Basic History and Doctrines of the Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has many resources for learning about the teachings and history of the church, and the best source is to speak to missionaries of the church. They can be easily contacted by going to Mormon.org. There you can either chat online with missionaries or call them at 1-888-537-6600 (U.S. and Canada phone #). You can also have them contact you. You can also attend a local meeting in your area.
Also, here are some links and basic information about the church and its teachings.
Background Information
There is great depth to the history of the Church. Members of the Church are encouraged to study this history, as it is rich in faith, testimony, and legacy. I encourage you to study the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
If you want an accurate, fair account of events in Church history, it is best to go to the source – the Church itself. Why study the history and doctrine of the Church from its own sources?
Though the best source to learn about Church history and doctrine are from official Church sources, I will try to share the teachings of the gospel according to my knowledge. I take responsibility for any mistakes that may be found.
The Plan of Salvation
Because our Father in Heaven loves us, He provided a way for us to be able to return to His presence and share eternal life with Him. He knew we would fall short of the perfection that is required to partake of this blessing. He knew that during life, we would sin. Sin cuts us off from God.
Knowing that we could not make it alone, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to come to earth and atone for the sins of all people. Jesus Christ came and paid the penalty for our sins. This atonement makes it possible for us to overcome sin and progress.
Because of the atonement, we can overcome anything that would keep us from returning to God. All that He asks in return is that we keep His commandments. If we repent and keep His commandments, He will help us to become more like Him.
John 3: 16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The Family is Ordained of God
The family is ordained of God, and is the most important unit in this life or the next. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides families with answers to life’s challenges, and the home is the best place for gospel learning and example to take place.
The family experience prepares us for Eternal life with our Father in Heaven. Because of the importance of families, God wants us to demonstrate love and kindness in our families, and to teach one another the principles of the gospel by word and by example.
Here are a few scriptures mentioning the subject:
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Malachi 4:6 – And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Exodus 20:12 – Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 11:19 – And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Timothy 5:8 – But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Genesis 2:24 – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God’s Pattern of Calling Prophets
Because the mission of Jesus Christ is so important, God desires that everyone have the opportunity to learn of it. In every age of the world, He has called prophets to declare the truth of His gospel in order to prepare a way for everyone to learn what He wants for them, and how to partake of the full blessings of the atonement. God also gives His prophets the priesthood, or authority to act in His name. God has always used prophets to declare His word.
Everyone has the agency to accept or reject the words of the prophets. Those who follow the teachings of God’s prophets are blessed, but those who ignore or reject their words also reject the opportunity to receive such blessings.
Even in the very beginning, God taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to Adam and gave Him priesthood power. Adam taught the gospel to His children. This started a pattern of God calling prophets. He has used this pattern from the beginning of the world, and the pattern continues today.
Deuteronomy 18:18 – I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Amos 3:7 – Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Acts 10:36-43
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Apostasy
Hundreds of years before Jesus Christ was born, people apostatized and the church was lost from the earth. One of the reasons Christ came was to restore His true church on the earth. Christ also came to complete the atonement and be resurrected so that people could repent of their sins and recieve forgiveness, and be resurrected after death.
Jesus gave priesthood authority to twelve men he called as apostles. He authorized them to carry the gospel into all the world.
Luke 6:13 – And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Matthew 10:1 – And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Hebrews 5:4 – And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
After Jesus Christ was crucified, the apostles recognized that they were 1 man short of having 12 apostles, so they called on God, who directed them to call Matthias to the 12.
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
…
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
As the Apostes were killed, new ones were called, such as Paul.
When the work of the church began to be so expansive that it was becoming difficult for the apostles to focus on the work of the ministry, they chose some men to officiate in the temporal needs of the church, and give them the priesthood power whereby they could accomplish that work:
Acts 6:1-11
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
The apostles gave the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. That was the pattern for those who were baptised in the name of Christ:
Acts 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 9: 17 – And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:1-6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Both the power of the Holy Ghost and the power of the priesthood were present and active in the times of the apostles. Jesus Christ sometimes taught the disciples alone, to prepare them for the ministry, and other times he spoke to the multitudes. The apostles, and also the 70, held the power of the Priesthood, which included the power to give people the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Then, to quote some of the church’s resource material:
“After the death of Jesus Christ, wicked people persecuted the Apostles and Church members and killed many of them. With the death of the Apostles, priesthood keys and the presiding priesthood authority were taken from the earth. The Apostles had kept the doctrines of the gospel pure and maintained the order and standard of worthiness for Church members. Without the Apostles, over time the doctrines were corrupted, and unauthorized changes were made in Church organization and priesthood ordinances, such as baptism and conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“Without revelation and priesthood authority, people relied on human wisdom to interpret the scriptures and the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. False ideas were taught as truth. Much of the knowledge of the true character and nature of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost was lost. The doctrines of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost became distorted or forgotten. The priesthood authority given to Christ’s Apostles was no longer present on the earth. This apostasy eventually led to the emergence of many churches.
“After centuries of spiritual darkness, truth-seeking men and women protested against current religious practices. They recognized that many of the doctrines and ordinances of the gospel had been changed or lost. They sought for greater spiritual light, and many spoke of the need for a restoration of truth. They did not claim, however, that God had called them to be a prophet. Instead, they tried to reform teachings and practices that they believed had been changed or corrupted. Their efforts led to the organization of many
Protestant churches. This Reformation resulted in an increased emphasis on religious freedom, which opened the way for the final Restoration.
“The Savior’s Apostles foretold this universal apostasy. They also foretold that the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church would be restored once more upon the earth.”
(Preach My Gospel, page 35)
Here are some scriptures that mention the coming of this apostasy:
Acts 3:19-21
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Matthew 24:19-11
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
2 Thesselonians 2:1-3
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Amos 8:11-12
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Restoration of the Gospel
In the year 1820, Joseph Smith was a 14 year old boy. He lived in New York, and in his town at that time, there was a great religious movement. There were many churches holding camp meetings and revivals. The whole town was effected by the great efforts made by the churches seeking converts.
As a young teenager, Joseph found himself extremely confused by the whole scene. Joseph said of this time,
“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 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?”
“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; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.”
(Joseph Smith History, vs. 8, 10-12 – or go to http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1 )
Picking up where I left off, Joseph, after reading this verse in the bible, decided to do exactly as the scripture directed and ask of God. So, on a beautiful spring morning, he went out into some woods near his home to pray. As he prayed, a light appeared above his head. These are his words:
“…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!” (From Joseph Smith History in the Pearl of Great Price)
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1
Joseph saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. He saw them and spoke with them face to face. During that experience, Joseph asked them what church he should join. He says:
“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, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home…” http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1
Through this and later experiences, Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet – much like Moses, Elijah, and Abraham. After many centuries of the world going without a prophet of God, Heavenly Father again called a prophet, Joseph Smith.
Restoration of the Priesthood
In addition to being given revelation, Joseph was given the Aaronic priesthood by John the baptist, who laid his hands on Joseph and conferred this priesthood on him, which includes the authority to baptize. A short time later, Peter, James, and John, the apostles of the new testament, came and restored the Melchizedek priesthood to Joseph in the same manner. This priesthood includes the authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They also made Joseph an apostle, and told him to call and ordain 12 others as apostles. In all of this, Joseph’s friend, Oliver Cowdery was present, and was also given these priesthoods.
The priesthood, or authority to act in the name of God is back on the earth. All priesthood holders in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can trace their authority back to Jesus Christ.
There is a living prophet today, who is the successor of Joseph Smith. He is the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He receives revelation from God, and teaches the people what God wants them to know, just as in ancient times.
The Book of Mormon
While praying one night, Joseph was visited by an angel named Moroni, who instructed Joseph that there was a record made of golden plates buried in a hill near his home, and that he (Joseph) was to take the record and translate it by the power of God. He was informed that the record contained God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the American continent.
Joseph did translate the plates. The record is called the Book of Mormon.
The book begins with the record of a family who lived in Jerusalem around the year 600 BC. They were commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem, because it would soon be destroyed. They left Jerusalem and traveled until they reached the ocean. They followed the instructions of the Lord to build a ship and sail across the ocean, where they arrived in the Americas.
The Book of Mormon tells about this family’s descendants, and includes an account of the time when Christ was on the earth. Shortly after Christ’s Resurrection, (and after the forty days he spent with His apostles), Jesus Christ appeared to the inhabitants of the Americas. He taught them His gospel and established His church among them.
You Can Know of the Truth of the Book of Mormon
The Lord has not left us to wonder whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. He wants us to pray and ask Him. If we read it and then pray to Father in Heaven, and ask Him in the name of Jesus Christ if the Book of Mormon is true, He will make the truth known to us. In the Book of Mormon, there is a scripture that gives us this promise:
Moroni 10:3-5
Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 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.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
If we ask sincerely, and are willing to believe what the Lord tells us, we can know of this truth.
I have done this, and I know of a certainty that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith is a prophet.
Additional Scripture
In addition to translating the Book of Mormon, the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to compile a collection of the revelations that He gave Joseph. Joseph did so, and the result is the collection of revelations found in the book called Doctrine and Covenants. This book, rather than being a translation of the writings of ancient prophets, is a collection of revelations and instructions given to Joseph Smith and some of the prophets who were his successors. Most of the sections are the words of Jesus Christ to him.
The book called Pearl of Great Price is a compilation of revelations, translations, and history recorded by Joseph Smith. It also includes much of Joseph Smith’s personal history.
The version of the Bible called “The Joseph Smith Translation,” or sometimes called the “Inspired Version,” is a re-translation of the Bible, or more precisely, a rewriting of the Bible with inspired revisions (due to some of the mis-translations made through the centuries that make up the Bible we use today). Though the Joseph Smith Translation is not the official Bible of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (the official one is the King James Version), the Church uses the Joseph Smith Translation as an inspired guide to understanding the Bible.
The four official books of scripture, also called the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
All four can easily be read online at:
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/contents
Though all are important, if you don’t know a great deal about the church, I recommend starting with the Book of Mormon. It is the clearest, and is the first book of scripture introduced since the Bible. I know of a certainty that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that the Bible is true also, and that using the two together will bring an individual to a clearer understanding of the Lord and His plan for us.
Some people are troubled by the claim that we KNOW the Book of Mormon is true, and that our church is true. Ask any faithful member in good standing in the church and they likely will say not that they believe, but that they know the church is true. But the truth is, anyone and everyone can come to the same knowledge. That knowledge was never intended to be available exclusively to members of the church. The Lord has promised that anyone who asks in sincerity with an adequate knowledge of the things of which he/she is praying, will receive a clear answer. How and when that answer comes is completely up to the Lord, but God will answer your prayer if you are willing to sincerely study these things and ask Him in the name of Jesus Christ if they are true.
You can know with an absolute certainty. Anyone who follows this formula will receive an answer.
