The Restored Church
The Restored Church
Mormons claim to be Christian, but in a very special sense.
They believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church that restores Christianity to the form it had in the time of the Apostles.
They further believe that the divine authority to direct the Christian church has been restored into their church.
The Time of Christ
In the last three years of his life, Mormons believe, Christ established his church and commissioned twelve apostles. He gave them the authority to act in his name and run the church.
Soon after Christ's death, the apostles themselves were killed, and the direct earthly line of authority from God ended.
Church without Authority
Because authority had been lost, Christianity began to drift away from the original church set up by Christ.
Men with good intentions but without authority began to lead the church, and to alter the original beliefs and practices of Christ's church.
As time went on theologians added new beliefs and doctrines onto Christianity, and took others away.
The Christian Church split into Eastern and Western branches, and later into Catholic and Protestant.
The Reformation instigated by Calvin and Luther was an attempt to return Christianity to the teachings of Christ, but it too was a deviation from the original church, and it lacked divine authority.
Restoration
In 1820, God the Father and Jesus Christ came to Joseph Smith in a vision and instructed him to restore Christ's Church.
Over the next few years Joseph Smith received several divine revelations, including the text of the Book of Mormon. Later he was given divine authority.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has faithfully followed the revelations that provide the teaching needed to restore Christ's Church, and the divine authority given to Joseph Smith has been passed down through the priesthood of the Church.
Today
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organised in the same way as it was in ancient times. It continues the tradition of continuing revelation with modern-day prophets and scripture. It sends missionaries in pairs to proclaim the gospel. And it continues to have a lay ministry (not a professional priesthood), and the same priesthood offices.