Mormon Records First Epitaph of the Word Christian!!
It is true!
In the record abridged by Mormon, who is an ancient apostle of Jesus Christ who lived on the American continent about sixteen hundred or so years ago (North America possibly when he actually did his work), is where the followers of God were first called Christians in the land of Zarahemla some seventy years before the birth of Christ.
The 46th Chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon: Another Testimony of Jesus Christ, begins the history of Captain Moroni where several references in that chapter to the Christians and their cause for freedom occur. Captain Moroni is discussed in another article though he is mentioned here to give the story some context.
There was a cultural struggle occurring in the Land of Zarahemla between those who believed in the teaching of the prophets about the coming of Christ and those who did not. Most of the people sided with those who believed in Jesus Christ's coming and were called Christians by those who opposed them.
Mormon records that these Christians,
"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."
LDS Calling Themselves Christians?
Latter-day Saints have canonized scripture that states that the followers of Christ, who lived before He was born accepted the epitaph of those in opposition to them willingly as an identifier for their group of supporters.
Had this group begrudged the name, then some opposition to modern followers of God receiving that nickname is reasonable. There would be no reason to halt a MORE than 2000 year old custom of the label of Christianity.
The answer, for those who are willing to call themselves by the name of Christ in this way, simply is custom. Custom is why LDS should call themselves Christians. The Ancient American Saints did it. Why not the Modern Day Saints? Remember, they "gladly took upon them the name of Christ AND Christians as they were called by their enemy."
The Key is Gladly.
God does not have to command believers to call themselves Christian for it to be a good name for Latter-day Saints to use. Saints get the name from scripture just as in the nickname Mormon, which is not scriptural, but accepted when describing the people of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Church of Jesus Christ has an officially sanctioned site name Mormon.org! It is acceptable to call Saints Mormon as long as it refers to the people and not the church organization itself. It should be acceptable to call Saints Christians since even in the book they use for scripture is record people who did so! There is no scripture Mormons use where believers are referred to as Mormons, yet that nickname is not questioned.
Logic would dictate that the more traditionally authoritative designation for the Saints of God over the past two thousand or so years when including the entire planet is Christian--except for the billions who do not know about Christianity. That is another topic, however.
The Book of Mormon teaches that the believers described therein gladly took on the name of Christian. Latter-day Saints should continue this practice gladly.
(((((( Mormons are Christians ))))))
Even when the prophets of old, (and by old, prior to President Monson,) who stated that Latter-day Saints were not Christians, it was in the context that The Church of Jesus Christ is not creedal and dead.
Sadly, Christian Churches, all Christianity perhaps, has a quiet God save the Latter-day Saints. What is different about the Mormons? They believe God gives scripture when needed and continues to selected prophets to speak for Him--except during the European Dark Ages. That's another Topic however.
Officially the church calls itself a Christian church. The Church also claims to be the official Church of God on the Earth! That means, ALL other churches have no official standing with God and He is not obligated to honor any vow or contract any of them preside over in this life or the next. That's another topic also.
In response to the situation that inspired this article, it is clear that the personal opinion to refuse to be Christian in name means those who hold that view in the church are on the outside of this issue from the official teachings of the church.
NO reference in any book can change the fact that currently God accepts His Saints as Christians. Modern Saints should follow the example of the Saints of old and accept the nickname gladly because it describes them.
Alma 46:16 reads,
"And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored."
If it was so wrong to be a Christian, why did the man Moroni use the word--one who is said if all men would be like him, Satan would have no power over men?Alma 48:10, which reads,
"And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians.
And then there is the famously celebrated among the LDS Christians Alma 46:13 describing the intensity of Moroni as "he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land..."
This is scriptural evidence that it is acceptable for a Latter-day Saint to go by the title of Christian.
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click the link for details
Source: Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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General Authorities including the prophet and president of the Church of Christ, President Thomas S. Monson thinks that Mormons are Christians and are not offended when they are described as such.
Within the LDS faith, there is no private interpretation of the scriptures that can or will change that fact. Unless the CURRENT prophet of God states that Latter-day Saint Christians should no longer call themselves by the name of Christian, then it rests that it is acceptable to cry it from the rooftops!
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Washington D.C. Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Source: Newsroom
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