The Brethren

First of all, the “Brethren” I will be referring and deferring tirelessly to are the Lord’s living prophets,          apostles, and General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The late    President James E. Faust told of a time when, as a young man, he asked Elder Hugh B. Brown, a  member of the First Presidency, “Brother Brown, do you have any personal advice for me?” His answer  was: “Yes, stick with the Brethren.” And that was it.  Caleb and Joshua chose to follow Moses, and the Lord. There is a prophet of the Lord in our day, and apostles as well, with the same authority, keys, and commission from Jesus Christ in our day, even as he called Peter and the twelve in the early church established and organized by His Hand.

     

 I stick with the brethren because they stick with Christ.

The Prophet, the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles are special witnesses of Jesus Christ.  Called by His authority, and sent forth to bear His name before all nations, kindreds, tongues,  and people.  I sustain, defend, and advocate their teachings as the right way, the best way, and the sure way to the  kingdom of God.  I follow the counsel of a living prophet, chosen by revelation, by the hand of God, to lead and Guide  His Church and kingdom in these last days.

The Holy Spirit of God, even the Spirit of Truth, has borne firm and fervent testimony to me after much searching and  prayer, that in all the world, President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s mouthpiece, and chosen prophet.  His two  counselors, Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, comprise the First presidency.  In addition to these men, twelve apostles have been called in our day and time, to lead the church, and to bear a special testimony to the world as special witnesses of Christ.  I love and sustain these wonderful, faithful men, and testify that they are called of God.  There are groups of Seventy Men, called “Quorums of the Seventy”, that are commissioned and sent forth even as they were by Christ, during his mortal ministry.

We Must Let Our Voices Be Heard

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for Good Men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke)

One of these brethren, Elder M. Russell Ballard, an Apostle of the Lord, recently counseled faithful Latter Day Saints to “Let our voices be heard.” This blog is my attempt to do just that.  This blog is not in any way endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The opinions shared herein are my own, and I take full and complete responsibility for them.  That being said, I stand by the brethren, and stand with them.  The Holy Spirit of God has made plainly manifest to me that this is the surest path of safety for believing Christians in all the world. I believe these men are called to serve as Apostles and Prophets by the Lord Jesus Christ himself.  He is no absentee leader and is, in very word and deed, at the head of this Church, overseeing its progress.

What is the Word of the Lord, and Where Can We Find Answers to Tough Questions?

I consider the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, History, The Articles of Faith, along with the official declarations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints unto the World, to be the word of the Lord, the will of the Lord, and the very power of God unto Salvation.  An open-minded, prayerful study of these works, and of the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, will lead the humble, sincere seeker of truth to a quiet but sure witness of the true gospel of the Living Christ in this, the last dispensation of the fullness of times.

Those who talk of blind obedience may appear to know many things, but they do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. There is an obedience that comes from a knowledge of the truth that transcends any external form of control. We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see. (Boyd K. Packer, “Agency and Control,” Ensign, May 1983, 66)

Occasionally, members of our faith feel inclined to seek information regarding their gospel and life questions from sites and resources other than Canonized scripture, the words of living prophets, apostles and General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  If I can convince even one of my brothers and sisters in Christ who wrestle with questions of any kind, or who are simply seeking further light and knowledge on any topic, to look to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, or to the words of prophets and apostles from the time of Joseph Smith, Jr. until the present day for their answers, then I have accomplished my purpose.  There is safety, light and truth to be found in the path of reliance on the words of Jesus Christ and his servants.  Regarding the words of his servants (ie, prophets and apostles) Jesus said: “Whether by my voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

The True Church of Jesus Christ has been restored in these Latter Days

I consider the words of the Lord’s living prophet and apostles spoken and recorded in the Semiannual World General Conferences, and delivered in official church publications and declarations to be the will of the Lord, and every bit as much scripture for us in our day as was Moses’ word for the Children of Israel in their day.  For God to be an unchangeable God, He must follow the pattern he has established, and confirmed through the ages:

“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, except he revealeth his secret unto his servants, the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

How marvelous it is that we have a church that not only bears the name of the Living Christ, but that is organized in the same way as was the primitive church, set up by his hand in Biblical times.  We have once again, at the command of Jehovah, established temples upon the the earth, sacred houses of worship and of saving ordinances, as did the children of Israel.  Couples and families are sealed together for time, and for all eternity.  Work is done for loved ones, and near and distant ancestors, that they may be offered the opportunity to receive salvation by proxy.

Marriages and cherished relationships need not end at death, but may continue throughout all eternity.

I stand with Joseph Smith, Jr, and declare, with heartfelt gratitude, that he did in reality see and speak with God the Eternal Father of us all, and His Son Jesus Christ.  I testify that the authority given by John the Baptist, and by Peter, James and John Has been passed down from one worthy man to another, from one generation to the next, until we now have the Holy Priesthood of God given to Man on the earth today.  We, as a church, are authorized to administer the ordinances of Baptism, and the laying on of Hands, for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

My invitation to you:

My brothers and sisters, I love you, and I invite you to search the teachings of the living prophet and apostles, and of the holy scriptures. I testify that through careful and honest study and prayer, you will find all the answers you’ll ever need.

I close this inaugural post and my testimony with the words of that dearly beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley:

When it comes to divine authority, this is the sum and substance of the whole matter.

God be thanked for His marvelous bestowal of testimony, authority, and doctrine associated with this, the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

There is always room for more good

This must be our great and singular message to the world. We do not offer it with boasting. We testify in humility but with gravity and absolute sincerity. We invite all, the whole earth, to listen to this account and take measure of its truth. God bless us as those who believe in His divine manifestations and help us to extend knowledge of these great and marvelous occurrences to all who will listen. To these we say in a spirit of love, bring with you all that you have of good and truth which you have received from whatever source, and come and let us see if we may add to it. This invitation I extend to men and women everywhere with my solemn testimony that this work is true, for I know the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. (The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith, President Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, October 2012 , Sunday morning session)

 

Sincerely,

Jerrod Wertman