What I wish to do with this blog is to give a basic summary of Joseph Smith and how he became the first prophet of this dispensation (a time when the full gospel with Priesthood authority is on the Earth) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We believe that there were many dispensations starting with Adam. Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and other Biblical prophets were on the Earth during dispensations. When the people rejected the Gospel, the Priesthood (which is the authority to act in God's name) was taken off the Earth. Eventually, God reveals and restores His Priesthood to the Earth again by calling another prophet. We believe that all true prophets testify of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. (The Atonement is the greatest act of love in all human history. It encompasses His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection.) We believe that because of His sacrifice for us that every man and women will be resurrected. (Resurrection refers to when the body and spirit will reunite in perfect form never to be separated again.)

We believe that Jesus Christ restored His Church by calling apostles and prophets. (See Ephesians 4:11-13) These prophets and apostles established the Church of Jesus Christ on the Earth. However, we believe (and in accordance with Biblical scripture) that these apostles were heavily persecuted and killed off just as the Savior Jesus Christ was. So the Earth once again did not have the full Gospel and Priesthood authority to run the Church. This state often referred to as the Great Apostasy.  (A period when Christ's true Church is not on the Earth.)

Once again, we believe that God called another prophet to the Earth, and his name was Joseph Smith. This man would act as "an instrument in the hands of God" to restore His Priesthood authority to the Earth again and establish the Church of Jesus Christ in the last dispensation before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that this is a lot to take it, but I really want to keep it rather basic.  So therefore, please watch this video about Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is only 2:22 long.  Then I will review the video and summarize it for you.

This is the very basics of what happen to Joseph Smith. I would encourage you to visit www.mormon.org and watch The Restoration DVD or order it. (It's free!) The video is about 20 minutes. Here is a link: Click here.

So the basic points are these:

• Joseph Smith was a young boy looking for a church to join.
• He knew there had to be one true church.
• He thought about it all the time and went to different churches with his family on a regular basis.
• He read the Bible frequently and came across a scripture in James 1:5 that says, "If any of you like wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally..." In his own words this scripture, "enter[ed] with great force into every feeling of my heart.  I reflected on it again and again..."  (Joseph Smith - History 1:12)
  
• He reflected that scripture and decided to ask God which church to join.
• He went to a grove a trees near his home in Palmyra, NY to pray. (1820)
  
• When praying, he received a vision where he saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
• They instructed him to join none of the churches. He would help restore what was lost.
• A few years later he was directed to an ancient record called the Book of Mormon.
• He translated it by the gift and power of God. He published it.
  
• The Priesthood was restored by the resurrected John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John. They appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830.
• Other revelations and truths were restored to Joseph Smith including the nature of families and how they can be sealed together for this life and all eternity through temples. (Picture of an LDS temple below)
  

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Remember, this is a lot to take in, but the only way to know for yourself that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God is to read from The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ and ask God if it is true. To receive a free copy of The Book of Mormon or to read it online please visit www.mormon.org.

Also, you can chat with live missionaries from the LDS Church on www.mormon.org!