Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Baha'i Faith

Seventh-day Adventists

Church of Christ, Scientist

Jehovah's

Witnesses

Known as...

Mormons

Baha'is

Adventists

Christian

Scientists

Witnesses

Year

1830

1863

1863

1879

1879

Founder/

Prophet

P/F-Joseph Smith

P/F-Baha'u'llah

F-Ellen G. White, others

P/F-Mary Baker Eddy

F-Charles Taze Russell

Where

New York, USA

Iran

Maine, USA

Boston, MA, USA

Pennsylvania, USA

Sacred Text/Texts

Bible

and Book of Mormon

Kitab-i-Agdas (Book of Laws)

Bible

Bible

and Science and Health

Bible

Consider themselves Christian?

Yes

No, but recognize divinity of Christ

Yes

Yes

Yes

Considered Christian by Mainline Christian Denominations

No

No

Usually

No

No

Women Clergy

No

No clergy, highest leadership reserved for males

Yes

No clergy; women and men readers

No clergy, elders only men

Stance on homosexuality

Condemned

Contrary to scripture

Contrary to scripture

Officially:

None

Condemned

Sabbath

Sunday

Every 19 days

Saturday

Sunday

None

Adherents

12.2 million

7 million

10 million

400, 000

6.5 million

Trinitarian

Yes and No

No

Yes

Not strictly speaking

No

Go to War

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Some Identifying Beliefs:

Latter-day Saints (LDS) — Jesus visited and taught among the Native Americans in North America after his resurrection. Source of the Book of Mormon: Mormon was a prophet who left his gospel written on golden tablets which Joseph Smith translated under God's inspiration. The family is the fundamental unit of the church. At death, the soul is separated from the body, but, if you have been a good Mormon, soul and body will be reunited at the time of the resurrection.

Baha'i Faith — Prophets of all faiths were divine messengers of God, suited to different times and places, including Abraham, Mohammed, Buddha, Jesus, and others. The last and final Prophet is Baha'u'llah. No sects or branches of Baha'i are allowed; they value unity, and hard work is a form of worship. Respect for diversity is written into religious doctrine. After death, the soul leaves the body and journeys toward or away from God. Heaven and hell are not places, but states of being. The purpose of human life is to develop the spiritual and moral qualities that lie at the core of an individual's nature.

Seventh-day Adventists — At Armageddon (the last day, when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead), the wicked will be punished a brief time in hell, then annihilated, rather than suffer in hell for eternity. Many are strict vegetarians in order to avoid breaking Mosaic dietary laws and to live purely. Some, as a spiritual discipline but not required by doctrine, do not drink, smoke, dance, play cards, read books for pleasure, or go to worldly movies.

Christian Scientists — Matter does not exist. Truth and goodness are real; evil, error, and physical existence are illusions. They refer to God as Father-Mother, and do not practice communion or baptism. Often do not accept medical care, believing a more complete understanding of God through prayer will bring about healing. However, the Mother Church encourages cooperation with authorities if there is conflict over medical care. This differs from Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses — Christ returned secretly just before World War II, and the age of judgment is currently underway. They do not vote or serve in the military; do not use the cross as a symbol, or celebrate traditional Christian holidays or birthdays. Will refuse blood transfusions for themselves or their children because of a Bible directive to abstain from blood. Refused to join the Nazi Party in Germany and were targeted in the Holocaust. Have published "The Watchtower" monthly magazine continuously since 1879.