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The Blueprint of Christ's Church
God has a plan of happiness for each one of us, and it's found in His Church. While all churches have truth and do many good things, the scriptures speak of "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). The Lord's true Church can be identified by how it follows the blueprint of Christ's Church as He established it on earth. Tad R. Callister's book outlines the basic principles of that blueprint and demonstrates the strength of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the one church that matches it. He also clearly teaches the core doctrine of the Church to help members share it in a clear and powerful way. This book is a helpful resource for new converts, those preparing to serve missions, and experienced members who want to better understand basic principles and doctrines or share them with others.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2015
44 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Tad R. Callister
11 books130 followersTad R. Callister is an emeritus General Authority Seventy and was the 21st Sunday School General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Presidency of the Seventy from 2011 until 2014 when he was called as Sunday School General President. Brother Callister received a BS in accounting from Brigham Young University, a JD from the University of California-Los Angeles, and an MS in tax law from New York University Law School. He spent most of his professional career practicing tax law. He is the author of the best-selling books The Infinite Atonement, A Case for the Book of Mormon, The Inevitable Apostasy, and The Blueprint of Christ's Church. He and his wife, Kathryn Louise Saporiti, are the parents of six children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 31, 2018
Twice our bishop, once our stake president, and now General Sunday School President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tad has produced an amazing "blueprint of Christ's Church." As a ward mission leader, I have given this book to ward missionaries, friends, and recently baptized Church members. It reminds me a great deal of his grandfather Elder LeGrand Richards's book A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, which itself was a great missionary help.
January 3, 2020
I listened to this book while on a motorcycle trip. It had some good insights. Here are some quotes from the book that I enjoyed.
--".. in the same way the Lord had a master plan to land the plane, that is, restore the church, as soon as he safely could, such that it never again would it be taken from the earth. To accomplish this he needed to prepare an environment that was politically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually hospitable for a restoration. He needed to wait for a time when our agency would be exercised in such a way that it would accept a restoration and not reject it. The master plan begins to unfold. With hindsight we can readily detect the Lord's master plan in action. Many seeds were planted and preparations made so the church could be safely restored."
--The Aaronic or Levitical priesthood was held by the males of the tribe of Levi and were assigned certain duties during Moses time. Aaron, the elder brother of Moses was also a descendant of Levi but Aaron and his male descendants were the only ones that could hold the office of Priest within the Levitical priesthood. As a result this priesthood is also referred to as the Aaronic priesthood.
The aaronic priesthood continued from the days of Moses until the time of John the Baptist, a literal descendant of Aaron. With this priesthood John had the authority and power to baptize the Savior. When Christ instituted his higher law which replaced the law of Moses these blood line restrictions concerning who could hold the priesthood were removed.
--From the account when Peter walked on water and he asked for Christ's help as he began to sink. Immediately Christ stretched for his hand and caught him and said unto him, "oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt". Even though Peter's faith was not perfect, it was sufficient to allow him to walk on water.
For sometime I wondered why Jesus had said, "oh thou of little faith". How many other men had walked on water? But the the thought crossed my mind he was not saying, "oh thou of little faith compared to other men". He does not compare us to others. But he was saying, "oh thou of little faith compared to what you can become." In other words, Peter your little faith was sufficient to walk a few steps on water, but it is insignificant compared to the faith you can develop if you continue to follow me. Such faith usually comes step by step. And as each step is taken doubt is diminished. We cannot develop faith without destroying doubt.
--Pray for faith. We must recognize that faith is a heaven sent gift and demonstrate the initiative to seek after it. We must recognize that faith is not a spiritual goal that descends like manna without any effort on our part. There is a price tag.
--An increase in obedience to God's commandments = an increase in faith
--When comparing the way we live the gospel to a sporting event, we cannot play defense only and expect to win. When only playing defense the best you can do is 0-0. We need to take the offense. For in truth the best defense is a good offense.
--The Sacrament is a time when there is a remembrance again of the Savior's sacrifice and the covenants we made at the time of baptism. As we partake of the Sacrament meaningfully it draws, channels and focuses our spiritual thoughts on the essence of the gospel, the atonement.
Symbolized by the bread for his body and the water for his blood. The Savior taught this truth, "This do in remembrance of me, for as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord's death 'till he come." (1 Corinthians 11:26)
--“You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!”
Boyd K. Packer | “To Young Women and Men,” Ensign, May 1989, 54.
--But how is it possible that you and I, with all our faults and weaknesses and shortcomings, could ever become a god? Fortunately, a loving Heavenly Father has given us resources, made possible because of the Atonement. They can lift us above our mortal restraints and propel us to divine heights. The following are two such resources. Ordinances. First are the saving ordinances.
Joseph Smith received a revelation that explained the relationship between ordinances and godhood:
Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh. [D&C 84:20–21]
In other words, participation in the saving ordinances unlocks and unleashes certain powers from Heaven that are not available in any other way. These powers help refine us and perfect us. Hence each is referred to as a power of godliness. There are five saving ordinances and the corresponding powers of godliness are as follows:
First, baptism by immersion (and the corollary ordinance of the sacrament). Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, this ordinance cleanses us from our sins and helps make us holy, thus aligning our life more closely with the Savior’s.
Second, the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift helps us know “the will of the Lord [and] the mind of the Lord” (D&C 68:4) and thus makes possible our acquisition of a more godlike mind.
Third, the priesthood. This ordinance transfers to a mere mortal the power to act for God on earth as though He Himself were present. In essence, it is a spiritual power of attorney to be God’s agent and to invoke His power, thus helping us learn how to exercise divine powers in righteousness.
Fourth, the endowment. This ordinance is a gift of knowledge from God as to how we might become more like Him, accompanied by covenants to inspire us in that endeavor. There is an old saying, “Knowledge is power.” Accordingly, the righteous use of this knowledge received in the endowment ordinance results in more godly power in our own lives. That is why the Doctrine and Covenants says, “I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high” (D&C 95:8).
Fifth, the sealing ordinances. Death, with all its mighty power, cannot destroy those relationships sealed in a temple—which relationships can now continue beyond the grave and allow us, like God, to have eternal increase.
