42 Evidences of the True Church of Christ

I just finished this amazing book called "The Greatest Quest" (by Blaine and Brenton Yorgason). It's about a group of college students during WWII (one of whom was an atheist), who look through the Bible to see what elements were involved in Christ's original church. They came up with 15 points at first, but over the years, they found 42 "evidences" that would identify a church that had the same blueprint as Christ's.
Their reasoning for wanting a church that mirrored Christ's from Jerusalem was the principle that Christ is perfect, therefore his church would be perfect. (see also evidence #32)
I really enjoyed following them as they visited different churches and honestly tried to figure out if their teachings went along with the list they'd compiled.
Although this book is a novel, it's based on a true story.

I'm personally going to go through my Bible and highlight the verses they picked out, and identify how my church applies those 'evidences.'

There are many other deep questions, answers, and spiritual discussion, but here are the 42 points they found and the scriptures that supported them:
(Note, I don't mean to violate any copyrighted material, and I don't claim any of this as mine)

1. The Godhead consists of three separate and distinct beings-- God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost
*Genesis 1:26-27; 3:22
*Matthew 3:17; 28:19
*Luke 3:22
*Acts 7:55
*1 John 5:7

2. God the Father, as well as his Son Jesus Christ, who is a resurrected personage, both have bodies of flesh and bone and spirit
*Genesis 32:30
*Exodus 33:23
*Luke 24:39, 41-43
*John 20:17; 21:13-14
*Acts 7:55-56
*1 John 3:2

3. Jesus is the Christ, the literal Son of God, the Messiah, and the only perfect person upon the earth-- and not only a great teacher.
*Luke 9:35
*John 17:4-5
*Hebrews 1:6-7
(there are many other scriptures supporting this point, but they only had a few listed(

4. Jesus Christ, as revealed in the New Testament, is Jehovah, God of the Old Testament
*Exodus 3:14
*John 8:58
*Isaiah 43:11
*Hosea 13:4

5. The Holy Ghost is a distinct personage of spirit and is the third member of the Godhead.
*Matthew 3:15-16
*John 14:26; 16:13-14; 20:21-22
*Ephesians 1:17

6. The Holy Bible is the word of the Lord insofar as it is translated correctly. It is the record of the Jews and will be joined with another record in the last days (these days) to relate God's word to his people. This second record will come from a descendant of Joseph.
*Ezekiel 37:15-17
*Isaiah 29:18
*Revelation 20:12-14

7. Jesus Christ is recognized as the head of his Church,
with other officers named, beginning with a foundation of apostles and prophets, and including teachers, saints, elders, evangelists, bishops, deacons, priests, and high priests.
*John 15:16
*Mark 3:14-15
*Ephesians 2:19-20; 4:11-14

8. Officers in Christ's church will be "called of God." They will receive their authority through "the laying on of hands." On cannot call himself to the ministry
a. College degree or license insufficient
b. Royal priesthood will be known as such
c. Bishops and leaders are to marry and to have children
*Acts 19:25
*Hebrews 5:4, 10
*1 Timothy 3:2; 4:2-3

9. Members of Christ's church will be "workers," and will be called "saints." In addition, women will be included in activities and leadership.
*Proverbs 12:4
*Romans 1:7
*Ephesians 4:12
*1 Corinthians 11:7
*2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

10. There will exist within the church separate entities for each of the groups of members. Adult and youth organizations will exist. This point stands to reason, if Christ is concerned with helping each individual from that person's own level of understanding.
*Ephesians 4:11-14

11. Christ's church will believe in the "virgin birth" of Jesus Christ but will not believe in the "immaculate conception" of Mary.
*Isaiah 7:14
*Matthew 1:19-20, 23
*Luke 1:26-31, 42

12. Christ's church will believe in immortality and eternal life, and in a heaven and a hell. After the resurrection, we will be assigned to different places according to the judgement. The first resurrection will be fore the righteous and will commence 1,000 years before the second resurrection.
*John 3:16-17; 5:28-29; 14:2
*1Corinthians 15:20-22, 40-42
*1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

