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Most mormons never meet the prophet or most of the other general authorities of the church in person, not even the ones in Utah. They might go to a meeting and hear them speak, but they consider themselves lucky if they get a handshake afterwards. That is not enough influence to “brainwash” anyone. Also, do you seriously think that 13 million people across the globe could be persuaded to enter in a “cult” that took away their free agency and ability to control their own lives? Hardly. If following a living religious leader is a cult, then the Hebrews under Moses were a cult, and the Catholic church today is a cult.

Also, the LDS church has been around for almost 200 years now, surviving the turnover of sixteen presidents, and has kept its key doctrines the same for that whole time. Yes, I know that there are some interesting tidbits by Brigham Young and there’s that whole racial issue, but those tidbits are, believe it or not, not main doctrines that the church teaches. They are not taught in Sunday School or by the missionaries, not out of secrecy, but because they are not officially sanctioned doctrine. They are speculation. I doubt that you will find any other religion in which the key doctrines have remained so consistent throughout that length of time.

And last, no member of the Church is prevented from leaving with force or threats. We of course do what we can to convice them not to leave, but they are in no way physically or emotionally threatened when they disagree with the teachings of the church. Sorry to go on a little long, but I get rather infuriated when people try to use scare tactics to defend their disagreement with a religion. Disagree all you want, but when you start pulling out that scary “cult” word, any argument you make goes down the toilet.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”

One Baptist blogger stated “99 percent of the members of his Baptist church believe in the Mormon (and Early Christian) view of the Trinity. It is the preachers who insist on the Nicene Creed definition.” It seems to me the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood).
Evangelicals should read:
http://brucewilson.blogspot.com/2008/01/unintended-consequences-of-vote-for.html