Name of Jesus’ Church
3 Nephi 27:8; “And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.”
Romans 12:5; “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Why is the name of their church referred to as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
This verse from third Nephi proves the LDS Church is not from God.
Actually, the subject of their name is Jesus Christ, as in Jesus of Nazareth.
The problem for LDS is that their church was originally named “The Church of God” by Joseph Smith, by the “command of God”. Four years later, the elders (including Smith) changed the name, (apparently against the “command of God”?), to “The Church of Latter-day Saints”. Then, four years later, Joseph Smith changed the church’s name yet again, this time to current “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”.
The problem is that the second name did not fit this passage in 3 Nephi. (Obvious question to ask is whether this means this is not God’s church, and if it is, then why didn’t it call itself such since its inception.)
However, this problem gets magnified even more when one considers Point #2 of the “17 Points of the True Church”:
2. The true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ (Eph 5:23)
(Ignore the fact that Ephesians 5:23 does not support this ‘point’ at all.)
The first eight years of the LDS church did not follow this point, even though its missionaries push this as a requirement. Therefore, one must consider that, if this is a true requirement of being the true church, either the LDS church itself must be disqualified or room must be extended to every other church on earth who hasn’t yet changed its name to include “Jesus Christ”. Furthermore one must consider that NOT ONE church in the New Testament, established by the Apostles BEFORE the great apostasy was supposed to have happened, was identified with the name of Jesus Christ. (Example, “the church which was at Jerusalem”, “the church of Ephesus”, etc).
God’s word is truth and reliable – and doesn’t need new revelations to be applicable in today’s world.
Vince – Excellent posting… I would like to correspond with you more, you have great insight. Shoot me an e-mail at;
camden@lifeafter.org
What’s in a name? You can have Jesus, crosses, doves, living waters, etc. all over the outside of the building you attend “church” in, but it could be a “whitewashed tomb”… The outward appearance of Christianity and Holiness, but full of dead men’s bones…
The word “church” is the translation of the Greek word EKKLĒSIA which is really made up of two Greek words: 1) EK which means “out, out of ” and 2) KLĒSIS which means “a calling” (from the verb KALEŌ which means “to call”). If we put these two meanings together we have “a calling out.”
The “church” is the body of believers and if anyone tries to tell you different, they are wrong. The LDS claim that they are the only true church and that “both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the ‘whore of Babylon’.” To claim ones denomination or organization is the “only true church” is a total falsehood…
Now, to claim that believing in Jesus as your Savior is the only way to Heaven… that, my friends, is completely accurate and true. Of which we should be shouting it to the world.
Amen! Thx for posting!