The Philadelphia Mormon Temple that was announced in October 2008 has a new location. Previously the temple was to be built on the “east side of the 400 block of North Broad, between Noble and Hamilton Streets.”  Last week reports indicated that the site that was originally announced is no longer suitable due to contamination on site.  According to the report the temple will be built on land that the LDS Church is “in the process” of buying, located at 1739 Vine St. This location is only several blocks away.  (LDS Church Temples has an updated map of the new location of the Philadelphia Temple.)  Plans for the lot also will include a meeting house and genealogy center in addition to the Philadelphia Temple.

Mormon World has previously posted about the Philadelphia Temple.  Particularly the comments are full of insightful and original information from local members and former missionaries.

The full article can be found here:

Mormons pick new site for Phila. temple

The continued success of Mormon.org was highlighted today in a new release published on the LDS Newsroom website. Mormon.org started in 2001 and is a website aimed at educating people about the LDS Church and its basic beliefs. (While www.lds.org is also an official website of the Mormon Church but is geared more towards actual members.)

Newly Redesigned Mormon.org Screenshot

Some of the highlights include:

• The recent redesign of Mormon.org (it is consistent with the “Truth Restored” campaign run by the LDS Church)
• Specifically noted was the increased ability to share and watch a wider selection of LDS-related videos
• 100 + new videos have been added including previously unavailable Homefront ads
• It is noted that monthly visitors have reached 650,000
• Another statistic provided is that Mormon.org has over 40,000 online chat sessions per month.

The new site looks great and is very clean for those who visit it. Functionally and aesthetically it is wonderful. I am happy to see the success of Mormon.org as I remember when the LDS Church started the Truth Restored campaign and thought it was an excellent one. It seems as though it has been successful as I believe they were testing it in a few areas like Kansas City, New York and maybe Las Vegas to see how it would do before moving ahead with it on a full-scale basis. The campaign centers around normal people talking about their conversions to the Mormon Church and the tag line of “Truth Restored”- both of which I think are very powerful.  Now it appears as though the campaign has been furthered as the new look of Mormon.org is consistent with the Truth Restored campaign. I assume this was part of the initial plan and they are just getting to the point where the website is ready and the success dictated that it go live.  Cool to see!! I wonder if there are further steps?

The actual new release can be found here:
Mormon.org Updated and Improved as Traffic Increases Rapidly

With American Thanksgiving mere hours away I thought it would be appropriate to post a video produced by one of the LDS Church’s official YouTube Channels, Mormon Messages. The video, In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, interviews random people on the streets of New York City and asks them: What are you thankful for?

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving Mormon Message Video

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving may we also remember what we are all thankful for not just tomorrow but year-round. You can see more videos like this at the official Mormon Messages YouTube Channel and in our Mormon Videos section.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the LDS Church recently visited multiple African nations and dedicated two countries, Cameroon and Rwanda, for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Holland visited Africa during a two week period of August. Elder Holland became the first known apostle to ever visit either Cameroon or Rwanda.  Elder Holland also visited African countries including: Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. There are 4 branches of the LDS Church in Yaounde, Cameroon with 1 missionary couple and 8 missionaries serving there.

I’ve wanted to post about this for quite some time but can never seem to find time. Despite the fact that it happened a couple of months ago the significance of the blessing of two nations is not lessened. As such here are some of the resources I was able to find and the highlights and links of the respective articles:

Dedication Blesses Two African Nations – LDS Church News

• This is probably the most comprehensive resource there is. Further it includes multiple pictures of the entire 16 day tour of Africa.
• Cameroon’s dedication was done on a hill overlooking Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Cameroon was dedicated on August 21, 2009.
• Similar to Cameroon, Rwanda was dedicated from a mountain overlooking the capital, Kigali. It was dedicated on August 27, 2009.
• There seems to be at least one branch in Rwanda as it references the presence of a Branch President, Eric K. Hyde.
• Elder Holland visited Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and the missionaries there.
• Elder Holland split the Kinshasa DR Congo Stake, forming the 8th stake in DR Congo. Approximately 2700 members heard the conference. During the conference 56 men were ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. He also met with the mayor of Kinshasa, or at the very least shook her hand.  See the source for a picture.
• Elder Holland was accompanied on the trip by Elder Paul E. Koelliker. Elder Koelliker is a member of the Seventy as well as President of the Africa Southeast Area.
• He visited with zone leaders of the Kenya Nairobi Mission in Nairobi, Kenya.
• He visited an orphanage in Uganda.
• His trip ended with a visit to the Mutare Zimbabwe District.
• Here is a great quote from Elder Holland from the LDS Church News article:

