Who was Joseph Smith?

Joseph Smith was a young farmer chosen by God to find, translate and teach the contents of Book of Mormon.

The angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith in 1823 and told him that there was an ancient record of some of the inhabitants of the Americas that had been preserved on golden plates. The plates had been buried in a hill not far from the home of young Joseph. He was instructed to go to the hill, and was told that he would be permitted to obtain the plates after a four-year period. After he received the plates late in 1827, it was still some time before he could begin the work of translation. The translation was then carried out through the gift and power of God.

Latter-day Saints believe that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God through whom the Church of Jesus Christ was restored. We believe that God has always worked through prophets and apostles, leading his people and His Church through revelation - direct, clear, revelation to chosen leaders - not through committees, councils, or debate among scholars. When widespread apostasy occurs and prophets and apostles are rejected, there can be a loss of such gifts, until God restores them.

Why is baptism such a significant part of the gospel?
We believe that baptism is one of the steps required of us to follow Christ and allow ourselves to stand as witnesses of Christ, receiving the blessings he offers us if we do follow him. Christ was baptised by John the Baptist and he insisted that this was to 'fulfill all righteousness'. He set us the example and required that we must do the same (see John 3:22)

Can Mormons have more than one wife?
No, Latter-day Saints can presently be married to only one woman at a time. However, during the nineteenth-century, LDS men were allowed to marry more than one wife under certain conditions.
This was stopped soon thereafter and has never been practiced since.

Do you believe in the virgin birth?
Yes. We believe Mary, mother of Christ was a virgin at the time of Christ's birth.

Do you believe in hell?
Latter-day scriptures describe at least three senses of hell: (1) that condition of misery which may attend a person in mortality due to disobedience to divine law; (2) the miserable, but temporary, state of disobedient spirits in the spirit world awaiting the resurrection; (3) the permanent habitation of the sons of perdition, who suffer the second spiritual death and remain in hell even after the resurrection.