What exactly is a Mormon and how is a Mormon really

different for any other Christian faith? And is it true that not
black people can not go to Mormon heaven?
One comment regarding the above question suggested that, it looks like a lot of the above [referring,
I assume, to my comment as well as to some of the other comments] was cut/paste from AntiMormon websites LOL... I doubt any one of them have even truly looked into the religion. The
amount of opposition to the church only strengthens my belief that if we weren't doing 'something'
right, there wouldn't be so many against us.
In reply, Ill go through my original answer point-by-point, adding comments from LDS scriptures,
the writings of their prophets and apostles, their Journal of Discourses, and their Doctrines of
Salvation. LDS members do indeed preach that salvation must be earned. See 2 Nephi 25:23, Book
of Mormon for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. Compare this to
Ephesians 2:8-9 THE HOLY BIBLE (KJV), For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Mormonism claims that there are three Gods (in reference to the Gods of this planet). In reality they
believe in many, many Gods. See teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370, I will preach on the
plurality of GodsI have always declaredJesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the
Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: these three constitute three
distinct personages and three Gods. Compare this to I John 5: 7, THE HOLY BIBLE (KJV), "For there
are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one." Also see the words of Jesus in John 10:30, THE HOLY BIBLE (KJV), I and my Father are one.
Read Isaiah 43:10-11, THE HOLY BIBLE (KJV), Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant
whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me
there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. Look up Isaiah 45:5-7 and 18. Compare
these with John 1:1-3, esp. v. 3 and Genesis 1:1. All of these references are in THE HOLY BIBLE.
Regarding many parts which are plain and most precious having been taken away from the gospel of
the Lamb, (I Nephi 13:26, Book of Mormon), please allow me to quote from www.4mormon.org.
24,000+ partial and complete New Testament manuscripts including 5,000+ original Greek
manuscripts, some dated within 100 years of the original writings, agree with 99%
accuracyDiscovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (125 B.C.) compared with copies written 1,000 years
later (900 A.D.) reveal no significant differences.
In addition, I will repeat the quote in my original answer from
www.allaboutarchaeology.org/Dead-Sea-Scrolls.htm , which is definitely not an anti-Mormon
website. "Based on various dating methods, including carbon 14, paleographic and scribal, the Dead
Sea Scrolls were written during the period from about 200 B.C. to 68 A.D. Many crucial biblical
manuscripts (such as Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 61) date to at least 100 B.C. As such, the Dead
Sea Scrolls have revolutionized textual criticism of the Old Testament. Phenomenally, we find the
biblical texts in substantial agreement with the Masoretic text, as well as variant translations of the
Old Testament used today."
Regarding The Book of Abraham, which is actually part of The Pearl of Great Price, even many
Mormon scholars agree that The Book of Abraham is a funerary text from Ancient Egypt, not the
writings of Abraham in Egypt. May I also suggest that the commenter find and read Charles M.

Larson's book By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri.
Finally, I question why Mormons are so hot to be considered Christians when one of their prophets,
John Taylor, said, we talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsenseit is corrupt as hell;
and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the
nineteenth century. (1858, Journal of Discourses, vol.6, p.167) One may well ask, how did this come
about, since Jesus declared in Matthew 16:18, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.
As to Mormon attitudes toward people of African ancestry, Native Americans, and others with darker
skin, the following statements by former Mormon prophets and apostles may be of interest.
The first comment is attributed to Joseph Smith.
"Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species and put
them on a national equalization.''
Quote below attributed to Mark E. Peterson (Quorum of the 12 Apostles).
"At least in the cases of the Lamanites and the negroes we have the definite word of the Lord
Himself that He placed a dark skin upon them as a curse - as a punishment and as a sign to all
others. [Lamanites was the Mormon word for Native Americans.]
The quote below is from a Mormon General Conference talk given by Spencer W. Kimball in 1960.
Spencer W. Kimball became the president of the Mormon Church in 1975.
"The day of the Lamanites is nigh. For years they have been growing delightsome, and they are now
becoming white and delightsome, as they were promised. [...] The children in the home placement
program in Utah are often lighter than their brothers and sisters in the hogans on the reservation.
Statements below attributed to Bruce R. McConkie (Quorum of the 12 Apostles).
The negroes are not equal with other races when the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are
concerned..."
...As a result of his rebellion, Cain was cursed with a dark skin; he became the father of the negroes"
"Cain Ham, and the whole negro race have _ cursed with a black skin, the mark of Cain, so they can
be identified as a caste apart, a people with whom the other descendants of Adam should not
intermarry."
Finally, note the following from the Mormon work, Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1, pp.66-67
"There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born
white with great advantage. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and
were obedient, more or less, to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all
things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less.... There
were no neutrals in the war in heaven. All took sides either with Christ or with Satan. Every man had
his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will
receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body. The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward
he merits."

For more such quotes, see http://nowscape.com/mormon/negro2.htm.