“I want the Saints to know that Africa is one of the bright, beautiful emerging frontiers of the Church,” he said. “It sounds ominous sometimes just to hear the word ‘Africa’ because we think of dangers. Like any other place there can be dangers, but for the Church and the members it is one highlight after another, one bright spot after another.

“These people are so given to faith. I’ve often thought that perhaps the Lord in His justice, mercy and outreach made up for what they don’t have in material blessings by giving them an extra measure of spiritual blessing and insight.”

 Reactions of Full-Time Missionaries in Cameroon

This page includes some of the testimonies of the Elders who participated in zone conferences with Elder Holland while he is there. Each Elder shares a short testimony of their experience with Elder Holland and some pictures of their mission in Cameroon.

 LDS Church Growth also has posts on the dedication about Cameroon and Rwanda that are excellent, including many comments and analysis.

The “Mormon Africa” section also contains lots of other articles about Mormon Church growth in Africa.

The World Report is created and broadcast biannually by the LDS Church at General Conference time. One of the segments is usually a “LDS Temple Update” in which the status of temples previously announced are updated. The progress of the temples range from land acquisition to groundbreaking to the finishing touches of construction and open houses or cultural celebrations.

This past conference the LDS Temples Update included updates on the Vancouver British Columbia Temple, the Cebu Philippines Temple, the Kiev Ukraine Temple, the Manaus Brazil Temple, the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple, and the San Salvador El Salvador Temple.

World Report, October 2009, Temple Updates

We’ve also added the video to the Mormon Videos section. The LDS Newsroom Blog also has all of the segments of the October 2009 The World Report in a recent post.

In 1820, in upstate New York, in the United States, God selected a prophet to RESTORE the true Church of Jesus Christ again on earth.  Imagine you buy an old car, which is run down and beat up, which many years ago was the car of its day.  You decide to restore it to its original form.  So you work at it, and eventually put it all back together, just as it was before.  That is the meaning of a restoration. 

            Beginning in 1820, God began the restoration of the truth, the true way, the true doctrine, the true gospel, the true church.  Joseph Smith was a young boy of 14 years, who earnestly desired to find the true church among so many in his city.  He eventually read a scripture in James that instructed him to ask God if he lacked wisdom.  That is what he did, in the spring of 1820 he went to a grove of trees near his house and prayed, asking God which church was true.  In a miraculous apparition, he was visited by God the Eternal Father, and Jesus Christ, the resurrected Lord.  (You can watch “The Restoration” in the Mormon Videos section.).

            They instructed him concerning his question, telling him that no church was true, that they were all far from the truth.   He was told that he was going to be a prophet, just like the prophets of ancient times – God has not changed, nor will.  Remember, God will do nothing unless he reveals his secrets (or his gospel) to his prophets. 

            Before I explain more about the steps of the restoration.  I want to ask you: how do you feel?  Do you believe what I have just told you?  Are there nagging doubts in your heart?  If so, it’s not unusual, as a missionary for 2 years in Chile, almost everyone I talked to found it hard to believe that a boy saw God and Jesus, and at 14 years of age he was called to be a prophet.  As well, there is no evidence, just the story as described by Joseph Smith.  You might say, amongst all of these so called false prophets and false Christs, how is Joseph Smith any different?  I myself, in my investigation of this same story, asked many of the same questions, had the same concerns.

 The Book of Mormon`s Central Role in The Restoration 

            Imagine, there is a man who claims to be a prophet from Brazil, who says that he had a vision of God and Christ.  He also carries with him a book of the word of God, saying that it is the word of God.  I myself, would read the book, and see if it is truly the word of God.  If it is the word of God, and God confirms that to me by His spirit to my spirit, the man from Brazil would be a prophet,  because he has revealed more of the word of God – a primary responsibility of a prophet.

