La Luz del Mundo

A church that dates itself from a call in Monterrey in 1926, led by an Apostle of Jesus Christ, with houses of prayer, immersion baptism, and a Holy Supper kept each year at the Holy Convocation.

La Luz del Mundo, Principios religiosos

La Luz del Mundo, Principios religiosos (with scripture notes)

La Luz del Mundo, Somos

La Luz del Mundo, Nuestra fe

La Luz del Mundo, Nuestra fe (second version of the page)

La Luz del Mundo, Principios morales

La Luz del Mundo, Principios civiles

La Luz del Mundo, Orden Ministerial

La Luz del Mundo, Llamamiento del hermano Aarón Joaquín González al apostolado (6 April 2024)

La Luz del Mundo, Cumple La Luz del Mundo 99 años en pleno crecimiento (6 April 2025)

La Luz del Mundo, Sigue crecimiento en LLDM; se bautizan miles en Bethel (13 August 2023)

La Luz del Mundo, Ceremonias de Bautismos alrededor del mundo (26 February 2025)

La Luz del Mundo, Comunicado 10 de agosto 2024

La Luz del Mundo, Servicio de Santa Cena 4:00 pm en Washington DC (13 May 2024)

La Luz del Mundo, La Luz del Mundo celebra bautismos en el marco de Santa Cena en Washington DC (10 May 2024)

La Luz del Mundo, En el país más austral, se conmemora la Santa Cena (17 February 2025)

La Luz del Mundo, Santa Cena, el más glorioso memorial sagrado (29 March 2024)

La Luz del Mundo, La Santa Cena; un llamado a la comunión con Cristo (2 May 2024)

La Luz del Mundo, Celebración de la Santa Cena alrededor del mundo (8 May 2023)

La Luz del Mundo, El momento más anhelado … la Santa Cena (15 August 2025)

La Luz del Mundo, Servicio especial de acción de gracias (2 January 2026)

La Luz del Mundo, Abre sus puertas nueva Casa de Oración en Huautla (9 January 2024)

La Luz del Mundo, Congregaciones de fe celebran jornada de Bautismos en Tijuana (14 October 2025)

La Luz del Mundo, Consejos espirituales en la Santa Cena Chile 2025 (16 February 2025)

La Luz del Mundo, La Santa Cena en San Isidro de Ureña, Venezuela 2025 (10 June 2025)

La Luz del Mundo, París, Francia, Santa Cena 2025 (10 October 2025)

Patricia Fortuny Loret de Mola, "La Luz del Mundo," World Religions and Spirituality Project (posted 5 June 2016, updated 26 October 2023)

Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service, With La Luz del Mundo's leader behind bars for sex abuse, will the Mexican church survive? (in America, 23 June 2022)

Timothy Wyatt, Iglesia de La Luz del Mundo, Houston History Magazine (University of Houston Center for Public History), 2011

California Attorney General, Attorney General Bonta Secures Conviction Against Megachurch Leader Naasón Joaquín García (3 June 2022)

NBC News / Reuters, Megachurch leader sentenced for sex abuse (9 June 2022)

NPR, Bill Chappell, Megachurch leader and his mother indicted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges (13 September 2025)

United States v. Naasón Joaquín García et al., superseding indictment, S1 25 Cr. 370 (S.D.N.Y.), Spanish translation hosted by TV Azteca (not an official translation)

The Guadalajara Reporter, In 7th year without spiritual leader, Luz del Mundo still draws huge crowds (21 August 2025)

The Guadalajara Reporter, Luz del Mundo leader pleads not guilty to new charges

N+, Naasón Joaquín García, líder de La Luz del Mundo, se declara no culpable en corte de Nueva York (23 September 2025)

N+, Jueza en EUA aplaza audiencia de Naasón Joaquín García

N+, Caso Naasón Joaquín García: defensa pide desechar acusación en su contra (24 July 2026)

N+, La Luz del Mundo mantiene registro, pero Naasón Joaquín está suspendido: Segob (17 April 2026)

Semanario Zeta, SEGOB suspende derechos de Joaquín Naasón como ministro de culto (17 April 2026)

Uno TV, Juez reactiva investigación contra Naasón Joaquín y deja sin efecto decisión de la FGR (28 April 2026)

Infobae, Luis Fernando Ortiz Delgado, Golpe a La Luz del Mundo: tribunal federal niega mociones de Naasón Joaquín rumbo a su juicio en Nueva York (27 October 2026)

La Luz del Mundo began, in its own account, with a call in Monterrey in 1926 and has been led by three apostles in a line from father to son to grandson: Aarón, Samuel and Naasón. It grew from Guadalajara across Mexico, then the United States and Latin America, and it now holds its Holy Suppers by region, in dozens of cities and countries. Since 2019 it has also been in the news because of criminal cases against its present Apostle. Those cases are set out below with their dates and exact status, and they are kept apart from what the church teaches.

