Restoration (Mormonism)

In Mormonism, the Restoration was a period in its early history during which a number of events occurred that were understood to be necessary to restore the early Christian church as demonstrated in the New Testament, and to prepare the earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In particular, Mormons believe that heavenly (either resurrected or translated) beings appeared to Joseph Smith, Jr. and others and bestowed various Priesthood authorities to them. A partial list of the restored authorites is given in the table below.

Administering Angel	Recipient(s) Ordained	Authority Given	When
John the Baptist	Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery	Aaronic Priesthood: Preach the Gospel, baptize, adminster Levitical duties and ordain others to this Priesthood
The Apostles Peter, James and John	Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery	Apostle and Melchezidek Priesthood: Propound doctrine and ordinances and organize & lead the church; Confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost, bless, ordain others to this Priesthood
Elijah	Joseph Smith	Seal (marry) husband & wife and parents to children for eternity
Moses	Joseph Smith	Gather the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Elias	Joseph Smith	Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham

According to Mormonism, in essence, all the Priesthood "keys" (or authority) necessary to establish Jesus Christ's church with authority to administer the Gospel and its ordinances were given to Joseph Smith who then organized that church to continue in perpetuity. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest Mormon group, believe that their church is the "only true and living church upon the face of the earth". By implication, no restoration would be necessary if a legitimately established church already existed. Thus, Mormons believe there was a Great Apostasy that preceded the Restoration. Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, prayed about which church to join. In a vision, two personages instructed him not to join any churches, for "all their creeds were an abomination." For Support Mormons cite Galatians 1:6-8 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3 concerning prophesy of the Great Apostasy.

Coinciding with the restoration of the Priesthood, Mormons believe that Joseph Smith received many revelations, visions and visitations of heavenly messengers to instruct him in order to enable him to fulfill his responsibilities in propounding doctrine and re-establishing ordinances. The majority of this history is recorded in one of the Mormon's scriptural cannons, The Doctrine and Covenants. Additional details and background of the Church in Joseph Smith's era is presented in the Church's seven volume set The Documentary History of the Church.

In regards to the restoration of Priesthood authority, Joseph Smith dictated the following passage found in Doctrine and Covenants 128:20-21:

And again, what do we hear?...The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times! And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!

In reflecting upon the responsibilities of teaching the constant revelations he received, he stated:

It is my meditation all the day, and more than my meat and drink, to know how I shall make the Saints of God comprehend the visions that roll like an overflowing surge before my mind.

Among other scriptures, Mormons cite Acts 3:21 as evidence that a restoration was contemplated. The King James Version reads: "...the heaven must receive Jesus Christ until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."

Critical viewpoints

Critics argue that Acts 3:21 refers either to the restoration of Israel or the restoration with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, not the restoration of the body of the church. Church members respond by asking, how could there be a "restitution of all things" if presumably Jesus Christ had so recently bestowed all things and there had been no apostasy?. Furthermore, Mormons do not rely exclusively on scriptural evidence, but see these as supporting the revelations given to Joseph Smith.

Critics also refer to Matthew 16:18, of which the King James Version reads: "And I [Jesus] say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Critics argue that in this scripture, Christ promises that his church is to be permanently established, and therefore, no great apostasy is possible. Church members respond that this scripture does not promise that the church will continue without fail, and that the rock upon which Christ will establish his church is revelation. For proceeding Jesus' promise, Jesus asks the Apostles, "whom say ye that I am?" (verse 15) Peter answers, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (verse 16) Jesus replies, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven." That is, Mormons say, Peter received a heavenly revelation of the truth, and it is by personal revelation that Jesus will bring each individual to know the truth.

Critics argue that Galatians and 2 Thessalonians do not refer to a total apostasy of the church. The Bible does not promise a restored church. Critics argue further, that Mormons do not properly interpret The Bible by using exegesis, or deriving meaning from the content, and that the Mormons' interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is an example of eisogeis, or adding new meaning to a passage. Critics say it refers to an end-time apostasy in the future, not to an event some 1800 years before the Mormon church, and that the text states the event is scheduled after the "man of lawless [the antichrist] is revealed."

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See also Restorationism

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External links

Official websites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• LDS.org (http://lds.org) - the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Mormon.org (http://mormon.org) - information on basic beliefs, a meetinghouse locator, and a place to email questions
• Provident Living (http://www.providentliving.org/) - addresses lifestyles for spiritual and temporal welfare
• The Scriptures - Internet Edition (http://scriptures.lds.org)
• FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org) - used for family history and genealogical research
• Gospel Library (http://lds.org/gospellibrary/0,5082,4-1,00.html) - contains official publications and texts
• BYU Speeches (http://speeches.byu.edu) - given by Latter-day Saints at Brigham Young University, Provo, addressed to BYU students

Additional Websites

• LDSresource.net (http://www.ldsresources.net) - an online listing for aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Mormon Answers (http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/) - frequently asked questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• LDS Today (http://www.ldstoday.com/) - news related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• FAIR (http://www.fairlds.org/) - the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research

Opposing Views

• Exmormon.org (http://exmormon.org) - by former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Apologetics Index (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/) - by Evangelical Christians, provides research resources from a variety of perspectives