Ad Fontes and the Restoration
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was founded on the theme of “Ad Fontes” which means “going back to the sources.” Joseph Smith Jr was born on December 23, 1805 during a time of great religious contention. Joseph Smith Jr was confused about which church was the true church ordained by God. He didn’t know what to do. One day he was listening to a sermon when the pastor quoted James 1:5. It reads, “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.” Joseph Smith Jr went home, read the verse again, and felt inspired. He took it to heart and went to a grove of trees near his house to pray. Before he began to pray, and a darkness overwhelmed him. He couldn’t speak. Joseph prayed even harder and asked God what church he should join.
The darkness disappeared immediately, and a pillar of light came down upon Joseph Smith Jr. God came down from heaven with Jesus Christ and said to Joseph Smith, “This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!” Joseph Smith then asked which of the churches he should join. Jesus Christ answered “Join none of them… None of them do any good.” After that God and Jesus Christ ascended back to heaven.
Joseph Smith was confused about which church was correct, so he prayed about it. He went straight to the source, which in Christian churches is God. Just like much of the Renaissance was focused on looking back of the Roman and Greek art and ideas. Joseph Smith Jr was looking back to the source of Christian religion. The Renaissance was a rebirth of ideas, art, and a new way of life. Renaissance thinkers were basing their thought on neoclassic beliefs. This way of thinking launched them into a huge scientific world. Joseph Smith Jr did the same thing, he took a step back from religion, then he got the revelation that none of the churches were true and he would help God restore the true church on the earth. Renaissance thinkers restored value in the human, reverting back to the way the Romans and Greeks the same way Joseph Smith Jr restored the gospel of the church before Jesus Christ died.
Sources: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1/01-ask-in-faith?lang=eng
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/images/the-first-vision-82823?lang=eng
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