That's a pretty cool timeline, right? It gives us the basic overview of what we talked about in the last two posts, (with the exception of the Happy Birthday post) namely: the mortal ministry of Jesus Christ, the organization of His church, and the subsequent apostasy, or falling away, from the true and simple doctrines, principles, and teachings of the Savior. But it also introduces a new concept: that of the Restoration of the original and true gospel of Jesus Christ.
There was a religious stir in New England during the early 1800's, with the different preachers of the many sects of Christianity holding revivals frequently, and with much preaching of the word throughout the area. As a result of this apostasy, the different ministers were all preaching different things; same Bible, same Jesus Christ, yet they all interpreted His teachings so differently (this is because there was no one authorized by the Lord to preach His word). Anyone who was searching for God's truth was easily confused by the myriad of opinions on the Bible and its' teachings, and with no authorized servant of the Lord to look to for guidance, people were left to their own personal relationship with God, which often led to personal opinions and interpretations of God's word.
I'm sure we've all experienced confusion about religion, especially considering the circumstances of the world now. There was a fourteen year old boy, living in New York, who had similar questions; his name was Joseph Smith, Jr. Now, before we go get our pitchforks and torches to revive the mob which chased Joseph around until the end of his life, just hear me out. Joseph was pretty much an average teenage boy: working on the family farm, educated to the level of a third grader, and just a good boy who was very concerned about his standing with God. He described his situation some years later as follows:
"During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strifeamong the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.
My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.
In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, 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 was searching for truth, and went about from church to church working to find it. But, as he described, there was so much contention on this subject that he could not come to any conclusion about which church he should join himself with. As a result, he turned to the Bible to search:
"While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: 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.
Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know..."
Don't you love those moments when you're reading the scriptures and you read that perfect verse that just touches your heart? Joseph had an experience like that when he read James 1:5, and he decided to act on what he read:
"So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
"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."
As Joseph prayed, he had a remarkable experience; one that changed the world forever:
"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!"
I can scarcely imagine the surprise and wonder that must have filled the young Joseph, as his humble prayer, offered in his search of truth, was answered by a visitation from our loving Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. But Joseph had a purpose of faithfully inquiring of the Lord:
"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “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.”
"He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me..."
Because of apostasy, all these churches were established in attempts to help people learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But without the priesthood, there was no divine guidance, and thus they veered off the straight and narrow path. At this point, Joseph knew that he had been called to do something extraordinary, and totally beyond his capacity (without the help of God): to restore the Church of Jesus Christ back to the earth.
Who remembers Monsters, Inc.? It's a wonderful movie, and as I think about the marvelous work and wonder that is the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ, I think of the ending. Mr. Waternoose has been apprehended along with Randall, and Boo has been sent back home, but that's not enough: her door has to be shredded to prevent her from returning and to prevent Sully from visiting this little girl who has changed his life. Then we fast forward, and the company is back on it's feet, thanks to the discovery of the power of laughter. All the while, Mike has been working on a project, in secret, for his best buddy. Sully always keeps the one piece he has of Boo's door with his clipboard, but Mike has searched high and low, enduring blisters and splinters, putting her door back together. Sully is follows Mike into a room where the mostly reassembled door is, but it will not work without Sully's piece. When he puts his piece into it's proper place, the light comes on, and the door is live. Sully steps through the door with some apprehension, and hears the nickname Boo gave him: "Kitty."
This was an emotional moment, as we were all reminded of the special relationships we have in this life, especially those with little children who are so loving and adorable. But there is an analogy to be found here! Just as the door couldn't be complete without all the pieces, thus enabling Sully to reunite with his friend, neither could the Church of Jesus Christ be complete without all the teachings, doctrines and organizations; the "puzzle pieces," if you will. And when the Church is restored in it's full and complete form, the blessings are endless, we feel and know God's love, and can know the way He has established for us to return to him in our families for all of eternity.
In the next posts to come, we will discuss how those plain and precious "puzzle pieces" were restored into their proper place. But please, pray and ask God about the experience of Joseph Smith, and pay attention to the feelings He will give to you through the Holy Spirit. I know how much I can feel God's love whenever I have the opportunity to discuss this with people, and I know you can feel the same.
Curious to know what some of the puzzle pieces of Christ's church are? Read Ephesians 4:6, 11-14; Ephesians 5:23; Acts 2:37-41; Acts 8:5-17; Acts 10 (Peter's revelation); Acts 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:29; Matthew 18:18; and many more scriptures.
Would you like to watch a video about Joseph's search for truth and subsequent answer? Click Here!
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