The Restoration
December 9, 2011
Filed under Mormon Beliefs, Mormons
The “restoration” is the restoration of the fulness of the gospel and church of Jesus Christ in this, the last dispensation of time before His Second Coming. God’s kingdom on earth must be built up to receive Him and to usher in His millennial reign.
The History of Christianity
The Church of Jesus Christ has always existed. It has counterparts in heaven and on earth. Eventually, the two will be combined during the millennial rule of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ on earth did not begin with Christ’s ministry on earth nor with His apostles. It began with Adam and Eve, who were taught the gospel by the Savior Himself. All prophets since then have fully understood the mission of Christ as the Messiah, and they have taught them to their followers. That more is not available in the Bible regarding this shows that information has been taken from the biblical record.
In the Pearl of Great Price, we learn about Adam and Moses:
And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.
And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God (Moses 5:6-10).
And this about Moses:
And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all (Moses 1).
The Book of Mormon peoples lived according to the Law of Moses, looking forward to Christ for their salvation:
Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them (Alma 25:15).
On the road to Emaus, Christ taught His disciples from the Old Testament showing that Moses and all prophets had testified of Him. This is not just because they were able to prophesy, but because they partook of and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and looked forward to its fulness to come upon the earth.
Christ and the Apostles
Most Christians believe that Christ did not organize His church upon the earth, but that His apostles did it. Christ did organize His church. He began authoring and organizing from the beginning, from heaven. During His ministry He instructed His apostles, bestowed upon them priesthood power, and taught them how to further organize His work. After His death, as a resurrected being, He further instructed them while He sojourned with them, and then by revelation from heaven. He directly gave the apostles the authority to act in His name, accompanied by real power from above. This power and authority was gradually lost after the death of the apostles.
Apostasy of the Orthodox Church
Christ’s original church had a lay clergy, and all served and did acts of charity. The apostles and seventies had the ability to perform miracles, including receiving direct revelation to guide the Church. After the death of the apostles, councils of bishops were held. These councils were never unanimous in codifying doctrine. Many practices crept into orthodoxy that were never part of Christ’s church. They included the development of a professional and paid clergy, celibacy for clergy, liturgy, crusades and inquisitions, the selling of indulgences (money for salvation), the purchase of power (the Medici popes), penance instead of repentance, infant baptism, and baptism by sprinkling instead of immersion. Along with these changes came the loss of miracles in the disappearance of the charismatic gifts. Said the Book of Mormon prophet Moroni:
And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust (Mormon 9:20).
As the orthodox churches went astray, reformers took great risks to try to reform it. The “reformation” began in Europe during the Renaissance and was carried forth by new translations of the Bible into vernacular languages and the invention of the printing press. With the Holy Bible in the hands of the common people, many protestant churches sprang up, most being persecuted.
Reformation was not Enough
Reformation proceeded forward without two very important things — the personal leadership and conferred priesthood power of Jesus Chris. Reformers were inspired, but not enough to restore everything that had been lost.
Many protestants fled Europe for the United States for religious freedom. Religious freedom was the main reason the colonies were established. By the early 1800′s the northeastern area of the U.S. was undergoing a “Second Awakening,” with religious fervor matched only by the vindictive competition between vying protestant sects. Some groups of “restorationists” had sprung up. These were groups of individuals who felt in their hearts that reformation wasn’t enough and that the whole truth was not found in any of them. Many of these people recognized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the restoration of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ imbued with His power and authority — just what they were waiting for.
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was a boy of fourteen living with his impoverished family on a farm in upstate New York in 1820. The Second Awakening was in full swing, and part of the family favored the Methodist religion, while others were partial toward the Presbyterian faith. Joseph, however, was confused. Every religion claimed to be the true religion, yet they all disagreed. He thought he might find the answers in the Bible, but the faiths all used the Bible and found different justifications there for their doctrines.
While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: 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.
Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know (Joseph Smith History 1:11, 12)….
On an April morning, Joseph resorted to a grove of trees on the family farm to pray vocally to God and to ask which church he should join. This was his only intent. Just as he began, he was overcome by some real, dark power that almost destroyed him. Calling upon God, he was delivered.
…just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. 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! (vs. 16, 17)
The fact that Joseph saw and heard two personages turned everyone against him, because it flew in the face of the doctrine of the trinity. Joseph mustered all his strength and asked which church he should join. He was instructed to join none of them and informed that God was about to do a very great work. The Lord was about to restore His true church, the Church of Jesus Christ. To differentiate it from the primitive church and ancient Saints, the phrase “of Latter-day Saints” was added to the name of the Church. Joseph was told in later visions that his name would be held for good and ill all over the world, and that has come to pass.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been nicknamed “Mormons,” because of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, an ancient collection of scripture revealed by the Lord to provide more information in the last days before His coming. He has promised to reveal even more scripture. Mormons do not worship Joseph Smith. They do, however, revere him for his courage in beginning the work of the last days. The Church continues to be led by prophets, seers, and revelators, and it will go forth until the gospel is preached to every nation, tongue, and kindred, as commanded by the Lord.
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