Aarón Joaquín González is called to the apostleship

The church dates its Restoration from this day. It says that in Monterrey, on Tuesday, 6 April 1926, Aarón Joaquín González received the call of God to give himself wholly to preaching the gospel. The church keeps the day each year with services of praise in its houses of prayer on five continents, and says he preached for thirty-eight years. The federal indictment of 2025 gives his birth name as Eusebio Joaquín González and says the church was founded in Mexico about 1926; the church's seat grew up in Guadalajara.

Samuel Joaquín Flores succeeds his father

The federal indictment states that Aarón led the church until his death in 1964, and that his son Samuel Joaquín Flores then became its Apostle and held the office until his own death in 2014. The church counts three apostles of the restoration, and its pages credit them with spreading the gospel on the five continents.

Naasón Joaquín García becomes Apostle

Samuel's son Naasón Joaquín García took the office. The indictment dates this to December 2014. The church's Orden Ministerial page still names him "spiritual guide and teacher of our faith," and its news pages in 2024 to 2026 report letters from him read at services and Suppers.

California investigation and arrest

The California Department of Justice began an investigation in 2018. In 2019 Naasón Joaquín García and two others were arrested, he at Los Angeles International Airport on arrival from abroad.

Guilty plea and sentence in California

On 3 June 2022, days before trial, Naasón Joaquín García pleaded guilty to three felony counts: two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. The California Attorney General announced the conviction. On 8 June 2022 Superior Court Judge Ronald Cohen sentenced him to 16 years and eight months in prison, and he is to be registered as a sex offender for life. Reuters, carried by NBC News, reported the sentence.

The Holy Supper is kept in Israel and in Africa for the first time

The church reports that in May 2023 the Supper was held at more than 55 places on four continents, including Israel, where it says the Supper "returns" to the place of its institution, and, for the first time, in Africa.

The Supper in Guadalajara

The Holy Convocation in Guadalajara ended on 14 August 2025 with the Holy Supper. The Guadalajara Reporter wrote that more than a quarter of a million people traveled to attend, and that it was the seventh year the event took place without the church's spiritual leader.

Federal indictment unsealed in New York (status: charged)

A federal indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of New York, case S1 25 Cr. 370. NPR reported that it charges six people, including Naasón Joaquín García and his mother, Eva García de Joaquín, and that some of the offenses carry a maximum of life in prison. The superseding indictment lists six counts, among them racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and child exploitation. NPR reported that García, already serving the California sentence, was moved into federal custody that day, and that his mother was arrested in Los Angeles. His lawyer said, "We categorically deny these charges." The case is assigned to Judge Loretta Preska. These are charges. No verdict has been reached.

Not-guilty plea in New York

N+ reported that Naasón Joaquín García appeared in federal court in New York on 23 September 2025 for the reading of the charges and was held in a jail in Brooklyn, and the Guadalajara Reporter reported that he pleaded not guilty. The church issued a statement calling the charges unfounded and false.

Mexico's Interior Ministry (SEGOB) confirms his ministerial rights are suspended

At the federal government's morning press conference on 17 April 2026, the head of the Secretaría de Gobernación, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, said that Naasón Joaquín García has his rights as a minister of worship suspended, that the suspension began some months earlier, and that it is because he is serving a sentence outside Mexico. She said the church itself keeps its registration: "La iglesia como tal tiene registro" (our translation: The church as such has its registration). The reports also say that a federal judge in Jalisco postponed to 27 April a hearing about reopening a Mexican investigation that the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) closed in December 2025.

A Mexican federal judge reopens the investigation (status: under investigation, not charged in Mexico)

At the federal justice center in Puente Grande, Jalisco, Judge Juan José Rodríguez Velarde revoked the FGR's December 2025 decision not to bring charges, so the investigation is open again. Uno TV and N+ reported that the judge said Naasón Joaquín García is not, for now, a formally accused person (imputado) in that investigation.

The New York case: motions and a trial date (status: pending)

N+ reported that on 23 July 2026 Judge Preska rejected the defense argument that religious freedom bars the charges, and that on 24 July the defense moved to dismiss the indictment or to require the prosecution to give more detail. N+ later reported a final pretrial hearing set for 27 October 2026 and a trial expected in March 2027.

Pretrial motions denied in New York (status: charged, awaiting trial)

Infobae reported that after an oral hearing on 27 October 2026, Judge Preska denied all the pretrial motions of Naasón Joaquín García, his mother and his nephew Joram Núñez Joaquín, so the prosecution goes on. It reported that the jury trial, first set for 15 March 2027, was moved by an order of 3 September 2026 to 29 March 2027. The church said in a statement that the ruling "no valida las falsas acusaciones, no establece la culpabilidad" (our translation: does not validate the false accusations, does not establish guilt). The ruling decides only that the case goes to trial. No verdict has been reached, and the charges are unproven.

