Cult? Or not?

[_Casslanpepci]

9. “The new cults claim to have truth not available to any other groups or individuals.”
Jesus claimed to have truth that no one else had. On one occasion there were a number of followers who were offended what Jesus taught and these left him as is shown here:

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord to whom shall we go? thou hast the
words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68)

These first followers of Jesus knew that he alone had the divine truth, for did not Jesus himself state:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me.” (John 14:6)

To put it plainly, Jesus offered his disciples truth that was not available anywhere else or from any other source. So did this then, make Christianity a cult?

10 “The last major characteristic of the new cults concerns cultic vocabulary. Each cult has an initiate vocabulary by which it describes the truths of its revelation. Sometimes the “in words” of a particular cult are the words of orthodox Christianity, but invested with new meanings...At other times the cult may coin new new words or phrases.”

When it began, Christianity used the general orthodoxy words or Judaism such as Messiah and resurrection, and kept their meanings. Other words, such as grace and covenant, the apostles refined and used in new ways. Some of the Jewish practices were given new meanings such as the purification rite, which became the Christian baptism, and the Sabbath meal, which became the Lord’s Supper. New words were also included such as Millenium and Second Coming.

[_Inconceivable]

Casslanpepci,

Here's the problem.

Mormons are taught that Smith is next to Jesus Christ in importance. He has even been deified.

But Joseph Smith is not and never will be Jesus Christ.

So to use the argument that Jesus Christ did it too, in order to justify Smith's cowardly and self gratifying walk is a bit of a stretch. The similarities between the two are strictly conjecture within the Mormon mindset.

It's the Mormon's testimony that Jesus is at the helm of their ship. Everyone on the outside begs to differ.

Those within a cult never see themselves as member of a cult. Mormonism fits this M.O. perfectly - whether it is true or not.