The True Church of Jesus Christ: A Divine Blueprint Restored

Are you seeking the truth about God and yearning to find the true Church of Jesus Christ, guided by His divine light? The Holy Spirit invites you to embark on a sacred journey to discern His will, as promised in John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.”

There are six characteristics of the true Church of Jesus Christ, patterned in the New Testament. Before we delve into these sacred hallmarks, let us reflect on why it is divinely important to find God’s true Church, a beacon of His eternal love. Jesus taught, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

With over 50,000 denominational churches on earth today, it is evident that not all align with God’s perfect will. Each may hold partial truths from the Bible, yet many lack belief in ongoing revelation from God. Without true servants—prophets and apostles—called by divine authority, these churches stray from the path. The Spirit whispers that any church claiming to be the true Church of Jesus Christ must embody these six characteristics, as outlined below. If your church lacks even one, prayerfully re-examine its teachings and immerse yourself in the New Testament scriptures, guided by 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Here are soul-searching questions to ponder, guided by the Holy Spirit:

• How do you know your church is the true Church of Jesus Christ?
• Have you prayed, fasted, and sought divine confirmation through research about your church’s truthfulness, as James 1:5 encourages: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God”?
• Has the Holy Spirit borne witness to you that your church is the true Church of Jesus Christ?
• Have you felt the gentle presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, as Acts 2:38 promises: “Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”?
• Has your church pastor been called by God through prophetic revelation?
• Is your church organized after the order of Jesus Christ, presided over by a living prophet, 12 apostles, with Jesus as the head, per Ephesians 2:20: “Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”?
• Does your church teach about the apostasy—“the falling away”—and the restoration of the everlasting gospel, as prophesied in Revelation 14:6: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth”?
• Does your church embrace the gifts of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, and interpretation of tongues, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10?
• Has your church pastor been endowed with the Melchizedek Priesthood to preside and bless the congregation?
• Have you been baptized by an authorized servant of the Lord holding the Melchizedek Priesthood and received the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands by such priesthood holders, as Acts 8:17 states: “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost”?
• Have miracles graced your life as a testament of faith, like those in Mark 16:17-18: “And these signs shall follow them that believe… they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”?
• Has your faith been tested and refined by divine trials, as 1 Peter 1:7 teaches: “That the trial of your faith… might be found unto praise and honour”?
• Do you hold a personal testimony of the living reality of Jesus Christ, as John 20:31 affirms: “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ”?

If you cannot affirm three or more of these, let this article, illuminated by the Spirit, guide you to the true God of the Bible and His restored Church.

Confusions in Christian Churches Today

Many attend church without questioning whether it is the true Church of God, following family or friends out of habit rather than divine seeking. They neglect fasting, prayer, or scriptural study to discern truth, contrary to Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find.”

A dear friend loved our weekly Bible discussions, growing in understanding each time. I asked, “How do you know your church is the true Church of Jesus Christ?” He shrugged, “I don’t know!” When I followed with, “Did you pray about it?” he admitted, “No!” He had simply assumed his church was true. Together, we visited his church’s website and found teachings misaligned with biblical truth. This story echoes a broader spiritual slumber—many, like my friend, fail to ask, “Is my church the true Church of Jesus Christ?” Assuming any Christian church suffices, they miss the divine pattern.

The world today is shrouded in confusion about God’s true Church. We have not yet reached the unity of faith described in Ephesians 4:13: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” Now is the time to seek the true Church of Jesus Christ, led by the Spirit.

Jesus’ Most Important Teachings

Jesus loves His Church deeply. He organized it with divine precision, calling and ordaining servants to lead it. His teachings, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, perfect the saints and draw us closer to God, fulfilling Ephesians 4:12: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry.”

Though His earthly ministry lasted only 33 years, Jesus’ impact was profound, so much so that “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). In His final hours, He imparted the most sacred lesson: the blueprint to build His Church. Not mere doctrines or theology, but a divine structure. He gave three distinguishing marks for His faithful:

1. They Are Not of This World: As John 15:18-19 declares, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
2. They Love One Another Unconditionally: He commanded, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one to another” (John 13:34-35).
3. They Have Obedient Trust in God: “You believe in God, believe also in me… He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me” (John 14:1, 21).

The Most Important Finding of Your Life

The greatest discovery of your life is finding the true Church of Jesus Christ. This Church will reveal the true God of the Bible—real, immortal beings, not a mysterious, formless entity. Knowing God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ as tangible, loving beings fosters a close relationship with them. The Holy Spirit will testify of this truth, leading you to eternal life, as John 17:3 states: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Through the restored Melchizedek Priesthood, you can bless your family and others. God’s purpose, as declared in Moses 1:39, is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” As His spirit children, He desires our happiness and invites us to become joint-heirs with Christ, like Him throughout eternity. His love, shown in John 3:16—“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”—is beyond comprehension.

Would a Heavenly Father who sent His Son to die for us leave us to wander in darkness? No! Jesus came to show us the way, reflecting God’s image, chosen before the world’s foundation as our Savior (1 Peter 1:20). He foreordained prophets and apostles to guide His Church, performing miracles like healing the blind and raising the dead, teaching divine doctrines, serving the needy, and atoning for our sins on the cross (Acts 10:38).

