Mormons/LDS: What does your religion have in common with Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

I'd love to hear from any Mormons who have really studied the Jehovah's Witness religion, and can tell me what makes the two religions similar.

Answer 1

Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses are both self-described Christians. The religions resemble each other in very superficial ways, but their theologies are markedly different.

As individuals, many Witnesses note that adherents of Mormonism have a reputation for neighborliness and godly love which is too uncommon among self-described Christians.

(John 13:34-35) I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”


It is also true that Mormonism has managed to recognize a few of the obvious bible truths that continue to evade most of Christendom, such as recognizing that Jesus the Son is a distinct person from God the Father.

(Mark 13:32) Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father.

(John 20:17) Jesus said to her: “...For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But be on your way to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.’”


Also, it is interesting that only Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism have any real program of lay-ministry in which every adherent is encouraged to preach.

(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded


Jehovah's Witnesses work to spread the Good News about the Kingdom of God, and so that is the focus of their message; they do not work at targeting any specific religion. Of course, "Mormonism" is not a single religion, but the so-called 'Latter-day Saints' tolerance of holiday celebrations, warfare, and nationalism are among the beliefs which Jehovah's Witnesses feel are incompatible with true worship.

It seems best to allow Mormons themselves to describe the uniqueness of their beliefs regarding various post-biblical holy writings, modern-day literal prophesy, the correlation between the physical and spirit realms, and the various levels of grandeur in heaven.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Answer 2

I haven't formally studied the Jehovah's Witness's religion, but I did talk with quite a few on my mission. There are a number of similarities.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God
We believe that Jesus and Heavenly Father are seperate beings, united in purpose.
We have strong prolselyting programs.
We organize our congregations by geography, into larger groups.
We each have a group that guides the church world-wide.
Both were organized relatively recently, in the 1800's.

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can come up with at the moment.

Answer 3

There is one small similarity. They both go from house to house. Thats it! The older Mormons stay home while a select group of young Mormons go from door to door for only 2 or 3 years, and then they stop. All of Jehovah's Witnesses are involved in the door to door ministry, regardless of age. Some have been active in that work for 50 or 60 years or more.

Answer 4

What is similiar is respect. I am not an expert on Jehovah's Witness. I have opened the door to them, and received their literature. When I explain I am active in my church, they seem to respect that.

We have a common bond believing in God and the power of prayer. On many issues of doctrine, we are polar opposites. As a school child, I remember the first one I ever meet. He stood out because he didn't say the pledge each morning. I respected him then for being willing to be different. This is 180 degrees from the LDS point of view about the country. That's OK with me.

Answer 5

Both Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses secretly hate hassling all of their freinds about their religion. Mormons call it missionary work, and JW's call it witnessing, but both hate it.

Answer 6

Neither believe in the Trinity (as created by the Nicene Council in 325 AD via the Catholic Church). They believe that God the Father is a separate personage from his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost is a 3rd personage.

They also both strongly believe in proselyting (going door to door) to tell people about their religion and to try to gain converts.

Answer 7

They both believe in god..?

Most if not all Christians religions are basically the same. they have differences in some practices of Christmas and certain holidays and baptisms things like that.. But for the most part they are all the same.

Answer 8

That we are both Christians. We both know that Christ was not born on December 25th. And that's about it.