The Jesus Christ of Mormonism

By Aaron Shafovaloff

The Jesus Christ of Mormonism and historic Christianity may share the same name, but his nature and history are so fundamentally different in Mormonism that he warrants the label of "false Christ."

Mormon leaders have taught that "during his pre-mortal life Jesus Christ rose to the status of Godhood" (Milton R. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1949).

Mormons are prohibited from directly praying to Jesus Christ. Apostle Bruce McConkie warned that "many false and vain and foolish things are being taught... about our need to gain a special relationship with the Lord Jesus" ("Our Relationship with the Lord", BYU devotional address on March 2, 1982).

In keeping with the doctrine that God the Father has a body of flesh and bones, and that "Jesus Christ is the Son of God in the most literal sense" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pg.7), some Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus was conceived by a natural, physical intercourse between Mary and the Father. Today the Mormon church takes no official position on the matter, deeming it unimportant.

In keeping with the early Mormon teaching that polygamy was necessary for Celestial exaltation, some Mormons taught that Jesus Christ was a polygamist while on earth. Today many Mormons simply believe he may have been (or probably was) married, but as with many other important things, the Mormon church takes no official position on his marital status.

Many Mormons believe that Jesus, with superhuman strength, atoned for the sins of the world by sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane as he literally shared every human feeling of guilt and suffering.

The Jesus Christ of Mormonism

Further Reading