The Christian Church stands or falls with the Lord Jesus Christ.
If
Christ was not who He claimed to be, namely, the Son of God, then
the Christian Church is false.
The Christian Church has only one foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ. If that foundation fails, the Church collapses.
Many religious groups lay claim to the title 'Christian' but that does not mean they are Christian.
A true Christian is a person who, having realized they are a sinner, and in need of a Saviour, have turned to Christ, and placed their full faith in Him - for He alone can save. That is a Christian.
The members of the LDS Church claim they are Christian. Indeed the Mormon Church claims to be the restored, and only true Church.
These claims need to be examined, but on what basis can we make that examination? The Bible clearly states that the Church can have no other foundation than Christ.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 3:11
For our answer let us look at what Mormon leaders have said regarding the foundation of their Church, this way we cannot be accused of misrepresenting their position.
"Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.
If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, .....then he should be exposed; his claims refuted and his doctrines shown to be false," (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1 pps. 188-189)
Joseph Smith's claims have been refuted and his doctrines shown to be false. But the really interesting part of the above quotation is the first sentence:
Here, Joseph Fielding Smith, the tenth Mormon Prophet, admits that if the story told by Joseph Smith is false the Mormon Church falls. This means that Joseph Smith - or rather, his story - is Mormonism's foundation, not the Lord Jesus Christ.
Should the reader require further proof, we need only look at a statement made by the ninth Mormon Prophet.
David O McKay made it very clear. In "Gospel Ideals" page 85, speaking of Joseph's First Vision Story he called it:
There you have it! Joseph Smith's First Vision Story is the foundation of the Mormon Church. All who join that Church must accept this story as true.
Unknown to the vast majority of the Mormon people is the fact that this story has been proven false. But even if it had been true, it still would not qualify as the foundation of the Christian Church because the First Vision Story is not the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).
The Mormon Church, unlike Christianity, cannot stand on the claims of Jesus Christ alone. It needs Joseph Smith, without him it cannot exist. Therefore the name Jesus Christ should be removed from its official name (again). A more accurate name for the Mormon Church would be:
While some LDS leaders claim the First Vision Story is the Church's foundation, other Mormon leaders claim the foundation of the Church is the Mormon Apostles.
Frequently, Mormons will use - or rather, misuse - Bible verses in an attempt to make the Bible support their erroneous doctrines. One such verse is Ephesians 2:20. which reads:
"And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."
This verse is not teaching that the foundation is the Apostles and Prophets, as Mormons claim, rather, it is speaking of the foundation "of the Apostles and Prophets," - the foundation upon which the Apostles and Prophets stood. That foundation being The Lord Jesus Christ.
In their attempts to make this verse fit into Mormon doctrine they have even misquoted the verse, leaving out the word 'the' before 'Apostles' making the verse read:
"And are built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Which Church is Right? page 6)
As can be seen, the omission of that one word changes the meaning of this verse, now it teaches what the Mormon Church wants it to teach - but it's wrong!
The very fact that an Apostle of the Church tampered with this verse proves beyond any doubt they are aware that the verse, as it appears in the Bible, does not really teach what they claim.
When we consider the fact that those Mormon Apostles who have tampered with God's Word, have done so with the express intent of drawing others into their web of deceit - we cannot help but wonder just who is inspiring such men. It cannot be the Holy Spirit whom, the Bible says will:
If church leaders - from any church - are not guided by the Holy Spirit, then that church is false, no matter how 'good' it appears in the sight of man. It is a false church, with a false foundation - and a false hope!