LDSPriesthoodRestoration

[Music] From the beginning of time, God has given certain men on earth power and authority to act as his representatives and carry out his work. These men were chosen by God and ordained to his holy priesthood. [Music] The ancient prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Aaron were given this special priesthood authority, the authority to act in the name of God. [Music] Jesus Christ himself went to John to be baptized, for John held the priesthood authority to perform this holy ordinance. [Music] The Savior chose 12 apostles and gave them the priesthood which was necessary to perform their duties, saying, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you." After his crucifixion, this divine authority remained with his apostles. Peter, James, and John, having received the keys of the kingdom, became the head of Christ's church. But following the death of the apostles, there was an apostasy. This priesthood authority was lost and the world fell into spiritual darkness and confusion. Many churches evolved, each interpreting the scriptures and performing ordinances according to their own understanding, but without divine authority. Then in 1820, a 14-year-old boy, Joseph Smith, sought seclusion in a grove of trees that he might ask God which of all the many churches was right. His humble prayer was answered with a marvelous manifestation. God the Father and his son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph and told him that the church of Jesus Christ was not on the earth, but would be restored through him at a future time. [Music] As part of this restoration, a heavenly messenger delivered to Joseph an ancient scripture engraved on metal plates. It contained the teachings of the Savior to the early inhabitants of the Americas. From these plates, the Book of Mormon was translated. The Book of Mormon and the Bible stand together as witnesses that Jesus is the Christ. This is the story of the restoration of God's sacred priesthood authority and the return of the church of Jesus Christ to the earth. [Music] [Applause] Joseph. Joseph. >> Joseph. It's Samuel. >> In the spring of 1829, Joseph and his wife Emma welcomed to their home in Harmony, Pennsylvania, a school teacher by the name of Oliver Calry. He had been brought to harmony by Joseph's brother Samuel because he was anxious to meet the prophet. Joseph, who was at that time translating a portion of the Book of Mormon, was in need of a scribe. >> I obtained the plates from an angel of the Lord. They contain the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. >> And just how can I be of service to you? >> I'd like you to be my scribe. Oliver became convinced of the truthfulness and importance of Joseph's work and agreed to help him. >> And he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them, "On this wise shall ye baptize, and there shall be no disputations among you." He gave unto them the power to >> while translating the ancient record, Joseph came upon a passage in which the need for baptism for the remission of sins by one holding authority was mentioned. >> Yet the Lord tells us that we must be baptized for the remission of sins. >> Having a desire for further understanding of this important ordinance, he and Oliver decided to inquire of the Lord. [Music] While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light. I am your fellow servant. My name is John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament. And having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying, "Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels and of the gospel of repentance and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. And this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." He said this ironic priesthood had not the power of laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost but this should be conferred on us hereafter. He said that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the priesthood of Melkisedc which priesthood he said in due time would be conferred on us and that I should be the first elder of the church and Oliver Cry the second. [Music] And he commanded us to go and be baptized and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Calry and that afterwards he should baptize me. Oliver Calry, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. >> Amen. [Applause] Joseph Smith Jr. Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. [Music] Oliver Calry. >> After having received authority from John the Baptist and having been baptized for the remission of their sins, Joseph and Oliver then proceeded to ordain each other to the ironic priesthood as they had been commanded to do. of the ironic priesthood from Johnapt. >> The restoration of divine authority to the earth had begun. >> Joseph and Oliver now held the ironic priesthood which authorized them to baptize in the name of the Savior for the remission of sins. And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. They resumed their work of translation and patiently awaited the bestowal of the higher or Melkisedc priesthood. This sacred event took place in the banks of the Susuana River. Acting under the direction of Jesus Christ, Peter, James, and John conferred upon them the Melkisedc priesthood, ordaining them to the holy apostilhip to be special witnesses of the Savior. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Because of rising persecution in Harmony, Pennsylvania, Joseph and Oliver continued the translation of the Book of Mormon in the home of Peter Whitmer in Fet, New York. It was here Joseph and Oliver, aided by their friend and assistant David Whitmer, completed the task of translating the Book of Mormon and prepared the manuscript for the printer. [Music] The publication of the Book of Mormon increased Joseph's desire to use the priesthood authority he had been given to organize the Church of Jesus Christ. We had for some time made this matter a subject of humble prayer. We were told to wait until those baptized could assemble to give their common consent to the proceedings and accept Oliver and me as their spiritual teachers. >> Have us proceed. Oh father, I pray that thou would reveal thy will to me. Thy people need a church and an organization as thou has said to build upon Christ who is our cornerstone. How should we proceed, Father? What manner of church would thou have us establish? What then? In the spring of 1830, Joseph received important instructions from the Lord concerning the manner in which the church was to be organized. Joseph was also told on which date the meeting to organize the church was to be held. [Music] >> Hurry up. Children, the meeting is starting. [Music] Brothers and sisters, let us organize the church. The Lord has called us here today, April the 6th, 1830, to organize the church of Jesus Christ. [Music] The meeting opened with solemn prayer and the assembled brethren were then asked to accept Joseph and Oliver by common consent as their spiritual leaders. They were also asked to agree to the organization of the church as it had been revealed to Joseph. Oliver Calry in the name of Jesus Christ and by the >> then Joseph laid his hands upon Oliver Calvary and ordained him an elder of the church after which Oliver ordained Joseph to the same calling. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> In accordance with the laws of the state of New York, the church was organized with six original members. During the course of the day, those who had previously been baptized for the remission of sins were rebaptized to become members of Christ's church. And later, many others entered the water to receive this sacred ordinance, including Joseph's mother and father. Those who had been baptized were confirmed members of the newly organized church, and the gift of the Holy Ghost was bestowed upon them. Then acting under the guidance of the spirit, Joseph and Oliver ordained a number of brethren to various offices of the priesthood. [Music] While the church was still assembled, a revelation was received in which the Lord said to the prophet Joseph, >> "Behold, >> behold, there shall be a record. >> There shall be a record kept among you, and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church." And speaking to the church about their prophet, the Lord proclaimed, "Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments, which he shall give unto you, for his words ye shall receive as if from my own mouth. [Music] Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures below. Praise him above the heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost >> that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy son and witness unto thee, oh God, the eternal father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he has given them, that they may always have his spirit to be with them. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. And Joseph and Oliver administered the sacrament in remembrance of the Savior, and after partaking themselves, passed it to the congregation. The Lord's spirit was poured out upon them. Hallelujah. [Music] that they may witness unto thee, oh God, the eternal father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his spirit to be with them. Amen. >> Amen. [Music] Oh, [Music] we pray. [Music] We concluded the events of that day with the pleasing knowledge that we were now individually members of the church of Jesus Christ, organized in accordance with the commandments. ments and revelations given by him in these last days as well as according to the order of the church as recorded in the New Testament. [Music] And so today, this same priesthood authority continues, conferred upon millions of worthy men to administer the affairs of God's kingdom in the church, in the home, and in the world, to bless and enrich the lives of all mankind. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world.