PART 1 - MISSIONARY CHURCH ESTABLISHED

Commandment to Preach the Gospel to Every Creature.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to teach His gospel and call twelve Apostles to His service.  He taught them His gospel and how to spread the “Good News” which is the meaning of the Gospel. 

He set up His ancient church and instructed His Apostles to continue spreading the word and building the kingdom of God.

MARK 16: 15

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

After the Apostles were killed, along with many of the converts, His church stopped growing and it seemed like it went into the wilderness. 

This is when the Dark Ages came into existence.  Many times His gospel, the Bible, has been translated and re-translated over the centuries. 

Many of the plain and precious parts of the gospel were lost because the translators did not understand them so they left them out our or changed them.  Sometimes because of evil designs influenced by Satan.

Restoration of His Church and Gospel to the Earth

After centuries of darkness and apostasy, the time was ready for the establishment of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.  All through the scriptures we can read the words of the prophets of old talking about a time in the Latter Days when all things would be restored. 

Not just old things known before, but new things would be revealed which have never been revealed in previous Dispensations.

This would be the Final Dispensation of the Gospel before the Second Coming of the Lord to the earth.

In the pre-existence, the prophets of old were chosen, like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, Isaiah and the ones for the Last Days beginning with the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

This was all done before the earth was organized in the Grand Council in Heaven where the Stars sang and the Sons of God shouted for Joy.Yes, you were there at that council.  While here on earth for this Test, our memories are blocked by a veil, but the scriptures tell us about it plainly.

In the Spring of 1820 a fourteen year old boy, who was chosen as mentioned above, named Joseph Smith, was inspired to read in:

JAMES 1: 5-6

5 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.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

This inspiration to Joseph Smith is what initiated his seeking for answers on which church to join.  He didn't expect an open vision but an answer to his prayers like all of us do.  He had gone to the meetings of many of the churches, but was partial to the Methodists. 

But he still did not know for sure, so when he read those two verses mentioned above, he felt he should go and do what James directs.  He went to a grove of trees near his home and prayed.

To make the story short, he was visited by the God the Father who called Joseph by name, and introduced His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When Joseph gathered himself the courage, he asked which church to join.  He was told by the Lord Jesus Christ to join none of them. 

He said that they were all wrong and did not preach His gospel but the precepts of men.  He said that he would be the instrument in His hands to Re-Establish His church and Restore the Fullness of His Gospel to the earth in this, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.

The Gold Plates or the Book of Mormon

The ancient Prophet Moroni, son of the Prophet Mormon, was directed by the Lord Jesus Christ three years later to go to Joseph, and instruct him and give messages on the setting up of the church and kingdom.

Once the Book of Mormon was translated with the help of the Urim and Thummin and the inspiration of the Lord, he was ready to complete the work.

The priesthood authority of the Lord was not on the earth at that time so on May 15, 1829, John the Baptist came and bestowed the Aaronic Priesthood and in May or June 1829, the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was given by the ancient Apostles Peter, James and John.

Now that Authorized Authority was now on the earth and he was inspired to organize the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth again, on the date of April 6, 1830 with prophets and apostles as the foundation. 

In modern revelation the title “Latter Day Saints” was added to the church’s name, distinguishing them from His original “Former Day Saints,” He had established during His earthly minister. 

In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on April 26, 1838, the Lord Himself designated the name of His church:

Doctrine and Covenants 115: 4

4 For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This church would be founded on the Rock of Revelation and guided by revelation to His Prophets.  A misunderstanding of “Rock” as Peter was cleared up. 

When the Lord asked Peter, who he thought He was, Peter said, “”Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus said:  “Peter, upon this Rock I will build my church” meaning upon the rock of revelation like Peter had received from God the Father, would be how He would direct His church and the work it had to do.

