# Mormon/JW Similarities

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Posted by Fred Goff [FredGoff] on November 09, 1999 at 08:08:58 {4Hfg918T5gHjeBrKyFOkEK8l6G4Za6}:

I am starting this thread in response to a comment comparing the Mormon (LDS)
faith with JW beliefs, and from a request by Lobo for the similarities and
differences between LDS beliefs and JW beliefs. As an LDS member in good
standing, I thought I'd go ahead and answer Lobo's question as well as provide
general information for any who might be interested.

More detailed information on basic beliefs can be found at www.lds.org,
while extensive information including some excellent apologetics can be found at
www.mormons.org.

Also, please keep in mind that I am not an expert in JW theology, so if I
misrepresent their beliefs, I apologize in advance. With that disclaimer, here
goes:

A Comparison of Beliefs

A Restored Church

> Both the JW and LDS churches claim to be a restored church.
> The LDS church claims it was restored through divine revelation when God the
> Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820. Joseph Smith was
> called to be a prophet of God and to restore, through divine revelation, the
> church of Christ as it had existed at the time of the apostles, and which had
> become corrupt in its teachings over time.

Charismatic Leaders with a Shady Background?

> This point is in direct response to a comment made by Lobo
> in his posting on the Mormon Freddy Franz thread.

> I am unfamiliar with Russel's background. However, as to
> Joseph Smith's character, it all depends on which diaries you read. Several of
> Joseph's neighbors and acquaintances considered him and the Smith family in
> general to be of extremely good character. In fact, if you study the
> documents, you will find that the major "shadiness" of Joseph's
> character gets publicized after the account of his vision and the beginnings
> of the formation of the LDS church become general knowledge.

> It is interesting to note that Joseph Smith never achieved
> any sort of material prosperity and eventually was murdered at the hands of a
> mob in Carthage Illinois because of his beliefs. This seems a bit incongruent
> for someone with a "shady background."

Persecution

> Both the LDS and JW faiths have suffered persecution from
> other churches. I am not aware of the specifics of JW persecution, but LDS
> persecution included not just that from other religions, but from state
> institutions as well and often resulted in bloodshed. The Haun's Mill massacre
> is probably the most infamous along with Governor Boggs' extermination order
> which put a price on the head of any Mormon found in the state of Missouri
> after a set date. Intense religious and political persecution was the main
> reason the early LDS members left the United States under great hardship and
> loss of life to re-settle in the Salt Lake valley.

Both believe pronouncements of their respective churches
override the Bible

> Again, this one is from Lobo. In LDS theology,
> pronouncements by church leaders, by definition, cannot override the Bible,
> since the Bible is one of the LDS canon of scripture by which doctrine is
> measured. The Book of Mormon is considered a companion scripture to the Bible.
> It is considered a more correct book since it has suffered fewer translational
> errors and contains a purer doctrine, but it does not superceded or replace
> the Bible. In fact, the Book of Mormon declares the Bible to be a volume of
> scripture. Nearly all of the claims about contradictions between LDS
> pronouncements, the Book of Mormon and the Bible actually turn out to be
> contradiction between Protestant teachings on the Bible rather than the
> actual biblical text itself.

Morality

> JWs and Mormons have similar teachings on morality and
> chastity, some of which Lobo seems to think are nonsensical.

Shunning

> Mormons do not practice shunning in any form whatsoever.
> Disfellowshipped and Excommunicated members are encouraged and invited to
> attend meetings though they may not offer prayer, give talks, or partake of
> the Sacrament (Lord's Supper). Excommunicated members also may not pay
> tithing. Disfellowshipped and Excommunicated members are encouraged to meet
> regularly with their bishops to work toward regaining full
> fellowship/membership into the church. Members are encouraged to fellowship
> them as well.

> LDS are encouraged to associate with their non-member
> friends and neighbors to build strong communities. As a personal example, my
> family was pleased and privileged to attend the Presbyterian baptism of a good
> friend of mine's little boy. He in turn came and shared in the joy of my own
> son's baptism into the LDS faith.

Political Involvement

> LDS are encouraged to become involved in their communities.
> There are more Mormons in political office, per capita, than any other
> religious denomination in the country.

Family

> The family is considered the core unit of heaven and is of primary emphasis
> in LDS theology. Anything which harms family harmony is discouraged. Thus
> minors must have parental permission to receive LDS missionaries or to receive
> baptism or to even attend services. Married adults must have permission of
> their spouses for the same. If a member wishes to receive a recommend for and
> enter the temple, the spouse must give permission. When calls are issued to
> serve within a ward (congregation) the spouse must give his/her approval.

