One of the deepest joys of Christian faith is the shared testimony that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God—the Word who was with God in the beginning, and who is God (John 1:1). Yet among those of us who seek to follow Him, differences in theological language can sometimes cause confusion or even division.

A common misunderstanding arises about Latter-day Saints (LDS) and their belief in Jesus Christ. Some Christians claim that Latter-day Saints see Jesus as a created being, rather than eternal. But this is not accurate—and the truth is both more nuanced and more harmonious with biblical faith than it might first appear.
This article hopes to build a bridge: to explain clearly what Latter-day Saints believe, and why Jesus is, to them, both eternal and the Firstborn, without contradiction.

What Do Latter-day Saints Mean by “Firstborn”?

Latter-day Saints affirm the biblical title of Jesus Christ as the “Firstborn” (Colossians 1:15, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 1:6), but interpret it within a premortal framework.

They believe:

• All humans lived with God before birth as spirit children (Jeremiah 1:5; Job 38:7; Hebrews 12:9).
• Jesus Christ was the first of these spirits to be “begotten” or organized by God the Father.
• This makes Him literally the Firstborn in the spirit, the Eldest in the family of God.

Importantly, this belief does not mean Jesus was created from nothing or that He had a beginning as God. Instead, it reflects a relational reality: He holds first place, both in sequence and in supremacy, among all of God’s children.

So Is Jesus Eternal in LDS Belief?

Absolutely.

Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ has always existed as an eternal being. They teach, in harmony with John 1:1, that:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

This belief is reinforced by modern revelation:
“Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.”

— Doctrine and Covenants 93:29

According to LDS doctrine:

Jesus is not a created being in the traditional sense.

He is an eternal intelligence, as are all of us.

He was the first to be organized as a spirit son of Heavenly Parents and was chosen from the beginning to be our Redeemer and Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament.

The Biblical Meaning of “Firstborn”: Not Always Literal

It helps to remember that in Scripture, “firstborn” often conveys status or preeminence, not just literal birth order:

Jacob over Esau: Though Esau was born first, Jacob received the birthright (Genesis 25).

David called “Firstborn”: Psalm 89:27 says, “I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth,” though David was the youngest of his brothers.

Israel as “Firstborn”: In Exodus 4:22, God calls Israel His “firstborn” nation, meaning chosen and favored.

Similarly, Jesus is the “Firstborn” not because He was created, but because He holds the highest place—in love, in inheritance, in divine authority.

Unity in the Eternal Christ

So what’s the takeaway?

Latter-day Saints and other Christians agree on the most vital point:

Jesus Christ is eternal. He is divine. He is our Savior, Redeemer, and the very Son of the living God.

Where the difference lies is not in the belief of His deity, but in the framework used to describe His origin and role.

Trinitarian Christians speak of Christ as eternally begotten, uncreated, of the same substance as the Father.

Latter-day Saints speak of Him as the Firstborn spirit, eternally divine, the chosen Jehovah, united in purpose with the Father.

Though the language differs, the reverence, the worship, and the centrality of Jesus Christ are the same. He is the source of salvation, the Light of the World, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Building Bridges of Understanding

For Christians of all traditions, language matters—but charity matters more. Before labeling a fellow believer’s view as heretical or false, it’s worth pausing to understand what they really mean.

Latter-day Saints do not believe Jesus was “created” in the sense of having a beginning or being lesser than God. They worship Him, trust Him, and seek to follow Him. In their theology, He has always existed as a divine being and has always held the highest place in God’s plan for His children.

So when a Latter-day Saint speaks of Jesus as the “Firstborn,” it is not a denial of His eternity, but a testimony of His relationship, role, and love for all of us as the eldest Brother who leads us back to the Father.