objection
We believe in Jesus
Objection
We believe in Jesus Christ, so we are Christians.
What is true
Latter-day Saints do affirm Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer.
Why it is not enough
The question is which Jesus and which doctrine of God. Christianity confesses the eternal Son, not a Savior placed inside a premortal spirit-family system.
Key question: Do you affirm Jesus as begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father?
The name Jesus is not the whole claim
Christianity is not defined by whether a community uses the name Jesus with devotion. The New Testament itself warns that another Jesus and another gospel can be preached with religious seriousness.
The doctrinal question is whether Jesus is confessed as the eternal Son through whom all created things were made, or as the Firstborn spirit Son within a premortal family framework.
LDS devotion does not settle Christology
LDS sources honor Jesus as Savior, Redeemer, Jehovah, and chosen leader. Those statements should be acknowledged rather than dismissed.
The disagreement remains because the LDS framework includes Heavenly Parents, spirit children, a premortal council, and Lucifer as a rebellious spirit son. Christianity says the Son is uncreated God and Creator of every created being.
Primary references
These are the public sources behind the answer, with LDS doctrine cited from LDS material where possible.
John 1
BibleRef
If all created things came through Christ, Christ is not inside the created order.
Colossians 1
BibleRef
The Son is before all created things, not one spirit child among others.
2 Corinthians 11
BibleRef
The same names can carry different doctrinal content.
Premortality
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Official LDS source teaching premortal life as Heavenly Father's spirit children.
Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LDS manual chapter presenting Jesus as chosen in the premortal council and contrasting His plan with Lucifer's.
Nicene Creed
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Representative text of the historic Nicene confession of one God, the Trinity, and the eternal deity of Christ.