Joseph Smith and the Establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A singular American religion arose at the peak of the second great awakening and at its most intense location, the “burned over region” in central New York state. Here is how Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more described what occurred in this locale when he was a fourteen-year-old boy:

Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people. . . . I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father’s family was proselyted to the PresbyterianA religion controlled at the local level by an assembly of elders or selected representatives. See polity and presbyters. Mainstream of English Puritanism in the 17th century were Presbyterians who sought to revive the original form of church government based... more faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia.

During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; . . . but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.

While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: 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.

Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.

At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. . . . So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. . . . I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction . . . I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight.1

At first, Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more did not tell anyone about his experience.  A few days later he shared his experience with a Methodist minister and was surprised at his adverse reaction. He soon found that telling his story led to a great deal of prejudice and harassment. Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more was persecuted because his first vision challenged the very foundation of the Christian world of his day: particularly their understanding of the nature of God. Instead of a mysterious incomprehensible three-in-one essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more, with God the Father being a force without body, part or passions, Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more proclaimed that God the Father was indeed our Father in heaven, a personal being who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”2 Smith’s vision evidenced that Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more was a separate, distinct being from the Father, and each had their own physical body of flesh and bones. His insistence of the reality of his vision also attacked the secularOf the world in contrast to the divine. more world’s rejection of revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more in favor of reliance on human reason. Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more stood alone, challenging the preconceived ideas of the two competing forces of society in his day.

Four years later, Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more said that an angel appeared to him and revealed the location of a buried record of the former inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, which was written on gold plates. When he was twenty-one years old, he was allowed to retrieve this record and commenced translating it by the gift and power of God, with his wife and a schoolteacher named Oliver Cowdery acting as scribes. This translated record was published as the Book of Mormon, which his followers claim is a sacred text complementing the Bible.  The term Mormons was derived from the title of this book.

Unlike Christian mystics who often claimed that they had received visions of the Virgin MaryMary (born c. 18 B.C.) was a Galilean Jewish woman and mother of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus was conceived miraculously through the Holy Spirit while betrothed to Joseph. She has been venerated since early Christianity and is considered by... more or other divine apparitions, Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more repeatedly involved respected members of society as witnesses to participate in several significant metaphysical experiences. Among those, eleven witnesses testified that they had seen and handled the gold plates. Most of these witnesses later became disaffected with Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more, but all of them maintained the veracity of their experiences, and most of them later returned to full fellowship with the church he established.

Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more said that the Book of Mormon was written “to the convincing of the JewThis title comes from the Greek word Ioudaios, meaning “Judean” that was used in the New Testament to refer to the populous living in the region of Jerusalem. Very broadly this term refers to all of the descendents of the... more and Gentile that Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more is the ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations” and is another testament of Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more Christ’s divinity.

During the translation of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more and Oliver Cowdery came across references to baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more and decided to inquire of the Lord regarding it. In response to their prayers, John the BaptistJohn the Baptist (c. 1 B.C.–c. A.D. 30) was a Jewish preacher and prophet, Jesus’s cousin, he taught salvation through a coming messiah, and he used baptism as a major sacrament to symbolize the beginning of a person’s new life... more appeared to them as a resurrected being. He ordained them to the priesthood of Aaron and instructed them to baptize each other because none of the religious leaders of their day had God’s authority to baptize. That authority was lost as Jesus’ apostles were killed and did not transfer their keys of general supervision to successors. They claimed that the heavenly restoration continued.  A couple of months later, PeterPeter (c. A.D. 1–65) was a Jewish fisherman, chosen by Jesus to be one of his 12 Apostles. Peter was a critical witness to many events in Jesus’ life and took on a leadership role after the death of Jesus... more, James and JohnJohn (c. A.D. 6–100) was a Jewish fisherman, chosen by Jesus to be one of his 12 Apostles, and appears to have developed an especially close bond with Jesus. John outlived the other Apostles and heavily influenced early Christian thinkers... more ordained them to the higher or Melchizedek priesthood and restored apostolic authority.

