Are Mormons Christians? What You Need to Know

The other day, I was in a digital nomad workspace in Bangkok. A group of us had drifted into one of those deep conversations that tend to happen when travelers from different backgrounds share a table. The topic turned to faith and identity, and soon there was a lively debate about one particular question: Are Mormons Christians?

I listened for a while as people shared their opinions and some were certain the answer was yes, others insisted it was more complicated. The back-and-forth made me curious. I realized that while I’d heard this question before on my travels, I had never really sat down to dig into it properly. That curiosity pushed me to explore this topic further.

When you think about it, it’s a fair question, because if you visit places like Utah in the United States, or even meet LDS (Latter-day Saints) communities abroad, you’ll notice that Mormonism feels both familiar and different from what most people know as Christianity.

Who Are Mormons?

To answer the question properly, I first had to look at who Mormons actually are. The term Mormon usually refers to members of a group or religious sect known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The church was founded in the early 1800s by a man named Joseph Smith in the United States, who said he was restoring the “original church of Christ” and was doing that through revelations and a new book of scripture called the Book of Mormon.

Today, the LDS Church has grown far beyond its American roots. With millions of members worldwide and its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, it has become one of the most influential religious movements to emerge from the U.S. in the last two centuries. We even have several of these churches in Africa.

On my travels, especially in places like Utah and Idaho, I could see how deeply the LDS Church shapes local communities. From their emphasis on family life to their clean, well-kept neighborhoods, you can’t help but notice the influence. For me, understanding this background was the first step in unpacking the bigger question: Are they Christians?

Do Mormons See Themselves as Christians?

A few years after that conversation in Bangkok, I had the chance to meet and interact with Mormons in different parts of the world. And every single one I spoke to was clear about one thing – they see themselves first and foremost as followers of Jesus Christ.

The full name of their church makes that point obvious: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When I had the opportunity to visit Salt Lake City, I saw how deeply this identity runs. Their Sunday services, their family-centered values, even the hymns they sing – everything is anchored in Christ’s teachings and atonement.

For Mormons, there’s no hesitation in calling themselves Christians. But here’s where it gets interesting. While they strongly embrace that identity, not everyone outside the LDS Church agrees. And that disagreement is what fuels the debate you often hear – like the one I stumbled into back in Bangkok.

Why Do Some Christians Disagree?

Even though Mormons themselves are confident about their Christian identity, some traditional Christian groups see things differently. When I started digging into the reasons, I realized it comes down to a few key theological differences.

• Scripture: Most Christians rely only on the Bible. Mormons use the Bible too, but they also follow additional texts like the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. For many outside the LDS Church, these extra scriptures raise questions.

• The Trinity: In mainstream Christianity, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are seen as one essence in three persons. Mormons, on the other hand, believe the Father, Son, and Spirit are three distinct beings who share the same purpose.

• Unique Doctrines: Mormons also hold teachings that don’t exist in other branches of Christianity, like eternal progression (which is the belief that humans can grow to become more like God) and special temple ordinances such as baptisms for the dead.

When I first learned about these differences, I understood why some Christians draw a line. From their perspective, these beliefs set Mormonism apart enough that they hesitate to call it “Christianity” in the traditional sense. But for Mormons, their faith in Jesus Christ is central and that is why the debate continues.

What Beliefs Do They Share With Christians?

The more I traveled and met people from the LDS Church, the more I realized how much they actually share with mainstream Christianity. Despite the differences in scripture or doctrine, the foundation of their faith overlaps in many important ways.

Like other Christians, Mormons place their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. They believe in His atonement, His resurrection, and His role in offering salvation. Their daily lives center around practices familiar to many Christians, which include the likes of prayer, repentance, baptism, and living a life of service.

So while outsiders may focus on the differences, standing inside an LDS chapel or talking with a Mormon family showed me of just how much common ground exists with the wider Christian faith.

What Travelers Might Notice in Mormon Communities

One of the things I enjoy most as a traveler is noticing the little cultural details that make a place unique. Visiting communities with a strong LDS presence (especially in Utah and Idaho) gave me plenty of those moments.

The first thing you’ll notice is the difference between chapels and temples. Chapels are where Mormons gather every Sunday, and they’re open to the public. I’ve stepped into a few while traveling, and the services felt welcoming and community-driven. Temples, however, are very different. They’re sacred spaces reserved for special ordinances, and only members in good standing can enter. Even from the outside, temples like the Salt Lake Temple stand out with their grand design.

Then there’s the lifestyle factor. Mormons avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and tobacco. For a traveler like me, that meant noticing communities that often felt cleaner and more family-focused than some other places I’d been. The emphasis on health and clean living is hard to miss.

And finally, the cultural atmosphere. In cities shaped by Mormon life, like Salt Lake City, you’ll see the influence in everything from the way neighborhoods are organized to how family activities are prioritized. Temple Square, in particular, is one of the most visited religious sites in the U.S., and walking through it gave me a real sense of how faith and culture blend in LDS communities.