We assume you belong to a denomination, right?
Chris
You mean, where do I fellowship with other believers?
It’s not a building or an organization.
It is the Church of which Jesus Christ is
the head, and all born again believers belong to it.
You should understand that
Paul wrote in ...
Elder Young
But, how can all the se various Christian denominations
who claim to believe in God, be right?
Chris
Good question.
First Christianity is about 2,000 years old
and, in that time numerous denominations have developed.
On the other hand, Mormonism is less than
190 years old.
The total number of documented groups formed
from its beginning in 1830 to the present
was well over 400.
And as of today, there are approximately 80
different groups pointing to Joseph Smith
as their founder.
Wanda
Dang!
That’s a lot!
Chris
It appears Mormonism is divided worse that
Christianity in that regard.
Elder Smith
Okay, but still there are thousands of Christian denominations.
Chris
Yes.
But let me put it another way: Christianity
is like a wagon wheel with Christ being the Hub.
The individual spokes coming out of it, revolving
around the Hub in unity are the various Christian
denominations.
In contrast, the many offshoots of Mormonism
continue to revolve around Joseph Smith but
they refuse to recognize each other as being
a part of that wheel.
Elder Young
I found here in the Book of Mormon, Alma 46:15
that believers were called “Christians.”
Chris
Do you know the meaning of the term “Anachronism?”
Elder Young
I think it means, when something is out of
its proper historical time or context.
Right?
Wanda
Yeah, I knew that.
Ha!
Chris
Exactly!
That account in Alma you referenced calling
true believers “Christians” was supposedly
written in 73 BC.
But the term “Christian” was first used
to refer to believers in Christ, in the Book
of Acts chapter 11:26 long after Christ’s
ascension into heaven.
Elder Smith
So, you’re saying that the Book of Mormon
reference to the term “Christian” is an
anachronism?
Chris
Exactly.
Let me share another example of that.
The word “Church” found earlier in the
Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 13:4 was supposedly
set around 600 BC.
Yet, the word “Church” was never used
until the time of Christ, recorded in Matthew
16:18.
The word “Church” in the Book of Mormon
was taken from a Greek term which the Nephites
in 600 BC would never have used.
Elder Smith
Interesting!
We did not know that.
Chris
So, going back to your opening statement
then what possible reason could there be for
all the name changes?
Why would Jesus instruct Joseph Smith in 1830
to call it the “Church of Christ”, then
change it in 1834 to the “Church of Latter
Day Saints” and, then change once again
in 1838?
Why wouldn’t Jesus get it right the first
time?
Wanda
That’s a good question!
Chris
One possible reason is that the Church is
instead run entirely by men without any real
instruction or revelation from God.
If it took them eight years to settle on a
name then
