DALLAS (AP) -- The pastor who stirred controversy among Republicans Friday by calling the faith of Mitt Romney a non-Christian cult says part of his job is to warn people against false religions.

Back in his pulpit Sunday at First Baptist Church of Dallas, the Rev. Robert Jeffress told his congregation that "Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Mormonism are all false religions." Thousands of worshippers in the sanctuary applauded.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has struggled
for acceptance ever since its founder, Joseph Smith, said in the
19th century that God told him to restore the true Christian church
by revising parts of the Bible and adding the Book of Mormon as a
sacred text.

Mormons view Jesus as savior, but do not share the concept of a
unified Trinity that is part of historical Christianity. They also believe that God has a physical body and that human beings can eventually become like God.

Since they teach that God's revelation is ongoing, Mormons were able to cast aside the teaching of polygamy in 1890, and in 1978
abolished the barrier that kept those of African descent from full
participation in the church.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)