A few years later, Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more and Oliver Cowdery recorded another visitation in which they saw the resurrected ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more and received authority (metaphorical keys of authority) from Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more, Elias, and Elijah.  These keys unlocked the windows of heaven so the work of gathering Israel, the re-establishment of the covenant of AbrahamAbraham (c. 1800 B.C.) The founding figure of the world’s three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is the first person in recorded history to introduce into a polytheistic world the concept of one true God, however the Bible... more, and the sealing power of temple work could proceed with divine authority.3 This emphasis on divine authority is reflected in the importance this religion places on covenants with God, made through ordinances such as baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more, and keeping those covenants throughout one’s life.

Members of The Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more of Jesus ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more of Latter-day Saints believe that God orchestrated the establishment of the United States of America, and its Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion, so the Lord would have a viable location to restore his church upon the Earth. They assert that this was necessary because all of Christianity had strayed from the pure and simple truths Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more taught, and through this widespread apostasy it had lost the authority of God to perform the saving ordinances (sacraments) he instituted. Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as “Mormon”). His followers considered him to be a prophet similar... more claimed that God called him to restore God’s kingdom on the earth, not just to reform the existing Christian traditions. He recorded the following revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more in 1831 regarding this point:

Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets … That faith also might increase in the earth; That mine everlasting covenant might be established; That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims that it is patterned after the original apostolic church, and teaches the fulness of the gospel, including many truths which were lost through apostasy, and that the authority to act on God’s behalf has been restored.

The Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more of Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more of Latter-day Saints follows a top-down structure (high churchIs a term originally used by Anglicans to describe Christian traditions that held a high or important view of the sacraments, which also typically a hierarchical polity, emphasized an educated ministry allowed religious art in their churches as opposed to... more), but few outsiders realize that this organized structure is balanced by a bottom-up (low churchRefers to Christian religions that do not believe in or have a low view of the sacraments and hierarchical order in the church in contrast with “high churches.” This was originally a term used by Anglicans to various forms of... more) approach which creates an active local lay ministry and an emphasis on personal revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more.

The Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more refers to their fundamental theology as the doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more of ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more, which consists of 1) faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more in the Lord Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more; 2) repentanceTurning away from sin and to God in hopes of obtaining forgiveness and is associated with a change of mind and heart.  more; 3) baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more by immersion for the remission of sins of those who are old enough and competent enough to consciously make a commitment to follow Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more; 4) receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands as part of the confirmationis a term derived from the Latin word for “strengthening,” and is one of the seven sacraments of Roman Catholic Church and of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In Catholicism and Orthodoxy this sacrament involves anointing with oil and the laying... more ordinance after baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more, and 5) enduring to the end, which involves increasing one’s sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit in order to receive spiritual guidance during one’s daily walk.

Like the Arminians, Latter-day Saints have a strong belief in free will. But unlike the Arminians, they reject the other five Calvinist doctrines detailed in the Synod of Dordtwas a conference of Dutch Reformed theologians held in A.D. 1619 to address Arminianism and formulated the five points of classic Calvinism, represented in the acronym TULIP: T = total depravity; U = unconditional election; L = limited atonement; I... more, as well as Augustine’s sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more paradigm involving original sinThe doctrine developed by Augustine in the late 4th century that all human beings inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin and deserve damnation from birth. This is more than simply being born with a corrupt sinful nature that later leads... more. They do not believe in predestinationThe Augustinian doctrine that God bestows the grace of salvation on some individuals while assigning others to hell, independent of human choice or actions. This concept was shared by Aquinas, Luther, and John Calvin, with Calvin emphasizing and expanding it... more or that ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more only died for a limited number of individuals. Instead of teaching the total depravityIs a Calvinist term for a doctrine they share with Lutherans that every aspect of human existence is corrupted by sin including free will. This does not mean that humans are pure evil but that the effect of original sin... more of the human race, they teach the opposite. Every single personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more born on this earth is a literal spirit son or daughter of God with a divine nature. We lived with our Father in Heaven before this world was created. God presented a plan for his children to develop their divine capacity to loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more and become more like him. This temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more world, with all its challenges, facilitates this growth and development. We shouted for joy at this opportunity, but Lucifer and a third of the host of heaven rebelled and were thrust out of heaven to become the devil and his angels who now seek to destroy mankind and make them miserable.

