[[Gospel of Jesus Christ|Restoration]] # Sacrament Talk - Restoration 2020-01-26 USUAL MUMBO JUMBO I’ve been asked to speak about “why was a restoration necessary?” I’m going to start with and talk primarily on why the Lord needs a Church in the first place. Then I’m going to on why a restoration and then briefly touch on why it’s important to have a testimony specifically about the restoration. # Why a church: In the come follow me article for Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women I was assigned to talk on there is a paragraph that starts by by saying. ------------------  It’s common in our day for people—especially young people—to wonder why we need a church. I’m going to read some from Elder Christofferson and President Nelson to answer this question. Without the capabilities of His Church in place, the Savior’s commission to take the gospel to all the world could not be realized.[25](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note25) There would not be the apostolic keys, the structure, the financial means, and the devotion and sacrifice of thousands upon thousands of missionaries needed to carry out the work. Remember, “this Gospel of the Kingdom \[must\] be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.”[26](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note26) The Church can build and operate temples, houses of the Lord, where vital ordinances and covenants may be administered. Joseph Smith stated that God’s objective in gathering His people in any age is “to build unto the Lord a house whereby He \[can\] reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.”[27](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note27) \-Elder D. Todd Christofferson Of course, the crowning jewel of the Restoration is the holy temple. Its sacred ordinances and covenants are pivotal to preparing a people who are ready to welcome the Savior at His Second Coming. Presently we have 166 dedicated temples, and more are coming. An open house will be held prior to the dedication of each new and renovated temple. Many friends not of our faith will participate in tours of those temples and will learn something about temple blessings. And some of those visitors will be moved upon to know more. Some will sincerely ask how they might qualify for the blessings of the temple. As members of the Church, we need to be prepared to answer their questions. We can explain that the blessings of the temple are available to any and all people who will prepare themselves. \-President Russell M. Nelson ## Paco Story The St. George Temple was in the news this week. I had one person not of our faith who has worked on many temples during his career ask me a question about baptism when we toured the new stake center temple and showed off their new baptismal font.  He thought all baptisms were performed in the Temple. I said baptisms for the living can be done anywhere. Then I testified that the blessings of baptism are so important that they are not only important for the living but also for the dead. The Lord wants all His children to partake of the eternal blessings available in His temple. He has directed what each person must do to qualify to enter His holy house. \-President Russell M. Nelson # Why a restauration: This is the church the Lord needs.  ------- In the come follow me from this week 1 Nephi 12-13 we read about the apostasy and the plain and precious truths that were lost. >[!scripture] [[D&C 93#24]] >![[D&C 93#24]] There is no other church. Like president Nelson emphasized not too long ago this is The Church of Jesus Christ. But what was restored? The key of the kingdom. With the keys of the kingdom, the Lord’s servants can identify both truth and falsehood and once again authoritatively state, “Thus saith the Lord.” Regrettably, some resent the Church because they want to define their own truth, but in reality it is a surpassing blessing to receive a “knowledge of things as they \[truly\] are, and as they were, and as they are to come”[30](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note30) insofar as the Lord wills to reveal it. The Church safeguards and publishes God’s revelations—the canon of scripture. \-Elder D. Todd Christofferson Why the prophet asked us to study the restoration It was lost and the savior works through his church: Two, we must remember that in the beginning, the Church was the family, and even today as separate institutions, the family and the Church serve and strengthen one another. Neither supplants the other, and certainly the Church, even at its best, cannot substitute for parents. The point of gospel teaching and priesthood ordinances administered by the Church is that families may qualify for eternal life. \-Elder D. Todd Christofferson # Why a testimony: Because without a testimony of the restoration we are just another church that follows Christ and not the very organization Apostles, Prophets and their line of authority that the Savior himself established during his mortal ministry. ## My testimony I know this is that church Jesus Christ established. I know President Nelson has the keys that were restored to Joseph Smith. I’m so grateful to be a part of the day Nephi described in 1 Nephi 14:14 where he said. 1 Nephi 14:14 14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.