No Coincidences

Tag: catholic

  • Authority in God’s Kingdom

    Authority in God’s Kingdom

    In 1830 the church was brand new and something extremely difficult happened.  An issue occurred which would forever shape church government.  This issue would establish a pattern, God’s pattern, of order.

    An extremely faithful member of the Church, in fact one of the 8 witnesses of the Book of Mormon, started to receive revelations on the gathering of Zion.  This member was Hiram Page.  He was faithful to the church and would never deny the Book of Mormon’s authenticity.  It was not surprising that many church members believed the revelations Hiram Page received.  Why wouldn’t they?  He was a faithful member.  He was one of the 8 witnesses, a blessed individual that saw and beheld the gold plates.

    The issue was, if Hiram Page could receive revelation for the entire church, then who couldn’t receive revelation for the entire church?  You’re seeing where this is going.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would go the way of all other sects of Christianity:  chaos.

    There must be order in God’s system.  God could not have every person claiming revelation for His Church.  It’s important to note, personal revelation is an important part of our mortal journey.  Personal revelation is also critical in God’s church.  Revelation cannot be received by an individual pertaining to the entire church or to guide those in a higher position of authority.  Without this rule, there would be complete confusion, as there started to be when Hiram Page reported his revelations.

    When this problem arose, Joseph Smith was in the most difficult of positions.  How did he correct this issue without seeming authoritarian and dictatorial?  He needed Hiram Page, Oliver Cowdery (who supported Hiram’s revelations), and all church members to understand the significance of this issue. 

    Joseph Smith met with the congregation and explained revelations received prior to Hiram’s revelations.  Joseph Smith had documented the Lord’s commandments in Doctrine and Covenants sections 20 and 21.  He now learned that many members of the new church didn’t understand these doctrines and principles of church government. 

    The history states that Joseph Smith joined with the people and explained the revelations in Doctrine and Covenants 20 and 21 in detail.  He used simple language and explained what it actually meant.  In what could have been a contentious and ugly situation, church members, Oliver Cowdery, and Hiram Page himself left understanding the error of their ways.  This was a prophet of God explaining God’s order.  All present accepted.

    This is the way it should be.

    I would like to compare this to something I learned when reading about how “retired” Pope Benedict XVI… retired.  I didn’t understand how this could be and wanted to research to see what happened.

    Instead of commenting on what I learned about Pope Benedict’s retirement, I want to comment on something else I came across.  An article I read talked about how the current Pope Francis has considered relaxing priestly celibacy rules and how “retired” Pope Benedict came out publicly against this.

    Does this not present a problem?  What if the current Pope did make a decree and the “retired” Pope publicly voiced his disagreement with it?  Would there be another branch of Catholicism?  One following current Pope and one following retired Pope?

    I can’t understand it.  There can’t be confusion in God’s kingdom.  While men are imperfect, God can’t have questions of authority in His church.  Otherwise, there is complete chaos.

    These stories of how two issues were handled strengthened my testimony of the importance of authority.  I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ’s Church restored to the earth, and as such, it must have order.  As I study Priesthood authority and how the church functions with millions of members across the entire globe, I’m blown away at how seamlessly it all works.

    Joseph Smith foresaw General Authority Seventies when the church was a couple dozen members.  Now as the Church grows and there are 12 quorums of the Seventy, anyone who doesn’t believe this church to be divinely guided must marvel at Joseph Smith’s foresight.

    The truth is it wasn’t Joseph Smith’s foresight, it was God’s foresight.  This church is divinely guided, divinely structured, and divinely governed.  My testimony of this grows daily as I understand the structure of the church better and see how the Lord guides His Kingdom. 

  • Pride of the Gentiles

    Pride of the Gentiles

    I write this as a complement to my testimony of the Book of Mormon as the Word of God.

    For the purposes of what I’m writing I will focus on the Old Testament.  I would gladly speak on the New Testament, but for simplicity I will focus on the Old.

    Let’s look historically at the creation of the Bible.  The text of the Old Testament was preserved and handed down by the hands of the Jews.  It was protected by the Jews.  If not for the Jews, there would be no Old Testament today.

    By definition, a gentile is a person who is not Jewish.  The Gentiles received the Bible from the Jews.  Most of us are gentiles.  If you come from Europe, have Catholic, Protestant, or pretty much any other Christian ties in your ancestry, you are most likely considered a gentile.  Again, none of us would have the Bible today if it weren’t for the Jews.

    It’s those same Gentiles who today say, A Bible, a Bible, we have a Bible! (2 Nephi 29:3).  But how do you have the Bible?  You have it from the Israelites, from the Jews.  You didn’t do anything to gain it.