Latter-day Saints believe that the very idea of God condemning innocent, unbaptized infants is an abomination because God loves all his children and desires their well-being. That is why ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more died for all mankind. Unlike the theology of other Christian denominations, Latter-day Saints believe that while Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more was in the Garden of Gethsemane and hung on the crossWas an agonizing method used by the Roman Empire to execute slaves, rebels and others major offender to the order of the empire. In fulfillment of prophecy, this was the means by which Christ was crucified. Even though some early... more, he literally suffered all the pain of mankind, including sickness and abuse, so that all might come unto him and be healed. 4They believe that God “saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him,”5 and that after everyone repents, even after death, they will receive a level of joy and glory in heaven based on the type of personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more they have become.

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. (As opposed to the Trinity).
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. (No original sin).
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. (Even those without the law).
4. 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. (No sprinkling).
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. (Similar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox religions that do not believe in Luther’s priesthood of all believers).
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. (Belief in a restoration of God’s church).
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. (Spiritual gifts continue).
8. 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. (The cannon of scripture is not closed).
9. 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. (Revelation for mankind continues today).
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. 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.

• Matter Is Eternal and Divine: Joseph Smith rejected Plato’s dualistic view that eternal things are divine and temporal things are corrupt, which was adopted by Christianity. He replaced this dualistic perspective with a continuum. Smith taught that all things are spiritual to God, that the “pure principle of element” is eternal, and that our spirit actually consists of refined matter. He said that our spirits received more (are “added upon”) of this eternal essence when we obtained physical bodies, so the human soul consists collectively of one’s premortal spirit and their physical body.6
• Intelligent Design: Smith was arguably the first person to propose the concept of creation based on intelligent design instead of the two extremes of ex nihilo (out of nothing) or natural materialism (undirected physical creation). Joseph Smith insisted that God organized  the existing essence of matter to create the world.7
• Joseph Smith Rejected the Mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation: Smith rejected the creeds which turned God into an essence without body, parts, or passions. He asserted that God was an actual Being with a physical body glorified beyond description. He proclaimed that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and they were distinct beings with material bodies of flesh and bone, and the Holy Spirit is a personage with a spiritual body.8
• Human Premortal Existence as Sons and Daughters of God: Smith taught that individual human intelligence is eternal and did not just spring into existence sometime between conception and birth. He taught that we were spirit children of God and lived with him in a premortal realm before the world was created. As premortal spirits, we accepted God’s plan for us to obtain physical bodies and live in this temporal world so we could grow and become more like Him.9
• Jesus and the Devil were Premortal Human Spirits: Smith taught that Jesus was the first spirit child of God organized in this premortal realm. Lucifer was also a son of the morning, but he rebelled against God and was cast out along with other spirits who followed him to become the devil and his angels who tempt and torment us on earth.10
• Joseph Smith Rejected the Protestant Concept of Total Depravity of Man: Smith proclaimed that every human being is of divine origin as a spirit son or daughter of God before the earth was created. But because humans are born into a world full of sin, when they begin to grow up, sin conceives in their heart. This natural man becomes an enemy to God. Men and women are free to choose love, light, truth and goodness or sin, misery and death. People need to trust the spark of divinity within them, the light of Christ, that leads one to do good, act justly, and walk humbly in order to realize the joy found in unity with God and to inherit all that the Father has, which blessing God offers to all of his sons and daughters.11
• Unique Ideas Regarding Dispensations: Joseph Smith taught that throughout history God dispenses (reveals) eternal truth to all nations to the extent that they are willing to receive it. Periodically, God calls prophets as his authorized representatives to administer the ordinances of salvation to people who are ready to receive them. Smith did not subscribe to the concept of dispensationalism which was later proposed in the Scofield Bible.12
• Miracles and Gifts of the Spirit: Smith taught that miracles and gifts of the spirit will always be associated with true believers in Christ, but that Satan often imitates these miracles just as the Pharoah’s magicians did with Moses.13
• Rejected Augustine’s Sin Paradigm Based on Original Sin: Joseph Smith rejected Augustine’s sin paradigm. He rejected the idea of original sin. He declared that individuals would be punished for their own sins and not for Adam’s transgression.14