SEE PART 2 – RESTORED GOSPEL TO THE WORLD

ARTICLE OF FAITH 4 - FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL

Faith – Repentance – Baptism – Receive Holy Ghost

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we believe in God the Father and in His son Jesus Christ, we must believe the words He has given us through His prophets down through the ages.
In modern revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith and others, the Lord Jesus Christ has talked about the Scriptures:
 

DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 18: 35-36

35 For It is My Voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by My Spirit unto you, and by My power you can read them one to another; and save it were by My power you could not have them;

36 Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.

In the scriptures, the Lord has made promises to us.  We must have Faith that he will do what He said for the Lord cannot lie.

HEBREWS 11: 1

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

In the Book of Mormon the Prophet Moroni said:

ETHER 12: 6

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Repentance.

We have come to this earth for a test.  The Lord wants to see how we will use our Free Agency in choosing between right and wrong.

Repentance is a vital process in which we must recognize the things we have chosen wrong and feel sorrow for them.  We must make a decision to repent of the wrong and decide to right from then on. 

This is what we are here for, to learn and become better.  We will need to continually repent as we go through life and try not to repeat those things we repented of.  If we do, we have not really repented of it, but the Lord wants us to keep trying.  We must do all we can do, then His Grace will take care of the rest. 

That is why Death Bed Repentance is not really repentance.  You must have time here on earth to prove you have repented. 

If you are forgiven, it is by His Grace.

Baptism by Immersion for the Remission of Sin.

Two things about this.  One, you have to be baptized by one having Authority. 

The Priesthood holder must be a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood or a holder of the higher Melchizedek Priesthood.

These priesthoods were Restored to the earth in 1829.  The Aaronic Priesthood was Restored by John the Baptist May 15, 1829 and the Melchizedek Priesthood was Restored by the Apostles Peter, James and John in May or June 1829. 

The priesthood had to be Restored to the earth in the right order.  Aaronic or the lower priesthood, then Melchizedek or Higher priesthood last.  The true priesthood had to be Restored to the earth in order to have the true, authorized power and authority of God to Restore His true church and kingdom on the earth again.

Restored means: it was here at one time and has been brought back or Restored.  His church was established when He was here on earth during His three year ministry.  After His death and resurrection and the killing of His Apostles the priesthood was taken from the earth and we had the Dark Ages, up until 1829 for the priesthood and April 6, 1830 for His church being Restored again. 

That means, the Priesthood Power and Authority was not on the earth at that time; otherwise it would not have been Restored.

Baptism by immersion is Necessary.  The Lord Himself was baptized that way by John the Baptist showing us the way.  Sprinkling is wrong.  It has to be done this way showing that you take upon yourself to follow Him. 

Going completely under water symbolizes His BURIAL.  Coming out of the water symbolizes His RESURRECTION from the Dead. 

This is a requirement.

Gift of the Holy Ghost by the Laying on of the Hands.

The baptism is not complete unless you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. 

This is the second part of a Baptism.  Otherwise, it is like baptizing a bag of rocks.  It does nothing.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is of most importance to the individual. 

The Holy Ghost can come to anyone and testify or witness of certain things when it is needed, then it leaves again.  It does Not stay with you.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is given after being baptized by one holding the true priesthood authority that has been Restored to the earth in these Last Days. 

The Holy Ghost then, will remain with you at all times to guide you in your decisions in life and to protect you, only if you remain righteous. 

If you are un-righteous it will leave you.  When you repent sufficiently, the Holy Ghost will return and be with you.

In these Last Days the Holy Ghost will be your most valuable asset. 

Listen to it.  Most of the time it will talk to you in a Still Small Voice from within. 

Learn to recognize it and obey it immediately. 

There will come a time that this is all you will have available for your guidance and safety.  

Keep this in your mind and remember it.

GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS CENTERED ON FAMILY

Today, on earth, we have living Prophets and Apostles.  The Lord knew that in these Last Days that wars and terror would be happening all around us.  He knew that the Devil or Satan would be in the hearts of men and women all over the world and that there would be much killing and destruction, especially of families.

