Religion
Latter-day Saints
How Latter-day Saint teaching about the Godhead, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon relates to Nicene faith.
Latter-day Saints worship the Father through Jesus Christ. They teach that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three beings united in purpose, that God called Joseph Smith, and that the Book of Mormon is scripture beside the Bible. Nicene Christians confess one God — one being — who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and they do not receive Joseph Smith’s revelations or the Book of Mormon as scripture. These pages also take up exaltation, plural marriage, the Word of Wisdom, Christmas and Easter, and the comparison with Catholic teaching.
The body is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Mormon” is a common nickname. These pages quote the church’s own texts, then state where the Nicene confession differs.
- What Are the Rules of Mormonism?: Quotes the Articles of Faith, the chastity topic, and the missionary conduct section, and it links the Word of Wisdom page instead of repeating it.
- What Is Baptism for the Dead?: Quotes the church’s temple page and 1 Corinthians 15:29.
- Where Do Mormons Believe the Garden of Eden Is?: Quotes Doctrine and Covenants 116 on Adam-ondi-Ahman and the church manuals that place the garden in Jackson County.
- Who Started Mormonism?: Quotes Gospel Topics, Doctrine and Covenants 20 and 135, and the history of the deaths at Carthage.
- Who Was John the Baptist? Was He a Disciple of Jesus?: Quotes Doctrine and Covenants 13 and Joseph Smith—History 1:68–72 on the Aaronic Priesthood.
- Do Mormons Believe God Was Once a Man?: Quotes the Lorenzo Snow couplet and the King Follett sermon.
- Are Jesus and Satan Brothers?: Quotes Gospel Topics, Moses 4, and the June 1986 Ensign. Gospel Topics calls Satan a spirit son. The Ensign answer calls Jesus and Lucifer spirit brothers.
- Do Latter-day Saints Believe in a Heavenly Mother?: Quotes the Mother in Heaven essay and the hymn “O My Father.”
- Does God Have a Wife? Is God Married?: Answers the Genesis “male and female” claim, Asherah, and links the Heavenly Mother page.
- Does God the Father Have a Body of Flesh and Bones?: Quotes Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 beside John 4:24.
- What Does 2 Nephi 25:23 Mean (After All We Can Do)?: Quotes that verse beside the church’s page on grace.
- How Many Mormons Are There Worldwide?: Quotes the First Presidency’s membership count for December 31, 2025, and Pew’s share of U.S. respondents.
- Elohim and Jehovah in Latter-day Saint Teaching: Two Divine Beings?: Quotes the 1916 First Presidency exposition beside Deuteronomy 6:4.
- Does the Bible Warn Against a Later Revelation?: Quotes Galatians 1:8 beside Joseph Smith—History 1:33.
- Who Was Melchizedek?: Quotes Doctrine and Covenants 107 beside Hebrews 7:23–25.
Start Here
What Latter-day Saints believe, how that teaching differs from the Catholic confession, and why the word cult does not answer the doctrine.
- How Many Mormons Are There Worldwide?
The First Presidency reported 17,887,212 members as of December 31, 2025. Pew finds Latter-day Saints are 2% of U.S. respondents.
- Is Mormonism a Cult?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejects the word Mormonism. The disagreement is three beings and added scripture, not a slur for members.
- What Do Mormons Believe?
Latter-day Saints believe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three beings, and they receive the Book of Mormon beside the Bible.
- What Is the Difference Between Mormons and Catholics?
Catholics confess one God in three persons. Latter-day Saints teach three separate beings. In 2001 the Catholic Church answered that Latter-day Saint baptism is not valid.
The Godhead
The Latter-day Saint teaching that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three beings, beside the Nicene confession of one God, including exaltation.
- Are Jesus and Satan Brothers?
Gospel Topics calls Satan a spirit son of God who rebelled. A 1986 Ensign answer calls Jesus and Lucifer spirit brothers.
- Are Mormons Christians?
Latter-day Saints worship Jesus Christ. Their teaching of God and of salvation is not the Nicene confession.
- Do Latter-day Saints Believe in a Heavenly Mother?
The church’s Mother in Heaven essay teaches a Heavenly Mother, and members do not pray to her. Isaiah 44:6 says there is no God beside the LORD.
- Do Mormons Believe God Was Once a Man?
The Lorenzo Snow couplet says, “As man now is, God once was.” The King Follett sermon says God was once as we are now, and is an exalted man. Isaiah 43:10 says no God was formed before or after the LORD.
- Do Mormons Believe in Jesus?
Yes. Latter-day Saints believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. They teach three separate beings, one in purpose, which is not the Nicene Trinity.
- Do Mormons Believe They Will Become Gods?
Gospel Principles says exaltation is the kind of life God lives. The King Follett sermon says God was once as we are now, and that the faithful must learn to be gods. Isaiah 43:10 says no God was formed after the LORD.
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- Do Mormons Believe God Was Once a Man?
