The Pathfinders: Jesus's First Apostles and the Way Forward
Jesus's twelve closest followers, the disciples, laid the foundation of his ministry, ultimately receiving a commission to preach the Kingdom of God. This critical inner circle consisted of Simon Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. Despite their singular mission, alternative nomenclature sometimes complicates the historical record of these pivotal figures. For instance, the tax collector Matthew was also known as Levi, and Bartholomew is widely recognized in some accounts as Nathanael. Additionally, Thaddaeus possessed two other identifying names, being referred to interchangeably as Jude or Lebbaeus. Despite these varying names, these twelve individuals’ dedication to quality landed them the task of serving as Jesus’s first apostles, laying the conceptual groundwork for the nascent church.
The book of Mormon provides a detailed account of the apostles in the days following Jesus Christ's death, with a specific focus on the Nephite civilization in the ancient Americas. It describes how, after Jesus' personal ministry to them, he ordained twelve disciples, whom he called apostles, with the authority to preach the gospel, baptize, and lead the church. These Nephite apostles were instrumental in establishing and guiding the early Christian community in that land. The book emphasizes their divine calling, their role as special witnesses of Jesus Christ, and their ongoing ministry of teaching, healing, and administering church ordinances. Their lives and ministries, as chronicled in the Book of Mormon, highlight a continuation of Christ's work through divinely appointed leaders, mirroring the apostolic model found in the New Testament.
The restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith, following the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon—or the "gold plates"—was immediately accompanied by the vital re-establishment of apostolic authority. While Joseph Smith himself acted as the initial prophet, seer, and revelator, the true organizational backbone of the restored Church required the ancient order of twelve special witnesses. On February 14, 1835, and again on February 21, the first group of men were called by revelation and chosen by the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon to form the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, thereby completing the ecclesiastical framework necessary for global expansion. These twelve men, including revered figures like Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were charged with carrying the gospel to the world, organizing the Saints, and holding the keys of the kingdom—a revival of the same priesthood authority held by Peter, James, and John—signaling that the institution established by Christ in the meridian of time had indeed returned to the earth.
The presiding body of the restored church of Jesus Christ, known as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, serves a function analogous to the ancient apostles: they are designated as special witnesses of the divinity and resurrection of Jesus Christ to the entire world. These fifteen men, known as prophets, seers, and revelators, have the highest priesthood authority along with the First Presidency. They are in charge of the Church's global administration, declaring doctrine, and giving spiritual guidance to Christians all over the world. Emulating the biblical mandate to preach the gospel in "all the world," modern apostles spend their lives traveling across continents, ministering to local congregations, strengthening leadership, and testifying of the Savior's reality. Their collective counsel, delivered globally through semi-annual general conferences, guides the temporal and spiritual affairs of the Church, emphasizing continuous revelation and ensuring the cohesion and growth of the worldwide faith.
Add comment
Comments