Joseph’s Keys to Determine the True Church

 

There are multiple churches claiming to be the true successor to the Restored Church of Jesus Christ set up by Joseph Smith. Each have varying degrees of acceptance of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Book of Abraham, and Joseph’s New Translation of the Bible. Recently, I came across three statements that (although late and second-hand) appear to reflect teachings that identify teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith regarding the state of the Church and which competing faction would have the proper authority. On further investigation, I was pleased to see that my good friend and coworker Matt Roper had previously treated these statements and more. I wholeheartedly recommend his blog post:

 

"A Key That Will Never Rust": The Majority of the Church Will Never Be Led Astray.

 

While other churches who believe in Joseph Smith undoubtedly do much good, there remains only one church that has the Priesthood authority to perform saving ordinances for the living and the dead. The Lord did not allow His church to be scattered to the four winds upon the Prophet’s death, just as He did not allow His New Testament church to fall apart after Jesus’s death. As occurred anciently, the Apostles were entrusted with the keys necessary to run the Church and build the Kingdom of God. Divisions in the Church occur through apostasy and cutting yourself off from the leadership of the Apostles and the united church (as evident in the New Testament church as well in Paul’s letters, especially Galatians). We are in a unique dispensation, however; while others ended with the deaths of all the Priesthood leaders resulting in widespread apostasy, we have been promised that this dispensation will have no similar fate. The Church and its work will roll forward, nevermore to be taken from the earth.