If you are sincerely interested in the truth, then have a prayer before you read any of my writings in answers to these questions . . . ask your Heavenly Father to let you know if what you are reading is true; because only God knows all truth. And, should you feel that it is . . . then, find the missionaries near you, or call or stop by your local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; or write to me, and I'll send missionaries to you.

 

ANSWER:

 

In the year 1820 on the East Coast of the United States in the town of Manchester in the state of New York, there was a great religious excitement about the area from a number of religions. Joseph Smith—then 14 years old—was from a family of 11 children. His father, mother and brothers and sisters attended various revivals . . . some fancying one religion while others of the family tending toward another.

 

Little Joseph wondered in his own mind, which of all these faiths are true? He pondered in his mind in question which of all of them to believe? Then, one day he was reading in the New Testament in the Book of James, Chapter 1, verse 5, and it read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

So, Joseph, after much thought, decided to go and pray and ask God, like the scripture said. He went to a grove of trees near his home and prayed to learn what to do . . . which church to join. To his astonishment, a light appeared above him in the air, and two personages descended to come to be before him. One pointed to the other and said, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.”

 

Joseph saw the Father and the Son; two separate and distinct beings of flesh and bone who told him to join none of the churches; for they were all wrong, who taught for commandments the precepts of men, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. He was told that he would be an instrument in bringing to pass the restored Gospel with twelve Apostles and all the authority necessary to again establish the church of Jesus Christ upon the earth again in these last days.

 

That’s were the name of Joseph Smith came to be affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.