Christ's Church: The Restoration

The Apostasy (the time when Christ's church was taken from the earth) continued into the 1800's. There was still major confusion about which church one should join because no one knew how to read or interpret the scriptures correctly, and per man's choice, the heavens were still closed (i.e. there was no communication between God and man). Churches that differed in doctrine each claimed that they had the proper authority to act in God's name and that they were the Lord's true church. It was no wonder that the confusion of the people during that time continued to mount. However, there was one young humble boy who simply decided to pray to God to find out which church was true. The boy received an answer from God that none of the churches at that time was the Lord's true church. None of them had the authority to act in the Lord's name. This young boy was prepared and eventually called to be a Prophet of God. The young boy's name was Joseph Smith.

So then how was Christ's Church restored?

(It is important to note here that restoration means putting things back they way they were before whereas reformation means to change things from the way they were before).

#1 With Joseph Smith, prophets and apostles were once again called to lead and guide the Church of Jesus Christ.

#2 This prophet (Joseph Smith) and the other apostles that were called, received the holy priesthood (the power/authority to act in God's name) through the resurrected beings of John the Baptist (the Aaronic Priesthood) and through Peter, James, and John (the Melchizedek Priesthood).

#3 With this authority, the prophet Joseph Smith and the apostles were now able to receive revelation.

#4 With this authority, the prophet and apostles were able to write their revelations into scripture as well as interpret correctly the scriptures already in existence.

Thus the four pillars of The Church of Jesus Christ were established once again, just as they had been in Christ's day. The church today is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The addition of "Latter-day Saints" simply acknowledges that the Apostasy occurred. It is still Christ's church; restored to the exact manner in which it was established while Christ walked the earth. It is Christ's church and Christ is at the head of it.