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Could a young farm boy really have seen God? In 1820, as He had done throughout history, Father in Heaven again chose a prophet? to restore the gospel? and the priesthood? to the earth.  He called a young man named Joseph Smith, and through him, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth.


Joseph Smith lived in the United States, which was perhaps the only country to enjoy religious freedom at the time.  It was at a time of great religious excitement in the eastern United States, and Joseph Smith’s family members were deeply religious and constantly sought for truth.  The Holy Bible? taught that there was “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” ( Ephesians 4:5), but many ministers claimed to have the true gospel.  Joseph attended different churches, but he was confused about which church he should join and desired “to know which of all the sects was right” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:18). He later wrote:
'''The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''' or '''LDS Church''' is a restorationist Christian denomination founded in 1830 by [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] and currently headquartered in [[Salt Lake City, Utah]].  Members of the LDS Church are often referred to as Latter-day Saints or '''Mormons''', and the religion is referred to, along with offspring sects, as '''Mormonism'''.


“So great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was . . . to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. . . . In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:8, 10). 
The Church claims approximately 13 million members worldwide and approximately 53,000 currently-serving full-time missionaries.


As Joseph sought truth among the different faiths, he turned to the Bible for guidance.  He read, “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” ( James 1:5). Because of this passage, Joseph decided to ask God what he should do. In the spring of 1820 he went to a nearby grove of trees and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: “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!” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17).  In this vision God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith.  The Savior told Joseph not to join any of the churches, for they “were all wrong.”  The Savior stated, “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:19).  
Members of the LDS church believe that early Christianity entered a state of general apostasy sometime following the death of [[Paul of Tarsus]] and preceding the [[First Council of Nicaea]], during which period the authority to perform ordinances such as baptism was lost and the original message of Christ was distorted and misrepresented. Members believe that Joseph Smith, Jr. was called of God to restore Christianity in its pure and unadulterated form, beginning in 1820 with what has become known as the '''First Vision''', wherein God the Father and [[Jesus Christ]] appeared to Smith and instructed him to avoid all organized religions and wait for further instruction.


Although many good people believed in Christ and tried to understand and teach His gospel, they did not have the fulness of truth or the priesthood authority to baptize and perform other saving ordinances? at that time.  They had inherited a state of apostasy?, as each generation was influenced by what the previous one passed on, including changes in the doctrines and in ordinances, such as baptism.  
Smith claimed to have been visited by an angel named Moroni on September 21, 1823. Moroni, the last author in the [[Book of Mormon]], informed Smith that there was a record of an ancient American civilization buried near his home, and that in time, he would receive and translate this record. On September 22, 1827, Smith attended a place previously appointed and retrieved the record from Moroni, with the specific charge to ensure its safety. Smith claimed that Moroni had visited him over twenty times over the course of the intervening years, preparing him for receipt of the record.


Joseph Smith’s First Vision? marked the beginning of the Restoration? of Jesus Christ’s Church to the earth. In subsequent years, Christ restored His priesthood and reorganized His Church. He has continued to reveal truths to His prophets and to restore the blessings that were taken from the earth for a time.  
Employing revelation and two "seer stones" (which constituted an [[Urim and Thummim]], according to Smith) included with the record, Smith translated the record from the "golden plates" on which they were inscribed to spoken English. Various associates, including [[Oliver Cowdery]] and Smith's wife Emma, transcribed the words as Smith spoke them. The first edition of the Book of Mormon was published in March 1830, directly preceding the formal organization of the Church.


The Apostle Peter prophesied of the “restitution of all things” before Christ’s Second Coming ( Acts 3:19–21).  The Restoration of Christ’s Church on the earth has made available the opportunity for all to once again receive all of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The official present-day canon of the Church comprises the [[Bible]], Book of Mormon, [[Pearl of Great Price]], and [[Doctrine and Covenants]], and Latter-day Saints accept all as authoritative scripture.  


After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith in 1844 in Carthage, Illinois, the succeeding prophet of the Church, Brigham Young, by revelation directed Church members to move west. With the arrival of the first pioneers in 1847, Salt Lake City, Utah, became the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and remains so to this day.  
==Core beliefs==
In 1842, Joseph Smith, Jr., responded to a letter from Chicago newspaper editor [[John Wentworth]] with a list of thirteen basic points of doctrine. The list Smith provided is known as '''The Articles of Faith''' and is included in the Pearl of Great Price. This list can be referenced [http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,106-1-2-1,FF.html here].


Prominent Church locations in the thriving city that rests at the foot of the Rocky Mountains include:
Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ is the [[Messiah]] and Savior of the world, providing a means to redemption from sin for every person who has ever lived. They believe that Jesus Christ is the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that he governs through an established hierarchy of specifically ordained people. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are called as "special witnesses of Christ" and are the Church's highest governing bodies. The Church convenes semiannually for general conferences in Salt Lake City, Utah. The proceedings are broadcast over satellite networks to church meetinghouses worldwide, over the internet, radio, and some residential programming providers.