The saving ordinances are much more than a checklist of actions we must satisfy to gain entrance to the celestial kingdom—they are the keys that open the doors to heavenly powers that can lift us above our mortal limitations.
The second resource to assist us in our pursuit of godhood is the gifts of the Spirit. What are the gifts of the Spirit? We know them as love, patience, knowledge, testimony, and so on. In essence, each gift of the Spirit represents an attribute of godliness. Accordingly, each time we acquire a gift of the Spirit, we acquire a potential attribute of godliness. In this regard Orson Pratt taught:
One object [of the Church] is declared to be “For the perfecting of the Saints.” . . . The . . . plan . . . for the accomplishment of this great object, is through the medium of the spiritual gifts. When the supernatural gifts of the Spirit cease, the Saints cease to be perfected,therefore they can have no hopes of obtaining a perfect salvation. . . .
. . . In every nation and age, where believers exist, there the gifts must exist to perfect them.29
No wonder the Lord commands us to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31); “seek ye earnestly the best gifts” (D&C 46:8); and to “lay hold upon every good gift” (Moroni 10:30).
As we better understand our potential destiny, our level of self-worth and confidence and motivation is greatly heightened. Youth will understand that it is shortsighted at best to take easy classes and easy teachers rather than ones that will stretch them toward godhood. They will catch the vision that it is godhood, not grades, for which they are striving.
And what of our more elderly members? They will understand there is no such thing as a retirement farm, no day when the work is done. Like Victor Hugo, they know their work has only begun. There are yet thousands of books to read and write, paintings to enjoy, music to score, and service to render. They understand the Lord’s revelation to the Prophet Joseph: “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection” (D&C 130:18).
--During the Millenium people will have access not only to early records, but to divine communication of Heaven. So no one will be forgotten or lost in the saving process. If that is true why exert all the effort now, why not wait until the Millenium? Because the divine law of Heaven is that God expects us to do all that we can do, and what we cannot do God will help make up the balance.
--I have a conviction that if we study the scriptures daily as the Lord has asked us to do somehow he will open the way for us to accomplish the other needed tasks of life. God never puts us at a disadvantage for keeping His commands. On the contrary he empowers us to use the remainder of our time more wisely. Be more effective tools in his hands for good. This principle is demonstrated in the account of the two axe men. Every so often the smaller man would take a break and go off into the forest. In the end the bigger man was shocked to find out the smaller man was much farther along. How he asked, when you took so many breaks? "oh, said the smaller man, I was sharpening my axe." Everytime we read from the scriptures we are sharpening our axe. The scriptures give us hope, they comfort us, they inspire us, they lift our thoughts to more celestial realms and they instill within us a burning desire to be more Christ like. We tend to become more like those things that we love and admire. If we love and admire the words of our Saviour we will hasten our pursuit to become more like him.
--Divine output usually proportional to our Divine input.
--If the Lord knows we treasure up His word. We are more likely to receive many more impressions. And in the process acquire an enhanced skill to recognize those promptings and distinguish those from the world.
The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of the importance of recording insights and impressions: “If you … proceed to discuss important questions … and fail to note them down, … perhaps, for neglecting to write these things when God had revealed them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth, the Spirit may withdraw … and there is, or was, a vast knowledge, of infinite importance, which is now lost.”
--He shared this from Pres. Lee: Some years ago when I served as a stake president, we had a very grievous case that had to come before the high council and the stake presidency and that resulted in the excommunication of a man who had harmed a lovely young girl. After a nearly all-night session of the council that had taken that action, I went to my office rather wearily the next morning to be confronted by a brother to this man whom we had had on trial the night before. This man said, “I want to tell you that my brother wasn’t guilty of that thing which you charged him with.”
“How do you know he wasn’t guilty?” I asked.
“Because I prayed, and the Lord told me he was innocent,” the man answered.
I invited him to come into the office, and we sat down. I asked, “Would you mind if I ask you a few personal questions?” and he replied, “Certainly not.”
“How old are you?”
“Forty-seven.”
“What priesthood do you hold?” He said he thought he was a teacher. “Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?” He answered, “Well, no.” He used tobacco, which was obvious.
“Do you pay your tithing?”
He said, “No”—and he didn’t intend to as long as that blankety-blank-blank man was the bishop of the ward.
I said, “Do you attend your priesthood meetings?”
He replied, “No, sir!” and he didn’t intend to as long as that man was bishop. “You don’t attend your sacrament meetings either?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you have your family prayer?”
“No.”
“Do you study the scriptures?” He said, well, his eyes were bad and he couldn’t read very much.
I then said to him: “In my home I have a beautiful instrument called a radio. When everything is in good working order, we can dial it to a certain station and pick up a speaker or the voice of a singer all the way across the continent or sometimes on the other side of the world, bringing them into the front room as though they were standing right there. But after we have used it for a long time, there are some little delicate instruments or electrical devices on the inside called radio tubes that begin to wear out. When one of them wears out, we get a kind of a static—it isn’t so clear. Another wears out and if we don’t give it attention it fades in and out just when we are about to hear who makes the winning touchdown. If we don’t give that attention and another one wears out—well, the radio sits there looking quite like it did before, but something has happened on the inside. We don’t hear. We can’t get any singer; we can’t get any speaker.
“Now,” I said, “you and I have within our souls something that might be said to be a counterpart of those tubes. We have what we might call a ‘Go-to-Sacrament-Meeting’ tube, a ‘Keep-the-Word-of-Wisdom’ tube, a ‘Pay-Your-Tithing’ tube, a ‘Have-Your-Family-Prayers’ tube, a ‘Read-the-Scriptures’ tube, and, as one of the most important that might be said to be the master tube of our whole soul, a ‘Keep-Yourselves-Morally-Clean’ tube. If one of these becomes worn-out by disuse or is not active—if we fail to keep the commandments of God—it has the same effect upon our spiritual selves that that same worn-out tube in the radio in my home has upon the reception we otherwise could receive from a distance.