            Our Heavenly Father delivered a record of scripture from the ancient Americas called The Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith.  It took the form of golden plates hidden away in a hill.  Along with the plates, the Lord gave him the necessary mediums, gifts and powers to translate it from a foreign tongue to English.  Since its publishing in 1829, it has been translated in many different languages and is available for one and all to read, study, ponder and judge.  Christ said we shall know true prophets by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-21).   A good fruit means a true prophet.  The Book of Mormon is the fruit of Joseph Smith.   A free copy can be obtained by clicking on the “Free Mormon Media“ link in the sidebar. 

 The Restoration of the Priesthood – God`s Authority

             Part of the Restoration was that of the authority and the keys of the priesthood.  In 1829, Joseph Smith received angelic visitations from John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John, who each placed their hands upon his head and gave him the necessary authority and keys of the kingdom of heaven to baptize (as one example) and receive divine communication from heaven.

            With those keys, Joseph organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6^th, 1830.  Part of the restoration was to call twelve apostles and restore all the correct doctrines and principles.  A set of the modern revelations and doctrinal teachings that establish and restore the teachings of Christ in his church are found in a book called “The Doctrine and Covenants”.

            Now do you believe me?  Belief is important, I suppose, it allows people to choose how they wish to think and shape the world around them according to expectations and judgements, but…. it is not always a strong representation of the truth.  Think of the Spanish, who believed the earth was flat, and believed Columbus’s idea of a spherical world to be preposterous.  Columbus was right.  You might judge this to be preposterous, but there is a possibility that it is true.

            In this article I have used scripture as some ‘evidence’ of the truth.  Other churches will use the same book of scripture to try and prove us wrong.  What we must finally do, as I have done, is ask He who knows all – God.  He is your father and loves you, and desires that you know the truth, surely.   Remember James 1:5, if ye lack wisdom, ask of God.

            At the end of the Book of Mormon there is a promise known as Moroni’s promise, it states: 

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.

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.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

            The Holy Ghost is light, understanding, a feeling and a thought of elevation, elation of peace and happiness, of comfort and love.  That is how I know, and that is how you can know.  Its worth a try, isn’t it?  You have nothing to lose and an eternity to gain.

For those interested in reading further what Mormons believe in you can visit the LDS Beliefs section for more posts like this.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an excellent talk – Safety for the Soul- about the Book of Mormon at the October 2009 General Conference. Elder Holland passionately shared his testimony of The Book of Mormon. I’ve included the text of Safety for the Soul, the actual name of Elder Holland’s “Book of Mormon testimony”, as well as the video of Elder Holland’s talk. This talk was my favorite by a large margin and one of the best and most powerful talks/testimonies that I have ever heard during General Conference about the Book of Mormon. I’ve been wanting to post this since I heard it but I just haven’t had the time. (I am still hoping Mormon Messages makes a video based on this talk!) So finally here it is…Enjoy!!

Elder Holland -Book of Mormon Testimony Video –  Safety for the Soul

Elder Holland – Book of Mormon Talk – Safety for the Soul

I would usually just source the talk’s website but because it was so good I’ve included the actual text below. The actual site source is Safety for the Soul. You can find the other talks from the October 2009 General Conference through the same link.  Here is the actual text of Holland’s ”Safety for the Soul”:

Prophecies regarding the last days often refer to large-scale calamities such as earthquakes or famines or floods. These in turn may be linked to widespread economic or political upheavals of one kind or another.

But there is one kind of latter-day destruction that has always sounded to me more personal than public, more individual than collective—a warning, perhaps more applicable inside the Church than outside it. The Savior warned that in the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth. If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative center of our faith, the poetic location of our loyalties and our values; then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last days “men’s hearts [shall fail] them.”

The encouraging thing, of course, is that our Father in Heaven knows all of these latter-day dangers, these troubles of the heart and soul, and has given counsel and protections regarding them.

