Can you defend the Christian Faith against Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - LDS)? Also, can you defend against this below with the Sound Christian Doctrine and put it in your own words as well, please?

Question

For Mormon historians and Church members, Christmas is not uniquely a "Mormon" holiday. While modern Latter-day Saints around the world take part in various traditions to celebrate the holiday, there isn't a significant body of distinctively Mormon customs tied to the day set aside for honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. Mormons celebrate Christmas similarly to other Christians—by reading the nativity story from Luke, giving gifts, and spending time with loved ones. Common aspects of the holiday for Mormons in the U.S. include Santa Claus, decorated Christmas trees, and the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Some Church members express concern that Christmas has become overly commercialized, focusing more on material goods than on the meaningful remembrance of Christ's birth. These critics aim to restore the significance of "Christ" in "Christmas" and yearn for a return to a time when the holiday was about more than just gifts and shopping. Mormons celebrate Jesus' birth in ways that incorporate both general Christian traditions and the distinct values of the LDS Church. Similar to other Christians, they enjoy family gatherings, festive meals, and gift-giving. Christmas trees are adorned, stockings are hung, and carols, including secular holiday songs, are sung. Nativity scenes can be found in their homes and churches, and Christmas services typically feature Bible readings and worship hymns. The accounts of Jesus' birth from the books of Luke and Matthew are also read. Central to their celebrations is the spiritual significance of Christmas, with a strong focus on Jesus as the Savior and Son of God. Additionally, they draw on teachings from the Book of Mormon, especially those related to Jesus' ministry and the concept of salvation. Many congregations hold Christmas events that include spiritual messages and music, and acts of charity often characterize their holiday observance. These charitable efforts may involve food drives, donations, or volunteering at shelters, reflecting their commitment to living out Christ's teachings. During December, the LDS Church promotes initiatives like “Light the World,” which encourages individuals to engage in daily acts of service as a way to honor the season. Similar to other Christians, Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Creator of the universe. However, they have a distinctive view that God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate beings. They believe that while God and Jesus share a profound unity in their love for humanity, each is a unique person with His own glorified body. Mormons hold that every person ever born, including Jesus, lived with God as His spirit children before coming to Earth. God desired for each of us to experience life, learn, and grow to become more like Him. However, He understood that His children would sin, die, and fall short of His glory, necessitating the need for a Savior to help us overcome our shortcomings and restore our relationship with Him. Mormons believe that Jesus Christ was chosen to be this Savior even before our earthly existence, and they rejoiced upon learning of God's plan for His children. They affirm that Jesus was born in Bethlehem as the child of God the Father and a mortal mother, Mary. He grew up gradually learning about His divine purpose and the gospel of His Father. Mormons believe that Jesus lived a perfect earthly life, serving as the ultimate role model for humanity. He is recognized as the Messiah and the promised Savior, whose coming had been foretold by prophets. The scriptures recount how He preached His gospel, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and even raised the dead during His time in Palestine. Furthermore, Mormons hold that Jesus Christ underwent indescribable suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and during His crucifixion, enduring this for the salvation of all people, enabling Him to support us in our trials. They believe that He died on the cross and resurrected, providing the hope of resurrection for everyone, allowing them to ultimately return to live with a loving Heavenly Father. As the only person to have led a completely sinless life, He is seen as the perfect sacrifice. A unique belief among Latter-day Saints is that after His resurrection, Jesus visited the people in the Americas.

Answer 1

Defending the Christian Faith against Mormonism, particularly in the context provided, requires a careful examination of both beliefs. Here’s a structured response based on sound Christian doctrine.

Key Areas of Distinction

1. Nature of God and the Trinity:

   • Traditional Christian doctrine, grounded in the Nicene Creed, asserts that God is one being in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This view emphasizes the essential unity and co-eternity of these persons. The doctrinal positions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) diverge significantly, proposing that God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate beings. This separation undermines the foundational Christian belief in the Trinity, which is central to understanding the nature of God and how He interacts with humanity.

2. Pre-Mortal Existence and Divine Plan:

   • Mormons hold that all humans, including Jesus, existed as spirit children of God before coming to Earth. While spirituality and pre-existence are significant in Mormon theology, mainstream Christianity teaches that all humans are created by God at conception. The belief in a pre-mortal existence, without biblical grounding, leads to an understanding of salvation and God's nature that can contradict essential Christian tenets.

3. Holy Scriptures:

   • Traditional Christianity holds the Bible (Old and New Testament) as the sole authoritative scripture for faith and practice. In contrast, Mormons recognize additional scriptures (e.g., the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) as equally authoritative. Many Christians argue that the addition of these texts introduces contradictions to biblical teachings and diverts from the core message of the Gospel.

4. Salvation:

   • Central to Christian doctrine is the belief in salvation by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of works. On the other hand, LDS teachings emphasize a combination of faith, works, and ongoing adherence to church practices to achieve salvation, suggesting a more works-based approach. This fundamentally alters the essence of grace as given freely through Christ's sacrifice.

5. The Nature of Jesus:

   • While both Mormons and Christians honor Jesus as the Savior, their understanding of His divinity differs greatly. Jesus is viewed in traditional Christianity as fully God and fully man—His divine nature being inherent and eternal. Mormon doctrine, by contrast, posits that Jesus was once a spirit child who became divine through progression, which dilutes the completeness of His divinity and undermines the significance of the Incarnation and Resurrection.

6. Afterlife and Eternal Progression:

   • Mormons believe in a tiered heaven, where individuals can progress to become like God through righteous living. Traditional Christianity offers a more binary view of heaven and hell based on acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice, not on a hierarchy of merit or works. This creates a vastly different understanding of the afterlife and the nature of eternal life.

Response to the Christmas Observance Context

The LDS celebration of Christmas reflects cultural traditions that many Christians also observe, such as gift-giving and family gatherings. However, the essence of Christmas for a Christian goes beyond customs; it is centered on the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the incarnate God, who came to save humanity from sin.

• While it is commendable that Mormons emphasize the need to honor Christ during Christmas, Christians might contend that without a correct understanding of who Christ is and the nature of His salvation, any observance of Christmas can miss the point.

• As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Jesus not just as a historical event, but as a divine act of redemption. The nativity story is a central Gospel proclamation that points to the truth of Jesus’ divinity and His purpose on Earth—to reconcile humanity to God.

• Additionally, the adoption of secular elements, such as Santa Claus or characters like Ebenezer Scrooge, while culturally relevant, may detract from the significance of what Christmas symbolizes—the arrival of the Savior who is fully God and fully man.

Conclusion

In summary, while Mormons and traditional Christians share some common cultural elements during Christmas and respect for Jesus, the underlying theological differences are profound. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the nature of Jesus Christ, the understanding of salvation, and the authority of Scripture are all areas where these beliefs diverge significantly. This creates a fundamental distinction that should be recognized in any sincere discussion about faith traditions.