What do Catholics and Latter-day Saints disagree about?

Catholics and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share some Christian language and moral convictions. Yet they disagree fundamentally about God, Christ, revelation, the Church, and salvation.

God and the Trinity. Catholic faith teaches one eternal, uncreated God in three consubstantial persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (CCC 253-255). God created everything from nothing and is wholly distinct from creation, even while sustaining it (CCC 290, 300). Latter-day Saint teaching describes the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as three separate divine beings united in purpose. It also teaches that the Father has a tangible body and that matter or intelligence is eternal. This is not the historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

Jesus Christ. Both Catholics and Latter-day Saints call Jesus the Son of God, Savior, and risen Lord. The meaning differs. Catholicism teaches that the Son is eternally begotten, not made, and is of the same divine nature as the Father. He assumed a complete human nature while remaining one divine person (CCC 464-469). Latter-day Saint theology places Jesus within a premortal family of spirit children. Catholic faith rejects any account in which the Son belongs to the same order of being as creatures. Through Him all created things came to be (Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16-17).

Revelation and the Church. Latter-day Saints believe the original Church fell into a general apostasy and was restored through Joseph Smith with new scriptures and priesthood authority. Catholics believe Christ preserved His Church, built on the apostles, and remains with her always (Mt 16:18; 28:20). Apostolic authority continues through episcopal succession (CCC 861-862). Public revelation was completed in the apostolic age, so no later book can supplement or correct the deposit of faith (CCC 66-67). Catholics therefore do not accept the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, or Pearl of Great Price as Scripture.

Salvation and exaltation. Catholicism truly teaches deification: by grace we become adopted children of God and participants in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4; CCC 460). We never become gods by nature or separate divine beings. Latter-day Saint exaltation includes a different understanding of humans becoming like God, connected with temple ordinances and eternal progression.

Sacraments and marriage. Because Latter-day Saints understand the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit differently, the Catholic Church does not recognize their baptism as valid, even though similar words are used. Catholic marriage is a lifelong sacramental covenant whose bond ends at death. Latter-day Saint temple sealing is understood as continuing marriage eternally, while Jesus teaches that in the resurrection people do not marry (Mt 22:30).

Treat Latter-day Saint neighbors with sincere respect. When discussing faith, define shared words carefully. Terms such as God, Trinity, grace, baptism, and salvation may sound familiar while carrying substantially different meanings.