“Now, then,” I said, “fifteen of the best-living men in the stake prayed last night. They heard the evidence, and every man was united in saying that your brother was guilty. Now you who do none of these things, you say you prayed, and you got an opposite answer. How would you explain that?”
And then this man gave an answer that I think was a classic. He said, “Well, President Lee, I think I must have gotten my answer from the wrong source.” And you know that’s just as great a truth as we can have. We get our answer from the source of the power we list to obey! If we are keeping the commandments of the devil, we will get the answer from the devil. If we are keeping the commandments of God, we will get the answers from our Heavenly Father for our direction and for our guidance.
--".. in the same way the Lord had a master plan to land the plane, that is, restore the church, as soon as he safely could, such that it never again would it be taken from the earth. To accomplish this he needed to prepare an environment that was politically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually hospitable for a restoration. He needed to wait for a time when our agency would be exercised in such a way that it would accept a restoration and not reject it. The master plan begins to unfold. With hindsight we can readily detect the Lord's master plan in action. Many seeds were planted and preparations made so the church could be safely restored."
--The Aaronic or Levitical priesthood was held by the males of the tribe of Levi and were assigned certain duties during Moses time. Aaron, the elder brother of Moses was also a descendant of Levi but Aaron and his male descendants were the only ones that could hold the office of Priest within the Levitical priesthood. As a result this priesthood is also referred to as the Aaronic priesthood.
The aaronic priesthood continued from the days of Moses until the time of John the Baptist, a literal descendant of Aaron. With this priesthood John had the authority and power to baptize the Savior. When Christ instituted his higher law which replaced the law of Moses these blood line restrictions concerning who could hold the priesthood were removed.
--From the account when Peter walked on water and he asked for Christ's help as he began to sink. Immediately Christ stretched for his hand and caught him and said unto him, "oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt". Even though Peter's faith was not perfect, it was sufficient to allow him to walk on water.
For sometime I wondered why Jesus had said, "oh thou of little faith". How many other men had walked on water? But the the thought crossed my mind he was not saying, "oh thou of little faith compared to other men". He does not compare us to others. But he was saying, "oh thou of little faith compared to what you can become." In other words, Peter your little faith was sufficient to walk a few steps on water, but it is insignificant compared to the faith you can develop if you continue to follow me. Such faith usually comes step by step. And as each step is taken doubt is diminished. We cannot develop faith without destroying doubt.
--Pray for faith. We must recognize that faith is a heaven sent gift and demonstrate the initiative to seek after it. We must recognize that faith is not a spiritual goal that descends like manna without any effort on our part. There is a price tag.
--An increase in obedience to God's commandments = an increase in faith
--When comparing the way we live the gospel to a sporting event, we cannot play defense only and expect to win. When only playing defense the best you can do is 0-0. We need to take the offense. For in truth the best defense is a good offense.
--The Sacrament is a time when there is a remembrance again of the Savior's sacrifice and the covenants we made at the time of baptism. As we partake of the Sacrament meaningfully it draws, channels and focuses our spiritual thoughts on the essence of the gospel, the atonement.
Symbolized by the bread for his body and the water for his blood. The Savior taught this truth, "This do in remembrance of me, for as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord's death 'till he come." (1 Corinthians 11:26)
--“You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!”
Boyd K. Packer | “To Young Women and Men,” Ensign, May 1989, 54.
--But how is it possible that you and I, with all our faults and weaknesses and shortcomings, could ever become a god? Fortunately, a loving Heavenly Father has given us resources, made possible because of the Atonement. They can lift us above our mortal restraints and propel us to divine heights. The following are two such resources. Ordinances. First are the saving ordinances.
Joseph Smith received a revelation that explained the relationship between ordinances and godhood:
Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh. [D&C 84:20–21]
In other words, participation in the saving ordinances unlocks and unleashes certain powers from Heaven that are not available in any other way. These powers help refine us and perfect us. Hence each is referred to as a power of godliness. There are five saving ordinances and the corresponding powers of godliness are as follows:
First, baptism by immersion (and the corollary ordinance of the sacrament). Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, this ordinance cleanses us from our sins and helps make us holy, thus aligning our life more closely with the Savior’s.
Second, the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift helps us know “the will of the Lord [and] the mind of the Lord” (D&C 68:4) and thus makes possible our acquisition of a more godlike mind.
Third, the priesthood. This ordinance transfers to a mere mortal the power to act for God on earth as though He Himself were present. In essence, it is a spiritual power of attorney to be God’s agent and to invoke His power, thus helping us learn how to exercise divine powers in righteousness.
Fourth, the endowment. This ordinance is a gift of knowledge from God as to how we might become more like Him, accompanied by covenants to inspire us in that endeavor. There is an old saying, “Knowledge is power.” Accordingly, the righteous use of this knowledge received in the endowment ordinance results in more godly power in our own lives. That is why the Doctrine and Covenants says, “I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high” (D&C 95:8).
Fifth, the sealing ordinances. Death, with all its mighty power, cannot destroy those relationships sealed in a temple—which relationships can now continue beyond the grave and allow us, like God, to have eternal increase.
The saving ordinances are much more than a checklist of actions we must satisfy to gain entrance to the celestial kingdom—they are the keys that open the doors to heavenly powers that can lift us above our mortal limitations.
The second resource to assist us in our pursuit of godhood is the gifts of the Spirit. What are the gifts of the Spirit? We know them as love, patience, knowledge, testimony, and so on. In essence, each gift of the Spirit represents an attribute of godliness. Accordingly, each time we acquire a gift of the Spirit, we acquire a potential attribute of godliness. In this regard Orson Pratt taught:
One object [of the Church] is declared to be “For the perfecting of the Saints.” . . . The . . . plan . . . for the accomplishment of this great object, is through the medium of the spiritual gifts. When the supernatural gifts of the Spirit cease, the Saints cease to be perfected,therefore they can have no hopes of obtaining a perfect salvation. . . .
