# Latter-day Saints > Claims that come up in conversation about Latter-day Saints, with a short answer and the texts to open. Page: https://apologetics.wiki/common-arguments/latter-day-saints Hub: https://apologetics.wiki/common-arguments Shelf: https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints ## God and Jesus ### Latter-day Saints believe the same gospel as other Christians, with a few added books. What you will hear. They confess Jesus by name, and they also teach three beings, the Book of Mormon beside the Bible, and salvation by obedience to laws and ordinances. Texts: [Articles of Faith 1:1](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p1), [Articles of Faith 1:8](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p8), [John 1:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/1) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/what-do-mormons-believe) ### Latter-day Saints are Christians. Their church is named for Jesus Christ. What you will hear. They worship Jesus and use his name. They also teach three separate beings, a Father who was once a man, and exaltation to godhood, which is not the Nicene confession. Texts: [Gospel Topics, Godhead](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/godhead?lang=eng), [The King Follett Sermon](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng), [Ephesians 2:8](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/ephesians/2) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/are-mormons-christians) ### Latter-day Saints believe the faithful will become gods. What you will hear. Gospel Principles calls exaltation the kind of life God lives, and the King Follett sermon says God was once as we are now. Isaiah 43:10 says no God was formed after the LORD. Texts: [Gospel Principles, Exaltation](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-47-exaltation?lang=eng), [The King Follett Sermon](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng), [Isaiah 43:10](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/isaiah/43/10) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/do-mormons-believe-they-will-become-gods) ### Latter-day Saints believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, so they believe in the Trinity. What you will hear. They teach three separate beings, one in purpose, and Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 gives the Father and the Son bodies of flesh and bones. The creed says one substance. Texts: [Doctrine and Covenants 130:22](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130?lang=eng&id=22), [Matthew 28:19](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/matthew/28/19), [Creed of 381](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3808.htm) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/the-godhead-in-latter-day-saint-teaching) ### Mormonism is a cult. What you will hear. The word is used in a sociological sense and in a theological sense. The church is a large public body, and the disagreement that matters is the doctrine, which the other pages quote. Texts: [Style Guide, The Name of the Church](https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/style-guide), [Articles of Faith 1:8](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p8), [John 1:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/1) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/is-mormonism-a-cult) ## Scripture ### Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon as its author. What you will hear. The church’s account says ancient prophets wrote it and Joseph Smith translated it by the gift and power of God, including with a seer stone, and that he returned the plates to the messenger. Texts: [Joseph Smith—History 1:34](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng&id=34), [Book of Mormon Translation](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-translation?lang=eng), [Galatians 1:8](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/galatians/1/8) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/who-wrote-the-book-of-mormon) ## Practice ### Mormons can have multiple wives. What you will hear. Doctrine and Covenants 132 taught plural marriage. The 1890 Manifesto stopped it for this church, and a person who enters a new plural marriage cannot remain a member. Texts: [Doctrine and Covenants 132:1](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng&id=1), [Official Declaration 1](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/od/1?lang=eng), [Gospel Topics, Plural Marriage](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/plural-marriage?lang=eng) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/do-mormons-practice-polygamy) ### Mormons cannot drink coffee because caffeine is forbidden. What you will hear. Doctrine and Covenants 89 forbids hot drinks. Latter-day prophets teach that this means tea and coffee. The published statements name coffee-based products and green tea, and they do not forbid every caffeinated drink. Texts: [Doctrine and Covenants 89:9](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng&id=9), [Gospel Topics, Word of Wisdom](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng), [Word of Wisdom statement, 2019](https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/statement-word-of-wisdom-august-2019) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/why-cant-mormons-drink-coffee) ### Mormons do not celebrate Christmas or Easter. What you will hear. The church’s topics call Christmas the season of Christ’s birth and Easter the celebration of the resurrection, and they hold Easter Sunday services. Texts: [Gospel Topics, Christmas](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/christmas?lang=eng), [Gospel Topics, Easter](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/easter?lang=eng), [Luke 2:11](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/luke/2/11) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/do-mormons-celebrate-christmas-and-easter) ### Mormons and Catholics are the same kind of Christian church. What you will hear. The Catechism confesses one God in three persons. Latter-day Saints teach three beings, and in 2001 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith answered Negative on their baptism. Texts: [Catechism of the Catholic Church 253](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P17.HTM), [Doctrine and Covenants 130:22](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130?lang=eng&id=22), [Matthew 28:19](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/matthew/28/19) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/what-is-the-difference-between-mormons-and-catholics) ### Mormonism is a long list of secret rules about kissing, hugging, and ordinary life. What you will hear. The Articles of Faith tie salvation to obedience to the gospel’s ordinances. Gospel Topics says chastity is no sexual relations outside a marriage of a man and a woman. The missionary handbook limits missionaries’ contact. Those pages do not mention condoms, tampons, or deodorant. Texts: [Articles of Faith 1:4](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p4), [Gospel Topics, Chastity](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/chastity?lang=eng), [John 1:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/1) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/rules-of-mormonism) ### The Bible commands baptism for the dead, so the temple rite is required. What you will hear. Latter-day Saints perform proxy baptisms and say the dead may accept or reject them. 1 Corinthians 15:29 is Paul’s question inside the resurrection chapter. Nicene churches do not practice the rite. Texts: [1 Corinthians 15:29](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/1-corinthians/15/29), [Gospel Topics, Baptisms for the Dead](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/baptisms-for-the-dead?lang=eng), [Doctrine and Covenants 128:18](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/128?lang=eng&id=18) [Read the Full Answer](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/baptism-for-the-dead)