"The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected" - President Boyd K. Packer - Gen. Conf. Oct. 2003 - "The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected"

(Emphasis added)

"The Church you belong to, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the restored Church.3 When you know what restored means, you will understand why standards of conduct are as they are.

Following the Crucifixion of Christ an apostasy occurred. Leaders began to "teach for doctrines the commandments of men."4 They lost the keys of authority and closed themselves off from the channels of revelation. That lost authority could not just be repossessed. It had to be restored by those who held the keys of authority anciently.5

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a remodeled version of another church. It is not an adjustment or a correction or a protest against any other church. They have their "form of godliness"6 and their goodness and value.

John the Baptist returned through the veil to confer the Aaronic Priesthood, "which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins."7 A companion ordinance, confirmation and the conferral of the gift of the Holy Ghost, required a greater authority.8

Soon thereafter, Peter, James, and John, Apostle companions of the Lord, restored the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood9—"the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God."10

The Restoration did not come all at once. In a series of visitations, other prophets came to restore the keys of the priesthood.11

With the authority restored, the organization was revealed. Apostles were ordained, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and First Presidency were organized as they had been anciently.12 The ordinances were revealed and authority given to perform them.
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ was translated and published. In it is "the fulness of [the] everlasting gospel."13

Other revelations were published—the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. From those books of scripture, we learned why the earth was created and who created it.14 There was opened to the early leaders of the Church the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the standards He requires of His disciples.

We learned about the plan of redemption—"the great plan of happiness."15 We came to earth to be tested and to gain experience, with a promise that "through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."16"

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* To restore: to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish
The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored once again; His church has been restablished as it had been established by the Lord Himself, after the same pattern: Prophets, Apostles, revelation, etc,...

Tags: Truth Restore Restoration Gospel Priesthood Church Jesus Christ Prophet

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