I’ve been curious about the beliefs of different religious groups, and one question that keeps coming up is, Do Mormons believe in Jesus? I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) mention Jesus in their name, but I’m wondering, what do Mormons believe about Jesus specifically?
I’ve also heard that their views on the nature of Jesus might differ from traditional Christian beliefs. For example, do Mormons believe in the Trinity, or do they have a different understanding of the relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?
I’d love to hear from anyone with knowledge or experience in this area. Thanks!
I have done a great deal of research on Mormons in a peer reviewed, academic setting. My conclusion is that they are not Christian, but a bizarre off-shoot of Christianity. Mormonism is one of the more unfortunate offshoots of the Second Great Awakening.
They are indeed non-Trinitarian, and have been controversial since their inception. During Covid, many younger Mormons had time to study the Bible and theology- and quickly deconstructed their faith. Mormonism is bleeding members much like Christian churches as they learn of cover ups, violence, and outright control techniques used by elders and the hierarchy.
It is a controlling religion with odd ceremonies and secrecy.
It is, however, also an original American religion.
When the Vatican once again explained a few years ago that LDS baptisms would not be recognized, Mormonism was aptly described as “an entirely different matrix” from Christianity.
Mormons believe in Jesus, but not the Jesus of the NT - and the context (theology) is completely different. An analogy is a New Age religion that believes in Jesus as an Ascended Master.
The LDS Church is increasingly trying to posture itself as more mainstream, but the actual theology is jaw-droppingly different in critical ways.
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed". (Gal. 1:8,9)
The Mormon faith teaches that Joseph Smith received revelation directly from an angel named “Moroni”. Here, in these verses, Paul warns that though he “or an angel from Heaven” should present any other Gospel than what they had heard let them be accursed.
Right on the front of the Book of Mormon it says “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”. It is in fact ANOTHER GOSPEL. The Mormon faith teaches ANOTHER JESUS also. It is a cult. Mormons may be sincere—but they are sincerely WRONG.
Joseph Smith was an occultist who used “seer stones” in an attempt to find buried treasure. In occult writing one can find all sorts of agreement with peripheral Christianity. They almost all stop short of acknowledging that Jesus died for sins, the virgin birth, or the resurrection.
The attraction of LDS is often the strong emphasis on family life. However, this also can be found with Islam. From the outside one is much more able to recognize a Satanic “snare”. We should pray for those raised in such deceptions that they would seek truth and recognize it.
What I always find surprising about the Mormon faith is that they consider other works of modern church leaders to be inspired and on par with the other books of the biblical canon. I know they believe Joseph Smith was given special revelation, but that always seems to be so random. Why him? Why then?
As opposed to this modern-day revelation, most Christians believe in apostolic succession (in teaching if not in office)—that the faith preached by Jesus and entrusted to his apostles was passed down generation to generation from the church fathers and mothers to early church bishops on to the reformers and on and on to the modern day. There has always been a faithful remnant throughout persecutions and trials and perversions of the faith.
2 Thessalonians 2:15: “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”
It’s truly puzzling to me that someone would choose a faith like Mormonism where new directives are added rather than stepping into the heritage and ages-old story of Christian faith as it has been preserved for centuries.
If the question is do Mormons believe in something they call “Jesus”, then the answer is yes.
If the question is do Mormons believe in the same Jesus that other Christians believe in, then the answer is no. Not even close.
Imagine two people, Bob and Greg. Both say they know Abraham Lincoln. So you ask both of them to tell you about Abraham Lincoln.
Bob says, “Well, I grew up next to Honest Abe. My parents were best friends with him. Well one day he got into politics, and he became president of the United States. During his time as president the American Civil War happened. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the enslaved. And then John Wilkes Boothe shot him in the head at Ford Theater.”
You ask Greg to tell you about Abraham Lincoln. Greg says, “Ah, you see, I met Abraham Lincoln in a dream one night. And he told me about how he was a famous vampire hunter and he traveled all around the world killing vampires. He never had much interest in politics though. And you should totally believe me because, as I said, Lincoln visited me in a dream and told me this himself.”
Obviously Bob and Greg can’t be describing the same thing–I mean they can’t both be true. One is the real Abraham Lincoln and the other is a fabrication.
Well, the Mormon Jesus is a lot like Greg’s Abraham Lincoln.
You make a good point, and I agree that the Mormons I’ve met (which admittedly, have been few) do seem to “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.” On that, perhaps many Christians could take note.