To Be So Fortunate!

Acts 5:41 “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” The apostles in the New Testament rejoiced after being detained and beaten! They were that happy to suffer in the name of Jesus Christ and his church. What amazing humility!

Modern-Day Prophets and Apostles

Recently I have read many great things that have added to my testimony in The Acts of the Apostles. The sixth Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, given through the modern-day prophet Joseph Smith, says: “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.” The only way that The Church could lay claim on having this same organization is if that organization were bestowed upon it by the same authority. In other words, the same priesthood authority that existed in The Church during New Testament times must exist today.

On May 15, 1829 the same John the Baptist, who led the way for and baptized Jesus Christ, did confer the Priesthood of Aaron on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Soon thereafter, apostles during New Testament times, Peter, James, and John, conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:68 - 72).

These Priesthoods do give The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the authority to create this same organization that existed during the early church. We have a modern day Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, and 12 apostles. We have teachers and other church leaders. We believe in or practice other things that are taught in the New Testament. The Church lived under the Law of Consecration for a time during the 1800s, just as the early Church did (New Testament | Acts 2:44 - 45). We know that “The Father [God] has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son [Jesus Christ] also” (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 130:22). In Acts 17:28, Paul taught that “we are the offspring of God.” If we are God the Father’s literal offspring, would we not be like him and him like us?

I am very thankful for the restoration of the Priesthood on this Earth. I feel great joy to be a part of Christ’s Church, the very same church he himself led while he was on the Earth. I feel very fortunate that our Heavenly Father has not left us in the dark, but that he has blessed us with a modern-day prophet and modern-day apostles to teach and guide us. I believe in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost!