Jesus. Central figure of Christianity Name Naming conventions A typical Jew in Jesus' time had only one name, sometimes followed by the phrase "son of [father's name]", or the individual's hometown.[28] Thus, in the New Testament, Jesus is commonly referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth". [k] Jesus' neighbors in Nazareth referred to him as "the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon", "the carpenter's son", or "Joseph's son"; in the Gospel of John, the disciple Philip refers to him as "Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth".
Etymology The English name Jesus, from Greek Iēsous, is a rendering of Joshua (Hebrew Yehoshua, later Yeshua), and was not uncommon in Judea at the time of the birth of Jesus. Jesus Christ Christians of the time designated Jesus as "the Christ" because they believed him to be the messiah, whose arrival is prophesied in the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. Life and teachings in the New Testament Canonical gospels Authorship, date, and reliability Sources. One true church. Some Christian groups or denominations have claimed that they alone represent "the one and only church" to which Jesus gave his authority in the Great Commission. Other denominations believe that "the church" includes members of many denominations, believing in "an invisible church".
A similar theory arose in the 4th and 5th centuries, present in Novatianism and Donatism— both of which were condemned by the mainstream church of their time. Others believe that in the New Testament period, there were no denominations, and the phrase Christian Church or "the church" refers either to all who follow Jesus in any form, or to all who follow Jesus in a particular location. However, Apostolic succession is seen as one of the essential elements in constituting the one true church, ensuring it has inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority and responsibility that Jesus Christ gave to the Apostles. Anglican branch theory[edit] Baptist churches[edit] Catholic Church[edit] Great Apostasy. Antichristus, a woodcut by Lucas Cranach of the pope using the temporal power to grant authority to a generously contributing ruler The Great Apostasy is a term used by some religious groups to describe a perceived fallen state of traditional Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic Church, because they claim it allowed the traditional Greco-Roman mysteries and deities of solar monism such as Mithras and Sol Invictus and idol worship into the church.
In short, in their opinion, the church has fallen into apostasy.[1][2] They feel that to attract the pagans to nominal Christianity, the Catholic Church took measures to amalgamate the Christian and pagan festivals [3] so pagans would join the church; for example, bringing in the pagan festival of Easter as a substitute for the Pasch or Passover, although neither Jesus nor his Apostles enjoined the keeping of this or any other festival.[4][5] Overview[edit] Some modern scholars[who?] Protestant views[edit] Reformed perspective[edit] Continuing Revelation. Latter Day Saints teach that the Latter Day Saint movement began with a revelation from God. They also teach that revelation is the foundation of the church established by Jesus Christ and that it remains an essential element of his true church today. Continuous revelation provides individual Latter Day Saints with a "testimony", described by Richard Bushman as "one of the most potent words in the Mormon lexicon.
"[1] 5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. 6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. 7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. He also more specifically detailed the importance of the principle of modern-day revelation to the church he then led; Dallin H. Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith, Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader who founded the Latter Day Saint movement, the predominant branch of which is Mormonism. At age twenty-four, Smith published the Book of Mormon, and by the time of his death fourteen years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers, established cities and temples, and founded a religion and a religious culture that continues to the present day.
Life[edit] Early years (1805–27)[edit] During the Second Great Awakening, the region was a hotbed of religious enthusiasm. While boarding at the Hale house in Harmony, Pennsylvania, Smith met and began courting Emma Hale. When Smith proposed marriage, Emma's father Isaac Hale objected because Smith was "a stranger" without a proven reputation and had no means of supporting his daughter other than money digging.[22] Smith and Emma eloped and were married on January 18, 1827, after which the couple began boarding with Smith's parents in Manchester. First Vision.
Stained glass depiction of the first vision of Joseph Smith, completed in 1913 by an unknown artist (Museum of Church History and Art). Story of the vision[edit] Smith wrote or dictated several versions of his vision story, and told the story to others who later published what they remember hearing. Taken together, these accounts set forth the following details: Joseph Smith said that his first vision occurred in a grove of trees near his home. Smith said that when he was about twelve (c. 1817–18), he became interested in religion and distressed about his sins.[3] He studied the Bible and attended church, but the accounts differ as to whether he determined on his own that there was no existing religion built upon the true teachings of Jesus[4] or whether the idea that all churches were false had not "entered his heart" until he experienced the vision.[5] During this period of religious concern, he determined to turn to God in prayer.
Context and development of the vision story[edit] D. Cumorah. An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given golden plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. Early Latter Day Saints assumed that the Cumorah in New York was the same Cumorah described in the Book of Mormon, but in the early-20th century, scholars from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) began to speculate that there were two such hills and that final battle in the Book of Mormon took place on a hill in southern Mexico, Central America, or South America.[10] The LDS Church has no official position on the matter[11] and while these hypotheses are not held by some leaders and members of the LDS Church,[12] they are firmly espoused by others.[13] New York[edit] Visitor center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Hill Cumorah (New York) The statue of Moroni atop Hill Cumorah in Western New York.
WikiMiniAtlas. Restoration (Latter Day Saints) In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Restoration refers to the return of the Priesthood and the Church of Christ to the earth that started the Church. While in some ways the term may refer to the early history of the religion, in other contexts the term will be used in a way to include down to and past the present. Especially in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Restoration is often used as a term to encompass the religious messages of the Church down to the present.[1] Latter-day Saints claim that various Old Testament and New Testament scriptures, including teachings of Christ himself, prophesy of this "falling away" or "apostasy.
Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, originally prayed about which church to join. In a vision in 1820 near Palmyra, New York, two personages (generally believed to be God the Father and Jesus Christ) instructed him not to join any churches, for "all their creeds were an abomination. " Mormonism and Christianity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. History[edit] The history of the LDS Church is typically divided into three broad time periods: (1) the early history during the lifetime of Joseph Smith, which is in common with all Latter Day Saint movement churches; (2) a pioneer era under the leadership of Brigham Young and his 19th-century successors; and (3) a modern era beginning around the turn of the 20th century as Utah achieved statehood. Beginnings[edit] The LDS Church was formally organized by Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830, in Western New York.[16] Initial converts were drawn to the church in part because of the newly published Book of Mormon, a self-described chronicle of indigenous American prophets that Smith said he had translated from golden plates.[17] Pioneer era[edit] Brigham Young led the LDS Church from 1844 until his death in 1877.
For two years after Smith's death, conflicts escalated between Mormons and other Illinois residents. Modern times[edit] Teachings and practices[edit] Authorized texts[edit] Family Home Evening. Family Home Evening (FHE) or Family Night, in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), refers to one evening per week, usually Monday, that families are encouraged to spend together in study, prayer and other activities.
According to the LDS Church, the purpose of FHE is to help families strengthen bonds of love with each other as well as provide an atmosphere where parents can teach their children principles of the gospel. For many LDS families, Family Home Evening includes a game or fun activity, treats, and a short lesson. The responsibilities for each are often rotated among family members, so that even the youngest may be assisted in presenting a short lesson or devotional on a given topic. Parents often use this night as an opportunity to teach their children how to prepare talks and lessons, as well as how to conduct meetings. History[edit] In 1970, church president Joseph Fielding Smith, son of Joseph F. Church guidance[edit] Fast Sunday. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Fast Sunday is a Sunday (usually the first Sunday of every month) set aside for fasting.
Overview[edit] On Fast Sunday, church members are encouraged to fast for two consecutive meals; most members of the church choose to skip the first two meals on Sunday, though some skip the last meal on Saturday and the first meal on Sunday. Members are also encouraged to give the money they save by not eating as a fast offering which will be used by the church to help those in need. On Fast Sunday, the regular sacrament meeting is known as fast and testimony meeting, where rather than predetermined speakers on particular subjects, the members are given the chance to voluntarily bear testimony to one another of gospel truths. In addition to the regular fast Sunday, individuals, wards or stakes may have additional fasts for special needs such as moisture for farmers, health for individuals, employment, missionary and temple work. Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)
Priesthood denotes elements of both power and authority. The priesthood includes the power Jesus gave his apostles to perform miracles such as the casting out of devils and the healing of sick (Luke 9:1). Latter Day Saints believe that the Biblical miracles performed by prophets and apostles were performed by the power of priesthood, including the miracles of Jesus, who holds all of the keys of the priesthood. The priesthood is formally known as the Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God, but to avoid the too frequent use of the name of the Son of God, the priesthood is referred to as the Melchizedek Priesthood, Melchizedek being the high priest to whom Abraham paid tithes. According to Latter Day Saint doctrine, to exercise priesthood authority, a person must (1) be called by God, (2) be ordained or endowed with priesthood authority, and (3) receive the necessary priesthood keys, either through ordination to an office or through delegation(setting apart).
Aaronic priesthood (Latter Day Saints) Latter Day Saints believe that John the Baptist conferred the Aaronic priesthood directly upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on May 15, 1829.[4] Smith relates the conferral of the Aaronic priesthood in Joseph Smith–History as follows: "[W]e ... went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates [Book of Mormon] .... While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying:"Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.
" Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site. Priesthood of Melchizedek. The priesthood of Melchizedek is a role in Abrahamic religions, modelled on Melchizedek, combining the dual position of king and priest.[1] Hebrew Bible[edit] Melchizedek is a king and priest appearing in the Book of Genesis. The name means "King of Righteousness" - a name echoing kingly and priestly functions.[2] He is the first individual to be given the title Kohen (priest) in the Hebrew Bible. In Psalms[edit] In the King James Version,[3] the Book of Psalms names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained. In Judaism[edit] Judaic midrash (exegesis) identifies Melchizedek with Shem the son of Noah.
Maimonides, in his Mishna Torah compilation, explains that Jacob separated his son Levi from his other sons and appointed him to instruct and teach the ways of 'service to God', specifically the servicial methods used by his forefather Abraham, to his brothers. In Christianity[edit] Catholicism[edit] Protestantism[edit] Patriarchal priesthood. History[edit] There are three grand orders of priesthood referred to here. 1st. The King of Shiloam (Salem) had power and authority over that of Abraham, holding the key and the power of endless life .... The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right from the eternal God, and not by descent from father and mother; and that priesthood is as eternal as God Himself, having neither beginning of days nor end of life.
The 2nd Priesthood is Patriarchal authority. Go to and finish the temple, and God will fill it with power, and you will then receive more knowledge concerning this priesthood. The 3rd is what is called the Levitical Priesthood, consisting of priests to administer in outward ordinances, made without an oath; but the Priesthood of Melchizedek is by an oath and covenant. The Holy Ghost is God's messenger to administer in all those priesthoods.
The Nauvoo Temple was constructed by 1844 and dedicated in 1846 by Orson Hyde. "For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; Bruce R. Angel Moroni. Golden plates. Book of Mormon. Three Witnesses. Kolob. Heaven. Degrees of glory. Telestial Kingdom. Terrestrial Kingdom. Celestial Kingdom. Divinization (Christian) Exaltation (Mormonism) Spirit world (Latter Day Saints) Existence of God. God in Abrahamic religions. Omniscience. Omnibenevolence. Omnipotence. Throne of God. God. Heavenly Father. Heavenly Mother. Mormon views on evolution. Fall of man. Washing and anointing. Propitiation. Confirmation (Latter Day Saints) Spiritual gift. Temple garment.