LDS, JW, SDA, other? (Jesus Christ, priest, Latter-Day Saints, gospel, followers)

[FerventGodSeeker]

If you believe that the true Church was at one time lost, that there was a great Apostasy in the early Church etc, what modern-day church do you believe to be the true Church founded by Jesus Christ? Is it the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the Church of Christ, or some other group? What evidence (Scriptural and non-Scriptural if you have it) do you have that supports your belief?

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by FerventGodSeeker

If you believe that the true Church was at one time lost, that there was a great Apostasy in the early Church etc, what modern-day church do you believe to be the true Church founded by Jesus Christ? Is it the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the Church of Christ, or some other group? What evidence (Scriptural and non-Scriptural if you have it) do you have that supports your belief?

I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be the Church founded by Jesus Christ. Thank you, by the way, for getting the name of the Church right; so many people conveniently forget the words "Jesus Christ" and just say, the Church of the Latter-day Saints.

In answering your question, two passages of scripture come to mind:

Ephesians 4:11-14: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ..."

Ephesians 2:19-20 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone..."

Jesus Christ established His Church on a foundation of prophets and apostles, and Paul pointed out that this organizational structure was to continue "till we all come in the unity of the faith." He also described what would happen were this foundation cease to exist. Christ's followers would be carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men... When the prophets and apostles Christ personally appointed were martyred, and none had been appointed to replace them, continuing revelation ceased and the doctrinal purity of Christ's Gospel was tainted by the philosophies of men. In my opinion, and according to LDS doctrine, prophets and apostles were an integral part of Christ's Church in ancient times and must be an integral part of His Church today. Our Church is built on a foundation of prophets and apostles, with Christ as the chief cornerstone. He is it's Head, and He directs its affairs through those prophets and apostles.

We believe that with the apostasy of the early Church, the priesthood which the apostles held was lost. The priesthood is the power and authority God gives men to act in His name. It can't be earned at a divinity college or theological seminary. One can only receive the Priesthood by being ordained to that Priesthood by someone who already holds it. This is why we believe it is absolutely essential for the restored Gospel to have been restored by its original founder. None of the other restorationist churches, to the best of my knowledge, at least, even claim to have had the power and authority to act in God's name returned to them by the original source -- Jesus Christ and the ancient apostles. They simply used the Bible to try to restore the original Church, but had no God-given mandate to do so. Jesus Christ's Church could only be restored by Jesus Christ.

This promises to be an interesting debate. Frubals to you for coming up with the idea.

[Ronald]

How about the Way? It has always been around and is the Original Assembly/Quahal of Yeshua HaMashiach. Discover your Hebrew Roots! BTW, they have never strayed from the Word of God. The rest is "Replacement Theology."
Shalom

[painted wolf]

I find it intresting that of the Twelve Apostles you only really hear about four of them.
What were the others up to?

wa:do

[FFH]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

I find it intresting that of the Twelve Apostles you only really hear about four of them.
What were the others up to?

wa:do

In those days (early church) they were sent on missions, or if not on missions, they were busy helping Joseph and Hyrum Smith run the church...

The quorum of the 12 apostles still are sent throughout the world, but they generally just speek to the different members and missionaries throughout the world....

While in Japan, on my mission, one of the quorum of the 12 members Marvin J. Ashton , (who was one of my favorites, who has since died, and also married my sister in the temple), visited us and gave us encouragement, as did a two members of the Quorum of the 70, one was Jacob de Jager and George Ivins Cannon who was also my stake president who interviewed me before going on my mission, then he ended up speaking to a small group of missionaries in Japan, of about 50, whom I was a part of...weird coincidence. I also ended up delivering a pizza to Jacob de Jager a few years later after my mission, another wierd coincidence...and like I said before the other general authority, from the quorum of the 12 apostles, ended up marrying my sister, another weird coincidence...

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by FFH

In those days (early church) they were sent on missions, or if not on missions, they were busy helping Joseph and Hyrum Smith run the church...

The quorum of the 12 apostles still are sent throughout the world, but they generally just speek to the different members and missionaries throughout the world....

While in Japan, on my mission, one of the quorum of the 12 members (who has since died, I forget his name at the moment tho, but he was one of my favorites, and he married my sister in the temple), visited us and gave us encouragement, as did a member of the Quorum of the 70 (Jacob de Jager, General Authority) Delivered a pizza to his condo one day years ago...nice condo...

I believe he is talking about the original biblical apostles.

[lombas]

I think there's no need for a "True Chruch". We got things like Schisms, Unam Sanctam, Albigensian Crusade, the burning of Hus &c. then; no need to claim such a thing.

Let every Christian decide for himself how he thinks he can serve and honor God and the teachings and person of Jesus of Nazareth.

And let us all be brothers and sisters in love, peace and understanding.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

I believe he is talking about the original biblical apostles.

Yes, I know, if you read my post I addressed this, just added that they (quorum of the 12 and the 70) still actively go out into the world, as they did in the early church, to help establish and strenghten it....

Footnote, I found the links to the other general authorities I was referring to and edited that last post...

[FFH]

Originally Posted by lombas

I think there's no need for a "True Chruch". We got things like Schisms, Unam Sanctam, Albigensian Crusade, the burning of Hus &c. then; no need to claim such a thing.

Let every Christian decide for himself how he thinks he can serve and honor God and the teachings and person of Jesus of Nazareth.

And let us all be brothers and sisters in love, peace and understanding.

There are differing degrees of truth in most of the religions of the world, we, as LDS, believe we have the most truth...

Let me rephrase that, we, as LDS, know we have the most truth....

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that, and there never has been, since the time I was first conscious of the fact that there was such a thing as truth and various world religions...