A congregation in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Dale Wight.
A cult is a small group of religious people, often with a single charismatic leader, that uses methods like brain washing to control its members.
Do Mormons constitute a small religious group? No. Currently, there are over 14 million people who have been baptized in the LDS ("Mormon") Church. It is the fourth largest church in the United States and is growing rapidly throughout the world.
Does the Church have a single charismatic leader? No. In fact, there are thousands of leaders, called bishops, branch and stake presidents, seventies, apostles, and prophets. The highest council of the church is comprised of 15 people, not a single person. The president of the Church is a wonderful man who teaches many important principles, but he is elderly and cannot be reasonably called charismatic.
Mormons dispel the idea that they belong to a "cult"
Does the Church use methods like brain washing to control its members? No. Brain washing doesn't exist in the Mormon Church. Mormons are capable and independent people. They don't follow blindly. There are mormons in high positions within governments, businesses, and the sciences. When people learn about Mormonism, many become interested. They aren't brain washed. They choose for themselves to further investigate our beliefs.
Mormonism is, in fact, a full religion in its own right, a unique branch of the Christian tree. It deserves to be respected like any other denomination.
Do Mormons constitute a small religious group? No. Currently, there are over 14 million people who have been baptized in the LDS ("Mormon") Church. It is the fourth largest church in the United States and is growing rapidly throughout the world.
Does the Church have a single charismatic leader? No. In fact, there are thousands of leaders, called bishops, branch and stake presidents, seventies, apostles, and prophets. The highest council of the church is comprised of 15 people, not a single person. The president of the Church is a wonderful man who teaches many important principles, but he is elderly and cannot be reasonably called charismatic.
Mormonism is, in fact, a full religion in its own right, a unique branch of the Christian tree. It deserves to be respected like any other denomination.