In light of that, it has always been significant to me that the Book of Mormon, one of the Lord’s powerful keystones in this counteroffensive against latter-day ills, begins with a great parable of life, an extended allegory of hope versus fear, of light versus darkness, of salvation versus destruction—an allegory of which Sister Ann M. Dibb spoke so movingly this morning.

In Lehi’s dream an already difficult journey gets more difficult when a mist of darkness arises, obscuring any view of the safe but narrow path his family and others are to follow. It is imperative to note that this mist of darkness descends on allthe travelers—the faithful and the determined ones (the elect, we might even say) as well as the weaker and ungrounded ones. The principal point of the story is that the successful travelers resist all distractions, including the lure of forbidden paths and jeering taunts from the vain and proud who have taken those paths. The record says that the protected “did press their way forward, continually [and, I might add, tenaciously] holding fast” to a rod of iron that runs unfailingly along the course of the true path. However dark the night or the day, the rod marks the way of that solitary, redeeming trail.

“I beheld,” Nephi says later, “that the rod of iron . . . was the word of God, [leading] . . . to the tree of life; . . . a representation of the love of God.” Viewing this manifestation of God’s love, Nephi goes on to say:

“I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, . . . [who] went forth ministering unto the people. . . . 

“ . . . And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; . . . and they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.”

Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” That phrase—taken from Moroni’s final lines of testimony, written 1,000 years after Lehi’s vision—is a dying man’s testimony of the only true way.

May I refer to a modern “last days” testimony? When Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum started for Carthage to face what they knew would be an imminent martyrdom, Hyrum read these words to comfort the heart of his brother:

“Thou hast been faithful; wherefore . . . thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

“And now I, Moroni, bid farewell . . . until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ.”

A few short verses from the 12th chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Before closing the book, Hyrum turned down the corner of the page from which he had read, marking it as part of the everlasting testimony for which these two brothers were about to die. I hold in my hand that book, the very copy from which Hyrum read, the same corner of the page turned down, still visible. Later, when actually incarcerated in the jail, Joseph the Prophet turned to the guards who held him captive and bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Shortly thereafter pistol and ball would take the lives of these two testators.

As one of a thousand elements of my own testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, I submit this as yet one more evidence of its truthfulness. In this their greatest—and last—hour of need, I ask you: would these men blaspheme before God by continuing to fix their lives, their honor, and their own search for eternal salvation on a book (and by implication a church and a ministry) they had fictitiously created out of whole cloth?

Never mind that their wives are about to be widows and their children fatherless. Never mind that their little band of followers will yet be “houseless, friendless and homeless” and that their children will leave footprints of blood across frozen rivers and an untamed prairie floor. Never mind that legions will die and other legions live declaring in the four quarters of this earth that they know the Book of Mormon and the Church which espouses it to be true. Disregard all of that, and tell me whether in this hour of death these two men would enter the presence of their Eternal Judge quoting from and finding solace in a book which, if notthe very word of God, would brand them as imposters and charlatans until the end of time? They would not do that! They were willing to die rather than deny the divine origin and the eternal truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in anyreligious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”

I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages—especially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readers—if that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit. In that sense the book is what Christ Himself was said to be: “a stone of stumbling, . . . a rock of offence,” a barrier in the path of one who wishes not to believe in this work. Witnesses, even witnesses who were for a time hostile to Joseph, testified to their death that they had seen an angel and had handled the plates. “They have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man,” they declared. “Wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true.”

Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amuleknor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”

I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my “last days,” but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.

My witness echoes that of Nephi, who wrote part of the book in his “last days”:

“Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, . . . and they teach all men that they should do good.

“And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day.”

Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you. Of this I earnestly testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

For other posts specifically about Mormon beliefs see the LDS Beliefs category.

The Wentworth letter was written by Joseph Smith in March of 1842 as a response to a request from John Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat that Smith write a “statement of the origin and progress of Mormonism.” Wentworth had a friend who wanted the information as he wrote a history of the state of New Hampshire.

Joseph wrote the letter and outlined the history of the LDS Church to that point in time as well as outlining some of the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In doing so he penned what became known as the 13 Articles of Faith, a series of statements that explained some of the core doctrines of the LDS Church.

