Testing “The 17 Points of the True Church” (Part 2)

In Part 1 we discussed the first six points (please read Part 1 before continuing on with Part 2). In this post, I will be examining points seven through twelve.

Point #7 The true church must baptize by immersion (Matt. 3:13-16)

Matt. 3:13-16 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

Point #7 is a TRUE statement because Yeshua showed us how baptism was to happen. He was immersed completely in water, however, I must point out that baptism is not a requirement for salvation as the LDS church teaches. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ not through works such as baptism, washing and anointing, endowments, and sealing. The LDS leaders call these “saving ordinances” that put you on a “covenant path” to salvation.

Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

There are no ordinances that save us! Only God saves us through His Son Yeshua! Baptism is simply an outward sign showing our inner heart has changed within us by the Holy Spirit. Baptism is symbolic of becoming a new creature, a changed person from the inside out.

There are a few other points I would like to make about baptism. First of all Matt. 28:18-20 is the only scripture that says to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The LDS church, along with many Christian churches, baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Matt. 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

All other scriptures in the New Testament indicate that we are to baptize JUST in the name of Yeshua. Why is this? Well, upon doing further research it seems that the phrase “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” in this passage, was a post-Constantinian addition by the Roman Catholic Church. In fourth century writings, Eusebius (an early church father), quoted this passage around 18 times and the phrase “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” was not in any of those quotes. The word “Amen” was also added at the end during the fourth century. As you can see by the following scriptures, the apostles simply baptized in the name of Yeshua only. This is one of only a handful of changes made by the Roman Catholic Church in the early days of Christianity. The LDS church believes that the Bible was ravaged with changes during this time and that it cannot be trusted, but that is just not true. Yes, a few changes were snuck into the Bible but these changes can be spotted with evidence from many other ancient sources and ancient Biblical manuscripts that we now have. These additions or subtractions can be identified and corrected. As you can see, this is the only scripture that instructs us to baptize in this manner. There are many more scriptures that instruct us otherwise.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Another observation that I would like to mention is the fact that there is no where in scripture that indicates a particular age when one should be baptized. Yeshua was baptized at the age of 30 years old. The LDS church has somehow over the years made it a cultural requirement for all children who turn 8 years old to be baptized. It is technically not a requirement, but in a cultural sense it has become that way. Most children this age do not truly understand what baptism really is. The symbolism of it goes a bit past their understanding and honestly I don’t think they have truly come to know what it means to become a new creature in Christ. I believe they are simply socially pressured to get baptized at this young age and maybe it’s because the LDS Church wants to solidify their membership in their religious denomination for the numbers sake and for hooking them into their religious belief system early on. Baptism was never about becoming a member of an organization. It was about a relationship between a person and Christ. It has always been an outward symbol of inward belief. We surrender by burying our old sinful nature into the ground (symbolized by being immersed in the water) then we become a new creature unto Christ (symbolized by coming up out of the watery grave). Another layer of symbolism is physical death and resurrection. Water is also symbolic of the Living Word and the written word of God. When we immerse ourselves in it, we become changed. God puts a new heart within us.

Rom. 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

When we are baptized, we do not do it to become a member of an organization but to show that we are committed to following Christ. We have a changed heart and no longer desire the carnal things of this world. Yes, we still fall and sin but we are still fallen human beings in a fallen world yet we desire to live as Yeshua lived. We desire to do good works, to follow God’s Law as best we can as a result of our faith in Yeshua.

Gal. 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is one scripture passage that some could construe to mean that baptism is a required work in order to be saved and it is found in John 3.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

I was troubled about this passage for a while but believe I finally understand it. When God told His people to do certain physical things such as offer up sacrifices of animals to Him, is it the actual physical act of killing an animal and offering it up to God that He desires from us? No, it is not. God gives us physical performances and ordinances in order to point us to the spiritual meaning. It is through the spiritual meaning that we find salvation. The killing of lambs during Passover was not because God needed lambs killed for Him. It was to point to the future sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son, The Lamb of God. It was to point us to what would truly save us. God uses symbolism and types and shadows to teach us spiritual truths. So what does it mean to be born of water? Is it the actual immersing ourselves in physical water that saves us or is it something spiritual that it is symbolic of? We know that Yeshua referred to Himself as the Living Water that we should all partake of and there is also a scripture passage in Ephesians that made it very clear to me.

