The Restoration Proclamation makes the following bold assertion:
We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored.
What is Christ’s New Testament Church?
During His mortal ministry, Jesus selected twelve disciples, whom he called apostles. (See Matthew 10:1-4, Luke 6:13-16, 1 Nephi 11:29, 34.) He gave one of them, Peter, “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” and said that He would build His church upon him. (See Matthew 16:18-19.) Paul later testified that apostles and prophets form the foundation of the church of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, Ephesians 2:19-21.)
Jesus followed the same pattern during His postmortal ministry in the Americas, selecting twelve disciples and inviting the people to follow their guidance. (See 3 Nephi 12:1.)
Congregations of the church were established in many locations, but decisions which affected the church as a whole were made by the apostles, counseling together. (See Acts 15:1-29, 3 Nephi 27:1-3.)
An important role of the church is to ensure that truths about Jesus Christ are communicated clearly and accurately. (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Galatians 1:6-12, 3 Nephi 19:4-8, 3 Nephi 27:8-10.)
Another role of the church is to administer ordinances, such as baptism, which enable people to enter a covenant relationship with God. (See Acts 8:12, 14-17, Acts 19:1-6, Ephesians 4:1-5, Moroni 6:1-3.)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by apostles. The president of the church is the longest-serving apostle, and he with two other men form the First Presidency, the highest governing body in the church. They work with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to clarify doctrine, establish policy, and settle questions of global significance for the church.
Church members are organized into more than 30,000 congregations around the world. Each of these congregations holds worship services weekly in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is discussed and priesthood ordinances are performed. Additional ordinances, including baptism on behalf of deceased ancestors, are performed in special buildings called temples. (See 1 Corinthians 15:29.)
Today, I will be grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will be grateful that Christ organized His followers in ancient Israel and in the Americas, and that He has reestablished it in the world today, to help us learn His doctrine and receive His ordinances.
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