MORMON NO MORE: The Two Meanings of Endowment

"What is an endowment? The New Testament speaks of "endowing." After Christ's resurrection, He told his apostles that they must stay in Jerusalem until they were "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). The fulfillment of that commandment is presented in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost. The Apostles were given power from on high when the Holy Ghost manifested Himself in great glory--and gave both strength and the power of revelation to Christ's disciples.
The same power from on high is available to modern Saints who enter the temple to receive their own endowment and to act as proxy to receive an endowment on behalf of their deceased ancestors." (www.familiesforever.com)

"The apostles had been waiting for Pentecost. Jesus had told his apostles, "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Lk. 24:49). We read in Acts 1:4 that they are in Jerusalem waiting as Jesus had told them to do. Hence, the language "day of Pentecost was fully come" is significant.
The day of Pentecost is often called the hub of the Bible. The day of Pentecost in Acts 2 fulfilled many kingdom and salvation prophecies (cp. Joel 2:28-32; Isa. 2:2,3, see Acts 2:16-47). The apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit to enable them to execute their commission, the full gospel was officially preached and Jesus' last will and testament came into being, the church become a reality, and remission of sin based on Jesus; shed blood was first experienced on the day of Pentecost.
The day of Pentecost was the birth of Christianity. It was on this memorable day that repentance and baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of sins was first taught and experienced (Acts 2:38). The height of Joel's prophesy had been "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered" (Joel 2:32). When those whose hearts had been pricked asked what must they do, were told, and did it, they were calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 2:37-42). People today are thus saved in the same way by calling on Jesus' name (Rom. 10:13)." (www.biblequestions.org)

The differences of the text are clear. The day of Pentecost is about the birth of Christianity not about a temple ritual.

Handmaidens Creed

1.I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as one God without beginning or end.
2.I believe the Bible to be the Holy Inspired word of God with full truth and righteousness. No other writing is.
3.I believe that the work of the Lord comes first. Before any temporal thing or person.
4.I believe that grace is a gift and Christ gives that gift freely to all who believe.
5.I believe that the beauty of a woman is contained inside of her and not by what she looks like on the outside.
6.I believe that marriage is sacred and represents the Godhead on earth; two are one just as three are one.
7.I believe that love is more powerful than any other power. Remember, God is love.
8.I believe that tithing is not a part of God's new covenant, free will offerings are. And that doesn't mean just money.
9.I believe that the Aaronic, Levitical, and Melchizedek priesthoods are abolished and Christs Holy Priesthood whom Christ is the "Great High Priest" is eternal.
10.I believe that every believer is a priest in the "Priesthood of Believers".
11.I believe that when two are one, nobody is to separate the one.
12.I believe that Christ is the only way to heaven.
13.I believe that our bodies are temples, not man made buildings.
14.I believe that liars make fools out of others and the liar hates the fool.
15.I believe that all believers are in authority to preach the gospel.
16.I believe that the word 'organization' to describe Christs body is evil and has no place with God.
17.I believe the Americas are not the land of Zion and Christ will return to His origonal land-Israel in the Middle East.
18.I believe that God has set out correct ways of worshiping Him, not man.
19.I believe in holding to the truths of the Bible and not mans understanding of it.
20.I believe that the world is full of evil and Satan can easily gain control over the minds of those who do not profess Christ of the Bible to be their only Messiah.
21.I believe that Saints are those who know the real Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible speaks of; not the jesus of a cult.

1 comments:

Godhead October 31, 2010 at 7:41 PM: "The day of Pentecost was the birth of Christianity."

That's an important statement to take note of. Many seem to think that it is still in effect. Yet Paul said, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1Co 13:11) Yet those in the Pentecostal and charismatic movement are trying to force the church back into its infancy. All claiming to have gifts and power that are no longer in effect. "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." (1Co 13:8) So they are falsely prophesying in the name of the Lord, and passing off occult practices as the gift of the spirit such as fortune telling, medium readings and chanting. All with a Jesus Sticker on it. So the Mormons are not the only ones who have misinterpreted the day of Pentecost. "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." (1Co 13:13)