Eph. 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

It says that He will cleanse the people of His church (His Bride) “with the washing of water by the word”. We know that Christ is the Living Word who was perfect in living the written word of God. In essence the written word is the water by which we are cleansed. Immersing ourselves in God’s written word is like immersing ourselves in water to be cleansed. His word cleanses us spiritually so we will become” holy and without blemish”. So we must be born of water (the written word) and by the Spirit (the Living Word).

John 14:25-26 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 15:26-27 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Just as Christ was resurrected unto life, we also will be resurrected unto life if we choose to follow Him. We must immerse ourselves in His written word to be cleansed and purified and after that the Holy Spirit will come upon us to justify and sanctify us through Christ’s atonement.

1 Pet.1:22-25 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible (Christ), through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Point #8 The true church must bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17)

Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Yes, this scripture passage is TRUE, but this point is FALSE simply because this is not the only way that the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon people. Also the church does not bestow the Holy Spirit. God bestowed His Holy Spirit upon Christ then Christ bestows it upon the believers. It is not something that men can do. Here are some other examples from the Bible that show different ways that Christ bestowed the Holy Spirit upon the believers.

John 20:21-22 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

The LDS church teaches that after you are baptized with physical water then men, who claim to have the Melchizedek Priesthood, put their hands on top of the recently baptized person and they say, “receive the Holy Ghost”. This is not how the Holy Spirit comes upon anyone. A person must be cleansed through God’s word first before the Holy Spirit comes upon him/her. Men do not have control over who receives the Holy Spirit and who doesn’t. Being baptized by physical water is only symbolic that you have heard or studied God’s word and that you have committed to follow Christ in faith and that you want to turn from doing your own will to desiring to do God’s will. You put faith or trust in Christ’s atonement to save you from your sinful nature so you can become a son or daughter of God.

Just a side note: in Acts 10:44-48 (above), you’ll notice that the Holy Spirit came upon many believers before they had been baptized with physical water, however, it states that those who received the Holy Spirit first heard the word. Remember that we are cleansed by the word first then the Holy Spirit justifies and sanctifies. Physical water isn’t what cleanses us before we can receive the Holy Spirit. It is God’s word!

Point #9 The true church must practice divine healing (Mark 3:14-15)

Mark 3:14-15 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

This is a TRUE point. The body of Christ receives a variety of gifts of the Spirit so as to help and build each other up and for everyone’s benefit in the body of Christ. The gift of healing is one of those gifts. The LDS church claims that they have this gift of healing through the Melchizedek priesthood but since we already established that they truly do not have the Melchizedek priesthood, then how do they heal people? Well, some members who receive blessings to be healed do get well, but then there are many who don’t. I truly believe that healing has a lot to do with an individual person’s faith. When a person is not healed, the LDS church will often give the excuse that it was not God’s will that they be healed. The LDS church teaches that you need to have faith to not be healed when this happens. Christ never taught that. He healed as many people who came to Him to be healed. Also how does the LDS church explain miraculous healings of people who are not members of their faith. If the gift of healing is through the Melchizedek Priesthood as they claim and they believe they are the only ones who have the Melchizedek Priesthood, then how can anyone else not belonging to their religious organization be healed?

Yeshua healed thousands of people and He gave His apostles the power to also heal people. If the LDS church’s apostles were true apostles of Christ then they should also have the power to heal and perform miracles just like the apostles in the New Testament. Isn’t their “restored” church supposed to be just like the church in New Testament times? Why are the dead not raised today and the blind not given sight and the deaf not given hearing as in the days of the New Testament? I believe this gift of healing will become more prevalent among the true followers of Christ as the second coming of Yeshua gets closer.

1 Cor. 12:4-11 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Point #10 The true church must teach that God and Jesus are separate and distinct individuals (John 17:11; 20:17)

John 17:11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

Point #10 is a TRUE statement. God and His Son are separate and distinct beings and they are united or one in their purpose. Yeshua does the will of the Father totally and completely and perfectly. He was and is perfectly obedient to all of God’s commands. They are one because their will is the same. Yeshua’s will is God’s will. He honors God and glorifies Him in every way. There is only ONE God who is the Father and He has His Son by His side. God’s Son is His right-hand man so to speak. Yeshua is not God. There is only one God and even Yeshua considers the Father to be His God as seen in John 20:17 above. God gave Yeshua power and authority. Yeshua even says that He can do nothing without the Father. Yeshua can be referred to as a god (elohim) but this means mighty one. He can be a mighty one but He is not THE Mighty One. (For more about the word elohim, see my post called What’s In A Name? Why Is God’s Name So Important?)

