1 of 2: Iglesia Ng Kristo church: felix-manalo-and-mormons

June 15

This is a bit of interesting information regarding the Iglesia ni Kristo Church here in the Philippines. Pres. Balledos confirmed the information as follows to be the conventional story line for the subject.

Source: Newsletters
Newsletter of the District of Asia
Jan - Mar 2002
Some notes on Two Major Sects of the Philippines
by Fr. Manuel  Piñon O.P. (1910-1997)
...
A) Iglesia ni Kristo (INK)
1. Nature and history
This sect is a Philippine version of the 'Mormon sect, whose official designation is "The Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints". The sect has also copied in part the latter designation, but translated it to Pilipino as "Iglesia ni Kristo" in order to officially distinguish itself from the Mormons.  However, for the effect of legitimizing its claim to be the original Church founded by Christ, the Iglesia ni Kristo (INK) has also plagiarized the explanation originally coined by the Mormons for the same effect, to wit, that the original Church of Christ at the time of the Emperor Constantine I when, according to historians, the Roman Empire was Christianized, Christianity was in reality paganized from the absorption of pagan elements, and so the true Church of Christ disappeared from the earth until the time when God sent His messenger in the person of Joseph Smith, for the Mormons, or of Felix Manalo, for the Iglesia followers, to restore the true Church of Christ in their fold.

The INK was established by Felix Manalo (1886-1963), who started to preach his new religion at Punta, Sta. Ana some time in 1913.  According to the Church elders the Iglesia was born in 1914, the year when World War I started. It was early in that year when Felix baptized the original twelve converts to his Church in a river at Sta. Ana, and admitted them into this Church.

2. The Founder, Felix Manalo (1886-1963) Born Roman Catholic, in his teen years he got interested in the Philippines Independent Church, then joined successively the Episcopalian Methodists, the Evangelical Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Presbyterians, the Seventh Day Adventists and finally the Mormons.  Then he broke off with the Mormons and started his own religious group.