The Experience that Saved Mankind
"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it." (John Taylor) Joseph Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont on December 23rd 1805 to Joseph and Lucy Smith. When Joseph Smith was 14 years old he lived in upper state New York. Joseph was a very curious boy who wanted to know the ways of God. Everyone around him was telling him that their church was the right way. But something kept telling him no, not that church. Finally, he came to the conclusion that he had to find out for himself. One night Joseph decided to read from his Bible and he came across a passage, in James 1:5, that will change his life and his family's life forever. The verse told him that if he lacked wisdom that he only had to ask and he shall receive. So he decided that he would do just as he was directed and go to God in prayer. He went out to a near by grove of trees not too far from his house and knelt down and offered his whole soul up to God in prayer. While doing so he was over taken by a dark and unseen power that left him speechless. He continued to call to God for help. While he was doing so God heard his plea and delivered him from
" Truth in that statement, forever and always it will be. The Angel Moroni told Joseph that the time would soon come when he shall obtain the plates. John the Baptist, who had baptized the Saviour, restored to Joseph the authority to baptize. " The Saviour introduced this ordinance during his last supper with the apostles before he was crucified. After the start of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon many ancient prophets appeared to the Prophet Joseph and restored to him other necessary Gospel truths that were lost many centuries before. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Saviour to the ancient inhabitants; also, that there were two stones in silver bows--and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim--deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted Seers in the ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book. From that time on, the followers of the Lord met each week on Sunday ("the Lord's day") to partake of the sacrament. The Prophet Joseph told the brethren that "the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. Through the restoration we have all the ordinances necessary to save us, we have the priesthood that can heal the sick, the lame, the blind, and even raise the dead. The last testimony and the most truthful words that the Prophet Joseph ever spoke were these words; "this is the testimony last of that we give of Him 'that He lives. He was commanded or instructed to come back to the hill at the end of each year to receive instruction, he did as he was instructed by the angel and came each year. He went through many various hardships and persecutions to get this the work of God completed and published to the world for reading, and learning the ways of the Lord. A short time later the Apostles Peter, James, and John, whom the Saviour had called to lead His Church, restored to Joseph Smith the higher priesthood authority. By the authority of the priesthood we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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Acceptance Essays
