Mormons, Muslims, and Christians

About two weeks ago, the Huffington Post posted an article titled, Are Mormons Closer to Muslims or Christians?  And they answer the question (well, the slightly different question "Are Mormons closer to Christians than Muslims?") in the first sentence: no.

I realize that the Huffington Post has their own liberal agenda and is just another attack on Romney to show that he isn't Christian.  I'm not sure how popular or believed the Huffington Post is or this article, but even still, I couldn't help but be appalled at the shoddy reporting in that blog post.  The Article 6 Blog dismisses it as one of many "Buzzing of Gnats" that is only annoying because I'm paying attention to it.  And that I shouldn't pay attention to it because then it becomes an issue that has to be dealt with.  It seems Mormon American took their advice, because they literally didn't deal with it at all.

All the same, it's one thing to accuse me of not being a Christian, but (for some reason) quite another to accuse me of not believing in Christ at all.  I wish people did some research, but until then, I've gotta say something here.
From the very first comparison:

Both Islam and Mormonism have teachings from the Christian Bible and believe Jesus was "a prophet," but they had prophets after Jesus that they believe to be more authentic and current than Jesus.

This is all true, but Mormons not only have teachings from the Bible, but the Bible is part of our cannon.  In English, we use the King James Version (also called the Authorized Version), which is the same Bible as many of our Protestant friends.  Also unlike Muslims, we believe that Jesus was more than a prophet, but that He is our Savior and Redeemer.  He is the God of the Old Testament and of the New.  He died for our sins so that through Him we may receive eternal life.  I think this is why this article upset me so much.  We Christians kind of make a big deal about knowing who died for us.

But let me go on to the rest of the article.  I'm not sure what the author means by "authentic and current".  I think everyone would agree that Mohammad and Joseph Smith are more current than Jesus Christ.  Isn't Paul more currant, by definition?  Based on context from the next sentences, the author is probably just trying to say, "They believe Jesus had teachings, but they aren't important anymore.  They've moved on."  I don't think that's true even for Islam.  I can't speak for them, but for us, that's just not true.  We do more than just "respect Jesus' messages."  We take the sacrament (communion or Lord's Supper) every Sunday.  And if nothing else, we study the Bible 2 out of every 4 years in Sunday School.  We love the things Jesus taught!  We love the things Jesus still teaches! :)

The rest of the article then makes comparisons between Islam and the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints without realizing that many of the same comparisons could be made to other Christians also.

While in some ways neither Islam nor Mormonism is very much like Christianity, the two faiths actually have a lot of similarities. For example, both had founding prophets who received visits from an angel, leading to revelation of Scripture. Both consider the family unit as the foundation for religious life, and both have an insistence that religion is their complete way of life.
Islam and Mormonism both require fasting and ritual cleansings. They both believe theirs is the original religion of Adam. Both Islam and Mormonism allowed four wives but both forbid homosexuality and bisexuality. Both religions forbid alcohol and gambling.

Christianity also could be said to begin with visits from an Angel.  (Gabriel was the same angel to visit Mohammad, by the way.)  It didn't as directly lead to scripture as from Gabriel or Moroni, but there was still new scripture.  Does mainstream Christianity not believe the family unit is the foundation of society?  Or that religion should be their complete way of life?  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn't really "require" fasting like Islam does, though we do set aside the first Sunday of every month to fast.  But I'm pretty sure mainstream Christianity also believes in fasting as a way to get closer to God.  Christians also believe in ritual cleansings -- ever heard of Baptism?  Maybe mainstream Christianity doesn't believe theirs is the same religion as Adam.  Is it because they believe Adam was a terrible person, or because they don't believe there were Christians before Jesus?  From what I hear in the news, most Christians also forbid homosexuality and bisexuality.  Perhaps other Christians should also forbid alcohol and gambling.  It saves money and makes for a healthier society. :)  And, okay, you got us on the plural wives thing.

This may be alarming to some, but both Islam and Mormonism teach that marriage can extend into the afterlife.

To be with the one you love forever?  Alarming?  Wow.

 Neither worships their founding prophets, but both hold them with special respect.

Oh, good, they got something right.  Kind of like how Catholics hold the Pope in special respect.  Does the author consider Catholics Christian?

