talks

A few weeks back Jon and I got to speak in Sacrament Meeting. We were not given topics so I chose to speak on the Restoration and Jon chose to speak on prayer. This post and the following are the thoughts and scriptures we shared.

The Restoration of the Gospel

I want to start with a brief summary of the events of the Restoration of the Gospel in our day as recorded in large part in the missionary manual, Preach my Gospel.

The Great Apostasy
The New Testament tells us that after Christ was resurrected and returned to Heaven, people began to persecute the Apostles and Church Members. When the Apostles died, the authority to preside and act in God’s name was 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.

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. The priesthood authority given to Christ’s Apostles was no longer present on the earth. Important religious questions were settled by councils. The simple doctrines and ordinances taught by the Savior were debated and changed to conform to worldly philosophies (see Isaiah 24:5). They physically changed the scriptures, removing plain and precious doctrines from them (1 Nephi 13:26–40). They created creeds, or statements of belief, based on false and changed doctrine (see Joseph Smith—History 1:19). People accepted these false ideas and gave honor to false teachers who taught pleasing doctrines rather than divine truth (see 2 Timothy 4:3–4).

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.

A restoration, not a reformation, was required. To reform is to change what already exists; to restore is to bring back something in its original form. Priesthood authority did not continue in an unbroken line of succession from the Apostle Peter. Thus, restoration of priesthood authority through divine messengers was the only way to overcome the Great Apostasy.

The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith
So Heavenly Father once again reached out to His children in love. He called a young man named Joseph Smith as a prophet. Through him the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth.

Joseph Smith lived in upstate New York in the early 1800’s; a time of great religious excitement in the eastern United States. His family members were deeply religious and constantly sought for truth. But many ministers claimed to have the true gospel. Joseph desired “to know which of all the sects was right,” (Joseph Smith—History 1:18). The Bible taught there was “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). Joseph attended different churches, but he remained confused about which church he should join.

At 14, Joseph sought truth among the different faiths, he turned to the Bible for guidance. He read in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” The significance of this passage struck him with great force and Joseph decided to ask God what he should do. In the spring of 1820 he went to a nearby grove of trees and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: “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!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17).

In this vision God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith. The Savior told Joseph not to join any of the churches, for they “were all wrong” and “all their creeds were an abomination.” Christ stated, “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 Smith—History 1:19). Even though many good people believed in Christ and tried to understand and teach His gospel, they did not have the fullness of truth or the priesthood authority to baptize and perform other saving ordinances. They had inherited a state of apostasy as each generation was influenced by what the previous one passed on, including changes in the doctrines and in ordinances such as baptism. As God had done with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other prophets, He called Joseph Smith to be a prophet through whom the fullness of the gospel was restored to the earth.

After the appearance of the Father and the Son, other heavenly messengers, or angels, were sent to Joseph Smith and his associate Oliver Cowdery. John the Baptist appeared and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood, which includes the authority to perform the ordinance of baptism. Peter, James, and John (three of Christ’s original Apostles) appeared and conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith, restoring the same authority given to Christ’s Apostles anciently. With this priesthood authority, Joseph Smith was directed to organize the Church of Jesus Christ again on the earth. Through him, Jesus Christ called twelve Apostles.

This organization of a prophet and 12 Apostles remains a part of the church today. The Church of Jesus Christ is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (see Ephesians 2:19–20; 4:11–14). These leaders have divine priesthood authority. Through revelation they direct the affairs of the Church. They maintain doctrinal purity, authorize the administration of ordinances, and call and confer upon others the priesthood authority. A living prophet directs the Church today.

Application
While it is good to be reminded about the historical foundations of our faith, this story also teaches us of things that we can do in our lives to restore ourselves and become truer followers of Christ.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Follow the example of Joseph Smith and the pattern of the Restoration. Turn to the scriptures. Kneel in prayer. Ask in faith. Listen to the Holy Ghost. Learn that your name and needs are known by our Heavenly Father, just as Joseph’s were.” (“Receiving a Testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2003, 31).

I’d like to take the next few minutes to touch on these five things: Scripture Study, Faith, Prayer, Continued Revelation and having a Personal Relationship with God.

Scripture Study
Sister Sheri Dew wrote that “The scriptures are a conduit for revelation. When Joseph read the passage in James promising that those who lacked wisdom and asked of God would be rewarded liberally, he was struck with the impact of that promise. He 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… If any person needed wisdom from God, I did…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” (JS-J 1:12-13). Venture he did. His reading and subsequent prayer triggered the Restoration."

