‘The Chain’ Under Fire for Apparent Reference to The Book of Mormon

Earlier this week, “The Chosen,” a series that dramatizes the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, released a trailer for its upcoming third season. Acclaimed among many evangelicals, the production of “The Chain” is entirely crowd-funded, and the show’s creators hope it will eventually reach 1 billion viewers in every country around the world.

Still, the show has garnered attention following the release of its Season 3 trailer, in which Jesus is seen delivering a line that appears to be a paraphrase of a verse from the Book of Mormon.

In the trailer, Jesus is seen clashing with a Jewish religious official.

“Jesus, if you do not renounce your word, we will have no choice but to follow the law of Moses,” the man says, indicating that the Sanhedrin will follow Jesus’ execution.

Jesus approached the man and answered, “I am a.m Law of Moses.”

After the trailer was released, the show posted a GIF of the moment on Facebook, captioning the post, “Mike Drop.”

However, a number of social media users were quick to point out that the line, delivered by Jonathan Raumi, who portrays Jesus in the series, is not a verse from the New Testament but rather resembles 3 Nephi 15:9 in the Book of Mormon.

Related: ‘The Chosen’ Harassment: ‘We Are Not Produced by Mormons’; The seminary professor warned people not to watch

References to The Book of Mormon

“Behold, I am the law and the light. Look to me and endure to the end, and you will live; For to him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life,” reads the verse.

Referring to the analogy, one Twitter user said, “I’ve never taken a hard line against the elect. It’s compromising and heresy.”

“This isn’t one of those ‘Jesus could have said/done something like this’, it’s a direct nod to Mormon theology (Mormons put a lot into the series) which is against biblical Christianity. Jesus fulfills the law and as God gave, but he is not the law,” he said. “Be careful.”

Another said, “It would be absurd to assume that Mormon theology had no influence” on the series.

“Stop watching The Chain,” someone else urged. “Read your Bible instead.”

Concerns over the show’s connection to Mormonism continue, as “The Chain” is distributed by Angel Studios, which was co-founded by brothers Neil and Jeffrey Harmon, both of whom belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

RELATED: ‘Chosen’ director responds to Billboard backlash: ‘I was wrong and I really want to ask for your forgiveness’

Earlier this year, Dallas Jenkins, who created and directed the show while also serving as one of its writers and executive producers, addressed speculation that the show was influenced by Mormon teachings.