Yes. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—sometimes called Mormons—believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the only way back to our Father in Heaven. He is at the center of how they pray, worship, read scripture, and try to live each day.

If you have heard otherwise, or simply aren’t sure, you are not alone. This is one of the most common questions people ask about the Church. Here is a plain, honest answer.

Jesus Christ Is the Center

The Church’s own welcome page answers the question directly: “Yes! Jesus is the foundation of our faith—the Son of God and the Savior of the world” (Common Questions).

Even the Church’s name points to Him. In modern revelation, the Lord said, “For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:4). That is why members gently ask to be called by the Church’s full name, or simply “Latter-day Saints.” It keeps the focus where they believe it belongs: on Jesus.

Joseph Smith, the Church’s founding prophet, put it this way when asked about the basic beliefs of the faith: “The fundamental principles of our religion is the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus Christ, ‘that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended up into heaven;’ and all other things are only appendages to these, which pertain to our religion” (quoted in the Gospel Topics essay “Are ‘Mormons’ Christian?”).

What Latter-day Saints Believe About Jesus

Here are the core beliefs, in plain words:

  • He is the Son of God. The first Article of Faith says, “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:1).
  • He was born, lived, died, and rose again. Latter-day Saints believe in His birth in Bethlehem, His miracles and teachings, His suffering in Gethsemane, His death on the cross, and His literal Resurrection.
  • He saves us from sin and death. The “Atonement” of Jesus Christ is the word Latter-day Saints use for everything He did to rescue us—suffering for our sins and overcoming death so we can be forgiven, healed, and resurrected. “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved” (Articles of Faith 1:3).
  • He is the only way. The Book of Mormon teaches that “there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17). That echoes the Savior’s words in the Bible: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
  • He knows our pain. One Book of Mormon prophet taught that Christ would take upon Himself “the pains and the sicknesses of his people,” so that He would “know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12). In other words, He doesn’t only forgive; He understands.
  • He will come again. Latter-day Saints look forward to His Second Coming with hope, not fear.

The Living Christ: A Modern Witness

In 2000, the Church’s top leaders—the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—published a testimony called “The Living Christ”. (An “apostle” is a special witness of Jesus Christ, like Peter, James, and John in the New Testament.) It says of the Savior: “He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind.” It closes with this witness:

“We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. … He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.”

That witness continues today. When President Dallin H. Oaks became President of the Church in October 2025, his new counselor, President D. Todd Christofferson, said simply: “It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church. I know that. I bear witness of it” (Church Newsroom).

The Bible and the Book of Mormon Both Testify of Him

Latter-day Saints love the Bible and read it as the word of God. They also read the Book of Mormon, which carries the subtitle “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” According to the Church’s Gospel Topics essay, the Book of Mormon refers to Jesus Christ almost four thousand times in its more than six thousand verses, using over one hundred different names for Him (“Are ‘Mormons’ Christian?”).

One of its writers, a prophet named Nephi, summed up his whole people’s faith in a single verse:

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (2 Nephi 25:26)

The high point of the Book of Mormon is the resurrected Savior visiting people in the ancient Americas. He introduces Himself with these words: “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world” (3 Nephi 11:10). He invites the people to feel the wounds in His hands, feet, and side, “that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world” (3 Nephi 11:14). One by one, they come. Then they fall at His feet and worship Him.

Where Latter-day Saints Differ—Honestly

Latter-day Saints share a great deal with other Christians, and they respect the faith and goodness of their Christian neighbors. There are also real differences, and it’s fair to name them plainly:

  • The Godhead. Latter-day Saints believe God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings who are perfectly united in purpose, rather than one substance as described in later creeds (Godhead).
  • Restoration. The Church sees itself not as a reformation of an existing church but as a restoration—Christ’s original Church, with His authority, brought back to the earth through modern prophets.
  • More scripture. Alongside the Bible, Latter-day Saints accept the Book of Mormon and other modern revelation as additional witnesses of Christ.

None of these differences pull Jesus from the center. If anything, members believe they add light to who He is and how much He loves us.

Common Questions

Do Latter-day Saints consider themselves Christian?
Yes. The Church’s Gospel Topics essay says members “unequivocally affirm themselves to be Christians.” They worship God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.

Do Latter-day Saints pray to Jesus?
Following the Savior’s own example and teaching, Latter-day Saints pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. They worship Christ as their Lord and Redeemer.

Do Latter-day Saints believe they are saved by grace?
Yes. They believe no one can be saved except through Jesus Christ and His grace (see Mosiah 3:17; 2 Nephi 25:23). They also believe that following Him means repenting, being baptized, and keeping the promises we make with God.

Why don’t they use crosses?
Latter-day Saints honor Christ’s death on the cross deeply, but they tend to focus their worship on the living, resurrected Christ. You’ll see paintings of Jesus throughout their meetinghouses and homes.

An Invitation to Come and See

If you want to know what Latter-day Saints believe about Jesus, the best answer isn’t a debate. It’s an invitation: read about Him yourself. Start with John 3:16 and Matthew 11:28—“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Then read 3 Nephi 11 and see how the same Savior ministered to another people who longed for Him.

If you’d like a guide, missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be glad to meet with you—in person or online, at no cost—to talk about Jesus Christ and answer your questions. You can reach out at ComeUntoChrist, or request a free copy of the Book of Mormon and have it delivered to you. Come with your questions. Come with your hope. He is the reason this Church exists.

For Readers Who Want to Go Deeper

Primary scriptures for this theme include John 3:16–17; John 14:6; Matthew 11:28–30; 2 Nephi 25:23–29; Mosiah 3:17; Alma 7:11–13; 3 Nephi 11:1–17; and Articles of Faith 1:1–4.

Helpful Church resources include “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” (January 1, 2000); the Gospel Topics essay “Are ‘Mormons’ Christian?”; and the Topics and Questions entries “Jesus Christ” and “Atonement of Jesus Christ”.

None of these sources exist to win an argument. They exist so you can come to know the Savior for yourself.

A tool we recommend: Scripture Notes is a Latter-day Saint scripture study site and app for searching the scriptures, keeping notes by verse, and finding patterns faster—built to help you get more revelation in less time. We support their work; if you’re going deeper on these passages, it’s worth a look.

If you’d like to put into words what you believe, you can share a testimony at https://myldstestimony.com/.

Independence note: Witness the Signs is an independent project and is not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Church. Content here reflects our own study and opinions; for official doctrine and materials, visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Witness the Signs writes for anyone seeking God—to help readers recognize His hand, feel hope, and take a next step toward Jesus Christ and His restored Church. We are not here to frighten anyone into faith. We are here to point to the Prince of Peace—and to the living invitation to come and see.