    When Christ was crucified and resurrected the Jews of old who believed in Christ had a difficult time moving past their traditions.  If you read about Paul and his missionary efforts, you will see that a major portion of his time was spent fighting Judaizers.  Judaizers were “Christians in the primitive church who taught it was necessary to adopt Jewish customs and practices, especially those found in the Law of Moses.”

    From History of the Christian Church, 1, 338 regarding Judaizers:

    “These men were Christians in name, but narrow-minded and narrow-hearted Jews in fact.  They were scrupulous, pedantic, slavish formalists, ritualists, and traditionalists of the malignant type.  Circumcision of the flesh was to them more important than circumcision of the heart, or at all events an indispensable condition of salvation.  Such men could, of course, not understand and appreciate Paul, but hated and feared him as a dangerous radical and rebel.  Envy and jealousy mixed with their religious prejudice.  They got alarmed at the rapid progress of the gospel among the unclean Gentiles who threatened to soil the purity of the church…”

    For just a couple of examples of Paul’s contention with Judaizers see Acts 15:23-29, Galatians chapters 3 and 4, Acts 21: 20-25.  That last example in Acts 21 would be roughly the year AD 58.  At this point, 25 years after Christ’s death, there were still thousands of Jewish Christians following the Law of Moses.

    I give this historical background to make a comparison to the Christian gentiles of today. 

    Christians who cannot accept any scripture outside of the Bible are the Jews of old.  Holding firm to their traditions, fighting to preserve what they’ve always known, refusing to see the greater blessing of the Gospel right before them.

    The Gentiles of today say, “I have a Bible.”  By what source have you gotten your Bible?

    2 Nephi 29 4-5:

    4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?

    5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.

    The Jews couldn’t accept further revelation – that Jesus was the Christ and in Him the law was fulfilled.  Gentiles today  – who have only been shown the mercy of God by being adopted into Christ’s fold – do the same thing.  They have a Bible, they need no “other” Bible.

    What does this speak of?  It speaks of pride.  This attitude says – “God has given us all He’s going to give us and now it’s up to ME, MAN to interpret what God is saying.”  This pride removes God from the equation.  You think God has disowned us?  You think He’s given us all He can or will give us?  WHY?!?!?  God loves His children.  Has He abandoned us?

    The hard-hearted, prideful, and stubborn attitude of holding onto traditions has kept people from Christ since the start of mankind and it continues today.  Let go of pride and accept that God still speaks to man.  Pride makes us interpret the Bible how it suits us.  Let go of pride and let God guide us.

    The denial of modern revelation is the removal of God.  It is the denial of either God’s love for us or His power in redeeming His children.  How can people who can only accept the Bible not see that?  They’ve removed a living God for God’s word.  The Bible is God’s word to us, but what good is it if you don’t understand it?  What good is it if you kick against the pricks?  Let the spirit work within you and accept all truth God will give you.  He will enlighten your mind and expand your spirit, but you must let Him, and stop removing Him by saying you have the Bible and that’s all you need.

    The great apostle Paul spent his entire missionary career fighting against the Judaizers.

    Today modern-day missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spend so much time fighting modern day Judaizers, traditionalists.  We must Bible bash, meanwhile we have a far greater message: GOD STILL LIVES, GOD STILL SPEAKS, REVELATION IS ALIVE.  He has provided a new Book of Promise – the Book of Mormon – to help and guide us. Not to replace the Bible but to supplement it.  READ IT.  And see for yourself if it speaks to your spirit. See for yourself if God still loves His children. See for yourself if Jesus is the Christ and if HE IS STILL redeeming his people.  Set aside your pride!

    2 Nephi 29: 6-9

    6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

    7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

    8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

    9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

    How accurate are those words written nearly 2600 years ago?  Inspired writing.  It is my testimony that the Book of Mormon can only bring a person closer to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.  I wish we could all remove our pride and stop being like the Judaizers of the primitive Church.  Accept that Christ is as interested in us today as He was when He walked the earth 2000 years ago.  Read His word.  Hear His word.  Feel his word.  Accept his words. All of them.

    Jesus Teaching in the Western Hemisphere (Jesus Christ Visits the Americas)
  • Which Church?

    Which Church?

    I often have religious conversations.  As often as possible I try to have those conversations with people of different faiths.

