Jehovah is God the Father

CAMILLI - What is the fundamental difference between the Church of Latter Day Saints and the Jehovas Witnesses?

JOEL - Here's a table showing some of the differences:

Item

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Mormon

Godhead

Jehovah is God the Father

Jesus Christ is the Jehovah of the Old Testament

Jehovah created Universe

Jesus created the universe under the direction of God the Father

Jesus is not God (No trinity)

Jesus is one of three separate Gods in the Godhead

Jesus was created by God the Father and existed before as Michael the Archangel

Jesus was spiritually born of a heavenly Father and Mother. Was always Jesus.

Jesus died and was resurrected in a spiritual state only; no body

Jesus physically resurrected with both body and spirit

Holy Ghost is not a separate entity but a force God uses to interact with the world

Holy Ghost is a separate individual of the Godhead in spirit form.

Second Coming

Christ's reign on earth already started in 1914 when He returned as a spiritual being. At this same time Satan and his followers were thrown out of heaven and sent to earth.

Christ's second coming has not happened yet. Satan and followers were thrown out of heaven before man came to earth.

Pre-existance/Heaven/Hell

No belief in Hell. Concept of Hell created by Satan.

Hell is a both a place and a condition of the mind caused by commission of sin.

No Pre-earth life

Pre-earth life where all our spirits existed before gaining body.

When a man dies his spirit dies as well and no longer exists until resurrection when both spirit and a new body are brought together

Spirits exist eternally. At death go into either Paradise or Spirit Prison in Spirit World to wait for resurrection when spirit reunites with body.

144,000 JW souls will reign with Christ in heaven; rest of JW souls will live in Paradise on earth. Non-believers cease to exist.

3 degrees of glory in heaven (Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial) where most all believers and non-believers go according to final judgment.

Sin/Salvation

Every man is born with sin

Man is born innocent of any sin, including Adam's transgression. Man is only punished for his own sins.

Salvation requires one to accept Bible doctrines as interpreted by the Governing Body of the church, be baptized a Jehovah Witness and follow a program of works, one of which is proselytizing

Salvation through atonement and grace of Jesus Christ and righteous living.

Ordinances

Observe only two ordinances; Baptism at age of accountability and Lord's Supper once per year on "Memorial of Christ's Death" day

Baptism, Confirmation, Sacrament, healing the sick, priesthood ordination, dedication of buildings and graves, Temple ordinances, etc.

No temples

Temples

Sabbath

No specific Sabbath day (all days are holy)

Sabbath day on Sunday

Five main meetings throughout the week

Worship services on Sunday (3 meetings)

Priesthood/Leadership

Recognize no Priesthood authority

Priesthood authority required to perform ordinances and lead church.

No modern-day revelation

Modern-day revelation through prophets of God

Scriptures

Use their own translation of the Bible

King James Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price

Miscellaneous

Refuse to accept blood transfusions

Accept blood transfusions

Do not celebrate any holidays (except for the "Memorial of Christ's Death" during Passover)

Celebrate all Christian and national Holidays

Satan controls the world so they do not run for office, salute the flag, join armed forces, or vote.

Satan controls only what man allows him to control. Mormons run for office, salute flag, vote, serve in armed forces, etc.

Item	Jehovah’s Witnesses	Mormon
Godhead	Jehovah is God the Father	Jesus Christ is the Jehovah of the Old Testament
	Jehovah created Universe	Jesus created the universe under the direction of God the Father
	Jesus is not God (No trinity)	Jesus is one of three separate Gods in the Godhead
	Jesus was created by God the Father and existed before as Michael the Archangel	Jesus was spiritually born of a heavenly Father and Mother. Was always Jesus.
	Jesus died and was resurrected in a spiritual state only; no body	Jesus physically resurrected with both body and spirit
	Holy Ghost is not a separate entity but a force God uses to interact with the world	Holy Ghost is a separate individual of the Godhead in spirit form.
Second Coming	Christ's reign on earth already started in 1914 when He returned as a spiritual being. At this same time Satan and his followers were thrown out of heaven and sent to earth.	Christ's second coming has not happened yet. Satan and followers were thrown out of heaven before man came to earth.
Pre-existance/Heaven/Hell	No belief in Hell. Concept of Hell created by Satan.	Hell is a both a place and a condition of the mind caused by commission of sin.
	No Pre-earth life	Pre-earth life where all our spirits existed before gaining body.
	When a man dies his spirit dies as well and no longer exists until resurrection when both spirit and a new body are brought together	Spirits exist eternally. At death go into either Paradise or Spirit Prison in Spirit World to wait for resurrection when spirit reunites with body.
	144,000 JW souls will reign with Christ in heaven; rest of JW souls will live in Paradise on earth. Non-believers cease to exist.	3 degrees of glory in heaven (Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial) where most all believers and non-believers go according to final judgment.
Sin/Salvation	Every man is born with sin	Man is born innocent of any sin, including Adam's transgression. Man is only punished for his own sins.
	Salvation requires one to accept Bible doctrines as interpreted by the Governing Body of the church, be baptized a Jehovah Witness and follow a program of works, one of which is proselytizing	Salvation through atonement and grace of Jesus Christ and righteous living.
Ordinances	Observe only two ordinances; Baptism at age of accountability and Lord's Supper once per year on "Memorial of Christ's Death" day	Baptism, Confirmation, Sacrament, healing the sick, priesthood ordination, dedication of buildings and graves, Temple ordinances, etc.
	No temples	Temples
Sabbath	No specific Sabbath day (all days are holy)	Sabbath day on Sunday
	Five main meetings throughout the week	Worship services on Sunday (3 meetings)
Priesthood/Leadership	Recognize no Priesthood authority	Priesthood authority required to perform ordinances and lead church.
	No modern-day revelation	Modern-day revelation through prophets of God
Scriptures	Use their own translation of the Bible	King James Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price
Miscellaneous	Refuse to accept blood transfusions	Accept blood transfusions
	Do not celebrate any holidays (except for the "Memorial of Christ's Death" during Passover)	Celebrate all Christian and national Holidays
	Satan controls the world so they do not run for office, salute the flag, join armed forces, or vote.	Satan controls only what man allows him to control. Mormons run for office, salute flag, vote, serve in armed forces, etc.