Mormons believe that the church founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 was a literal restoration of primitive Christianity, led by modern prophets including Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young. Thus, Mormonism classifies itself within Christianity, but as a distinct restored dispensation. Mormons believe that after a time the Church as established by the Lord fell into spiritual decay. His teachings were altered; His ordinances were changed; and the Great Apostasy came as had been foretold by Paul, who knew that the Lord would not come again “except there come a falling away first”(2 Thessalonians 2:3). According to Bruce McConkie, a general authority of the LDS Church, "Mormonism is indistinguishable from Christianity."[5]
In many ways, the religion differs from orthodoxy as held by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christianity. To those for whom Christianity is defined by that orthodoxy, Mormonism's differences place it outside the umbrella of Christianity altogether.[6]
Since its beginnings, the faith has proclaimed itself to be Christ's Church restored with its original authority, structure and power; teaching that the existing denominations "were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as his church and kingdom",[7] and "all their creeds were an abomination in his sight."[8] Though the religion quickly gained a large following of Christian seekers, in the 1830s, many American Christians came to view the church's early doctrines and practices[9] as politically and culturally subversive. This discord led to a series of sometimes-deadly conflicts between Mormons and other Christians.[10] Although such violence has declined in the last century, the religion's unique doctrinal views and practices still generate criticism, as well as efforts by Mormons and other Christians to proselytize each other.
Mormons believe in Jesus Christ as the literal firstborn Son of God and Messiah, the crucifixion as a conclusion of a sin offering and the subsequent resurrection of their Christ. However, Latter Day Saints reject the ecumenical creeds and definition of the Trinity taught by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Trinitarian Protestantism,[11][12] and hold that the New Testament prophesied both the apostasy from the teachings of Christ and his apostles[13] as well as the restoration of all things prior to the second coming of Christ.[14] Additionally, Mormons believe that Jesus began his atonement from sin in garden of Gethsemane and continued it to his crucifixion, rather than the orthodox belief that the crucifixion alone was the physical atonement.[15]
Mormons teach that the priesthood authority were taken from the earth with the death of the original apostles, and were restored to Joseph Smith, Jr. by those who held them anciently,[16][17] resulting in a full restoration of primitive Christianity.
Mormons believe in the Old and New Testaments and the LDS Church uses the King James Bible as its official scriptural text of the Bible. While they believe in the general accuracy of the modern day text of the Bible, they also believe that it is incomplete and contains errors.[18][19][20] In Mormon theology, many of these lost truths are restored by way of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons hold to be divine scripture and equal in authority to the Bible, and through revelation to modern-day leaders.[21] Some of these revelations are contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, all of which have varying degrees of acceptance as divine scripture among the different denominations of the Latter Day Saint Movement.
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