1) Christ organized the Church (Eph 4:11-14)
2) The true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ (Eph 5:23)
3) The true church must have a foundation of Apostles and Prophets (Eph 2:19-20)
4) The true church must have the same organization as Christ's Church (Eph 4:11-14)
5) The true church must claim divine authority (Heb 4:4-10)
6) The true church must have no paid ministry (1 Cor 9:16-18; Acts 20:33-34; John 10:11-13)
7) The true church must baptise by immersion (Matt 3:13-16)
8) The true church must bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17)
9) The true church must practice divine healing (Mark 3:14-15)
10) The true church must teach that God and Jesus are seperate and distinct individuals (John 17:11; 20:17)
11) The true church must teach that God and Jesus have bodies of flesh and bone (Luke 23:36-39; Acts 1:9-11; Heb 1:1-3)
12) The officers must be called by God (Heb 4:4; Ex 28:1; 40:13-16)
13) The true church must claim revelation from God (Amos 3:7)
14) The true church must be a missionary church (Matt 28:19-20)
15) The true church must be a restored church (Acts 3:19-20)
16) The true church must practice baptism for the dead (1Cor 15:16&29)
17) "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt 7:20)
First Point - Christ organized the Church
Ephesians 4:11-14
Second Point - The true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ
The name "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" did not appear until April 17, 1838.
The now official name was outlined in Doctrine and Covenants 114:3-4:
. . .who are of the high council of my church in Zion, for thus it shall be called, and unto
all the elders and people of my Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, scattered abroad
in all the world; For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Prior to that, the organization was known as
Third Point - The true church must have a foundation of Apostles and Prophets
Fourth Point - The true church must have the same organization as Christ's Church
Fifth Point - The true church must claim divine authority
Sixth Point - The true church must have no paid ministry
Seventh Point - The true church must baptise by immersion
Eighth Point - The true church must bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands
Ninth Point - The true church must practice divine healing
Tenth Point - The true church must teach that God and Jesus are seperate and distinct individuals
Eleventh Point - The true church must teach that God and Jesus have bodies
Twelfth Point - The officers must be called by God
Thirteenth Point - The true church must claim revelation from God
Fourteenth Point - The true church must be a missionary church
Fifteenth Point - The true church must be a restored church
Sixteenth Point - The true church must practice baptism for the dead
Seventeenth Point - "By their fruits ye shall know them."
Related links:
Bill McKeever's Analysis of the
Seventeen Points (Off Site): The Seventeen Points from an evangelical Christian
perspective. He tends to throw the word "cult" around in a self-serving
way. Nevertheless, I agree with much of his critique.
Twenty Points of the True Church (Off
Site): A parody of Floyd Weston's list, which concludes that there is no true Church. By
Richard Packham.
Bob Hilke's 30 points (Off Site): A very similar
list, linked to scriptures which Hilke believes support the teachings of the LDS Church.