Why Learn About Mormonism?

Introduction   

In this post, we are going to take a very brief look at Mormonism. There is quite a bit of misunderstanding by some concerning the Mormons. For example, some may think that Mormonism is just another denomination of Christianity, but this could not be further from the truth. We will take a look at some of its history, its doctrine, and we will discuss why it is important for Christians to have at least a basic understanding of Mormonism. Due to the nature and immensity of the topic (there are a multitude of books and websites dedicated to this subject), this article will just give some highlights concerning Mormonism and what Christians need to know.

What Is the History of Mormonism?

            It is just not possible for this article to cover in any kind of detail the entire history of the Mormon religion. This topic is both complex and interesting. There is a good article by PBS on the subject that I will leave a link to here.[1] Anyone interested in the topic is encouraged to read the article and to do some research on their own. That being said, there are several major events concerning the origin of the Mormon faith that should be highlighted.[2] Those events are:

-        Joseph Smith, the major founder of the Mormon religion, is born on December 23, 1805.

-        In 1820, Smith says he has a vision of God and Jesus Christ. In this vision, Smith is told that all Christian denominations have strayed from the truth and that none of them should be joined.

-        In 1823, Smith claims that he is visited by the angel Moroni who tells him where some golden plates are located. These golden plates contain “the fullness of the everlasting Gospel.”

-        In 1827, Smith digs up the golden plates and begins translating them with the help of unique glasses. This translation eventually becomes known as the Book of Mormon.

-        In 1830 the Book of Mormon is published and the first organization meeting of the Mormon church (also known as the Latter-Day-Saints or LDS) is held at the Whitmer Farm. In October of that same year, the first four Mormon missionaries head west.

-        Fast forward to 2007 and the Mormon population had grown to nearly 13 million members worldwide! That was almost ten years ago, and it has continued since then to grow in membership.

As mentioned earlier, the history of Mormonism is complex, and I just quickly covered the very beginning of it. However, I do believe that having an understanding of the origin of the Mormon faith can help Christians in reaching out to Mormons. How? Showing an interest in their origins may help some Mormons to lower their defenses and allow believers to share how their lives were changed by the true gospel. This, in turn, could lead them to Christ.

What Do Mormons Believe?

            Next, we are going to briefly look at some beliefs that Mormons hold and how they differ from traditional Christianity. Although I risk sounding like a broken record, I must let you know that there is just too much information concerning Mormon doctrine to cover the subject in any kind of detail in this blog post. However, I will leave a link to an article that gives some more detail on the subject here written by Justin Taylor, who is a Christian.[3] I would encourage those who want to learn a little bit more on the subject to read it. For the purposes of this article, we will take a quick look at three Mormon doctrines and how they differ from the traditional Christian view. In order to give credit where credit is due, I want to let you know that I will be using the Justin Taylor article that I mention above as my source of information.[4] The three doctrines are as follows:

1.     Mormons believe that God the Father started out as a man and became a god. However, the Bible clearly teaches that God is not a man (Num. 23:19) but a spirit (John 4:24). Furthermore, God is eternal (Ps. 90:2; 1 Tim. 1:17) and never changes (Ps. 102:25-27; Mal 3:6). In other words, he did not have to become God because he always was God.

2.     Mormons also believe that Jesus had a beginning. According to them, He was the firstborn spirit-child of God the Father and progressed to become deity. However, the Bible teaches that Jesus always was God (John 1:1; 8:58) and never changes (Heb. 1:10-12; 13:8).

3.     Lastly, Mormons believe that almost everyone will receive immortal life in one of the heavenly kingdoms and that it is only necessary to put one’s faith in Christ to gain entrance into the highest of the heavenly realms known as the celestial kingdom. But faith in Christ is just one of the requirements needed. However, the bible teaches that there are only two ultimate eternal destinations (Matt. 25:46) and that Jesus is the only way in which one can be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Why Is This Issue Important?

            Why is the issue of Mormonism so important? The main reason that this issue is important is because it is an issue that has eternal consequences. That is, what you believe about God and salvation will determine where you will spend eternity. Mormons do not believe in the same God that Christians believe in. Their god had a beginning. He used to be a man and became a god. The true God of the Bible is eternal and has always been God. Mormons also believe that Jesus had a beginning and became God. But the Bible teaches that he always was God and never changes. The Mormons teach that almost everyone will be saved at some level and receive immortality. The Bible teaches that many will be condemned to eternal damnation (Matt. 7:13-14). Furthermore, according to Mormon doctrine, faith in Jesus is only needed to enter the highest-level of heavenly kingdom and that it is only part of what is needed to do so. But Jesus declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV). He is the only way to receive eternal salvation. Peter confirmed this when he boldly declared of Jesus, “and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, ESV). To put it even more bluntly, if a person dies as a Mormon they will spend an eternity away from God in perpetual torment. Only the true Jesus as revealed in the Bible can give eternal life. This is why this issue is so important.

What Should I Remember and Do?

The major points to remember from this blog post are:

-        It is important to have a basic historical understanding of the origin of the Mormon faith.

-        Mormon beliefs are radically different from traditional Christian beliefs.

-        What Mormons believe will not save them but condemn them to eternal damnation. This is why it is so important for Christians to learn how to effectively minister to Mormons.

Until next time, may you be blessed in your endeavor to know God and share his truth.

[1] “Timeline: The Early History of the Mormons,” Timeline, PBS, last modified November 1, 2025, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/mormons-timeline/.

[2] It should be noted that all the information highlighted is taken from the above-mentioned article.

[3] Justin Taylor, “The 8 Beliefs You Should Know about Mormons When They Knock at the Door,” Blogs, TGC, last modified January 12, 2026, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/the-8-beliefs-you-should-know-about-mormons-when-they-knock-at-the-door/.

[4] Ibid.