Aarón Joaquín González

The church calls him "the Apostle of Jesus Christ, Brother Aaron Joaquín González" and says it is his call that began the Restoration. It says that God revealed his teaching to the three apostles of the restoration.

Samuel Joaquín Flores

Aarón's son. The federal indictment records that he became Apostle at his father's death in 1964 and held the office until he died in 2014.

Naasón Joaquín García

Samuel's son. The church's pages name him the Apostle of Jesus Christ and the spiritual guide and teacher of its faith. He is serving the California sentence and, since September 2025, is held in New York on the federal charges described above. The church has said the charges are false.

Where the record stops. The saved pages do not say who leads the church's ministry day to day while the Apostle is in custody. They show ministers "in representation of the Apostle" presiding at Suppers and reading his letters, and a "delegado apostólico" leading the dedication of a house of prayer in Huautla, Guerrero. We found no source that names a successor to the Apostle.

Mexico. Reports of the 17 April 2026 press conference differ on small points. One outlet said the minister's registration had lapsed since 2019, which the SEGOB statement as reported by N+ and Zeta does not say, and one outlet misdated the statement to July. We rely on the two reports that give the date and the words, and the Zeta report that adds the court context.

What we could not read. The press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York could not be fetched, and we did not use it. We read the indictment in an unofficial Spanish translation and use it only for the case number, the defendants and the titles of the counts.

The Bible is read at every service, and a living Apostle of Jesus Christ is the spiritual guide and teacher of the faith.

La Luz del Mundo builds its teaching on the Bible, and its news pages quote it constantly. Candidates for baptism must believe "in the Holy Scriptures," and the church's creed list carries Scripture references. Beside the Bible stands an office: the church believes in "the Apostles of Jesus Christ, ordained to preach the eternal Gospel," and counts three apostles of the restoration. Its Orden Ministerial page calls the present Apostle "spiritual guide and teacher of our faith." The church says its congregations keep their own administration but are united by one faith and one doctrine. It says the teaching of the three apostles was "revealed by God." Those who come to baptism must believe in the Apostolic Election as well as in the Scriptures. The church's published creed does not say in so many words whether an apostle's word can add to Scripture. (Our translation of the Spanish throughout this part.)

El Apóstol de Jesucristo Naasón Joaquín García es guía espiritual y maestro de nuestra fe.

la enseñanza revelada por Dios a los tres apóstoles de la restauración

unidas espiritualmente por una misma fe y doctrina

What the church says of God. Its list of religious principles opens: "CREEMOS en la existencia de Dios, único y universal" (our translation: We believe in the existence of God, one and universal), and cites John 17:3. Its pages speak of worship given "to God and to Jesus Christ" and call Jesus the Son of God. The church's pages that we saved set out no teaching on the Trinity or the nature of Christ. Outside writers do describe it. Religion News Service reported in 2022 that the church rejects the concept of the Trinity and teaches that Jesus is God's son. A 2011 article in Houston History, a University of Houston magazine, places the founder in the Oneness Pentecostal movement and notes that the church's ministers baptize in the name of Jesus Christ alone. Fortuny writes that members do not call themselves Pentecostals, though she classes the church with them by its origin, ritual and doctrine. These are outside descriptions, not the church's own statement.

What the Apostle's office does. The church's creed list says the apostles are ordained "to preach the will of God and to set before souls the way that leads to eternal life." The pages we saved show the Apostle's authority at work at the Holy Supper, which is held "with the authority of the Apostle of Jesus Christ," and at baptism, which is given "by the authority of the Apostle." Its report of the 2025 Supper in Venezuela says that on that day "el pueblo era uno con Dios, con Cristo y con su Apóstol, a través de la Autoridad Apostólica" (our translation: the people were one with God, with Christ and with his Apostle, through the Apostolic Authority). Fortuny sums up the members' belief in this way: "salvation will be achieved only by following the three Apostles: Aarón, Samuel, and Naasón."

A person believes, repents and is immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and then receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit as God's confirmation for entry into the kingdom.

La Luz del Mundo teaches that Jesus' death restores people to God, and that by it "the human being is accepted and pleasing to God." It holds that water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is for the forgiveness of sins, and teaches it as a command of Christ. Its page on baptism says the candidate is a believer who decides freely, and that the minister immerses him fully in the water as a burial of the old life. It teaches a second step, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which it calls God's confirmation for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. It says that those who come to baptism must believe in God and in Jesus Christ his Son, in the Holy Scriptures, in the Apostolic Election, and in the importance of leaving the past life. The baptism is given by a minister empowered by apostolic authority, and its sanctifying effect is immediate. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

CREEMOS en el Bautismo en agua en el nombre de Jesucristo para perdón de los pecados.

CREEMOS en el Bautismo del Espíritu Santo como la confirmación que Dios da al hombre para el ingreso al Reino de los Cielos.

