Basic Principles

In order to better expound on principles and doctrines, it's important to understand the basic principles that are taught in and accepted by members of the church, such as myself. Please keep in mind that I do not speak for the Church as a whole, I have no authority to do so, but as a faithful member speaking of what I know to be true. Joseph Smith taught, "It is the first principle of revealed religion to know for a certainty the character of God." This has been an issue that has caused countless conflicts over the centuries. The only way we can know for a certainty of the character of God is if he reveals that information. In our day, we are blessed to have that information revealed through living prophets--chosen servants called by God to proclaim his Gospel to the world. 

    The first to be called in our dispensation, a period of time in which the gospel has been restored with priesthood authority to the earth, was a young man by the name of Joseph Smith. At the age of 14 he lived in Palmyra, New York, during a time of great religious excitement. Many churches were seeking converts in that area and many of Joseph's family had joined various different faiths: Methodist, Presbyterian, and others. Joseph's parents had taught him basic principles such as faith, prayer, truth, and scripture study, and as he searched for a church to join he noticed that the preachers and teachers of the different faiths understood the same passages of scripture so differently that he was confused as to which one was actually teaching the truth. So many opinions completely opposed to one another could not all be true.

   Since he couldn't settle his question--which one is true--by looking to the Bible, because so many different interpretations had been presented, he found some direction from that Holy book in James chapter 1 verse 5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be give him." 

   In response to this scripture, Joseph said, "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... At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to "ask of God," concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture."

   He went to the woods near his home where he knelt to pray. In response to his prayer and sincere desire to know the truth, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and answered him telling him that he should join none of the churches for they were all wrong. While they taught some principles that were true, he was told, "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."

   Joseph now knew the answer he had been searching for and that experience, followed by other experiences, opened the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, our current dispensation, and through Joseph, the Lord restored His true church to the earth, never to be taken again from the earth.