WHERE DID WE COME FROM AND WHY ARE WE HERE.
Because we are spirits, inhabiting these earthly bodies, it was designed and told to us in the spirit world before we came here that our memory of our life with Our Heavenly Father, would be temporarily blocked off by a veil. 

He knows us better than or own parents do or even better than we do.  He put us in the nation, race and special experiences that would give us the training we were lacking. 

We were as scared coming into a body here on earth as we are now scared of death or leaving the body.  Both instances are because we do not know what to expect.  When we leave this body, we will see all of our brothers and sisters in the spirit world and we will be glad in our hearts that we are home.

In our Father’s Plan of Salvation, we would come to earth, be married and make bodies for other brothers and sisters to come to earth for their tests.  So, this means that our parents and grandparents and so forth, are our brothers and sisters who came here before we did, made our bodies for us and we became families.

Gender, which is man and woman, did not start here.  It exists in Heaven.  It has always been like that.  That being true you should put 2 and 2 together and realize we have a Mother in Heaven also.

Yes, we are made in His image, Male and Female, meaning we all have arms, legs, toes, fingers, head, ears and all the rest.  This means in His image. 

But men are designed like Him and women are designed like Heavenly Mother. still with arms, legs, and so forth. 

This may be surprising to most but it is true and logical.  Your children are just your brothers and sisters coming down after you.

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN REPENTANCE AND HOW TO LIVE AND MAKE CHOICES.
We are given the responsibility to care for and raise our children to become good people.  They were our Heavenly Parent’s children first and have been entrusted to us to teach them how to use their Free Agency to make decisions. 

If they make wrong choices, we need to help them to figure out what they did wrong and teach them to use one of the greatest Gifts given to All of Us. 

It is called Repentance. 

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Lord has told us that the Bishop is a Judge in Israel and that we are to confess to him and he will guide us on how to get back to a clear conscience. 

Then we need to pray to our Heavenly Father and ask forgiveness and last of all, we need to forgive ourselves.

2 NEPHI 25: 23

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

After all we can do, the Atonement and Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will take care of the rest.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Family comes first. 

In the church we try not to let earning money, chasing pleasure, or even the needs of people outside our families divert our attention from our families. 

After this life, when we go before the Lord on Judgment Day we will not have any excuses that He will accept if we neglected our duty to His children He has entrusted to us.  He knows everything so we cannot lie to the Lord.  The details of your life are recorded in our spirit and in Heaven.

Only those things we Repented of will be erased as if they had never happened. 

Repentance is that you feel sorry for what you did and you corrected your life and you did not do it again.  The next time you want to yell at your children, ask yourself, “What would Jesus Christ do?"  Then do the same.

MARRIAGE, EARTHLY OR ETERNAL?
In our spirit being, all of us know that we are Eternal and when we love each other we think that we will be together in Heaven as husband and wife and children.

We think that way because that is the way our Heavenly Father taught us.  We are Eternal.

Marriages performed today in all churches, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are “Until Death Do Us Part” or “As Long As We Both Shall Live”.

Just thinking your marriage is forever will not make it happen.  The ceremony means what it says.  Other churches know that they do not have the authority to marry anyone for eternity. 

When a man and woman enters a Temple in this Church, they covenant or promise they will stay together forever on earth and in Heaven after they die and if they keep their covenants to the Lord, Heavenly Father said He would recognize the marriage as Eternal throughout Eternity. 

Otherwise, the marriage is ended at death of either party,  and you become brothers and sisters, you, your spouse and your children.  You will not continue as a family.

This is a very important document by Living Prophets and Apostles in our day.

The Proclamation On The Family

If you will Read it, you will understand what the purpose of a Family is in Heavenly Father's plan for us.  Our family will be part of His family.

