Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormon as a religious group may share a similar belief, but their doctrine and perception of the afterlife differ. Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses value and believe in evangelism.
They both believe in Jesus Christ as the saviour of humanity, but what the name “Jesus” truly means is different. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe and accept Jesus as the second person of the Holy Trinity whereas Mormons believe in Jesus but not as the second person of the Trinity.
Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses refer to God with different names. While Mormons refer to God as Elohim, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that God’s true name is Jehovah.
Jehovah’s Witness and Mormon are different denominations with different doctrines, beliefs, and ideologies. In this article, we have highlighted some of the major differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses is a millenarian Christian religion that believes and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jehovah’s Witness is a Christian denomination with millions of members worldwide.
According to reports, about 8.6 million members are currently involved in global evangelism. Jehovah’s Witness as a denomination is directed by a group of elders who establish all their doctrines.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the righteous will inherit God’s kingdom on Earth. They believe that the current system of the world will be destroyed at Armageddon.
The nontrinitarian and restorationist Christian denomination emerged in the United States from the Bible Student movement in the late 1800s. Charles Taze Russell is credited for establishing the religious group in the late 1870s.
After Charles Taze Russell died, there was unrest within the religious group, which led to members following different paths.
Charles Taze Russell was also the co-founder of Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, founded in 1881. After Russell died in the early 1900s, Joseph Franklin Rutherford retained control of the Watch Tower Society and its entire properties.
It was under Rutherford’s leadership that new doctrinal and organizational changes were made, such as adopting the name, Jehovah’s Witnesses. The name change was made to differentiate the religious group from other Bible Students groups.
Also Read: Catholic vs Episcopal: Difference and Comparison
Mormons
Mormons refers to a religious group that follows the teachings of Joseph Smith – a former Baptist minister.
The religious and cultural group began during the 1820s in upstate New York. The Latter Day Saint movement split into many groups after the death of Joseph Smith in 1844.
Smith’s death led these groups to follow different leaders. The majority of the group decided to follow Brigham Young and the smaller groups followed Joseph Smith III and other leaders.
The majority of the smaller groups formed the Community of Christ- and Mormons refers to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is a larger branch compared to other groups combined.
The teachings of Smith recommended polygamy. He believed that polygamy reflects on early roots of Christianity and values. While he was alive, Smith claimed to have received a vision from God and the Book of Mormon.
Mormons were persecuted in the 1830s and 1840s, especially by those who followed mainline Christian denominations.
The religious and cultural groups spread to other areas of the United States after the death of Joseph Smith, with Brigham Young moving the church into the state of Utah.
Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormon: Key Differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are two religious groups with different beliefs, doctrines, and perceptions of the afterlife. They both believe in Jesus Christ differently and they call God Jehovah and Elohim.
Also Read: Prophets vs Apostles: Difference and Comparison
Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormon: Doctrine
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons have different beliefs about God, the creation of man, and the universe
Jehovah’s Witnesses truly believe that only one God exist and reigns supreme in heaven and on Earth. They believe that God created the universe, the moon, the stars, and all life in six days.
Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that God sent his only son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. They believe that Christ paid the price on the cross so that we might be forgiven and enjoy eternal life.
Mormons also believe in God as the creator of the universe. Mormons believe that God created the universe in six days. However, Mormons do not believe that God had a son.
They believe that Jesus Christ is God’s first begotten son, but not his son.
Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormon: The Holy Book
Jehovah’s Witnesses uses the New World Translation, which is their translation of the Scripture.
The New World Translation is a modern Bible translation published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. and the International Bible Student Association of Brooklyn, New York.
Mormons use the King James Version of the Bible. They regard the Book of Mormon as a holy book that talks about God’s plan to take the Christian doctrine to Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans to the continent.
Also Read: Catholicism vs Lutheranism: Difference and Comparison
Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormon: Belief
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons believe in Jesus Christ as the saviour of humanity. However, their perception of Jesus Christ is different.
Jehovah’s Witness believes in Jesus Christ as the second person of the Trinity. Born to Mary and Joseph the Carpenter and died on the cross for our sins. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus died and rose on the third day and all Christians should follow and live a Christ-like life.
In contrast, Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is God’s begotten son but they don’t believe that he is the second person of the Trinity. Mormons believe that Jesus is one with Elohim and he is not to be followed after his death.
Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormon: Death and Resurrection
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons have different beliefs about death and resurrection.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that after death, the entire existence of a person including the soul also dies. They believe that the soul will only be alive after resurrection.
In contrast, Mormons believe that there is a spirit world where the souls of the dead roam while they wait for resurrection.
Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormons: Divorce and Marriage
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the separation of a couple. They strongly do not accept the idea of divorce and forbid it.
In contrast, Mormons can divorce their lawfully wedded wife and husband and remarry if they choose to.
Also Read: Jews vs Samaritans: Difference and Comparison
Jehovah’s Witness vs Mormon: Similarities
We have discussed the major differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. Now let’s look at their similarities as a religious group.
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are religious groups that were both founded in America in the 1800s. Both Christian denominations have a different perception of the Trinity.
The death of their founders led to the separation of the religious groups into smaller ones. They both believe in Jesus Christ but their understanding of the name differs.
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons see other Christian denominations as a religious practising a different doctrine. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are not regarded as Christians by other mainstream Christian groups.
Conclusion
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons emerged as a religious group in America in the 1800s. Although they share some similarities in terms of how they emerged in the 19th century, their belief, ideology, and doctrine differ.
They both believe in Jesus and use the Holy Bible, but their view on death and resurrection is different.
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References
- Wikipedia: Jehovah’s Witnesses
- ClassroomSynonym: What Is the Difference Between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons?
