"And He Gave Some, Apostles..."

My super awesome older brother (who finished his missionary service in Peru this August) posted this video on my facebook page today.  It is a really tender and sweet video about the chance that we have to come unto Christ and feel His mercy, love and understanding every day.  I especially love the fact that it is narrated by apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ ("We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth" [Articles of Faith 1:6, emphasis added].  Essentially, the apostles called by the Lord today have the same calling and commission to testify of Jesus Christ, direct the affairs of His Church, and stand as special witnesses of the Savior.); these men, these "special witnesses of Christ", tell of the glory of the Atonement so beautifully and so simply. I am grateful to know that God is a God of Order and has established His Church on the earth once more, built upon the same "foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20). 

Some have said, "well, isn't it enough to just believe in Jesus Christ?  Why do I need some organized religion to tell me how to believe or act?"  The answer lies in the 4th chapter of Ephesians, verses 11 through 14:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man...
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive...

We need these apostles and prophets, teachers and pastors, so we can, like the scripture says, come in the unity of the faith!  It is plain to see in today's world that there is much disunity, especially among the sects of Christianity!  Thus, it is imperative that we rely upon the men whom God has chosen to be our guides, to be our "foundation", with, of course, Jesus Christ as the "chief cornerstone".  And how can we be certain they are actually called of God?  It all goes back to the Prophet Joseph Smith.  He received the priesthood (the power and authority to act in God's name) from Peter, James, and John themselves, fulfilling the declaration "no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron [by the laying-on of hands]" (Hebrews 5:4).  Through an unbroken line following this pattern, the apostles and prophets of today hold that same authority.

I am grateful that there are authorized servants of the Lord upon the earth today.  I know that if we follow their counsel we will be safe and we will be built upon a firm foundation.

MUCH LOVE,

Elder Spendlove

P.S.  Here's some additional reading/listening/viewing about prophets today!