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The Church as Organized by Jesus Christ
The Church of Jesus Christ was built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets with the chief cornerstone being Jesus Christ Himself. His Church also contained the little known office of the Seventy who were charged with declaring the Gospel to the world through missionary work. The Savior told of a personal God, indeed His very Father in Heaven in whose literal image man was created . . . . At the same time He testified of His own divinity. He was the only begotten son of God the Eternal Father.
Before He organized His church, He taught the divine significance of baptism by Himself being baptized of John. He later taught that all mankind must be baptized for the remission of sins and set the mode for proper baptism by being immersed in the River Jordan. One of the signs that Jesus is the Christ occurred after His crucifixion. His spirit was reunited with His body. . . .He was literally resurrected and showed Himself to His Apostles.
The Church of Jesus Christ and the Gospel taught by the Savior included much more than is outlined here. But these are scripturally true and basic characteristics of the Church. These beliefs, doctrines, and practices were to remain in the Church, as Paul told the Ephesians, until: ". . . we all come to a unity of the faith."
The "loss and falling away" from the Church that Christ organized was foretold.
Amos: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord."—Amos 8:11
Paul: ". . . .for that day (Christ's return) shall not come, except there come a falling away first . . ." —II Thess. 2:3
Living Apostles
None known after 110 A.D.
Living Christian Prophets
Unknown after 1st Century
The Seventy
Unknown after 1st Century
Belief in a Personal God
Doctrine changed by 320 A.D.
Belief in Divinity of Christ
Doctrine changed by 200 A.D.
Called of God "as was Aaron"
Unknown after 1st Century
A Lay Clergy
Changed by the 4th Century
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Unknown after Constantine
Members Called Saints
Discontinued after 250 A.D.
Continuous Revelation
Stopped after 1st Century
Additional Scripture
Unknown after 1st Century
Baptism by Immersion
Sprinkling began 2nd Century
Belief in Physical Resurrection
Rejection began 1st Century
Sacrament of Lord's Supper
Changed after Constantine
Gospel Preached to the Dead
Lost after New Testament Times
Baptism for the Dead
Unknown after 3rd Century
God has said He does not change; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Neither does His Gospel change. His requirements for salvation are the same today as they were in the days of the Apostles. Therefore, His Church must be the same in organization, in doctrine, in divine authority.
Latter-day Saints announce that God has made Himself known to mortal men in these modern times and has restored His Church in detail . . .as it was anciently.
It was in 1820 that belief in a personal God was restored as it was anciently, through a personal visitation by the Almighty to a chosen servant. Joseph Smith had such a visitation. Said he, following a most solemn prayer: "I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other: 'This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him.' "1
With the first appearance in many centuries of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, the restoring of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ was ushered in. For a period of several years Joseph Smith continued to receive revelations and instructions pertaining to the organization of the Church that Jesus Christ had established while on earth. Heavenly messengers from the presence of God gave to Joseph Smith and others the authority to act in God's name. The office of the Holy Apostleship came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery under the hands of Peter, James and John, apostles of old. John the Baptist restored the authority to administer the proper mode of baptism. Many others came and gave Joseph Smith the power to accomplish the purpose that God had intended for him. And so the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored in these latter days, with all the blessings and gifts, with all the divine organization, with the authority and power given of God, to validate His ordinances.
The Church Restored
Isaiah: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people. . ."—Isaiah 11:11
John the Revelator: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth . . ."—Rev. 14:6
Jesus: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things." —Matt. 17:11
Following are the specific years when all of the organizations and ordinances of the Church of Jesus Christ were restored in their perfection in fulfillment of these prophesies.
Living Apostles Restored 1829
Living Christian Prophets Restored 1830
The Seventy Restored 1835
Belief in a Personal God Restored 1820
Belief in Divinity of Christ Restored 1820
Called of God "as was Aaron" Restored 1829
A Lay Clergy Restored 1829
Gifts of the Holy Spirit Restored 1830
Members called Saints Restored 1830
Continuous Revelation Restored 1820
Additional Scripture Restored 1823
Baptism by Immersion Restored 1829
Belief in Physical Resurrection Restored 1830
Sacrament of Lord's Supper Restored 1830
Gospel Preached to the Dead Restored 1840
Baptism for the Dead Restored 1840
Please visit Mormon.org to learn more or request a free copy of the Book of Mormon.