John 5:19-23 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

I like to look at God as the architect who gets all the credit and glory for His designs and Yeshua as the builder who takes God’s designs and builds them. This is why God is known as the Creator and Yeshua was also known as the Creator. God designed the world and Yeshua built it with God’s power. God does things through His Son. He comes up with the plans and has His right-hand man, Yeshua, execute them. Yeshua obeys God implicitly and perfectly and God has appointed Yeshua heir of all things as His Beloved Son.

Heb. 1:1-4 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He (God) has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He (God) made the worlds; who being the brightness of His (God’s) glory and the express image of His (God’s) person, and upholding all things by the word of His (God’s) power, when He (Yeshua) had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (God), having become so much better than the angels, as He (Yeshua) has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Much of Christianity sees them as one in the same–a trinity with the Holy Spirit. I believe through studying the scriptures, they speak of simply God the Father and His Son Yeshua as two separate beings. The word “trinity” and it’s doctrine are found no where in the Bible. The trinity idea came about in the 2nd century by men. Much can be written about the trinity but to keep it concise, here are seven scriptures that debunk the trinity as a single being:

1. Hebrews 1:5 tells us that Jesus was begotten by His Father. Did He beget Himself?

2. In Matthew 22:44, the Father said Jesus would sit at His right hand until His enemies were made His footstool. Was Jesus to sit at His own right hand?

3. In Matthew 24:36, when Jesus told His disciples that no one knows the day or hour of His return but the Father only, did He really know but made up an excuse to not tell them?

4. In John 14:28, Jesus said His Father was greater than He was. Does this mean He was greater than Himself?

5. In John 17:1, Jesus prayed to His Father. Was He praying to Himself?

6. In Matthew 27:46, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" Had He forsaken Himself?

7. In John 20:17, Jesus said He would ascend to the Father after His resurrection. Did He ascend to Himself?

These and many other biblical passages demonstrate to a rational Bible reader that the Trinity teaching is not only unbiblical, but also utterly illogical!

                                       From The United Church of God Beyond Today website

Point #11 The true church must teach that God and Jesus have bodies of flesh and bone (Luke 23:36-39; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 1:1-3)

Luke 23:36-39 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

Acts 1:9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Heb. 1:1-3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Point #11 is a FALSE statement saying that God has a body of flesh and bone, however, it is TRUE that Yeshua had a body of flesh and bone. The scriptures above do not say anything about God and Yeshua having bodies of flesh and bone. I’m not sure how they interpreted them as communicating that information. I think the scripture from Hebrews makes the most sense in where they might think that God has a body of flesh and bone because it says that Yeshua was “the express image of His (God’s) person”. Let’s explore this.

What does the word image mean? It means a representation, likeness or resemblance of something or someone. In the first chapter of Genesis it says that God made man in His image or likeness but that doesn’t mean that we are exactly like Him in all ways. For example, many people produce artwork of people but a lot of times the art piece doesn’t look exactly like a human being in real life would. We can tell by looking at the art piece that a human being is the subject, but it won’t always appear exactly as we are in real life. The art is a representation or likeness of a person. Yeshua was did not have a body of flesh and bone until He came to Earth to dwell among us. He existed before He had a body of flesh and bone, so He was originally created as a spiritual being not as a physical man.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

We know that Yeshua was the Living Word made flesh to dwell with us and make the ultimate sacrifice for us. Yeshua most definitely had a body of flesh and bone while He lived among men. He had to become like us so He could make an atonement that would satisfy justice. However, the idea that God has a body of flesh and bone is not correct.

John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

We also know that Yeshua was God’s only begotten Son.

Matt. 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

The LDS church teaches that the Holy Spirit is the Holy Ghost and is a separate being from God the Father and Yeshua. This is not the case as we can see from Matt. 1:18. The Holy Spirit is God. It is His influence and being. I do not understand why the LDS church teaches that God has a body of flesh and bone when it says plainly in the Bible that He is Spirit. Even their own beloved prophet, Joseph Smith and their Book of Mormon scripture attest to this fact.

Joseph Smith stated in Lectures on Faith, “There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things—by whom all things were created and made, that are created and made, whether visible or invisible: whether in heaven, on earth, or in the earth, under the earth, or throughout the immensity of space—They are the Father and the Son: The Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing all perfection and fulness:

From The Book of Mormon:

Alma 22:9-11 And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words.

