With some among us claiming to be “the restored church” from ancient times, it would behoove us to do a little study on what the New Testament church looked like.
My friend today told me she believes in the “restored ordinances of the LDS church.” I looked all through the New Testament trying to figure out what ordinances besides baptism and communion Jesus instituted, that we could possibly have restored….
Cuz there aren’t any.
Something has to exist first, before it can be restored. If you make up something new, that would additional or supplementary, but “restored” is the wrong word.
So let’s examine this claim of a restored church.
Let’s take a look and see if the New Testament church is a match to the LDS church.
(1) Yes, Jesus called 12 apostles at first. Then He lost one, and in the book of Acts at least 2 more were called. So, I don’t think 12 is a magic number that needs to be mimicked. If it were, the LDS church did a lousy job because they have 15 apostles. But any church can put 12 men at the head of their organization and it doesn’t make their doctrines are Christ’s doctrines.
(2) Paul was called directly by God, with no knowledge on the part of the twelve. The existing body of leadership did not extend an invitation to him (although later on they formally ordained him). There is absolutely no parallel for this concept in the LDS church.
(3) Junia was a female apostle (Romans 16:7) and Phoebe was a female deacon (Romans 16:1).
(4) Apostles in the New Testament church performed signs and wonders, something that repudiated and validated their claims, and helped to bring in new believers. The LDS apostles do not.
(5) The apostles in the New Testament were eye witnesses of Jesus Christ, and any new apostles chosen were expected to have met this criteria. The LDS apostle Dallin Oaks remarked last year “I haven’t seen Him. Nobody I know has seen Him.”
(6) The LDS church invented a position of authority called “the prophet” that is absolutely nowhere to be seen in the New Testament church. Again, nobody was revealing new doctrines, nobody was inventing policies and commandments. Nobody was officiating over secret ceremonies. And nobody was head over all the believers, except Jesus himself! (Hebrews 1:1-2)
(7) Local LDS leaders are called “judges of Israel” — who in the New Testament church conducted worthiness interviews? Was there a “judge of Israel”? Were people excommunicated? Actually, Colossians 2:16 denounces worthiness interviews, or being judged for keeping a Sabbath or a food law! This directly contradicts the LDS church.
(8) One thing we do know about men in positions of authority — they were instructed to have only one wife (1 Tim 3:12; Titus 1:6). This does not fit the LDS church history or present doctrines for exaltation (D&C 132).
(9) And the tithing of the church members paid for their (the clergy’s) temporal needs (1 Cor 9). Conversely, the LDS church has an unpaid clergy looking over every building and congregation, and they denounce Christian ministers for receiving payment!
(10) In the New Testament church, there was speaking in “angelic tongues,” words which nobody understood (1 Cor 13:1-3, 14:2-5). This is not a gift even recognized in the LDS church, even for occasional use.
(11) There was no temple for the New Testament Christians. In fact, the book of Acts tells us that God no longer wants a temple. This message is exactly what Stephen was killed over! How do the LDS people gloss over this story? (Acts 7:46-51)
(12) The New Testament church had no food laws. In fact, Paul wrote let no man judge you for what you eat and drink (Col 2:16) I have been judged my entire life as a member of the LDS church on what I was eating and drinking.
(13) The missionaries/apostles in the New Testament church were told to “heal the sick who are there” at every home they visited (Luke 10:9). I’ve heard multiple stories of LDS apostles refusing to give blessings.
(14) The New Testament church preached salvation by faith on the name of Jesus. “I will show you my faith by my works.” Good works are a display of our faith, an effect of our salvation. The LDS church teaches the importance of worthiness, especially in order to receive “saving ordinances.” This includes paying money to be worthy of all saving ordinances, which is very corrupt, equal to the medieval Catholic Church selling indulgences.
(15) The New Testament church taught that the atonement was performed on the cross. Dozens of times in the New Testament epistles, the cross is referenced in regard to salvation. Not once is Gethsemane referenced.
(16) They believed in a God who has always been God, and Jesus Himself is that God— the Great I AM.
(17) They did NOT teach “eternal marriage.” Jesus taught them clearly enough that there will not be any marriages continuing into the resurrection. (Luke 20:35, Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25)
(18) They taught heaven and hell, not degrees of glory. Spirits in “prison” can NOT repent and cross over to heaven (Luke 16:29). They further taught “eternal life” means being in the presence of God, not becoming a God. And that eternal life is received simply through faith in Jesus Christ.
(19) Most importantly, they did NOT apostatize!! And God’s Word did NOT pass away—Jesus promised it wouldn’t.
** (Click here for my scriptures showing the differences between the Bible and the LDS church)
Wow! That’s a lot of differences! Is there anything they have in common??
I think Joseph Smith forgot to read up on the New Testament church before claiming to be restoring it. Just saying!
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Cor 11:13-14)
All I Possess 