Do Latter-day Saints worship a different Jesus?

The Short Answer

Latter-day Saints worship Jesus of Nazareth as the divine Creator, Messiah, Savior, and risen Lord. Their understanding of his relationship to the Father differs from Nicene Christianity. The conversation needs to identify the doctrine in dispute and the evidence used to support it.

Start with these sources

• The Living Christ identifies Jesus and describes his saving work in the Church’s own words.
• Westminster Confession, chapter 8 explains one major Christian account of the eternal Son’s relationship to the Father.
• 2 Corinthians 11:3–4 warns about a different Jesus and gospel. Applying it requires a case about a specific teaching.
• Mormonism Research Ministry’s argument gives a direct example of the objection.

Ask a precise question

“Which teaching about Jesus do you think departs from the apostles’ testimony, and which passages establish that?”

What the objection asks

Mormonism Research Ministry argues that differences in Christ’s divine nature and origin justify calling the Latter-day Saint account a “different Jesus.” The concern reaches beyond a name or a shared account of his life. The writer treats certain claims about who Christ is as essential to knowing and worshipping him. Mormonism Research Ministry’s argument

Whom Latter-day Saints worship

In The Living Christ, the First Presidency and the Twelve identify Jesus as Jehovah, the Creator under the Father’s direction, the Son born into mortality, the Redeemer who died for sins, and the resurrected Lord. That statement identifies the figure Latter-day Saints worship and describes his saving role. The Living Christ

The Book of Mormon presents the risen Jesus showing his wounds and inviting the people to recognize him. His identity is connected to his death and resurrection and to the gospel he teaches. 3 Nephi 11:8–17

Where the doctrines differ

The Westminster Confession describes the eternal Son as of one substance with the Father and teaches that he took on a human nature. Latter-day Saints understand the Father and the Son as distinct members of the Godhead and speak of Jesus as the Father’s firstborn in premortality and Only Begotten Son in the flesh. Those are substantive theological differences. Westminster Confession, chapters 2 and 8 · The Living Christ

Paul warns the Corinthians about accepting a different Jesus, spirit, or gospel. To apply that warning to a modern teaching, identify the claim about Christ and explain how it departs from the apostolic testimony. The Latter-day Saint response needs to address that doctrine in detail. 2 Corinthians 11:3–4

What about Jesus and Lucifer?

Latter-day Saint teaching places human beings in a premortal family and identifies Jesus as its firstborn. In its account of the premortal council, Christ accepts the Father’s plan and Lucifer rebels. The description of a spirit family explains the relation in which Latter-day Saints can speak of Jesus and Lucifer as brothers. The same teaching presents Christ as Savior and calls people to follow him. A Christian objection can then focus on whether that account of premortality is supported by scripture. Our Heavenly Family · Our Chosen Leader and Savior

A response you could give

“I worship Jesus of Nazareth, who died for our sins and rose again. We have a real disagreement about how to describe his divinity and relationship to the Father. Which teaching do you think conflicts with the New Testament? I’d like to read the passages with you and explain why I understand them as I do.”