Why Focus On The Differences Between Mormonism and Christianity?

When having doctrinal conversations, some Latter-day Saints claim that Christians are being needlessly divisive in highlighting certain points of disagreement. Often, these Latter-day Saints will explain that we should focus on what the two faith traditions have in common, clarifying that Jesus Christ is even in the proper name of the LDS Church! 

Others will explain that Latter-day Saints are Christians too—believing most of the same things, with apparent differences just being mere additions, not changes, that come from having additional revelation like the Book of Mormon. 

So then, why do so many Christians continue to focus on our disagreements with Mormons, instead of happily acknowledging the LDS Church as just another Christian denomination? Why can’t we focus on our similarities instead of obsessing over the differences?

 The “Divisive” First Vision

The Pearl of Great Price records Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision (when supposedly Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ first appeared to Joseph).

In this account, Joseph Smith observes the Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists all disagreeing about points of doctrine. Smith writes this,

“…The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.” (Joseph Smith History 1:9).

Because of this, a young and confused Joseph Smith supposedly asked God for wisdom to know which of these denominations were true. The Presbyterians? The Baptists? The Methodists? Smith writes Jesus’ response to his plea:

“I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (Joseph Smith History 1:19).

 To be clear: This account says that the Christians (Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists) are corrupt, that the doctrines and teachings of such systems are corrupt, that their hearts are far from God, and that they teach doctrines of men.

These are STRONG statements! Christians were put on the defensive here—the very doctrines that we hold most dear, that we would DIE for, were being accused of corruption and falsehood.

The claims made here are serious—matters of eternal life and death.

If Christians are right, then the LDS Church is not true, the first vision was a false vision and Joseph Smith is a false prophet. If the LDS Church is correct, then the creeds and doctrines that Christians dearly cling to are corrupt, and dishonoring to God.

It just isn’t possible for both Joseph and the first vision to be accurate AND for Christians to be mostly right, just lacking in some important details.

These statements in the first vision create a mutually exclusive division and disunity between the LDS Church and the rest of Christianity. 

So when Christians bring up points of disagreement to Latter-day Saints who claim that they are just like Christians but with a little bit more teaching, revelation, and authority—these claims seem disingenuous to us.

The LDS Church is built on the narrative that says all of Christianity’s doctrines, teachings, and followers are corrupt!

There is a significant doctrinal gulf between Latter-day Saints and Christians (Joseph Smith said it himself!), and we shouldn’t minimize this—we need to discern which faith accurately represents what God has revealed, which means that followers of Jesus must be diligent in analyzing what God has said in His Word.

Both Mormons and Christians need to test the prophets and apostles, need to examine differences in doctrine and interpretation of Biblical texts, need to look into Joseph Smith’s history and see if he is reliable and trustworthy, meeting the Biblical qualifications for church leaders.

We shouldn’t shy away from disagreement, but must always be eager to seek out the truth. 1 Peter 3 says

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15).

When Christians point out problems with the LDS Church’s history, or when we point to texts that seem to contradict LDS doctrine and teaching—we do so because we care about the people we’re talking to! HELL is at stake!

If Christians are correct, and a person dies rejecting the Gospel—that person will not get a second chance, and will be cast into Hell on Judgment Day. The stakes are high!

We care deeply about our LDS friends and family—we WANT you to believe the Gospel, and so we’re going to point out our disagreements, and talk about them, and examine them against the light of Scripture.

Why do we constantly preach our divisive Gospel to Latter-day Saints? To paraphrase The Apostle Paul, “How can they then believe in him without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14-15).

So, while Christians and Latter-day Saints may appear on the surface to have similarities, the claims of Joseph Smith Himself demonstrate that there are incredible differences between the two. To honor our God—we must diligently look into these claims, and faithfully cling to the truth as presented in Scripture.