A. Divisions in Christianity.
C. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
IV. ASSESSING THE CULT STATUS OF MORMONS.
The designation of the Latter-Day Saints sects as Mormonism implies that this family of churches is a cult. Tagging the suffix "ism" on to the word Mormon provides a basis for other Christian sects to distance themselves from the Latter Day Saints; to place the Latter Day Saints beyond the pale of Christianity so that they may be attacked as constituting a cult that threatens traditional Christian values and beliefs. To assess the contention that Mormons are a cult requires both the definition of cult, and a determination of exactly what is meant by Mormon. Elimination of the "ism" connotation is also required, if the assessment is to be objective.
The Merriam-Webster Third International Dictionary of the English Language provides a variety of definitions of cult. First, it is religious practice or worship. Certainly, this definition is too inclusive if Mormons are to be considered separately from other sects. Second, cult is defined as a system of beliefs and ritual connected with the worship of a deity or spirit. Again, this definition encompasses almost all religions, and certainly all Christian sects. Third, the rites, ceremonies, and practices of a religionùthe formal aspect of religious experienceùis defined as cult. This definition, too, is too broad for the isolated assessment of a single sect.
Fourth, cult is defined as the reverence and ceremonial veneration of God, the Virgin Mary, the saints, or objects that symbolize or represent them. By this definition, all Christian sects, and particularly the Roman Catholic Church, may be designated as cults. Once again the definition is too broad for the purposes of this research. Fifth, a religion or sect whose beliefs are regarded as unorthodox or spurious is defined as a cult. By this definition, any sect to which the majo...