What do Mormons believe? What is Mormonism?

TL;DR:

Mormonism, founded by Joseph Smith in 1830, shares some surface-level similarities with Christianity, but it fundamentally differs in its teachings about God, Jesus, salvation, Scripture, and the afterlife in ways that are incompatible with the historic Christian faith.

what does the bible say?

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, and that through faith in Him, repentance, baptism, and obedience to His commandments, people can return to live with God. They also believe in modern prophets, continuing revelation, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ’s restored church on earth. Mormons define Jesus and God as differently than Christianity and have a different view of salvation than the Bible. Mormons believe that God was once a mortal man who became a god and that other humans can achieve godhood, too. They view Jesus as a distinct being from God the Father: a man who became a “god,” but not fully God. Mormons also teach that salvation is by grace, after all the works they can do. The Bible, however, teaches that God is eternal, unchanging, and triune—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19). Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the eternal Son who became flesh to redeem humanity through His death and resurrection (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15–20), which is why He can be the Savior of the world. If He just attained godhood, His sacrifice would not have been sufficient for an eternal punishment of sin for all humanity. The Bible also teaches that salvation is a free gift received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by human effort or works (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5–7).

from the old testament

Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." This foundational affirmation of monotheism contradicts Mormonism’s belief in multiple gods and the potential for humans to achieve godhood.
Isaiah 43:10: "Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me." The Bible denies the existence of other gods or the possibility of humans becoming gods.

from the new testament

John 1:1, 14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Jesus is eternal and divine, not a created being, as Mormon doctrine claims.
Ephesians 2:8–9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Salvation is a gift of grace, not a combination of faith and works, as taught in Mormonism.
John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Salvation is found exclusively in Jesus Christ, not through adherence to additional Mormon teachings or scriptures.

implications for today

Mormonism’s deviations from biblical Christianity are profound and far-reaching. By redefining God, Jesus, salvation, and Scripture, the LDS Church promotes a theological system incompatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians are called to engage with Mormons lovingly and respectfully, sharing the truth of the Bible and pointing them to the sufficiency of Jesus’s atoning work on the cross. The message of grace, not works, provides the assurance of salvation and eternal life that Mormonism cannot offer.

understand

Mormons believe God was once a mortal man who became a god, and humans can achieve godhood. Christians believe that God is eternal and wholly separate from humanity and that we cannot achieve godhood.
Mormons view Jesus as a distinct being from God the Father and as "a god," not fully God. Christians believe that Jesus is both fully man and fully God.
Mormons believe salvation is by grace, after all they can do. Christians believe that all we do cannot save us—only trusting in Jesus’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins; works reflect that salvation but do not save us.

reflect

How do you personally understand the nature of God, and how does that compare to Mormon beliefs about God’s origin and potential for humans to become gods?
How does your understanding of salvation differ from the Mormon view of salvation, which combines faith and works?
How can you approach conversations with Mormons in a way that shows love while also sharing the truth of the gospel?

engage

What are the implications of believing that Jesus is not fully God, but rather "a god," especially in terms of how we understand His work of salvation?
How do you think the Mormon view of salvation (a combination of grace and works) impacts their understanding of God's love and grace?
What significance is there to the truth that Mormons accept additional scriptures, like the Book of Mormon, and how does this influence their view of the Bible as the authoritative Word of God?