The irony is that supposed Church history has weakened your faith, yet studying that church history has strengthened mine and filled me with a greater desire to improve and become better.
Learning about these people. learning their struggles, their desire to do good, their faith, and their willingness to follow the prophet even when obedience brought trials and hardship inspires me. Despite immense suffering, so many of them still had faith and they witnessed than hand of God in their lives in so many ways.
Those who knew Joseph Smith best believed he was a prophet. They knew he was inspired and that he could not have produced the Book of Mormon on his own—it came by the power and influence of God.
There were countless visions, spiritual manifestations, healings, and miracles in the early days of the Church. Either these people were telling the truth, or they were not. Because their stories uplift me, bring the Spirit, and testify of Christ, I believe they were true. Their fruits were good, and their works drew them—and me—closer to Jesus Christ.
When studying Church history, it’s essential to use trustworthy sources. Are the materials we read leading us toward light and truth, or pulling us into doubt, darkness, and despair?
In this category I will share insights and faith promoting experiences I find through my study of Church History.
The First Vision is perhaps the most miraculous and spectacular event of the last days. That God would again reveal himself to man shows the love of God, the fulfillment of his plan, and clarifies misunderstandings of doctrine that developed when the original apostles were killed, creeds were formed, and Christianity merged with Roman governance … Read more
For many, the most controversial doctrine in the Church is polygamy. What anti-Mormons and those estranged from the Church try to make us assume is that Joseph Smith was a sex-crazed pervert and pedophile who tried to use his power to manipulate women and justify immoral relations with them. And because of this lust crazed … Read more
Before we can fully understand modern criticisms of the Church, whether it is the CES Letter, the Letter For My Wife, or Instagram reels, we need to understand where these criticisms actually come from. Very few of these arguments are original. They have a clear origin, and once you understand it, the credibility of these … Read more
Amanda Barnes Smith was an early member of the Church who lived in Kirtland. After the fall of the Kirtland Safety Society and the apostasy in Kirtland, the faithful Saints went to gather in Missouri because they were trying to follow the Prophet. On their way to Far West, they were harassed by a Missouri … Read more