CHURCH

Reason 30

The "church" to Christians means the entire body of believers, not a particular denomination, church, group, building, or religion.

From the Illustrated Bible Dictionary, by George W. Knight:
     Definition of Church: a local body of believers assembled for Christian worship (Acts 15:4; 1 Corinthians 1:22) as well as all the redeemed of the ages who belong to Christ (Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 5:27). The word church is a translation of a Greek term that means "an assembly."
     Christ is the head of His body, the Church, and His will is to be preeminent (Colossians 1:18) by virtue of His redeeming work and lordship (Colossians 1:14; 3:15-17). The Church's mission is to win the lost (Luke 4:18) and minister to others in the world.

From Mormon.org... on "What is the Church?"
     According to Christianity:
The Church is a body of various believers and groups of believers.
The one true Church is the invisible, spiritual, and universal Body of Christ in heaven and on earth made up of all those true believers from various local denominations or visible churches. The body is an organism, not an external organization. Unity in this body does not demand complete uniformity in its various manifestations. God loves diversity. Yet the Church's unity is in Christ, who is the vine. People in various denominations who are committed to the Vine are the branches; no one particular manifestation of the Church is the vine (Matthew 16:18; 15:5; Acts 15:35-41; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 11:19; 12:13ff; and Ephesians 4:1-13).

     Matthew 18:17
And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

     Acts 2:47
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

     Acts 5:11
So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

     Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

     1 Corinthians 14:4
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

     2 Corinthians 11:28
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

     Ephesians 3:21
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

     Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

     Colossians 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

From Mormoninfo.org...on "What is the Church?"
     According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
The LDS Church is the only true church.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church (Doctrine and Covenants [D&C] 1:30); all other churches (Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists are specifically mentioned in Joseph Smith, History 1:9, Pearl of Great Price) are "wrong," "all their creeds were an abomination," and "those professors were all corrupt" (Joseph Smith, History 1:19). Those of creedal or traditional Christianity have adopted "pagan beliefs" and are part of "false Christianity" (Gospel Principles, 100 [1979 edition]). One either belongs to "the church of the Lamb of God" or to "the church of the devil" (1 Nephi 14:10). Joseph Smith taught that everybody but faithful Mormons will be damned (History of the Church 3:28). "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is absolutely indispensable to our salvation. No supposed personal relationship with Jesus, no commitment to the gospel, no high level of Christian conduct in society can compensate for what is to be found in the Church" (Robert Millet, Alive in Christ: The Miracle of Spiritual Rebirth [Salt Lake City: Deseret, 1997], 140).


     Mormons emphasize that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the earth. They claim it is the only organization authorized to preach the gospel and administer the ordinances of salvation - which is a long process. It claims it is the only church which has the power to save and exalt men in the hereafter. They say, "Membership in this divine institution is a pearl of great price." (Approaching Mormons in Love, p. 72, Wilbur Lingle)

     ldsvideo.org #28
ldsvideo.org/2011/07/is-mormonism-true-church

My unanswered question was:

If Christianity teaches "the church" means the entire body of believers, then how can the LDS church be the one and only true church on the face of the earth?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that the LDS church cannot possibly be the one true church, yet overjoyed to find the truth that anyone who believes Christ died for their sins is the church! I am so grateful to be a part of a body of believers rather than a denomination.