El efecto santificador de este acto sagrado es inmediato tras la invocación del Nombre de Jesucristo por un ministro facultado por la autoridad apostólica.

Immersion. The church's page on its 2023 baptisms says the Greek word means to immerse, and that the minister "sumerge totalmente al aspirante dentro del agua" (our translation: fully immerses the candidate in the water), citing Romans 6:4. It reports 3,200 people baptized by deacons in two baptismal pools during the 2023 Holy Convocation, with ministers watching that it was done in the doctrinal order.

Freedom. The church writes that baptism "es un acto de fe del creyente, en donde se respeta la decisión individual de cada persona" (our translation: is an act of faith of the believer, in which each person's individual decision is respected). We saw no description of infant baptism, and Fortuny lists "baptism at age fourteen" among the church's rites of passage.

The death of Christ. "CREEMOS que la muerte de Jesucristo reivindica al hombre con Dios, y que por ese sacrificio, el ser humano es aceptado y agradable a Dios." (Principios religiosos, bullet 2; our translation above.)

The Holy Supper, bread and wine in memory of Christ, is the church's most important celebration, kept by region once a year and blessed under apostolic authority.

La Luz del Mundo calls the Supper its most important celebration and keeps it as a memorial of the redeeming sacrifice of Christ with bread and wine, which it calls symbols of his body and blood. The church writes that it has kept the Supper without interruption for nearly a century, and its pages show it held at the Holy Convocation in a region or city on a set date, such as 14 August in Guadalajara and in the other Mexican cities, and at other times in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Africa and elsewhere. We found no church page that describes a weekly Supper. The service has a praise service, a letter from the Apostle read by his representative, a prayer that consecrates the elements "with apostolic authority," and the bread and wine given out by deacons and pastors. Preparation comes first, in teaching sessions with hymns and prayers about taking part worthily. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

La Luz del Mundo celebra la Santa Cena ininterrumpidamente desde hace casi un siglo.

Concluyendo el Servicio de Alabanza, dio inicio la Ceremonia de Santa Cena presidida por un ministro en representación del Apóstol de Jesucristo Naasón Joaquín García, el cual dio lectura a una Carta Apostólica y después de orar para consagrar el pan y el vino, los Diáconos y Pastores impartieron la Santa Cena a los asistentes.

La Santa Cena es la celebración más importante que realiza la iglesia La Luz Del Mundo y se realiza con la autoridad del Apóstol de Jesucristo.

A memorial. "conmemorar el sacrificio redentor de Jesucristo mediante la participación del pan y del vino, símbolos de su cuerpo y sangre" (our translation: to commemorate the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ through sharing the bread and the wine, symbols of his body and blood). (En el país más austral, 17 Feb 2025.) The church also teaches that the Supper "anuncia" Christ's death and his second coming, quoting 1 Corinthians 11:26.

Where and when. The church's 2024 notice says the Supper was held by region from February to July in seven states of the United States and in Toronto for Canada, then in 22 places on 14 August, and that in 2025 it would return to eight Mexican cities. A member takes it where and when their region holds it.

Who gives it. The pages describe deacons giving out the bread and wine after a prayer of consecration. The church's report of the Tijuana Supper of 2025 says new members were baptized "en preparación para participar de la solemne Santa Cena del Señor" (our translation: in preparation to take part in the solemn Holy Supper of the Lord), so the pages tie the table to the baptized.

An Apostle of Jesus Christ heads the church, with pastors, deacons, those in charge of congregations and missionaries beneath him.

La Luz del Mundo is governed by an Apostle of Jesus Christ, with a ministerial order beneath him. Its Orden Ministerial page lists pastors, deacons, encargados (ministers in charge of a congregation) and missionaries, and says the order was set up to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry and the building up of the body of Christ, citing Ephesians 4:12. Pastors watch over the spiritual welfare of a group of the faithful. Deacons evangelize and teach, and are the ones who generally carry out the sacred offices: baptisms, marriages and the Holy Supper. A representative of the Apostle, such as an "apostolic delegate," presides at dedications and Suppers. The church says its congregations keep their own administration while united by one faith and doctrine. We saw no mention of a plurality of elders in a congregation. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

Los Diáconos, además de realizar actividades de evangelización, predicación y enseñanza de la doctrina de Jesucristo, son quienes generalmente efectúan los oficios sagrados: Bautismos, Matrimonios, Santa Cena, entre otros.

Son ministros al frente de una congregación que están pendientes de la atención espiritual de los fieles, así como de los servicios religiosos.

The church's account of the Apostle. "CREEMOS en los Apóstoles de Jesucristo, ordenados para predicar el Evangelio eterno." (Principios religiosos, bullet 3; our translation: We believe in the Apostles of Jesus Christ, ordained to preach the eternal Gospel.) The Orden Ministerial page cites Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Romans 9:7-11 and 11:29 for the idea of a call and election by God, and Acts 13:47 for the apostles' work to the ends of the earth.

