The Church — Церковь

Baptism is the first ordinance of the gospel. It can be explained as a ceremony, in other words, according to Jesus Christ, people were born of the water and that’s why this rite is related to going into the water. «Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water.» The most important thing though is to believe and want to repeat yourself or to get rid of all the sins. That’s why it is called «rebirth». And here’s what St John says in his scriptures, «Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.» Latter-day Saints also believe that to enter the Celestial Kingdom you have to be baptized. According to the Doctrine and Covenants, everyone has to be baptized in order to join the church of Jesus Christ, «All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized? that ? have truly repented of all their sins? shall be received by baptism into his church». I have been baptized and now I feel a real Christian and I do believe every people who call himself or herself a Christian or believe in Jesus Christ have to be baptized.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is governed by the priesthood. That priesthood is divided into the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Aaronic Priesthood. Here’s what the Doctrine and Covenants say: «THERE are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood.» The Melchizedek priesthood is greater than the Aaronic. The bishop has the keys of that priesthood and the power to deal with ecclesiastical jurisdiction things. He has also the right to allow a priest to baptize. The whole organization of the Melchizedek priesthood consists of elder, the high priest, patriarch, seventy, and Apostle, while the Aaronic priesthood consists of deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. Each of these offices and people organizing the Church has its own duties and responsibilities. This is very well explained in the Gospel Principles Chapter 20, «duties of elders, priests, teachers, deacons?» In my opinion, this organization is pretty much the same for every church institution.

Ordinances like baptism are held in a Temple. All the ordinances by themselves are being performed by the power of the priesthood. Thus they are «sealed or bound in heaven». In this way, we are sealed as families. Temples marriages, for example, resemble the same thing, which is very important, as Jesus Christ has thought us. The New Testament proves that connection by the following scripture: «and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.» Temples like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are dedicated to our Lord. Everyone should go there and find this bound and become one. In my opinion, everyone that believe in our Lord and calls himself Christian or any other religion, should go to his Temples and find rest and peace for his mind and at the same time find relief and unity with his family. For example, «The Latter-day Saints are encouraged to participate in family history activities». In this way, they not only learn something about their ancestors but perform ordinances for them.

One very important ordinance that has to be performed in a Temple is marriage. «And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man.» Marriage is not only considered as a custom or some kind of relationship between men and women. For Latter-day Saints, it is something more. It is part of exaltation.» And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]»; It is a sacred thing and needs to be performed by a special authority in a Temple. I believe in marriage and I believe, just like the Latter-day Saints believe that marriage is not only for the present and for the moment? it can be for eternal life if it is honest and true and performed in a Temple. People don’t have to marry if they need only some kind of entertainment for the present days, but to look forward to the days after that. For example, Adam and Eve were married even before there was such thing as death, therefore they were married for eternal life. «Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.» , as it is said in the Old Testament.

People that go to Temples of Jesus Christ have to perform several ceremonies to remind what the Savior did for his people. One of these reminds us to partake of the sacrament. Taking of the bread and water symbolize the flesh and the blood of the Savior and «remind us of the Savior’s atonement.» This is proved by the following scripture «Take, eat; this is in remembrance of my body which I give a ransom for you». Another important thing to follow is the Sabbath day. This is considered to be the last day of the creation of the Earth when our God took a rest. Besides that, it is the day, the seventh day and the last day of the week, when Jesus Christ had been resurrected. And here’s what Genesis says about this: «And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Latter-day Saints believe it is an important day and thus they can «direct their thoughts and actions toward God.» I believe that on Sunday, or Sabbath day, people should take a rest and try to remember what our Lord has created for us by that day. In addition to the sacrament rite, we can remind ourselves what the Savior did for us.

Another important thing about the Temple of Jesus Christ is that it is always been a missionary church. Does this mean that after the gospel had been revealing to Adam, it has always been preached to the people? «And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.» In other words, this would help people to understand much about the gospel and about our Lord and his son? Jesus Christ. According to the Gospel Principles, «we must take the restored gospel to every nation and people». I think there are a lot of people that have a small idea about the gospel, Jesus Christ and what is right and what is wrong and that is why there have to be missionaries to preach at least the gospel.
As a whole, talking about the baptism, the sacrament, the Sabbath day, temple marriages, priesthood reveals us some of the basic things related with The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints. In my opinion, these things have a lot of common with any other church organization and people from all over the world should know something little at least about it.