ARTICLE OF FAITH 3 - BE SAVED BY THE ATONEMENT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

We have a list of ARTICLES OF FAITH.  The THIRD ARTICLE says:

3.  We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.


ROMANS 3: 23   The Apostle Paul says

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

In the book of Doctrine and Covenants, the ONLY BOOK ON EARTH which has the PREFACE PERSONALLY DICTATED BY THE GOD OF HEAVEN, says:

DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 1:  30-32

30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually—

31 FOR I THE LORD CANNOT LOOK UPON SIN WITH THE LEAST DEGREE OF ALLOWANCE;

32 Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven;

This is where the Atonement comes in.
NO UNCLEAN THING CAN COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, SO ALL MUST BE CLEANSED OF SIN. 

Neither we nor anyone else can do this for us.  Only the Son of God, who was born on earth by a Heavenly Father and an Earthly Mother, who lived a perfect life and had the way to feel our pains because of having an earthly mother and to perform the suffering of the pains of Gethsemane for our sins and had the power to resurrect His body after 3 days.

Jesus Christ became OUR mediator with God the Father, to plead our case before Him.

HEBREWS 5: 8-9

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Though He was Jehovah, the Second Member of the Godhead, He came to earth as Jesus Christ, to suffer for us so we would not suffer if we kept His commandments and repented of our sins.

THE ATONEMENT is INFINITE in SCOPE.
What most people do not realize is that John told us in the Book of John in the New Testament.  He mentioned “In the beginning was the Word.” 

It is in capital letters.  Why because “Word” is a name. 

Substitute “WORD” for JEHOVAH, who we know was born on earth as Jesus Christ.

JOHN1: 1-5, 10-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

10 He was in the world, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM, and the world knew him not.  (and unfortunately still does not know Him)

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  (the Jews)

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word (or JEHOVAH) was made flesh, (JESUS CHRIST) and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

So, the mercy of the Atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite number of WORLDS created by HIM.  (under the direction of God the Father when Jesus Christ was known as Jehovah)

This is OUR time to learn and make choices with our free agency whether good or bad, and if bad, repent of them and try to do better.

ARTICLE OF FAITH 2 - PUNISHED FOR OUR OWN SINS, NOT ADAMS

WE ARE PUNISHED FOR OUR SINS OWN SINS AND NOT FOR ADAM AND EVE’S TRANSGRESSIONS.

Yes, I said Transgressions.  They did not Sin.  The scriptures explain this.
While Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden they were in a state of innocence, they knew no sin.

"Knowledge of good and evil is an essential element in the commission of sin and our first parents did not have this knowledge until AFTER they have partaken of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil."  (Mormon Doctrine by Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, p. 804) 

From there on they could sin.  Let’s look at what happened in the Garden of Eden.

The fall of Adam and Eve and the Atonement was a package deal, originating in the Pre-Existence. (Our spirit life before coming here to earth) 

If Adam and Eve were NOT going to fall, there would not have been a need for the Atonement. 

Because God knows the end from the beginning it was part of the Plan of Salvation that Adam and Eve would choose, with their own Free Agency, to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Since Satan and one third of the Father’s children were cast down to the earth for rebellion, they would be used to tempt the other two thirds of His children (US) to have a choice in choosing between good and evil. 

Our needed experience in using our FREE AGENCY TO CHOOSE was very important along with gaining a physical body for our spirit thus becoming a living SOUL.  Spirit and body, connected together make the Soul. 

When they are separated, they are just a body and a spirit.

The scripture comes into being from Restored Ancient Scripture, The Book of Mormon, a Second Witness of Jesus Christ:

2 NEPHI 2: 22-27

22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the Garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.

24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

The fall was meant to be, but was to be chosen by Adam and Eve on their own. 

Heavenly Father knows each of us by name, we are His children and He knows what experiences each of us need for our eternal progression. 

He set up this Plan of Salvation so each of us would come to earth and create physical bodies for our brothers and sisters in the spirit world to come down for their own tests and go through their own experiences.

We would learn by our choices, good from evil. 

WE WOULD SIN while here and learn from the experience. 

