Following links is a dangerous – kind of like walking out of your door: you never know where you are going to end up.

A few days ago I followed a link posted on one of my favorite webcomics. The link led to a fantasy author – whose books I have read and enjoyed– who also happens to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints.

Buried under a selection about his faith, the author makes this comment about the claim that Mormons are not Christians:

There are those who claim that due to doctrinal differences in the interpretation of the Lord's word, that Mormons are not Christians. This is, frankly, rather like the following argument: (A) Democrats are patriotic U.S. Citizens; (B) Republicans do not believe in the same platform as the Democratic Party; (C) ergo, Republicans are not patriotic U.S. Citizens. (Or the other way around, if you prefer.)

Hmm…. Sorry. I can’t buy it.[@more@]

I understand what he is trying to say – seeing how the “Christian” faith is split into a thousand and one different variations (Southern Baptist, First Methodists, Vineyard, AG, etc). Yet, beyond all the stylistic differences, all of those “variations” believe that Jesus Christ is “God” (ie. they are one and the same, yet different; the mystery of the Trinity) and that He came down to earth to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven. Mankind can join Him in this Kingdom by receiving the free gift of grace.

In my understanding, the LDS church believes that “Jesus” was the son of a god who came down to earth – both in the Middle East and in America. By following this “Jesus” and the teachings of Joseph Smith, man can become a god and have their own planet to rule and fill with children.

Hmm…that sounds a lot bigger then just “doctrinal differences” on the interpretation of the Bible.