What is it about Mormonism that prevents its followers from having salvation in Christ?

Last night I watched a little bit of the PBS documentary on Mormonism. I say “little” because the amount of time I took to watch television last night amounted to about 20 minutes.

A thought came to me later in the evening: what is it about Mormonism that prevents its followers from having salvation in Christ?

This is not a trick question. It is sincere. I myself really do not know; I am quite ignorant of the subject. When one is an evangelical child, one automatically accepts the proposition that Mormons are not true believers and are thus not truly saved. One accepts this without question but, as time and curiosity progresses, one begins to question this assumption and seeks proof. “Mormons claim to be Christians and followers of God in Christ. Why are they not? Prove it.”

So if we as orthodox Christians believe that Mormons are not truly saved, why do we say this? What reason? I want to know.

Allow me to reject a few possible replies as untenable:

1) Mormons doctrines are heretical.

This is undoubtedly true but that in of itself does constitute a separation from salvation. Every Christian group has some false teachings, as does every person. Who then could be saved? Therefore, the general principle of having heretical views must be specific for particular teachings in order to objectively verifiable. And Mormons may have a specific teaching or more that separates them from salvation. But what is it?

2) Mormons use a false scripture along with the orthodox Bible.

Again, this is undoubtedly true. However, this again in of itself does not constitute a separation from salvation. Roman Catholics hold the Apocryphal writings to be Scriptural. The overwhelming majority of Orthodox Christians hold John 7:53-8:11 and Mark 16:9-20 to be authoritative Scripture. However, both of these passages are in none of the earliest manuscripts. This is a fact which evangelical scholars know to be true. These passages are additions to the Scriptures and are neither authoritative nor binding upon the orthodox believer. Yet, most people mistakenly hold these passages to be Scripture. Therefore, the fact that Mormons use a false scripture along with the orthodox Bible does not automatically constitute a separation from salvation.

3) The lofty reverence given to Joseph Smith and his teachings.

A few points:

A) Joseph Smith is considered a prophet but he is not worshipped.

B) That Mormons follow his false teachings does not necessarily constitute a separation from salvation. Most Christians follow one or more of the false teachings of Augustine, Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Edwards, Schleiermacher, Graves and Norris.

C) Along with this last point, evangelicals will often attempt to discredit Mormonism by finding false statements made by its leaders. We must be careful about this; the statements of leaders do not always reflect the views of followers. If that were so, then we would not have needed a Conservative Resurgence. Indeed, John Calvin held to infant baptism but this does not mean that all the professors at Southern Seminary are apostates! We can go through our own SBC records and find numerous sayings made by convention leaders and professors that are absurdly false (especially in the last 25 years). Indeed, there are many Fundamentalist Baptist groups who believe that TODAY’S SBC and its leadership are apostate and going to hell. And let’s not even get started on Bob Jones University.

Thus, we need to be careful about the arguments we make if such arguments can be made.

A place I would begin is a general summary of “Mormon Fundamentals”, comparing them with whatever Christian fundamentals exist.

Also, I think the area of primary focus needs to be on the central Christian teaching (so says I): “salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Again, I am only interested in the subject of the salvation of Mormons and not their false beliefs unless such beliefs are responsible for their separation from salvation in Jesus Christ.