The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is clearly in a season of transition. After recently spending millions of dollars to rebrand itself through the “I am a Mormon” campaign, the church has now decided not to use the word “Mormon” to describe itself but rather to use the phrase the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” I certainly will use the words Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because that is the technical name of the organization. But there is a particular shift inside this religious group that I think is important to address.
Recently, on my own Instagram feed, I saw this ad encouraging me to come to “Christ-centered services” and advertising as a church. (The red arrows and highlights are in the original.) Though I cannot tell if this is an official LDS account, its links are all to those resources.
It’s worth noting the phrase “Jesus-centered” in the conversation. LDS people do indeed believe in Jesus; however, as I will note below, this is not the same Jesus described in Scripture. And if it’s not the Jesus described in the Scripture, then it’s not the true Jesus who has eternally existed as God the Son.
It’s also worth noting that Mormons historically have emphasized their separateness from what they might call Nicene Christianity or Trinitarian Christianity—particularly emphasizing that these other churches are false churches and they are the one true, restored church.
For instance, Brigham Young University’s Religious Studies Center posted this article, which said in part:
This church of Jesus Christ (nicknamed Mormon) is the “only true and living church” (D&C 1:30) that is fully recognized by God, the only one properly organized with the authority to perform for him, and the only one with a total and comprehensive and true program which will carry men to powers unbelievable and to realms incredible. This is absolute truth…This is not another church. This is the Church. This is not another gospel or philosophy. This is the church and gospel of Jesus Christ.
Historically, it has been easy to acknowledge that Christianity is one religion and Mormonism is a distinct and separate religious category—like Jehovah’s Witnesses—which do not claim to be Christians. But Mormons today are clearly trying to deemphasize the differences between LDS beliefs and the Christian faith. This marks a significant shift from the past.
I want to note two prominent shifts happening today and offer some responses for evangelicals.
The Cross Over the Angel Moroni
I recently noted in a social media post that in the last year or so, the Mormon church has quietly updated Google Maps to change the symbols for their stakes or wards from the icon of the angel Moroni to being listed as churches with the icon of a cross.
Here is the problem: While all kinds of groups can and do use the cross for all kinds of purposes, the Google Maps shift demonstrates Mormonism’s attempt to rebrand itself as a denomination of Christianity. There’s no such thing as biblical Christianity without a biblical understanding of who Jesus Christ is, and Mormons therefore do not fit that qualification (Galatians 1:6-9).
Our LDS neighbors are often wonderful people, but they are not Christians in any biblical sense of the term.
