Once Again Called Apostles

To my son,

                This year in the Come, Follow Me program we get to study the Doctrine and Covenants and the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation. Several years ago the apostles wrote a proclamation to summarize the message of the restoration, and in it they said this: “Two hundred years ago, on a beautiful spring morning in 1820, young Joseph Smith, seeking to know which church to join, went into the woods to pray near his home in upstate New York, USA. He had questions regarding the salvation of his soul and trusted that God would direct him. In humility, we declare that in answer to his prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and inaugurated the ‘restitution of all things’ (Acts 3:21) as foretold in the Bible…. We affirm that under the direction of the Father and the Son, heavenly messengers came to instruct Joseph and re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ…. We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored. This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection. Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority.” I have a testimony that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God. He was called in our time to restore the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. He received the priesthood of God, which is the power of God that enables us to make covenants with the Lord and one day return to His presence. One day when you are older you will also be able to hold the priesthood and serve God’s children with it.

                When the Savior was on the earth, He organized His Church and made Peter its leader. Jesus said this to Peter: “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:17-19). Those “keys” were the authority for Peter to lead the Church and continue to take the gospel to all the world. The book of Acts tells us of the incredible faith of Peter and the other apostles who boldly used the power of God to heal, bless, and teach. For example, one day Peter and John found a man who couldn’t walk who was begging for money at the temple. Peter said this to him, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The story continues, “And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:6-8). That must have been amazing to witness! Many similar miracles were done by the apostles as they used the priesthood to bless others. Eventually, though, Peter and the other apostles who held those keys (except John) died and the Church was broken up. But in our dispensation, that same Peter came back and gave priesthood keys and power to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The Lord summarized what happened in these words, “Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:12). Because of the restoration and these priesthood keys, we can be baptized, receive blessings, make covenants with God in temples, and seal our families together. We are so blessed to be members of the Lord’s restored Church, and I hope that this year you will gain a testimony of yourself that these things are true!  

Love,

Dad