The Church of Jesus Christ

Prophets exist today, just as in the time of Jesus Christ. Prophets are called of God and receive power and authority to act in God’s name. This authority is called the priesthood.

Prophets receive communication from Heavenly Father about what His children need to do to return to live with Him. Ordinances, such as baptism, are required for us to return and live with God, but must be done the way He has commanded, by someone who holds the priesthood.

Many times throughout history, people rejected the prophets and even killed them. Because of this God removed his priesthood authority from earth until they humbled themselves and became more obedient. These times without prophets are known as times of “apostasy”.

After Jesus Christ died, there was a “Great Apostasy” when Peter and the 12 apostles that Christ chose died or were killed. During the Great Apostasy, God’s authority was not on the earth. When the circumstances were right, Heavenly Father once again reached out to His children in love. In 1820, He once again called a young man as a prophet, just as He had done in other times.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, abut he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).

Jesus Christ organized His church in ancient times when He gave His apostles the authority (or in other words, the permission from God) to act in His name, preach His gospel, and baptize people into His Church.

After Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, the 12 apostles remained on earth to lead the Church of Jesus Christ. But all of them eventually died or were killed, and no new apostles were called. Although there were many people who still loved and followed Jesus Christ, there was no longer anyone on the earth with the authority to lead His Church. Still, many Christian churches were formed and did the best they could to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, but they did not have God’s priesthood authority. This era without prophets went on for almost two thousand years and is known as the great apostasy.

In 1830, Jesus Christ re-established His Church, with a new prophet and 12 apostles and the authority to act in God’s name—just like His ancient Church.

God often uses small and simple means to do His work. This is especially true in the case of Joseph Smith. In 1820 he was a 14-year-old boy who wanted to know which church was true. He went to a forest alone to pray and tells us in his own words what happened:

“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 saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. They told him that one day he would be called upon to “restore”, or bring back, Jesus Christ’s Church as it existed in ancient times. Over the next two decades, Joseph Smith received the authority to act in God’s name (known as the priesthood). He was instructed by God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ.

For the last 200 years, The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. Prophets and apostles have once again been called, who give guidance to the world on how to come closer to God and His Son Jesus Christ, so we can live happier, more peaceful lives.  God has provided us evidence that His church is again on the earth.  That evidence is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, known as The Book of Mormon.

Testimony:  Personal Testimony of Joseph Smith, such as: “Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  He was called to be a prophet and to restore the Church that Christ had established when he lived on earth. He was given the priesthood, just like ancient prophets, so that he could perform ordinances such as baptism.  There is a prophet on the earth today as well, leading the restored church of Jesus Christ.  I know this is true, and so can you.”

The Book of Mormon is a book of scripture, comparable to the Bible. The Bible contains the word of God, as spoken many years ago to his prophets in the Middle East. God also communicated with his children in the American Continent, through prophets.

These prophets also received God’s word and shared it. The words of these prophets were engraved on golden plates and were hidden in a hill about 1500 years ago. Joseph Smith was visited by an angel who told him where to find them. God also provided him power to translate these plates, which were written in a language unknown to Joseph.

As the subtitle indicates, the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. It contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and is also evidence that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet, to restore Christs’ church.

Below you can find a link to this remarkable book.

The last prophet to write in the Book of Mormon left a powerful promise to you and me.

He said, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost Ye may know the truth of all things.”

This promise that you and I can know if the Book of Mormon is the word of God is simple and powerful. We just have to read passages within the book, sincerely desiring to know if this comes from God, and He will tell us it’s true through the Holy Ghost.

The scriptures teach us that the Holy Ghost confirms truth through feelings of love, joy and peace. The Holy Ghost also gives us thoughts that tell us it is true.

Prayer is talking to our Heavenly Father. Because we love and respect Him, we start by addressing Him in a respectful way, such as “Dear Heavenly Father”. We then just talk with Him. We may want to thank Him for our blessings and ask for things we need.

We have been taught by Jesus Christ to end prayers in His name. So, when you have finished talking with Heavenly Father you can end the prayer by saying “in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

It’s a good idea to stay still for a while after your prayer when you are seeking answers from God. Think deeply about the questions or needs you have and give Him time to answer you. Through the Holy Ghost, He will put thoughts into your mind to guide you. He confirms truth through feeling of peace, faith, love and joy. Waiting for Heavenly Father to answer you is a sign of your faith in Him.

Knowing that Jesus Christ has restored His Church on the earth and that it’s led by a prophet of God and twelve apostles today, just the same as it was when Jesus was on earth, provides clarity to our purpose here on earth.

Have you ever wondered, where did I come from? Why am I here? Where will I go after I die? The Church of Jesus Christ has these answers.

Where did I come from?

God is the father of our spirits. We lived with him as spirits in heaven before we were born on earth. God loves us and wants us to return to live in His presence. For this to happen we must have a physical body, like our Heavenly Fathers’.