5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
As the Article of Faith 5 says, we believe that men must be called by God. In the article of faith 4, we talked about the principles and ordinances. In order for anybody to be able to perform these things they have to be called of God to do so. A person cannot just baptize a person and confer the Holy Ghost unless he received the calling and authority from God.
In the days of the first Apostles of Jesus Christ, they held the keys and authority to administer the ordinances. Jesus Christ gave the priesthood power and authority to his disciplines. After His death and resurrection the twelve apostles performed His will by teaching the people and performing miracles. Later, with the death of the apostles the keys and authority was taken away from the Earth. The leaders who took over after the apostles did not have the priesthood authority nor the keys to act the ordinances thereof. The apostles never passed the keys during their ministry on Earth. For centuries the people remained in ignorance but there was good men who recognized that the Church missed some important points of the doctrine. They attempted to reform the Church, but they couldn't bring back what was lost.
In 1820, Joseph Smith went to the sacred groves after he was confused about the religions conflict and after reading James 1:5 decided to ask the father in heaven about which Church to join. He prayed unto the father and received a vision where he saw a pillar of light that are brighter than the noonday light and in it he saw two personages. One of them pointed to the other and spake saying "This is my beloved Son, Hear him!", Joseph Smith asked Jesus Christ about which Churches to join and was told not to join any of them as they are an abomination before Him. They speak near him, but their hearts are far away from Him. They spoke the words with a form of godliness, but they deny the power therein.
Joseph Smith received an answer to his prayer and it wasn't until years later that he received the Aaronic priesthood authority from John the Baptism, the same one who baptized Jesus Christ, and received the authority and keys to perform the first ordinance which are mentioned in the Article of Faith 4. The second one, the laying on of hands for the holy ghost cannot be given by those who holds the Aaronic priesthood authority. The Aaronic Priesthood authority only administers in the temporal matters, not the spiritual matters. It required a higher priesthood known as the Melchizedek priesthood. Joseph Smith received the higher priesthood from the three Apostles of Jesus Christ. The apostles are Peter, James, and John, the first apostles of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith received the powers, keys, and authority that was lost after the apostles was slain.
Today we have the priesthood authority and keys that the prophets of the ancient times held. Now we can be called by those who have the authority to act in His name. The authority that we have are not in man's name nor deviate their powers from man, but from our Father in Heaven. We, missionaries, have been called by God through those who have the priesthood authority to act in His name. We also was set apart by our stake presidents who holds the key to call us as missionaries. We missionaries have the authority and keys to preach the Gospel to the people and to perform ordinances like baptizing people and conferring the Holy Ghost upon those who are willing to take upon them the name of Christ.
An analogy here, to act in the name of somebody, that person have to seal upon us that we are able to act in the person's place. A person who received the power of attorney receive the powers given by the laws of the land to act in the person's name. One example is that my father received the power of attorney to act in his mother's name so that he can perform duties that will help his mother be able to live independently. In spiritual sense, the Holy Ghost seals us so that what we perform in this life will be recognized in the afterlife that we acted with authority and it's everlasting and eternal. We cannot do it on our own, we have to receive the okay from the highest to perform the ordinances and bring others unto Christ.
I know that Joseph Smith is the true prophet of God. He was called of God by baptism and the laying of hands for the Holy Ghost and the keys to administer in both temporal and spiritual matters. I know that the twelve apostles that was called is the true apostles of Jesus Christ and they act in His name and follow His will for bringing others unto Him so that they can partake of the greatest gift that God can give which are eternal life. I also know that all those who have been called and set apart for the intended duties will be able to perform His will provided they prove themselves worthy and help those who are in need. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint are the true Church, restored upon the Earth for these latter day dispensation, and that it will never be destroyed again. I know that the priesthood that we have are from Jesus Christ. I want to bear my testimony that President Thomas S. Monson are the prophet of God. All Church leaders that we have now are called of God and in spite of their human weaknesses are His chosen leaders even though they are human. He chose the weak things of the world to help further His work and confound the wise. I hope that this testimony that I bore will touch those who need to know the truth that the truth can be found through faith and prayer. I know that we will receive the answer that Moroni promised in Moroni 10: 3- 5 where he tells us that we will know by the powers of the Holy Ghost which will testify to us of the truth. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
As the Article of Faith 5 says, we believe that men must be called by God. In the article of faith 4, we talked about the principles and ordinances. In order for anybody to be able to perform these things they have to be called of God to do so. A person cannot just baptize a person and confer the Holy Ghost unless he received the calling and authority from God.
