Recently, a reader questioned the Beehive on how a good Christian could support a heathen like Mitt Romney for president. Romney has yet to respond to the doctrinal challenges, so I guess we will do some of the dirty work for him.

A Little True History Lesson
First, what we know as Christianity evolved from holy writ between 60 C.E. (Common Era) and 180 C.E. Early Christian leaders like Polycarp and  Irenaeus fought valiantly to keep the doctrine pure. They faced many challenges from traditionalist Jewish Converts, Syrian Gnostics, Greek Philosophers and Roman Paganism. The early Christian Church was held together by a string. We are lucky to have the books in the Bible that we do; however, the Bible as we know it didn't exist until much later.

The first few hundred years -- yes, that is hundreds -- was spent running from persecution and keeping one's head off the chopping block. Despite the challenges, the Christian church grew by about 6% a year. Soon, the numbers couldn't be ignored and the theology would not go away.

Later, much later, Christianity was formalized by the converted-pagan Roman ruler Constantine and the remnants of what was the early Christian church. At this time, few writings existed of the early apostles or disciples and much had already changed in the church.

This was a mere 250 years after the death of Christ. In todays world, that would be the equivalent of trying to recreate with perfection words and intent of someone who lived in 1757 -- before the American Revolution.

In short, Constantine did the world a huge favor, as well as establishing great falsehoods by merging much of the doctrine of the heretics into the Church to appease factions within the Roman Empire. His intent was good, but the Nicene Creed of 325 and its follow up in Constantinople was far from pure doctrine, but more of a compromise between several hundred arguing and contentious Bishops.

What did begin to develop, however, was some basic theology that all could agree upon as well as a standardized set of writings that would form the basis for the Bible which was now being created through the writings that existed between the hundreds of churches.

For some, this may be a shock because apparently, some, not all, believe that the Bible was a book that magically fell from the sky.  That didn't happen. The Bible is simply a compilation of books considered to be reliable and authentic by a vote of the Bishops. The books in the Bible are not ordered by importance or by chronology -- but that is a lesson for another day. Suffice it to say, that though the Bible contains many accurate books, it is far from the single work (like Harry Potter) that many saved Christians believe it to be.

Interestingly enough, many documented changes of the Bible happened at this time. For instance, in John's Epistle, someone inserted language regarding the Trinity. Like it or not, these insertions didn't exist in early versions, but apparently the temptation to preach was too great for some and they began to insert their own doctrine as adopted by the Nicene Creed. There were not a lot of changes, but there were enough that some people like Isaac Newton began to question whether the Bible was entirely reliable on points of Christian doctrine. Especially on issues such as the Trinity. (For more fun, Google "Comma Johanneum" and see what Isaac Newton was complaining about).

Martin Luther, a mere twelve hundred years after the Nicene Council began the "reformation" which has eventually morphed into the sixteen thousand different denominations of Christianity on the earth today. Of course Luther's reformation has seriously stalled and the Catholic Church still holds to the dogma created by Constantine circa 325 C.E.

Because all roads of Christianity, except for that of the Mormons, trace their roots to the Catholic faith, these faiths, though seriously divided, condemn any other form of Christianity that doesn't have its roots deeply entrenched in Rome and in the Nicene Creed.

Latter-day Christians
To this end, Mormons are not Christians in the historical sense. Mormons accept this fact and are more than happy to say they have nothing to do with Constantine, Luther, or Billy Graham in the theology that has come down the years originating in the Nicene Creed. That theology, of course, that started with Constantine and the early Christian writings and evolved into the mess that is modern day Christianity.

Simply stated, Mormons believe that by 1820 Christianity was a disaster. Hundreds of off-shoots claimed exclusive interpretation of the scriptures and the belief that the scriptures were absolutely perfect in form as the Bible began to take root. Thousands upon thousands of private interpretations began to spring up and to this day, that form of Christianity has never ceased.

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ himself restored his gospel to silence the disputes and to do it he used a 14 year old boy. Mormons believe that Christ refused to "reform" heresy that had a likeness to his gospel but denied the power and intent of the plan of salvation and his original teachings.

Too far out to believe?  Maybe to some, but to millions it makes perfect sense. If one really believes in God, who are we to limit what he can and cannot do?

Mormons and Prophets
Yes, Mormons believe in prophets. We politely call them church presidents in today's politically correct world, but believe they have the priesthood of Jesus Christ and have the authority to speak in the name of God.

More correctly, we believe they have the right to receive revelation for the entire church (and world for that matter). In other words, they have the right to pray about a concern and the answer that they receive through the Holy Ghost is as valid as if Jesus Christ were to speak to man directly.  The Mormons believe literally the Old Testament prophet who said "Surely, the Lord God will do nothing save he first reveal it to his prophets."

Maybe Mormons are bold to say they have a prophet of God, but it definitely makes you take sides doesn't it? Maybe that was the way it is supposed to be.

Mormons DO NOT believe that their prophets are perfect, only that they are men chosen to lead the church. This is a great problem with traditional Christians in that they are perpetually trying to show that these men made mistakes in their lives and as such could not be men of God.

Though their personal "mistakes" hardly amount to what Evangelical leaders have tried to assert through the years, no one denies that at times they have done or said some things that have caused a lot of grief for the Church -- such as Joseph Smith's order to burn a newspaper press that had printed slander about him and the Church. It wasn't his best moment as a person and it probably incited his enemies to murder him in cold blood. He clearly paid for this misstep with his life. Was it a mistake. Sure. He was human. The Bible is filled with imperfect prophets and apostles, so such imperfections should not overshadow the great work these men have done.

The Trinity
Most of what Evangelicals say about Mormon doctrine is simply false and continues to misrepresent the true doctrines of the LDS faith. Mormons believe in the Trinity, but reject the description of the traditional Christian theology as adopted in the Nicene Creed.

Mormons believe that the Trinity is not a void or confusing mass that is large enough to fill the universe, but small enough to fit in your heart. That is good 325 C.E. dogma that is not actually found in the Bible -- or to the extent that it is has since been discreted as non-authentic. See COMMA JOHANNEUM.

Mormons believe in a Godhood of three separate beings. God the Father and Jesus Christ who have perfect souls. A soul defined is a perfect spirit and a perfect physical body joined eternally -- similar to our imperfect bodies that house imperfect spirits, but are temporary in nature. They are joined in the Godhead by the Holy Ghost, which is a perfect spiritual being who does not have a physical body. Mormons believe that the Godhead is one in purpose, not form or being. Mormons pray to the Father in the Son's name. The Holy Ghost testifies to truth and the divinity of Jesus Christ.

So now that this definition is clear, the traditional Christians can kill all the Mormons for believing much of what is supported broadly with Bible references, e.g., the visitation of Christ to Paul, Steven's vision of heaven, Christ's appearance to the Apostles in the Upper Chamber, etc. But because the Mormons aren't part of the Catholic tradition, we are wrong and must be put to the stake for heresy -- yeah, we get your point.

In truth, many Christians believe that God is a perfected being of flesh and bone and they have nothing to do with Mormons. Perhaps it is the idea of praying to the great void that troubles them.

The Bishops of Nicene, or at least a majority of them, voted to adopt a description of God that was non-human because of the belief that no person of flesh could be perfect and that the flesh would restrict an all-powerful God. So be it. Mormons believe in eternal progression that includes the perfecting of the human soul (body and spirit together forever) -- you know, like the one Jesus showed to the Apostles. But if you want to believe that Jesus is fooling everyone by hoping in and out of a corporal body, more power to you.  All I know is that the resurrected Christ at the end of Mel Gibson's movie had a body of flesh and blood -- enough said.