Requirements for Church Membership

D&C 20:37

And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism--

All those who humble themselves before God
And desire to be baptized
And come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits
And witness before the church that they have truly repented of ALL their sins
And are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ
Having a determination to serve him to the end,
And truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins,

SHALL be received by baptism into his church..

A current Baptismal Interview might go like this:

Have you prayed about the gospel? Have your prayers been answered?
What are your reasons for knowing (or believing) that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?
Will you sustain the President of the Church as a prophet, seer and revelator and as the Lord's representative on earth?
Are you now living each of the Ten Commandments?
Will you live the law of tithing?
Will you live the word of wisdom by abstaining from tea, alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful drugs?
Will you obey the law of chastity?

No mention is made of following Christ, rather one is expected to follow the prophet.

D&C 10:67-68

Behold, this is my doctrine--

whosoever repenteth
and cometh unto me,

the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.

Anyone who says that a fundamental doctrine of Mormonism is following the prophet who will never lead the church astray, is teaching as doctrine something other than what Christ taught, and is therefore against Christ, and is not part of Christ's church.

2 Nephi 31:13,21

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye will

follow the Son,
with full purpose of heart,
acting no hypocrisy
and no deception before God,
but with real intent,
repenting of your sins,
witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ by Baptism --
yea, by following your Lord and your Saviour down into the water, according to his word...

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...

Note carefully that no-where in the requirements for salvation, does it mention that one must follow the prophet. It says only that one should follow Christ, repent, and be baptized. This is Christ's doctrine, anyone who declares more or less than this, is not following Christ.

2 Nephi 32:5

For Behold, again I say unto you that if ye will

enter in by the way,
and receive the Holy Ghost,

it will show unto you all things what ye should do. Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.

A continuation of the same speech, in which the way has been defined as repentance, baptism, and faith in Christ. The only other step is to follow the Holy Spirit in all things and in all places, for it will show us all things that we should do. Following a prophet is never mentioned in the scriptures as a prerequisite for salvation.

3 Nephi 11

Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another, but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away... And this is my doctrine... that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere,

To repent
And believe in me...
And be baptized in my name,
And become as a little child...

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that is is my doctrine.. And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil...

Christ again emphasizes that his doctrine is to repent, believe in Christ, and become as a little child. Christ further states that anything more or less than this creates evil. Therefore, declaring as doctrine that a person must follow an infallible church leader generates evil.

Mosiah 23

... It is not expedient that we should have a king; for thus saith the Lord; Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another... Remember the iniquity of King Noah and his priests... ye have been oppressed by King Noah, and have been in bondage to him and his priests, and have been brought into iniquity by them... I desire that ye should stand fast in the liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be king over you. And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister...

The Nephite people learned this lesson the hard way. They desired a king to rule over them. They got their wish, and suffered mightily at the hands of oppressive kings.

Are we any different today? Has the King Prophet and his apostles subjugated the people into bondage? Do they rule over the people with an iron doctrinal hand? Does the King label as heretics anyone who talks about the errors of the King or his apostles or bishops or stake presidents? Is there liberty of conscience or freedom within the LDS church? Does one either believe and do what they are told, or suffer mighty oppression for expressing an unpopular opinion?

Alma 1

And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was not better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal...

The prophet's revelation is no better than that of the ordinary member. The ordinary member is as likely to be right as the prophet is.

Permission granted to copy and distribute this page for non-commercial purposes. Please retain this notice. These writings are not shared as "Revelations to any Church", because we believe that all may receive revelation direct from the Fathers regarding their own circumstances in life. Joseph Absalom

D&C 20:37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism-- All those who humble themselves before God And desire to be baptized And come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits And witness before the church that they have truly repented of ALL their sins And are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ Having a determination to serve him to the end, And truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, SHALL be received by baptism into his church..	A current Baptismal Interview might go like this: Have you prayed about the gospel? Have your prayers been answered? What are your reasons for knowing (or believing) that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God? Will you sustain the President of the Church as a prophet, seer and revelator and as the Lord's representative on earth? Are you now living each of the Ten Commandments? Will you live the law of tithing? Will you live the word of wisdom by abstaining from tea, alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful drugs? Will you obey the law of chastity? No mention is made of following Christ, rather one is expected to follow the prophet.
D&C 10:67-68 Behold, this is my doctrine-- whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.	Anyone who says that a fundamental doctrine of Mormonism is following the prophet who will never lead the church astray, is teaching as doctrine something other than what Christ taught, and is therefore against Christ, and is not part of Christ's church.
2 Nephi 31:13,21 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye will follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ by Baptism -- yea, by following your Lord and your Saviour down into the water, according to his word... And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...	Note carefully that no-where in the requirements for salvation, does it mention that one must follow the prophet. It says only that one should follow Christ, repent, and be baptized. This is Christ's doctrine, anyone who declares more or less than this, is not following Christ.
2 Nephi 32:5 For Behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do. Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.	A continuation of the same speech, in which the way has been defined as repentance, baptism, and faith in Christ. The only other step is to follow the Holy Spirit in all things and in all places, for it will show us all things that we should do. Following a prophet is never mentioned in the scriptures as a prerequisite for salvation.
3 Nephi 11 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another, but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away... And this is my doctrine... that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, To repent And believe in me... And be baptized in my name, And become as a little child... Verily, verily, I say unto you, that is is my doctrine.. And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil...	Christ again emphasizes that his doctrine is to repent, believe in Christ, and become as a little child. Christ further states that anything more or less than this creates evil. Therefore, declaring as doctrine that a person must follow an infallible church leader generates evil.
Mosiah 23 ... It is not expedient that we should have a king; for thus saith the Lord; Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another... Remember the iniquity of King Noah and his priests... ye have been oppressed by King Noah, and have been in bondage to him and his priests, and have been brought into iniquity by them... I desire that ye should stand fast in the liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be king over you. And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister...	The Nephite people learned this lesson the hard way. They desired a king to rule over them. They got their wish, and suffered mightily at the hands of oppressive kings. Are we any different today? Has the King Prophet and his apostles subjugated the people into bondage? Do they rule over the people with an iron doctrinal hand? Does the King label as heretics anyone who talks about the errors of the King or his apostles or bishops or stake presidents? Is there liberty of conscience or freedom within the LDS church? Does one either believe and do what they are told, or suffer mighty oppression for expressing an unpopular opinion?
Alma 1 And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was not better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal...	The prophet's revelation is no better than that of the ordinary member. The ordinary member is as likely to be right as the prophet is.