What's the difference between Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses?

[JHow]

I know very little about JW’s beliefs…

What is the Watchtower? Sounds like something out of “Lord of the Rings”

Actually, it’s more like Hendrix, as in all along the watchtower…

Okay, no not really. Watchtower is the publishing arm and official corporation of the JW church: The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and the eponymous magazine they used to (perhaps still do) distribute (as I said, I haven’t been visited by JW in years thanks to my dog). They also had a magazine Awake and a Bible “translation” called New World Translation.

 

[KathleenGee]

Christine,

That is most informative about Western New York. Had no idea and thought some of these American beliefs came from a more outer region here. Thanks!

 

[Aaron_Creagh]

One thing I just thought of that goes along with a comment on JW’s refusing blood transfusions.

Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, died because he refused treatment on his medical condition. I think it was advanced pneumonia, Something like that.

It’s a shame, because I think treatment could have helped him, and he possibly could still be living today.

 

[Aaron_Creagh]

One thing I just thought of that goes along with a comment on JW’s refusing blood transfusions.

Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, died because he refused treatment on his medical condition. I think it was advanced pneumonia, Something like that.

It’s a shame, because I think treatment could have helped him, and he possibly could still be living today.

youtube.com/watch?v=IvnHgKkNKR4

 

[Aaron_Creagh]

youtube.com/watch?v=IvnHgKkNKR4

 

[small_sister]

JW’s believe in the bible, and follow the teachings of Jesus the closest of any religion. They seem to be very misunderstood, and if you actually listen to their message it flows together seamlessly. I have studied with them and was charged with proving the scriptures they gave me wrong. Honestly I couldn’t, and it was ok for me to have to adjust my way of thinking about the scriptures after careful study. Look…

They believe that due to Adam/Eve’s sin

Genesis 3:15 -And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This refers to Jesus dying for our sins to reverse the sin we inherited. Jesus is bruised in the heel by Satan, then he bruises him in the head at the conclusion of things. They also believe that through Jesus (Jesus means YHWH is salvation) humans are able to be saved.

John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

They also don’t believe God and Jesus are the same person, and this was difficult for me…But after analyzing how the previous Israelites and Christians lived during Jesus era, they recognized God as YHWH. Look…

 Exodus 3:15-And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Look at how it is translated from the Septuagint (70 who translated Hebrew scrolls to Greek during Jesus Day, and these are the same manuscripts used by Jesus and his disciples)

 Exodus 3:15-God said moreover to Moses, "You shall tell the children of Israel this, 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.

Interestingly enough Barnes’ Notes “ The name signifies that by which God makes Himself known, the memorial that by which His people worship Him.” Notice this applies to all generations…Also take a look at this scripture found at

Psalms 83:18-That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.

This scripture haunted my belief that I held on to dearly about God Jesus being equal. This is from Jesus’ lips…

John 13:16-Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

From reading John 3:16 we clearly see that Jesus was sent by YHWH, and he is in constant submission to YHWH, who resurrected him on the third day.
I have to say I tried to defend my belief with everything I had, but it just makes too much sense to me. I will honestly say I learned more in studying for 3 months than I have learned in my entire life. I have never been encouraged to read the bible myself, and try to find error. I couldn’t, the difference I found is that JW’s know the bible, and their beliefs are strictly based off the scriptures….Please if anyone can find error in what I have presented please show me that I may make a solid defense.

Dear ChristianAD,

please do research!!!

1. Read ‘Crisis of Conscience’ by Raymond Franz, former member of the Governing Body
   (you can read excerpts online). You will read there how the Watchtower doctrines were made.
2. Go online to the site “freeminds” for example. There you’ll find explanations.
3. Get an Interlinear bible or use such one online (e.g. “e-sword”). Then compare the Greec text with the English text in that JW-bible. In Greec for example, the name Jehovah never was used. Instead, at all New World Translation-verses in the NT with that name the original wrote “Kyrios”, meaning Lord. JWs claim that they filed in the name Jehovah where it must have been originally, but that is not true! They mislead you to believe that Jesus cannot be God. Their explanation of John 1:1 is hilarious! I fell for it, too, but if you really go into Greec grammar, the missing article before the word theos does not necessarily mean that you have to translate “a God”. In the Greec edition of the book “What does the bible really teach?” they suddenly don’t use this ‘grammar rule’, because they know that Greec people wouldn’t approve it.
   Oh dear friend, I could give you tons of proofs. Too much to write here.
   I just disassociated myself from being a JW. I did that because I want to follow the truth.
   Jesus is the truth (see John14:6)!