13. The Savior's church will honor Sunday as the Sabbath, with the understanding that the resurrection transpired Sunday morning, the first day of the week-- and thus replaced Saturday as the Sabbath.
*Hosea 2:11
*Matthew 28:1
*John 5:18
*Acts 20:7
*1 Corinthians 16:2

14. Officers as well as members of Christ's church will receive continuous revelation from God.
*Amos 3:7
*Matthew 16:13, 16-19
*Ephesians 1:17

15. Members of the Lord's church will be payers of tithes and offerings
*Malachi 3:8,11
*Luke 11:42
*Hebrews 7:4-5

16. Members of the church will regularly partake of the Lord's supper. The sacrament represents the flesh and blood of Christ and is partaken of in remembrance of him.
*Matthew 26:26-28
*Acts 20:7
*1 Corinthians 16:1-2

17. Members of the Lord's church will experience miracles, such as visions, tongues, and prophecies. In addition, the church will practice divine healing. When members of the church are sick, elders of the church will anoint them with oil and heal them.
*Matthew 9:18
*Mark 6:5; 16:17-18
*Acts 5:12, 16
*James 5:14-15

18. Church leaders will teach that the resurrected Jesus Christ will come again to the earth in the last days. This "second coming" will be greatly anticipated.
*Job 19:25-26
*Matthew 24:30
*Acts 1:11; 3:19-21

19. Members of the Lord's church will be persecuted for their beliefs.
*Matthew 5:10-12; 24:9
*Luke 6:22-23

20. The church as a whole, as well as its members, will be recognized for their "fruits"-- as will the prophets who lead them. The church will esteem honesty, virtue, and wholesome activity.
*Proverbs 15:4
*Luke 6:43-44
*2 Corinthians 9:10
*Philippians 4:17
*Hebrews 13:18

21. The church must provide salvation for all of God's children, not just those who receive the gospel while living on the earth. It will practice baptism for the dead.
*Mark 16:16
*John 3:1-8
*1 Corinthians 15:29

22. The church will build temples similar to the one Solomon built, which was destroyed and built again at the time of Christ. These temples will have unique purposes, including baptism and other ordinances. Temples will also be holy places, contain the Holy of Holies, and be used by members as places of worship.
*Isaiah 2:3
*Malachi 3:1, 7

23. Christ's original church was organized by him and named after him, and his church today will also be named after him.
*Acts 4:10-12
*Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-14; 5:23-24

24. Specific authority to function in the administration of the church is called "priesthood." It is obtained through ordination by one having the power to so ordain.
*1 Samuel 13:9-14
*Mark 6:7
*John 7:16; 20:21
*Acts 19:2-5
*Hebrews 5:4-6, 8-10

25. A higher priesthood authority is required to bestow the Holy Ghost than to baptize
*Matthew 16:19
*Mark 1:7-8
*Acts 8:15-18; 19:2-6

26. The church that Christ originally organized did not baptize infants since the prerequisite for baptism was (1) a capacity for repentance of past personal sins, and (2) a personal belief in the divinity and teachings of Christ.
*Mark 10:14-15; 16:16
*Acts 2:38; 8:12

27. The church is to send out missionaries (in twos), to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
*Mark 6:7
*Luke 10:1

28. The church will have a welfare system to provide for the poor and the needy within the church. Members are to provide for themselves and their families first, and then receive help from the church.
*Deuteronomy 15:11
*Psalm 9:18
*Isaiah 14:30
*Mark 10:21
*Luke 18:22
*Romans 15:26

29. The church will have a law of health. Alchoholic beverages will not be used by members of the church.
*Ephesians 5:18
*1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:9-10

30. The church will be one that is restored to the earth. Christ's original church experienced a great apostasy or falling away, but his church will be returned or restored again in the last days.
*Jeremiah 31:31-34
*Acts 3:19-21
*2 Thessalonians 2:1-13
*Revelation 14:6-7

