President Gordon B. Hinckley
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The doctrines and practices unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came through revelations from the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
The manifestation of God and his son, Jesus Christ, to the young prophet confirmed the nature of the Godhead.
"He simply says that God stood before him and spoke to him. Joseph could see him and could hear him. He was in the form like a man, a being of substance. Beside him was the resurrected Lord, a separate being, whom he introduced as His Beloved Son and with whom Joseph also spoke.
"I submit that in the short time of that remarkable vision, Joseph learned more concerning deity than all of the scholars and clerics of the past."
The validity of the church rests on the truth of Joseph Smith's vision.
The Book of Mormon came by the power of God as another witness of the Lord. In the past ten years, 51 million copies of the Book of Mormon have been distributed in 106 languages.
"As the Bible is the testament of the Old World, the Book of Mormon is the testament of the New. They go hand in hand in declaration of Jesus as the Son of the Father."
Priesthood authority was also restored to Joseph Smith as the authority to act in the name of God.
Revelations concerning the plan for eternal life and families and the innocence of children were also given to Joseph Smith. The eternal nature of man was revealed, as well as the process to serve in the temple on behalf of those who have died.
