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Posts Tagged ‘apostles’

  1. What is an Apostle?

    January 23, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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  2. The 5th Article of Faith

    September 19, 2010 by Ben Tanner

    6 We believe in the same aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, bprophets, cpastors, dteachers, eevangelists, and so forth.

    If you are looking to find the same church the Jesus Christ established on the earth today, you might look to the scriptures and see how he organized His church in the New Testament.

    Apostles:
    First, he called Apostles.  The 12 apostles in the New Testament were given authority to both lead the church, and to administer it’s ordinances.  Peter was given “Keys” or the authority to direct the priesthood and each of the apostles were called to preach the gospel to the whole world.

    In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, there are 12 apostles who hold that same priesthood and authority. In fact, they can trace their authority all the way back to Jesus Christ.

    Prophets
    The gift of prophecy was abundant in the New Testament church.  And certainly, if we are looking for the true church of Christ on the earth today, we would expect to find this gift in that true church.   In addition, we not only expect to find people with the gift of prophecy, but also those who are Prophets in the same sense that Moses was a prophet.

    One who holds that keys and speaks with God face to face as a man does with his friend. (Ex. 33: 11)  We find those who are called like this in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today. (See my post on the Lords prophet today)

    Pastors
    Pastors are commonly found among most Christian sects today.  Another name for a Pastor is a Bishop.  That is what we call them in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today.

    Teachers
    The term “Teacher” does not just refer to those who teach, but it is also a term for a office in the priesthood.     These teachers in New Testament times had  many different responsibilities including teaching the people.

    In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today we have the priesthood office of Teacher.  Given by revelation, we now know more of the duty of a teacher: (D&C 20:53-56)

    53 The ateacher’s duty is to bwatch over the cchurch always, and be with and strengthen them;
    54 And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking;
    57 And is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the church, by the deacons, if occasion requires.
    55 And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.
    56 And he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest—

    Evangelists
    In the primitive or New Testament Church, there were Evangelists.  These were given a special duty to     share the gospel but also to give specific revelation to individual members of the church.  One of the definitions of the term “Evangela” is to give doctrine that is to be taken as a guide or regarded as of prime importance. So these evangelists were to give blessings that were to be taken as a guide for the person who received the blessing.

    In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today, we have these same Evangelists.  They are called Patriarchs.  They are able to lay their hands on a persons head and pronounce what is called a Patriarchal blessing.  This Blessing is the will of the Lord concerning that specific person and the Blessing is written down and kept in the records of the Church.  Just like the evangelists of old, the blessing is to be taken as a guide for the persons life.

    Other offices we have that are also mentioned in the New Testament are Seventies, Bishops, Deacons, and priests.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is truly the restored church of Jesus Christ.  It is the same church that Jesus established, restored in it’s purity, doctrine, and organization.

    I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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