Difference Between Jehovahs Witness And Mormon

May 2024 · 6 minute read

The two most prominent and commonly recognized religions in modern Christianity are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons. Despite their similar origin, there are major theological and doctrinal differences between the two denominations. In this article, we take a look at some of the key differences between the two faith groups, researched and discussed in detail.

Origins of the Two Religions

The Jehovah’s Witnesses was founded in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell, while the LDS Church (Latter-day Saints) emerged in the 19th century in the USA when the founder Joseph Smith Jr. claimed to have had a vision of God and Jesus. Both churches classify themselves as Christians, but they differ in their interpretation of the Christian Bible.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses refocus on the literal interpretation of the Bible, while the Mormons stress the importance of healthy living, scripture study, and selfless service. The principles used by Mormons are drawn from their other sacred texts, such as the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.

Major Practices

Both religions consider themselves Christian, but the major tenets and practices of the two faiths are quite different. While Jehovah’s Witnesses do not practice the sacrament of baptism, it is central to Mormon worship services. Both religions believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, but Jehovah’s Witnesses consider him a godlike figure, while the Mormons believe that Jesus is part of the Trinity.

Furthermore, the Mormon doctrine encourages its believers in the practice of tithing, where members of the faith are to contribute one-tenth of their income to their church. On the other hand, Jehovah’s Witnesses adhere to a more simplistic approach, where their solely focus on the Bible. Instead of tithing, they strive to lead an exemplary lifestyle.

Beliefs Around Salvation

The two denominations have drastically different views when it comes to salvation. Mormons believe that salvation is available to all through faith in Jesus Christ, combined with individual effort and good works. On the other hand, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that in order to be saved, one must become part of their religion, remain loyal to the organization, and obey their teachings.

Mormons recognize only baptism through a single faith, while Jehovah’s Witnesses accept religious pluralism. Mormonism also teaches that each individual can achieve a level of desirability afterlife through their faith and work, while the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only a limited number of individuals will be granted entrance into the heaven and will live forever in a paradise earth.

Evangelism

Both religions are actively involved in evangelism and missionary activities. The Mormons currently have the largest missionary program with over 50,000 missionaries serving around the world. On the other hand, the Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain a global presence by taking part in door-to-door preachers and outreach programs.

The two religions have different approaches in their methods of evangelizing. The Mormons focus on strictly missionary work, while the Jehovah’s Witnesses prefer an interactive process of spiritual education. Jehovah’s Witnesses encourage their converts to study the Bible and gain a clear and accurate understanding of the scriptures.

Diet and Health Array

The two denominations have differences when it comes to diet, health, and lifestyle practices. Mormons obey the Word of Wisdom, which instructs members to abstain from tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco. On the other hand, the Jehovah’s Witnesses discourage their members to use medicine and other health treatments. They believe that only God can grant the healing of any disease.

Also, the Mormon faith encourages individuals to take care of their body by adopting a healthy diet, while the Jehovah’s Witnesses do not enforce any specific diet. Instead, they encourage members to make their own dietary choices, based on their individual health needs.

Views of History

The two religions’ histiorical perspectives are also distinct. Mormons consider the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price to be revelations from God and depend heavily on them for their history. On the other hand, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that their history is primarily based on the Bible. The two denominations also differ strongly in their views of other religions.

The Mormons recognise the scriptures of other faiths, like the Qur’an and the Vedas, and consider them inspiring sources of faith. However, the Jehovah’s Witnesses consider most other faiths to be false and misleading, encouraging members to stay away from them.

Structure and Leadership

The organizational structure of Jehovah’s Witnesses is more centralized than that of Mormons. Theocratic hierarchy of the Jehovah’s Witness organization is seen as divinely established by God, while the Mormons promote church officials elected by their members.

The leader of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is known as the Governing Body—a small, unified group of men. On the other hand, the Leader of the Mormon Church is known as the President, and he is assisted by two counselors and twelve apostles.

Views on Christmas and Other Holidays

The two denominations have also different views on the celebration of holidays like Christmas and Easter. While the Mormons celebrate both Christmas and Easter, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t consider the Christian holidays to follow their beliefs, and therefore abstain from celebrating them.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate any holiday, viewing all as excessive worship or consumerism. On the other hand, the Mormon Church actively participates in Christmas and Easter celebrations, while abstaining from the commercialism and long list of associated activities.

Worship Practices

Mormons follow regular Sunday worship services and conduct annual conferences. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not attend Sunday mass but instead hold small services at their Kingdom Hall, where members can learn more about the Bible. Both religions have missionary works and publish religious materials, though the Jehovah’s Witnesses distribute ‘Watchtower’ while the Mormons publish ‘Ensign’ periodical.

In addition to this, the Jehovah’s Witnesses also hold large conventions, referred to as ‘International Assemblies’, which are attended by several thousands of Witnesses. On the other hand, Mormons conduct events such as the General Conferences, which is annual and lasts for several days, where members can participate in spiritual and social events.

Social Aspects of the Religions

The Mormonism culture encourages its members to participate in various activities related to their faith, such as temple worship and genealogy. On the other hand, the Jehovah’s Witnesses look down on many social activities and events, including national holidays, sports, fund-raising events, competitive activities, dating and proms.

Their social life is more tightly controlled, with their members missing out on many forms of holiday celebration, music, and entertainment that is enjoyed by the rest of the world. They also require negative responses to military service and other activities, such as being organ donors.

Conclusion

To sum up, despite having a similar origin, the two major denominations of Christianity, the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have many distinct differences, ranging from their beliefs and practices to the original scripture they follow. Many of these discrepancies stem from their historical and cultural legacies and are reflective of their interpretation of Christianity.

The two denominations have their own set of rules and regulations and are likely to remain divided in their beliefs in the foreseeable future. The primary conclusion to be drawn is that when it comes to religion, it’s important to keep an open mind and respect the beliefs of others, regardless of their tradition or practice.

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