Worship is a service of praise with choirs and hymns, prayers addressed to God, an address from a minister, and the Apostle's letter.

The church's pages describe worship as hymns, songs and prayers, with large choirs from many states and countries, and with teaching from ministers. The prayers named in its reports are addressed to God: a closing "prayer of worship to God," a "fervent service of worship to God and to Jesus Christ," and the pastor's prayer that presents the bread and wine. Reports often name the choirs (the orfeón) and members offering their own songs. At the Convocation there are also welcome ceremonies in which delegates carry the flags of their states and countries, and the church keeps the anniversary of the 1926 call with services of praise in all its houses of prayer. A New Year's Eve service of thanksgiving includes a letter from the Apostle. The saved pages do not say whether instruments are used in a service. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

Durante el servicio de alabanza miembros de diversas ciudades ofrecieron a Dios sus cantos, tanto en el idioma Español como también en Inglés

Al término de la participación del pan y el vino, la iglesia se unió en una oración de adoración a Dios

Momentos antes de que el pan y el vino fueron bendecidos con autoridad apostólica, se realizó un ferviente servicio de adoración a Dios y a Jesucristo, en el que sobresalió la participación del orfeón de California y de los hermanos que interpretaron diversas alabanzas evocando a través de ellas la pasión, muerte, y resurrección del Hijo de Dios.

Prayer and the Apostle. In one report the Apostle's written blessing ends with a prayer addressed to the Lord, "Levántate Jehová, estremece la tierra con tu misericordia" (our translation: Arise, Jehovah, shake the earth with your mercy). Another report speaks of members arriving "gracias a Dios y a la oración apostólica" (our translation: thanks to God and to the apostolic prayer). The pages do not say that prayer is offered to anyone but God.

Houses of prayer. The church uses "Casa de Oración" for its meeting places, in the place of "temple" or "church." Larger ones have a baptistery and an area for the ministry.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit follows water baptism as God's confirmation of entry into the kingdom, and the Spirit is said to work through the Apostle's blessings.

La Luz del Mundo teaches the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the second step of entry: after water baptism, God confirms the believer for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. It cites John 3:5 for this. The church's pages do not give a teaching on tongues, prophecy or healing as gifts in the congregation today. The anthropologist Patricia Fortuny reports that tongues may be spoken by some members in the time of prayer together, and that revivals are held two or three times a year to encourage members to speak in tongues. Its reports speak of the Holy Spirit working through the Apostle's blessing at the Supper, and of the Apostle's letters and words being fulfilled, for example in a rain that fell as the cup was given out in Guadalajara in 2023. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

Participaremos de una grandiosa bendición: del cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo, que es el más glorioso memorial sagrado, dejado para su cumplimiento a un pueblo que sabe valorar su significado, que disfruta el cumplimiento de su palabra, y goza que el Espíritu Santo realice su obra mediante su poder.

What we did not find. We found no page on speaking in tongues, prophecy or healing in the church's own voice, and none that says how the baptism of the Holy Spirit is known to have come. What is said above of tongues is Fortuny's account (2016), not the church's statement.

A hope of eternal heavenly life, blessings in the present and the future life, and the second coming of Christ, which the Supper proclaims.

The church's statement of faith says God offers everyone a way of freedom and salvation, with spiritual communion, peace of heart, a life of values and "a hope of eternal heavenly life," and that his love offers blessings both in this life and in the life to come. Its page on the Supper says the Supper proclaims the death of Christ and announces his second coming, "until he comes." In its page on baptism the church says the prophecy of Jesus that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world, and then the end will come, is being fulfilled as baptisms spread. Its reports of the Supper speak of a "hope of resurrection and eternal life," and quote Jesus' words, "I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:54). The pages we saved give no account of the resurrection of all the dead, the judgment, or a millennium, and we do not supply one. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

Creemos que Dios ofrece a todos un camino de libertad y salvación, brindándonos comunión espiritual, paz al corazón, una vida de valores y respeto mutuo, así como una esperanza de vida eterna celestial.

La segunda venida de Cristo: hasta que él venga.

Y será predicado este evangelio del reino en todo el mundo, para testimonio a todas las naciones; y entonces vendrá el fin

The hope of resurrection. The church's report of the Supper in Paris in 2025 says the bread and wine are "símbolos de la comunión y renovación del pacto eterno, para esperanza de resurrección y vida eterna" (our translation: symbols of communion and of the renewal of the eternal covenant, for a hope of resurrection and eternal life).

Present and future. "En efecto, el amor de Dios nos ofrece bendiciones tanto en la vida presente, como en la futura." (Nuestra fe, second version of the page; our translation: Indeed, the love of God offers us blessings both in the present life and in the future one.)