Please note, the way you enjoy your new knowledge has been exactly the way I got into the Organization! I am thankful that God led me out, albeit it was and is a torture!

Did you know that Russel is buried under a pyramide? That he believed that pyramids were God’s stone Witnesses? Do the research. No JW will talk about that, you have to search it.

I beg you, please, don’t follow them. They ruined lives! Please, please do research!!!
I’ll pray for you. Seek Jesus.
Love, small sister

 

[Thecourts]

I always get the two mixed up and I know I could search it on google but I’d prefer to hear it from a Catholic perspective. So what’s the difference between mormons and jehovahs witnesses (other than jehovah’s witnesses love to come and witness to me at home on Saturday at 9am)?

Both have different doctrine, though some of the JW’s beliefs are hard for me, nonetheless they can certainly believe it.

My church’s beliefs can be found at mormon.org ----

 

[housefone]

JWs believe that birthdays are evil or pagan (something to do with a beheading or something in the bible that took place “on a birthday”). They have also changed their teachings more (I think there’s evidence they once acknowledged Christmas…now they don’t). They also don’t believe in the Flag, patriotic songs, (military service - I THINK) and other holidays like Thanksgiving. The woman who babysat me when I was 6 is a JW…my mom saw her at a free summer concert at a park…and she did NOT stand for the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem. They are also anti catholic.

Mormons think the church was restored by Joseph Smith who got gold plates from an angel named moroni. But yet…these gold plates disappeared…

Yes jws refer to king nebs birthday where he has the chief baker beheaded, also herods birthday and john the baptist. Sadly back then kings roman emps too had birthday parties and had people killed, control and fear factor. Book of job says that he and his children had feast each on his day. The jws down play jesus big time, that’s why they don’t celebrate christ/mass( christmas).GOD HIMSELF THOUGHT JESUS’ birth so special he sent an angel to make public announcement , then capped it off with a multitude of the heavenly host. Both the jws and mormoms are dangerous cults. Jws did celebrate christmas until joseph “the drunk” rutherford said it was evil and wicked.

 

[fhansen]

I always get the two mixed up and I know I could search it on google but I’d prefer to hear it from a Catholic perspective. So what’s the difference between mormons and jehovahs witnesses (other than jehovah’s witnesses love to come and witness to me at home on Saturday at 9am)?

JWs think they have a better handle on biblical interpretation than all others while Mormons get their theology in large part from non-biblical revelation. Neither believe in the deity of Jesus.

 

[LivingWaters7]

JWs think they have a better handle on biblical interpretation than all others while Mormons get their theology in large part from non-biblical revelation. Neither believe in the deity of Jesus.

To be precise, Mormons, while rejecting the Trinity, believe that Jesus is divine, second member of the Godhead, and is ***a ***God (Trinitarians would never use the terminology “a God”, they would just say that He is God). They believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three Gods united in purpose as one God. In contrast, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe that Jesus is or was divine at all.

 

[fhansen]

To be precise, Mormons, while rejecting the Trinity, believe that Jesus is divine, second member of the Godhead, and is ***a ***God (Trinitarians would never use the terminology “a God”, they would just say that He is God). They believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three Gods united in purpose as one God. In contrast, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe that Jesus is or was divine at all.

I understand, and should’ve noted that, but we consider both concepts to be far different from our idea of God.

 

[LivingWaters7]

I understand, and should’ve noted that, but we consider both concepts to be far different from our idea of God.

Indeed. I was merely clarifying the issue of whether Jesus was divine for LDS vs JWs.

 

[ajcstr]

When I was Protestant there was a popular apologetic work called “Kingdom if the Cults” by a guy named Walter Martin. It had discussions of Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness, etc. The title of the book always stuck with me because what it meant, to a large degree, was that America was the Kingdom of the Cults.

Martin didn’t include JWs as a cult, but did describe their departures from orthodoxy.

Just curious - what did he have to say about Catholics?

