Compare
Catholic ChurchandThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
At a glance
- Common groundIn full: Common ground
- Common inheritanceReverence for the Bible and for Jesus Christ, understood very differently. The restorationist movement describes itself as a return to original Christianity rather than a continuation of the historic churches, and does not accept the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity.
4 sources
- Joseph Smith and the RestorationSource verified
- Gospel Topics: GodheadSource verified
- What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?Source verified
- The Question of the Validity of Baptism Conferred in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsSource verified
- Common inheritanceReverence for the Bible and for Jesus Christ, understood very differently. The restorationist movement describes itself as a return to original Christianity rather than a continuation of the historic churches, and does not accept the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity.
- Key differencesIn full: Key differences
- GodCatholic ChurchOne God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy SpiritThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsFather, Son and Holy Ghost as three separate beings
- Scripture and authorityCatholic ChurchScripture and Tradition, interpreted by the bishops in communion with the popeThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsScripture beyond the Bible, including the Book of Mormon; Continuing revelation through living prophets
- Church and ministryCatholic ChurchBishops in communion with the pope, who holds universal jurisdictionThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe organisation of the early church restored, with apostles, prophets and priesthood
Below: 1 more difference, 1 difference of emphasis.
- How their histories connectIn full: How their histories connect
- No direct relationship recordedThey took shape separately.Catholic ChurchEast–West estrangement, 1054The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsChurch organised, 1830How each took shape
- Later · Recognition or non-recognition · 2001Catholic non-recognition of Latter-day Saint baptismRead the account in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Connected today?In full: their relationship today
Institutionally separateas of 2001
Separate; the Catholic Church does not recognise Latter-day Saint baptism.
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
- Catholic Church
- One God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Father, Son and Holy Ghost as three separate beings
Scripture and authority
Sources of authority
- Catholic Church
- Scripture and Tradition, interpreted by the bishops in communion with the pope
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Scripture beyond the Bible, including the Book of Mormon; Continuing revelation through living prophets
Sacraments and ordinances
Who is baptised
- Catholic Church
- Infants are baptised
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Baptism follows a personal confession of faith
Church and ministry
Church government
- Catholic Church
- Bishops in communion with the pope, who holds universal jurisdiction
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The organisation of the early church restored, with apostles, prophets and priesthood
Different emphases, not necessarily opposed (1)
Salvation and grace
Characteristic emphasis
- Catholic Church
- Justification by grace, which renews the believer and works through love
- 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
Not yet comparable (12)
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
- Christ (how christ's divinity and humanity are expressed): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Creeds and councils (the nicene creed): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Creeds and councils (the filioque): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Creeds and councils (councils received): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Sacraments and ordinances (how the rites are understood and counted): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Sacraments and ordinances (christ's presence in the eucharist or lord's supper): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Sacraments and ordinances (how christ's presence is explained): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Church and ministry (ministry): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Mary and the saints (asking the saints to pray): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Mary and the saints (how mary is named): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Day of worship (weekly day of worship): not recorded for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
How their histories relate
Recognition or non-recognition · 2001
Catholic non-recognition of Latter-day Saint baptism
A decision by one church to recognise, or to refuse to recognise, another church’s sacraments, hierarchy or status.
In 2001 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith answered 'Negative' to the question whether baptism conferred by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is valid. The response itself gives no reasons; an explanatory article by Luis Ladaria in L'Osservatore Romano argued that, because Latter-day Saints speak of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as 'three gods who form one divinity', there is 'not a true invocation of the Trinity'.Read in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints history
Their relationship today
Institutionally separateas of 2001
Based on Catholic non-recognition of Latter-day Saint baptism
Developments towards reconciliation
No documented agreement or formal dialogue between these traditions is recorded in the Atlas.
Explore further
Catholic Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
All citations link to the Atlas’s single source register.