Why did Mormon President G. B. Hinckley say that Mormons have a different Jesus Christ than Christians?

Question

The LDS Church News reported: "In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ. NO, I DON'T. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is NOT THE CHRIST OF WHOM I SPEAK. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times'" (Church News, week ending June 20, 1998, page 7)

Click here for more specific details:
http://www.bcmmin.org/jesusmor.html

Answer 1

When discussing the term "Christian" in Mormon circles, there are two things going on.



One - we wish people to understand that we worship Christ. So we do not like being told we are not Christian. Often, when people hear that we are not "Christian," the jump to the conclusion that we worship Joseph Smith.



Two - We do have drastically different beliefs in Christ from mainstream Christendom. We also want people to understand that. We definitely do not believe in the Trinity. Pres. Hinckley is referencing that we believe in a Christ that has a body of flesh and bone and is a distinct, separate personage from God the Father.



In this particular quote, Pres. Hinckley was addressing the second issue.

Answer 2

Aug 4th 2005 mormon Jesus

Is the literal first spirit offspring of the Father(3) who is also an exalted being and who was not always God(4)

• Is a separate being from the Father. Jesus and the Father are very close, but they, along with the Holy Spirit, are completely separate personages and not part of the Trinity.(5)

• Is the spirit brother of the rest of mankind who are also the spirit children of the Father(6)

• Attained divine status as he grew over time in his premortal existence until he became “like unto God”(7)

• In his incarnation differs from other men in that he is the literal offspring of a union between the Father and Mary(8)

• Is the spirit brother of Lucifer(9)

• Presented his plan for the salvation of humanity before the divine counsel (of the gods) and was chosen to be the redeemer(10)

• Was subject to sickness(11)

• Provides a salvation that is based on faith plus works and not faith alone(12)

Diifferance!!!

Answer 3

Those who say we believe in a "different Jesus" say we don't believe in "the Jesus of the Bible" but what Pres. Hinckley was saying is that, IF we believe in a "different Jesus" then THEY are the ones who don't believe in the Biblical Jesus.

Answer 4

Ever stop and think that maybe WE are the ones that have the real Jesus and the rest of the world has the wrong one?

It's the same Jesus Christ, we just understand and know more about him.

If you really want to know what we believe, go straight to the source.

http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/

Answer 5

President Hinkley was trying to get across that the concept of Jesus that other Christian Churches believe in is different than what Jesus truly is. We believe that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are all separate beings, but one in purpose. This makes sense with the scriptures in the Bible where Jesus is praying to his Father in Heaven and many other places where he refers to doing his Father's will, and being sent by him.



It is the other Christian churches who have changed the true meaning of who Jesus truly is. Jesus did not teach that he was God the Father, but that he was his Son. It was those who decided that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost were all one being during the conference of Nicene that changed the true meaning of who Jesus Christ truly was. This is referred to as the Nicene Creed and occured over 300 years after the death of Christ. Some even refuse to believe in the literal resurrection where Jesus took up again his mortal body and became an immortal soul in a perfected state. One that could not die or see corruption. This is why we all will have that same priviledge. .



Many leaders of some Christian faith's think he gave his body up and became a non descript floating thing again. In addition, if anyone questions this confusing idea of God and of his son Jesus Christ, they put a guilt trip on the person asking and say that they just need to have more faith, and that they should be ashamed for questioning God. They do not want the questioning person to find out for himself if this concept is correct. They are told that God is beyond comprehension and that mere moral man cannot begin to understand.



It is through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that the truth of who Jesus truly is, and what he has done for us, is fully understood. I believe this is what President Hinkley was trying to get across. Our church encourages the questioning person to find out for themselves through study and prayer.



Which way do you think will lead to finding out the real truth?

Blindly believing whatever your religious leaders dish out to you, our using your own mind and own opportunity to pray to receive the answers to your questions?



After all, the bible does say in James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.



Some say that Mormon's are not Christians, which is not true. We believe deeply and sincerely in our Savior Jesus Christ, we just have a greater understanding of who he truly is.





I found a great quote that I think applies here. It states: There are so many people who are afraid of being "taken in", that they cannot be "taken out" of their mindsets.



Have you ever considered that if they are wrong in their understanding of who Jesus Christ is, that they themselves might not be worshiping the true Savior Jesus Christ, but only a misconception of him?

Answer 6

In Ephesians 4 the Apostle Paul teaches us about having one gospel, one faith, one Jesus, and one baptism. These people he is talking about all believe the same, for they are the saints of God. But when looking at this world and its many Churches, we have many faiths, many Lords, and not one of them believes in the atonement that Jesus performed with His water baptism by John the Baptist??

Therefore, not one of them really belongs to God even if they believe in Him somehow.



So you are correct by saying that the LDS President affirms that they have a different Jesus Christ. Absolutely correct, I have no problems with his statement!!!

Answer 7

He was only saying they have a much different interpretation of who Jesus was, etc. I did read all that before.He is quoted. But he should have worded it differently to be clear.

Answer 8

The same reason that Bible believing Christians have been saying for years that Mormons worship a different Jesus.



Because they do.



Mormons teach that their Jesus is Lucifer's brother.



The Bible teaches that Jesus is God's ONLY begotton Son.



Therefore the two groups have a different Jesus.

Answer 9

That's when you have to start defining terms and understanding where other religions come from and choose what you will believe.

Answer 10

Because Mormons do believe in a different Jesus. Satan is his brother. Crazy doctrine these Mormons have