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The Restoration of The Gospel of Jesus Christ

 
 
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"God is the same yesterday, today and forever."
Mormon 9:9

 

We believe that God is our loving Father in Heaven. He has a physical body and created us in His image. He loves each of us perfectly and individually. His desire is to bless you with eternal happiness and peace.

One of the ways God shows us His love is by sending prophets. Prophets are called to lead His Church, to teach the gospel, to act in God's name, and above all to testify about Jesus Christ. In the Bible we read about many examples of ancient prophets, such as Adam, Noah, and Moses.

Because God loves us, He sent us His only-begotten Son to earth to teach His gospel and make the Atonement. During the Atonement, Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself, which enables us to repent, receive forgiveness and feel peace. He also took on Himself all our sufferings, weaknesses, sorrows and illnesses, so that He knows how to help us individually. He also overcame death, which means that we too will rise and live after death.

 

After the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ, His Apostles taught His doctrine and had the priestly authority needed to lead the Church. However, as time pased, people turned away from the original doctrine taught by Jesus Christ.

 

When this happened, there was no longer the proper authority to teach the gospel in the name of Christ and to continue building His kingdom on earth. Moreover, there was no one who could perform holy and necessary ordinances for salvation, such as baptism. It was a time of spiritual darkness and confusion, resulting in the formation of many different churches. Many of them had particles of truth, but none had fullness.

 

In this state of spiritual darkness, a young boy named Joseph Smith wanted to find out in depth which church he should join. He read in James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Having read this passage, Joseph concluded "that he either [must] remain in darkness and confusion, or follow James' instructions, that is, ask God." With this plan in mind, Joseph went to the forest near his home and asked God which church he should join.

 

In his own words, Joseph said:

"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God...I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

In response to his sincere prayer, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and told him not to join any church because they did not have the fullness of the gospel.
 

In time, more doctrine was revealed to Joseph Smith and he was eventually called by God to be a prophet. God and Jesus Christ restored the fullness of the gospel through Joseph Smith as it was when Jesus Christ was on earth. This included the restoration of the proper authority of the priesthood, to preside over Christ's Church and to perform the ordinances necessary for salvation.

 

Evidence of this restoration is the Book of Mormon, which was translated by Joseph Smith by the power and gift of God. Along with the Bible, the Book of Mormon is an additional testimony about Jesus Christ. Its introduction states: "We invite all men [and women] everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true."

 

Each of us can receive a testimony through the power of the Holy Spirit that the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored Church on earth today.

 
 
 

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