Called of God

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

Articles of Faith 1:5

The fifth article of faith shows the relationship between Christ, who is at the head of the church, and the church’s leaders. Across the globe, people, given authority by God, receive revelation to call others to the work. Those with proper authority then lay their hands on the person to “set them apart” in that calling. No one receives authority without this process.

Called of God

Who was the first person to receive this authority? In the history of mankind, the first person to get authority from God was Adam. From Adam, the authority was given to others. These we call prophets. Others received authority from the prophets to work in God’s kingdom. We read of Aaron receiving authority from Moses to be a priest. Priests and others were called and set apart to work in God’s church.

John the Baptist had authority to baptize. Jesus recognized that authority and went to John when He needed baptism.

Jesus Christ Himself received authority from God. My personal belief is that He received that authority before He was born. I also believe that He received authority after His baptism when the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove. We read in Luke chapter 2, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” Luke 2 also states, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (verses 40, 53).

Peter was given authority by Jesus. We read, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Peter, after Christ’s ascension, was the prophet and leader of the church. The apostles understood this, even after having received authority from Jesus.

The apostles called others and gave them authority to watch over the church’s members. However, after the apostles’ deaths, corruption and false teachings were introduced. God’s authority was removed due to these things. This initiated a great apostasy.

The prophet Amos prophesied of this: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12). Amos also told us how God guides His people. We read, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Restoration of Authority

The apostasy was this “famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” A restoration of God’s authority and pattern was needed. God is a merciful God. The time of apostasy wasn’t meant to last until Christ’s Second Coming. In His infinite wisdom, God inspired people during the apostasy to set up the right conditions for a flourishing restoration.

In the Spring of 1820, a young man in Palmyra, New York, went into a grove of trees. His goal was to get wisdom. He wanted forgiveness of his sins and to know which church he should join. The time was right, and God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, visited Joseph Smith. This was the start of the restoration of God’s authority.

In this First Vision, Joseph wasn’t given authority. That would come a few years later. Even though the time was right, Joseph still needed knowledge and training before God entrusted him with authority.

Eventually, Joseph and his scribe Oliver Cowdery wanted baptism. They did not know how to baptize, nor whether it was right. Joseph again employed the pattern he had learned in his First Vision. Joseph and Oliver went into the woods and prayed. John the Baptist, who had authority to baptize in Christ’s time, visited the two and gave them the authority to baptize (Doctrine and Covenants 13).

Over the next couple of years, Joseph received more authority. Peter, James, and John visited to give the authority to administer to all things in Christ’s church. He got dispensational keys from Moses, Elijah, and Elias. Joseph was then told, “Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:16).

Moving Forward

Now that the authority was restored, the Church of Jesus Christ could also be restored. People were called and given authority and can trace that authority to Joseph Smith. All callings and authority ultimately come from Jesus Christ. The church would be organized according to the pattern established by Jesus Christ. We will discuss this in the sixth Article of Faith.

Why Do I Believe this Is True?

I’m a person of logic. No surprise, given that my Bachelor’s degree is in Computer Science. Logic makes sense to me. There is an order that needs to be followed, even in spiritual matters. Authority is bestowed everywhere we look. A police officer is given authority by those who have the right. An elected official is given authority by his/her constituents. No one can just declare to be the President of the United States. The electorate’s authority bestows the responsibility.

A person cannot receive God’s authority by just declaring it. It is given by God himself and usually through those He has appointed on earth. The restoration of God’s authority makes sense. The restoration has explained many of the mysteries and confusion that a reading of the Bible has created.

The “famine of hearing the words of the Lord” happened after the apostles passed away. The people tried their best, but because of wickedness and corruption, the authority of God was removed from the earth for a season. It had to be restored. God, through Jesus Christ and others previously authorized, restored it back to earth.

How Does It Work Today?

How are people “called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands?” Currently, I am the second counselor in my ward’s bishopric. The bishop has been given authority to call people to positions in the ward. As a bishopric, we meet together to discuss the various positions. We seek counsel from the leaders of the various ward organizations. We pray about the names of people and seek confirmation from the Holy Ghost that those named are right for the position. After receiving that confirmation, we reach out and extend the calling. The calling isn’t an assignment; it isn’t a requirement. It’s an offer, extended by mortal representatives of Jesus Christ. The person to whom the offer comes can decline. No one is forced to do anything in the kingdom. If accepted, hands are laid upon the person. They are set apart in the calling and receive a blessing from God for the position and their personal life.

Conclusion

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, people are called to work in God’s kingdom by prophecy and by the laying on of hands. The restoration of God’s authority allows God’s work to go forth. It is an integral part of Christ’s church. When called and set apart, the person knows the calling has come from Jesus through revelation. They can also be confident that they will receive the help needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the calling.