The Lorenzo Snow couplet says, “As man now is, God once was.” The King Follett sermon says God was once as we are now, and is an exalted man. Isaiah 43:10 says no God was formed before or after the LORD.
- Do Mormons Believe in Jesus?
Yes. Latter-day Saints believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. They teach three separate beings, one in purpose, which is not the Nicene Trinity.
- Do Mormons Believe They Will Become Gods?
Gospel Principles says exaltation is the kind of life God lives. The King Follett sermon says God was once as we are now, and that the faithful must learn to be gods. Isaiah 43:10 says no God was formed after the LORD.
- Does God the Father Have a Body of Flesh and Bones?
Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 says the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s. John 4:24 says God is a Spirit.
- Elohim and Jehovah in Latter-day Saint Teaching: Two Divine Beings?
The 1916 First Presidency statement calls Elohim the Father and Jehovah Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 6:4 and Isaiah 44:6 speak of one LORD.
Joseph Smith and Scripture
Joseph Smith’s revelations and the Book of Mormon, beside the Bible.
- Did Joseph Smith Receive Revelation?
Latter-day Saints say Joseph Smith saw two Personages, and one called the other his Beloved Son. Hebrews 1 says God has spoken by his Son.
- Does the Bible Warn Against a Later Revelation?
Galatians 1:8 says another gospel, even from an angel, is accursed. 1 John 2:22 names the one who denies the Father and the Son.
- What Does 2 Nephi 25:23 Mean (After All We Can Do)?
2 Nephi 25:23 says it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. The church’s grace page says that enabling power is received by obeying the gospel. Ephesians 2:8–9 says salvation is the gift of God, not of works.
- What Is the Book of Mormon?
The Book of Mormon calls itself scripture and says Jesus is the Eternal God. The church’s essay says the Father and the Son are separate beings.
- Where Do Mormons Believe the Garden of Eden Is?
Latter-day Saint teaching places the Garden of Eden in Jackson County, Missouri, and Adam-ondi-Ahman at Spring Hill in Daviess County. Genesis 2 does not name Missouri.
- Who Started Mormonism?
Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830. He and his brother Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844.
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- What Is the Book of Mormon?
The Book of Mormon calls itself scripture and says Jesus is the Eternal God. The church’s essay says the Father and the Son are separate beings.
- Where Do Mormons Believe the Garden of Eden Is?
Latter-day Saint teaching places the Garden of Eden in Jackson County, Missouri, and Adam-ondi-Ahman at Spring Hill in Daviess County. Genesis 2 does not name Missouri.
- Who Started Mormonism?
Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830. He and his brother Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844.
- Who Was Melchizedek?
Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Hebrews says Jesus holds that priesthood forever, and it does not pass to another man.
- Who Wrote the Book of Mormon?
Latter-day Saints say ancient prophets wrote the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith translated it in 1829 with a seer stone. He says he returned the plates.
Practice
Christmas and Easter, the Word of Wisdom, and plural marriage, in the church’s own words.
- Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas and Easter?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints keeps Christmas as the season of Christ’s birth and Easter as the celebration of his resurrection, with Easter Sunday services.
- Do Mormons Practice Polygamy?
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not enter plural marriage today. Doctrine and Covenants 132 taught it. The 1890 Manifesto told the Saints to stop.
- What Are the Rules of Mormonism?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches salvation through the Atonement by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Chastity, the Word of Wisdom, and missionary conduct are quoted from the church’s own pages.
- What Is Baptism for the Dead?
Latter-day Saints perform proxy baptisms in temples for people who died without baptism. The church says the dead may accept or reject the ordinance, and that their names are not added to membership records. 1 Corinthians 15:29 is the verse they cite.
- Why Can't Mormons Drink Coffee?
Doctrine and Covenants 89 says hot drinks are not for the body. Latter-day prophets teach that this means tea and coffee. The church’s statements also name green tea and coffee-based products.
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- What Is Baptism for the Dead?
Latter-day Saints perform proxy baptisms in temples for people who died without baptism. The church says the dead may accept or reject the ordinance, and that their names are not added to membership records. 1 Corinthians 15:29 is the verse they cite.
- Why Can't Mormons Drink Coffee?
Doctrine and Covenants 89 says hot drinks are not for the body. Latter-day prophets teach that this means tea and coffee. The church’s statements also name green tea and coffee-based products.
Common Arguments and Objections
Claims that come up in this conversation, with the article that walks through each one.
- Latter-day Saints believe the same gospel as other Christians, with a few added books.
They confess Jesus by name, and they also teach three beings, the Book of Mormon beside the Bible, and salvation by obedience to laws and ordinances.
- God the Father was once a mortal man who progressed to godhood, as the Lorenzo Snow couplet and the King Follett sermon teach.
The couplet says, “As man now is, God once was.” The King Follett sermon says God was once as we are now.
- Latter-day Saints are Christians. Their church is named for Jesus Christ.
They worship Jesus and use his name.
- A person is saved by grace only after that person has done everything possible, which is what 2 Nephi 25:23 means by “after all we can do.”
The verse says it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.