. . . In every nation and age, where believers exist, there the gifts must exist to perfect them.29
No wonder the Lord commands us to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31); “seek ye earnestly the best gifts” (D&C 46:8); and to “lay hold upon every good gift” (Moroni 10:30).
As we better understand our potential destiny, our level of self-worth and confidence and motivation is greatly heightened. Youth will understand that it is shortsighted at best to take easy classes and easy teachers rather than ones that will stretch them toward godhood. They will catch the vision that it is godhood, not grades, for which they are striving.
And what of our more elderly members? They will understand there is no such thing as a retirement farm, no day when the work is done. Like Victor Hugo, they know their work has only begun. There are yet thousands of books to read and write, paintings to enjoy, music to score, and service to render. They understand the Lord’s revelation to the Prophet Joseph: “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection” (D&C 130:18).
--During the Millenium people will have access not only to early records, but to divine communication of Heaven. So no one will be forgotten or lost in the saving process. If that is true why exert all the effort now, why not wait until the Millenium? Because the divine law of Heaven is that God expects us to do all that we can do, and what we cannot do God will help make up the balance.
--I have a conviction that if we study the scriptures daily as the Lord has asked us to do somehow he will open the way for us to accomplish the other needed tasks of life. God never puts us at a disadvantage for keeping His commands. On the contrary he empowers us to use the remainder of our time more wisely. Be more effective tools in his hands for good. This principle is demonstrated in the account of the two axe men. Every so often the smaller man would take a break and go off into the forest. In the end the bigger man was shocked to find out the smaller man was much farther along. How he asked, when you took so many breaks? "oh, said the smaller man, I was sharpening my axe." Everytime we read from the scriptures we are sharpening our axe. The scriptures give us hope, they comfort us, they inspire us, they lift our thoughts to more celestial realms and they instill within us a burning desire to be more Christ like. We tend to become more like those things that we love and admire. If we love and admire the words of our Saviour we will hasten our pursuit to become more like him.
--Divine output usually proportional to our Divine input.
--If the Lord knows we treasure up His word. We are more likely to receive many more impressions. And in the process acquire an enhanced skill to recognize those promptings and distinguish those from the world.
The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of the importance of recording insights and impressions: “If you … proceed to discuss important questions … and fail to note them down, … perhaps, for neglecting to write these things when God had revealed them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth, the Spirit may withdraw … and there is, or was, a vast knowledge, of infinite importance, which is now lost.”
--He shared this from Pres. Lee: Some years ago when I served as a stake president, we had a very grievous case that had to come before the high council and the stake presidency and that resulted in the excommunication of a man who had harmed a lovely young girl. After a nearly all-night session of the council that had taken that action, I went to my office rather wearily the next morning to be confronted by a brother to this man whom we had had on trial the night before. This man said, “I want to tell you that my brother wasn’t guilty of that thing which you charged him with.”
“How do you know he wasn’t guilty?” I asked.
“Because I prayed, and the Lord told me he was innocent,” the man answered.
I invited him to come into the office, and we sat down. I asked, “Would you mind if I ask you a few personal questions?” and he replied, “Certainly not.”
“How old are you?”
“Forty-seven.”
“What priesthood do you hold?” He said he thought he was a teacher. “Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?” He answered, “Well, no.” He used tobacco, which was obvious.
“Do you pay your tithing?”
He said, “No”—and he didn’t intend to as long as that blankety-blank-blank man was the bishop of the ward.
I said, “Do you attend your priesthood meetings?”
He replied, “No, sir!” and he didn’t intend to as long as that man was bishop. “You don’t attend your sacrament meetings either?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you have your family prayer?”
“No.”
“Do you study the scriptures?” He said, well, his eyes were bad and he couldn’t read very much.
I then said to him: “In my home I have a beautiful instrument called a radio. When everything is in good working order, we can dial it to a certain station and pick up a speaker or the voice of a singer all the way across the continent or sometimes on the other side of the world, bringing them into the front room as though they were standing right there. But after we have used it for a long time, there are some little delicate instruments or electrical devices on the inside called radio tubes that begin to wear out. When one of them wears out, we get a kind of a static—it isn’t so clear. Another wears out and if we don’t give it attention it fades in and out just when we are about to hear who makes the winning touchdown. If we don’t give that attention and another one wears out—well, the radio sits there looking quite like it did before, but something has happened on the inside. We don’t hear. We can’t get any singer; we can’t get any speaker.
“Now,” I said, “you and I have within our souls something that might be said to be a counterpart of those tubes. We have what we might call a ‘Go-to-Sacrament-Meeting’ tube, a ‘Keep-the-Word-of-Wisdom’ tube, a ‘Pay-Your-Tithing’ tube, a ‘Have-Your-Family-Prayers’ tube, a ‘Read-the-Scriptures’ tube, and, as one of the most important that might be said to be the master tube of our whole soul, a ‘Keep-Yourselves-Morally-Clean’ tube. If one of these becomes worn-out by disuse or is not active—if we fail to keep the commandments of God—it has the same effect upon our spiritual selves that that same worn-out tube in the radio in my home has upon the reception we otherwise could receive from a distance.
“Now, then,” I said, “fifteen of the best-living men in the stake prayed last night. They heard the evidence, and every man was united in saying that your brother was guilty. Now you who do none of these things, you say you prayed, and you got an opposite answer. How would you explain that?”
And then this man gave an answer that I think was a classic. He said, “Well, President Lee, I think I must have gotten my answer from the wrong source.” And you know that’s just as great a truth as we can have. We get our answer from the source of the power we list to obey! If we are keeping the commandments of the devil, we will get the answer from the devil. If we are keeping the commandments of God, we will get the answers from our Heavenly Father for our direction and for our guidance.
February 7, 2016
A fascinating overview of LDS Gospel principles that is a must-read for anyone wanting to strengthen their testimony.
December 12, 2019
1-10 Takeaways:
1) Organization of Christ's Church: 1) Apostles and Prophets as the Foundation (Eph. 2:20; Acts 1:22-26; Eph. 4:13-14). 2) Other church officers: seventies, bishops, elders, deacons, evangelists, pastors (Luke 10:1; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1:7; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Phil. 1:1; Eph. 4:11). 3) Lay ministry chosen by God and given the priesthood (John 15:16; Matt. 10:1; Mark 13:34). 4) Church named after Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:12-13).