The Wentworth Letter – The Articles of Faith

•  We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
• We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
• We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
• We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on [of] hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
• We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
• We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
• We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
• We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
• We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
• We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
• We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
• We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

The Standard of Truth – The Wentworth Letter by Joseph Smith

 Another well known excerpt of The Wentworth Letter is the “Standard of Truth” which is often quoted by Mormons when discussing the missionary program:

“…the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done…”

Publication of The Wentworth Letter

There is no evidence that John Wentworth or his inquiring friend ever published Joseph’s written letter. Though the Wentworth Letter was first published in March of 1842 in Times and Seasons, a Mormon newspaper published while the Mormons were in Nauvoo Illinois between approximately 1839-1846. Today the actual text of The Wentworth Letter can also be found in The History of the Church Volume 4 page 535.

Entire Text of The Wentworth Letter

Joseph Smith Jr., “The Wentworth Letter,” Ensign, Jul 2002, 27

Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization modernized.

March 1, 1842.—At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat,I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth says that he wishes to furnish Mr. Bastow [Barstow], a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document. As Mr. Bastow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information, all that I shall ask at his hands is that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation.

I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, on the 23rd of December, a.d. 1805. When [I was] ten years old, my parents removed to Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four years, and from thence we removed to the town of Manchester. My father was a farmer and taught me the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring [about] the plan of salvation, I [found] that there was a great clash in religious sentiment. If I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to another, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. Considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a church it would not be split up into factions, and that if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another, principles which were diametrically opposed.

Believing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of James—“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” [James 1:5]. I retired to a secret place in a grove and began to call upon the Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noonday. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom; and I was expressly commanded “to go not after them,” at the same time receiving a promise that the fullness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.

On the evening [of] the 21st of September, a.d. 1823, while I was praying unto God and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room. Indeed the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a moment a personage stood before me, surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel in all its fulness to be preached in power unto all nations, that a people might be prepared for the millennial reign. I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation.

I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country [America] and shown who they were, and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was [also] made known unto me; I was also told where were deposited some plates on which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me three times the same night and unfolded the same things. After having received many visits from the angels of God, unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22nd of September, a.d. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands.

These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold. Each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument, which the ancients called “Urim and Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rims of a bow fastened to a breastplate. Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift and power of God.

In this important and interesting book the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the Tower of Babel at the confusion of languages to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites and came directly from the Tower of Babel. The second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our Savior made His appearance upon this continent after His Resurrection; that He planted the gospel here in all its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists—the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessings, as were enjoyed on the eastern continent; that the people were cut off in consequence of their transgressions; that the last of their prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies, history, etc., and to hide it up in the earth; and that it should come forth and be united with the Bible for the accomplishment of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more particular account I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of our traveling elders.

As soon as the news of this discovery was made known, false reports, misrepresentation, and slander flew, as on the wings of the wind, in every direction; the house was frequently beset by mobs and evil designing people. Several times I was shot at, and very narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the plates away from me; but the power and blessing of God attended me, and several began to believe my testimony.

On the 6th of April 1830, the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” was first organized in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, state of New York. Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of revelation and prophecy and began to preach as the Spirit gave them utterance. And though weak, yet were they strengthened by the power of God; and many were brought to repentance, were immersed in the water, and were filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They saw visions and prophesied, devils were cast out, and the sick healed by the laying on of hands. From that time the work rolled forth with astonishing rapidity, and churches were formed in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. In the last-named state a considerable settlement was formed in Jackson County. Numbers joined the Church, and we were increasing rapidly. We made large purchases of land; our farms teemed with plenty; and peace and happiness were enjoyed in our domestic circle and throughout our neighborhood. But as we could not associate with our neighbors (who were, many of them, of the basest of men, and had fled from the face of civilized society to the frontier country to escape the hand of justice) in their midnight revels, their Sabbath breaking, horse racing, and gambling, they commenced at first to ridicule, then to persecute, and finally an organized mob assembled and burned our houses, tarred and feathered and whipped many of our brethren, and finally, contrary to law, justice, and humanity, drove them from their habitations, who, houseless and homeless, had to wander on the bleak prairies till the children left the tracks of their blood on the prairie. This took place in the month of November, and they had no other covering but the canopy of heaven. In this inclement season of the year this proceeding was winked at by the government, and although we had warranty deeds for our land, and had violated no law, we could obtain no redress.

