Mitt Romney’s Mormon Religion Causes a Firestorm
In October 2011 controversial comments made by a Texas pastor and supporter of Gov. Rick Perry again inserted the issue of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s faith into the forefront of the race for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.
The GOP field, including Romney, found themselves having to respond to comments made Friday by Dr. Robert Jeffress, the senior pastor of the 10,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas, who, in his introduction of Texas Gov. Rick Perry at a social conservatives’ conference on Friday, called Mormonism a “cult,” and asserted that Romney was not a Christian. [1]
Romney’s comments were focused on the unproductive nature of the controversy, and fellow Mormon Jon Huntsman, also a Republican candidate for president, leaped to Romney’s defense:
“Here in New Hampshire that is seen as the most ridiculous sideshow in recent politics. It doesn’t create an additional job. The discussion of Mormonism doesn’t expand our economic base. It doesn’t secure our position in the world. I have no idea why people are wasting spending so much political capital and bandwith on this issue. It’s nonsense,” Huntsman said.
Rick Perry distanced himself from Jeffress’ comments, saying he did not think Mormonism is a cult, and other candidates said the pastor’s comments were in poor taste and judgment.
Jeffress claims that Mormonism is not part of historical Christianity, which is true, and Mormons would agree with that statement. All protestant churches believe that there was an apostasy in Christian orthodoxy, in which early Christianity adopted many pagan traditions and incorporated Greek philosophy. This is why there was a reformation, from which all protestant churches sprang. The protestant churches cannot claim any authority from Christ and the apostles, however, because they were reformations of orthodoxy instigated by men.
Jeffress claims that Evangelical Christianity was begun by Jesus Christ, but Mormonism was founded by a man, and therefore, Evangelical Christianity is Christ’s and Mormonism is a cult. However, his statement is the utmost in hypocrisy, as exposed on CNN by Anderson Cooper. The Evangelical movement is only slightly older than the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Evangelical movement was begun by men and women trying to reclaim the charismatic gifts lost to orthodoxy when the apostles and Christ’s authority disappeared. New doctrines, such as the belief in a pre-tribulation rapture, were incorporated, and no line of authority from Christ exists.
Mormonism, however, claims to be not a protestant religion, but the restoration of the original church of Jesus Christ, with power and authority restored by Christ Himself through direct revelation to modern prophets. No other religion can make this claim. Some call the Mormon Church a cult, because Joseph Smith claimed to receive visions and heavenly messengers. But how else could Christ restore His own church, except through those who held the keys and authority anciently? John the Baptist with the authority to baptize; Peter, James, and John with the keys to the higher priesthood; Elijah with the keys to the sealing power — these men are long gone. Under Christ’s direction, they would have to return as resurrected or “translated” beings in order to pass on the keys and authority to restore the original church of Christ. This should make perfect sense to anyone who is Christian, especially one who considers himself an educated theologian like Jeffress.
Additional Resources:
Mitt Romney is a Mormon and the Mormon religion is Christian. Learn more at the official site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church”).
The Book of Mormon is God’s word. Request a free copy and learn for yourself.
Attend a local meetinghouse.