A living Apostle of Jesus Christ

The church holds that Jesus Christ keeps an Apostle at its head today, and that his authority stands behind baptism and the Supper.

The church believes "in the Apostles of Jesus Christ" and counts three of them in the restoration. Its Orden Ministerial page calls the present Apostle the spiritual guide and teacher of its faith. His letters are read at the Supper and at the New Year service. The church says baptism is given "by the authority of the Apostle" and the Supper is held "with the authority of the Apostle of Jesus Christ." (Our translation of the Spanish.)

CREEMOS en los Apóstoles de Jesucristo, ordenados para predicar la voluntad de Dios y proponer a las almas el camino que conduce a la vida eterna.

los tres apóstoles de la restauración, quienes han divulgado el evangelio en los cinco continentes

Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.

being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The New Testament knows apostles, and it names what an apostle was: a man who had been with Jesus from his baptism until his ascension and was a witness of his resurrection. The church was built "upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets," and the wall of the city bears "the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." A foundation is laid once. Nothing in Scripture promises a line of apostles after the first witnesses, and nothing gives a living man the right to teach and to authorize baptism and the Supper in Christ's name. Where the Apostle's authority stands in front of the ordinances, the church has put a man between the believer and the table of the Lord.

The strongest text for apostles today. It is Ephesians 4, which the church's Orden Ministerial page cites for its ministry. There Christ "gave some to be apostles" (Ephesians 4:11) "till we all attain unto the unity of the faith" (Ephesians 4:13), On that reading, apostles go on until that unity comes. But the same letter puts the apostles in the foundation (Ephesians 2:20), and a foundation is not laid again with each generation. What the apostles gave goes on in the church through their written word. Paul names the mark of an apostle, "have I not seen Jesus our Lord?" (1 Corinthians 9:1), and says that Christ appeared to him "last of all" (1 Corinthians 15:8).

Credit. The church takes the office of apostle seriously and ties it to the preaching of the gospel and to the works of mercy of the saints. It is right that Christ sent men with his own authority. The error is to say that the sending went on past the men who saw him.

The Restoration of 1926

The church dates itself from a call in 1926, which it calls the Restoration, and claims the teaching of the early church was restored through three apostles.

The church marks each year the anniversary of its Restoration on 6 April 1926 and keeps the date every year. It speaks of "the teaching revealed by God to the three apostles of the restoration." It presents itself as the restored church of the apostles, not as one denomination among others. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

La Luz del Mundo cumple hoy 99 años de su Restauración, desde aquel 6 de abril de 1926

And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.

Jesus said that he would build his church and that the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. A church that had to be restored in 1926 would mean that his promise failed for nearly nineteen centuries. The faith was "once for all delivered unto the saints," so it is not restored by revelation to a new messenger; it is received again from the apostles' written word, by any believer who reads and obeys it. The church deserves credit for wanting the New Testament church. It loses its footing when it says the way back to that church runs through a revelation given in 1926 to a man.

What the church could say instead. A body that said "we return to the pages of the apostles" would stand on ground anyone can check. A body that says God "revealed" the teaching to its apostles asks to be believed on their word.

The Holy Convocation and the yearly Supper

The Supper is kept at a great yearly gathering by region, where baptisms are also held, and not in the weekly meeting.

The Holy Convocation brings members together for several days of teaching, welcome ceremonies, baptisms and then the Holy Supper. The church writes that it has kept the Supper without interruption for nearly a century, in turn by region, with up to four places in some countries. At the Convocation in Guadalajara in August 2025 the Supper was held on 14 August. The anthropologist Patricia Fortuny notes that 14 August is also the birthday of the founder, Aarón. We found no church page that describes a weekly Supper. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

la Santa Cena tuvo lugar por regiones en siete estados de Estados Unidos

dio inicio el servicio de Santa Cena, convocado por la autoridad apostólica

And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.

For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come.

not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.

The disciples at Troas came together "upon the first day of the week" to break bread. The practice that Paul gave to Corinth, a church that met as one body, was a repeated meal "as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup." Setting the Supper at one great yearly event, by region, takes it out of the weekly meeting where the New Testament puts it. A member who is far from the date or the city is without it for a year. The care the church shows in preparing for it is real, and the wish to take it solemnly agrees with 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. The pattern that the apostles set, though, is every first day of the week, in every congregation.

The reading in 1 Corinthians 11. The church quotes 1 Corinthians 11:26 and says each Supper fulfills the command. Paul's "as often as" does not fix a number, but Acts 20:7 shows what the first church did when it came together.

Belief in the Apostolic Election before baptism

Those who come to baptism must believe in the Apostolic Election as well as in God, Christ and the Scriptures.