There were many sick who were thus inhumanly driven from their houses, and had to endure all this abuse and to seek homes where they could be found. The result was that a great many of them, being deprived of the comforts of life and the necessary attendances, died; many children were left orphans, wives [were left] widows, and husbands, widowers; our farms were taken possession of by the mob; many thousands of cattle, sheep, horses, and hogs were taken; and our household goods, store goods, and printing press and type were broken, taken, or otherwise destroyed.

Many of our brethren removed to Clay County, where they continued until 1836, three years; there was no violence offered but there were threatenings of violence. But in the summer of 1836 these threatenings began to assume a more serious form. From threats, public meetings were called, resolutions were passed, vengeance and destruction were threatened, and affairs again assumed a fearful attitude. Jackson County was a sufficient precedent, and as the authorities in that county did not interfere, they [the Clay County authorities] boasted that they would not [interfere] in this, which on application to the authorities, we found to be too true; and after much privation and loss of property, we were again driven from our homes.

We next settled in Caldwell and Daviess Counties, where we made large and extensive settlements, thinking to free ourselves from the power of oppression by settling in new counties with very few inhabitants in them. But here we were [also] not allowed to live in peace, but in 1838 we were again attacked by mobs, an exterminating order was issued by Governor Boggs, and under the sanction of law an organized banditti ranged through the country, robbed us of our cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., many of our people were murdered in cold blood, the chastity of our women was violated, and we were forced to sign away our property at the point of the sword. And after enduring every indignity that could be heaped upon us by an inhuman, ungodly band of marauders, from twelve to fifteen thousand souls, men, women, and children were driven from their own firesides, and from lands to which they had warrantee deeds—houseless, friendless, and homeless (in the depths of winter) to wander as exiles on the earth, or to seek an asylum in a more genial clime, and among a less barbarous people. Many sickened and died in consequence of the cold and hardships they had to endure. Many wives were left widows, and children [were left] orphans and destitute. It would take more time than is allotted me here to describe the injustice, the wrongs, the murders, the bloodshed, the theft, misery, and woe that have been caused by the barbarous, inhuman, and lawless proceedings of the state of Missouri.

In the situation before alluded to, we arrived in the state of Illinois in 1839, where we found a hospitable people and a friendly home, a people who were willing to be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have commenced to build a city called “Nauvoo” in Hancock County. We number from six to eight thousand here, besides vast numbers in the county around and in almost every county of the state. We have a city charter granted us and [a] charter for a [military] legion, the troops of which now number 1,500. We have also a charter for a university, for an agricultural and manufacturing society; [we] have our own laws and administrators and possess all the privileges that other free and enlightened citizens enjoy.

Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, but has only added fuel to the flame. It has spread with increasing rapidity. Proud of the cause which they have espoused and conscious of our innocence and of the truth of their system, amidst calumny and reproach, have the elders of this Church gone forth and planted the gospel in almost every state in the Union. It has penetrated our cities; it has spread over our villages and has caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and patriotic citizens to obey its divine mandates and be governed by its sacred truths. It has also spread into England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, where, in the year 1840, a few of our missionaries were sent, and over five thousand joined the Standard of Truth; there are numbers now joining in every land.

Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

[The Articles of Faith]

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on [of] hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Respectfully, etc.,
Joseph Smith

I`ve been wanting to post just a few quick thoughts about General Conference all week but simply haven`t had the time.  So briefly here they are:

Biannual Mormon World General Conference Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Dillon who correctly guessed the Concepcion Chile temple correctly. He won the book, “How Americans View Mormonism.`  I look forward to doing another contest and giveaway when April General Conference rolls around.

New Mormon Temples Announced!

