Lesson: The Church of Jesus Christ Today

Gospel Principles, Lesson 17
The Church of Jesus Christ Today

By Marie Tiller

It's this simple. When you talk to your friends about the church help them see...Christ established a church...men changed it...Christ restored it once again.

The church in the former days

When Jesus lived on the earth, He established His Church, the only true Church.

He organized His Church so the truths of the gospel could be taught to all people and the ordinances of the gospel could be administered correctly with authority.

Through this organization, Christ could bring the blessings of salvation to mankind.

The church in the latter days

On April 6, 1830, the Savior again directed the organizing of His Church on the earth.

His Church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Christ is the head of His Church today, just as He was in ancient times. The Lord has said that it is “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased”.

Joseph Smith was sustained as prophet and “first elder” of the Church. Later the First Presidency was organized, and he was sustained as President. When the Church was first organized, only the framework was set up. The organization would develop as the Church continued to grow.

The Church was organized with the same offices as were in the ancient Church. That organization included apostles, prophets, seventies, evangelists (patriarchs), pastors (presiding officers), high priests, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons. These same offices are in His Church today.

The truths in both times
The Church today teaches the same principles and performs the same ordinances as were performed in the days of Jesus. The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Through the gift and power of God, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, which contains the plain and precious truths of the gospel. Many other revelations followed and have been recorded as scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.

Other important truths that the Lord restored include the following:

1. Our Heavenly Father is a real being with a tangible, perfected body of flesh and bones, and so is Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.
   
2. We existed in premortal life as spirit children of God.
   
3. The priesthood is necessary to administer the ordinances of the gospel.
   
4. We will be punished for our own sins and not for Adam’s transgression.
   
5. Children do not need to be baptized until they are accountable (eight years old).
   
6. There are three kingdoms of glory in the heavens, and through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, people will be rewarded according to their actions on earth and according to the desires of their hearts.
   
7. Family relationships can be eternal through the sealing power of the priesthood.
   
8. Ordinances and covenants are required for salvation and are available for both the living and the dead.

How have these truths influenced you and others?

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