    I’ve had great conversations with someone who is devout in their faith of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t believe the Book of Mormon to be true.  We have many great discussions.  Our discussions are always extremely cordial, soft-spoken, and kind.  I think we are both extremely aware and conscious of our tones when we get into topics.  Early on in our discussions things would get somewhat heated every once in a while.  I don’t remember a time when we yelled at each other or it ever got out of hand, but there’s always this feeling when we talk.  It’s a feeling of being on the edge of a cliff.  Like we’re justttt teetering on the edge of it being a full-blown argument.   We could topple over the edge at any moment.

    Our discussions are almost always centered on disagreements.  There are many, many things we agree on.  Obviously, what good is it for us to dwell on those things?  We get to the meat of our differences and try to learn from each other, I love it.  But like I mentioned, there’s always this dangerous balance.  It makes sense since we disagree.

    Our extra-cautious approach protects us.  We both love Jesus Christ and His principles with all our hearts.  We’ve both been saved by Him in powerful ways.  I believe this is what keeps us from toppling over the edge.  The constant fight within ourselves to let love, tolerance, patience, and agreeing-to-disagree trump those powerful emotions brought on by Satan in the midst of a heated discussion centered on doctrine and eternity. 

    I’ve had similar discussions with many different faiths.  Catholics, Presbyterians, Bahai. I’d like to have these discussions with every faith on earth. 

    If we all believe in Christ we should all be able to agree on so many points, right?

    No matter what there’s always that feeling.  Are we going to go over the edge?  Is this going to turn from friendly banter and growth to a “I’m right you’re wrong!” And a storming out of the room?

    This particular friend I started the story about and I have in the past discussed John 17:21:

    “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou has sent me.”

    When we had this discussion my point was this: How can we be one in Christ if so many sects disagree?

    His standpoint is that as long as we believe in Christ we are one.  We are all one under Christianity.  Under this great umbrella, we are all one in Him. That sounds great, and I love that.  In theory that is so beautiful.  There are some immediate problems with this, though. For one, I’ve been told I’m not Christian. Where do we go from that? For another, I’ve mentioned the contention that so easily arises when two groups disagree. As much as we want to be one in Christ, how can we be when there’s that underlying tension of disagreement? While millions of people can have a good Christ-like conversation with other faiths, there are also wars over these topics.

    Let me be EXTREMELY clear about one thing. There is some truth and light in all religions that teach and promote peace and love.  I love any religion that brings someone closer to God and especially if it brings someone closer to Christ.  All religions that love Christ and focus on Christ have light to them.

    There seems to be this issue when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to be THE True Church of Jesus Christ. 

    The millennium is coming.  A time is coming when all Christians in the world will begin to be persecuted.  It won’t matter if we’re Baptist, or Catholic, or Protestant.  What will matter to the world is the belief in Christ.  As the world unites against Christians, what banner do Christians unite under?  Is it Christ alone?  Is there no one organization He would have us look to?  With all the arguments, contentions; standing on the edge, ready to topple off, between different Christian sects, how can we possibly unite as one?  If we do unite, who do we listen to?  What do we follow?

    God is a God of order.  He wouldn’t have us blindly wander as the world unites against all believers.  He can’t have us guessing which way is up and which way is down.  So, where is our banner?  Do we follow the Catholic Church, the Pope?  Do we follow some non-denominational sect?  We’ve never been able to unite.  When the world is in chaos, will that be the time the Christian world pulls it together and joins as one? I don’t see that happening. Especially as the world in general becomes more and more divided.

    We must be one.  We must be united in Jesus Christ. 

    My belief is that the Church to follow is Christ’s restored Church.  There is no more beating around the bush.  The Church of Jesus Christ has come out with a worldwide declaration that makes clear what we’ve always declared: 

    “In humility, we declare that in answer to (Joseph Smith’s) prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and inaugurated the “restitution of all things” as foretold in the Bible. In this vision, he learned that following the death of the original Apostles, Christ’s New Testament Church was lost from the earth. Joseph would be instrumental in its return.

    “We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored.”

    The declaration is clear.  This is the banner.  The keys of the gathering of Israel were handed down to Joseph Smith by Moses himself.  Those same keys have been passed down for 200 years and are now in the possession of God’s prophet on the earth today, the speaker of the above declaration, President Russell M. Nelson.  Only by God’s official authority could the gathering of Israel be accomplished;  without contention, without fighting, without controversy.

    This is my testimony and I leave it in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

    __________________________

    If you would like to learn more about the gathering of Israel, the keys that have been handed down, the restoration of Christ’s Church, and why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends out so many young men and women to preach the gospel, please click below:

    https://www.comeuntochrist.org/belong/meet-missionaries

    A missionary would gladly teach you more about what we believe. Thank you for reading.