Similar to other Christians, Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Creator of the universe. However, they have a distinctive view that God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate beings. They believe that while God and Jesus share a profound unity in their love for humanity, each is a unique person with His own glorified body. Mormons hold that every person ever born, including Jesus, lived with God as His spirit children before coming to Earth. God desired for each of us to experience life, learn, and grow to become more like Him. However, He understood that His children would sin, die, and fall short of His glory, necessitating the need for a Savior to help us overcome our shortcomings and restore our relationship with Him.
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ was chosen to be this Savior even before our earthly existence, and they rejoiced upon learning of God's plan for His children. They affirm that Jesus was born in Bethlehem as the child of God the Father and a mortal mother, Mary. He grew up gradually learning about His divine purpose and the gospel of His Father. Mormons believe that Jesus lived a perfect earthly life, serving as the ultimate role model for humanity. He is recognized as the Messiah and the promised Savior, whose coming had been foretold by prophets. The scriptures recount how He preached His gospel, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and even raised the dead during His time in Palestine.
Furthermore, Mormons hold that Jesus Christ underwent indescribable suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and during His crucifixion, enduring this for the salvation of all people, enabling Him to support us in our trials. They believe that He died on the cross and resurrected, providing the hope of resurrection for everyone, allowing them to ultimately return to live with a loving Heavenly Father. As the only person to have led a completely sinless life, He is seen as the perfect sacrifice. A unique belief among Latter-day Saints is that after His resurrection, Jesus visited the people in the Americas.