We would learn how to repent of our sins that WE commit and do the best we could do, then the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ would take care of the rest after all we could do.

 

ARTICLE OF FAITH 1 - THE GODHEAD

THE FIRST ARTICLE OF FAITH.

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Most of the churches believe that Jesus Christ and God the Father are the same person but in different forms but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe they are separate and distinct beings.

When the Lord Jesus Christ Restored His church in the spring of 1820, through the Prophet Joseph Smith in these Last Days before His Second Coming, God the Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ appeared TOGETHER before Joseph.

Restoring the TRUE knowledge of the Godhead was a very important factor. 

They wanted to show the Prophet Joseph Smith that they were TWO SEPARATE BEINGS with Immortal Bodies of flesh and bone and that man was created in their image. 

To do this, God the Father spoke first, calling Joseph by name and pointing to Jesus he said:

JOSEPH SMITH HISTORY 1: 17

17 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!

This is also consistent with the Bible.

ACTS 7: 55-56

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

This showed that there were two personages.  One cannot stand next to himself.

In John 17: 21- 22 Jesus praying to the God the Father, talking about the Apostles He said:

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

Mormons or Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe that when ONE or ONENESS of God the Father and Jesus Christ spoken of in the scriptures comes through a UNITY of SHARED PURPOSE.

They both know the Eternal Laws and Principles and understand them.  They decide alike, think alike and agree on what is right.  That is what ONE means. 

One in purpose and actions and not one in physical or spiritual bodily form.

The third member of the Godhead is the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit which He is sometimes called, is a male personage of Spirit.  He is a God also as God the Father and Jesus Christ are Gods. 

This constitutes the Godhead. 

Although God the Father or Jesus Christ can appear anywhere, they are immortal, individual and separate beings and cannot be everywhere at once. 

This is NOT the case of the Holy Ghost.  He being a personage of spirit, He can be everywhere at the same time.

The Holy Ghost is a revelator, a teacher, a comforter, a sanctifier, a converter and a sealer.  He is ONE with the Father and the Son in mind, purpose, character, attributes, and glory.  Jesus speaks about the Comforter.

JOHN16: 7

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

He is not an independent personage in the sense of speaking his own mind and delivering an original message.

JOHN16: 13-14

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Ghost may come to a person and testify of a truth, but He will deliver that message and will NOT remain.

Those who accept the Restored Gospel and become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and are baptized, receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost by the Laying on of the Hands, which completes the baptism.  No baptism is complete without this ordinance. 

Once someone has the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, the Holy Ghost stays with that person always, as he remains righteous, and will guide him in their earthly journey. 

 

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH - INTRODUCTION

The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a list of the Basic Beliefs of the Church.

 

There are only Thirteen basic beliefs and in the following series that I will lay out for you will be an explanation of how we are different from all other churches.

 

Underlining, Italics and color are my way of emphasizing what I am saying.

 

Please follow the links to understand more of the background and reasons why this church is different from the rest. 

 

You will read things and have a feeling inside your heart and mind that tells you - I know this - I know it is true.

 

This is because we are all brothers and sisters, literally because we are sons and daughters of God, Our Heavenly Father, here on earth for our final test. 

 

We are here to gain a physical body and to learn how to use it and control it's passions, appetites and emotions and not let it control our spirit.  The spirit is to be in control of the body. 

 

At death we leave the body and how we lived we will be glorified according to the law that we lived by, the Telestial, Terrestrial or the Celestial.   Our spirits will then be united forever with our bodies, which will be made perfect and be glorified the same as our spirit and we will be immortal.

 

The other reason we are here is to be tested on how we make our choices between good and evil and we will be judged by those choices.  If we choose bad and eventually repent from it, the Atonement of Jesus Christ will erase those sins and if we do not repent, we will suffer for them.

 

The outcome of this test is to prove to our Heavenly Father if we will merit what we will get.  Those who are true will gain more authority and responsibility in the eternities while others will be stopped in their progression and merit what they get.