The church's report of its 2023 baptisms says that those who seek baptism must believe with all their heart in God and in Jesus Christ his Son, in the Holy Scriptures, in the Apostolic Election, and in the importance of leaving the past life and receiving the spiritual counsel of the ministers. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

Los aspirantes al bautismo deben creer de todo corazón, en Dios y en Jesucristo su Hijo, así como también en las Sagradas Escrituras, en la Elección Apostólica, en la importancia de dejar la vida pasada y recibir los consejos espirituales de los ministros.

And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.

And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts the terms are short. The Ethiopian asked what hindered him from being baptized, and Philip baptized him at once at the water. The jailer was told to believe on the Lord Jesus, and he and his household were baptized the same hour. Nobody was asked to accept a living man's election first. The church is right that baptism needs faith, a change of life and a free decision, and it is right to insist on immersion. A further article of belief, in the Apostolic Election, adds to what the apostles asked, and puts a condition on the gospel that Christ did not.

Plainly. The first-century terms are faith in Jesus, repentance and immersion for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The church keeps all three. Its added requirement is what this verdict weighs.

Freedom of belief and civil duty

The church teaches that faith is voluntary, that no one should be harmed for belief, and that members keep the laws and respect the authorities.

The church says it proclaims that faith is voluntary and that no one should suffer any violence for belief. It says it favors religious freedom as based on human dignity, and that its principles help members be good people who obey the laws of each country and respect its institutions and authorities. (Our translation of the Spanish.)

Proclamamos que la fe es voluntaria y que nadie debe sufrir violencia alguna por sus creencias.

Ayudan a los fieles de La Luz de Mundo a ser personas de bien, a cumplir las leyes de cada país, a respetar las instituciones y autoridades.

Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.

Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.

But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.

Paul and Peter teach the same duty the church teaches here: submit to the governing authorities, and honor the king. Acts 5:29 sets the limit, that "we must obey God rather than men," and the church's own stress on free, voluntary faith is in line with how the apostles preached. This is a point on which the church stands on the New Testament line, and a good one. It remains for the church to hold the same rule over its own offices, so that no man's word is placed beside God's.

The limit. Obedience to the state and obedience to God can part ways, and the apostles show which wins. The same rule applies to a church office.

The test is the same for every body: what the New Testament shows the first-century church doing and teaching, set beside what La Luz del Mundo holds today. The church holds that its teaching was revealed to the apostles of its restoration, so it does not appeal to the New Testament alone and has no lane on "The Line and the Branches." Its placements are set on the lineage rubric's own criteria, with the reason given for each. The church stands near the New Testament in how it baptizes: by immersion, of believers who decide freely, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins. It stands far from it in the office of a living Apostle, in the yearly Supper and in the ministry above the congregation.

Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.

The church reads the Bible and builds its teaching on it, and that deserves credit, but it holds that God "revealed" its teaching to the three apostles of its restoration, it calls the living Apostle the guide and teacher of its faith, and it requires belief in the Apostolic Election before a person may be baptized. Scripture makes the man of God "complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and the faith was "once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 1:3). On the rubric the rule of faith (A1) takes the last rung, as continuing revelation, and the silence of Scripture (A2) the third. Added teaching (G1) also takes the last rung, because a doctrine about named men whom the New Testament never describes is bound as a condition of baptism, and so the mean is the far end; the Election is counted here once, and not again under salvation.

What would move it. The church adds no book to the Bible. If it said plainly that no apostle's word binds beyond Scripture, and dropped belief in the Apostolic Election as a condition of baptism, this placement would move toward the line. Until then the faith it binds is wider than the faith the apostles delivered.

Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

This is where the church stands nearest the New Testament. It baptizes believers who decide freely, by full immersion, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, as Peter said in Acts 2:38. On the rubric the subject (C1) and the mode (C2) sit on the line, and the purpose (C3) one rung off, since the church adds the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second confirmation for entry into the kingdom; the mean is the line. The placement is moved one rung off it for a reason: the church says baptism takes effect through "a minister empowered by apostolic authority," so a believer's immersion counts only under one living man's authority, a condition the apostles never set. The required belief in the Apostolic Election is weighed under authority and is not counted twice.

The second step. Acts 2:38 promises "the gift of the Holy Spirit" to those who repent and are baptized. It is a promise given with the forgiveness, not a separate step of confirmation that a church or its Apostle must await.

Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.

The church keeps a real memorial of Christ's death, with bread and wine, careful preparation, and the words of 1 Corinthians 11:26 read at the table. That is to its credit. But it keeps the Supper once a year, by region, while the New Testament shows it kept on the first day of the week when the church came together (Acts 20:7). On the rubric the frequency (D1) takes the third rung, the nature (D2) the middle, since the elements are consecrated "with apostolic authority" and the Supper is said to bring the forgiveness of sins, and access (D3) the line; the mean is the second rung. It is moved one rung further for a reason: once a year is fewer than the "few times a year" that rung names, and in Guadalajara the day is 14 August, which Fortuny records as Aarón's birthday, so the date of the Lord's table is set by the founder's birthday and not by the Lord's day.

