Two of the most successful cults in history...

Mormonism: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The fastest growing and most successful cults in the history of the United States and perhaps the world is the Mormons, officially known as: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Increasing at an average of 300,000 converts a year, membership in the Mormon Church reach 10.6 million worldwide in 1999.
In their multi-million dollar promotion program, as well as their practice, the Mormons create a highly attractive care for communities, a strong emphasis on building the family, clean living and a commitment to Christ that would appear to outdo many Christian in evangelical churches.

Why then refer to them as a cult? Mormonism disagrees with Christianity at many points, but two of the major issues are:
1) How they view Scripture?
2) How they view God (Trinity)?



How it all Began: Joseph Smith
The origins of Mormonism is enough reason to doubt their trustworthiness. The story of Mormonism started with a 14-year old boy named Joseph Smith Jr., who had a vision in which two people-whom he believed to be the Father and the Son appeared before him. He asked them which Christian denomination he should join and they told him to join none of them because they were all 'wrong and corrupt.'
In 1832, Smith, then 17, saw the angel Moroni appear at his bedside and tell him of a book written on golden plates that contained the rest of the gospel. Four years later, Smith dug up the plates and began translating them. Those translations became to be known as the Book of Mormons (BOM). From the early 1830's to the early 1840's, Smith continued to receive revelations that guided him in where to go and what to do next and he compiled all of these revelations. By 1835, a second book entitled, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' would become 'inspired Scripture,' alongside the BOM.
Since Smith's discoveries and even after his death, Mormonism is still practiced by many people today including some universities like Brigham Young. Besides the Bible, Mormons trust the BOM, Doctrine and Covenants as containing the world of God. The LDS church claims that the Bible never closed and revelation continued with Joseph Smith. They believe that the Book of Mormons is the inspired Word of God.