Take a building of unique design. In fact for this discussion let's take the Salt Lake Mormon Temple, most people have seen pictures of it. Before ground was ever broken, before a weed was ever cleared from the site a set of plans were drawn up, blueprints. An architect developed an idea for that building and drew it out on paper to exact scale. He also drew the plans for everything that is part of that building such as plumbing. This building was created so called spiritually long before it was built physically. Now you can take the blueprints for that Temple and try to fit them to any other building in the world and you will not find another single building that will fit those blueprints. Sure there are elements of that building that are found in many other buildings: the stone, pipes, water, carpet, tile, paint, etc. Many of these elements are common and widely used but the Temple in whole is unique.
The Bible is the Lord's blueprint of His Church and Kingdom. It was established spiritually even before the earth was created. The Bible tells us of His Church. It explains how He has operated from the foundations of this earth. It is unique, it is His work. Yes, there are many, many religions which use the Bible and teach many of its doctrines but the blueprint contained in the Bible of the Lord's Church is unique and fits only one religion or Church and that is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Other Churches baptize, they offer the Sacrament, they teach faith in Christ. But that is just it, they teach only elements found in the blueprint. The blueprint does not fit them completely.
From the foundation of the world whenever the Lord has communicated with man it has been through a prophet. In other words the Lord calls prophets, authorized servants, to make His will known to man. In the meridian of time Jesus Christ entered this mortal world to not only set for us an example but to establish His Church and Kingdom. This He did first by calling and authorizing leaders; the twelve apostles. In this quorum of twelve apostles He called three to head it; Peter, James and John with Peter as the chief apostle, the president or the prophet of the Church. Later Paul taught that the Church would always be led by apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, etc. These would be led by Him through the Holy Ghost.
His doctrine was His and was not to be altered by man. The truth then is truth today. His commandments are eternal, what was right then is right now and what was wrong then is wrong now. Example: Churches now accept as normal behavior and many even condone sexual relations before marriage. The teachings in the Lord's blueprint strictly forbid this. Intimacy is allowed only between legally married man and wife. Joseph Smith was told of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that the churches of today teach forms of His gospel; the precepts of man mingled with scriptures, but their hearts are far from Me.
Jesus told the ancient people in the Americas that what He speaks to one He speaks to all. That by the witness of two or three (minimum) will the truth be taught. The Bible tells us to take the stick of Judah (the Bible) and put it with the stick of Joseph (the Book of Mormon) and these two shall become one in your hand to establish the truths of God.
God continues to lead His work on earth today through a Prophet and 12 apostles. Jesus Christ is the head of this Church and His teachings and doctrines are the same today as when He taught them some 2000 years ago.
It's all there in the blueprint.
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