"Why are you so persistent?" 7/2/12

Dear Family and Friends, Well this week was super tough. We found some pretty hard hearted people that just wanted to argue. I tried so hard to be patient with them but I just get so frustrated when people invent scriptures, or misinterpret them and hold firm to their distorted version. People often tell me that everyone worships in their own way and that we are all searching for the same God. It´s so hard to open peoples eyes and show them that the truth is not something that changes upon perception or convenience. The truth is eternal. The truth is a foundation that cannot be broken nor swayed. One lady asked me this week why we are so persistent on trying to convince her of our religious beliefs. The answer that came out of my mouth surprised me. Normally I say that we know its true, and that it can bless your life. Or I say that its true, and that I know that God knows its true, and I cannot deny it. But this time something new and profound came to me. I hope the spirit can help you understand the gravity of the statement that follows. I taught and testified of the apostasy. Jesus gave his 12 apostles authority to act in His name (lucas 9:1-2) When they died that authority was taken from the Earth. It didn´t exist. Without authority how can we recieve revelations? Without revelations how can we understand the true meaning of the scriptures? We cannot. It is evident today from the plethora of religious viewpoints that men in this world are confused and have different interpretations of the same bible. The authority to act in the name of Christ, to baptize and confer the Holy Ghost was lost. A man cannot choose to be a pastor. He cannot get authority by simply reading the Bible. The apostles were chosen directly by Jesus, as was every other major figure in the scriptures. Here is my point. We are persistent because if the Message of the Restoration is not true, then there is no salvation for the children of men. The authority to administer the saving ordenances of the gospel was lost with the apostles, and any glimmer of hope was shattered in the following apostasy, or rejection of the truth, and distortion of Gospel truths through generations of iniquity. Baptism is a requirement for salvation, and I´m sorry, but we cannot be baptized by the Bible. Jesus Christ was baptized by a man who had due authority, and the same is necessary today. Jesus Christ has personally restored the same church that He established in ancient times during His personal reign and ministry. He has personally chosen a prophet and apostles and speaks to them just as He did throughout the New testament, even after His death. If He has not done this, then we are like ¨ achildren, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of bdoctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive¨ efe 4:14 We as missionaries of this church stand as messengers of Jesus Christ, witnesses of eternal truths which have been lost to the world, and beacons for all who wish to follow Christ more than their pride. We have been called of God, set apart, and duely ordained to combat error and open the gates of Salvation to all who are willing to take the steps. That is why we are persistent. Elder Nichols