The story is told of a young boy of 14 years who retreated to a forest to pray about which church he should join. As he knelt to pray, an evil force came upon him and prohibited his prayers. Moments later, he was released from bondage as "two personages" appeared before him. Upon inquiring about which church to join, one of the "personages" instructed him not to join any church because they were "all wrong", that "all their creeds were an abomination", and that "they teach for doctrines the commandments of men" (Joseph Smith-History, 1:14-20).

The young man in this story is Joseph Smith, Jr. The primary Christian denominations in question were Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist (Joseph Smith-History, 1:5-10). The two personages are supposedly "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ" (Gospel Principles, 1981, p.104). This event is said to have taken place a decade before Joseph Smith formed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. According to LDS scripture, the organization is "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth...." (Doctrine & Covenants 1:30).

Now, over a century and a half later, the "only true and living church" is striving for public acceptance as both Christian and mainstream. While it is understandable that an organization that uses the name Jesus Christ in its title, would consider itself "Christian", it is peculiar that this church now pursues an identity that fits in with the denominations labeled as "wrong" by the founder, Joseph Smith. If their church is the best, then why attempt to look like the rest?

A church that looks like the rest is how President Gordon B.Hinckley presented the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during an interview with Mike Wallace of 60 MINUTES. In the segment that aired this past Easter, Hinckley, the current LDS Prophet, Seer and Revelator, carefully avoided answering questions on distinct practices like wearing sacred undergarments, denying blacks the priesthood until 1978 and expecting Christ's return to occur on a parcel of land in western Missouri. However, the Chandler Tribune newspaper printed a brief article on the interview and concluded with the statement that "[t]throughout, Hinckley showed Mormons as a mainstream Christian denomination" (Chandler Tribune, "Interview Aired," Apr. 13, 1996, p. F1).

Mainstream and Christian best describes the presentation my weekly Bible study group received at the Mesa LDS Temple Visitors Center in July, 1996. During our study of Christian apologetics, we devoted four nights to discerning the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. We concluded our study with a trip to the LDS Visitors Center.

The tour began with a moment of reflection on Jesus as we stood before a large statue of the Savior. The paintings on the walls of the room illustrated scenes from the Bible. A personable young female missionary asked us questions concerning our feelings on Jesus. She, along with a senior representative of her faith, led us into a room for a video presentation. Afterward, the missionary began a slide presentation and asked us questions that focused on our feelings about scenes in the film. In addition, she asked us to express our feelings on John 3:16 while displaying the verse on the video screen. Most of the content of the presentation did not oppose our Christian views. During the discussion time preceding the video the senior representative admitted that nothing we see in the Center will be new to us, that it should seem familiar, and that the tour should make us feel comfortable. Therefore, their Visitor Center presents a Mormon interpretation of what mainstream Christians believe, rather than an explanation of what the LDS church teaches.

Other public programs presented by the LDS church focus on mainstream Christian beliefs and avoid the distinct teachings of Mormonism. Their magnificent Christmas light show brings hundreds to the Visitors Center to hear a presentation similar to the one we received. In addition, the annual Easter Pageant presents the life of Christ as recorded in the Gospels. This past pageant added a concluding scene where the characters looked to the cross in reverence and in remembrance of Jesus' crucifixion. It is interesting to see a church that refuses to put crosses on or in their wards, but takes time to add a segment focusing on the cross in their pageant. These are some of the methods designed to "show Mormons as a mainstream Christian denomination."

Another "only true and living church", whose roots also come through Joseph Smith, is trying to make its way into mainstream, too. In regard to the recent ordination of W. Grant McMurray as Prophet of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Associated Press reports that "McMurray's selection is the latest in a string of high-profile moves by RLDS church leaders toward the liberal current of mainstream Protestantism" (Chandler Tribune, "RLDS church names new leader," Apr. 20, 1996, p. E3).

Again, it is peculiar that this "only true and living church" also pursues an identity that fits in with the denominations labeled as wrong by their founder, Joseph Smith. Although public presentations made by the LDS church may seem to show Mormonism as a faith very similar to Christianity, serious theological discrepancies surface under close scrutiny. Regardless of the level of acceptance as Christian and mainstream the public grants to the LDS Church, Christians need to look beyond the superficial attributes and recognize Mormonism for what it really is.