History of Mormonism-Joseph Smith

History of Mormonism - Joseph Smith

The history of Mormonism as far as most people consider starts with Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith was just like any young boy growing up in the 1800s. He was the third-oldest son in a family of eleven and suffered through a severe bone infection and surgery at a young age. Joseph's family regularly studied the Bible in their home, yet they attended different religious sects. Joseph was confused about the different religious sects being so contradictory while claiming to know the truth about the Holy Bible.

Joseph Smith studied the Bible on his own to know which church he should join. When he read James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." he felt a strong impression to ask God himself which church he should join. Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home where he could be alone in prayer. Joseph's prayer was interrupted by a bright light from heaven and two personages descending down in that beam of light. One of them pointed to the other, introducing Jesus Christ, as His Son (God, the Father's Son). Joseph was told not to join any of the churches because none were established by Christ. There could have been other instructions and revelations, yet from this one vision, Joseph Smith learned that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are two separate personages and that a church must be headed by Jesus Christ himself.

Joseph received subsequent visits by an ancient prophet, Moroni.  Moroni is the son of Mormon, the prophet-historian who condensed a thousand years of records of the ancient Americans. The records were written on plates of brass and gold. Moroni was the final keeper of these holy records and buried them in a stone box in the ground to preserve them from being destroyed. Moroni came to Joseph Smith once a year for four years to instruct Joseph about the plates and how to be responsible for the plates. Through time, Joseph Smith translated the ancient records into English as the Book of Mormon. The nicknames for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints come from this unique book of scripture.
Members of this Church (Mormons) are the only people who believe this book of scripture to be from God. When others read and come to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Ghost, they leave whatever affiliation they had and join themselves to this church of Jesus Christ.

More about the History of Mormonism:
www.mormontopics.org
www.mormon.org
www.lds.org
Get your own copy of the Book of Mormon:
http://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon
Chat live with a Mormon: 
www.mormon.org/chat?cid=sgo-csm-cm