The Mormon Religion - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

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The Mormon Religion - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, true? Not true? Christians? Not Christians? These are some of the questions people ask about the Mormon church.

How did the Mormon church start? Joseph Smith Jr. was born in 1805 in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, to Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith. He had 10 brothers and sisters. His parents taught him to pray, read the Bible, and to have faith in God.

At age 14, Joseph saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in his First Vision. At age 17, Joseph began to receive heavenly messengers who prepared him for his role in the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. He was a prophet, just like those in biblical times.

The First Vision

As a boy, Joseph Smith was surrounded by various churches which each claimed to teach the truth. This caused him much serious reflection. He wanted to know which church was right. One day he read a passage in the Bible which says, “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). Joseph decided to accept the invitation to ask God.(James 1:5)

5 aIf• any of you lack bwisdom, let him ask of God, that cgiveth to all men liberally, and dupbraideth• not; and it shall be given him.

In the spring of 1820, Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home and prayed to learn which church he should join. In answer to his prayer, Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him. Joseph wrote: “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 was told to join none of the churches that existed at that time.

Joseph’s written account of this event is a powerful testimony of what he saw and experienced.

Joseph’s written account

After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, I saw a pillar of clight• exactly over my head, above the brightness of the dsun•, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

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