Mormonism – Jesus Our Brother

Shawn emphasizes the distinction between individual devotion to Christ and organized religious institutions, critiquing Mormonism by categorizing its beliefs into "Black" (unbiblical and imaginative), "White" (aligned with the teachings of Christianity), and "Gray" (partially biblically supported yet uniquely LDS). He encourages a focus on personal faith and acknowledges some alignment between Joseph Smith's teachings and biblical truth while ultimately advocating for an individual relationship with God over institutional adherence.

The LDS view of Jesus as our "Elder Brother" stems from the belief that he was the firstborn spirit child of a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, whereas traditional Christianity views Jesus as God incarnate and emphasizes a spiritual brotherhood by adoption, as believers are made joint-heirs with Christ through faith and the Holy Spirit. This interpretative diversity creates tension between Evangelical and LDS beliefs, but both perspectives recognize a fraternal relationship with Jesus, rooted either in spiritual pre-existence or through spiritual adoption and transformation into the likeness of Christ.

The teaching suggests that, from a biblical perspective, the concept of Jesus as our brother is established through faith and adoption rather than through a pre-existing relationship, challenging the idea of various afterlife kingdoms while acknowledging different interpretations of heaven and hell. Emphasizing humility and love, it encourages viewing all Christians, regardless of denomination, as brothers and sisters in Christ, and to focus on individual faith rather than religious institutions.