| a.k.a. | Latter-Day Saint | |
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| Number of Members | 16,800,000[1] | 350,000[2] |
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| How does one get saved? | There is no singular salvation for Mormons: Exaltation, or going to the highest of the three degrees of glory and becoming a god, is achieved by getting baptized, confirmed, ordained in the Melchizedek priesthood (if a man), endowed, and married and then by keeping the covenants for the rest of one's life. | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you. |
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| Who gets saved? | Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved. | Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved. |
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| Can one lose his salvation? | Yes, the promise of exaltation can be lost by breaking one's covenants, except for a select few couples who are chosen for a second anointing which guarantees exaltation unless one sins against the Holy Ghost or commits murder. | Eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved. |
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| Who gets baptized and why? | Understanding persons get baptized as the first ordinance, cleansing them of all sins. | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives. |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by immersion. | Baptism should be by immersion. |
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| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | The gift of the Holy Ghost is received at confirmation. | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. |
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| What is the trinity? | The Godhead comprises three separate gods—God the Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. | Most believe the Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. |
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| What is the human nature? | Humans are neither inherently good nor inherently evil. | Humans have a יֵצֶר הַרַע (yetzer hara)—an inclination to do evil—and, upon reaching 12 for girls and 13 for boys, develop a יֵצֶר הַטוֹב (yetzer hatov)—a weaker inclination to do good. |
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| Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | No, "men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." | No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin. |
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| Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws? | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. | Yes, Messianic Jews should follow the Torah, although Gentile Christians are not required to. |
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| Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life? | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. |
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| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. |
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| Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died? | Yes, a living person can be a proxy for the dead to be baptized, who then can accept or reject it in the afterlife. | No, the dead cannot be baptized. |
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| What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect? | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies. | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies. |
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| Did Mary ever sin? | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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| What spiritual gifts are available today? | Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers.[3] | |
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| What framework has God used in dealing with man? | God has different periods of history where he has at least one authorized servant on earth.[4][5] | |
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| What is the gift of tongues? | Speaking in tongues is sometimes unintelligible and sometimes foreign human languages.[6] | |
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| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The Church has five saving ordinances: Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood (for men), the Temple Endowment, and the Marriage Sealing. There are roughly a dozen other ordinances important for comfort.[7] | Messianic Jews should practice Immersion.[8][9][10][11][12] |
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| To whom do Christians need to confess their sins? | Confession should be made directly to God unless the church might discipline for such sin, in which case it must be confessed to the bishop.[13][14] | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins.[15][16] |
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| How should a church be structured? | Wards should be governed by the president in that stake, who in turn is governed by the seventies, who are governed by the Twelve, who are governed by the President of the Church.[17][18] | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. |
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| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday. | Messianic Jews observe Shabbat on Saturday. |
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| How does God's revelation come to us today? | There are many sources of God's revelation. | Prima scriptura: There are many sources of God's revelation, although none can contradict the Bible.[19] |
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| How many books are in the Bible? | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible—39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books—and three other canonical books: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. |
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| Was the Bible written inerrantly? | No, the Bible is not inerrant in any respect.[20][21] | |
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| Who can speak with God's authority today? | The President of the Church and the Twelve Apostles are prophets, seers, and revelators who speak for God and whose prophecies shall all be fulfilled.[22][23] | |
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| How was the earth created? | The earth was created by God organizing matter which has existed eternally.[24] | |
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| What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[25] | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[26] |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[25] | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[27] |
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| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is permissible for any reason allowed by law.[28] | Divorce is permissible for adultery, abuse, or abandonment.[29] |
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| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | Yes, a Christian may freely remarry after divorce.[30] | Yes, a Messianic Jew may freely remarry after a divorce which was for a valid reason.[29] |
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| When does a fetus become human? | No established doctrine, but the church opposes elective abortions.[31][32] | Humanity begins at conception.[33][34] |
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| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[35] | Yes, contraceptives are permissible as long as the couple eventually have at least two children.[36] |
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| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.[37][38] |
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| Should women cover their heads? | No, head coverings are no longer required due to cultural changes.[39] | Varies widely[40][41][42] |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | No, alcohol should be totally avoided. | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[43] |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[44][45] | |
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| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | The Holy Spirit is a separate god. | |
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| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | The righteous await the resurrection in Paradise, part of the spirit world.[46][47] | |
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