Have you ever wondered if the modern Christian church looks the way Jesus intended? We believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the only perfect man who lived on the earth, and that He organized a specific church when He dwelled here 2,000 years ago.
The Structure of the Ancient Church Organization
Although the people in His church were not perfect, the organization and doctrines were perfect. They provide a flawless outline of what His church should look like today. The embedded document below highlights 72 specific scriptures that map out this divine structure.
When Christ was on the earth, He received direct instructions from God to build His church upon the rock of revelation. To lead this church, Christ ordained apostles and sent Seventies to assist them in their ministry. The Apostle Paul compared the church to a building, beautifully built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.
Beyond the apostles, there were many other specific priesthood offices required to run the church. These officers included Evangelists (patriarchs), Pastors (presiding leaders), High Priests, Elders, Bishops, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons. All of these church officers were explicitly called to assist the members to come to a unity of the faith.
The Great Apostasy Foretold
Unfortunately, this perfect structure did not remain on the earth indefinitely. An apostasy was foretold in the scriptures by early leaders, warning that the truth would be lost for a season. Eventually, the apostolic keys were completely removed from the earth.
Even early religious figures like the seventeenth-century pastor Roger Williams recognized that this authority had been lost. This loss necessitated a complete, divine restoration of the priesthood and its governing keys.
Essential Doctrines and Ordinances
In addition to leadership structure, a true modern church must also practice the exact same ordinances found in the Bible. This includes performing baptism by immersion, just as Christ was baptized. It also means rejecting the baptism of infants, as there is not a single instance of infant baptism in the original text.
Furthermore, the ancient church practiced sacred temple work for the living and the dead. The Apostle Paul explicitly referenced baptism for the dead in his epistles.
The Nature of God and Continuous Revelation
The core doctrines regarding the nature of God must also remain consistent. The scriptures clearly teach that the Godhead consists of three separate and distinct persons. The Holy Ghost is then received by the laying on of hands by those who hold proper authority.
Because God loves His children, He continues to speak to them today. Continuous revelation is a hallmark of the true church, proving that the heavens are not closed.
A Beautifully Family-Centered Gospel
Finally, the original gospel was heavily family-centered. The scriptures teach that man and woman are meant to be together in the Lord. While works alone are insufficient for salvation, righteous works are necessary as we strive to build our eternal families.
Take a few moments to review the 5-page document below to study all 72 of these incredible scriptural references! You can also check out our previous post on answering Autobiography Questions, or visit the official Gospel Topics page on the Restoration to learn more about how this ancient structure was brought back to the earth!
