The Restoration of Christ's Church

The events necessary for the proper restoration of Christ’s Church in this dispensation occurred over a span of approximately a year from the spring of 1829 to the spring of 1830. Concurrent with these actions, the translated Book of Mormon was readied for printing and became a finished product in early 1830.

Seeking increased understanding on the subject of baptism that was mentioned in the records with which they were working, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery decided to approach God in prayer. On May 15, 1829, they selected a wooded spot near the banks of the Susquehanna River and offered up their prayers. In response to their supplications, John the Baptist appeared to them and by the laying on of hands conferred upon each of them the Aaronic Priesthood. He then instructed Joseph and Oliver to baptize each other, which they did. Further, John the Baptist informed them that he had taken this action under the direction of Peter, James, and John.

The restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood to the earth came in due course when this Priesthood was conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery through the laying on of hands by Peter, James, and John, the Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the Dispensation of the Meridian of Time.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830 in Fayette, New York in accordance with the laws of the State of New York governing such creations. Joseph Smith, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery were sustained as its leaders.

While many who were participants in this work of restoration provided their testimonies of the divinity and truthfulness of these actions, there are several instances that deserve special consideration. After the translation of The Book of Mormon was completed, the plates were shown to three witnesses by an angel. Their combined testimony was published to the world. Although all three of these men eventually fell out of harmony with Joseph Smith and the Lord’s Church, at no time did any one of the three recant his testimony of the Book’s truthfulness. Joseph Smith showed the plates to eight additional witnesses. They in turn testified in a common document that they had seen and handled the plates from which Joseph Smith translated the holy record.

Near the end of their lives, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were co-presidents of the restored Church, Hyrum having been called to the position of second Elder subsequent to the fall of Oliver Cowdery. On June 27, 1844 these two brothers were martyred in Carthage Jail at the hands of a mob thus sealing their testimonies of the truthfulness of the restoration of Christ’s Church, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Melchizedek Priesthood with their blood.