Many years later Joseph changed his mind and stated in Doctrine & Covenants 130:22 (another book of LDS scripture):
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”

The LDS people claim that The Book of Mormon is the most correct book on Earth. If that is their belief then why do they believe The Doctrine & Covenants over The Book of Mormon on this information? Why did Joseph Smith say one thing then change his mind years later? Why do their scriptures contradict each other?

Point #12 The officers must be called by God (Heb. 5:4; Ex. 28:1; 40:13-16)

Heb. 5:4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Ex. 28:1 “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Ex. 40:13-16 You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

I believe this point to be TRUE, however, the LDS prophets and apostles are not called by God. They admit it themselves! I think that too many LDS members assume that all their apostles and prophets are selected by revelation from God. In 1904, Joseph F. Smith (President of the Mormon Church at the time) spoke under oath to the United States congress over a three-day period during the Reed Smoot Hearings (tied to polygamy). President Smith stated, “In the first place [the Apostles in the time of Christ] were chosen by revelation. The council of the apostles [today] have had a voice ever since in the selection of their successors…[They are] Chosen by the body, the twelve themselves, by and with the consent and approval of the first presidency.” When asked if there was any revelation in regard to the subsequent ones, he replied, “No, sir; it has been the choice of the body.” A senator then asked, “Then the apostles are perpetuated in succession by their own act and the approval of the first presidency?” President Smith replied, “That is right.”

Pres. Smith also testified under oath before Congress in the Reed Smoot Hearings that as the prophet, he has not received any revelations and that he only gets impressions from God.

The actual dialogue:

“Senator Dubios: Have you received any revelations from God, which has been submitted by you and the apostles to the body of the church in their semiannual conference, which revelation has been sustained by that conference, through the upholding of their hands?

Mr. Smith: Since when?

Senator Dubios: Since you became President of the Church.

Mr. Smith: NO, SIR; NONE WHATEVER.

Senator Dubios: Have you received any individual revelations yourself, since you became President of the church under your own definition, even, of a revelation?

Mr. Smith: I CANNOT SAY THAT I HAVE.

Senator Dubois: Can you say that you have not?

Mr. Smith: No; I cannot say that I have not.

Senator Dubois: Then you do not know whether you have received any such revelation as you have described or whether you have not?

Mr. Smith: Well, I can say this: That if I live as I should in the line of my duties, I AM SUSCEPTIBLE, I THINK, of the impressions of the Spirit of the Lord upon my mind at any time, JUST AS ANY GOOD METHODIST or any other good church member might be. And so far as that is concerned, I say yes; I have had impressions of the Spirit upon my mind very frequently, but they ARE NOT IN THE SENSE OF REVELATIONS.” (Reed Smoot Case, Vol. 1, pages 483-484).

Joseph F. Smith also stated: ‘I have NEVER PRETENDED TO NOR DO I PROFESS TO HAVE RECEIVED REVELATIONS.’ (Reed Smoot Case, Vol. 1, p. 99).

In 1998 Larry King did a live interview with Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley (LDS Prophet at that time) on his television show. Mr. King asked Pres. Hinckley point-blank,

LK (Larry King): What does the president entail? I have heard you called the prophet. Are you the — when you speak, do you speak for the church?
GBH (Gordon B. Hinckley): I speak for the church, yes, I think so, yes.
LK: And this is a position you’re appoint — how do you get this? How do you get to be president?
GBH: You’re appointed a member of the counsel of 12 and you out live everybody else. (LAUGHTER) The senior member of the 12 becomes the president of the church.
LK: The council takes turns?
GBH: Right.

So if the president of the church is not called and sent by revelation from God but merely appointed because he happens to still be alive and is next in line, then how can we say that the president of the LDS church is a prophet called of God? In ancient times, prophets of God were more often than not, ordinary men who had no special position in their religious system. There never was a line of succession to become a prophet in the scriptures. They were simply humble men who desired to do God’s will who God called to be His messengers. There are many great prophets in the scriptures who were not religious leaders before being called by God, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, David, etc. We do, however, see that the religious leaders during Yeshua’s time were appointed in much the same way as the LDS leaders are today. There was a line of succession. These religious leaders thought they had God’s approval to be in a position of authority and yet God never called them. The religious leaders of Yeshua’s time had corrupted God’s church by appointing themselves to positions. The Pharisees originated about 200 years before Christ was born. It was supposed to be the tribe of Levi that took care of God’s tabernacle/temple and the High Priest was to be specifically from the line of Aaron. The Pharisees of Yeshua’s day did not meet those requirements. During the time of Greek rule, the corrupt Greek government leaders replaced the High Priest of the Jews with someone who bowed down to the Greek way of life. A group of Jewish men who strongly opposed the Greek way of life came into being and tried their best to keep their people from accepting the Greek lifestyle. They became known as the Pharisees but over time they slowly began to add to and take away from God’s Law in their mission to keep their people from becoming Hellenized. That is why when Christ came, He spent His entire ministry breaking the Pharisee’s man-made rules and regulations and tried to turn the people back to God’s Law. The LDS leaders, like the Pharisees, appoint men (and women) to positions in their church. There is a line of succession. God does not call them.

Jer. 23:21,32 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied…
Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the LORD, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,” says the LORD.

Jer. 14:14-15 And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’—‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!

The religious leaders in Yeshua’s day were well intentioned and devout followers, but of a false tradition and therefore rejected Yeshua because they felt threatened by Him and His following. They trusted in the traditions handed down to them. They incorrectly believed God would never send someone to tell them anything important unless he were to occupy a position of authority among them in their hierarchy. Therefore, they rejected Yeshua as their Messiah because He was not in their hierarchy. By doing so, they also forfeited their own salvation.

The religious leaders of the LDS Church continue to perpetuate the belief that they are God’s mouthpieces and that they speak for Him even though they were never called by Him. It has been openly admitted that they do not receive revelation from God in this matter, but it is merely happenstance of who’s next in line for the position when the current prophet dies.

Instead of relying on truth from God’s written word found in the Bible, the LDS members rely on men who are not called and sent by God to tell them what truth is. Basically they place positions, callings and an institution above God. I’ve observed in my former religion that many people in high positions of authority love attention, popularity, fame and the perks that go along with it. It reminds me of the Pharisees who loved their high seats in the synagogues, being greeted in the marketplace, having the best seats at feasts and definitely loved the power that came along with their position. They were the policy makers and deemed as the scriptural masters to whom the people would come to for interpreting doctrine. They were put on pedestals and admired and honored. They resented any challenge of their authority and beliefs. Their handed-down traditions were lies that Christ exposed which caused them to feel threatened so they ended up rejecting and reviling Him. I certainly can see striking similarities in attitudes among the LDS leaders in higher positions of authority.

God’s truth is what has authority. Men who assume they have God’s authority end up being abusive in power and becoming obsessed with control and their own will. They try to shore up their words with claims to priestly or Godly authority which allows them to impose their will upon others. This can lead to violating the third commandment of not taking the name of God in vain. Whenever a person puts forth their own agenda in the name of God, that is taking His name in vain. To falsely use His name, claiming God’s authority in executing your own will or agenda on others, is wrong! Taking God’s name in vain is not swearing, although that is not good either, but taking His name in vain is when a person claims to speak for God or do things in God’s name when that person has no authority to do so.

Matt. 7:15-23 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Jer. 14:14-15 And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’—‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!

An example of an LDS leader following his own will and desires comes from a recent news article about the current LDS prophet, Russell Nelson:

‘He’s been unleashed,’ says Wendy Nelson, wife of Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
 NOVEMBER 2, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY -- When Wendy Nelson was Wendy Watson, she was a professor of marriage and family therapy at Brigham Young University, so it should come as no surprise that she would provide rare insight in an interview about her husband, Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I have seen him changing the last ten months. It's as though he's been unleashed," said Nelson in an interview provided by the Church's news operation and posted on MormonNewsroom.org.

"He's free to follow through with things he's been concerned about but could never do. Now that he's president, he can do those things," she added.

Among changes made during President Nelson's months at the helm: shortened Sunday Services, an announced end to sponsoring Boy Scout Troops, a revelation against the use of the terms "Mormon" and "LDS" and discouraging the production of religious pageants in favor of a focus on gospel teaching.

"He sees things and says, 'What are we doing that for?' 'What are we spending the widow's mite on that for?'"

All these changes are things that Russell Nelson has wanted to do for a long time and hasn’t been able to because he wasn’t the president. Now that he’s finally president of the church, he is “unleashed” to implement all the things that he has wanted to do over the years. If these changes were what God wanted then God would’ve revealed it before Russell Nelson was president. I’m not saying that the things he is doing are bad. What I’m saying is that he is in charge now and is happy about it and is making the changes that HE wants to make. A sent one of God would be only concerned with doing what God wants. And God wants what He’s always wanted of His people and that is to return to His Law, His Torah. He wants us to come back inside the protection of the fence, His instructions, that we so often stray outside of. He wants a relationship with us and that is accomplished through coming unto Yeshua and following Him and becoming a new creature who desires to follow the will of God instead of his own will.

God’s true authority shines through in His truth. When someone delivers a message in truth as Yeshua did, then God’s true ministers or messengers can be distinguished from the false ones. Unfortunately many people are in darkness and become offended when the light shines through. They become uncomfortable with hard truths and become comfortable in their own paths and love those who tickle their ears with pleasant words. The truth is like a sword and is more often than not very unpleasant to hear to those who are comfortable in their traditions and comfortable lives.

2 Tim. 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Jer. 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?

What does itching ears mean? I found a good definitions at gotquestions.org:
“‘Itching ears” is a figure of speech that refers to people’s desires, felt needs, or wants. It is these desires that impel a person to believe whatever he wants to believe rather than the actual truth itself. When people have “itching ears,” they decide for themselves what is right or wrong, and they seek out others to support their notions. “Itching ears” are concerned with what feels good or comfortable, not with the truth—after all, truth is often uncomfortable. Paul’s warning is that the church would one day contain those who only opened their ears to those who would scratch their “itch.” Those with “itching ears” only want teachers who will assure them that all is well, teachers who say, “Peace, peace . . . when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). Where there is a demand for something, the suppliers are not far away. Paul says that not only will there be great demand for watered-down, personalized messages, but there will be “a great number of teachers” willing to provide such rhetoric and steer people away from “sound doctrine.’”

Isa. 30:9-10 That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the LORD; Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

Jesus spent a great amount of time and effort in trying to open the eyes of the religious leaders of His day. He continually broke their traditions or man-made commandments to show them what they were doing was wrong and that they needed to be following God’s Laws instead of their own laws.

Matt. 15:3-9 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

The religious leaders of His day were involved in useless worship because it was based on men rather than God. Do many Christians today worship in vain also? When we go to the scriptures we see that God chooses who He deems worthy, not who is in a line of succession. In the scriptures we learn that in the Biblical culture, the oldest son was the one who would inherit the majority of His Father’s earthly possessions and receive the title of patriarch of that family. God did not hold to this tradition. Jacob, the youngest was chosen by God over Esau, the oldest. Joseph was chosen by God over all his older brothers. David was chosen over all his older brothers. And there are many more examples. God does not conform to earthly traditions. He chooses who He deems worthy in His sight.

If you look at who is called in the LDS church today you will find that there are many people related to each other or who are good acquaintances and only those who are very achieved in business, education, law, medicine or some other worldly profession. I do not claim that all are in this category, but all the ones I know of are. The high positions in the LDS church are occupied by men and women who are in white collar professions, people who are very successful in business, medicine, law, or education. When have you seen a “carpenter,” a “fisherman,” or a “tax collector” called to a high position in the LDS church today?

Yeshua proclaimed many things that would happen before His return, but the very first thing he proclaimed wasn’t natural disasters and catastrophes, but rather great deception from men in the last days.

Matt. 24:3-5 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Was Yeshua describing men who would come and profess to be Jesus Christ? No, this doesn’t fit because although there have been some who have done this in history, there haven’t been many (according to wikipedia there have only been 33 individuals who have claimed to be Christ). What he is saying here is that they would not assume Christ’s identity but presume to represent Him. These people would claim to be Christians and serve God and claim to speak in behalf of Yeshua but in reality they do not. These people who claim to represent Yeshua and speak for Him will deceive many through religious deception. The great end-time deception will march under the banner of Christianity with false teachers who claim to have authority to speak for Christ but actually do not.

Paul also spoke of this great deception. He says that false teachers will deceive many and be deceived themselves. He not only warns about these deceivers but tells how to discern them and avoid them–through the holy scriptures which will make one wise to salvation through faith in Yeshua.

2 Tim.3:13-15 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

In Acts 20:29-30 Paul says, “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”

2 Cor. 11:3-4 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Rev. 2:1-3 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

This is why it is so important to study God’s word and compare it with what men say and teach so that we will not be deceived into believing commandments that are merely made by men saying they are from God. We must test those who claim to teach with authority from God. We must examine their doctrines to see if they measure up to God’s standard of the Bible and if they do not, we must have the courage to walk away from them and turn to the truth. Those who follow the commandments of men will not know the real Messiah, but instead will be led to believe in another Jesus and that is why Yeshua will say I never knew you. Only those who keep His commandments, His Law, His instructions, His Torah, will come to know Him.

1 John 2:3-6 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

To be continued in Part 3, the final post of Testing The 17 Points of the True Church.