I had hoped that a temple, maybe even two, would be announced but I was definitely not expecting another 5 temples to be announced. Wouldn`t it be nice if every year at the October General Conference 5 new temples were announced?   At the very least we have been spoiled to have it happen on consecutive years, last year it was Calgary, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Rome and Cordoba. This year: Fortaleza, Concepcion, Sapporo, Brigham City and Ft. Lauderdale! Very exciting stuff without a doubt.  There are lots of good resources here at Mormon World regarding these temples. I encourage you to take a look around. Especially read the comments section of the Philadelphia temple’s post…

Elder Holland`s Book of Mormon Talk

In my opinion this was far and away the best talk of the entire weekend, with all due respect to the other speakers and their prepared talks. I was riveted by Elder Holland`s Safety for the Soul talk. I have always loved Elder Holland and considered him one of my favorite speakers but this ranks very easily in the top 5 talks I have ever heard, if not my favorite of all time. What a powerful witness of the Book of Mormon. I can`t wait until there is some video from the Church so that I can post it on here.  I hope they make a Mormon Messages video out of that talk. Hopefully the people that make those videos are reading this and this will spur them on. I will post it here in a heartbeat once it is made.

New Mormon temples were announced in Brigham City Utah, Concepcion Chile, Ft. Lauderdale Florida, Sapporo Japan and Fortaleza Brazil  by Thomas S. Monson of the LDS Church. The announcements were made in the Saturday morning session of the LDS Church’s semi-annual General Conference. Listed below are links to articles, resources, and news releases about the announcement of these new temples as they become available. We’ll continue to update the links as more information is available so check back often!

How Many Mormon Temples in the World?

President Monson noted there are 130 operating temples, 16 announced or under construction and now 5 new temples.  The new temples means there are now 151 Mormon temples in the world at various stages of development/functionality.

Articles and Resources for all 5 new Mormon Temples

Five New Temples Announced – LDS Newsroom

To this point this is by far the best resource if you want to read about the new announcement of Mormon temples. The LDS Church released this very shortly after President Monson spoke and this news release is used by a lot  of the other articles as a resource.

Five New Temples Announced – LDS Church Growth

Though unofficial this article gives a good overview of the probable size of the distrcits that will be created by the new temples.  This means that each temple will serve members living in a geographic region. The author details how many stakes or districts will be assigned to each new temple.

LDS Church leader announces plan to build five new temples – Salt Lake Tribune

Five new LDS temples planned- Deseret News

Five new temples announced in morning session – Mormon Times

Mormon church to build 5 new temples worldwide – Yahoo News

More about 5 new locales for LDS Temples – Mormon Times

New Brigham City Utah Mormon Temple

Temple news thrills Brigham City Mormons – Salt Lake Tribune

This article highlights the fact that though Brigham City isn’t growing much, surrounding areas such as Garland and Tremonton are. The construction of the Brigham City temple will ease the load on the Ogden and Logan temples as they are the closest. It describes how currently the members living in the South of Box Elder county go to the Ogden Temple and the members in the North travel to the Logan temple. The size, location and boundaries of the temple are yet to be announced. It also mentions that “properties for the five new temples are under contract, still in negotiation or unsettled, because more than one site remains under consideration.” It mentions the possibility of transforming the Tabernacle in downtown Brigham City to a temple but then states that this probably won’t happen after the Church did something similiar in Vernal and it was very difficult and costly.  As a note of trivia, it mentions that Boyd K. Packer was born in Brigham City.

New Concepcion Chile Mormon Temple

New Ft. Lauderdale Florida  Mormon Temple

Mormons to build first temple in South Florida – The Miami Herald

The above article notes that the LDS Church already owns 8 properties in Broward county but 6 of them have buildings already.  Two of them are vacant: Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale, presumably the temple will go on one of these locations. The article describes how members will no longer have to drive to Orlando to go to a temple. There are approx. 130,000 members in Florida and the new temple will serve members in South Florida and the Bahamas.

Mormons plan Broward temple – Sun Sentinel

Though exact locations are not yet final this article quotes Tony Burns of the church’s “leadership council” that the Church is looking at a location in western Broward county. This will be Florida’s second temple after the Orlando Temple was built in 1994.

New Sapporo Japan Mormon Temple

New Fortaleza Brazil Mormon Temple