Which is the one true church?

[_scripturesearcher]

It is my understanding that LDS, RLDS, FLDS, and many others believe that Joseph Smith Jr. was a true prophet that translated the Book of Mormon from the golden plates and restored the one true church on earth. All of these groups started out believing the same way but have evolved to be very different now.

How can someone objectively determine which one of these "denominations" is the one true church?
Is only one of these divisions correct?
Are they all correct?
Are none of them correct?

[_collegeterrace]

C'mon, you already know their answer.

*child's voice* All churches have good in them, we just want to see if we can add to that good.

Years ago, the SLC sect of LDS were proud to denounce all other religions as false. But in today's mainstreamed LDS church, feelings like that translate to lower baptisms.

So how does one find the "true" church of God? They will tell you to pray and God will tell you. Yep, that simple.

What if you do not get an affirmation in the favor of adding you to their membership roles? Either you are doing the prayer WRONG or "it is not your time to come into the kingdom of God on earth yet."

And watch it, they will take your precious Bible and attempt to beat you into a corner with it.

[_Inconceivable]

Your assumption is that these are the only choices and that there even is a true church.

I finally came to realize I did not need a church to replace the church I left. It also occurred to me that I did not need to abandon the principles I considered to be good. They were not theirs to rescind because they never controlled my liscence to practice them.

[_haleray]

The true church of God has to be ether a continuous stream from Judaism to a belief in Jesus Christ, or a complete restart (the great apostasy). This means ether the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Catholic Church is true. If the church is true, and is doing something that God does not want, like the Hebrews did in the Old Testament, worshiping idols, then God will punish them, but he has not, and will not, say this church is not working, I’ll make it not the true church anymore, I’ll make another true church. This cannot be possible.

[_richardMdBorn]

The true church of God has to be ether a continuous stream from Judaism to a belief in Jesus Christ, or a complete restart (the great apostasy). This means ether the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Catholic Church is true. If the church is true, and is doing something that God does not want, like the Hebrews did in the Old Testament, worshiping idols, then God will punish them, but he has not, and will not, say this church is not working, I’ll make it not the true church anymore, I’ll make another true church. This cannot be possible.

I can guess that you belong to one of these two churches. Those poor EOs. I suspect they also trace themselves back to the early church.

[_Inconceivable]

The true church of God has to be ether a continuous stream from Judaism to a belief in Jesus Christ, or a complete restart (the great apostasy). This means ether the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Catholic Church is true.

Just two, huh?

How about just none?

We fail in our assumptions when we don't recognize there may be a third choice.

[_truth dancer]

The true church of God has to be ether a continuous stream from Judaism to a belief in Jesus Christ, or a complete restart (the great apostasy).

Why?

I can think of about a million other options if God wanted there to be one true gospel/truth/church.

This means ether the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Catholic Church is true.

Why? Again, there are all sorts of other options. I think God would be much more powerful and a whole lot smarter than anyone who thinks God is so limited.

If the church is true, and is doing something that God does not want, like the Hebrews did in the Old Testament, worshiping idols, then God will punish them, but he has not, and will not, say this church is not working, I’ll make it not the true church anymore, I’ll make another true church. This cannot be possible.

What?

God's ways are not "man's" ways. ;-) God could do whatever God wants. How would anyone know if the LDS church was not being inspired by God? How would anyone know if the FLDS aren't the ones really following Christ? How would anyone know if God was displeased with the leadership of any church? Seriously, in spite of all the claims by all sorts of religions and prophets, there doesn't seem to be a way to tell who is really right. (Even within the LDS church believers are totally confused regarding truth/doctrine/beliefs based on messages from the HG).

Don't go with the "the HG will tell you" idea because as we can clearly see, the HG is all over the place and completely utterly unreliable. ;-)

To the main point of the thread... why would anyone think there must be a one and only true church?

~td~

[_scripturesearcher]

To the main point of the thread... why would anyone think there must be a one and only true church?

"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right — and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt . . ." (Joseph Smith, "History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 5-6.)

"But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong." (Brigham Young, "Journal of Discourses," Vol. 2, page 171. - 1855)

"And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth" (1 Nephi 14:10).

"And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose foundation is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence. . ." (1 Nephi. 14:17).

I am not saying that I agree that there is only one true church, but this is what Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and the Book of Mormon teach.
The real point of the thread is if there is only one true church, how does someone determine which one is correct (LDS, RLDS, FLDS, other, none).

[_Chriswva]

According to Jesus the church of Philidelphia is the true Church. Revelation 3:7-12 do you think the Mormons are the Philidelphians. I started to read the Book of Mormon and it sceemed to be adding to the book of Revelation? Rev.19:18 sais, for I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. I find it interesting that Joseph Smith died a horrible death. Was his death a plague of Revelation???

[_hypatia]

To think one size fits all is, and always has been, rather arrogant thinking.

I am more comfortable with the idea of "the one true church for you."

Assuming the majority of people want to climb to the summit of "the mountain," most find their own paths and may even use different equipment---however, the important idea is we are all trying to reach the top.

I don't really think God/the Source cares which rope one uses to get back to Him.