Joseph Smith Story (found at www.lds.org)
Click Here for
Complete Story
As a boy, Joseph Smith was surrounded by various churches which each
claimed to teach the truth. This caused him much serious reflection.
He wanted to know which church was right. One day he read a passage
in the Bible which says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him” (James 1:5). Joseph decided to accept the
invitation to ask God.
In the spring of 1820, Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home
and prayed to learn which church he should join. In answer to his prayer,
Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him. Joseph wrote:
“When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness
and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of
them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This
is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” Joseph was told to join none of
the churches that existed at that time.
Joseph Smith’s First Vision marked the beginning of the Restoration
of Jesus Christ’s Church to the earth.
See his complete story at www.lds.org or Click
Here
Should we expect visitations
of angels in our time? By Dr Williams
On the matter of experiencing angels, it is probably wiser to speak
more of their presence than of their visitation. There were indeed visitations
in biblical times, and they surely may occur at any time again. But
in the Scriptures the emphasis for the believer rests mainly on the
continuing presence of angels. We have observed this in statements about
the angels encamping around and guarding believers (Psalms 91:11-12),
about believers having angels who constantly behold the face of God
(Matthew 18:10), about the worship experience in which angels are present
in festal and joyous assembly (Hebrews 12:32), and so on. This is a
matter largely of their unseen but very real presence. The emphasis
is wrongly placed when the focus is on angelic visitation; indeed, expecting,
looking for, or hoping for such visitors is nowhere encouraged in God's
Word. We are rather to pray for and expect, especially in our day, a
greater visitation of the Holy Spirit (that's where the action is!).
And, as far as angels are concerned, we may rejoice in their invisible
but continuing providential presence. (See Renewal Theology: 1, chapter
8, "Angels.")
See this and other information at: http://cbn.org/SpiritualLife/drwilliams/old/QA_Angels01.asp
All Lines of Angels