Access. A table for the baptized is not counted against the church. Paul's own rule at Corinth was self-examination, and a table fenced by baptism is not a fence Scripture forbids. The condition the church sets on its baptism is weighed under authority.

What the church says the Supper gives. Its report of the 2025 Supper in Venezuela says the bread and wine bring "comunión, perdón de pecados y resurrección de vida eterna" (our translation: communion, forgiveness of sins and resurrection to eternal life). The New Testament gives the Supper as a remembrance and a proclamation (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). It places forgiveness at baptism (Acts 2:38).

And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.

Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.

The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, even the Christ.

The New Testament shows a plurality of elders in each congregation, who tend the flock "which is among you," with no office above the congregation and no priesthood but that of all believers. La Luz del Mundo is governed by one Apostle at the head of the whole body, with pastors, deacons, those in charge and missionaries beneath him, and with the sacred offices carried out by a ministerial order and not by the congregation. On the rubric there is no plurality of elders (B1 at the last rung), the congregation's oversight is not its own (B2 at the last rung), and the clergy stand above the laity (B3 near the last rung). The mean of the three is the far end.

Credit. The church says its congregations keep their own administration, and it asks ministers to care for their flock in a spirit of fraternity. The structure, though, runs up to one man.

speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

The church's worship is built on praise, hymns, prayer and Scripture, and the prayers it names are addressed to God. That is near the New Testament, which names psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, sung with the heart to the Lord, and one mediator between God and men. The church adds observances without a command in the New Testament: welcome ceremonies with flags, the anniversary of the 1926 call kept with services in every house of prayer, and the Apostle's letter read at services. On the rubric the added acts (E2) sit at the third rung and prayer (E3) near the line. The church's pages do not say whether it uses instruments, so music (E1) is not scored. The mean of the two scored criteria is the placement.

Where the placement could move. If the church uses instruments in its services, the verdict on music would be added to this one. If any prayer is offered through the Apostle, the verdict on prayer would harden.

Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

In the New Testament the Spirit came with water baptism as a promise to every believer (Acts 2:38), and the miraculous gifts were given by the laying on of the apostles' hands, which is why they ended with the apostles. La Luz del Mundo teaches the baptism of the Spirit as a separate step that confirms entry into the kingdom, and it speaks of the Spirit doing his work through the Apostle's blessing. Its own pages say nothing of tongues, but Fortuny reports that tongues may be spoken in its prayer services and that revivals are held to stir members to speak in tongues. The verdict is firm: a promise made to all who obey the gospel is set into the hands of a living Apostle, and gifts that ended with the apostles are sought again.

Limit of the sources. The church publishes no page on the gifts. What is said here of tongues comes from Fortuny's account, published in 2016, not from the church's own words. This placement does not rest on that account alone. It rests first on what the church itself says of Spirit baptism and of the Apostle's blessing.

Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.

who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

What the church says on the last things agrees with the New Testament as far as it goes. It speaks of the second coming, a hope of resurrection and eternal life, and blessing in this life and the next, and its Supper proclaims the Lord's death "till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:26). The evidence is thin, though: the church publishes no account of the resurrection of all the dead, of the judgment, or of who will be raised to life, and a silent record is not credited here as agreement. Where it does speak, it ties the hope to its own rites: its report of the 2025 Supper in Venezuela says the bread and wine bring "resurrección de vida eterna" (resurrection to eternal life), under the Apostle's authority. So the placement is moderate, not near the line.

The claim to restoration. The church's page on baptism reads the preaching of the gospel in all the world as the sign that the end is near. That is Matthew 24:14, and Scripture itself says that no man knows the day (Mark 13:32).

La Luz del Mundo holds a good deal that Scripture holds. It confesses Jesus Christ as the Son of God and his death as the sacrifice that reconciles people to God. It teaches repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, by full immersion, of believers who choose it freely. It keeps the Lord's Supper as a memorial in remembrance of him, with the reading of 1 Corinthians 11:26 and careful preparation. Its worship is built on praise, hymns and prayer addressed to God. It holds that faith is voluntary and that no one should suffer violence for belief, and it asks members to keep the law and respect the authorities. Many of its members work for the good of their neighbors.

The plumb line the New Testament sets is plain: the faith was delivered once, the church was built on the apostles' foundation, the Supper is kept every first day of the week, and each congregation is overseen by its own elders under Christ alone. La Luz del Mundo is closest to that line in how it baptizes, and farthest from it in what it puts between the believer and Christ: a living Apostle, a ministry above the congregation, and a Supper that is kept at a yearly gathering and under an Apostle's authority.

The call to those who love the church is to go back to the pages the apostles left. There a baptized believer is already a member of Christ's body and has the right to his table each week, among elders of his own congregation, and with no one to stand before him but Christ.

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