Restoration Proclamation, Paragraph 1
To each of us in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, God promises, covenants, and invites us to come partake of His abundant joy and goodness. God’s love for all people is affirmed throughout scripture...In the household of faith there are to be no strangers, no foreigners, no rich and poor, no outside “others.” As “fellowcitizens with the saints,” we are invited to change the world for the better, from the inside out, one person, one family, one neighborhood at a time.
- Gerrit W. Gong, All Nations, Kindreds, and Tongues
Restoration Proclamation, Paragraphs 2-3
Pondering about the total religious confusion and church division of his time, this young man asked himself, “If any one of [these churches] be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?”. Why such confusion? The prophetic model was to ask of God.... direct revelation answered Joseph Smith’s question...In the following years, by revelation, [he] received full divine doctrinal knowledge and the authority and the keys of the priesthood. Joseph Smith qualified to be called the prophet of the Restoration in modern times.
- Charles Didier, The Message of the Restoration
The Lord Answers Questions from Inquiring Minds - LDS
Restoration Proclamation, Paragraph 4
In response to Joseph’s penitent and faithful prayer, Moroni, a heavenly messenger, appeared to him…The angel Moroni appeared to Joseph twice more during the night, then again in the field and on the hillside the next day, and then every year for the next four years on what we now know as Cumorah’s hill. That first day, Moroni repeated the same message over and over again…The Lord had Moroni teach a young prophet through repetition. Repetition ingrains gospel principles in our minds and hearts…Joseph Smith learned so much from Moroni.
- Susan W. Tanner, Glad Tidings from Cumorah
Restoration Proclamation, Paragraphs 5-6
I am an eyewitness to the ongoing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ…I testify today that I have observed this profound Restoration of the Savior’s gospel with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. I am a witness of God’s work across the world. There has never been a better time to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than today...You also know what I know because you have received your personal witness of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Brent H. Nielsen, A Record of What I Have Both Seen and Heard
Restoration Proclamation, Paragraphs 7-8
What was once only hoped for has now become history…I give thanks...for all we have been given in this last and greatest of all dispensations, the dispensation of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The gifts and blessings that flow from that gospel mean everything to me...I testify that the future is going to be as miracle-filled and bountifully blessed as the past has been. We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of Almighty God, this is the Church of continuing revelation...
- Jeffrey R. Holland, A Perfect Brightness of Hope
Restoration Proclamation, Paragraph 9
The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ began with an explosion of light and truth!…A veritable flood of divine revelation and blessings follow[ed]: new scripture, restored priesthood keys, apostles and prophets, ordinances and covenants, and the reestablishment of the Lord’s true and living Church...One of the great truths of the Restoration is that the heavens are open—that we too can receive light and knowledge from on high.
- Alexander Dushku, Pillars and Rays
The very first word in the Doctrine and Covenants is hearken. It means “to listen with the intent to obey.” To hearken means to “hear Him”—to hear what the Savior says and then to heed His counsel. In those two words—“Hear Him”—God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life. We are to hear the words of the Lord, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us…What will happen as you more intentionally hear, hearken, and heed what the Savior has said and what He is saying now through His prophets?
- President Russell M. Nelson, Hear Him
What does it mean to be a prophet?...In Hebrew, the word prophet means “one who announces or brings a message from God.”...What a comfort it is to know that the Lord keeps a channel of communication open to His children through the prophet. What a blessing it is to know we have a voice we can trust to declare the will of the Lord...We stand ready to heed his voice because we know he speaks for the Lord. May God bless us that we may follow him who has been called to be our prophet, seer, and revelator.
- L. Tom Perry, Heed the Prophet’s Voice
The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to help all of the children of God understand their potential and achieve their highest destiny...all of this is possible through the atonement of the Only Begotten of the Father, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...It is the reality of these glorious possibilities that causes us to proclaim our message of restored Christianity to all people...This is the faith that gives us strength and joy to confront the challenges of mortal life.
- President Dallin H Oaks, Apostasy and Restoration
The History of Latter-day Saints
We need not be timid about testifying of Joseph’s mission as prophet, seer, and revelator, for the Lord has always worked through prophets...We know about the great things Joseph accomplished as the Lord’s prophet...look at the great work the Lord has wrought by the hand of His servant Joseph, notwithstanding the opposition against him. Is not the fulfillment of this prophecy compelling evidence of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith?
- Craig C. Christensen, “A Choice Seer Will I Raise Up”
[I]t may be true that man is nothing in comparison to the greatness of the universe. At times we may even feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember—you matter to Him!... the Lord entrusts “the fulness of [His] gospel [to] be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world.” He has chosen “the weak things of the world [to] come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones” and to put to shame “the things which are mighty.”
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Matter to Him
Small and Simple Things - Dallin H Oaks
[W]e have seen and felt evidence that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is both true and living. The Lord spoke to those through whom He restored the Church in the latter days...Only in this Church has the Lord lodged the power to seal on earth and to seal in heaven as He did in the time of the Apostle Peter. Those keys were restored to Joseph Smith, who then was authorized to confer them upon the members of the Quorum of the Twelve.
