I am a Mormon, and I am trying to understand something. I have been told several times that I am a part of a cult. Now, I read the Bible often and know what it says, and I have received the confirmation of the Spirit telling me it is true, the same answer I received reading the Book of Mormon. For my own personal information, why do people claim that the Mormon church is a cult?
I appreciate your honesty. You said when you read the Bible and the Book of Mormon that you get the same confirmation from the Holy Spirit that what’s written is true. The Bible teaches that it’s the work of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” – John 16:13. We also know that there are more than 2000 differences between the Book of Mormon and the Bible and that they are large enough to result in major doctrinal differences. Since these two books have obvious differences which contradict each other, the Holy Spirit could not be confirming both. This is why people claim that the Mormon church is a cult. To them, the Bible was changed to fit the ideas of Joseph Smith.
However, the most important question of all is, “on what basis are we accepted by God?” This is where the two differ. It is VERY important that we get this right because it affects our eternal destiny. Evangelical Christians believe they are accepted by God because of what Christ did on the cross and that salvation is a gift. You do not work for it, but simply receive it. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no-one can boast” – Ephesians 2:8-9. On the other hand, Mormons believe that salvation is obtained by doing good works. That is, to witness of your faith and do good works. While it is true we should have good works, the Bible teaches they won’t save us. Good works don’t bring salvation, they follow salvation. It is this doctrine of salvation that becomes the major difference between evangelical Christianity and Mormonism.
