Is "Mormonism" a Cult?

If a cult is a group that brainwashes its members so they'll commit evil acts, then we're not. If a cult is a group that teaches it's members to do good and how to receive eternal life, claims to be the only true church of Christ on the earth today, and works to retain it's members, then we are.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in grace and works. Yes, we need to accept Christ as our Savior, have faith in His Atonement, and there is nothing we can do to get ourselves to heaven. Because of His atonement and resurrection, all will be resurrected. But not all will obtain eternal life or life with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. That life is possible because of the atonement, through ordinances like baptism, and keeping the commandments. While on earth, Christ did good works and taught us how to live.  He established His gospel, being baptized not because he committed sin, but to show us the way to commit to Him and to become part of His church. If we keep the commandments and enter the waters of baptism through proper authority of the priesthood of God, then we will become His spiritual children, part of His flock. In The Book of Mormon--ancient scripture--the prophet Nephi taught, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23).

We work diligently to persuade our children and our brethren to believe in Christ. Some might consider that cult behavior. We attend church weekly, have daily prayer and scripture study, and a Family Home Evening once a week. We devote much time to teaching our children the doctrine of Christ. We would also love to teach others. Being Mormon is not exclusive. You don't have to be born into the church. Every person on the earth--every child of God, is welcome. Then after joining the church, we don't let you go. We have visiting teaching and home teaching programs where we teach each other monthly in our homes. A record is kept of all memberships and if a previously baptized member no longer comes to church, we still check on them to provide service and in the hopes that one day they will want to come back. Jesus Christ left the ninety-and-nine sheep to look for the one lost sheep.

And yes, we are the only true church of Christ on this earth. Many Christian and non-Christian churches have elements of the truth. We have all the teachings, covenants, ordinances, and priesthood authority that Christ gave His apostles. When Peter and the other apostles were killed, that authority was lost. It was restored through Joseph Smith in the early 1800's, because he asked which church to join. He saw God, the Father and His son, Jesus Christ.

Maybe these claims seem ludicrous, exclusive, cult behavior. But we don't force or coerce. As Nephi also taught, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26). Are these claims true? Are Mormons an evil cult or Christ's church on the earth today? You can know for yourself. Be taught by the missionaries, study our teachings, pray and ask, and you will find out if we're radical members of an evil cult or good people trying our best to follow Christ. You'll find out if this is a group to which you want to belong.