The restoration
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[edit] God is Your Loving Heavenly Father
God is your Father in Heaven, He knows you personally and loves you more than you can comprehend. He wants you to be happy in this life and in eternity.
To accomplish this purpose, Heavenly Father provided a plan called the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God; His life and teachings are the guide to peace in this life and joy in eternity.
[edit] The Gospel Blesses Families and Individuals
The gospel of Jesus Christ blesses all who accept and live it. One of the best places to teach and apply the gospel is in families. God has established families to bring happiness to His children, to allow us to learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and to prepare us to return to Him after we die. Although family relationships can be challenging at times, Heavenly Father blesses us as we strive to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. These teachings help us strengthen our families.
[edit] Heavenly Father Reveals His Gospel
As part of His plan, God chooses prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Prophets:
- Teach about God and are special witness of His Son, Jesus Christ.
- Receive revelation, or direction from the Lord.
- Teach the gospel to the world and interpret the word of God.
Prophets receive the priesthood, or the authority to speak and act in the name of God to lead His children. People who follow the prophets receive the blessings God has promised. Those who reject the gospel and God's prophets lose those blessings and distance themselves from God. Those who reject the prophets and abandon their commitment to follow God are in a condition called apostasy.
Even though many of His children have repeatedly rejected Him and His prophets, Heavenly Father continues to love His children. He wants to give us everything we need to be happy now and to return to Him after we die. The scriptures reveal a pattern of God repeatedly reaching out to His children, even though we do not always listen:
- God chooses a prophet.
- The prophet teaches the gospel and leads the people.
- God blesses the people.
- The people gradually disregard or disobey the teachings of the prophet. They eventually reject the prophet and his teachings and fall into apostasy.
- Because of apostasy, people lose knowledge of the gospel. Priesthood authority is taken from among them.
- When the time is right and people are ready to follow Him again, God chooses another prophet, restores the priesthood and the Church, and directs the prophet to teach the gospel.
[edit] Jesus Christ Established His Church
From the time of the Creation, the children of God looked forward to the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ. As He had promised, Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth over 2,000 years ago.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life. He established His Church, taught His gospel, and performed many miracles. He chose twelve men to be His Apostles, including Peter, James, and John. he taught them and gave them priesthood authority to teach in His name and to perform sacred ordinances, such as baptism.
When Jesus established His Church, He received instructions from Heavenly Father. he then instructed His disciples. Jesus taught His followers that revelation from God was the rock on which He would build His Church.
At the end of His life, Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of everyone who has lived or who will live on earth. This sacrifice is called the Atonement. Through His suffering, death, and Resurrection, the Savior made it possible for us to be forgiven. Those who have faith in Him, repent, and keep His commandments receive forgiveness of sins and are filled with peace and joy.
After His Resurrection, Jesus Christ guided His Apostles through revelation. The Bible records many ways in which He continued to direct His Church. Thus the Church of Jesus Christ was led by God and not by men.
[edit] The Restoration of the Gospel
In 1820, as He had done throughout history, Father in Heaven again chose a prophet to restore the gospel and the priesthood to the earth. That prophet's name was Joseph Smith. As a young man, Joseph was confused by the differences among the many churches in his area and wanted to know which church was right. Knowing he lacked wisdom, he followed the counsel found in the Bible, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraid not; and it shall be given him"
Joseph Smith decided to ask God what he should do. When Joseph prayed to know the truth, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Jesus told Joseph not to join any of the churches, for "they were all wrong" and "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof"
As God had done with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other prophets, He called Joseph Smith to be a prophet through whom the complete gospel was restored.
