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Summary
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not fit the everyday picture of a cult: it reported 17.9 million members and more than 32,000 congregations at the end of 2025.
- Most sociologists of religion avoid the word “cult” and class the church as one of the largest new religious movements.
- Evangelical countercult writers such as Walter Martin use “cult” in a theological sense, for groups that depart from the historic creeds.
- Critics point to new scripture, salvation tied to ordinances, the Godhead, and the church’s claim to be “the only true and living church” (D&C 1:30).
- Latter-day Saints call themselves Christians and their church the restored church of Jesus Christ.
- Robert Jeffress called the church a cult in 2011; the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association removed the label from its website in 2012.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- “Worldwide Facts and Statistics,” Newsroom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (figures as of December 31, 2025). https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics
- “New religious movement,” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_religious_movement
- “The Kingdom of the Cults,” Wikipedia (on Walter Martin’s book and definition). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kingdom_of_the_Cults
- “Are Mormons Christian?” Gospel Topics Essays, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/christians?lang=eng
- Doctrine and Covenants 1:30 and heading; 119:4 and heading. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1?lang=eng
- Joseph Smith—History 1:19, Pearl of Great Price. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng
- The Articles of Faith 1:3, Pearl of Great Price. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng
- “Church Updates Temple Recommend Interview Questions,” Newsroom, October 2019. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend
- “Methodists say LDS Church is outside Christian tradition,” Associated Press, in Deseret News, May 13, 2000. https://www.deseret.com/2000/5/13/19559183/methodists-say-lds-church-is-outside-christian-tradition/
- “Perry supporter says Romney’s religion ‘a cult’,” CNN, October 8, 2011. https://www.cnn.com/2011/10/08/politics/perry-response-mormonism
- Daniel Burke, “After Romney meeting, Billy Graham website scrubs Mormon ‘cult’ reference,” Religion News Service, October 16, 2012. https://religionnews.com/2012/10/16/after-romney-meeting-billy-graham-website-scrubs-mormon-cult-reference/
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