• Joseph Smith rejected Augustine’s idea of predestination and insisted Free Will Was Integral to God’s Plan: Smith taught that Jesus died for everyone and that free will is an essential element of God’s plan for our personal growth and development. However, Smith used the terms agency and free agency instead of free will. This corresponds with his doctrine that each individual becomes an agent of God and is accountable to Him for our use of the gift of life and our physical bodies.15
• We Are Not Immediately Consigned to Spend an Eternity in Heaven or Hell When We Die: Smith rejected the entrenched traditional Christian idea that our spirit is immediately consigned to heaven or hell when we die. Instead, he taught that there is an interim step: our spirits go to a spirit world divided into two parts, paradise and spirit prison. Joseph Smith rejected the traditional Christian dogma that everyone who does not accept Jesus and receive baptism in this life will go to hell to suffer for eternity. He taught that everyone will have an opportunity to repent and accept Christ, including those who never learned of him while they were alive. Unlike the traditional Christian concept that death is the end and our eternal destiny is set at death, Joseph Smith taught that the gospel is being preached to individuals in the afterlife. This doctrine ties in with the Latter-day Saints performing vicarious baptisms for their deceased ancestors in their temples.16 The deceased are able to accept or reject these baptismal ordinances, but all will be provided with an opportunity to receive baptism as required by the Bible.
• Multiple Levels of Heaven: Joseph Smith taught that there are three heavens or basic degrees of glory. Just as the sun, moon and stars vary in the intensity of the light they shine, so the glory and joy we receive after Judgment Day and our physical resurrection vary according to our choices. Eventually, everyone will repent, accept Christ and be saved in the appropriate level of heaven, except those few who reject Christ after they had received a firm witness of his divinity.17
• The Importance of Our Physical Resurrection: Human physical resurrection is not an afterthought but a critical component of how one obtains additional power and glory in heaven. The type of physical body we will receive in the resurrection will be based on the type of law we chose to follow in life.18
• Purpose of Existence: Smith taught that the purpose of life is not simply to go to heaven to see God, but it is to become like God. He taught that the telos Jesus referred to is not just a location but is an objective realized through developing our capacity to love.19 This is done by keeping the two great commandments to love God with all of one’s heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves.20 This is accomplished through reliance on God’s grace, making sacrifices and forgiving others.21 As we develop our divine natures, we increase our union with the eternal divine essence of love, and God lifts us up to enjoy the same type of life he has: eternal life.22 A subsequent president of the Church coined the couplet: “As man now is, God once was. As God now is, man may be.”23
• Eternal Marriage: Smith taught that marriages performed by the proper authority in the temple can continue into the eternities if the couple remains faithful. The eternal nature of marriage and families is an important aspect of LDS theology and daily life.24
• Polygamy: Smith questioned the Biblical practice of polygamy and wondered how God countenanced several Old Testament prophets and anointed leaders having multiple wives. In response, he said that God revealed that they did not sin except in those situations which were not authorized by God, and that this practice need to be reinstated. Joseph Smith reluctantly reintroduced the practice polygamy under strict conditions, including the approval of the existing wife and the presiding authority of the Church.25 The president of the Church terminated this practice in 1890.26
• The Canon of Scripture is Not Closed: Unlike the rest of Christendom, Joseph Smith proclaimed to the world that the heavens are open and God reveals his will to his chosen messengers today just as he did throughout biblical history.27
• Jesus Literally Felt All of Humanity’s Pain and Suffering: Smith taught that Christ’s suffering was not simply the pain inflicted on him by the Roman crucifiers. Rather, he literally felt the pain we inflict on each other. Jesus looked down through the ages of time and bore our grief, disappointments and all suffering.28
• The New and Everlasting Theory of Christ’s Atonement: These revolutionary ideas regarding Christ’s atonement culminate in a whole new theory regarding the atonement of Christ, which complements prior theories proposed by other Christian theologians. Joseph Smith taught that before we were born, we entered into a covenant with God whereby we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.29 Christ agreed to bear the sorrow caused by each of our wrongful acts as well as to heal our souls from the injury we receive from others. Consequently, when we sin, we are actually offending Christ. This is why we all are required to forgive while Christ will forgive whom he will.30 We all sold our claims for justice to Christ in exchange for his promise to forgive our sins and to heal our souls on the condition that we would accept and follow him. Everyone who has been born made this same agreement. The sorrow I inflict on another is covered, just as the hurt I receive from someone else is, until it all becomes one eternal round. The Lord’s infinite atonement brings comfort to the victim of sin while offering freedom from guilt to the repentant sinner, healing them both in the process.

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The Holiness Movement, Seventh-day Adventists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses