My only real contribution to the Mormon discourse is this story years ago I worked with a Mormon guy who came back from a few days off because his wife had a child I asked what they named the lad him: "Hinckley" me: "like the guy who shot Reagan?" Him: "wait, what" and that's how we each learned the name of a famous Hinckley that day

Read the Book of Mormon. Cover to cover. Pray about it, asking sincerely to know whether it’s true (the final chapter provides specific guidance on this point). Then tell me whether Latter-day Saints believe in Jesus Christ. Will you accept that challenge?

This is a stupid list, Senator Lee is right, and not even for the reason he mentions. It’s ALL a doctrinal confusion. Not just with Mormons. The big things: “Orthodox” is not one flavor of Christianity. There are Eastern Orthodox (which I am – Antiochian, Russian, Romanian, Greek, etc) and Oriental Orthodox (like Copts and Ethiopians). These are massive churches with hundreds of millions of adherents and have been distinct for 1600 years, but all have bishops’ lineages going directly back to the apostles. There’s also the Church of the East – Assyrians. They, too, have been around for 2000 years. Many of you searching for what unites Christians seem to fail to understand that the Church (east and west both) was largely unified in doctrine and dogma for 1000 years. For those of you stating the Trinity is a critical doctrine, I agree – so why are Jehovah’s Witnesses on there? They reject the Trinity, as do many Pentecostal churches. “Nicene Christianity” is an important distinction that flies over the heads of many, but the Nicene Creed IS the unifying document, which is why the whole of Christendom came together to form it in 381 AD. But that, too, is a tough category to nail down – because there are thousands and thousands of “bible churches” teaching all kinds of unusual doctrines. The best thing to do would be to have people self-identify their faith – maybe that’s the only way. This way Jews could say “reformed” or “conservative” or “orthodox”, Muslims could say what branch they are, and on and on. Catholics might be Latin rite or Eastern. And Mormons who self-identify as Christians could say that, sure, because while Mormon belief is very different and something I very much disagree with, as I’ve pointed out, other churches here listed as Christian also reject Nicene Christianity. Only the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Assyrian churches can claim the laying on of hands with their bishops and direct lineage going back to the first century apostolic age. Virtually every other church has come about in the last ~500 years – except the Waldensians, which popped up in the 13th century. As an aside – and I say this with zero satire or spiritual irony – most of the Mormons I have known have been more sincere and serious in their beliefs, and in treating their fellow man with the golden rule, than many of the Trinitarian Christians I have known. That should be an indictment on all who would throw stones at Mormons search their own hearts, because we all fall short of the Glory of God. Their kindness and sincerity doesn’t change their belief system being way out of sync with Nicene Christianity, but I respect the way they apply their faith to human interaction greatly and have had many good Mormon friends. I have also toured the Mormon church headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City, and WOW. They have really done some incredible stuff there. You won’t ever hear about some massive social problem in Utah – the LDS church handles a lot. Mormons are very good at organizing and building things socially. Mormons also agree with me on one very important and crucial principle: that this land is blessed by God with special favor. It’s part of their beliefs, actually, that I really think is cool. To my knowledge, they are the only faith with this specific belief system exalting the greatness of America. And – let’s be honest – Mormons have faced INSANE persecution throughout their history, but they have never “gone woke” and have always loved America. Mormons have endured much and yet take our Constitution more seriously than virtually anyone else, which is why so many great Mormons are true Constitutional scholars, like Senator Mike Lee. This is why religion is largely a personal matter for self-identification. God asks us to identify ourselves as His followers and the Census or whatever should do so also. Just leave a damn blank there to fill in.

@theh3podcast reacted to us and then said some awesome stuff about Mormons!