Modern-day "apostles"?

Last year, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Mormon church named two men to leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David Bednar and Dieter Uchtdorf were chosen for the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the top leadership council after the three-member First Presidency.

Mormons are told in their Patriarchal Blessing that they are descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel. In addition to this, a number of Latter-day Saints leaders have even claimed to be related to Christ. One of their “apostles” once wrote, “In this day and age true prophets will be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Furthermore, it has also been stated, “One of the signs of the true Church of Jesus Christ is the presence of living prophets who direct its work under the guidance of heaven.”

Apostles in the New Testament were men chosen to preach after Jesus ascended into heaven. Apostles were given miraculous gifts (Acts 2:4; 2 Corinthians 12:12) and were inspired to write the Bible (Ephesians 3:3-5; 2 Peter 1:21). But once God’s revelation was finished, there was no further need to keep revealing God’s will. Therefore, we do not have apostles today. Paul said that miraculous gifts, including inspiration, would stop (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Also, Paul said that one of the requirements of an apostle is that they had seen the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:1). Mormon “apostles” cannot make that claim. Mormons claim to restore the New Testament church; but they merely masquerade a false religion for the true one.

Kyle Campbell