Objection

Priesthood Authority Was Restored

Only the restored priesthood authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can administer saving ordinances.

A claim to restored priesthood authority is a claim to speak and act for God, so it must be tested by the apostolic gospel and biblical tests for revelation rather than assumed from institutional assertion.

Treat authority as a testable claim

Doctrine and Covenants contains Latter-day Saint claims about priesthood keys, ordinances, and restored authority. Christians should state those claims plainly before asking whether the message and authority cohere with the New Testament.

Return to the apostolic message

The New Testament does not invite believers to accept a later authority structure that changes the gospel. Authority claims must be measured by the apostolic witness to Christ.

Sources

Official source

Doctrine and Covenants

Official Latter-day Saint scripture containing revelations and declarations for the restored church.

Doctrine and Covenants, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed June 16, 2026.

Open source

Official source

Joseph Smith-History

Official Latter-day Saint scripture account of Joseph Smith's first vision and early calling.

Joseph Smith-History 1, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed June 16, 2026.

Open source

Official source

Gospel Topics Essays

Official Latter-day Saint essays addressing doctrine, history, and difficult questions.

Gospel Topics Essays, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed June 16, 2026.

Open source

Reference

BibleRef

Reference pages used for BibleRef-first links to Scripture passages.

BibleRef, accessed June 16, 2026.

Open source

Secondary context

Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons

Evangelical response source for Latter-day Saint claims.

Ron Rhodes and Marian Bodine, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons, Harvest House, 1995.