 

[ajcstr]

Fr Mitch Pacwa does a great series on these two groups called “Answering Missionaries at Your Door”. It’s a 4 part talk addressing the history and the beliefs of the two groups.

 

[Pepband_Mom]

What do LDS & JW have in common? to flip the question

19th century American roots - founders with great character issues

tout “we alone have the truth”

RC = the apostate great harlot that fell away along time ago… (I would suspect WTBTS has spent millions of $ printing ongoing diatribe)

practice shunning - an emotionally destructive, brutal anti-Christian, anti-gospel tool used to control & coerce followers

dress code - woman especially buck the dress code & attempt to wear a pant suit (professional look) on a regular basis or is that idea suppressed first day that happens?

attend numerous weekly meetings strongly suggested if not mandated

support door to door ministry either through young adults or themselves, logging in
a multitude of hours yearly

strongly discouraged or disallowed from attending a service not of their group

The greatest abomination of either: deny the divinity of Jesus Christ

 

[TexanKnight]

the main difference is: they follow different false prophets

 

[WitnessSpouse]

I know very little about JW’s beliefs…

What is the Watchtower? Sounds like something out of “Lord of the Rings”

Please, learn more.

Teach your family.

If you wait until they are at your door, their tactics are designed to leave you questioning the Truth so that they can lead you to “Reason” that they are correct. If you arm yourself with knowledge of their history and beliefs, as well as an edification of your own beliefs, then they will move one to an easier target.

Speaking from experience, once someone in your family heads down this path it is very difficult to recover.

Peace

 

[John_Lazarus]

What do LDS & JW have in common? to flip the question

19th century American roots - founders with great character issues

tout “we alone have the truth”

RC = the apostate great harlot that fell away along time ago… (I would suspect WTBTS has spent millions of $ printing ongoing diatribe)

practice shunning - an emotionally destructive, brutal anti-Christian, anti-gospel tool used to control & coerce followers

dress code - woman especially buck the dress code & attempt to wear a pant suit (professional look) on a regular basis or is that idea suppressed first day that happens?

attend numerous weekly meetings strongly suggested if not mandated

support door to door ministry either through young adults or themselves, logging in
a multitude of hours yearly

strongly discouraged or disallowed from attending a service not of their group

The greatest abomination of either: deny the divinity of Jesus Christ

I believe Catholics also go to weekly mandated meetings, and are strongly discouraged from attending non-Catholic services.

 

[zaffiroborant]

I believe Catholics also go to weekly mandated meetings, and are strongly discouraged from attending non-Catholic services.

I’ve been expected to go to “weekly mandated meetings” but no on has ever even mentioned not attending non-Catholic services. That attending the non-Catholic services does not replace my “weekly mandated meetings” yes, but not that I couldn’t or shouldn’t attend them. No one has ever in my entire life told me not to attend non-Catholic services.

 

[Pepband_Mom]

I believe Catholics also go to weekly mandated meetings, and are strongly discouraged from attending non-Catholic services.

Our “weekly mandated meetings” of a 1 hour Mass amounts to the confection of the Eucharist and reception by worshipers freely choosing to attend - when & where ever they want - mandatory WORSHIP is mentioned in the Decalogue is it not?

World of difference between actual WORSHIP as correctly promoted by the RCC versus the promotion of false prophets’ (thank you Texan Knight) & man-made tenants, twisting of Bible verses. The Journey Home has had many people from all different denoms whom are now Catholics discuss “The verses I never saw”! The Bible is so cherry-picked, tis sad I say.

We have the obvious choice: Worship God or reject him. We aren’t taught door to door tactics & mandated to purchase pamplets to get out to unsuspecting potential initiates or send out young adults to an opposite corner of the planet utilizing these tactics selling a false gospel.

I’ve attended functions @ many denom’s including LDS & found services spiritually lacking, sometimes empty in a sense - but definitely lacking substance and SOMEONE! One of the worst was jaw dropping: LDS meeting on Interior Design with 200 ladies all wearing dresses & the speaker started talking about Mother God! I about fell off my chair hyperventilating!

One who loses faith because of attendance at some other denom’s function is a different story: did they have knowledge & LOVE for the Faith to begin with? Did they have it to lose?

Can one actually compare the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to one of their mandated training sessions?