THE
LATTER
DAY
CHURCH
OF
JESUS
CHRIST is a continuation of the
original organization brought forth through the Prophet Joseph Smith
Junior and formally organized on 6 April 1830.
The Church
recognizes Joseph Smith Junior as one of the greatest Prophets of God
and we believe that he fulfilled the mission and work on earth that the
Lord had appointed to him. The following scripture indicates that he
would be faithful until death:
"Verily I say unto you, The keys of
this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the
world, neither in the world to come; nevertheless, through you shall
the oracles be given to another; D&C 84:2 (1835); 90:2-4 (Utah) (Revelation given through Joseph
Smith Jr, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator to the church, April
1830)
This instruction came in answer to
Joseph Smith's inquiry concerning the status of those who desired to
unite with the church and who had already been baptized:
“Behold, I say unto you, that all
old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing, and this is
a new and everlasting covenant; even that which was from the beginning.
Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times, it
availeth him nothing; for you can not enter in at the strait gate by
the Law of Moses, neither by your dead works; for it is because of your
dead works, that I have caused this last covenant, and this church to
be built up unto me; even as in days of old. Wherefore, enter ye in at
the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God. Amen.”
Doctrine and Covenants 47:1 (1835); 22:1-2 (Utah)
When Joseph
Smith Jr and Oliver Cowdery were baptized and ordained by the powers of
heaven, the authority to perform the ordinances of the church were once
more set down upon the earth and from that foundational beginning, the
church was commanded to organize and this was gradually accomplished.
The church
maintains that only the living Prophet can receive prophecy for the
whole church. The church maintains that all who seek the Lord in faith
and humility from the least to the greatest, from a God that changes
not and who is not a respecter of persons can and will receive
instructions for that area of stewardship they are called upon to
perform, but for revelations for the church as a whole only the Prophet
can receive such instruction.
The church
believes in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures and accepts
the Inspired Version of the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Book of
Jeraneck the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Prophecies and
Revelations as Scriptures to be used by the Latter Day Church of Jesus
Christ.
|
