSS, the temple curtains were torn from top to bottom to END secret temple ceremonies and rituals?

[SZonian]

"If claiming having your church founded by a false prophet of God..."

Do you believe that a man can become a god to rule over his own planet, keeping a harem of women at his beck and call to populate his planet?

Do you believe that a woman's eternal salvation is totally dependent upon not only obedience to the doctrines of the church, but also obedience to her husband? That she cannot enter the celestial kingdom without the consent of her husband?