Great reasoning and logic:
"Many years ago a learned man, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, came to Utah and spoke from the stand of the Salt Lake Tabernacle. I became well-acquanted with him, and we conversed freely and frankly. A great scholar, with perhaps a dozen languages at his tongue’s end, he seemed to know all about theology, law, literature, science and philosophy. One day he said to me: 'You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don’t even know the strength of your own position. It is so strong that there is only one other tenable in the whole Christian world, and that is the position of the Catholic Church. The issue is between Catholicism and Mormonism. If we are right, your are wrong; if you are right, we are wrong; and that’s all there is to it. The Protestants haven’t a leg to stand on. For, if we are wrong, they are wrong with us, since they were a part of us and went out from us; while if we are right, they are apostates whom we cut off long ago. If we have apostolic succession from St. Peter, as we claim, there is no need of Joseph Smith and Mormonism; but if we have not that succession, then such a man as Joseph Smith was necessary, and Mormonism’s attitude is the only consistent one. It is either the perpetuation of the gospel from ancient times, or the restoration of the gospel in latter days."
The Catholic Church is able to trace itself back to the Apostles through the Holy Priesthood of Christ - Christ is the only High Priest... Ordained Priests in the Church are so called because through the Sacramental Anointing conferred upon them (only) by a Bishop, they act in the “person of Christ”/In Persona Cristi (Latin), which means that they become the vessels through whom Christ Himself is made present when the Priest is actively performing Sacred Ministry- Christ is present but merely hidden by the Priest. With regard to Apostolic succession, a Priest can only be Ordained by a Bishop, and that Bishop was Ordained by a Bishop who was also Ordained by a Bishop...and so on. It is by this line of succession, every Priest is able to trace his Priestly lineage directly back to the Apostles.
ReplyDeleteSomething that was not mentioned by the gentleman referenced in the article is that the Bible was compiled by the Catholic Church and a Council was convened to discern which ones from amongst the original writings was Divinely Inspired, in order to include them in the New Testament. Luther (founder of the Lutherans) removed 7 Books from the Bible and tampered with its Sacred written words which gave birth to two erroneous doctrines namely “Sola Scriptura” and “Sola Fides” - the first purports that Scripture ALONE is the arbiter of Sacred Truth and Protestants often claim “If it’s not in the Bible it isn’t true.” The very Bible tells us that there weren’t enough books to write everything Christ did and said, and there’s also 2Thessalonians: 13-14 which says...
“[13] Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [14] Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.”
The latter doctrine purports that you are saved by “Sola Fides / Faith Alone” which directly ignores/dismisses James 2:17 which declares, “...17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Scripture does not contradict itself, rather each book illumines the other and weaves together the magnificent story of Salvation History.
If you would like to read the Bible inclusive of the books Luther removed, this link will take you to the most authentic English translation of the “Latin Vulgate” - around 382 AD, St. Jerome translated the original sacred manuscripts written in Hebrew, Greek into Latin.
• Catholic Bible:
http://www.drbo.org/index.htm
• How the Bible was put together by the Church:
http://www.drbo.org/catechism.htm