Both religions heavily proselytize and believe everyone should belong to their faith. In order to lead, both Islam and Mormonism do not require formal seminary training, but take regular members and move them up into leadership roles. Oddly enough, both religions had a split after their prophet's death

Christians also heavily proselytize (or at least as much as Muslims do) and also believe everyone should belong to their faith.  (Or, at least those that realize that there are different faiths.)  True, no specialized training.  The author probably things that's a bad thing, but okay.  Christianity also had a split after Jesus Christ's death.  First in the New Testament, all the epistles were to guide the church and straighten out false teachings coming in.  Then much later, the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches seperated, largely because they disagreed about who should be in charge of the Church.  Then of course, the protestant reformation as churches split based on interpretations of the Bible.

Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith were taunted for their work and driven out by locals. Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and Joseph Smith had to move from Illinois to Missouri. Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith established their own city-states, with Muhammad ruling Medina and Joseph Smith ruling Nauvoo, Ill.

Joseph moved from Missouri to Illinois (after leaving Ohio) but I knew what they meant. The early Christians were also driven out by locals.  They left Jerusalem and became strong elsewhere.  The Vatican City is still a city-state, ruled by the Pope.

Both Islam and Mormonism have Scripture that can justify violence and murder, as does the Bible. While Mormons have not acted violently in the U.S. for quite some time, there was an incident back in 1857 called the Mountain Meadows Massacre, which happened on Sept. 11. The massacre was led by prominent Mormon leader John D. Lee, who was trying to exact revenge on some emigrants but when the emigrants surrendered, the militia killed men, women and children in cold blood, and then tried to cover it up.

We don't need to be experts on either religion to see these similarities.

Is the author comparing the mountain Meadows Massacre to the World Trade Center attacks?  Wow, really?  Yes, it was terrible and regrettable, but is this one incident in all of Mormon history really so powerful that we can forget the crusades?  At least the author showed she might not have forgotten by throwing in, "as does the Bible."

They both have common ground with Christianity, and much of it. But both Islam and Mormonism are at best very distant cousins of Christianity with some of the same overarching guidance.

Neither Islam nor Mormonism is a close enough relative to ever be confused with Christianity. If a Christian of any denomination inadvertently walked into a Mormon tabernacle or a mosque, which would be fairly difficult since both allow only members of their faith to enter, there is no way the service could be recognized as a Christian devotion to Christ, but there is plenty of devotion to God going on.

Here, the author acknowledges the common ground with Christianity, though I'm not sure if she realizes that the common ground is in almost everything she has said so far.

The author is probably thinking of our temples.  Temples are not where we hold our Sunday worship, but where we perform ordinances.  One reason we don't allow random people in is because they don't want to receive ordinances.  If they do want to, then they should start with baptism. :)  Also, like in the Old and New Testament, the temple is a house of the Lord and should be kept holy.  But I digress.

We call our church buildings "churches" not "tabernacles" and anyone can come inside a church.  This is where we hold our Sunday meetings where we share our testimonies of Christ and teach and learn how to get closer to Him.

So things that are actually uniquely similar between Muslims and Mormons:

• Prophet(s) after Christ's Apostles.
• Scripture that mainstream Christians don't use.
• Allowances for polygamy.
• Forbid alcohol and gambling.
• Time set aside for fasting.
• Remain married in Heaven.

Meanwhile, things that are uniquely similar between Mormons and other Christians:

• Jesus Christ is more than a prophet.
• Jesus Christ died for our Sins.
• Pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ.
• Bible is canonized scriptures.

Some may say Mormons are so bizarre, Christians and Muslims have more in common than Mormons.  But I won't list those.  The point I'm trying to say here:  Yes, we have a lot of similarities.  But when it comes to being a Christian, isn't what we believe in Jesus where it counts?  If people want to quibble about the Trinity vs Godhead in the definition of Christian, go ahead.  But please recognize that we do worship Jesus Christ from the Bible.  We don't think He is just another prophet.

All three of these faiths have scores of excellent people, possibly some who would make excellent American leaders and even U.S. presidents. But, the next time you read in the press about how Mormons are really Christians, you might want to put on your critical thinking cap.

And I hope that the critical thinking cap is filled with facts.  We would invite everyone, including the author Ms. Eliza Wood, to visit one of our churches, and she can see for herself how much devotion to Christ there is going on.