Restoration of All Times!
- April Tribe Giauque
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
Elder Bednar
Written by April T Giauque
One hundred ninety-five years ago, on April 6, 1830, the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized. There are four key parts to Christ and the restoration of all things:
To know and understand the Nature and power of God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost
Book of Mormon
Restoration of the Priesthood (God’s Authority)
The Nature of God
Ten years before that, Joseph Smith had a desire and a question about which church to join, and as he knelt in prayer, he beheld a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. Joseph prayed to know what was right so he could do what was right. Joseph asked in faith and was determined to act in accordance with the answers he received. They instructed him that he would “restore all things.”
From this vision, Elder Bednar declares, “Joseph Smith learned the vital lessons about the attributes, character, and perfections of the Godhead—and that the Father and the Son are separate and distinct Beings. Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God in spirit and in the flesh.”
Elder Bednar testifies that “The visitation of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith was the initiating event in the grand ‘restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began.’”
The Book of Mormon
An integral part of the restoration was the coming forth, transition, and printing of the Book of Mormon; another Testament of Jesus Christ. The book witnesses that Christ visited other “flocks,” and Elder Bednar testifies that, “[The Book of Mormon] teaches of life’s purpose and explains the doctrine of Christ, which is central to that purpose. As a companion scripture to the Bible, the Book of Mormon restores plain and precious truths that were lost from the Bible. It testifies that all human beings are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven, that He has a divine plan for our lives, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, speaks today as well as in days of old.”
The Restoration of the Priesthood
The Savior fulfilled the Old Testament Law of Moses when He was born, preached, established the church, was crucified, and was resurrected. He ordained his apostles with His power, the priesthood, to go out and preach the “good news” to the world. They did, until they were all killed, and the authority was taken from the earth. Jesus Christ needed to restore His church on earth, and He did that through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Elder Bednar points out that “Priesthood authority allows God’s servants to 'represent [Him] and act in His name.’ Priesthood keys are the authority to direct the use of the priesthood on behalf of God’s children.”
With the restoration of the keys of the priesthood through resurrected beings, such as John the Baptist, comes the authority to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins. Peter, James, and John restored the apostleship and additional priesthood authority and keys.”
Six years after the Church was established, in the Kirtland Temple, Moses, Elias, and Elijah committed to Joseph the additional authority necessary to accomplish God’s work in the latter days. Specifically:
Moses committed the keys of the Israelite gathering.
Elias committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, including the restoration of the Abrahamic covenant.
Elijah committed the keys of the sealing power, providing the authority that allows ordinances performed on earth to be binding in eternity, such as joining families together in eternal relationships that transcend death.
Jesus Christ called all of this to happen, and Elder Bednar said,
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints … is Christ’s New Testament Church restored. This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection. Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority. He invites all of us to come unto Him and His Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, the ordinances of salvation, and to gain enduring joy.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church that the Old Testament prophet, Daniel, interpreted a dream about a stone that would be cut out of a mountain without hands and fill the entire earth.
The Savior’s restored Church is the instrument by which God will “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” Elder Bednar said, “In this greatest and last of all gospel dispensations, ‘a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time.’”
Some of you reading this might have heard of a few things, you may have done tons of Google searches and have asked other people about the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and thought that we were a cult or strange or worship the “wrong Jesus.” I’ve heard so many different things about my beliefs, it is crazy.
Here is the best part about Elder Bednar’s talk. He invites all to PROVE these things! If you are ready to want to know for yourself if the Chruch of Jesus Christ has been fully restored and is the true church, “I invite all to learn about and prove this message. I promise that individuals ‘who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed [through the power of the Holy Ghost] to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.’”
Elder Bednar gives his full witness and testimony, “And I joyfully witness that the Father and the Son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, thus initiating the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and contains the word of God. Priesthood authority to represent the Savior and act in His name again is found on the earth. And The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ’s New Testament Church restored.”
I know this is true. I have put it to the test. I encourage everyone to do the same, and if you have a sincere open heart to know the truth, you will be touched by God, I promise!
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