Temple Square, a beautifully landscaped, 35-acre plot of ground, which is the location of the Salt Lake Temple?, the Tabernacle?, the Assembly Hall, and two visitors’ centers.
Members of the Church believe in revelation and recognize Church President [[Thomas S. Monson]] as a living prophet, analogous to the prophets in the Bible and other scriptures. Latter-day Saints believe that every man can receive revelation for that which he has rightful dominion over.
The Church offices, located east of Temple Square?.  
A large Conference Center, which hosts the Church’s world conferences, located north of Temple Square.  
The Family History Library, which is open to the public for genealogical research, located west of Temple Square
Today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide religion.  Church membership is currently over 13 million, with over half of the members living outside the United States.  Although Utah is often thought of as the home of the Mormons, only about 14 percent of the Church membership lives in Utah.  


With a global focus, the Church has more than 100 temples worldwide, prints monthly magazines in 50 languages for adults, youth, and children and has published more than 100 million copies of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ in over 93 languages.  
Latter-day Saints reject the concept of the Trinity and believe that each member of the Godhead is a physically distinct being, united in purpose but not in substance. They believe that God the Father and Jesus Christ have perfected physical bodies similar to those of modern-day humans, while the Holy Ghost is an unembodied spirit being, allowing the Godhead's influence to be felt by any amount of people at any place and any time.


With over 50,000 missionaries in 162 countries, Church membership continues to grow exponentially.  
==External links==
 
*[http://www.lds.org LDS.org] - official website.
Members throughout the world are organized into local congregations called wards? or branches?. These congregations are organized geographically, and members attend a ward or branch near their home, meeting together each Sunday to worship? and learn. The leader of a congregation is a bishop? or a branch president. He is not paid for his service, but he donates his time to serve the congregation.
*[http://www.mormon.org Mormon.org] provides introductory information about LDS beliefs.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS Church is a restorationist Christian denomination founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. and currently headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Members of the LDS Church are often referred to as Latter-day Saints or Mormons, and the religion is referred to, along with offspring sects, as Mormonism.

The Church claims approximately 13 million members worldwide and approximately 53,000 currently-serving full-time missionaries.

Members of the LDS church believe that early Christianity entered a state of general apostasy sometime following the death of Paul of Tarsus and preceding the First Council of Nicaea, during which period the authority to perform ordinances such as baptism was lost and the original message of Christ was distorted and misrepresented. Members believe that Joseph Smith, Jr. was called of God to restore Christianity in its pure and unadulterated form, beginning in 1820 with what has become known as the First Vision, wherein God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Smith and instructed him to avoid all organized religions and wait for further instruction.

Smith claimed to have been visited by an angel named Moroni on September 21, 1823. Moroni, the last author in the Book of Mormon, informed Smith that there was a record of an ancient American civilization buried near his home, and that in time, he would receive and translate this record. On September 22, 1827, Smith attended a place previously appointed and retrieved the record from Moroni, with the specific charge to ensure its safety. Smith claimed that Moroni had visited him over twenty times over the course of the intervening years, preparing him for receipt of the record.

Employing revelation and two "seer stones" (which constituted an Urim and Thummim, according to Smith) included with the record, Smith translated the record from the "golden plates" on which they were inscribed to spoken English. Various associates, including Oliver Cowdery and Smith's wife Emma, transcribed the words as Smith spoke them. The first edition of the Book of Mormon was published in March 1830, directly preceding the formal organization of the Church.

The official present-day canon of the Church comprises the Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants, and Latter-day Saints accept all as authoritative scripture.

Core beliefs

In 1842, Joseph Smith, Jr., responded to a letter from Chicago newspaper editor John Wentworth with a list of thirteen basic points of doctrine. The list Smith provided is known as The Articles of Faith and is included in the Pearl of Great Price. This list can be referenced here.

Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and Savior of the world, providing a means to redemption from sin for every person who has ever lived. They believe that Jesus Christ is the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that he governs through an established hierarchy of specifically ordained people. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are called as "special witnesses of Christ" and are the Church's highest governing bodies. The Church convenes semiannually for general conferences in Salt Lake City, Utah. The proceedings are broadcast over satellite networks to church meetinghouses worldwide, over the internet, radio, and some residential programming providers.

Members of the Church believe in revelation and recognize Church President Thomas S. Monson as a living prophet, analogous to the prophets in the Bible and other scriptures. Latter-day Saints believe that every man can receive revelation for that which he has rightful dominion over.

Latter-day Saints reject the concept of the Trinity and believe that each member of the Godhead is a physically distinct being, united in purpose but not in substance. They believe that God the Father and Jesus Christ have perfected physical bodies similar to those of modern-day humans, while the Holy Ghost is an unembodied spirit being, allowing the Godhead's influence to be felt by any amount of people at any place and any time.

External links

  • LDS.org - official website.
  • Mormon.org provides introductory information about LDS beliefs.
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