On what authority do the Mormons claim to know the Truth of the Church Christ founded?

Question

I love my Mormon friends and neighbors, but your religion was founded by a man named Joseph Smith of about 200 years ago.

The Church never needed to be reformed or have latter day revelations because Jesus gave all authority to Peter and founded His Church. Jesus said that "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Therefore, there is no need for a "new revelation, doctrine or church." Please research the history of the one true catholic and apostolic Church as preserved by The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Church which is passed down to most mainstream Protestant Churches with some doctrinal differences, but keeping the main thing, the main thing: Jesus Christ is LORD and God.

Guitarpi,

Your answer is actually very good and well thought out. The problem with the answer is that there is an apastolic succession by way of laying on the hands to the next bishop or elder.

Answer 1

Regarding Joseph Smith, Jr.:

"It should also be remembered that Joseph Smith, Sr. , in an interview, later published in the Historical Magazine of May, 1870, clearly stated that the prophet (Joseph Smith,Jr.) had been a "peek Stone" enthusiast and treasure digger in his youth, and further, that he had told fortunes and located lost items by means of a "peek stone" and alleged supernatural powers therein. Substantiating Joseph's fathers account of his rather odd activities is the testimony of the Reverend Dr. John A. Clark after " exhaustive research" in the Smith family's own neighborhood. "Long before the idea of a Golden Bible entered their minds, in their excursions for money digging...Joe used to be their guide, putting into a hat a peculiar stone he had through which he looked to decide where they should dig" Gleanings by the Way, p.242, 1842.

The proceedings of a court trial dated March 20, 1826--New York v. Joseph Smith (Jr.) revealed that Joseph Smith had a certain stone which he had occasionally looked at to determine where hidden treasures in the bowels of the earth were...and had looked for Mr. Stoal several times. Therefore the court found the defendant guilty of money digging.

Joseph Smith later revealed in the Pearl of Great Price that the angel Moroni had revealed to him his "prophetic " mission. In a latter edition, he changed his mind and said that a different angel, Nephi, gave him the revelation.

In 1827 Smith claimed to receive golden plates upon which the Book of Mormon is alleged to be written. Smith began to "translate" the "reformed Egyptian" hieroglyphics by means of the "Urim and Thummim, a type of miraculous spectacles.
Please note that Reformed Egyptian is a non-existent language according to every leading Egyptologist and philologist ever consulted on the problem

There are 25,000 words in the Book of Morman taken directly form the King James Version Bible. Including several notable mis-translations which have caused the Mormans great embarassment.

Do you think that Joesph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Morman a new revelation from God? I sure don't!!!

Answer 2

The "one body" is the church that still teaches the "one faith". (Ephesians 4:3-6) The body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). "The faith... was once delivered for all saints" (Jude 3) "The faith" is the same as "the gospel". We are to preach no other gospel other than the one Paul and the other apostles preached (Gal. 1:6-9). The Catholic church has changed through the years. It no longer teaches the same things it did in times past. It has changed away from the original message and doctrine. It, therefore, is not the same as the church of the Bible. The Mormon church teaches that later day revelations have been given. This contradicts the passage above that the faith WAS once delivered for all. They also teach things not found in the Bible, therefore they are not the one church of the Bible either. You are right that the Bible does not teach that we are to "join the church of our choice". Those who are saved, are "added" to the church by God (Acts 2:47). So which church does he add them to? At the time of Acts 2, there was only one church. No denominations existed. The only church was the one Christ built, and purchased (Matt 16:18, Acts 20:28). This church still exists. God said this church would last forever. Since many have left the doctrine of this church, they need to return to the Bible to restore this church in our communities. We should leave behind all man-made doctrine and just speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where the Bible is silent, do Bible things in Bible ways, and call Bible things by Bible names. Notice the unity Paul begged for! In 1 Corinthians 1:10, he said, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." This does not sound like modern demonationalism! Hebrews 13:8-9 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines..." Jesus does not change, and our doctrine should not change either. The church of the Bible will use the scriptures for its doctrine, for reproof, to correct error, and to instruct its members. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) It is not necessary for a church today to trace its history throughout the years to the first centruy. Many claim they can do that, but while they may have started with the correct church, they have since changed their doctrine so that they now are a different church. Instead of tracing our years past to the church of the Bible, we need to trace our present doctrine to the Bible! We should have a "thus saith the Lord" for all we do and teach (Col. 3:17)! If you are"teaching as doctrine the commandments of men", this makes your worship vain, or useless in God's eyes (Matt. 15:9) Suppose baseball is no longer played and thousands of years from now someone finds a baseball rule book. If that person follows those rules, without altering them, then he is not playing a new game, but he is playing baseball. If that person alters the rules, then he is no longer playing the original game, but a new game. The Bible is the "rule book" for the church. If you follow the Bible, then you are a Christian, nothing more, nothing less. The only church the Bible creates is the church Christ built. If you would like to know more about that church, please contact me, or watch the 6 lesson videos on the web-site link below. Thank you for the good question!