31. Christ's church will believe in being saved by the grace of Christ through exercising faith in him. In other words, it will teach that when we repent of our sins and forsake them, the atonement of Christ will cleanse our sins.
*Matthew 7:21-29
*Mark 16:15-16
*Luke 6:46-49
*1 Timothy 4:10
*James 1:22-25; 2:14-26

32. The church will preach only the true gospel of Christ, with no variations. It will neither add to the meaning of Christ's teachings nor takeaway from them--even though current revelation will provide insight into them.
*Matthew 5:19
*Galatians 1:6-9
*Ephesians 4:5
*Hebrews 13:8-9

33. Christ's church will espouse a pre-earth life, or a pre-existence, such as that taught by the Orthodox Jews. Included in this teaching will be the doctrine of fore ordination and not predestination. God the Father will be recognized as having created the individual spirits of all people.
*Genesis 1:26-31
*Job 38:4-7
*Ecclesiastes 1:4-5
*John 17:5
*Ephesians 1:4-5
*Hebrews 12:9

34. The church will believe in the "original sin" of Adam. Nevertheless, it will teach that Christ atoned for Adam's sin, and that we will be punished for our won sins, as Adam's sin has already been atoned for.
*John 1:29
*Acts 24:14-15
*Romans 5:6-19
*1 Corinthians 15:21-23

35. Christ's church will teach that the gathering of Israel, in the last days, will be literal.
*Isaiah 5:26-30; 11:12-13; 35
*Jeremiah 3:14-18; 31:10

36. Members of the true church will respect the beliefs of others and will allow all people to worship as they choose.
*Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2
*2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

37. The church will be subject to the laws of the land, regardless of the type of government in power in that land--thus rendering to Caesar that which is his, and to God that which is his.
*Matthew 22:21
*Mark 12:17
*Luke 20:25

38. Is should be recognized that, while perfection is to be sought by each member of Christ's church, the members will have human failings and will make mistakes, and they will thus need to grow and learn--line upon line, precept upon precept.
*Isaiah 28:10
*Ephesians 4:11-14, 28, 32

39. After repentance, baptism by immersion is essential, as is receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. A person performing these ordinances of baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost must be duly authorized to perform such ordinances.
*Matthew 3:13-15
*John 3:5
*Acts 2:38, 41; 22:16

40. The Savior's church will have an unpaid ministry. This lay ministry will be called "by revelation," even as the apostles called new members to their quorum following the resurrection of Christ.
*Amos 3:7
*Micah 3:11
*John 10:13
*Acts 1:22-26
*1 Corinthians 9:18
*1 Peter 5:2

41. Satan is a real spirit being and not a figment of people's imagination.
*Job 1:6
*Matthew 4:10
*Mark 1:13; 8:33
*Luke 13:16; 22:3, 31
*John 13:27
*Acts 26:18

42. The Holy Ghost will bear witness of the truthfulness of the Savior's plan, when it is presented. This is the one sure way of knowing which, if any, of the churches belongs to the Savior.
*John 16:13-14
*1 Corinthians 12:4-12
*Galatians 5:22-26
*Ephesians1:17

The Prophet Joseph Smith

A very important man in the church was Joseph Smith jr. He was the man who organized the church after the Apostasy, when it had left the earth.
Here is a movie about him. It brings up major times in his life, and shows how hard he worked to build up God's Church.

I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and that he led His church in righteousness. I know that he had trials, but he still pressed on, and was able to find comfort in his faith.
I am very grateful for all he did.

What do those crazy Mormons believe in, anway? part 12

This one is very important (but then again, they all are :))
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law"

Many of the YM in the church, (at least in the US) do the Boy Scouts program-- including Citizenship in the World/Nation/Community (I think those are the ones :S)

During the early days of the Church, Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Missouri. Why? Because he was the leader of the Mormons.
Wait! doesn't the Constitution give us the right to worship whatever religion we want to? Yes it does.
Here is a section of the article in the Ensign (a LDS adult magazine):

It began in 1839. The Prophet Joseph Smith, finally free after more than four months of imprisonment in Liberty, Missouri, had settled in Illinois, and the Saints had begun building what would become the city of Nauvoo. With the Missouri persecutions fresh in their minds, the Saints sought redress for the grievances they had suffered, but they were not successful. ¹

Frustrated, Joseph determined to seek help from the federal government. ...

