The Book of Avahr
The history of the Latter Day Saints, a collective of restorational Christian denominations, begins with the shared history found within the Book of Avahr.
A Broken Heart
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” -Psalms 34:18
When teaching the people he had gathered in the Americas, Jesus did away with the sacrificing of animals. He asked for something more personal when he told them, “ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 4:49 RAV, 9:20 OPV). But what does this mean?
Latter-day Saints’ Doctrine & Covenants 129
The instructions given by Joseph Smith Jr., as recorded by William Clayton February 9, 1843, are mirrored by the June 27, 1839 entry in Wilford Woodruff’s journals. Both are presented here.
New and Everlasting Covenant
The following is a revelation received by apostle of the Church of Christ, and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor received September, 1886. We ask members of the Fellowship to read this revelation prayerfully to determine if it should be added to the Fellowship Doctrine and Covenants.
Latter-day Saints’ Doctrine and Covenants 132
The following vision was received by Joseph Smith Jr. July 12, 1843 in Nauvoo, Illinois. From the diary of Joseph Smith Jr.: “Wednesday, July 12. Received a Revelation in the office in presence of Hyrum Smith, and William Clayton.”
Latter-day Saints Doctrine and Covenants 137
The following vision was received by Joseph Smith Jr. January 21, 1836 in Kirtland, Ohio, recorded in his September 1835–April 1836 journal on pages 135-139 in the handwriting of Warren Parrish. It was shortened and altered before being included in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Doctrine and Covenants.
1886 Revelation
The following is a revelation received by apostle of the Church of Christ, and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor.
A Council in Zion
A Revelation given at the French Farm, Kirtland Ohio in the presence of Joseph Smith Jr, Sidney Rigdon, Vinson Knight and George W. Robinson, January 12th. 1838. When inquiry was made of the Lord relative to the trial of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, for transgression, according to the item of law found in Doctrine and Covenants 107:82-84 in the Latter-day Saint edition, Section 104:37a-b in the Community of Christ edition, whether the decision of such a Council of one stake, shall be conclusive for Zion and her stakes.
What is the Church of Christ?
“Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.” – Jesus Christ (Avahr 17:39)
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Jesus Christ (Matthew 18: 20)
How do I Pray?
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” -Psalms 55:17
A prayer is a plea to God. The True Prayer is written in our hearts. When our hearts are pierced, we plea to God and he restores us. From here we may speak to God in the name of Christ. If you are new to prayer, that’s okay. Everyone has to have their first prayer vocal prayer, and Jesus taught us how to do it.
The Godhead
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father and Eternal Mother, and in the Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” -First Article of Faith
Whether one is a trinitarian or polytheistic, God is explained to us through the idea of multiple deity. In the Torah God is “Elohim,” Hebrew for “Gods.” With over 100 different Latter Day Saint/Mormon denominations, there are widely differing views of the nature of God. These range from the monotheism or the Trinitarian views given us by the Catholics, to ideas many find rather bizarre like the Adam-God theory. Here we will attempt a brief explanation of the Mormon Kabbalistic ideas of God by going over the variety and evolution of the Restored Gospel’s views on deity. There have been a number of changes in the nature of God in the original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1830-1844, and even more due to the wide range of denominations that now exist and have existed in the movement.