🕊️ Whose Authority Is It Anyway?
🕊️ Whose Authority Is It Anyway?
Yesterday, I had a good talk with a young woman named Renaja — an Army brat, smart, searching, and riding the fence on whether or not to get baptized into the LDS Church. She’s been reading the Book of Mormon, and she had questions about New Jerusalem and why so many believe it will be here in America.
We talked about a lot of things… but one question hung in the air like a banner:
“Why do I need the Church? Where does authority really come from?”
And that’s when all my years of study in the Book of Mormon and the Nemenhah Records came rushing to the front.
🌄 New Jerusalem — The Gathering Place
The Book of Mormon teaches that the New Jerusalem will be built on the American continent by the remnant of Joseph, with help from believing Gentiles (Ether 13:4–6, 3 Nephi 21:22–23).
The Nemenhah confirm this — Zion will be established here, but it will not be the work of a corporate church building a skyline of temples. It will be a refuge built by the meek, humble, and Spirit-led.
The real “gathering” isn’t about real estate or street maps — it’s about being gathered to Christ Himself. When people hear His voice and come together in one heart and one mind, Zion is already taking root.
📜 Where Alma Got His Authority
When Alma the Elder fled King Noah’s wicked court, he didn’t go to a church headquarters to get permission to baptize.
Here’s the record:
“And when he had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit. And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself again in the water. And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God.”
— Mosiah 18:14–16
Before that, he prayed:
“…having authority from the Almighty God…”
— Mosiah 18:13
He didn’t get that from a man, a quorum, or a vote — he got it from Jesus Christ Himself.
🪶 The Nemenhah Witness
The Nemenhah tell the same story over and over: the Peacemaker calls and ordains directly. Sometimes it’s in a vision, sometimes through an angel, sometimes as a whisper to the heart — but always, the true authority comes from Him.
Here’s a direct word-for-word example:
“And it is not by the laying on of hands only that authority is conferred, but by the calling and appointing of the Lord unto the work. For it is He that giveth power, and it is He that bringeth to pass the thing whereunto we are called. And whosoever shall take upon them the labor without His word, they labor in vain.”
— Nemenhah Records, Tsihohnayah Ahkehkthihm 14:33-34
That sounds just like Alma — and it’s the exact opposite of thinking a corporate card or title is what makes baptism valid.
🏫 Kindergarten and the Kingdom
The LDS Church has done something remarkable — it has placed the Book of Mormon in millions of hands, in hundreds of languages. That’s no small thing.
But as I’ve said before, it’s a kindergarten — a place to learn the basics, to meet the Restoration, to start walking. The real danger is when we mistake the kindergarten for the graduation.
When the corporation becomes the goal instead of the Kingdom of God, we’ve stopped short.
The Book of Mormon and the Nemenhah both teach:
The Church is a means, not the end.
The end is to hear Christ’s voice for yourself and to follow Him wherever He leads — even if that’s beyond the safety rails of the institution.
🔥 Baptism of Water… and of Fire
Baptism is only the beginning. It’s the covenant doorway.
After that comes the real promise:
“If ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”
— 2 Nephi 32:5
The Lord’s way is always to confirm His servants personally, not just by a certificate in the clerk’s office.
💬 What I Told Renaja
I told her:
“If you join, do it for Him. Baptism is a covenant with Jesus — not with a logo or a building. Alma’s power came from Christ, and yours will too. The Church can open the door, but only the Savior Himself can take you into His presence. If you follow His voice, you’ll never be led astray — no matter what men do.”
📚 Scriptures to Ponder
Ether 13:4–6 — New Jerusalem built by the remnant of Joseph.
3 Nephi 21:22–23 — The Gentiles assist the remnant in building Zion.
Mosiah 18:13–16 — Alma’s authority from God.
3 Nephi 11:21–22 — Christ personally gives power to baptize.
2 Nephi 32:3, 5–6 — The Spirit leads to all truth.
Tsihohnayah Ahkehkthihm 14:33-34 (Nemenhah) — The Lord Himself gives authority; without His word, the work is in vain.
🔗 SIMILAR POSTS TO READ NEXT:
- Don’t Follow the White Robe — Follow the Voice — Lehi’s dream, the iron rod, and why the Savior’s voice is your safest guide.
- The Condemnation That Still Stands — Why D&C 84 says the Church is still under condemnation, and how to lift it.
- The True Doctrine of Christ — Walking through 2 Nephi 31–32 and the baptism of fire.
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