How did the Mormons begin?

Answer 1

The beginnings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) lie in a simple prayer given by a 14 year old boy, Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith lived in upstate New York at a time when different Christian religions were very active in trying to increase membership. Some of his family was attending a Presbyterian congregation, and others a Methodist congregation. He could not decide which one to attend, and so retired to the woods near his home to pray, with the intention of asking God which church he should join.

As he said his prayer, a light descended upon him, and within the light he saw two personages - God the Father and Jesus Christ. One of the personages addressed Joseph by name and said "This is my Beloved Son, hear Him!" The other personage told Joseph that he should not join any of the churches, and that the full truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had been lost from the earth. They explained that he would receive further instruction at a later date, and left.

Over the next decade, Joseph Smith recived visits from various angels and Biblical leaders, such as Moses, John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John the Revelator, who taught him the parts of the Gospel that had been lost and ordained him to the ancient Priesthood Authority. He also received direction as to where to find an ancient record engraved on metal plates near his home. This record was translated by the power of God into what is now called "The Book of Mormon." It was published in the early months of 1830.

On April 6, 1830, the first official worship service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held, with about 30 in attendance. Since that time, the Church has grown to nearly 14 million members worldwide.

You can learn more about this story of how the 'Mormons' came to be at the "Related Links" below.

Answer 2

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) began in response to a young boy's prayer. In 1820, Joseph Smith was 14 years old. He lived in an area of New York that was experiencing a huge religious revival. Some of his family had joined a Presbyterian Church, some were attending a Methodist Church, and his father had met a couple times with a Unitarian Church. Joseph wanted to join a church, but didn't know which one he should join.

After studying The Bible to find an answer, he came to James 1:5, which says that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God. Joseph went to the woods near his home to pray - to ask God which church he should join. As he began praying, he saw "a pillar of light... which descended gradually until it fell upon [him]." In that light he "saw two Personages." One of these called him by name and said, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him." Joseph asked these personages which church he should join. God the Father and Jesus Christ answered him by saying that he should "join none of them, for they were all wrong" and was told that he would receive further instruction later.

Throughout the next decade, Joseph was visited and taught by angels and Biblical prophets, who restored to him the full and pure Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as the authority to preach that Gospel. Moroni, a Book of Mormon prophet, showed him the place where ancient plates were buried. Joseph was able to translate these plates by the power of God, and they were published as the Book of Mormon. Following the publication of the Book of Mormon, the first official meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held on April 6, 1830.

You can learn more about this story at the "Related Links" below.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) began in upstate New York, near Palmyra, in 1830. The first official meeting came after ten years of preparation. Joseph Smith, Jr began receiving revelations and visitations from God the Father, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, and other Biblical characters in 1820. They restored to him the priesthood authority and doctrine that had been lost over the centuries, so that the true Christian Church could once again be on the earth.

Answer 3

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) began due to the visions of a young man named Joseph Smith, jr., whom they consider a prophet.

Joseph Smith was a teenager during the Second Great Awakening, and his family was caught up in the religious excitement. Some of his family had joined a Presbyterian church, some a Methodist church, and some were still undecided. He had the desire to join with a church but could not figure out which was true. After studying the Bible, he decided to follow the advise of James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..." So in the spring of 1820, Joseph went to the woods near his home to pray to God and ask which Church to join. As he began his prayer, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and explained that all churches had departed from the truth. Over the next ten years, he received various visitations and revelations giving him the authority and ability to restore true Biblical Christianity to the earth.

The Church was officially founded on April 6, 1830 in upstate New York.

You can learn more about the beginning of the Mormon church at the "Related Links" below.

Answer 4

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) believe that the church was founded by Jesus Christ during His mortal ministry, as found in the New Testament. Shortly after the death of the Apostles, true Christianity was lost from the earth.

After the world had remained in a darkened state of apostasy for over 1,000 years, the Great Awakening happened in New England. This time has been described as a 'period of great religious excitement'. Congregations and denominations were cropping up everywhere, claiming that they had the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith was a teenager in the area. Some of his family had joined with the Methodists, and others with the Presbyterians. He felt it was important to join a church but didn't know which one was true, as they could all defend their doctrines from the Bible although their doctrines opposed each other.

