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1. Christ organized the church
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Eph 4:11-14 “And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 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:
14 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;
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D&C 21:1-6 “Behold, there shall be a
record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a
translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the
church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your
Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the
foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith.
3 Which church was organized and established
in the year of your Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, in the
fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called
April.
4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt
give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give
unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from
mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
6 For by doing these things the gates of hell
shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse
the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to
shake for your good, and his name’s glory.
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2. The true church must bear the name of Christ
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Eph 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the
body.”
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D&C 115:4 “For thus shall my church be called in the last
days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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3. The true church must have a foundation of apostles &
prophets
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Eph 2:19-20 “Now therefore ye are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and
of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner
stone;
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AoF 6 “We believe in the same organization that existed in
the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors,
teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
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4. The true church must have the same organization as Christ's
church
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Eph 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
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AoF 6 “We believe in the same organization that existed in
the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors,
teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
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5. The true church must claim divine authority
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Heb 5:4 “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he
that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
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AoF 5 “We believe that a man must be called of God, by
prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in
authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances
thereof.
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6. The true church must have no paid ministry
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1 Peter 5:2 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking
the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for
filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”
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D&C 84:79-81 “Behold, I send you out to
prove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.
80 And any man that shall go and preach this
gospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all
things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in
body, limb, nor joint; and a hair of his head shall not fall to
the ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, neither
athirst.
81 Therefore, take ye no thought for the
morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or
wherewithal ye shall be clothed.
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7. The true church must baptize by immersion
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Matt 3:13-16 “Then cometh Jesus from
Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbade him, saying, I have need
to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer
it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened
unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon him:
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D&C 76: 51-52 They are they who received
the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized
after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his
name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they
might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the
Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained
and sealed unto this power;
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8. The true church must bestow the Holy Ghost by the laying on
of hands
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Acts 8:14-17 “Now when the apostles which
were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,
they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for
them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of
them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and
they received the Holy Ghost.
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D&C 39:23 “And again, it shall come to pass that on as
many as ye shall baptize with water, ye shall lay your hands, and
they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and shall be
looking forth for the signs of my coming, and shall know me.”
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9. The true church must practice divine healing
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Mark 3: 14-15 “And he ordained twelve,
that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to
preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and
to cast out devils”
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D&C 124 :98 “And these signs shall follow him—he shall
heal the sick, he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered
from those who would administer unto him deadly poison;”
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10. The true church must teach that God & Jesus Christ are
separate & distinct individuals
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John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not
yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto
them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and
your God.”
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JSH 1:17 “It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered
from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me
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!”
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11. The true church must teach that God & Jesus Christ have
bodies of flesh and bone
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Luke 24:36-39 “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in
the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that
they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye
troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I
myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,
as ye see me have.”
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D&C 130:22 “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as
tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a
body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not
so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”
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12. The officers must be called of God
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Heb 5:4 “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he
that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
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AoF 5 “We believe that a man must be called of God, by
prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in
authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances
thereof.
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13. The true church must claim revelation from God
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Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he
revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
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D&C 18:35 “For it is my voice which speaketh them unto
you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you
can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you
could not have them;”
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14. The true church must be a missionary church
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Matt 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
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D&C 1:23 “That the fulness of my gospel might be
proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world,
and before kings and rulers.”
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15. The true church must be a restored church
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Acts 3:19-21 “Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of
refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which
before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the
times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the
mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
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D&C 110:16 (1-16) “Therefore, the keys of this
dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may
know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at
the doors.”
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16. The true church must practice baptism for the dead
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1 Cor 15:29 “Else what shall they do which are baptized for
the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized
for the dead?”
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D&C 138:32-33 “Thus was the gospel
preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge
of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.
33 These were taught faith in God, repentance
from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of
the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,”
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17. By their fruits ye shall know them
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Matt 7:20-24 “Wherefore by their fruits ye
shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth
the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 ¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a rock:”
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D&C 84:65-73 “Therefore, as I said unto
mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth
on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins,
shall receive the Holy Ghost.
65 And these signs shall follow them that
believe—
66 In my name they shall do many wonderful
works;
67 In my name they shall cast out devils;
68 In my name they shall heal the sick;
69 In my name they shall open the eyes of the
blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;
70 And the tongue of the dumb shall speak;
71 And if any man shall administer poison
unto them it shall not hurt them;
72 And the poison of a serpent shall not have
power to harm them.
73 But a commandment I give unto them, that
they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak
them before the world; for these things are given unto you for
your profit and for salvation.
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Why are these things important?
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Heb 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and
for ever.”
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D&C 20:17 “By these things we know that there is a God in
heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to
everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and
earth, and all things which are in them;” |
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