Do Latter-day Saints teach that Jesus is a created being — the Arian heresy — rather than the eternal God of John 1?
They quote this
They say we make Jesus a creature. Paul says all things were made by Him — and so do we.
King James Version
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible… And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
NRSVUE
For in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible… He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
How we read it
Paul’s point is the opposite of Arianism: all things were made by Him, and He is before all things. We do not make Jesus a creature. Jehovah, the God of Israel, is the same Christ who took a body. “Son” is relationship to the Father, not a creation-date.
The Bible answers
The Word was with God and was God. That is Jehovah, not a junior angel.
King James Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
NRSVUE
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.
His goings forth are from everlasting. Origin as the Father’s Son is not a creation-date.
King James Version
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah… out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
NRSVUE
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah… from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
The Book of Mormon answers
Mosiah 3:5, 8
From eternity to eternity, the Lord Omnipotent.
The Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men… And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.
2 Nephi 26:12
The Eternal God — not a promoted man from Kolob fanfic.
And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.
Also restored
Doctrine and Covenants 93:21, 29
He was in the beginning with the Father. Intelligence was not created.
And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn… Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
Dead Sea Scrolls and related extra-biblical texts that illuminate the same pattern the Restoration restores.
1 Enoch 48; 4 Ezra 13; Wisdom 7 — a named, preexistent Messiah and Wisdom
The Chosen One is named before the sun and stars. 4 Ezra’s man from the sea is pre-mundane. Wisdom is the unstained mirror of God’s working, present at creation.
Second Temple Jews could already confess a Messiah and a divine Word/Wisdom who is before the world without using Nicea’s later glossary. John 1 is in that stream. So is Mosiah 3. Arius is not.
Gospel Topics
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Arianism is the claim that there was a time when the Son was not, and that He is a creature. Latter-day Saint scripture will not say that. Mosiah 3: He is from all eternity to all eternity, the Lord Omnipotent, Creator. 2 Nephi 26:12: the Eternal God. D&C 93: intelligence was not created or made. ‘Firstborn’ in Restoration usage is the Firstborn of the Father’s spirit children and the Firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18) — a relationship, not a moment when Jehovah flickered into existence from nothing. We reject creation ex nihilo for all intelligences. That is the opposite of Arius, who needed a created Son to protect a simple, unapproachable essence.
We worship Jesus Christ as the Eternal God, Jehovah of Israel, crucified and risen — not as a talented angel who got promoted.
Faithful voices only. Most of these are independent — not official Church productions unless marked as such.
Be the first to tell us if this case is strong.