Answer 3

Joseph Smith helped restore the true church of Jesus Christ to the earth.

gw

Answer 4

IF you want to nit-pick religions, then truly none other than the LDS faith have any authority whatsoever. I am sure that, as a catholic, you do not want people digging up the very disgusting and colourful past of not only the church, but it's leaders.
I choose to believe in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, because I too have asked. God promised us that if we asked, He would reveal the truth to us. He is a kind and loving Father. Likewise, I believe Joseph Smith to be a prophet of God, and I also believe that he restored the gospel to the earth in these latter days.
But, like was mentioned before, you can choose to believe it or not. You can choose to ask God yourself or not. Good Luck with that.

Answer 5

My answer shall be shorter than most, yet complete and succinct.

When Peter and the apostles were killed there were no one else that they could bestow upon the holy priesthood after the Order of the Son of God (the Melchizedek Priesthood). Consequently, when all the men bearing this holy priesthood rested their bodies into the earth there was not a living soul that had the holy priesthood of God.

Thus was the prime reason for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which included the ordination of the priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in May 1829.

Believe it or not--that is your choice.

Tman: Negative. There was no apostolic succession of the priesthood after the Apostles were killed and the bishops and elders died. But to believe this you'd have to believe in modern revelation that which was given to Joseph Smith.

Answer 6

The Authority comes from God and his Son Jesus Christ... I've had several Catholic friends and I enjoy them too.

Christ's church was restored through a prophet of God... Joseph Smith.

"The gates of hell will not prevail against it" means it won't be totally destroyed... as in, not even a small portion of it remaining. The Bible remained, therefore; the gates of hell did not prevail.

Answer 7

As God has done many times in the past with people such as, "Enoch, Moses, Samuel, Peter, Paul,..." in 1820 he called a man named Joseph Smith as a prophet. Through the prophet Joseph Smith, the Church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth, complete with the Priesthood, or the authority of God to perform ordinances such as baptism.

This restoration was necessary due to an apostasy of the church, something that has occurred several times in the history of the world and that was predicted in several books of the New Testament. In fact, by several accounts in the New Testament, the apostasy was well underway before the original Apostles died.

The web page mentioned below includes more information and a short video about whether a farm boy could have seen God.

Answer 8

Well. to put it bluntly, I know because I have asked. I have asked my Heavenly Father in prayer, if these things are true, if Joseph really did see God and Jesus Christ, if what I am taught is correct...and I have received countless, confirming answers in my heart and mind, from the Holy Ghost. That is called personal revelation, which every person on earth is entitled to.
So, really, I go by my Heavenly Father's authority, because it has been revealed to me that the LDS religion is true and I am thankful for it!!

Answer 9

I'm a Catholic living in Salt Lake City--or the Mormon Vatican, if you please. Of course your faith and mine both tell us that your statements are true, sure. But faithful Mormons believe just as firmly that God chose Joseph Smith to bring the truth to a world that had abandoned it--just as we believe that Jesus was God, that the apostles (and others) were His prophets, etc.
So the short answer to your headline question is, "They believe on God's authority!"
HOWEVER: This is entirely the wrong place to post what you've written, for two reasons.
First, see #1 among the DON'TS of the Yahoo Answers Community Guidelines:
[DON'T] "1. Use Yahoo! Answers as a soapbox to vent your frustrations, rant, or otherwise violate the question and answer format. If you prefer to have discussions or chat with others, please use one of Yahoo!'s other community services, such as Yahoo! Groups or Yahoo! Messenger Chat Rooms."
I'm NOT reporting you as an abuser, because I don't think you understood the point. But it still applies! This is not actually a question, it's an argument. And anyone offended by it (see next) would have every right to turn you in for abuse.
Second, and more important, this kind of question is very effective at making people feel insulted and possibly even more firm in their beliefs. It is totally ineffective at converting anyone. So please don't do counterproductive things like this! Prayer and *positive* preaching are much more appropriate outlets for your zeal.

Answer 10

and the catholic church was not founded by Paul also.....one proof: baptism is through immersion not springling as the caths do...since this issue is different, then their sources are also different....secondly, the caths worship on Sundays and changed this sacred day of worship from saturday to sunday...whereby the world follows suit...except a few churches..like the SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS , in which i'm a member .....what i'm saying is that the church admonished by Jesus to Paul as a founder is one which follows EVERYTHING the bible teaches...not changing them or adding new doctrines....feel free to contact for more egs....God bless