2) Teachings of Christ's Church: 1) God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate Beings with bodies of flesh and bone (Luke 22:42; Mark 13:34; Acts 7:55-56; Luke 24:37, 39-40; Heb. 1:3). 2) Gospel is preached to the dead (1 Pet. 4:6). 3) Multiple tiers of heaven (1 Cor. 15:41; 2 Cor. 12:2). 4) Eternal Marriage (Matt. 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:11; 1 Pet. 3:7)
3) Ordinances in Christ's Church: 1) Infants are blessed; not baptized (Mark 10:16; Matt. 19:15). 2) Baptism is essential/done by immersion (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; Matt. 3:16; Rom. 6:3-5). 3) Baptisms are performed for the dead (1 Cor. 15:29; Heb. 11:40). 4) Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts:8:15-17; Acts 19:5-6).
4) Fruits of Christ's Church: 1) A healthy people (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Word of Wisdom). 2) A moral people (Titus 2:5; Phil. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:3, 5; Matt. 5:28. 3) A family centered Church (Gen. 2:24; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Tim. 3:4; Eph. 6:1-2, 4). Miracles and Gifts of the Spirit (Heb 2:4). 5) Angels and visions (visitation to Mary, Peter, James, John, etc.). 6) Missionary work (Matt. 28:19)
5) Evidences of Christ's Church being "lost": 1) Apostles killed and the quorum ceased to exist (Acts 14:23; Eph. 2:20; Matt. 24:9; Acts 1:22, 25-26) 2) Christ's Church being "lost" was prophesied of by ancient Church leaders (Acts 20:29; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Thes. 2:3; 2 Tim. 1:15). 3) The Bible ends (No more NT letters correcting disputes, false doctrine, etc.) 4) Dramatic Loss of Miracles and Gifts of the Spirit (Matt. 7:20). 5) Many teachings of Christ's Church were lost/altered by man (God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost being three personages, men are saved by grace w/ obedience to the laws of the Gospel, etc.). 6) Ordinances were lost/altered by man (babies began to be baptized rather than blessed, stopped giving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, etc.). 7) Simple manner of prayer was altered (praying to saints with rote prayers, etc.). 8) Scriptures were removed from the hands of the lay people. 9) The ongoing Church did not bare the Savior's name. 10) The priesthood was lost (Matt. 10:1). "The Apostasy [...] hath so far corrupted all [Christian churches], that there can be no recovery out of that apostasy until Christ shall send forth new apostles to plant churches anew." - Roger Williams (religious reformer).
6) Evidences Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration of Christ's Church in the Latter-days: 1) Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God (D&C 5:10). 2) Joseph Smith restored doctrinal truths that had been altered/lost 3) Joseph Smith received visions and revelations (2 Cor. 12:1; Amos 3:7; D&C 76). 4) Joseph Smith prophesied [prophesied of the Civil War 28 years in advance, named the cause ("through the slave question") and location of origin ("at the rebellion of South Carolina"] [Also, prophecies re: Willard Richards (getting shot at but not hit) and Stephen A. Douglas (failing in his pursuit to become president because he would go against the Church). 5) His prophetic call was/is acknowledged even by critics (meaning their is testimonial power behind declarations that he is a prophet that are backed up by the Holy Ghost). 6) He speaks in the name of God (Ezek. 3:27; D&C 127:4). 7) He sealed his testimony with his blood.
1-10 Questions:
1) NA
1) Organization of Christ's Church: 1) Apostles and Prophets as the Foundation (Eph. 2:20; Acts 1:22-26; Eph. 4:13-14). 2) Other church officers: seventies, bishops, elders, deacons, evangelists, pastors (Luke 10:1; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1:7; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Phil. 1:1; Eph. 4:11). 3) Lay ministry chosen by God and given the priesthood (John 15:16; Matt. 10:1; Mark 13:34). 4) Church named after Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:12-13).
2) Teachings of Christ's Church: 1) God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate Beings with bodies of flesh and bone (Luke 22:42; Mark 13:34; Acts 7:55-56; Luke 24:37, 39-40; Heb. 1:3). 2) Gospel is preached to the dead (1 Pet. 4:6). 3) Multiple tiers of heaven (1 Cor. 15:41; 2 Cor. 12:2). 4) Eternal Marriage (Matt. 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:11; 1 Pet. 3:7)
3) Ordinances in Christ's Church: 1) Infants are blessed; not baptized (Mark 10:16; Matt. 19:15). 2) Baptism is essential/done by immersion (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; Matt. 3:16; Rom. 6:3-5). 3) Baptisms are performed for the dead (1 Cor. 15:29; Heb. 11:40). 4) Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts:8:15-17; Acts 19:5-6).
4) Fruits of Christ's Church: 1) A healthy people (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Word of Wisdom). 2) A moral people (Titus 2:5; Phil. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:3, 5; Matt. 5:28. 3) A family centered Church (Gen. 2:24; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Tim. 3:4; Eph. 6:1-2, 4). Miracles and Gifts of the Spirit (Heb 2:4). 5) Angels and visions (visitation to Mary, Peter, James, John, etc.). 6) Missionary work (Matt. 28:19)
5) Evidences of Christ's Church being "lost": 1) Apostles killed and the quorum ceased to exist (Acts 14:23; Eph. 2:20; Matt. 24:9; Acts 1:22, 25-26) 2) Christ's Church being "lost" was prophesied of by ancient Church leaders (Acts 20:29; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Thes. 2:3; 2 Tim. 1:15). 3) The Bible ends (No more NT letters correcting disputes, false doctrine, etc.) 4) Dramatic Loss of Miracles and Gifts of the Spirit (Matt. 7:20). 5) Many teachings of Christ's Church were lost/altered by man (God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost being three personages, men are saved by grace w/ obedience to the laws of the Gospel, etc.). 6) Ordinances were lost/altered by man (babies began to be baptized rather than blessed, stopped giving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, etc.). 7) Simple manner of prayer was altered (praying to saints with rote prayers, etc.). 8) Scriptures were removed from the hands of the lay people. 9) The ongoing Church did not bare the Savior's name. 10) The priesthood was lost (Matt. 10:1). "The Apostasy [...] hath so far corrupted all [Christian churches], that there can be no recovery out of that apostasy until Christ shall send forth new apostles to plant churches anew." - Roger Williams (religious reformer).