Medical Care

> Mormons believe that modern medical knowledge is revealed by God for the
> benefit of His children and is to be used with the guidance of the Spirit. The
> church frowns upon artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization and
> instead encourages adoption, but the decision is left up to the prayerful
> consideration of individual members. There is no church discipline associated
> with either of these actions. Blood transfusions, organ transplants, etc. are
> all allowed. The Church is strongly opposed to abortion or any practices that
> would encourage or legitimize abortion (such as fetal tissue research) and
> instead encourages adoption. Any abortion that occurs in cases other than
> rape, incest, where the Mother's life is at risk, or where sound medical
> opinion determines the child will suffer fatal or severe birth defects will
> result in church discipline, usually excommunication. Even in these latter
> cases, members are encouraged to seek the guidance of the Spirit in their
> individual and family decisions.

Trinity

> Like JWs, Mormons reject the traditional concept of the Trinity and
> consider the Godhead to be three separate personages who are one in purpose
> rather than substance. They accept Jesus as God and the Son of God. The title
> page of the Book of Mormon title page proclaims that the purpose of the book
> is to convince the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ even the
> Eternal God.

One True Church

> The LDS church also claims to be the only true and living church on the
> world today, meaning that it is the only divinely sanctioned church, or the
> only church that is approved of Christ. However, the Church also maintains
> that other faiths still have some truth in them, and can lead men part of the
> way to God, however, the Lord has made it clear through revelation that many
> of the creeds of these other churches are an abomination in His sight.

Afterlife

> Mormons believe the spirit of man is eternal and exists beyond the death of
> the physical body.

Paradise on Earth and the Heavenly Hope

> Mormons do not subscribe to either of these doctrines. Earth will receive
> its Paradisiacal glory when Christ returns, and after the Millennium will be
> exalted into even greater glory and will take it's place in Heaven with the
> Father as a dwelling place for the faithful.

> All men may obtain to the highest heaven, or return to the Father's
> presence, through the Atonement of Christ and obedience to His gospel.

Authority

> The LDS church maintains that Christ's church must carry His authority, and
> that authority is to be found in the Priesthood, which priesthood must be
> conferred upon those receiving it, by those already possessing it. The early
> apostles received this priesthood authority directly from the Savior, who is
> the source and presiding high priest. Joseph Smith received the priesthood
> from Peter, James, and John when they appeared to him and Oliver Cowdrey as resurrected
> beings and conferred the authority of the Priesthood upon them.

Second Coming Prophecies

> There is only one of these on record in the Church's canon of scripture,
> and even it is not declarative. Joseph Smith was petitioning the Lord as to
> when he would come again, and the Lord told him that if he lived to be 85, he
> would see God and not to trouble Him anymore about it. Joseph then speculated
> that whether this meant the second coming, or that Joseph would die and so see
> God, or whether it meant God would manifest himself to Joseph in vision at
> that time, he did not know, but that he was sure that the Second Coming would
> not happen before that time.

> Well, that's a quick summary. I hope it helped Lobo with his questions, and
> I hope I didn't open a huge can of worms and flame and debate over this and
> that, cult and not-cult, etc.

Follow Ups:

- *Mormon/JW Similarities Lobo 13:29:51 11/09/99 (4)
  - **Mormon/JW Similarities Fred Goff 05:23:41 11/10/99 (3)
    - ***Mormon/JW Similarities Lobo 11:07:21 11/10/99 (2)
      - ****Mormon/JW Similarities Fred Goff 05:17:35 11/11/99 (1)
        - *****Mormon/JW Similarities Lobo 23:15:59 11/11/99 (0)
- *Mormon/JW Similarities Freemasonry 11:57:00 11/09/99 (7)
  - **Mormon/JW Similarities FredGoff 05:25:59 11/10/99 (6)
    - ***Mormon/JW Similarities Bibleman 12:06:39 11/10/99 (5)
      - ****Mormon/JW Similarities Fred Goff 05:20:41 11/11/99 (0)
      - ****Mormon/JW Similarities Lobo 15:33:26 11/10/99 (3)
        - *****Mormon/JW Similarities Bibleman 02:50:51 11/11/99 (2)
          - ******Mormon/JW Similarities Lobo 23:05:26 11/11/99 (1)
            - *******Mormon/JW Similarities Bibleman 11:07:06 11/12/99 (0)
- *Mormon/JW Similarities Amazing 09:04:16 11/09/99 (4)
  - **Mormon/JW Similarities Fred Goff 09:45:51 11/09/99 (3)
    - ***Mormon/JW Similarities Amazing 13:37:59 11/09/99 (0)
    - ***Mormon/JW Similarities staceyb 11:43:06 11/09/99 (1)
      - ****Mormon/JW Similarities Fred Goff 05:52:05 11/10/99 (0)

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