As he studied the Bible, he came across James 1:5 which says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..." Joseph decided to do just that - ask of God. He went to the woods near his home and began to pray to God to ask which church was correct. As he was praying, a light descended upon him and in it were two personages. One called Joseph by name and said, "This is my beloved Son, hear him." Jesus Christ then proceeded to explain to Joseph that His true gospel had been lost from the earth, and that he should join with no church. He then explained that Joseph would receive instruction and authority later in order to restore the true Church of Jesus Christ.

Over the next decade, Joseph was visited by various angels and by Jesus Christ himself. He was given the promised instruction and authority to restore true Christanity to the earth. The Church was officially organized on April 6, 1830.

Thus, Mormonism is a "Restorationist" Christian denomination. This means they believe that true Christanity had to be restored to the earth by Jesus Christ himself - not remodeled from the Catholic Church, as Protestants claim.

You can learn more about the beginnings of the Church and about their basic doctrines at the "Related Links" below.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) officially began on April 6, 1830 after about 10 years of preparation.

Answer 5

The beginning of Mormonism is rooted in a vision that Joseph Smith had when he was fourteen. At the time, he was living in upstate New York, which was in the middle of a religious revival. Some of his family had joined a Presbyterian church, and others were considering the Methodist and Baptist churches. He was confused at which church he should join and decided to consult the Bible for answers. He read James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not."

Joseph decided to do as the verse directed and ask of God. He went to the woods behind the family farm to pray, and as he was praying he "saw a pillar of light" in which he "saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description" These personages introduced themselves as God the Father and Jesus Christ. They told him not to join any of the churches because they had apostasized from the truth.

Later, he was visited by an angel named Moroni, who instructed him to where an ancient record was buried. Joseph translated this record into the Book of Mormon.

Joseph also received further visitations from various Biblical characters, such as Adam, Moses, Peter, James, and John. He also received revelations from Jesus Christ.

After about a decade of preparation, Joseph Smith officially organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, April 6, 1830. His family and several friends and neighbors were the initial members of the Church.

To read the official account written by Joseph Smith himself, or to learn more about the Church, visit the "Related Links" below.

Answer 6

In the spring of 1820, a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees near his home in Palmyra, New York, & prayed to learn which church he should join. In answer to his prayer, God the Father & His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him, just as heavenly beings had appeared to prophets like Moses & Paul in biblical times. Joseph learned that the Church originally organized by Jesus Christ was no longer on the earth.

Joseph Smith was chosen by God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. During the next 10 years, Joseph was visited by other heavenly messengers, translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God, & received divine authority to organize the Church. The Church was organized in Fayette, New York, on 6 April 1830, under the leadership of Joseph Smith. It has grown to an organization with members and congregations throughout the world.

Answer 7

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) believe that they are carrying on the same religion that is found in the Bible. For this reason, many Mormons will say that their church was founded by Jesus Christ. Some would say that it has been around since Adam, and others might say it has been around since Jesus Christ in the New Testament. However, assuming that you are speaking about the modern church, the Mormonism movement began early in 1820 with an earnest prayer by a young boy.

In 1820, Joseph Smith was a teenage boy living in upstate New York. His town was experiencing a religious revival, and many of his family had joined different churches in the community. Some had joined the Presbyterians, others the Methodists, the Baptists, and the Unitarians. Joseph wanted to join a church, but wasn't sure which to join. He sought direction from the Bible, and read in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…" Joseph decided to ask God. He went Into the Woods near his home to pray, and as he began to ask God which church to join, a bright light descended. In that light Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. They directed him not to join any church, and explained that true Christianity had been lost from the earth.

Throughout the next decade, Joseph was visited by several other heavenly visitors. An angel directed him to an ancient record buried in a hill near his home and helped him translate this record into the Book of Mormon. John the Baptist appeared to him and ordained him with the authority of the priesthood of Aaron. Peter, James, and John appeared to him and ordained him to the priesthood of Melchizedek. On April 6, 1830, the first official meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held. Joseph continued to receive direction and revelation from God about the doctrine and policies of the Church, and Mormons believe that their leaders continue to receive revelation today.

Check out the "Related Links" to learn more about the beginnings of the Mormon Church.

Answer 8

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (sometimes called the "Mormon" Church) was officially organized in Palmyra, New York on April 6, 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr.

Answer 9

juruselum. or however you spell it