The Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC) and Latter-day Saints (LDS) (commonly known as Mormons) are fundamentally different in theology, history, and practices. While the PRC is a denomination within the Reformed Christian tradition rooted in historic Christianity, the LDS Church represents a distinct religious movement with beliefs and scriptures that set it apart from traditional Christian denominations. Here’s a detailed comparison:
1. Historical Background
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Emerged in 1924 due to a split from the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) over doctrinal disagreements about “Common Grace.”
- Deeply rooted in the Protestant Reformation, adhering to the teachings of John Calvin and the Reformed confessions (Three Forms of Unity).
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith in upstate New York after claiming to have received divine revelations, including visions of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
- Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, which is considered by the LDS Church as scripture alongside the Bible.
- Views itself as a restoration of the true church after an alleged apostasy in early Christianity.
2. Scripture and Authority
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Recognize sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice.
- Use only the Bible (66 books of the Old and New Testaments), holding it as the inerrant and sufficient Word of God.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Accept the Bible but believe it has been corrupted over time and is insufficient alone.
- Use additional scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.
- Believe in modern-day prophets and apostles, including a living president of the church, who receives continuing revelation.
3. View of God and the Trinity
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Believe in the classical Christian doctrine of the Trinity: one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), who is eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign.
- God is spirit and not bound by physical form or location.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Reject the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
- Teach that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings, united in purpose but not substance.
- Believe God the Father has a physical body of flesh and bone.
4. View of Jesus Christ
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Affirm the classical Christian understanding of Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man, the eternal Son of God who became incarnate to save humanity from sin.
- Salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Believe Jesus Christ is the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Father and a pre-mortal being who attained divine status.
- Teach that Jesus’ atonement allows for the possibility of salvation, but human effort (obedience to commandments, works, and ordinances) is essential for exaltation.
5. Salvation
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Emphasize salvation by grace alone through faith alone, rejecting human works as contributing to justification.
- Teach a strong doctrine of predestination, where God unconditionally elects some to salvation and others to reprobation.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Teach a works-based approach to salvation, combining grace, faith, and personal effort.
- Emphasize ordinances such as baptism, temple rituals, and eternal marriage as necessary for exaltation (highest level of heaven).
- Salvation is understood in tiers, with three degrees of glory (Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms).
6. Worship and Practices
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Worship is simple, adhering to the Regulative Principle of Worship (only practices commanded in Scripture are permitted).
- Exclusive psalmody (only psalms are sung in worship) and frequent use of catechisms in teaching.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Worship services include hymns, prayers, and sacrament (bread and water) to commemorate Jesus’ atonement.
- Highly emphasize temple rituals, such as endowments, baptisms for the dead, and eternal marriage.
- Weekly church services include additional meetings for study and fellowship.
7. View of the Church
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Believe the church is a spiritual body of Christ, governed by elders according to Scripture.
- Local congregations are united by shared confessions and doctrines.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Claim to be the only true church on earth, restored by Joseph Smith.
- Centralized authority under the LDS President and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
- Place significant emphasis on missionary work to convert others to the LDS faith.
8. View of Humanity
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Teach total depravity: humans are completely sinful and unable to save themselves without God’s sovereign grace.
- See humanity as created in God’s image but fallen and in need of redemption.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Teach that humans are literal spirit children of Heavenly Father and have divine potential.
- Believe in the possibility of exaltation, where faithful individuals can become like God (a doctrine known as theosis or eternal progression).
9. Missionary Work
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Focus on preaching the gospel to those who are called by God, often targeting existing Christians or those receptive to Reformed theology.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Strong missionary program, with young members encouraged to serve missions worldwide.
- Actively engage in proselytizing to convert people to the LDS faith.
10. Polygamy
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Strongly oppose polygamy, as it is viewed as unbiblical and contrary to the creation ordinance of monogamous marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24).
- Uphold marriage as a covenantal relationship reflecting Christ’s union with His church, which is monogamous by nature (Ephesians 5:31-32).
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Historically practiced polygamy in the 19th century under the leadership of Joseph Smith and later Brigham Young, claiming it was a divine revelation (recorded in LDS scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 132).
- Officially renounced polygamy in 1890 to align with U.S. laws, but it remains a part of LDS history and theology.
- Some fundamentalist offshoots of Mormonism, like the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), continue to practice polygamy today.
11. View of the Afterlife
- Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC):
- Believe in two eternal destinations: heaven for the elect and hell for the reprobate.
- Heaven is eternal communion with God; hell is eternal separation from Him.
- Latter-day Saints (LDS):
- Teach a multi-tiered heaven (Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms) and outer darkness (reserved for the most wicked).
- Emphasize eternal family relationships in the Celestial Kingdom for those who achieve exaltation.
Summary
The PRC and LDS are vastly different in their beliefs, practices, and understanding of God, salvation, and Scripture. The PRC adheres to historic Christian orthodoxy and the Reformed tradition, while the LDS represents a distinct restorationist movement with doctrines and practices that diverge significantly from traditional Christianity.