Acts 15

As the gospel was being preached among the gentiles, there were -

"...certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." (New Testament Acts 15:1)

The Jews had a very difficult time abandoning the their traditions that the Savior came to fulfill. These teachings caused a great deal of conflict between the converted Jews and gentiles, and having -

"...no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question." (New Testament Acts 15:2)

With Paul and Barnabus being ordained apostles, they went to Jerusalem to meet with their fellow quorum members and Church leaders for spiritual guidance and direction, for -

"...the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter." (New Testament Acts 15:6)

And after much disputing and discussion, the presiding authority in the Church -

"Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" (New Testament Acts 15:7 - 10)

And knowing that the Law of Moses had been fulfilled, Peter teaches -

"But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (New Testament Acts 15:11)

Both Paul and Barnabus followed with testimony of these things by -

"...declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them." (New Testament Acts 15:12)

James follows with an explanation much like Paul would later write to the Galations -

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (New Testament Galatians 3:24 - 26)

James recognized what was really more important for the gentiles was to -

"...abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." (New Testament Acts 15:20)

So, under the direction of Jesus Christ, by the guidance of the Holy Ghost they set Church policy and wrote letters saying -

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things..." (New Testament Acts 15:24 - 28)

We learn a great deal how the Savior directs His Church as it was written by the apostles -

"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us..." (New Testament Acts 15:28)

We also witness by virtue of their callings as apostles -

"...Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them." (New Testament Acts 15:32)

Just this past weekend, we sustained the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. We see this same principle in the days of the early Church. As the Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth." (Pearl of Great Price Articles of Faith 1:6)