Frank Pastore writes in his column today that Mormonism is a Christian cult that is historically anti-Christian. He also includes 10 points of Mormon teachings that need to be addressed because of their false nature and their characterization of Mormonism as a cult.

Mr Pastore asks if he is an anti-Mormon bigot for simply asking whether Mormonism is a cult. To this I say no, and I have no problem with him asking the question. But them he attempts to answer his own question with answers that do not come from Mormon theology. I really don't know how much more incorrect Mr. Pastore could be about the teachings of Mormonism and still expect me to keep a straight face. If he is going to expose the "cult" of Mormonism, he might get his facts straight so as to prevent embarrassment when confronted.

#1. "Mormonism is polytheistic..." In one sense we are, in that we believe in the existence of at least three beings who hold the status of "God." In this way, traditional Christianity is also polytheistic, but has attempted to explain its way out of this with the development of the Creeds.

We believe that in the end of times, "whether there be one God or many gods, they shall all be revealed." However there is only One whom we worship. We worship the Father in the name of Christ, as every Christian should.

#2. "...it denies original sin..." Simply, yes. But we cannot find any support for this idea in the Bible, and so we are not inclined to believe it. "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." (2nd Article of Faith)

#3. "...it teaches that both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit have physical bodies...." Half of this is entirely false. We nowhere teach that the Holy Ghost has a physical body, not even in the meatier speculations of some of the early writers, of which I am well acquainted (having spent the last 15+ years reading such material). We do teach that God has a body, but that it is an immortal, perfected, spiritual body that cannot see corruption. Jesus Christ has a similar form, but it is distinct from that of the Father.

#4. "...that Jesus was conceived through sexual intercourse between God the Father and Mary..." I challenge anyone to find any other way in which a child can be conceived that is compatible with reason and human physiology. The problem here lies not in Mormonism, but in the traditional faiths of Christianity which view the sexual relationship of man and woman as sinful. Oh, and this isn't taught by the leaders of the Church, nor is it included in any of the Sunday School manuals. We don't talk about it just like we don't talk about sex generally. It is a topic which should be held in respect in its sacred context.

#5."...that Jesus was the spirit-brother of Lucifer..." There is nothing other than speculation on the part of a few which lies behind this. I have been in some pretty meaty discussions of this idea with friends, and it is still unsettled and up for debate.

#6. "...that Jesus was a polygamist..." There is nothing here but speculation on the part of a few as well. There is no statement given by any of the Church leaders, old or new, which unquestionably reveals this. I am aware of Brigham Young's statements on the matter. But entertaining the thought for a moment, was not polygamy practiced commonly among the Jews in Christ's day? In fact, it was. It would have been neither uncommon nor unseemly for Jesus to have been the husband of more than one woman. In commenting on the life of Christ, we cannot in honesty impose our values and beliefs on the people of another age and culture. The values we hold today are a product of our culture, not theirs.

#7. "...that Jesus traveled to the Americas during His three days in the tomb..." This is incorrect. While we believe that Christ visited the Americas, we believe that it occurred after his resurrection, after the three days in the tomb. We also believe that he visited other peoples in other parts of the world, and there is some evidence coming to light to support this. We do not believe that the people in America were the only beneficiaries of the resurrected Christ's presence. After all, he came to give his testimony to the world, not to the Jews only.

#8. "...and that every Mormon male will one day become a God ruling over his own planet..." This implies that we believe that only Mormons will share in this destiny and blessing, which is false. There are many Mormon males which will fall far short of receiving such a reward. Being a Mormon does not guarantee your exaltation. There are also some of us who believe that one day, after Christ comes again, the opportunity for exaltation will be extended to any who will fulfill the requirements. But that is just speculation, and not taught by the Church generally.

#9. "...accompanied by multiple wives, just as the God of this Earth, named Elohim – who was once a man – has done here." The multiple wives idea has been rejected for the last 90+ years by the leaders of the Church, just like we have rejected polygamy. Will Mr. Pastore also say that we still practice polygamy?

I notice how Mr. Pastore ascribes the title of "God of this Earth" to one Being, Elohim. This is at odds with his previous assertion that we are polytheistic. Are we or not? He needs to make up his mind.

I am always suspicious of any commentator who uses straw-man arguments to discuss an opponents viewpoints. Mr. Pastore has defined our doctrines in his own terms and then sets them up to be knocked down. It doesn't make for reasonable debate, and until traditional Christians will stop doing this, we will not come to an understanding.

Mr. Pastore has attempted to portray Mormons as exclusivist and elitist, but then he denies us the right to be called Christian. We have always claimed to be Christians, based upon our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, that he was resurrected, and that through Him and his sacrifice mankind can be saved from their sins. I don't see that as an unreasonable claim.

Mr. Pastore also lays out some of the history of the Church, and then uses the story to bolster his claim that Mormonism has always been anti-Christian. The fact is that Joseph came to tell his vision to a pastor he knew, and was told to never repeat it. Joseph never attacked any person for their beliefs until they had first attacked him physically for his. In essence, Joseph tried to share what he believed to be true about Jesus Christ and those who should have been glad to hear it, or at least given it reasoned consideration, instead attacked him verbally and physically, unbecoming of people who called themselves "Christian." Where does the problem really lie?

If the religionists of Joseph Smith's day were truly Christian, and if Mormonism really were anti-Christian, then those who called themselves Christian failed in the basic requirement of Christianity to "turn the other cheek." Mr Pastore says that words have meaning. I agree. Mr. Pastore needs to inquire of himself why he still feels the need to attack the Church as anti-Christian, when his post is so obviously colored with anti-Mormon sentiment.