Joseph Smith left Nauvoo for Washington, D.C., with Sidney Rigdon, Elias Higbee, and Orrin Porter Rockwell in a two-horse carriage “to lay before the Congress of the United States, the grievances of the Saints while in Missouri.” ² Joseph and Judge Higbee met with President Martin Van Buren on November 29, 1839. At first Van Buren was inconsiderate of the Prophet’s plea. However, as the discussion progressed, the president promised to reconsider his position and “felt to sympathize with [the Mormons], on account of [their] sufferings.” ³

After their visit with President Van Buren, the Prophet and Elias Higbee stayed two months in the East, trying to gain support from senators and representatives who might be willing to espouse their cause. ⁴ They met with President Van Buren again in February 1840. ⁵ By this time, Van Buren had lost any sympathetic feelings he might have had for the Church. According to the Prophet, the president treated them rudely and declared: “Gentlemen, your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you. … If I take up for you I shall lose the vote of Missouri.”

Now, this might have nothing to do with the 12th Article of Faith, but I think that it ties in, if you think about it. 

To finish, here is a way that it was re-stated in a "Friend" (a LDS Children's magazine): We believe it is right to follow the leaders and obey the laws of the country and city where we live. It is important to Heavenly Father that we are good citizens.

What do those crazy Mormons believe in, anyway? part 9

We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
This is one of my favorite Articles of Faith (for memorizing, that is :)).

One repeated word is "revelation", or the equivalent thereof. The scriptural definition of "Revelation" is communication from God to His children. This guidance comes through various channels according to the needs and circumstances of individuals, families, and the Church as a whole. When the Lord reveals His will to the Church, He speaks through His prophet. According to our faithfulness, we can receive revelation to help us with our specific personal needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help us strengthen our testimony. (True to the Faith; Revelation)
 
So we believe all He HAS. I think that this is the scriptures. The Bible and the Book of Mormon. We believe in them, and that they come from God.

All that He does NOW. This is an interesting comcept. And sometimes hard for other faiths to grasp. God still reveals things today. Just like the above definition says, when God wants to speak to His church, He speaks through the prophet.
When you think about it, God isn't a changeable God (*), and He isn't a respecter of persons (*). So why wouldn't He give revelations always?

God's Words... Never Cease

Elder Holland

All that He will YET. This means that God will continue to speak to us. And we have decided before hand to believe what He will say.

God is omniscience. He is all-knowing. He knows what's going to happen, and what's happening right now. His revelations can give us counsel TODAY of what we should do to get the best FUTURE experiences.

What do those crazy Mormons believe in, anyway? part 8

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. 

This is one of my personal favorites. I love the scriptures, and the comfort they can give me. 

So, the first part: The bible.

(In English) we use the King James version of the Bible. Throughout the book, there are footnotes with "JST" = Joseph Smith Translations.
i.e. In Exodus, when Moses is sending the plagues, it says "And the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart". Wait a sec. Why would God do that? that just doesn't make sense. JST says "And Pharaoh hardened his heart against the Lord." That's better, isn't it?
JST also clarifies confusing passages; you know, when it seems everything is contradicting each other, and then a whole 'nother thing comes out?
Anyway, JST makes those things clearer.

