Mormon Questions: Do Mormons Hold the Keys to the Kingdom? - Unveiling Mormonism

In this episode, Pastor Bryan takes a deep into the Bible to answer the question "Do Mormons Hold the Keys to the Kingdom?".<br />
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The phrase "keys to the kingdom" is found in Matthew 16:19, where Jesus tells Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This phrase has significant theological implications, especially in the context of how different Christian traditions interpret its meaning. While various denominations, including Roman Catholicism and Mormonism, have their own views on this passage, this article will focus on a biblical perspective of the "keys to the kingdom" and offer a critique of how it is understood in Mormon doctrine.<br />
Mormon Doctrine of "Keys to the Kingdom"<br />
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormonism) teaches that the "keys to the kingdom" refer to the authority of the priesthood, which they believe was restored through Joseph Smith. In Mormon doctrine, the "keys" of the priesthood are held by Church leaders, specifically the president of the Church, who is considered a prophet, seer, and revelator. These keys are believed to include the authority to perform necessary ordinances for salvation, such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and other sacred rites.<br />
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Mormon teaching emphasizes that the priesthood keys are necessary for entering the celestial kingdom, the highest level of heaven in LDS theology. They believe that these keys were lost after the death of the original apostles and were restored through Joseph Smith during the early 19th century. In this view, the LDS Church is the only church that has the fullness of the priesthood keys necessary for salvation.<br />
What Does the Bible Really Teach about the "Keys to the Kingdom"?<br />
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Matthew 16:15-19 (NLT) 15 Then Jesus asked his disciples, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”<br />
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In Matthew 16:19, the "keys to the kingdom" symbolize authority, specifically spiritual authority in the context of the Church. The image of keys implies the power to open and close doors, which in this case represents the ability to grant or deny access to the kingdom of heaven. This authority is often understood to involve the power of teaching, guiding, and governing within the Church under Christ’s leadership.<br />
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• Authority to Bind and Loose: The terms "bind" and "loose" in first-century Jewish context referred to legal and religious rulings. To "bind" meant to forbid something, while to "loose" meant to permit something. This indicates that Peter, and by extension the apostles and the Church, were given the authority to make decisions in matters of faith, practice, and discipline. This is confirmed in Matthew 18:18, where Jesus extends this authority to the community of believers as a whole (in the context of a believer sinning).<br />
• Matthew 18:18 (NLT) 18 “I tell you (plural) the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”<br />
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) To the church as a whole there is committed the responsibility of declaring what conduct is forbidden to the believer and what is permitted. This was very necessary in a situation where the Jewish Scriptures were accepted as the Scriptures of the believers, but where the Jewish interpretation was rejected, as were many Jewish practices that those who performed them alleged were based on Scripture. The church as a whole should decide such matters, Jesus is saying.<br />
• Foundation of the Church: Jesus tells Peter, "On this rock, I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Some have interpreted this to mean that Peter himself is the foundation of...