- President Henry B. Eyring, The True and Living Church
Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration...He was the instrument in God’s hands in bringing forth sacred scripture, lost doctrine, and the restoration of the priesthood...Many of those who dismiss the work of the Restoration simply do not believe that heavenly beings speak to men on earth…A sincere inquirer should see the spreading of the restored gospel as the fruit of the Lord’s work through the Prophet.
- Neil L. Andersen, Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith the Prophet was the chosen instrument through which the Restoration took place. He was selected of the Lord before his birth to fill this most important mission...In the meridian of time, the Father sent his own Son to be born of a virgin mother in a lowly manger...When it was time to restore his gospel to prepare the world for the second coming of his Son, he again sent a baby boy to the home of a righteous father and mother...He was born of noble, God-fearing parents who loved the Lord...
- Rex C. Reeve, Joseph Smith, the Chosen Instrument
[T]he Lord will guide you by revelation…You must ask in faith for revelation to know what you are to do…Often the answers will come as you study the scriptures...They have doctrine in them which will apply in every time and every situation. Pondering the scriptures will lead you to ask the right questions in prayer. And just as surely as the heavens were opened to Joseph Smith after he pondered the scriptures in faith, God will answer your prayers and He will lead you by the hand.
- President Henry B. Eyring, Rise to Your Call
[W]e must have faith—to believe the Lord knows us, that He loves us, and that He will give us answers to our prayers. As Joseph Smith was reading the Bible, he...followed instructions and received an answer to his prayer. We will also receive answers to our prayers…To all, wherever you are... I urge you to bow your head or drop to your knees!...talk to the Lord, asking for comfort, direction, and understanding. As you open your mind and heart to feel the Spirit, the Lord in His own time and in His own way will give you the instructions which will bless your life.
- D. Rex Garrett, Follow the Instructions
Joseph Smith’s First Vision blesses our own personal lives, the lives of families, and eventually the whole human family—we come to believe in Jesus Christ through the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Prophets and apostles throughout the history of mankind have had divine manifestations similar to Joseph’s…I am grateful that early in my life I was blessed with a simple faith that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that he saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in a vision.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Fruits of the First Vision
When young Joseph Smith told the truth about his sacred experience in the grove, he was persecuted and mistreated. The adversary used ridicule as a weapon against him...Even today there are those who misunderstand our doctrine and challenge the unchanging values by which we are invited to live…Anxiety and fear of rejection are common among teenagers. Peer pressure is often overpowering…Are we willing to fight the unpopular battle?…As we follow Him, we will be able to make sacrifices and keep our sacred covenants.
- W. Craig Zwick, We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield
We can have exciting experiences as we learn about our vibrant, dynamic ancestors...It is a joy to become acquainted with our forebears who died long ago. Each of us has a fascinating family history. Finding your ancestors can be one of the most interesting puzzles you…can work on. Each of us has to begin this work somewhere, and it can be done by young or old.
- James E. Faust, The Phenomenon That Is You
Our Heavenly Father is anxious to gather and bless all of His family. While He knows that not all of them will choose to be gathered, His plan gives each of His children the opportunity to accept or reject His invitation. And families are at the heart of this plan…Elijah did come, and he gave to Joseph Smith the priesthood power to seal families eternally.
- President Henry B. Eyring, Gathering the Family of God
Which of us is not in need of the miracle of repentance? Whether your life is lightly blemished or heavily disfigured from mistakes, the principles of recovery are the same....When repentance is full and one has been cleansed, there comes a new vision of life and its glorious possibilities. How marvelous the promise of the Lord: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” The Lord is and ever will be faithful to His words.
- Richard G. Scott, Finding Forgiveness
[A]fter a sincere prayer, an angel appeared at Joseph’s bedside. The angel was a messenger sent from God, his name was Moroni, and he told Joseph that God had a work for him to do...Joseph did not say, "Oh no, Angel, I just wanted to know which church was true. I did not know I needed to do something!” But of course Joseph needed to do something. He had a special calling from the Lord.
- Julie B. Beck, A Work for Me to Do
[T]he Restoration added knowledge that Saints had anciently. The Lord provided a new book of scripture. To the Holy Bible, He added the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is a record of prophecies and the ministry of the resurrected Lord to the people of ancient America…The Restoration fulfills many biblical prophecies...the stick of Joseph (the Book of Mormon) and the stick of Judah (the Bible) would be as one in God’s hand have now been fulfilled.
- President Russell M. Nelson, Catch the Wave
Moroni Preserves the Record for the Latter Days | Moroni 10; Title Page
Why Did Moroni Quote Isaiah 11 To Joseph Smith? (Knowhy #50)
I wonder…what could be accomplished if we all…“had a mind to work.”…Think of how the kingdom of God would progress throughout the earth. Imagine how the world itself could be transformed for good if every [one] were to gird up his loins and live up to his true potential, converted in the depth of his soul…committed to building the kingdom of God.
The Lord is seeking…to enlist unfaltering souls who diligently go about the work of building the kingdom of God...
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down
A Great Work | Youth Music Festival 2021
Gathering Israel: President Nelson's Greatest Challenge