Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines
19. Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up into Zion.
_History of J. Smith, June 15, 1842_.
NAME OF CHRIST'S CHURCH.
The name, Saint, "Signifies a holy or godly person, one that is so by
profession, covenant, and conversation;" _Cru_. _Con_.
In the Old Testament it means one who worked righteousness, and one
in whom the Lord delighted, for that reason. "But to the Saints that
_are_ in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight;"
_Psalm_ 16. 3. "Gather my Saints together unto me; those that have made
a covenant with me by sacrifice;" _Psalm_ 50. 5.
While the meaning of the term Saints is not changed in the New
Testament, it is used in the epistles of the apostles as a general name
of the followers of Jesus Christ; "To the Saints which are at Ephesus,
and to the faithful in Christ Jesus;" _Eph_. 1. 1. They are those
who have submitted themselves to Jesus Christ, and have become his
subjects. "Just and true are thy ways, thou king of Saints;" _Rev_. 15.
3.
Jesus said, "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if
another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive;" _John_ 5. 43.
This saying of our Savior's is as applicable to the Christian world
to-day, as it was to the people to whom he spake. The Latter-day Saints
have come in the name of Jesus Christ, and preached the Gospel of
repentance as he preached it, and do all things in his name, and, yet,
the most of the world reject them.
Some Christian sects have derived their names from their founders, as
Calvanists, Lutherans, Wesleyans. Others have some appellation growing
out of a peculiarity of doctrine, or faith, as Baptists, Methodists
and Presbyterians. Others again derive their name from historical
events connected with their origin, and geographical location, as Roman
Catholic Church, Greek Church, Church of England, etc. Not a church
in all the world bearing the name of Jesus Christ, except that of the
Latter-day Saints.
Sectarians may ask, are we not called Christians? But the name of our
Savior was Jesus Christ, not Christian. The early Christians first
received that name at the city of Antioch; _Acts_ 11. 26.
We find that the apostles, in their epistles, addressed the members of
the various churches, as Saints, "Beloved of God, called to be Saints;"
_Rom_. 1. 7. "To the Saints and faithful brethren in Christ;" _Col_.
1. 2. We further find that the apostles do not speak of themselves as
followers of men; but Paul calls himself, "An apostle of Jesus Christ
by the will of God;" _Col_. 1. 1. 1 _Tim_. 1. 1. "Paul, a servant of
God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's
elect;" _Titus_ 1. 1. Not according to the doctrines of Luther, Calvin
or Wesley.
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