[LittleNipper]

Originally Posted by Islander

I think we are running the risk of falling into a legalistic trap here. Seems like we are talking semantics here rather than substance. Christ is the corner stone of the Church and the absolute center of our worship. Repentance, baptism for the remission of sins by authority and the reception of the Holy Spirit are basic tenements of our religion.

The collective membership as guiding rod of the church sounds very good, in principle. In reality the priesthood HAS to be the guardian of the keys and the doctrine. You may read the scriptures and feel of the Spirit and receive, individually, revelation and knowledge. That does not equate with doing the same fot the WHOLE organization or the Church collectively. When we speak of "The Church" we are referring to the First Presidency, the Q of the 12, the General Authorities the Stake Presidents, the Bishops, the Elders Q and HP group leaders as the instruments thru which the work of the Lord is carried out and service to the members is provided. Even when John was still alive and perhaps the last of the Apostles, there were congregations that began to break away from the "church" and refuse direction and counsel from one of the witnesses of the Savior, if you can imagine that.

So, collectively, it is called "The Church." And, the Priesthood ensures that the doctrine and the ordinances are not corrupted, that vague and obscure interpretations are not ascribed to the scriptures and the work is done according to the will and revelation of God. I have traveled the world over in the last 10 years and everywhere you go the Sacrament ordinance is conducted exactly the same way, the lessons are the same in ALL organizations, the Temple ordinances are exactly the same.

Again and again, the Apostles in their letters told the brethren to stick to what they had been taught, to ignore new doctrines and theologies for they were not of God. I don't know about you, but I spent 7 years visiting just about every congregation under the sun in LA looking for a home. What I saw stretches from the bizarre to the inspired and every shade in between. Some say it is all the same. I categorically state that it is not.

Unlike some christian denominations, my own faith, as understood from Bible study, would indicate that those holding the keys were the chosen founders/teachers/spreaders of the faith. The term was unique to the chosen and not for this age. They wrote the New Testament as so moved by the HOLY SPIRIT and founded the CHURCH on CHRIST as HE charged them. The CHURCH at large would seem to be entirely in the hands of GOD at present.