Since we already have a bible, why doesn't that just work? Why do we need other scriptures?
There was an awesome talk given in General Conference that I'm going to post.....
jk. I've just spent 10 min trying to find it :S. Well, in the talk, it says to imagine one point. How many lines can you draw through that point? An infinite amount, right? Or at least a lot :). But now, take two points. How many lines can you draw connecting them? Just one.
(Side note-- This is one of my brother's favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 29:3 ... Many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible)

****** *****

The Book of Mormon is the second point. Historically, it was written by the early people of America. Geographically, it probably takes place in Central America, and ends up in the NE US area. Spiritually, it is the "journal" of the prophets of that place. The first prophet was Lehi/Nephi (there used to be a Book of Lehi, but it was stolen from Joseph Smith; so the first book is actually the 1st Book of Nephi). The last one was Moroni. He was probably the last living "Nephite." He sealed up the Book of Mormon in the "Hill Cumorah" (a place in NY, I believe). Then, Joseph Smith got them. He didn't write anymore in them, he just tranlated them. Here are some excerpts from his own record about the Book of Mormon. (When he refers to "the plates", it's talking about the Book of Mormon, which was written on Gold Plates)

JS--H 1:29-35, 50, 52-54, 59 "The Vision with Moroni; Joseph Smith finds the Gold Plates"
29 ...on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer ...
30 While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a ^alight appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a ^bpersonage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.

 31 He had on a loose robe of most exquisite ^awhiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.

 32 Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was ^aglorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like ^blightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was ^cafraid; but the ^dfear soon left me.

 33 He called me by ^aname, and said unto me that he was a ^bmessenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do...

34 He said there was a ^abook deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the ^bfulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;

 35 Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a ^abreastplate, constituted what is called the ^bUrim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted ^c“seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.

50 I left ... and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant that I arrived there.

 52 Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. I looked in, and there indeed did I behold the ^aplates, the ^bUrim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them.

 53 I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger, and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would it, until four years from that time; but he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates.

 54 Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him...
59 At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to ^ame with this charge: that I should be ^bresponsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any ^cneglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to ^dpreserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.

Here is an intersting story from Martin Harris, who helped fund the translation: JS--H 1:64-65
64 “I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

 65 “He then said to me, ‘Let me see that certificate.’ I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of ^aangels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were ^bsealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, ‘I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.”

 Another thing about the Book of Mormon. There are some people who give Mormons a hard time becuase they have another book of scripture, and there is a scriptures in Revelations that says: "22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" 

I have two things to say (but they both have the same effect). 

1) There is a scripture in Deutronomy, also that says "4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Does that mean that the whole Bible after Deutronomy is forbidden? I doubt it. I think that it's just talking about not changing the scriptures, or adding to the book of Deutronomy.

2) Revelations (although it is placed at the end of the New Testament) was written before many of the other books of the Bible. At least the 3 books of John were written after it. 

I'm going to finish up now, with my testimony (my feelings and beliefs) of the Book of Mormon.

I know that it's true. I can feel Heavenly Father speaking to me and answering my questions through the scriptures. Even if you do not believe in what the Mormons believe, I think that you should at least read the Book of Mormon. It might have something to help you. There is peace, there is war, there is inspiration, there is everything you need. I love my scriptures, and have them all marked up from my times reading them. I hope that you can also know that they are true.

What do those crazy Mormons believe in, anyway? (part 6)

We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church; namely-- apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. -Article of Faith #6.

We have all of those "jobs" in the church: Pres. Thomas S. Monson is our prophet living on earth today. He has 12 apostles called to help him. Our pastors are known as bishops, and they are in charge of presiding over wards, which can be a neighborhood, a city, or a state- depends on the concentration of church members there. We have teachers called by the bishops to help us understand gospel principles, and to answer our questions. Evangelists are also called Patriarchs. There are family patriarchs (the father), and stake patriarchs, and the prophet is also a patriarch, since he has all of the keys and all of the powers that God has given to men. Stake patriarchs give 'patriarchal blessings'. These blessings are for individual people, who seek to get them once they feel they are ready.

So that is that one. Almost. Just one more thing: These are the same jobs that the church members had in the time of Christ. How did we get them in these days? "That I can tell you in one word!:" Restoration!
Here is a video about the Restoration:

This shows how it happened.
The Restoration brought back the powers and keys that the church had back in the days of Christ, and Peter.

"That's All, Folks"