
25/09/2025
We are often asked why Latter-day Saints do not worship the Virgin Mary as other religions do. The answer is simple and rooted in our core doctrine: we worship only God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost. They are the center of our faith and the only source of salvation.
That does not mean we do not respect or love Mary. On the contrary, we believe she was a righteous woman chosen by God to be the earthly mother of Jesus Christ. We recognize her faith, purity, and willingness to follow the will of Heavenly Father. Mary stands as an example of virtue, humility, and obedience to God’s plan.
However, worship—meaning to offer devotion and prayer—belongs only to God. The first commandment is clear: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). We honor Mary as a faithful servant of the Lord, but we do not pray to her or worship her, because that would divert our devotion away from Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5).
Our faith teaches us to learn from her example, to teach our children about obedience, and to recognize that Mary fulfilled a vital role in the plan of salvation. Yet we also understand that redeeming power comes only from Jesus Christ, not from any other being, no matter how righteous and holy they were.
In short, as Latter-day Saints, we honor Mary as a great woman of God, but our worship, prayers, and faith are directed only to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.