Why aren't these guys Mormons?

[_Simon Belmont]

One of the three Nephites did visit Joseph.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Witnesses see under David Whitmer

Maybe you should do some research first?

HAHAHAHA, the poster Joseph do research? The dumbass can't even be bothered to do a simple Google search before he asks his stupid questions.

[_Joseph]

Don't need google when I have blemnuts the gargoyle.

[_The Nehor]

Hold on a second. They aren't part of our church?

Yep, John was a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Former Day Saints (or whatever they call it when they divide them up in dispensations in heaven) and the Three Nephites belong to another organization long gone.

A different priesthood?

I said a different hierarchy not a different Priesthood. It is the same Priesthood but The Three Nephites and John do not report to President Monson in the use of their Priesthood (though both chains eventually lead to God). I would guess they report to their dispensation heads (Nephi and Peter respectively) or perhaps directly to God in whatever they are doing now. In the same way if Enoch or someone from his city came to the Earth on business of some kind they wouldn't report through the LDS Priesthood chain (First Presidency or the Twelve or any other Priesthood leader) nor would they be "members of the LDS Church".

After Adam-ondi-ahman the differences will become moot as the keys will all be reported on and stewardships given up so Messiah can rule and reign.

Heresy

Nope.

[_The Nehor]

I agree with Zeez, in that I've never heard this before. What priesthood do they have?

The same one but a different hierarchy began.

And what church do they belong to?

Whatever Church they belonged to before being translated.

I'd thought that Joseph Smith supposedly restored the ancient church.

No, he restored the gospel and the Priesthood and then founded a new church. This new church did use many ancient practices and teachings from other dispensations but it was new.

Thomas S. Monson cannot give instructions to Moses or Abraham or any of their followers from that day on what they should be doing in the Spirit World because of his Priesthood keys.

It's an almost technical point because only translated beings are affected by it and they don't give interviews on their relationship with the current dispensation but there you are.

The reason we speak of Priesthood Restoration despite some having it is that those translated beings weren't distributing it generally. They didn't have the authority to do so outside of direct command from God. The only time we know of this happening was to Joseph and Oliver. Once they had it with the keys and a mandate to ordain others the Priesthood was Restored.

[_Morley]

I agree with Zeez, in that I've never heard this before. What priesthood do they have?

The same one but a different hierarchy began.

And what church do they belong to?

Whatever Church they belonged to before being translated.

I'd thought that Joseph Smith supposedly restored the ancient church.

No, he restored the gospel and the Priesthood and then founded a new church. This new church did use many ancient practices and teachings from other dispensations but it was new.

Thomas S. Monson cannot give instructions to Moses or Abraham or any of their followers from that day on what they should be doing in the Spirit World because of his Priesthood keys.

It's an almost technical point because only translated beings are affected by it and they don't give interviews on their relationship with the current dispensation but there you are.

The reason we speak of Priesthood Restoration despite some having it is that those translated beings weren't distributing it generally. They didn't have the authority to do so outside of direct command from God. The only time we know of this happening was to Joseph and Oliver. Once they had it with the keys and a mandate to ordain others the Priesthood was Restored.

I thought the restoration concerned "the restoration of all things" which, of course, was one of the reasons polygamy was dusted off. Correct me if wrong.

[_Morley]

And what church do they belong to?

Whatever Church they belonged to before being translated.

Aren't they the same church? The FAIR website claims, "Thus, the Latter-day Saints claim their church is an actual restoration of primitive Christianity, as it existed under the Apostles in the first century A.D." You seem to be saying they are different.

[_The Nehor]

I thought the restoration concerned "the restoration of all things" which, of course, was one of the reasons polygamy was dusted off. Correct me if wrong.

You are not wrong. In this dispensation all things must be restored. That is unique to this dispensation. Some have already been restored. Some have not been (or at least have not been made public) yet.

A few of these are animal sacrifice, translation (in the Enoch, Moses, and Elijah sense), resurrection, the spiritual, economic, and social laws of Zion in their fulness, the political kingdom of God and its organization (most will need to wait for Second Coming), the return of the Patriarchal Order in its fulness, mighty miracles in the vein of Elijah and Moses, and many others some of which we may not even know of.

I don't see how a restoration requires it be the same church. The restoration refers to facets of the gospel not to the Church itself.

[_jon]

You are not wrong. In this dispensation all things must be restored. That is unique to this dispensation. Some have already been restored. Some have not been (or at least have not been made public) yet.

"We declare to the world that the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth." —Elder L. Tom Perry: The Message of the Restoration

Nehor you need to keep up...

[_The Nehor]

Aren't they the same church?

I don't think so.

The FAIR website claims, "Thus, the Latter-day Saints claim their church is an actual restoration of primitive Christianity, as it existed under the Apostles in the first century A.D." You seem to be saying they are different.

I am. I believe that the LDS Church is a restoration of primitive Christianity but not of the primitive Church itself. It probably sounds like hair-splitting. The difference rarely matters unless you start messing around with people from different dispensations mingling together.

Since this usually only happens in heaven where we can't see it and on abandoned roads when three nice young men help Sister Helga Hudson when she gets a flat tire the distinction is rarely important.

The only practical change is that President Monson can't tell the Three Nephites or John or Moses of Elijah or Enoch or angels from heaven how they can and cannot use their Priesthood and cannot act as their spiritual leader. He has no authority to do so. General Conference is not revelation for them like it is for the Church and the world. They don't belong to a ward or stake, don't need to interview with anyone for a Temple Recommend, and don't pay tithing or give fast offerings. At least not in the LDS organization.

[_The Nehor]

You are not wrong. In this dispensation all things must be restored. That is unique to this dispensation. Some have already been restored. Some have not been (or at least have not been made public) yet.

"We declare to the world that the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth." —Elder L. Tom Perry: The Message of the Restoration

Nehor you need to keep up...

And it has been. It was restored with Joseph getting all the keys of the Priesthood and the restoration of all the ordinances and teachings of salvation.

That does not mean all things have been restored yet. The fullness of the gospel refers to everything required for eternal lives in the world to come. Not every gospel practice in the history of this world. That is still ongoing and will not be finished until Christ returns though I expect more of it will happen before he comes as well.