Some members of the local clergy say they aren't concerned about the opening of a Mormon temple in Central Point, despite their doctrinal differences with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

None of the pastors interviewed expect the temple to prompt a surge of Mormonism in the Rogue Valley, but two evangelical pastors worry the church is more cult than Christian, saying LDS doctrine strays too far from the Bible.

"They say they are Christian, but I don't agree with them," says Don Farnsworth, pastor of Medford Southwest Church of the Nazarene. "The Mormon church is the most acceptable cult in the world. They center their teachings around one man, Joseph Smith."

Farnsworth says LDS teachings -- such as reliance on the Book of Mormon and the belief in a Godhead of distinct personages rather than three manifestations of a single deity -- stray too far from the Bible to be considered Christian.

Jeff Anderson, pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Central Point, agrees.

"The Mormon church basically preaches another Jesus than what evangelical orthodox Christian churches teach," he says. "Their Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible."

Anderson says the Mormon church "cuts and pastes" the Scriptures to suit its agenda. He also has concerns about the "secrecy and exclusivism" of the LDS church. "I have a genuine burden for people who don't know the grace of God," he says. "This is a big one."

While Farnsworth and Anderson have concerns about LDS doctrine, they also say Mormons are good people.

"You just can't say anything bad about their morality," Farnsworth says.

Farnsworth says he hasn't talked with his congregation about the LDS temple, though he does provide witnessing tracts and is planning a "prayer walk" through the temple during its open house.

"I'm not intending to confront anybody or get argumentative," Farnsworth says. "I'm just praying that the influence of that temple will not be strong, that it will not have an effective ministry because it's not a true ministry."

Anderson's church is hosting a seminar this week in which ex-Mormons will discuss the topic, "Understanding Mormonism: How does that religion compare to Biblical Christianity?"

Meanwhile, clergy members from more mainline denominations say they're not too concerned about Mormonism or the new temple.

"Live and let live," says the Rev. Dr. Joyce DeGraaf of Medford's First Presbyterian Church. "I think there's room for all of us.

"We look at things a little differently. But I'm very ecumenical."

The Rev. Jim Clifford, of Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church in Central Point, says evangelical churches tend to interpret the Bible more literally than he does.

"I have no problems (with the LDS church) because I believe that we're all trying to do the same thing, which is bringing people closer to God, even though we all have different teachings, different terminology," says Clifford, who visited the temple Thursday.

"I had a certain sense that (the temple) was a very spiritual place and that was very good."

George Nye, pastor of Eastwood Baptist Church in Medford, says the presence of an LDS temple is not likely to draw more Mormons to the area or cause more people to convert to the faith.

Though he says the Mormon faith is too distant from his own for both to be called Christian, Nye is not concerned with trying to convert members of the LDS church.