6) Evidences Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration of Christ's Church in the Latter-days: 1) Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God (D&C 5:10). 2) Joseph Smith restored doctrinal truths that had been altered/lost 3) Joseph Smith received visions and revelations (2 Cor. 12:1; Amos 3:7; D&C 76). 4) Joseph Smith prophesied [prophesied of the Civil War 28 years in advance, named the cause ("through the slave question") and location of origin ("at the rebellion of South Carolina"] [Also, prophecies re: Willard Richards (getting shot at but not hit) and Stephen A. Douglas (failing in his pursuit to become president because he would go against the Church). 5) His prophetic call was/is acknowledged even by critics (meaning their is testimonial power behind declarations that he is a prophet that are backed up by the Holy Ghost). 6) He speaks in the name of God (Ezek. 3:27; D&C 127:4). 7) He sealed his testimony with his blood.
1-10 Questions:
1) NA
August 20, 2015
Tad Callister is the Sunday School General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to that, he served in the Presidency of the Seventy and as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. Other callings have included mission president, stake president, bishop, and Area Seventy. Professionally, he was a tax lawyer, with degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of California-Los Angeles, and New York University Law School. Other books he has written include “The Infinite Atonement” and “The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration.”
This book appears to be an expansion of a talk he gave for the CES Devotional for Young Adults on January 12, 2014 at BYU, entitled “What Is the Blueprint of Christ’s Church?” It reminds me of a combination of Floyd Weston’s “17 Points of the True Church” and LeGrand Richards’ “A Marvelous Work and a Wonder” (the latter of which he actually quotes from), but it goes well beyond them.
The book begins by explaining that our Heavenly Father has given us a life instruction manual for happiness (which he points out is referred to as “the great plan of happiness” in Alma 42:8 (p. ix)) and compares this to a blueprint. He goes on to say that the blueprint consists of things that, although some can be found in other churches, are only found complete and accurate in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He states that the purposes of the book are to reveal the blueprint, and to help members “expand and solidify their gospel knowledge” (p. x-xi), as well as to help nonmembers who “may have an interest in learning more about God’s plan but ‘know not where to find it'” (p. xi).
The blueprint is diagrammed as a 5 level building made up of Organization, Teachings, Ordinances, Fruits of the Church, and Link to Heaven. Each of these is explained and expanded on throughout the book. Efforts are made to show that the essentials of these things were in place in the New Testament church, how they were lost, and that they have now been restored and exist in their completeness solely within the LDS Church.
Charts and other visual aids are used throughout the book to help explain various concepts. There are many stories and anecdotes used as illustrations. A question and answer format is also employed extensively. The text flows in a conversational style and is very readable and easy to understand for someone already familiar with the church and its teachings. For a nonmember or new convert, there will be many things they won’t understand in spite of the 2 page appendix at the back that attempts to help alleviate this problem.
Topics covered in the book include the godhead, the priesthood, prophets, the atonement, faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, enduring to the end, tithing, the Word of Wisdom, the sabbath and the sacrament, the purpose of life, morality, temples, marriage (along with counsel for singles), and many other topics.
The book has its strengths and weaknesses. Some of the logic isn’t very strong, and some of the anecdotes seem a little weak (such as the lady whose refrigerator kept working until she could afford a new one because she paid her tithing, and the author’s understanding that if he doubled his fast offerings his blessings would be doubled – resulting in his wife giving birth to twins). But the book shines in some topics, such as the atonement (probably not surprising because he wrote an earlier book on the subject), repentance, morality, prayer, and how to improve your marriage.
On the topic of enduring to the end, he writes: “Enduring to the end is not just ‘gutting it out,’ not just grimacing with a sprint to the finish, but, as the Prophet Joseph Smith observed, it is ‘cheerfully do[ing] all things that lie in our power’ (D&C 123:17). It is being obedient even when obedience is hard or not in fashion, even when our resistance is low, even when disobedience seems so much easier and is more appealing. It is the opposite of what Laman and Lemuel stood for – murmuring, complaining, and whining. To the contrary, it is a cheerful, positive, hope-filled devotion to God’s commandments that is manifested throughout one’s life.” (p. 175)
On the atonement and how to know one has been forgiven, the author writes, “If we feel the spirit in our lives when we pray or read the scriptures, or teach or testify, or at any other time, then that is our witness that we have been forgiven, or at least that the cleansing process is taking place – for the spirit cannot dwell in an unholy tabernacle (see Alma 7:21). In most cases the cleansing process takes time because our change in nature takes time, but in the interim, we can proceed with the confidence that God approves of our progress to a sufficient degree that we can enjoy some measure of His Spirit.” (p. 113)
On prayer: “Some have the impression that they cannot pray to God because they feel unworthy or do not know what to say, but this divine method of communication is always open, regardless of our fears or weaknesses. If we are unworthy, but want to be better, He welcomes our prayers; if we do not know what words to use, we need not worry – He desires our sincerity, not our eloquence. Every sincere attempt to talk with God, however feeble or awkward it may seem, is a form of prayer that is both welcomed and accepted by Him.” (p. 333-334)
One error in the book that I noted is in an analogy about faith. It says “Someone may choose to turn off the radio or TV set, but the sound waves continue to enter his or her living room with equal force and frequency.” (p. 126) I believe the author is actually referring to radio waves, since they are always present but sound waves would only be present if the radio or TV were actually on and producing them. This is a minor point, but could lead to confusion.
In spite of its weaknesses, this book has much that is valuable. It will be helpful to anyone seeking a better understanding of many gospel topics. It will be especially helpful to those preparing to serve a mission or wanting to learn more about the apostasy and restoration. It may also provide assistance in answering questions asked by a nonmember friend.
