The Presbyterian Example

Key Theological Issues

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Presbyterian document reads as follows:

1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a new and emerging religion that expresses allegiance to Jesus Christ in terms used within the Christian tradition. It is not, however, within the historic apostolic tradition of the Christian Church of which the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a part.
2. Persons of Mormon background intending to profess faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and become an active member of a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shall receive Christian baptism as administered by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or another church recognized as being within the historic apostolic tradition.¹

The conclusion of the Presbyterian Church that people coming from the LDS tradition must receive a Christian baptism is based on the prior conclusion that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constitutes a religious tradition that is clearly other than the historic Christian faith. Thus, the Presbyterian Church reasons, a baptism from within a religious community that is other than Christian simply cannot serve as a Christian baptism.

The reasoning that led the Presbyterian Church to its conclusions highlights the theological differences between the LDS church and the Presbyterian Church as a part of the historic, apostolic Christian tradition. These same points are at issue between the LDS church and The United Methodist Church as a part of that same tradition.

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