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You might have seen recent news stories based on the remarks of Dr Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas. 

I address some of his claims in my own way in a letter to him…you can read it here.

Dear Dr. Jeffress:

I was recently struck by your comments to the media following your recent address at the Value Voters Summit.  While your comments are not necessarily new, they hit a chord with me.  While I do not profess to be a theologian, like yourself, or to have any type of acclaimed religious training, I am a practicing Mormon.  And I disagree wholeheartedly with some of your recent comments.  I would like to address them for those of my friends and family who would like to hear what I believe.  My expectations for this response are small – only to hopefully allow those who are unclear about what we believe, or who might be persuaded by your comments, to take an inside look into the mind and heart of a Mormon mother and perhaps, question your claims.

1.  I’ll begin by addressing your cult comment.  “When I talk about a cult I talk about a theological cult, as opposed to a sociological cult.  Theologically, a cult is a religion that has a human founder vs. a divine founder.  Joseph Smith is the founder of Mormonism vs. Jesus Christ whom we look as the head of our church.” (Dr. Robert Jeffress, CNN interview)

You also mention “I know that term is a loaded one”.  Precisely.  The word “cult” is used to incite fear, doubt and confusion.  And it is unnecessary.  Anyone who knows or has spent time with a practicing LDS family knows that the modern use of the word cult is inaccurate.  The accusation implies threat – and I do not see the Mormons as any threat.

When Christ was on the earth, he called apostles to help lead, guide and direct His church…specifically men like Peter, James, John, etc.  We believe that prophets and apostles continue to be called upon to direct HIS church – the first of those, in modern times, being Joseph Smith, who we believe was called through ministration and direct visitation from Christ himself.  We never have and never will claim that Joseph Smith is the head of our church…only a vessel and leader who faithfully fulfilled a call to serve and restore the original church – the church of Jesus Christ.  While I appreciate the theological vs. sociological distinction, I do not appreciate the reference to us as “evil” when you say very clearly that your job is to “push back against evil”.  My practices, my faith, my family – none are evil.

2.  The second point you made “is that cults tend to look to other religious texts outside the Bible for religious guidance” (CNN interview with Andersen Cooper).  It is true that we DO look to other religious texts – the Book of Mormon, as scripture.  We very literally believe Christ when he stated “other sheep I have, which are not of this fold” (John 10:16).  We believe that the Bible is an inspired text that witnesses and records the dealings of God with his people and that reveals the teachings of Jesus Christ and His gospel.  But we believe that other texts were recorded that also reveal the dealings of God with his other people (and even you must admit that there are many…people that is), and we believe that he continues to reveal His word to His people (personal revelation to those who seek answers or guidance, for example).  You state in your speech “that we need Christian leaders who embrace Biblical principles” (implying that Mitt Romney would not embrace Biblical principles).  Every week I prepare and present a Sunday School lesson to 15-18 year old youth.  The topic of study for the 2011 lessons is the New Testament.  Each Sunday I prepare and teach the youth about the Sermon on the Mount, the parables of Jesus, the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ, the teachings of Paul to the Corinthians, the Thessalonians, and the Colossians, etc.  I teach that “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15.13).  Biblical principles are weaved into the fabric of who I am as a Mormon and what I teach my children every day.

3.  Mormonism has “never been considered as a part of historic Christianity”…I recognize what you are saying, because we are a “modern, American” religion based on our restoration/founding in the early 1800s in Palmyra, NY.  BUT, I believe that Christ did not “historically” establish multiple sects, religions, understandings, translations, interpretations of His church and His principles either.   

4.  And finally, you mention getting a phone call from a woman in Virginia – “a woman called me from VA and said, ‘I want you to know that I grew up in a Mormon home, my father was a Bishop in the Mormon church and everything you said is true…it is a cult…we depend on you to tell the truth’” (sermon given at First Baptist, 10/9/11).  While I did not grow up in a Mormon home, I did grow up in a Bible-based, faith-promoting home (in which, some of my time was spent in a Baptist church).  I believe that each of us has a divine right to choose – and with that right, I chose my religion based on personal feelings and conviction.  Now, I am trying to raise God-fearing and faithful Mormon children.  And my husband happens to be currently serving as a Mormon bishop. There is no mystery associated with those who lead our church…there is no veiling of the truth.  The world does not depend on you to tell the truth about Mormonism…it relies on us…those of us who claim it as our own.  While I know that many disagree with the tenets of our faith (and I stress, that’s OK), I would hope that if they have questions or curiosities about it they would turn to those that they know who hold these beliefs…that they would go to the source.  And I would hope that those of us who claim Mormonism to be our religion would not shy away from the tough questions or the curious seeker of truth.  Mutual respect and understanding should be shared by all who profess Christ as our Savior…and I profess Christ to be my Savior…my Redeemer…my Advocate with the Father…my only hope…my friend.

I would warmly invite anyone who believes us to be a cult to come to our home…to see how we worship, to watch as we kneel to pray, to view us partake of the sacred emblems of the sacrament (reminders of the blood and the body of Christ), to hear us sing our hymns, to watch us try with all our might to instill Godly principles in our children…faith, hope, charity, etc.  It is the Book of Mormon that teaches “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.”  Our Church bears its name for a reason…we are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You said in your remarks to your congregation on Sunday that it is your “responsibility to point people to faith in Christ – point out that being a good person is not enough, that we all need Christ as our Savior…”  Dr. Jeffress, I agree.  And I hope that instead of going toe-to-toe in that effort, we could stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

Those who have questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what we believe and profess should visit www.mormon.org .