Are "Mormons" Christian

Misconception

"Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don't believe in the Trinity, therefore they are not Christian."

Documented Truth

In the New Testament we read:

"And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26)

According to this verse a "Christian" is a disciple of Jesus Christ. The next logical step to understand the term "Christian" as it is used in the Bible is to look at how Jesus Christ defined the term "disciple."

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13: 35)

This is one of the two great commandments, which Christ stated thus:

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matt 22: 37-40)

If being a disciple is defined by Christ as keeping the second great commandment, logically we would also need to keep the first great commandment. So how do we love God? Jesus answered that question too:

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

Notice that Christ mentions nothing about the nature of God as being a prerequisite or even the "most important" thing in order to be a disciple. It is our love, or complete devotion, to God that is the most important commandment. And the second most important thing is how we treat each other.

In addition to the above scriptures, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ defines a Christian thus:

"For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church. 

And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come." (Alma 46: 14-15)

Within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we adhere to this same definition today. All those who are true believers in Christ who has come (and will come again) are considered "Christians."

A "true believer," as defined by the scriptures above, means one who keeps the commandments (ie- loves God) and loves their neighbor as themselves.

In contrast, the foundational document for the concept of the Trinity, the Athanasian Creed (dated at around 500 A.D.), states that you must believe in the correct nature of God to be saved. It only mentions the term "Christian" once: 

"Just as Christian truth compels us to confess each person individually as both God and Lord, so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords." (Athanasian Creed)

It does not say that belief in the Trinity constitutes one as being a "Christian."

Conclusion

Given that:

• The term "Christian" predates the Athanasian Creed by some 450+ years
• The Athanasian Creed does not state that belief in it makes you a "Christian"
• The term "Christian" in the book of Acts refers to disciples of Jesus Christ
• Jesus defined being a disciple as keeping the commandments and loving your neighbor

The Trinity cannot be the measuring stick for what defines a person as Christian. 

Sources

• Acts 11:26 first time the term "Christian" was used
• John 13: 35- Jesus defines disciple
• Matt 22: 37-40 The two great commandments
• John 14:15- How to love God
• Alma 46: 14-15- Christian is a "true believer" in Jesus Christ
• Athanasian Creed- dated at 6th century or around 500 A.D.

Horses in the Book of Mormon

Misconception

Ice Age horse remains found in Utah. 

"Everyone knows there were no horses in America until after Columbus arrived in 1492. Since the Book of Mormon mentions horses it must be wrong, therefore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must be wrong."

Documented Truth

One of the charges brought against the Book of Mormon is the mention of horses. Recent archaeological evidence, however, is showing that the presence of horses in America during the given time frame is not only plausible, but confirmed.

The most likely candidate species are Equus conversidens and Equus mexicanus, commonly known as the "Mexican horse." While the popular opinion is that they went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene, recent evidence shows that they lived well past the 10,000 BC timestamp.

Here is a simple timeline including some of the dates that archaeologists have reported for various horse species in the Americas:

  ---------- (10,000 BC - Pleistocene era ends)

  - 6,020-5,890 BC - Elpaso Texas - C14 date

  - 5,600 BC - Steven Village, Alaska - C14 date

  - 2,600 BC - Beringia (Alaska) - C14 date

  ---------- (about 2,200 BC - Jaredites arrive)

  - 1805 BC - Loltun, Mexico (Yucatan) - C14 date

  ---------- (about 590 BC - Lehi arrives)

  - 523 BC - Mexico - C14 date

  - 200 BC Beringia (Alaska) - C14 date

  - 1260-1400 AD - Colorado - C14 date

  - "pre-Columbian" - Mayapan, Mexico (Mayan Post Classic 1220-1440 AD, Yucatan)- Stratigraphy

  ---------- (1492 - Columbus Arrives)

  ---------- (1493 - Spanish begin colonization)

  - 1720 AD- Carlsbad, California - Stratigraphy

  ---------- (1769 AD - Spanish settle California) 

These are just those horse remains that have been given a date by radiocarbon dating or stratigraphy. There are many more that have been found, but not dated.

The reason more dates have not been reported on other horse finds are due to the expense of Carbon 14 dating ($500-600 per sample), as well as the rarity of finding remains in the acidic soil of Central and Mesoamerica which many regard to be the primary location of the Book of Mormon events. Most horse specimens that have been found in this region were in caves which mitigate the climate and soil factors.

Sources

• https://www.livescience.com/utah-horse-native-americans.html
• https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/animals-in-the-book-of-mormon-challenges-and-perspective
• https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/hard-evidence-of-ancient-american-horses/?post_type=article&p=8094
• https://bhroberts.org/records/RgnyGb-N9aAyc/wade_e_miller_et_al_publishes_evidence_for_horses_in_the_americas_during_the_post_pleistocene_pre_columbian_era 

S.O.A.P.

If you are a child, young adult, or just new to studying the scriptures S.O.A.P. is a good place to start!

S.O.A.P. stands for:

• Study
• Observe
• Apply
• Pray

Study

Select a set of verses, or a chapter of scripture to read. As you read, stop and look up any words or phrases that you do not understand. With all the technology that we have at our disposal, there is no reason for us to not take the time to understand what we are reading. Use search engines or "smart" devices to look up anything you do not understand. 

Many scriptures also include footnotes or cross references that can add clarity to the current verse you are reading. Take advantage of these additional study aids. 

Observe

What is happening in this section of scripture? What are the main points? Take time to reread any sections and make notes in the margins or in a study journal of what sticks out to you.

The things you observe will direct you further in your study. Meditating on these points can reveal new insights to you about what you value, or things you need to work on.

Apply

How does this section of scripture apply to you? How can you be a better person based on what you read? Sometimes it helps to ask yourself "So what?" Now that I know this new information, how does that change the way I think or make decisions? What am I going to do differently? 

Make notes of what changes you desire to make and review them regularly.

Pray

Pray about what you read and ask God for further insights. Spend time meditating on the scriptures you read and "listen" for spiritual promptings. Sometimes they occur as thoughts or feelings. Make a note of any promptings you receive.

By using this method you can begin to gain deeper insights into the scriptures and what they can teach you about God's laws and commandments. As well as how you can live a better, kinder life and become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.