Restored Gospel Needed for Salvation

Ensign, Nov. 2009, 37; “In many ways the gospel of Jesus Christ is like a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. When Joseph Smith came on the scene, perhaps 100 pieces were in place. Then Joseph Smith came along and put many of the other 900 pieces in place so that people could say, ‘Oh, now I understand where I came from, why I am here, and where I am going.’ As for Joseph Smith’s role in the Restoration, the Lord defined it clearly: ‘This generation shall have my word through you’ (D&C 5:10).” –  Tad R. Callister, Joseph Smith—Prophet of the Restoration

Cross 3

Romans 16:25-27; “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

While reading through some editions of the Mormon monthly Ensign magazine I came across the above entitled article “The Restored Gospel” written by Tad Callister.  A sickening feeling began coming over my spirit as I read further into this article that described how wonderful it was that Joseph Smith gave the world the opportunity to be saved because no one else could or would’ve done the things this guy did.

As I thought upon this scenario especially with the Christmas season upon us my thoughts went to the letter Paul wrote to the Romans.  The exuberance he portrayed in his prison letter out shined the fact that he was literally a prisoner for Christ.  His entire message was about the gospel and what God did for the children He loved so much.

Paul closed his epistle with utter reverence describing the glory of God and acknowledging that while everything came from Him it all goes back to Him as it belongs to Him.

Matthew Henry’s insights are a sweet reminder of what Paul’s words meant when he said; “Christ was the preacher of it [the gospel] himself; it began to be spoken by the Lord; So pleased was Christ with his undertaking for our salvation that he would himself be the publisher of it….Christ is the subject-the sum and the substance of the whole gospel is Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Notice how nothing else and no one else is mentioned.  God commanded the scriptures tell the story.  God commanded a price be paid for sin.  God commanded that while we were yet sinners His Son died for us, God commanded that all the nations know…

To imply that the coming of Jesus and all He did only resulted in 10% of what was needed for God’s creation to understand today is the day of salvation is nothing short of qualifying yourself to be an antichrist.  To believe He would do this and leave countless millions of people left hanging with nothing for two millennia is incomprehensible.

There are two key words in this passage that I want to focus on for now.  The first is found in verse 25; the word revelation.  In the Greek this word is apokalupsis; pronounced ap-ok-al’-oop-sis.  It is a disclosure:—appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.

This is God’s revelation.  Not yours, not mine, not Paul’s and certainly not Joseph Smith’s.  It belongs exclusively to God because it is about God.  God has revealed Himself to His creation and removed the veil so we can have fellowship with and through Him.  He revealed Himself at first to Adam and down through the Old Testament ages until He removed the veil in the temple giving us direct access to Himself.

The second word is manifest.  The Greek word manifest in verse 26 is phanerooô; pronounced fan-er-o’-o; which means to render apparent (literally or figuratively):—appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).

It comes from two words – phano which means luminous or to shine forth and another word phemi which means to speak forth from the mind – to tell one’s thoughts.

The use of these two words in this passage alone leaves nothing unsaid that needed to be revealed.  The little visual of a jigsaw puzzle with most of its missing pieces is an insult in the highest degree.  And then to blatantly say that Joseph Smith was the one needed to tell people about salvation is even more heretical.

When have you ever known God not to provide?  For forty years He put manna out in the wilderness for the wandering Israelites each and every day – He didn’t tell them how to make it – He physically put it there Himself to ensure they were fed and well nourished.

Exodus 16:35; “And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.”

How could He mess up not giving the message that Jesus had come to save us?

He gave His children specific instructions on how to build temples, how to furnish them, what to do inside them, who could and couldn’t enter, what clothes they were to wear…He gave people specific instructions on what to do during the Passover, how to keep safe from evil, which festivals they were to observe; the list of things He told us to do and how to do them is exhaustive and the LDS Church doesn’t think He gave enough information about Jesus who is the absolute Crowning Glory of God?  Really?

What else could God Himself have done for us?  The answer to this is nothing.

To not accept what God has offered is rejection of God and His Son Christ Jesus.

The words of Mr. Callister are nothing but heretical nonsense and junk theology.  Mr. Callister is a member of the “Presidency of the Seventy” which means he’s a General Authority.  His mother is the daughter of LeGrand Richards, LDS apostle and author of A Marvelous Work and Wonder so this man has been well trained in Mormon theology.  He obviously believes what he’s saying and his words are meticulously well thought out.

Pray for the Mormons who read and believe this false gospel and pray too for Mr. Callister that God would open his eyes and heart and convict him of his sin.

With Love in Christ;

Michelle Grim

1 Cor. 1:18

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