Are you Mormons? No. We have no affiliation with the Mormon Church, or any of their breakoffs or doctrines. We are the original Church that was restored in 1830, that teaches the same doctrines as Christ did when He was upon the earth.
Why don’t you pay your ministry? Paid ministry, addressed in the Book of Mormon as “priestcraft”, is a sin. It is talked about in the Bible as “the taking of filthy lucre” in Timothy 3, Titus 1:11, 1:7, and 1 Peter 5: 2-3. We also believe that Christ’s ministry should be divinely called by revelation also in accordance with scripture.
What are your general beliefs? We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and is our Lord and Savior. He died on the cross to save us from our sins. Through Him, all mankind shall have redemption and have access to mercy by faith and obedience to the everlasting gospel of the Father. As stated in Hebrews 6:1-2, we believe in faith, repentance, baptism (by water and spirit), resurrection and eternal judgment. Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 13:16-17. Each person must answer for their own sins, not for the sins of Adam, or for the sins of others. The structure of the Church consists of Christ at the head. We believe in a quorum of twelve Apostles, as well as having Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons. The Book of Mormon and Holy Bible forbid polygamy, infant baptism, and baptism for the dead.
What is God's word? The Church of Christ accepts the King James version of the Bible, and the Book of Mormon (1990 Independence Edition published by the Church of Christ. We believe that God has spoken to mankind throughout time, and many records have been kept of such, and preserved for us today. We also believe that God can still speak today, but must agree with our standards of faith in the Bible and Book of Mormon. 2 Peter 1:21. “For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but Holy men of God, spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”.
How can I have eternal life? John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whomsoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life" We must believe in the authority of God, believe that His only begotten son is our Savior, and love Him with all of our heart, strength, and mind as talked about in 1 John 5. We need to repent, give up our sins, and ask for forgiveness. We witness our conversion to the Father by being baptized by water, and we receive his Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost. Jesus himself was baptized as an example for us to do the same, as recorded in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 16:16, and 2nd Nephi 13:6-32. Continue to follow the Lord’s commandments, asking for forgiveness when necessary. We rely upon his Holy Spirit to guide us in this life to help us mature in his Gospel and endure through the rest of this life. 2nd Nephi 14:1-4. Most importantly, through his grace and love we are made enough after all we can do. 2nd Nephi 11:44.
Why don't you baptize babies? Babies have no sin, therefore they have no need for baptism. Jesus teaches us to bless children in Mark 10:16. The Book of Mormon condemns infant baptism, calling it a “solemn mockery of God” in Moroni 8, p.769. We believe in an age of accountability. When a person reaches an age of maturity when they know the Gospel, love the Lord, and are willing to make a conscious commitment to love Him and serve Him for the rest of their life, they are ready for baptism. A person needs to be old enough to repent of their own sins, and understand what it means to sin.
Do you have an open sacrament? Sacrament, (bread and wine), is only given to members who have been baptized into the Church of Christ. The purpose of the sacrament is to remember Christ and His sacrifice, our commitment to His authority, and our obedience to His gospel. We also do not know of the methods used and doctrines believed in the rest of the world. 3 Nephi 8:60-62. However, everyone is invited to participate in the sacrament service by way of prayer, testimony, song, or talent offering. Everyone is always invited to come into the Church of Christ.
How do you know the Book of Mormon is really God’s word? To be clear, the Book of Mormon is not the record of the LDS Church . It is a divine record to all mankind, as is the Holy Bible. We know the Book of Mormon is true because there are many evidences in the Bible to support the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and its necessity for the fulfillment of the true gospel to the world. Ezekiel 37:16 refers to the “stick of Joseph” and “the stick of Judah.” We believe the stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, since many of the people recorded in the Book of Mormon are of the seed of Joseph. We believe the Bible is the stick of Judah, since the Bible is the record of the Jewish people. Together, “they will be one in mine hand.” Revelations 14:6 reads, "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the earth, and to every kindred nation and tongue and people.” We believe that time is at hand. These are only a few of the scriptures that declare another record would come forth. The Book of Mormon has fulfilled many prophecies in times past, and together with the Bible, there are more prophecies yet to be fulfilled. Archaeologists have also uncovered many un-refutable evidences on this continent of the Americas of ancient, advanced cultures dating back thousands of years. In the preface of the Book of Mormon, we can read of the account of actual events leading to its divine translation. We have the testimony of eleven witnesses who had seen the brass plates, hidden for centuries in the hill Cumorah in New York State. In addition, the brass plates were written in a dead language, a combination of Egyptian and Hebrew. In 1820 an angel gave a young man named Joseph Smith was given charge over the plates in 1827. Joseph Smith had a first vision at the age of 14 in 1820. Seven years later in 1827, Joseph Smith was given given charge over the Book of Mormon plates. Joseph Smith was uneducated by worldly standards and could not have translated these plates without the power of God.” God gave him tools to use called the Urim and Thummim in order to translate the plates into English. These interpreters used are also mentioned in the Bible, for divine means of truth and knowledge. The Book of Mormon and the Bible prove one another to proclaim an irrefutable witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation of mankind. A witness to their validity must be sought out by each believer.
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