Founding Figure

Augustine (354-430)

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)

Joseph Smith (1805-1844)

Ellen G. White (1827-1915)

Prophets

No

Active Offices

Salaried Position

Among Members

Apostles

Succeeded by Pope and Magesterium

Active Offices

Salaried Position

No

Millenium

This is the Millenium

The Millenium began in 1975

Will be the restoration of all things

The Earth will be desolate, unpopulated except for Satan

Men have eternal souls

Yes

No

Yes

No

Permanence of Hell

Yes

No

Yes

No

Authoritative Writings

Catechism

New World Translation

Book Of Mormon; Doctrine and Covenants; Pearl of Great Price.

Prophecies and visions of Ellen G. White

Aberrational Teachings

Mary was sinless and was assumed bodily into heaven; tradition has equal authority to scripture; purgatory

Jesus will never return visibly to Earth, but will rule through his "anointed" or "remnant" group of JWs here on Earth.

"As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become"; Jesus had many wives

Keeping the sabbath on Sunday is the Mark of the Beast

Bible Interpretation

Symbolic; interpreted by Pope and Magisterium

Symbolic; interpreted by Watchtower

Symbolic; interpreted through writings of Joseph Smith

Symbolic; interpreted through writings of Ellen White

Method of Salvation

Faith + Works

Faith + Works

Faith + Works

Faith + Works

Rapture

None

None

None

None

Jesus

Son of God

Michael the Archangel

Brother of Satan

Son of God

Intercessor

Jesus; Mary; Dead Saints

The 144,000: Jesus only mediates for them and then they mediate for us

Mormon priesthood

Jesus

Main Priority

Obeisance to Mary

Evangelism

Tithing

Keeping the Sabbath (Saturday)

Main Claim

One true church

One true church

One true church

One true church