Date

7-21-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics (MA)

Chair

Robert Talley

Keywords

Redemption, Evangelical, Latter-day Saints

Disciplines

Christianity | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly referred to as Mormons, consider themselves Christians without equivocation. Evangelical Christianity has, however, challenged this claim since the inception of the Latter-day Saints. The Latter-day Saints purport to be Christian in doctrine and practice and claim a Christian identity centered around their acceptance of the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. While the Latter-day Saints ascribe to a high Christology, confess Jesus as Lord, and regard Him as their Redeemer, the Jesus of the Latter-day Saints’ literature bears little resemblance to the Jesus of evangelical Christianity.

Evangelical Christianity affirms a biblical view of the salvific work of Jesus Christ, which is both efficacious and sufficient for salvation. The Latter-day Saints view the redemptive work of Jesus Christ as a component of salvation. The Latter-Day Saints believe that keeping the extra-biblical ordinances, covenants, and good works are required for salvation. This results in a salvation that is neither efficacious nor sufficient.

Latter-day Saints and evangelical theologians have irreconcilable views regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Evangelicals contend that Latter-day Saints' doctrines on Christology and soteriology preclude the Latter-Day Saints Church from identification as Christian. This thesis will delineate the mutually exclusive doctrines of the Latter-day Saints Church and evangelical Christianity regarding Christology and soteriology, particularly the concept of redemption as it pertains to atonement and the role of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer.

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