In the days of the first Apostles of Jesus Christ, they held the keys and authority to administer the ordinances. Jesus Christ gave the priesthood power and authority to his disciplines. After His death and resurrection the twelve apostles performed His will by teaching the people and performing miracles. Later, with the death of the apostles the keys and authority was taken away from the Earth. The leaders who took over after the apostles did not have the priesthood authority nor the keys to act the ordinances thereof. The apostles never passed the keys during their ministry on Earth. For centuries the people remained in ignorance but there was good men who recognized that the Church missed some important points of the doctrine. They attempted to reform the Church, but they couldn't bring back what was lost.
In 1820, Joseph Smith went to the sacred groves after he was confused about the religions conflict and after reading James 1:5 decided to ask the father in heaven about which Church to join. He prayed unto the father and received a vision where he saw a pillar of light that are brighter than the noonday light and in it he saw two personages. One of them pointed to the other and spake saying "This is my beloved Son, Hear him!", Joseph Smith asked Jesus Christ about which Churches to join and was told not to join any of them as they are an abomination before Him. They speak near him, but their hearts are far away from Him. They spoke the words with a form of godliness, but they deny the power therein.
Joseph Smith received an answer to his prayer and it wasn't until years later that he received the Aaronic priesthood authority from John the Baptism, the same one who baptized Jesus Christ, and received the authority and keys to perform the first ordinance which are mentioned in the Article of Faith 4. The second one, the laying on of hands for the holy ghost cannot be given by those who holds the Aaronic priesthood authority. The Aaronic Priesthood authority only administers in the temporal matters, not the spiritual matters. It required a higher priesthood known as the Melchizedek priesthood. Joseph Smith received the higher priesthood from the three Apostles of Jesus Christ. The apostles are Peter, James, and John, the first apostles of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith received the powers, keys, and authority that was lost after the apostles was slain.
Today we have the priesthood authority and keys that the prophets of the ancient times held. Now we can be called by those who have the authority to act in His name. The authority that we have are not in man's name nor deviate their powers from man, but from our Father in Heaven. We, missionaries, have been called by God through those who have the priesthood authority to act in His name. We also was set apart by our stake presidents who holds the key to call us as missionaries. We missionaries have the authority and keys to preach the Gospel to the people and to perform ordinances like baptizing people and conferring the Holy Ghost upon those who are willing to take upon them the name of Christ.
An analogy here, to act in the name of somebody, that person have to seal upon us that we are able to act in the person's place. A person who received the power of attorney receive the powers given by the laws of the land to act in the person's name. One example is that my father received the power of attorney to act in his mother's name so that he can perform duties that will help his mother be able to live independently. In spiritual sense, the Holy Ghost seals us so that what we perform in this life will be recognized in the afterlife that we acted with authority and it's everlasting and eternal. We cannot do it on our own, we have to receive the okay from the highest to perform the ordinances and bring others unto Christ.
I know that Joseph Smith is the true prophet of God. He was called of God by baptism and the laying of hands for the Holy Ghost and the keys to administer in both temporal and spiritual matters. I know that the twelve apostles that was called is the true apostles of Jesus Christ and they act in His name and follow His will for bringing others unto Him so that they can partake of the greatest gift that God can give which are eternal life. I also know that all those who have been called and set apart for the intended duties will be able to perform His will provided they prove themselves worthy and help those who are in need. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint are the true Church, restored upon the Earth for these latter day dispensation, and that it will never be destroyed again. I know that the priesthood that we have are from Jesus Christ. I want to bear my testimony that President Thomas S. Monson are the prophet of God. All Church leaders that we have now are called of God and in spite of their human weaknesses are His chosen leaders even though they are human. He chose the weak things of the world to help further His work and confound the wise. I hope that this testimony that I bore will touch those who need to know the truth that the truth can be found through faith and prayer. I know that we will receive the answer that Moroni promised in Moroni 10: 3- 5 where he tells us that we will know by the powers of the Holy Ghost which will testify to us of the truth. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
