Joseph Smith, an apostle? — Section 28
Apostles in these days?
Representative of a Christian church:
With the ‘important’ role and calling that you attach to Joseph Smith in these times, it would be expected that we would see his name or reference to his name in the Bible. Can you please show us such verses from the holy scriptures?
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Consider this, please. We read of only a 400 year time span between the Old and New Testaments. There is, however, an 1800 year time span between the Bible and the life of Joseph Smith. Can you show me anywhere in the Old Testament where the Savior’s specific name (Jesus Christ) is mentioned or referred to?
Representative of a Christian church:
No, I can’t, but how can you make the claim that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, similar to the spiritual giants we refer to as ‘prophets’ in the Bible?
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
We make that claim because Joseph Smith fulfilled the scriptures of the apostasy and those scriptures of the restoration of the gospel. Paul said, “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.” (Hebrews 13:9) There is no teaching or doctrine in the Bible that says there will not be apostles or prophets or revelations in our times. Christ, through his servant Paul, taught, “And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee; nor the head to the foot, I have no need of thee.” This he said, comparing the offices of the church to a human body (1 Corinthians 12:1-31). To say we have no need of apostles and prophets is a strange and diverse doctrine and was never taught by the Savior nor by his apostles.
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