Do Mormons Believe in Jesus?

Yes. Latter-day Saints believe in Jesus. The Articles of Faith name God the Eternal Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They do not confess the Nicene Trinity: Gospel Topics, Godhead, says the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, one in purpose, and that the Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bones.

Key Points

• Articles of Faith 1:1Articles of Faith 1:1 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgWe believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.Articles of Faith 1:1 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source names God the Eternal Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
• Gospel Topics, Godhead, says Latter-day Saints pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, and that the Father is the ultimate object of their worship. (2)
• The same page says the members of the Godhead are three separate beings. The Father and the Son have tangible bodies of flesh and bones, and the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.
• Doctrine and Covenants 130:22Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgThe Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source says the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s, and the Son also.
• 1 Nephi 11:33 says Nephi saw the Lamb of God lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. 1 Nephi 10:11 says that after the Messiah was slain he would rise from the dead.
• Articles of Faith 1:8Articles of Faith 1:8 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgWe believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.Articles of Faith 1:8 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source says they believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly, and the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
• The creed of 381 says the Son is of one being with the Father. John 1:1John 1:1 · King James VersionIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the Word was God. John 20:28John 20:28 · King James VersionAnd Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.John 20:28 · King James VersionOpen the Source records Thomas calling Jesus his Lord and his God.

Do Mormons Believe in Jesus?

Yes. The first Article of Faith, in the Pearl of Great Price, is the church’s own sentence. (1) On that pageArticles of Faith 1:1 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgWe believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.Articles of Faith 1:1 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source:

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

that page · English, churchofjesuschrist.org

The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gospel Topics, Godhead, calls the Son Lord and Redeemer. (2) Latter-day Saints are not denying that Jesus is divine. They are describing a Jesus who is a separate being from the Father, with a body of flesh and bones. That is not the Nicene confession that the Son is one in being with the Father. Are Mormons Christians? stays on that difference. What do Mormons believe? is the wider list.

Do Mormons Believe Jesus Is God?

They call him divine, the Son, and the Redeemer, and they do not mean what the creed of 381 means by God the Son. Gospel Topics, Godhead, (2) on that page:

From the Prophet’s account of the First Vision and from his other teachings, we know that the members of the Godhead are three separate beings. The Father and the Son have tangible bodies of flesh and bones, and the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit. Although the members of the Godhead are distinct beings with distinct roles, they are one in purpose and doctrine. They are perfectly united in bringing to pass Heavenly Father’s divine plan of salvation.

that page

One God, on this page, is oneness of purpose and doctrine. It is not one divine being. Later sermons of Joseph Smith, especially the King Follett discourse, press a further claim: God as an exalted man. That sermon is quoted on Do Mormons Believe God Was Once a Man?. It is not required to see that Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 already distinguishes this teaching from Nicaea.

Is Jesus God? is the Nicene answer: Jesus is God the Son, one being with the Father, not the Father. Did Jesus Ever Claim to Be God? is where the Gospels record the claims his hearers treated as blasphemy.

Do Mormons Believe in the Trinity?

No. Both communities baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. A Latter-day Saint will often say they believe in the Godhead, and may use the word Trinity in a loose way. The teachings are not the same.

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgThe Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source, English, churchofjesuschrist.org:

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 · English, churchofjesuschrist.org

Matthew 28:19Matthew 28:19 · King James VersionGo ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Matthew 28:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source names Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in one baptismal name. The creed of 381 says the Son is of one being with the Father. The Trinity is that confession. John 4:24John 4:24 · King James VersionGod is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.John 4:24 · King James VersionOpen the Source says God is a Spirit. Latter-day Saints distinguish the Father’s embodied glory from a denial of spirit. The resurrection body of Jesus in the Gospels is a raised body. Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 says the Father’s body is flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.

Do Mormons Pray to Jesus or to God?

Gospel Topics, Godhead, says Latter-day Saints pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. (2) On Gospel Topics, Godhead:

Latter-day Saints pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. They acknowledge the Father as the ultimate object of their worship, the Son as Lord and Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as the messenger and revealer of the Father and the Son.

Gospel Topics, Godhead

The sacrament prayer on the bread, in Doctrine and Covenants 20:77Doctrine and Covenants 20:77 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgO God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.Doctrine and Covenants 20:77 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source, addresses God the Eternal Father in the name of his Son. What do Mormons believe? quotes that prayer. Christians also pray to the Father in the Son’s name. Acts 7:59Acts 7:59 · King James VersionAnd they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.Acts 7:59 · King James VersionOpen the Source also shows Stephen calling on the Lord Jesus. Is Jesus God? is why that call is not a call to a second god.

Do Mormons Believe Jesus Died on a Cross?

Yes, in the Book of Mormon’s own vision. 1 Nephi 11:33 (4), on that page:

And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.

1 Nephi 11:33

1 Nephi 10:11 says that after they had slain the Messiah he should rise from the dead. Gospel Topics, Easter, calls Easter the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas and Easter? quotes. Mark 15 is the Gospel account of that public crucifixion. The Resurrection of Jesus is the third day.

Do Mormons Believe in the Bible?

They say they do, with a limit they print themselves. Articles of Faith 1:8Articles of Faith 1:8 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgWe believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.Articles of Faith 1:8 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source (1), on that pageArticles of Faith 1:8 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgWe believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.Articles of Faith 1:8 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source:

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

Articles of Faith 1:8 · English, churchofjesuschrist.org

The sentence does not say the Bible was lost and rewritten. It says translation can fail, and it sets the Book of Mormon beside the Bible. Who Wrote the Book of Mormon? is the church’s account of that book. Who Wrote the Bible? is the Christian account of the biblical books.

How Do Mormons Differ From Christians?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints calls itself Christian, and its first article names Jesus Christ. Nicene Christians confess one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of one being. Latter-day Saints confess three beings, one in purpose, and a Father and a Son with tangible bodies. Are Mormons Christians? quotes both. What Is the Difference Between Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses? is a different refusal of Nicaea: Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is a creature.

The Christian Claim

The argument is about which confession the apostles’ writings will bear. John 1:1–3John 1:1–3 · King James Version^1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ^1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. ^1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.John 1:1–3 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the Word was God and that all things were made by him. John 20:28John 20:28 · King James VersionAnd Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.John 20:28 · King James VersionOpen the Source records Thomas: “My LORD and my God.” The Trinity says how that can be one God. Being is what is one. Person is Father, Son, and Spirit. Three beings with three bodies is a different sentence, and the church’s own Godhead page is the place it is printed.

Keep Reading

• What do Mormons believe?
• Are Mormons Christians?
• Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas and Easter?
• Is Jesus God?
• Did Jesus Ever Claim to Be God?
• The Trinity
• Elohim and Jehovah in Latter-day Saint Teaching: Two Divine Beings?
• Do Mormons Believe God Was Once a Man?
• Joseph Smith and Revelation
• The Book of Mormon
• Does God the Father Have a Body of Flesh and Bones?
• Are Jesus and Satan Brothers?
• What Is the Difference Between Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses?