Only True Church?
Do Mormons believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is the only true church?
Ray Farmer
Sadly, they do indeed believe that they are the only true church. This they do despite the warning in the Book of Mormon itself.
2 Nephi 28:3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord's; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord's; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord--
Oddly, this was not the attitude of the early “revelations” found in the Doctrine and Covenants, which was more conformable to the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
Doctrine and Covenants 10
67. Behold, this is my doctrine--whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
68. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
Michael Hickenbotham
D&C 10 was given in 1828 before the church was actually established in 1830 so I’m not sure what church it’s talking about
D&C 1:30 was given November 1, 1831, it says:
30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually.
Ray Farmer
SAYS YOU: "I’m not sure what church it’s talking about"
ME: Well, if you were to believe this to be a revelation of Christ, He says it's His Church.
Notice, in your citation, the revelation says "to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness". Thus we see that it existed, but it was to be brought out of obscurity and out of the darkness it found itself in at that time. What kind of darkness was His church in? “I will work a reformation among them, and I will put down all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts, and envyings, and strifes, and idolatries, and sorceries, and all manner of iniquities” (reference later). These are all the stumblings caused by the removal of the plain and precious parts of the Gospel! The Book of Mormon is to help bring them out of the darkness with light they could understand.
2 Nephi 31:3 For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.
Alma 5:7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.
Doctrine and Covenants 10
62. Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them [the Nephites and Lamanites, the Book of Mormon], and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me.
63. And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.
This seems clear from Doctrine and Covenants 10
52. And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel [Book of Mormon] to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up.
So we see that The Lord had “a people” on this land that were to receive the Book of Mormon, which would strengthen them in what they already had and settle contentions about points of doctrine!
2 Nephi 3:12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
Again, Doctrine and Covenants 10
53. And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them.
Establish meant something else in 1831. If we look up the word in the 1829 Webster dictionary, establish means:
1. To set and fix firmly or unalterably; to settle permanently.
5. To make firm; to confirm; to ratify what has been previously set or made.
6. To settle or fix what is wavering, doubtful or weak; to confirm.
See Acts 16 how the church, already formed, was "established" or settled, by Paul.
4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Continuing in D&C 10
54. Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church;
The purpose of the Book of Mormon was not to destroy His church was on the earth prior to the Book of Mormon. The purpose of the Book of Mormon was to build it up, (1831 definition of establish) not restore a new one).
Continuing in D&C 10
55. Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
“So relax, My church”, He seems to say, “there is nothing to fear in the Book of Mormon. You will agree with it! It establishes what you believe already”
And who is "my Church"? I repeat: "this is my doctrine--whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church".
Jacob 6:5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart….
Mosiah 18:20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
Now, you may wish to add all kinds of "points of the True Church", but you shouldn't! He warns "Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church".
What we are talking here is a reformation, not a restoration!
Book of Commandments (1833), Chapter 4, Page 11
5 And thus, if the people of this generation harden not their hearts, I will work a reformation among them, and I will put down all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts, and envyings, and strifes, and idolatries, and sorceries, and all manner of iniquities, and I will establish my church, like unto the church which was taught by my disciples in the days of old.
The various religious organizations that were on the earth before the publication of the Book of Mormon were scattered chickens to be brought under the hen’s wings and thus be a part of His Church. I know! this will sound mysterious to you!
Continuing in D&C 10
64. Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery;
65. For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts;
66. Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely.
67. Behold, this is my doctrine--whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
This is precisely why we are warned against the “Behold, I, I am the Lord's; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord's” attitude. I would pass the warning on to you, friend.
Section 1 was, to be sure written well after Section 10 after Joseph evolved the doctrine. But it was “The Preface” of the Doctrine and Covenants and the things written therein, such as Section 10, were confirmed in Section 1.
Doctrine and Covenants 1:37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
Incidentally, this verse confirms that the word was reformation, not restoration as is found in the current D&C. If it should be restoration, than D&C 1:37 is false. But one should not alter words that have been written simply to match developing doctrine.
Finally from Doctrine and Covenants 10:10 And, behold, Satan hath put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written,
What Happened to this Plan?
“If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church”
Tragically, the Church which had the Book of Mormon did not heed the definition of the church: “whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. It added all kinds of commandments, the doctrines of men, to its body of doctrine. The religious world associated these added, unbiblical doctrines taught by the “Mormon” church with the Book of Mormon and assumed that those doctrines were derived from the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Therefore “this generation hardend….their hearts against the very Book that would have brought everyone together and laid down contentions. The establishment of the church, as concieved in Section 10, at this time has not been established.
I believe the strident efforts of the LDS church to disassociate itself from the term “Mormon” is a divine step toward breaking the association of the LDSaint church from the Book of Mormon, leading toward the time when the chickens will be gathered under the wings of the hen.
You encouraged me to read the D&C and I did! These are some of the things I learned. So thanks!