This book appears to be an expansion of a talk he gave for the CES Devotional for Young Adults on January 12, 2014 at BYU, entitled “What Is the Blueprint of Christ’s Church?” It reminds me of a combination of Floyd Weston’s “17 Points of the True Church” and LeGrand Richards’ “A Marvelous Work and a Wonder” (the latter of which he actually quotes from), but it goes well beyond them.
The book begins by explaining that our Heavenly Father has given us a life instruction manual for happiness (which he points out is referred to as “the great plan of happiness” in Alma 42:8 (p. ix)) and compares this to a blueprint. He goes on to say that the blueprint consists of things that, although some can be found in other churches, are only found complete and accurate in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He states that the purposes of the book are to reveal the blueprint, and to help members “expand and solidify their gospel knowledge” (p. x-xi), as well as to help nonmembers who “may have an interest in learning more about God’s plan but ‘know not where to find it'” (p. xi).
The blueprint is diagrammed as a 5 level building made up of Organization, Teachings, Ordinances, Fruits of the Church, and Link to Heaven. Each of these is explained and expanded on throughout the book. Efforts are made to show that the essentials of these things were in place in the New Testament church, how they were lost, and that they have now been restored and exist in their completeness solely within the LDS Church.
Charts and other visual aids are used throughout the book to help explain various concepts. There are many stories and anecdotes used as illustrations. A question and answer format is also employed extensively. The text flows in a conversational style and is very readable and easy to understand for someone already familiar with the church and its teachings. For a nonmember or new convert, there will be many things they won’t understand in spite of the 2 page appendix at the back that attempts to help alleviate this problem.
Topics covered in the book include the godhead, the priesthood, prophets, the atonement, faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, enduring to the end, tithing, the Word of Wisdom, the sabbath and the sacrament, the purpose of life, morality, temples, marriage (along with counsel for singles), and many other topics.
The book has its strengths and weaknesses. Some of the logic isn’t very strong, and some of the anecdotes seem a little weak (such as the lady whose refrigerator kept working until she could afford a new one because she paid her tithing, and the author’s understanding that if he doubled his fast offerings his blessings would be doubled – resulting in his wife giving birth to twins). But the book shines in some topics, such as the atonement (probably not surprising because he wrote an earlier book on the subject), repentance, morality, prayer, and how to improve your marriage.
On the topic of enduring to the end, he writes: “Enduring to the end is not just ‘gutting it out,’ not just grimacing with a sprint to the finish, but, as the Prophet Joseph Smith observed, it is ‘cheerfully do[ing] all things that lie in our power’ (D&C 123:17). It is being obedient even when obedience is hard or not in fashion, even when our resistance is low, even when disobedience seems so much easier and is more appealing. It is the opposite of what Laman and Lemuel stood for – murmuring, complaining, and whining. To the contrary, it is a cheerful, positive, hope-filled devotion to God’s commandments that is manifested throughout one’s life.” (p. 175)
On the atonement and how to know one has been forgiven, the author writes, “If we feel the spirit in our lives when we pray or read the scriptures, or teach or testify, or at any other time, then that is our witness that we have been forgiven, or at least that the cleansing process is taking place – for the spirit cannot dwell in an unholy tabernacle (see Alma 7:21). In most cases the cleansing process takes time because our change in nature takes time, but in the interim, we can proceed with the confidence that God approves of our progress to a sufficient degree that we can enjoy some measure of His Spirit.” (p. 113)
On prayer: “Some have the impression that they cannot pray to God because they feel unworthy or do not know what to say, but this divine method of communication is always open, regardless of our fears or weaknesses. If we are unworthy, but want to be better, He welcomes our prayers; if we do not know what words to use, we need not worry – He desires our sincerity, not our eloquence. Every sincere attempt to talk with God, however feeble or awkward it may seem, is a form of prayer that is both welcomed and accepted by Him.” (p. 333-334)
One error in the book that I noted is in an analogy about faith. It says “Someone may choose to turn off the radio or TV set, but the sound waves continue to enter his or her living room with equal force and frequency.” (p. 126) I believe the author is actually referring to radio waves, since they are always present but sound waves would only be present if the radio or TV were actually on and producing them. This is a minor point, but could lead to confusion.
In spite of its weaknesses, this book has much that is valuable. It will be helpful to anyone seeking a better understanding of many gospel topics. It will be especially helpful to those preparing to serve a mission or wanting to learn more about the apostasy and restoration. It may also provide assistance in answering questions asked by a nonmember friend.
February 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book by Elder Callister. He outlines how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the original church Christ established on the earth are one in the same. Here's just one of many snippets from the book that were powerful:
"Suppose there was a man who decided to eat only once a week. At lunchtime on each Sunday, he would eat all the protein, all the carbohydrates, all the calories and vitamins, and drink all the water normally consumed in a week. What would happen to his physical body? Without being specific or scientific, we know it would not be good. We all know from experience that our bodies need healthy food on a daily basis. So it is with our spirit bodies—they need spiritual food on a daily basis to maintain a healthy spiritual tone. President Harold B. Lee declared: “If we are not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner."
"Suppose there was a man who decided to eat only once a week. At lunchtime on each Sunday, he would eat all the protein, all the carbohydrates, all the calories and vitamins, and drink all the water normally consumed in a week. What would happen to his physical body? Without being specific or scientific, we know it would not be good. We all know from experience that our bodies need healthy food on a daily basis. So it is with our spirit bodies—they need spiritual food on a daily basis to maintain a healthy spiritual tone. President Harold B. Lee declared: “If we are not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner."
