This is not an official website of the LDS Church.
 
Language:
Please Donate
Welcome Guest Login or Signup
ADMIN BLOG INTERNET SAFETY BROWSE POLLS QUIZZES EVENTS GETTING STARTED
BLOGS   WRITE NEW BLOG   EDIT BLOGS  
 
RSS
The Restoration of The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Posted On 06/25/2008 07:15:24 by PapilioMemnon

The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

(Emphasis added)

"During the days of Joseph's youth, the region around Palmyra
became embroiled in religious fervor. Preachers and ministers of every sect
fervently cried, 'Lo, here!' and others, 'Lo, there!' Some
were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and
some for the Baptist. 'In the midst of this war of words and tumult of
opinions,' Joseph Smith wrote: 'I often said to myself: What is to
be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong
together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know
it?' (Joseph Smith--History 1:10; see also v.
5).

"This is a universal question that seekers of religious truth
ask. This is the question investigators will ask of themselves and of our
missionaries. In the heart of one who is sincerely seeking the truth, this
question is the beginning of spiritual knowledge.

"After Joseph
offered a humble prayer for guidance in the woods near his home, he said:
'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).

"From that day forward,
Joseph Smith learned line upon line. He turned himself to diligent study of
God's word, but he did more than that; he sought knowledge and
inspiration from God Himself. Joseph communed with angels. He spoke with
the great and righteous personalities of ancient times. President John
Taylor (1808-87) said that Joseph Smith seemed to be as familiar with
these ancient prophets and patriarchs as we are with one another. Abraham,
John, Adam, Peter--Joseph knew them as you know your good
friends."
(Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Restoration and Faith," Ensign, Jan. 2006, 35)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------

* To restore: to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish
The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored once again; His church has been restablished as it had been established by the Lord Himself, after the same pattern: Prophets, Apostles, revelation, etc,...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------
 
  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.

Tags: Restoration Jesus Christ Gospel Truth Church Book Of Mormon Joseph Smith Pr



Bookmark:



Viewing 1 - 3 out of 3 Comments

From: PapilioMemnon
07/08/2008 13:48:34


evangelical wrote:


"...Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist..." Wait a minute-those are all the same faith.  The Christian faith.  Apparently Smith did not know about the invisible (as opposed to visible) church.  According to the Bible, there is "one faith, one hope, one baptism." There are, of course, minor differences between the three denominations of Christianity listed above.  But they are only minor differences within Christianity not different faiths.  They are Christian denominations.  Should we stop using money because it is divided up into various denominations?  Mormonism, like Protestantism, also has many denominations.  Should we reject LDS teaching because of those other Mormon groups?




 




"Know ye not that Satan himself presenteth himself as an angel of light?"




The Gospel was not restored by Joseph Smith.  We know this quite easily by comparing the teachings of the Bible with LDS teachings.  What Smith taught is diametrically opposed to what the New Testament taught.  In order to restore the original gospel he would have to go back to the New Testament teachings not change them.  And textual critics have reconstructed precisely what the New Testament taught so one cannot appeal to the alleged plain and precious promises having been deleted therefrom.




There are no apostles today because an apostle, by definition, had to have seen the risen Lord.  Nobody after Paul, so far as I know, has seen Him.




 




With respect to James 1:5, God has already given wisdom in the Bible (not completed at its-the Epistle of James-writing) which has been consistently ignored by LDS people, it would appear.  Does God need to reveal what we already have in the Bible?  If we get new revelation which contradicts old revelation then we cannot really have new revelation.  By grace are ye saved, through faith, not of works lest any man should boast vs. You are saved by grace after all you can do, for example.


The gospel was restored by Joseph Smith, the Prophet, who saw two personages, God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. God is not the author of confusion; therefore, He could not have one faith is all of them disagrees about essential points of His doctrine. There was a need to restore what Jesus Christ taught, and established.


