Mormons are Christians

You've mentioned so many good questions! I'll do my best to answer them. First is the initial question that we've been talking about. I love your statement, "I don't doubt that Mormons believe in Jesus Christ..." This is the key my friend. Mormons do believe in Christ and hence: Christians. As for following His teachings, let's consider quickly that Christianity has over 30,000 different sects, each with different beliefs. Thus for as many people that say one teaching is of Jesus Christ, there are 10 more to say the opposite. Only God Himself can answer such a difficult question. Next. I understand better this time your point about Jesus in the wilderness. Thanks for clarifying again. It's important to remember the doctrine taught by Christ in John 10:30 which says, "I and my Father are one" and again in 3 Nephi 11:36, "...for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one". To worship Christ is to worship God, for they stand for exactly the same thing: they are in fact one (not one person or one entity, but one in purpose, resolve, mind, etc as I explained earlier in my previous reply). Christ says to worship the one true God for the same reason He asks us to pray to God in His name: He wants the Father to receive all the glory. Christ stated, "Father...the glory be thine forever." (Moses 4:2) However, He is not going to reprimand someone who worships Him when it is through Him that they receive salvation, for He truly loves all mankind (see 1 John 4:16). Let's move to the bodies of flesh and bone question. The casual reader of the Bible will see that Christ had a body here on the earth, and after His crucifixion, received His resurrected body. He walked among the disciples for over 40 days as a resurrected being (see Acts 1:3). Hopefully, this makes it clear that Christ does in fact have a body of flesh and bone! In Genesis 1:26 it states, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." God does have a body after which he crafted and created man. The word "our" is key to show that BOTH God and Jesus Christ have bodies. Let's quickly address John 4 verse 24 that says God is a spirit. Of course God has a spirit! All men and women have spirits (see Moses 3:5-7 and 1 Peter 3:19). This does not mean to suggest that He doesn't have a physical body as well though. Christ's point here was to say that it is not only an "outward" or "physical" display of worship that we must give to God, but that we must worship God with our hearts and our spirits. God has a spirit too and thus can communicate to His children spiritually. All right let's address the question about Joseph Smith. There's much to explain here but I'll do my best. Here I would also like to point out that the books you have quoted are good books, but they are not canonized scripture for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which means that it is not declared doctrine (despite McConkie's title). However, using the quotes you have used, it is essential to define the word "salvation". Mormons have a wonderfully unique doctrine about salvation for mankind. Because of Christ, ALL men (save a select few) will receive an ETERNAL GLORY in the next life based upon how they live their lives (Doctrine and Covenants 76 talks all about this). These glories are so magnificent that they are beyond description and cannot be comprehended by man because of how great they are. With this definition, neither of the above statements are true. Even those who reject the gospel of Christ, liars, deceivers, and many bad people will receive these glories. The definition these quotes are using for salvation, however, is to live with and as God Himself and as such, these two statements would be true. It's essential to understand that to receive the highest glory that God has to offer, one must commit to certain standards that God has placed. And think about it, would it be fair for an evil murderer who repeatedly chooses to do wickedly to receive the same glory as someone who has strived their whole life to live righteously? No of course not. Thus God has set in place specific ordinances whereby man may one day live with Him again. These ordinances must be performed under appropriate authority from God. This authority was given to Joseph Smith when Christ restored His church upon the earth. As such, the authority of God is only found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This in no way demeans what Christ did for mankind and it is ONLY through Christ that man may be saved. Joseph Smith was merely an instrument that God used to establish His church upon the earth. How can someone accept Christ as their Savior but deny that Moses was a prophet? It wouldn't make sense! Moses prophesied of Christ and was His instrument. So too was Joseph Smith. I hope this helps to clarify what Mormon beliefs are and how they are incorporated into the teachings of Christ.