Jesus’s Church Was Restored

In 1820, God and Jesus called a new prophet to restore the true Church. His name was Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith grew up a humble farm boy in Palmyra, New York. Many churches and preachers were competing for converts in the area. Joseph was confused about which church he should join because they all taught different things. He came across a verse in the Bible that said to ask God if you had a question, and He would answer.

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Joseph decided to pray. He went to a private place in the woods and knelt down, humbly asking God in prayer which church he should join. God and Jesus came to him in a vision. Later, Joseph described this sacred 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).

Joseph Smith's First Vision

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Joseph Smith's vision of God and Jesus Christ.

God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, told Joseph not to join any of the existing churches. They said that through him, Jesus would eventually restore His original Church. Joseph Smith would become a prophet, just like biblical prophets of old. Over time, he was given the important priesthood authority that had been lost, and with it, the power to baptize, to heal the sick, and to call Apostles and other leaders. The restored Church was officially organized on April 6, 1830.

The Book of Mormon’s role in the restoration of Jesus’s Church

As Jesus reestablished His Church, He brought forth an ancient record that was translated by Joseph Smith. It is known as the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It both supports and clarifies the Bible, ensuring that the teachings of Jesus Christ remain pure and correct. You can come to know that the Book of Mormon, like the Bible, is the word of God by reading it and praying to know if it’s true. If God answers that it is true, you will know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that you have found Jesus’s true Church.

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Jesus Christ leads His Church through prophets today

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Jesus Christ’s restored Church. Jesus is truly at the head of His Church, and He guides us toward God through a modern-day prophet.

Come worship the Savior Jesus Christ with us! You will be blessed by studying His teachings in the holy scriptures and listening to what He has told prophets and apostles in our day. You will feel God’s love as you participate in serving others in the Lord’s Church.

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Common Questions

Below are questions often asked about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Click here to see the full list.

Many people are uncomfortable with organized religion and prefer trying to be spiritual and live good lives. But the truth is, we need both! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides the structure and priesthood authority necessary to fulfill all of God’s commandments, including baptism and taking the sacrament (which is similar to communion). Going to church on Sundays is one aspect of worshipping God, and it is also important to be spiritual and serve others throughout the week.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially founded in Fayette, New York, in 1830. The first President of the Church was Joseph Smith. He had a vision of Jesus Christ and God the Father and was called by God as a prophet to restore the Church of Jesus Christ. He received the priesthood of God, translated the Book of Mormon, and sent missionaries to preach the gospel across North America and overseas.

The Church headquarters moved to Ohio, Missouri, and then Illinois to escape persecution and find a place for its members to gather. Due to suspicion and local political conflicts, the Prophet Joseph Smith was unlawfully jailed in 1844 and killed by a mob.

Brigham Young became the next President of the Church. He led the Saints across the plains of the United States to the Rocky Mountains of what is now Utah. Since that time, the Church has grown dramatically throughout the world. Today, there are over 16 million members in 170 countries worldwide.

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The first step is to meet with missionaries. They will teach you the basic beliefs and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They can also answer any of your questions about the Church and let you know what is expected from its members.

You should also start attending worship services. You will find the joy of belonging to a community of people who care about each other and strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

Once you are ready to join the Church, you can choose to be baptized and become an official member. You can be baptized either by missionaries or by someone you’ve come to know at church.

Like the Bible, the Book of Mormon has many authors. It is a collection of journals and histories passed down from one writer to another over a period of about 1,000 years. The first author is the prophet Nephi, who left Jerusalem with his family in 600 BC and sailed to the Americas. Nephi passed the record to his younger brother, who then gave it to his son. Each author gave the record to someone they trusted. Mormon was the name of the prophet who gathered all the writings into one book, so it is called the Book of Mormon.

In 1823 Joseph Smith was led to the ancient records and translated them by the power of God.

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Jesus’s Original Church Fell Away

God Speaks to Us Through Prophets

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