THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN FORMER TIMES

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN FORMER TIMES

Jesus established his church when he was on the earth. It was called the Church of Jesus Christ (see 3 Nephi 27:8), and the members were called Saints. Through the persecution and death of Church leaders and the general wickedness of the people, the Church of Jesus Christ was taken from the earth.
Today, the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored, and the Church is called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All of the offices and functions of the Church in the days of Jesus are present in the Church today.

SOME FEATURES THAT IDENTIFY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
REVELATION

When Jesus established his church, he personally instructed and directed its leaders. He, in turn, received his instructions from his Father in Heaven. Thus the Church of Jesus Christ was directed by God and not by men (see Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus Christ taught his followers that revelation was the "rock" upon which he would build his Church (see Matthew 16:16-18).
Before Jesus went into heaven after his resurrection, he told his apostles: "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). True to his word, he continued to guide them from heaven. He sent the Holy Ghost to be a comforter and a revelator to them (see Luke 12:12; John 14.26). He spoke to Saul in a vision (see Acts 9:3-6). He revealed to Peter that the gospel should be taught, not only to many glorious truths to John. These are written in the Book of Revelation. The New Testament records many other ways in which Jesus revealed his will to guide his church and enlighten his disciples.

AUTHORITY FROM GOD

The ordinances and principles of the gospel cannot be administered and taught without the priesthood. The Father gave this authority to Jesus Christ (see Hebrews 5:4-6) and Jesus Christ, in turn ordained his apostles and gave them the power and authority of the priesthood (see Luke 9:1-2; Mark 3:14). He reminded them: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you" (John 15:16).
That there might b e order in his church, Jesus gave the greatest responsibility to the twelve apostles. Peter was appointed chief apostle, and Jesus gave to him the keys to seal blessings both on earth and in heaven (Matthew 16:19). Jesus ordained other officers also with specific duties to perform. After he ascended to heaven, the pattern of appointment and ordination was continued. Others were ordained to the priesthood, but only by those who had already received that authority. Jesus made it known through the Holy Ghost that he approved of those ordinations (Acts 1:24).

THE CHURCH ORGANIZATION

The Church of Jesus Christ was a carefully organized unit. It was compared to a perfectly formed building which was "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20).
Jesus appointed other priesthood leaders to assist the apostles in the work of the ministry. He sent officers called seventies in pairs to preach the gospel (see Luke 10:1). Other officers in the Church were evangelists (patriarchs), pastors (presiding leaders), high priests, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons (see chapter 14, "Priesthood Organization"). These officers were all necessary in order to do missionary work, to perform the ordinances, and to instruct and inspire Church members. They helped the members to "a unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God" (Ephesians 4:11-13).

The Bible does not tell us everything concerning the priesthood or the organization and government of the Church. However, enough of the Bible has been preserved to show the beauty and perfection of the Church organization. The apostles were commanded to go into all the world and preach. They could not stay in any one city to supervise new converts. Therefore, local priesthood leaders were called and ordained, and the Apostles presided over them. The apostles visited and wrote letters to the leaders in the various branches. Thus, our New Testament contains letters written by the apostles Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude giving counsel and instruction to the local priesthood leaders.

The New Testament shows that this Church organization was intended to continue. For example, the death of Judas left only eleven apostles. Soon after Jesus had ascended to heaven, the eleventh apostles met together. They wanted to choose someone to take the place of Judas. Through revelation from the Holy Ghost they chose Matthias (see Acts 1:23-26). Later, other apostles died or were killed. Paul, Barnabas, and James, the brother of the Lord, were all ordained in their places. Jesus had set a pattern for twelve apostles to govern the Church. It seemed clear that the organization was to continue as he had established it.