August 3, 2023
Like Tad R. Callister's other books this book is doctrinally rich and presents reasoned arguments based primarily on the scriptures. His background experience as a lawyer clearly and heavily influences his writing style. I generally liked this book, but there is a fair amount of overlap from talks and books of his I have read before, so this book didn't strike me as profoundly as The Infinite Atonement or the Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration. That said, it was still a good book and I would recommend it to friends. Each chapter gives a brief coverage of a different topic related to the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints and some of it's distinctive doctrines, practices, etc. This book was certainly a worthwhile part of my education in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
November 12, 2021
This surprised me how good it was. I mean, I bought it along time ago shopping with mom one day so I assumed it would be good, but I put off reading it, what a stupid thing to do, I should’ve started it that night, ahhhh hindsight.
Then when I started it I thought it would be it another book I’d read and then give away, so I didn’t mark it up at all. And one chapter just took me by storm and I highlighted it in the table of contents. Then they just started being all the time. So then I knew I’d have to read it unmarked the first time NOT give it away and then read it again, and really market, and write in the margins, and leave sticky notes on the pages…
So I’ll be keeping this book for myself and reading it again and again and again…….
Then when I started it I thought it would be it another book I’d read and then give away, so I didn’t mark it up at all. And one chapter just took me by storm and I highlighted it in the table of contents. Then they just started being all the time. So then I knew I’d have to read it unmarked the first time NOT give it away and then read it again, and really market, and write in the margins, and leave sticky notes on the pages…
So I’ll be keeping this book for myself and reading it again and again and again…….
August 25, 2024
Blueprints are important guidelines for how to build something specific, and Jesus Christ's church is no different - if his church is on the earth today, it should follow the same blueprint as the church he established while on the earth. In this book, Tad R. Callister outlines the basic principles of that blueprint and demonstrates the strength of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the one church that matches it. He also clearly teaches the core doctrine of the Church to help members share it in a clear and powerful way.
Such a wonderful book and a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to understand the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love how Tad Callister writes - clear, engaging, and gets right to the heart of the matter.
Such a wonderful book and a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to understand the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love how Tad Callister writes - clear, engaging, and gets right to the heart of the matter.
June 18, 2018
This is basically a well thought out argument as to why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the restored church that Christ organized while he was on the earth. It goes through basic doctrinal principles & uses references from the bible & other books of scripture. This book has really good information & the 'argument' was really well thought out. It was just pretty dry. It was like reading a lawyers case file. I learned new things & was able to think about the 'why' behind the organization of the church. I was just never excited to pick it up, it felt more like homework.
September 23, 2018
3.5 rounded up. There was a lot to like; however, the book wasn’t completely balanced and bogged down in the middle—not that the material wasn’t important, but rather that things got a little tedious. Overall, this was an insightful and pragmatic representation of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, and it was interesting to see how Callister laid out his discourse much like building blocks, keeping the “blueprint” metaphor throughout the book. I think this is valuable for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as for those just seeking to further understand on a scholastic level how the Church approaches/views doctrinal subjects.
December 19, 2017
I loved this book!!! As I was reading it, I used it in a couple spiritual thoughts. I will definitely be buying this book for my personal library and then to gift to loved ones. I loved Elder Callister's fact based style of writing. I loved the chapter on Jesus Christ's atonement. I loved that he takes all the teachings and foundation of apostles and prophets from Christ's original church, based on the Bible and early scholars and shows that the LDS church contains every single one of those things. Great book and it gave me much to think about.
September 27, 2024
I really liked this book, Elder Callister gives a lot of good examples and anecdotes to explain the principles he teaches. I like the structure of the book as a whole as well. I definitely liked the first half better when he goes through all of the necessary components of the true church and compares them to what Latter-day Saints believe. I think the last chapters are sort of supplemental, but still relevant and interesting to read
June 19, 2020
I have loved all of Brother Callister's books. He is such a logical, sensitive writer. I have read, The Case of the Book of Mormon, and some things were repeated from that book about the Book of Mormon but that was ok. I usually read Bro. Callister's books twice since there is so much to think about. Keep on writing your books!
March 10, 2024
I gave Tad Callister a fair shake, and I’m underwhelmed by the result. He basically makes the argument, “If you interpret some cherry picked New Testament verses the same way we do and also ignore the same verses that we do, you’ll see that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is clearly the church taught in the New Testament.” Just one big circular argument.
August 22, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Tad Callister. If you're a member, this book is a great refresher of the essential teachings in the church. If you aren't, this is a great introduction to what the Mormon Church has to offer.
February 15, 2018
An excellent treatise of doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's quite simple to read and builds a logical connection between Christ's church while he was on the earth and the restored church today.
December 4, 2018
Tad Callister is a great thinker and writer. There is some overlap with his other books in this one, and much of it is common knowledge to the active LDS member, but this is one book I will encourage my kids to read before serving a mission. It is very thorough and persuasive.
January 18, 2019
A simple explanation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its teachings. Simple and simply true. Elder Callister has gifts of understanding, testimony and the ability to explain things well.
April 30, 2020
Tad Callister is one of my favorite church writers. He is extremely organized and presents his information logically and with excellent examples. This is a good book either to read from beginning to end or to use as a reference.
January 10, 2022
For those who appreciate logical, scripture-referenced reasoning of why Latter-Day Saints are confident the Church of Jesus Christ today aligns with the original Jesus Himself instituted. Felt like I was at a zone conference again with my first mission president!
November 30, 2024
The author is effective in laying for the reader a logical case for Christ’s church. He cites ancient theologians and modern scholars. The book is set in easy to read sections with plenty of footnotes to reference.
December 28, 2017
This is a great book that shows the doctrine & principles people in the LDS church live by. It was a book I had a hard time putting down.
March 21, 2018
Fantastic read, powerful refresher course, and helpful teaching tool.
April 25, 2018
Great audiobook read by the author
November 26, 2018
Tad Callister's books are excellent.
December 19, 2018
Very well framed review of restore principles and ordinances of the restored gospel of Christ. And a very pragmatic application of those principles and ordinances in life.
April 19, 2019
Really loved this book and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Church of Christ, both ancient my and today!
May 25, 2020
This book gets right down to the basics of why Christ's original church was lost from the earth, along with all the doctrine, and how it was restored.
August 21, 2020
Some random guy in the library recommended this book to me last semester. It was a good book but not as spectacular as he made it sound.
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