Dear Gramps,
Can you please tell me the difference in a Christian and a Mormon? What would be the difference in a Pentecostal church and Mormon church? Thank You

Doris, from Clearwater, Florida

Dear Doris,

I guess the first thing to do would be to decide on a definition of the word Christian. The 10^th Collegiate Edition of Webster’s Dictionary defines the word Christian as

a: one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ

b (1) : DISCIPLE . (2) a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906. (3) a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 1961.

Let’s look at the first definition. If that is what you mean by a Christian in your question, then your very question is in error. By the dictionary definition the Mormon Church is the most fundamental Christian Church in existence. Here are some of the beliefs of the Mormon Church with respect to Jesus Christ–

1) There is a section in one of the Mormon scriptures called the Articles of Faith. These comprise thirteen articles that enumerate the basic beliefs of the Mormon Church. The first of these articles states–

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2) In the spring of 1820 the Lord, Jesus Christ, in company with God, the Father, appeared in person to the boy, Joseph Smith, and called him to formally restore the original Church of Jesus Christ as a legal organization on the earth. This was accomplished in Fayette, New York on April 6 1830. Although frequently called the Mormon Church, its official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is often abbreviated as the LDS Church.

The phrase “Latter-day Saints” is used in the name of the Church to distinguish it from the church that the Savior organized during his mortal sojourn and which was carried on after his crucifixion and resurrection by the apostles that he had ordained. Both the members of the church in that day and the members of Christ’s church today are called saints, as noted, for instance, by in Paul Rom 1:7–

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

3) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only religious organization on the earth today that maintains the same organization, with the same officials, that existed in the primitive church. Again, as expressed by Paul in Eph 4:10-13– 

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. 

Of course much, much more could be said in defense of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as being the one and only church organized and operated under the specific direction of the Lord, Jesus Christ. But, to move on…. 

With respect to items 2 and 3 under definition b: of Webster’s dictionary, the LDS Church had no association with the Disciples of Christ, and therefore was not party to separating from them in 1906. Nor does the LDS Church have any part in the union of the United Church of Christ.

Since the LDS Church does not subscribe to the sectarian view of the Savior, as promoted by the union of the United Church of Christ, the LDS Church is frequently, and erroneously, referred to by that body as being non-Christian.

I’m sorry that I can’t speak specifically to the differences between the Pentecostal and Mormon churches, as I’m not acquainted with the doctrine of the Pentecostal Church. To the best of my knowledge, the Pentecostal Church was organized by Glenn Cook in the first decade of the last century.

Gramps