FIRST PRINCIPLES AND ORDINANCES

The apostles preached the gospel wherever they went. They taught the people two basic principles: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance. After new converts had faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Redeemer and had repented of their sins, they received two basic ordinances: baptism by immersion and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. These were the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. They applied to every person who desired to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus had taught them: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Everyone needed these saving ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

ORDINANCES PERFORMED FOR THE DEAD

The Church of Jesus Christ provided for everyone to accept the gospel, whether it was preached to them on earth or after the gospel, whether it was preached to them on earth or after death. Between the time of his death and his resurrection, Jesus went among the spirits of those who had died. He organized missionary work among those who were dead. He appointed righteous messengers and gave them power to teach the gospel to all the spirits of men. This gave them an opportunity to accept the gospel (see 1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:6; see also Joseph F. Smith—Vision of the Redemption of the Dead (Pearl of Great Price). Living members of his church then performed ordinances in behalf of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). Such ordinances as baptism and ordinations must be done on the earth.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

All faithful members of the Church were entitled to receive gifts of the Spirit. These were given to them according to their individual needs, capacities, and assignments. Some of these gifts were faith, including both the power to heal and to be healed; prophecy; and visions. The gifts of the Spirit are discussed in more detail in chapter 22. Spiritual gifts always exist in the true church of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Jesus told his disciples that these signs or spiritual gifts always follow them that believe (Mark 16:17-18). In his name, many of his disciples did perform miracles, prophesied, or beheld visions through the power of the Holy Ghost.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE AMERICAS

After Jesus was resurrected, he visited the people in America and organized his church among them (see 3 Nephi 11-28). Then he left them and ascended into heaven. For over 200 years, they lived righteously and were among the happiest people who had been created by the hand of god (see 4 Nephi 16).

APOSTASY FROM THE TRUE CHURCH

Throughout history, evil men have tried to destroy the work of God. This happened while the apostles were still alive and supervising the young growing Church. Some of the members taught ideas from their old pagan or Jewish beliefs instead of the simple truths taught by Jesus. In addition to this, there was persecution from outside the Church. Church members were tortured and killed for their beliefs. One by one, the apostles were killed. Because of the persecution, surviving apostles could not meet to choose and ordain men to replace those who were dead. Eventually, local priesthood leaders were the only ones who had authority to direct the various, scattered branches of the Church. The perfect organization of the Church no longer existed, and confusion resulted. More and more error crept into Church doctrine, and soon the destruction of the Church was complete. The period of time when the true church no longer existed on earth is called the Great Apostasy.

Soon pagan beliefs dominated the thinking of those called ‘Christians." The Roman emperor adopted this false "Christianity" as the state religion. This church was very different from the church Jesus organized. Members of this church believed that God was a being without form or substance.
These people lost the understanding of his love for us. They did not know that we are his children. They did not understand the purpose of life. Many of the ordinances were changed, because the priesthood and revelation were no longer on the earth.

The emperor chose his own leaders and called them by the same titles used by priesthood leaders in the true Church of Christ. Church officers were given honor and wealth. Bishops and archbishops fought among themselves to gain more power. There were no apostles or other priesthood leaders with power from God and no spiritual gifts. The prophet Isaiah had foreseen that this condition would come about. He had prophesied: "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they had transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant" (Isaiah 24:5). It was the Church of Jesus Christ no longer; it was a church of men. Even the name had been changed. In the Americas, apostasy also occurred (see 4 Nephi).

A RESTORATION FORETOLD

God had foreseen what would happen, and he had prepared for the gospel to be restored. The apostle Peter spoke of this to the Jews: "He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:20-21)
John the Revelator had also foreseen the time when the gospel would be restored. He said: "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Revelation 14:6).
Read Daniel 2:44-45. What did Daniel see? Explain that the Church is the "stone" mentioned in this scripture.
Sing "High on a Mountain Top."

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

Ephesians 12:19-31 (Church likened to a perfect body)
Hebrews 11:6 (faith necessary)
Luke 10:1 Acts 14:23. Titus 1:7. 1 Timothy 2:7 (officers of Church identitied)
John 8:26—29 (the Father directs Jesus)
Luke 9:1 James 1:17; 5:14-15 (spiritual gifts)
2 Peter 2:1; Matthew 24: 9-12; John 16:1-3; Amos 8:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (apostasy predicted)
Daniel 2:44-45; Matthew 24:14; Micah 4:1; Isaiah 2:2-4 (restoration predicted)