Compare
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsandJehovah’s Witnesses
At a glance
- Common groundIn full: Common ground
- Common inheritanceBoth arose in the 19th-century United States, in 1830 and the 1870s, and describe themselves as a return to original Christianity rather than continuations of any historic church. They are unrelated movements and do not share a doctrine of God.
4 sources
- Joseph Smith and the RestorationSource verified
- Jehovah Gathers and Equips His People for Work (Jehovah's Witnesses—Unitedly Doing God's Will Worldwide)Source verified
- Gospel Topics: GodheadSource verified
- What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?Source verified
- Common inheritanceBoth arose in the 19th-century United States, in 1830 and the 1870s, and describe themselves as a return to original Christianity rather than continuations of any historic church. They are unrelated movements and do not share a doctrine of God.
- What distinguishes themIn full: What distinguishes them
- GodThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsFather, Son and Holy Ghost as three separate beingsJehovah’s WitnessesJehovah alone is Almighty God; the doctrine of the Trinity is rejected
- Scripture and authorityThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsScripture beyond the Bible, including the Book of Mormon; Continuing revelation through living prophetsJehovah’s WitnessesThe Bible as God's word, with worldwide direction from the Governing Body
- Church and ministryThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe organisation of the early church restored, with apostles, prophets and priesthoodJehovah’s WitnessesUnsalaried elders, not a clergy class, under a worldwide Governing Body
Below: 1 difference of emphasis.
- How their histories connectIn full: How their histories connect
- No direct relationship recordedThey took shape separately.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsChurch organised, 1830Jehovah’s WitnessesBible Student movement, 1870sHow each took shape
- Connected today?In full: their relationship today
Not yet researched
The Atlas has not yet researched their present relationship. This is a gap, not evidence either way.
Composed from each tradition’s sourced records. Where a topic is not yet recorded for one side, the Atlas says so rather than guess.
Structured comparison. Composed from each tradition’s sourced position records. No research has yet been written for this particular pair, so the Atlas shows only what those records establish.
Where they differ
God
Doctrine of God
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Father, Son and Holy Ghost as three separate beings
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Jehovah alone is Almighty God; the doctrine of the Trinity is rejected
Scripture and authority
Sources of authority
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Scripture beyond the Bible, including the Book of Mormon; Continuing revelation through living prophets
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- The Bible as God's word, with worldwide direction from the Governing Body
Church and ministry
Church government
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The organisation of the early church restored, with apostles, prophets and priesthood
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Unsalaried elders, not a clergy class, under a worldwide Governing Body
Different emphases, not necessarily opposed (1)
Salvation and grace
Characteristic emphasis
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion and the gift of the Holy Ghost as first principles and ordinances
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Faith, a changed way of life and baptism
Not yet comparable (2)
No sourced position is recorded for one side, so the Atlas does not say whether they agree:
- Christ (christ's divinity): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Sacraments and ordinances (who is baptised): not recorded for Jehovah’s Witnesses
How their histories relate
The Atlas has no researched record of a direct historical relationship between these two. Not every pair of traditions experienced a schism or union with each other. Each took shape in its own way:
Their relationship today
Not yet researched
The Atlas has no researched record of the present relationship between these two. That is a gap in the research, not evidence of any particular relationship.
Developments towards reconciliation
No documented agreement or formal dialogue between these traditions is recorded in the Atlas.
Explore further
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
All citations link to the Atlas’s single source register.