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Jesus Christ: Ten Doctrines that Divide Mormonism and Biblical Christianity

The following table lists ten major LDS teachings about Jesus Christ that differ from those of biblical

Christianity. In most cases, Mormons claim that their belief agrees with at least some statements in the

Bible. However, in each case the LDS doctrine does not derive from the Bible and in fact disagreeswith the Bible. Some, but not all, of these doctrines are mentioned in chapter 11 of the LDS doctrinal

manual Gospel Principles. Some of these doctrines we have discussed in reference to early chapters of 

Gospel Principles, as noted in the table.

 

LDS Teaching about Christ Biblical Teaching about Christ

1. Jesus Christ is just the“firstborn” of God’s billions of 

spirit children and the first to

 become a God. (See our 

discussion of chapter 2 andchapter 3 of Gospel Principles.)

Jesus Christ is the only human being whoexisted in heaven before his human life

(John 3:31). He did not become a God, but

has always been God (John 1:1). He is called

the “firstborn of all creation” (Colossians1:15) to mean that he is the Father’s primary

heir, not that he was the first spirit beingcreated.

2. Jesus Christ is one of three

Gods in the “Godhead,” as is the

Holy Spirit, another of God’sspirit sons. (See our discussion

of chapter 7 of Gospel  Principles.)

Jesus Christ is one of three divine persons

(Matthew 28:19), but these three persons are

one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 1Corinthians 8:4-6), not three Gods or God

and two of his sons.

3. Jesus Christ is not the proper recipient of prayer; we may prayonly to the Father in Jesus’

name. (See our discussion of 

chapter 8 of Gospel Principles.)

Even Mormons admit that faithful Israelites prayed to Jesus (whom they identify asJehovah) in the Old Testament. The New

Testament also affirms praying to Jesus

(John 14:14; Romans 10:9-14; 2 Corinthians

12:7-9; 1 John 5:13-15).

4. Jesus Christ is the “Only

Begotten,” which means that heis the only human being whom

God the Father literally begat in

the flesh. God is Jesus’ father inthe flesh and Mary is his mother (Gospel Principles, 52-53).

In the Bible, calling Jesus the “only-begotten

Son” refers to his eternal nature and status asGod’s unique, divine Son (John 1:14, 18).

Jesus was conceived “from the Holy Spirit”

(Matthew 1:18), not as God’s physicaloffspring (an idea nowhere taught even inthe LDS scriptures).

5. Jesus Christ “inherited divine powers from His Father” when

he became a human being

(Gospel Principles, 53).

Jesus did not “inherit” divine powers by being God’s physical offspring because he

was already, as even LDS scriptures say,

“the Lord Omnipotent…from all eternity toall eternity” (Mosiah 3:5, quoted in Gospel 

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 Principles, 52).

6. Jesus Christ “organized theonly true Church” with a system

of priesthood “authority”

required to teach or baptize

others (Gospel Principles, 55).

Jesus Christ appointed apostles as hisauthoritative witnesses, not as custodians of 

a priesthood to run a religious organization.

Rather, the whole church is a “royal

 priesthood” based not on ritual but onrelationship to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-10).

7. Jesus Christ suffered to atonefor our sins in Gethsemane,

 bleeding from “every pore”

(D&C 19:18-19; Gospel 

 Principles, 52, 56).

Jesus Christ did agonize in prayer inGethsemane, but he did not bleed from every

 pore, and he atoned for our sins on the cross,

not in Gethsemane (Ephesians 2:16;Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24). (We will

discuss this subject in more detail in our 

response to chapter 12 of Gospel Principles.)

8. Jesus Christ atoned for the

sins of every human being,

guaranteeing resurrection toimmortal life in some heavenly

kingdom to all, including

unbelievers (Gospel Principles,61-62).

Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice is sufficient

to pay for the sins of the whole world, but

only those whom God actually saves throughfaith will be resurrected to immortal

heavenly life (1 Corinthians 15:20-23,

50-57). (We will also discuss this subject inour response to chapter 12 of Gospel 

 Principles.)

9. Jesus Christ “appeared to the

 Nephites and established HisChurch in the Americas” shortly

after his ascension (Gospel 

 Principles, 57; see 3 Nephi

10:18; 11:12).

After Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:9-11), he was

to remain in heaven until his second coming(Acts 3:19-21). There are many other 

reasons to question the Book of Mormonaccount from a biblical perspective. (See our 

response to chapter 10 of Gospel Principles.)

10. Jesus Christ (and God the

Father) appeared to Joseph

Smith to tell him to join none of the churches because all of them

were wrong and their creeds an

abomination (Joseph Smith— History 1:7-20; Gospel 

 Principles, 96).

Jesus Christ promised the apostles that the

gates of Hades (death) would not prevail

against his church and that he would be withhis disciples until the end of the age

(Matthew 16:18; 28:20). These promises are

not consistent with Joseph Smith’s claim thatJesus told him the churches were all sowrong that he could not be part of any of 

them. (We will discuss these issues in more

detail in our responses to chapters 16 and 17of Gospel Principles.)