Apostolic succession (LDS Church)

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the doctrine of apostolic succession centers on the belief that priesthood authority, specifically the keys of the apostleship, was lost from the earth after the death of the original apostles and was restored through divine intervention in the 19th century. Unlike traditional Christian concepts of apostolic succession which emphasize an unbroken chain of ordination through bishops, the LDS Church's understanding emphasizes divine restoration rather than continuous historical lineage.

The LDS Church teaches that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the priesthood, including the keys of the apostleship, through the laying on of hands by resurrected beings: John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood, and Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek Priesthood, which includes the apostleship. This restoration is considered a foundational event in LDS theology, essential for the proper administration of ordinances and the leadership of the church.

Therefore, the LDS Church's claim to apostolic succession is not based on a historical, unbroken chain of ordinations from the original apostles, but on the direct restoration of priesthood authority by divine messengers. This restored authority is passed down through subsequent ordinations within the LDS Church, maintaining the claimed apostolic succession. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are seen as holding the keys of the apostleship in the modern church.

Differences with traditional Christian denominations regarding apostolic succession are significant. Many Christian denominations believe in a continuous, unbroken lineage of bishops ordained by other bishops, tracing back to the original apostles. The LDS Church rejects this view, asserting that the historical line of authority was broken and required divine restoration.