Friendly investigators have very real and interesting questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Priesthood authority seems to be a big leap for many of them. They are quick to point out that there have been many saints and good people who had visions and miracles even though the orthodox priests in their local churches may not be faithful. Church authority, they conclude, does not matter. Only the faith of the believer matters.
Yet, in Matthew we learn that testimony and worthiness do matter to God. It was only after Peter bore his personal testimony that Jesus is the Christ that Jesus approved of Peter and acknowledged that He would build His church on the personal testimonies of believers, the rock of revelation. He also promised Peter that he would bear the priesthood sealing keys to bind people to God.
Matthew 16:15 – He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 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.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The faith of the believer is very important. I don’t want to diminish that one bit, but the worthiness of those purporting to represent Christ and administer in sacred ordinances is important as well. Priestcraft, the buying and selling of priesthood ordinances and blessings, is abhorrent to God. Once priesthood blessings are authorized by any authority other than God, they are null and void.
Christians were treated to state supported Roman persecution through the second century AD. Then, in 325 AD christianity was politicized by Constantine, a Roman Caeasar who sought to unite his people through religion. His efforts were successful, but the christianity espoused in 325 AD never had Jesus Christ as the head of the church.
As Jesus said in His sermon on the Mount –
Matthew 6:24 – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
The church of Jesus Christ has only one leader, and that is Jesus Christ. As Jesus said in Matthew 22:21:…Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. If it is the Church of Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ must be at the head, and the church must bear His name.
He is the light we must hold up!
