Joseph Smith and The First Vision

History of the Church In the spring of 1820, a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees near his home in Palmyra, New York, and prayed to learn which church he should join. In answer to his prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him, just as heavenly beings had appeared to prophets like Moses and Paul in biblical times. Joseph learned that the Church originally organized by Jesus Christ was no longer on the earth. Joseph Smith was chosen by God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. During the next 10 years, Joseph was visited by other heavenly messengers, translated the Book of Mormon, and received authority to organize the Church. The Church was organized in Fayette, New York, on 6 April 1830, under the leadership of Joseph Smith. It has grown to an organization with members and congregations throughout the world.

Gordon B. Hinckley

Biographical Sketch: Born in Salt Lake City on June 23, 1910, Gordon B. Hinckley was prepared from his youth to be a prophet. After graduating from the University of Utah, he was called to serve a mission to Great Britain. After he returned, he embarked on a lifetime of service for the Church. He was employed as the executive secretary of the Church Radio, Publicity, and Literature committee, before he was called to be an Apostle in 1961. He was later called to serve as a counselor to President Kimball, President Benson, and President Hunter. Since becoming Church President on March 12, 1995, he has directed the most intense temple building program in the history of the Church in an effort to extend temple blessings to more members. He has exhibited vitality and energy as he has traveled about the world meeting and speaking to members of the Church. Through television interviews and national press publications, he has increased media attention and improved the public image of the Church. He has counseled Church members to fellowship new converts, befriend members of other faiths, live exemplary lives, and avoid the evils of the world.

Mormons are Christians

As the third Article of Faith (--the Articles of Faith, written by the prophet Joseph Smith, lay out the basic beliefs of the LDS Church--) states: "We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." And what are these laws and ordinances? The next Article of Faith says: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances are: first, FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, second, Repentance, third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sin, fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." As the eight Article of Faith reads: "We believe THE BIBLE TO BE THE WORD OF GOD, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." So if we already have the teachings of and life story of jesus in the Bible, why have the Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon explains (cited below) that its purpose is to clarify the gospel. Why is this clarification desirable? Doesn't the Bible set forth the gospel clearly enough? While it's true that the Bible and the Book of Mormon both contain "the fulness of the everlasting gospel" (see first paragraph of the Introduction of the Book of Mormon), the Bible is missing some important information. How did this information come to be missing? The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi (2 Nephi 13), who lived several hundred years before Christ, was shown how in a vision (words in brackets added by author): "26 And after they [the words of Christ] go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [Peter, James, John, etc], from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.

28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God [the Bible].

29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles [Europe and other parts of the world]; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity [the Americas], thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them. 40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records [the Book of Mormon], which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first [the Bible], which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved." So, according to Nephi, at least two of the purposes of the Book of Mormon are to establish the truth and validity of Bible and to "make known" the plain and precious truths which purposely omitted by evil designing people. So what are "these plain and precious things"? It seems apparent that they at least partly refer to the principles and ordinances stated above: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Let me just clarify that the great and abominable church responsible for taking out the "plain and precious things" of the bible, or church of the devil as it is referred to, is defined elsewhere in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 22) as "all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity." The vast majority of our Christian brothers' and sisters' churches, let me clarify, do not fall into that category. Unfortunately, some do, or else this scripture would be unnecessary. In conclusion, mormons believe that through Jesus' atoning sacrifice all mankind may be saved, and that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. Mormons also believe the Bible to be the word of God, and that it contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. The Book of Mormon establishes the truth of and truths of the Bible more fully, especially Jesus' divinity as the Son of God and redeemer of the world. As the Book of Mormon teaches: "there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved...And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25).

Temples

THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE

--There are many questions regarding "Mormon" Temples.
"A careful reading of the scriptures reveals that the Lord did not tell all things to all people. There were some qualifications set that were prerequisite to receiving sacred information. Temple ceremonies fall within this category.
We do not discuss the temple ordinances outside the temples. It was never intended that knowledge of these temple ceremonies would be limited to a select few who would be obliged to ensure that others never learn of them. It is quite the opposite, in fact. With great effort we urge every soul to qualify and prepare for the temple experience. Those who have been to the temple have been taught an ideal: Someday every living soul and every soul who has ever lived shall have the opportunity to hear the gospel and to accept or reject what the temple offers. If this opportunity is rejected, the rejection must be on the part of the individual himself.
LAIE HAWAII TEMPLE
--The ordinances and ceremonies of the temple are simple. They are beautiful. They are sacred. They are kept confidential lest they be given to those who are unprepared. Curiosity is not a preparation. Deep interest itself is not a preparation. Preparation for the ordinances includes preliminary steps: faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation, worthiness, a maturity and dignity worthy of one who comes invited as a guest into the house of the Lord.
All who are worthy and qualify in every way may enter the temple, there to be introduced to the sacred rites and ordinances."
Boyd K. Packer
Click on "Temples" above to learn more about the importance and sacred nature that temples hold within Mormon doctrines and practices.