What is a Christian? This question must be answered first in order to put any religious denomination into a category. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about Christians.
The Bible mentions the word "Christian" three times: in Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. In Acts 11:26, the word "Christian" is given to the disciples at Antioch. The disciples were followers of Jesus who literally followed Him around. They watched His every move and listened intently to His teachings. When Christ ascended into Heaven, He told His disciples, as stated in Matthew 28:19-20, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Christ commanded them to go into the world and preach the gospel...His gospel. The story of salvation. What is the story of salvation you might ask? The good news-that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16. Salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone, through His death and ressurection on the cross. Faith is all you need. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8.
What does all this have to do with Mormonism? Good question. Mormoms are also known as LDS. This stands for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They do not preach the gospel found in the Bible. Although they claim to, their own doctrine shows proof otherwise. Let's take Matthew 28:19-20 into consideration. It specifically says "....teaching them everything I have commanded you." Along with the Bible, they have three more books that they hold true to: The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. In the front cover of the Book of Mormon, it states, "another testament of Jesus Christ". This is exactly what the church teaches..another gospel. Jesus could not have included the Book of Mormon in the statement He made, "teaching everything I have commanded you", since the Book of Mormon wasn't even published until 1830.
The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price are also known to the Mormons as "additional scripture". Their 8th article of faith says: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." The Book of Mormon is believed by Mormons to be an account of ancient inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, recorded on gold plates and translated by Joseph Smith. There are no whereabouts as to the location of these plates today which make it very difficult for the Mormons to prove authenticity and validity.
LDS believe that good works play a part in their salvation. Their 3rd article of faith states, "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." Here it clearly states that they recognize the Atonement of Christ yet still feel being obedient to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel is necessary for salvation.
Their 4th article of faith explains these laws and ordinances: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." Again, the Bible does not require any of these things to play a part in our salvation. It is by faith and faith alone that we are saved as stated above in John 3:16.
So why do Mormons claim to be Christians? Let's study this a little further. Their founder, Joseph Smith, gives an account of his claim to have seen God and Jesus, in the flesh. This is known as the first vision. In this account, Joseph Smith asks God which church he should belong to. God tells him not to join any of them because "all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.'" (History of the Church, Vol. 1, Chapters 1-5) It just seems funny to me that there were churches at that time considered Christian, yet Joseph Smith was told to join none of them. Why now are the Mormons professing to be of a faith they believe was and is an abomination?
Mormonism is just that..Mormonism. It isn't anything else. They teach a doctrine unlike any other and so are placed into a category all by themselves. After researching the definition of a Christian, it seems to me that Mormons are not Christians.
Does this mean we shouldn't love them? Absolutely not! As a Christian myself, God has commanded us to love. John 15:12, "My command is this: Love each other, as I have loved you." Mormons are simply people that have been misled by a false prophet. Pray for them, my dear brothers and sisters. Plant those seeds of truth into their hearts. Our job is to simply water the seeds but God makes them grow.