Faith
Sister Dew continues, “Joseph took the Lord at His word. Despite having never before attempted to pray vocally, he went into the grove, nothing doubting, and offered up the desires of his heart to God (see JS-H 1:14-15). His complete faith in the Lord’s willingness to answer his prayer made it possible for the Father and the Son to respond in the manner they did…

“Faith is not a bulwark against tribulations, but an assurance that the Lord is overseeing all.” We grow in faith a little at a time. As we learn a few things about the gospel and live accordingly, we will learn more and strengthen our faith in what we have already learned. As we live the principles of the gospel, the Holy Ghost will help us know that they are true.

Prayer
No one can know of spiritual truths without prayer. President James E. Faust taught that “A fervent, sincere prayer is a two-way communication which will do much to bring His Spirit flowing like healing water to help with the trials, hardships, aches, and pains we all face. What is the quality of our secret prayers when only He listens? As we pray, we should think of Him as being close by, full of knowledge, understanding, love, and compassion, the essence of power, and as having great expectations of each of us.”

When we pray earnestly, we praise and thank God and ask him for blessings we need. But that is not all. We wait and listen, meditating upon the things that are in our hearts to hear a response from God. This does not always happen while we are still on our knees in prayer. In answer to our payers, the Holy Ghost will teach us through our feelings and thoughts. Feelings that come through the Holy Ghost are powerful but they are usually gentle and quiet. Sometimes our prayers are answered through other people when they do or say the things we were waiting to hear.

Internship story
About three years ago when I was in my last year of college I had a number of internship offers I was considering. Most of them were Arts related on the West Coast and I had a lone offer for Nielsen Media Research, the television ratings company, here in New York. I wasn’t sure that I wanted a career in media but it was a really great opportunity with a big name company. If nothing else I thought it would open doors for me later on. While I was trying to figure out where I should go, I got to talking with a guy I has several classes with. We weren’t close by any means but I was pretty much talking to any one who would listen about my dilemma. As I listed the pros of working at Nielsen he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well there you go then.” Oddly enough that was exactly what I needed to hear. His words resonated within me and I knew it was where I should be. I came out for four months but ended up returning to Idaho since Jon and I got engaged at the end of my internship and Jon still had school left. But because I’d worked and lived here before, doors were opened to us when we decided to return a year and a half later. To me it was a big example of both an answered prayer and of continued revelation.

Continued Revelation
Revelation is communication from God to His children. This guidance comes through various channels according to the needs and circumstances of individuals, families, and the Church as a whole. When the Lord reveals His will to the Church, He speaks through His prophet. Prophets are the only people who can receive revelation for the Church. Today the Prophet of our church is Thomas S. Monson. He is the authorized successor to Joseph Smith. He and the present Apostles trace their authority to Jesus Christ in an unbroken chain of ordinations through Joseph Smith.

Having a Personal Relationship with God
Prophets aren’t the only people who can receive revelation. According to our faithfulness, we can receive revelation to help us with our specific personal needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help us strengthen our testimony.

One of my favorite hymns is I am a Child of God because it summarizes the gospel plan in a few simple words. “I am a child of God, and he has sent me here, has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.” It reminds me that God knows who I am and that he has a plan for me and my life.

Nauvoo story
My nerd confession for the day is that I play the trumpet. During my sophomore year of college I auditioned to be a performing missionary for the summer tourist season in Nauvoo, Illinois. There is are a group of 25 young people who put on plays each summer as well as another 20 who make up the Nauvoo Brass Band. The Young Performing missionaries, as they are called, apply first via video tapes, and then call-back auditions in Salt Lake, before being issued a summer service mission call. By the time I heard about it I had missed the deadline for sending in a taped audition, but I called and got lucky – they were short brass players. I caught a ride to Utah and played my best, but I have to say that I have never been very good. I always had a lot of spirit and enthusiasm, and sometimes I think that was all I was getting by on. I wanted very much to go to Nauvoo. I spent the week following auditions praying fervently, pleading with the Lord that I would be picked to be in the band. You can imagine my joy and gratitude when I found out I’d made it.

Three weeks after getting there the man in charge of auditions pulled me aside and asked me if I know why I was there. I braced myself for a lecture on being sassy, but instead he told me that I was not his initial choice for the part. He had picked a young man, but as he was submitting the names to the mission he felt very strongly that it should be me and not this other Elder. “The Lord wants you here, Sister Torres. He made sure of it,” Elder Bastion said to me. Frankly, it was a mixed compliment but it was then that I knew that the Lord knows who I am. He knows the desires of my heart and he knows the experiences and people I need to have in my life to enable me to learn and become a better disciple of Christ.

Conclusion
I have a testimony of the principles taught to us in the story of the Restoration. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that through his scripture study, faith and prayer the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth in it pure and true form. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today and that he was called and ordained by the same authority that Christ gave to his Apostles in His day. I believe that God knows each one of us individually and has a plan for his children and that we are blessed to be here, as a part of his church. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ AMEN.