The Acts of the Apostles reveals the Church’s divine pattern. Study it alongside the section “6 Characteristics of the True Church of Jesus Christ Patterned in the New Testament” to discern truth.

Jesus Taught His Gospel in the Spirit World

After His crucifixion, Jesus descended into the spirit world—paradise—meeting righteous saints awaiting resurrection. He also preached the gospel to those who died since Noah’s time in spirit prison, as 1 Peter 3:19-20 confirms: “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” Three days later, He rose with a glorified body of flesh and bones, appearing to His disciples, who touched His wounds (Luke 24:39). For 40 days, He taught many, witnessed by angels, before ascending to sit at God’s right hand (Acts 1:9-11).

Jesus Christ’s Church Was Led by His Apostles

After His ascension, His Church was guided by prophets and apostles through the Melchizedek Priesthood, as seen in Acts 6:6: “Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” New apostles were called, and no scripture suggests God ceased needing them. John the Beloved foresaw future prophets in Revelation 11:3: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses.” Paul, after his vision and baptism, was ordained an apostle over a year later (Acts 13:2-3).

Dispensation of the Fullness of Times

Today, prophets and apostles lead the true Church through revelation, with Jesus as its head. The everlasting gospel of Revelation 14:6 has been restored: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach.” The Melchizedek Priesthood returned in the 1830s. We live in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, preparing for Christ’s Second Coming (Ephesians 1:10).

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ

This article highlights ancient patterns restored today. The true gospel, lost during the apostasy, now reveals lost truths: our pre-earth life as God’s spirit children (Jeremiah 1:5), the purposeful Fall of Adam and Eve (2 Nephi 2:25), the restored Melchizedek Priesthood, gospel preaching to the dead (1 Peter 4:6), proxy baptisms, and eternal marriage (D&C 132:19). Though hinted at in the Bible, most churches neglect these. Future articles will explore these further.

The Book of Acts Sets Patterns for the True Church of Jesus Christ

Years ago, a work friend and I discussed Christian churches weekly, agreeing on most topics until I emphasized that the true Church must rest on prophets, apostles, and Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). I urged him to read Acts, but his pastor’s teachings missed the priesthood’s power in Acts 8, 9, 16, and 19. Unaware of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood distinction, the pastor couldn’t explain why Philip couldn’t confirm the Holy Ghost. I shared my notes, and my friend was astonished.

Let’s Not Become One of Those People

Matthew 7:21-23 warns, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Without priesthood authority, such works lack divine power.

Jesus established His Church (Matthew 8:3, 17) on apostles, prophets, and Himself as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Their miracles stemmed from priesthood power, as Acts 3:6-7 shows: “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Study the six characteristics below, with fasting and prayer, to find the true Church.

6 Characteristics of the True Church of Jesus Christ Patterned in the New Testament

I) True Priesthood Power Authorized by God

The ancient Church wielded priesthood power to act in God’s name, as in Acts 6:6. Men were called by God and ordained through the laying on of hands by authorized servants. John 15:16 affirms, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.” Miracles in Acts, like Acts 9:40-41, demonstrate this power.

II) A Chain of Ordinations

A desire to serve God does not grant authority. John 15:16 and Hebrews 5:4 state, “No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” The chain of ordinations, unbroken from Jesus Christ, is vital. Examples include Aaron (Exodus 28:1, 3, 41), Joshua (Numbers 27:18-23), and Paul (Acts 13:1-3), following three steps: divine inspiration, congregational approval, and ordination.

III) 12 Apostles – A Foundation of the True Church

The Church rests on 12 apostles, prophets, and Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Acts 1:23-26 shows the apostles replacing Judas with Matthias, maintaining 12. If your church lacks this, question why it deviates from Acts.

IV) Prophets – Authorized Spokesmen for God

Prophets, as God’s spokesmen, receive revelation (Amos 3:7: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”). Ephesians 4:11-13 affirms their role until unity of faith is achieved. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, restored in 1830, follows this pattern.

V) Revelation

Revelation, God’s communication through prophets, is essential (Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish”). 1 Thessalonians 5:20 urges, “Despise not prophesyings.” Galatians 1:11-12 confirms Paul’s gospel came by revelation.

VI) Universal Apostasy

A true church teaches the apostasy, prophesied by Jesus and His apostles (Acts 20:28-30: “Take heed… for I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you”). The Church was lost, but restored in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.

Personal Revelation: Your Path

“Ask, and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7). Study Acts and Doctrine and Covenants 1, fast, pray (Moroni 10:4-5), and act (Matthew 11:28). The Spirit will confirm truth, as it did for me.

Conclusion: This Is the Way

The true Church is living, not a relic. “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20)—prophets, priesthood, and scripture abound. Visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org or read the Book of Mormon, then ask, “Is this Christ’s Church?” The answer transforms eternity.

May the Lord bless you, leading you to His true Church.

Michael B. Nhem

Founder of MapToHappiness.com