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Question

 

Dear Gramps,

Well you know how us members of the Mormon Church say our church is the only true church on the earth today. Well how come? How do we know it is the only true church and what evidence do we have to support it? If you could provide me with any information, I would most appreciate it. Sincerely,

Elissa

 

Answer

 

Dear Elissa,

You’re not the first one to ask that question. I would imagine that every sincere person would want to know which of all the many churches that worship the Savior would be His very church. In the early part of the last century that was a question that was hotly debated by ministers and congregations alike, each claiming to be the true church and each decrying those that were different.

It was in this environment that the boy, Joseph Smith, grew up. He had a burning desire to have that question answered for him. First, he went to the various churches to listen to their claims, then he read what he could in the bible about the subject, and through all this he could come to no definite conclusion as to which church was right. Finally, he went out into the woods where he would be alone, knelt down and poured out his soul to God, asking Him which of all the many churches was the one that he should join.

As I’m sure you know, in answer to his prayer God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared before him in a shaft of brilliant light. His experience there is recorded in his own words as follows:

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; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. (Joseph Smith History 1:18-20)

It is most interesting to consider that after this marvelous revelation from God, the various Christian churches greatly diminished their animosity towards one another and joined forces in attempting to combat the claims of Joseph Smith, that God had told him that none of the churches of that day were correct. That animosity continues to this day.

Withal, there is only one way to come to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church in the Christian world today, and that is to do just as Joseph Smith did–ask of God. The procedure given by Moroni to find out if the Book of Mormon is true extends far beyond that particular question. It is the procedure by which we can find all truth from God. Moroni counseled,

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:4-5)

 

Gramps

 

 

 

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