The Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Lesson 4 tells of Nephi’s vision of the future. But Nephi’s vision did not come true! Please, listen to your heart as you read the very words of Christ and His Apostles. They prophesied that God’s True Church would survive throughout the ages.
The Apostle Paul declared that Christ’s glory would be in the church throughout all ages: “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph 3:19-21)
The LDS belief that God’s church had collapsed and needed its foundation rebuilt is totally false! The problem begins when Mormonism defines God’s “church” as an “organization” or “religion” This is not true! You believe that God’s true church is the Mormon Church. But, the truth is that there is not one single “religion” that is God’s true church. God’s true church is made up of His people. Every single person with faith in Jesus is part of God’s true church. The Apostle Paul wrote
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Co 1:2)
Remember what the Ephesians 2:20 passage said? The very foundation of God’s Church is made up of people: Jesus, the prophets and the apostles. But then look at verse 22: “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
From the time of Christ’s resurrection, God’s true church has existed and will continue to exist forever. When the angel appeared to Mary to tell her she would give birth to the Messiah, she was told:
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Lk 1:30-33)
Jesus told His Apostle Peter “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18)
Do you beleive the words of your Savior? Jesus promised “I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:19-20) Even if only two believers are alive, God’s true Church is on the face of the earth!
Jesus promised He would be on earth, with believers “unto the end of the world”:
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 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.” (Mt 28:18-20)
In spite of the LDS leader’s attempts to convince the world that power comes through the Priesthood, it doesn’t. The power and authority to act in God’s name comes through the Holy Spirit and is given to every single believer—man woman and child. (To read more on this, go to my post “Should LDS Women be Allowed to Hold the Priesthood?”) Verse 18 of Ephesians 2 explains that through faith in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles (meaning every person who will ever live) have “access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ, His apostles and the prophets of the Old Testament. This foundation was not lost, nor was it missing. The Holy Spirit has inspired every word found on the pages of the Old and New Testaments. It is literally “God-breathed“!
John the Beloved testified that while there were many other signs which Jesus did that are not recorded in His book, what has been written brings faith and life through Jesus: “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:30-31)
I pray that you might have life through belief in His name!
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 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; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph 2:18-22)
All praise and glory to Christ our Lord!
Latter-day Saint Woman 