Anyone, with a sincere, honest, humble, meek, and open heart, who reads the Book of Mormon will see and know that it does not contradict anything in the Bible, but it clarifies, explains, in simple and plain statements, and it establishes what the Bible said. It's the second witness of God to men. 


"With respect to James 1:5... which has been consistently ignored by LDS people, it would appear. By grace are ye saved, through faith, not of works lest any man should boast vs. You are saved by grace after all you can do, for example."


We believe in faith, and our behavior and doings are the fruits (works) of that Spirit that works in us; again, you're incorrect about what we believe. Why Jesus did the works He did? Why did His followers? Because TRUE faith produces works that are good in the sight of God; we do in humbleness and in meekness, recognizing Him, not us. It's by the grace (Atonement) of Jesus Christ that at the end we are saved indeed.


If we have ignored as you said about grace, have you ignore what James said in chapter 2 of his book about faith & works?


14 aWhat doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath bfaith, and have not works? can faith save him?



  15 If a brother or asister be naked, and destitute of daily bfood,


  16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye agive them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?


  17 Even so afaith, if it hath not bworks, is dead, being alone.


  18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my afaith by my bworks.


  19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the adevils also bbelieve, and tremble.


  20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that afaith without bworks is dead?


  21 Was not Abraham our father ajustified by works, when he had boffered Isaac his son upon the altar?


  22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by aworks was faith made bperfect?


  23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham abelieved God, and it was imputed unto him for brighteousness: and he was called the cFriend of God.


  24 Ye see then how that by aworks a man is bjustified, and not by faith only.


  25 Likewise also was not aRahab the harlot bjustified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?


  26 For as the body without the aspirit is bdead, so faith without cworks is dead also.

 


Proverbs 4


7 aWisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get bunderstanding.



From: evangelical
07/07/2008 20:54:15

"...Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist..." Wait a minute-those are all the same faith.  The Christian faith.  Apparently Smith did not know about the invisible (as opposed to visible) church.  According to the Bible, there is "one faith, one hope, one baptism." There are, of course, minor differences between the three denominations of Christianity listed above.  But they are only minor differences within Christianity not different faiths.  They are Christian denominations.  Should we stop using money because it is divided up into various denominations?  Mormonism, like Protestantism, also has many denominations.  Should we reject LDS teaching because of those other Mormon groups?


 


"Know ye not that Satan himself presenteth himself as an angel of light?"


The Gospel was not restored by Joseph Smith.  We know this quite easily by comparing the teachings of the Bible with LDS teachings.  What Smith taught is diametrically opposed to what the New Testament taught.  In order to restore the original gospel he would have to go back to the New Testament teachings not change them.  And textual critics have reconstructed precisely what the New Testament taught so one cannot appeal to the alleged plain and precious promises having been deleted therefrom.


There are no apostles today because an apostle, by definition, had to have seen the risen Lord.  Nobody after Paul, so far as I know, has seen Him.


 


With respect to James 1:5, God has already given wisdom in the Bible (not completed at its-the Epistle of James-writing) which has been consistently ignored by LDS people, it would appear.  Does God need to reveal what we already have in the Bible?  If we get new revelation which contradicts old revelation then we cannot really have new revelation.  By grace are ye saved, through faith, not of works lest any man should boast vs. You are saved by grace after all you can do, for example.



 

From: Hemidakota
06/25/2008 12:09:42

I concur with Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin thoughts concerning his attention was receiving revelation directly on many anvenues of the gospel.



POPULAR TAGS [-]


*** LDS Mormon Network ***
LANGUAGE:

Header art used by permission of Mark Mabry and Reflections of Christ.

LDS.net is provided as a free service, without advertising, to help people of all faiths learn about the Church. If you enjoy this service, please help us continue to provide this service by making a donation. We depend on your help.

More Good Foundation. All rights reserved.

LDS.Net is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon Church or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the More Good Foundation. For the official Church websites, please visit LDS.org and Mormon.org.