The nature of Latter Day as a religion has been doubted; furthermore many are those that have claimed that this doctrine could be a cult. In this essay we would analyze the main controversies against this religion and see whether or not LDS (Latter Days Saint) are a cult. However before we enter into the topic we should first examine the meaning of the word cult.

There is no generally accepted, single, current definition for the term cult. The complexity of defining this word has engendered a controversy among theologians, psychologists, philosophers and sociologists. Cult, such as Christian, hell, heaven, occult, are terms that often causes a social misunderstanding over their meanings. We will examine some of the definitions that have arisen from this term.

Walter Martin, a Christian theologian defines cult as:

" ...a group, religious in nature, which surrounds a leader or a group of teachings which either denies or misinterprets essential biblical doctrines..."

This is an unsatisfying definition, as it is too general and subjective to agree with. It embraces most religions such as Mormon Church, Wicca, Islam, Hinduism,

3. systematically induces states of psychological dependency in members,

Conversely to what many have thought, Mormons are taught to take very seriously their selection of a mate, seeing it as a religious responsibility that will determine not only their happiness on earth, but also their eternal welfare. Furthermore, they think that being parents in mortality is an opportunity to share in God's creative work. According to Mormons all men and women were born of Heavenly Parents (God Father and his Heavenly Wife). Because Divine Parents gave humans something of their own nature they think of themselves as "gods in embryo" as being able to continue on the path Heavenly Parents started. Thus, Mormons' parents have the responsibility to give their children the best education and show them the path to salvation. Besides Mormons believe spirits destined for birth on earth are thought to be waiting to be born sooner or later, thus according to them is much better for this spirits to be born in a family who understand God's plans. For a believer of this religion, it is deliberately selfish to have no children or unseemly few. Plural marriage in the LDS is just a result of this idea, and not a question of lust, as many have assumed. However, since 1890 plural marriage has not been practice among the members of the Church, as the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the U.S. statutory ban on polygamy. Mormons still believe in polygamy, but in the celestial world.

and all of the other religions of the world. Over 70% of humanity would belong to cults, by this definition.

"...Journalists need no other reason for writing about any particular NRM (new religious movement) except that it is counted as a cult. This categorization is sufficient to justify a story, especially if the story illustrates many of the other components which conventionally make up the cult category. This puts pressure on journalists to find more and more evidence which conforms with the categorical image of cults and therefore confirms the idea that a NRM is newsworthy to the extent that it does math the category. It is no part of conventional journalistic practice to look for stories about NRMs which do not conform to the category of cult..." (Beckford 1994)

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1662
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)