Mormonism: A Cult Disguised as Faith


Let’s be honest—when most people hear “Mormon Church” or “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” they think of wholesome families, missionaries, or Utah. But dig a little deeper, and you see a faith with origins, practices, and structures that are deeply troubling from a biblical standpoint.

It all begins with Joseph Smith in the 1820s, a young man from upstate New York who claimed he had visions of God and Jesus, and later, visits from an angel named Moroni. This angel allegedly revealed golden plates containing the history of ancient American civilizations, which Smith translated into the Book of Mormon. No one else ever saw the plates, and the translation involved a seer stone in a hat—hardly what you’d call straightforward or verifiable.

The early church also practiced secret polygamy, with Joseph Smith marrying dozens of women, some as young as 14, and founded the Kirtland Safety Society, a bank that failed and financially harmed members. The secrecy, extraordinary claims, and hidden doctrines set a pattern that continues to this day. From a Christian perspective, Scripture is complete and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT), and polygamy is explicitly condemned for church leaders (1 Timothy 3:2, NLT). These early practices were a far cry from biblical teaching.

Then there are the temple rituals. Introduced decades after the church’s founding, these ceremonies—washings, anointings, and endowments—are highly secret. Members are told not to share details, even with family. Temple ordinances also include the idea of eternal marriage and exaltation, teaching that families can only be united through these rituals and that faithful members can become gods themselves. From a biblical perspective, salvation comes through grace by faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT), not secret ceremonies.

The church hierarchy amplifies these concerns. Authority is centralized in the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who control doctrine, finances, and discipline. Local congregations have little independence, and obedience is expected. Discipline can include excommunication or shunning, isolating those who question or dissent. Historically, this centralized authority helped the church survive persecution and internal dissent, but today it enforces conformity and dependence on human leaders rather than Christ. Christians are called to test teachings against Scripture and follow Christ as the ultimate authority (Acts 17:11, NLT).

Modern controversies show that these issues aren’t just historical. Until 1978, Black men were barred from the priesthood, and the church’s stance on LGBTQ+ members has caused harm. Financial transparency is limited despite enormous tithing income, and allegations of abuse have emerged over the years. Socially and psychologically, members can feel pressure to conform, guilt over perceived failure, or isolation if they leave the faith. Former members often describe relief and spiritual clarity once they reconnect with Christ-centered faith (John 8:32, NLT).

Scholars and critics point to these patterns—secret rituals, authoritarian leadership, doctrinal exclusivity, social control—as hallmarks of a cult, not a biblical church. The combination of secrecy, hierarchy, and ritualistic obedience replaces Christ’s authority with human authority, which the Bible warns against (1 John 4:1, NLT).

Ultimately, Mormonism is a faith that demands obedience, conceals its core rituals, and presents salvation in a way that is not aligned with Scripture. From its secretive beginnings with Joseph Smith to its modern-day hierarchy, the church prioritizes institutional control over spiritual freedom. Christians evaluating Mormonism should consider these elements carefully: it is not just a different denomination, it is a high-demand, authoritarian movement that consistently replaces biblical truth with human directives.

Sources

Bushman, Richard Lyman. Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. 

Quinn, D. Michael. The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994. 

Ludlow, Daniel H., ed. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Salt Lake City: Macmillan, 1992. 

NPR. “Why Some Scholars Call Mormonism a Cult.” NPR, 12 Oct. 2018. 








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