Our Heritage: A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The central message of this book is the message declared by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning. Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this dispensation, taught:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

Every prophet who has succeeded Joseph Smith has added his personal witness of the divine mission of the Savior. The First Presidency affirmed:

“As those who are called and ordained to bear witness of Jesus Christ to all the world, we testify that He was resurrected on that Easter morning nearly two thousand years ago, and that He lives today. He has a glorified, immortal body of flesh and bones. He is the Savior, the Light and Life of the world.”

Millions of faithful Saints have also had testimonies of the divinity of Jesus Christ. This knowledge has motivated them to make the sacrifices necessary to build The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the kingdom of God on the earth. The story of the establishment of the Church is one of faith, consecration, and joy. It is the story of living prophets who taught the truths of God to the modern world. It is the story of men and women from all walks of life who sought for the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and, upon finding it, were willing to pay the price of becoming the Savior’s disciples. These stalwart Saints pressed on through sufferings and hardships, witnessing even in their darkest hours of the goodness of God and the joy of his love. They have left a legacy of faith, courage, obedience, and sacrifice.

The heritage of faith continues today. Latter-day Saints throughout the world are modern pioneers in their own homelands, where they live with faith and courage in a time fraught with new challenges and opportunities. There are pages of history yet to be written. We each have an opportunity to leave a heritage for generations to follow that will help them understand the joy of living and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we learn more about the faith of those who have gone before us, we can better understand those with whom we have joined hands in bearing witness of the Savior and helping to establish his kingdom. We can determine to live more righteously as faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genres: Religion, Lds, History, Church, Nonfiction, Mormonism, Lds Non Fiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Tiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite amazed at how gripping this book was to me. Its a very simple history of how the LDS church began, and follows the travels and movements of the early latter day saints. Unlike many religious books, this one does not focus on spiritual upliftment, but really is just a simple historical book of facts. With this said however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book filled me with a surprising sense of love for those around me and a broader understanding of the pure Christan gospel. I absolutely recommend this book to all.

[Ryan Ulen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do **NOT** read this biography of The Church of Latter-day Saints if you are looking for an impartial text. It reads as if the organization has put aside biases, but in fact this historical account is highly selective and glorified. For example, the book withholds from informing the reader about President Brigham Young's decision to ban African-ascended people from becoming priests, but especially remarks the 1978 "Official Declaration 2" that reverses Young's decision. I only added a star because the Church's visionary practices, like caring for God's natural creation, is pleasant to think about despite it being shadowed by the Church's prejudicial practices.

[Elijah Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long appreciated what the early Saints sacrificed for me, but studying the early Saints again through Our Heritage: A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has caused me to come to an even deeper realization of how little I do for the Church compared to how much the Church does for me. The Church is able to serve us, and we are able to serve God because of these Saints, who with faith without measure, served the Church in ways that deep down I would have to question myself upon my ability to do such things. For these Saints left recently settled and married wives and born children to serve the Lord in lands far away, for many years. I have had the question many times come to me in reading this: could I have done it? Deep down I don't honestly know right now if I could leave my wife for so long in such uncertain circumstances. This just goes to show that the ancestors of our Church were true spiritual giants, and we are so very blessed to be able to study their example. I'm rating this book five stars because this example inspires me to truly look within myself and my life to see where I need to change, and act with more faith. For I give so little, compared to what my Father in Heaven has given me, and that is true for all people.

[Ketlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Leitura da época em que eu era um membro ativo da igreja mórmon. De certa forma, ler as obras da igreja e de seus membros influentes apenas me ajudaram a abandonar não só a religião, como a crença em um deus.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview. Wanted to read it before conference.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful concise overview of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, beginning with Joseph Smith's experience in 1820 that led to the Restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course there is much more to every story and many more stories to tell, but this book really helped me gain a deeper appreciation for those faithful prophets and saints who came before. Their examples of faith in the midst of adversity and persecution strenghten my faith and testimony in the Savior and His gospel and His Church and my desire to help move His work forward.

As Joseph Smith prophesied in 1842: "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done" (page 146).

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, I tried to wait and read it with the class, but wanted to get it over with. It was a very informative read, but I I think that it still is vary basic. A lot of the info I'm skeptical about after my Utah history class that tore those Mormon myths to pieces. Especially the frozen river, the crickets, and the plentifulness of the SLC valley. I think it's good for people with a limited knowledge of the history of the church. I liked the random facts and stories about the presidents and the growth of the church. I liked it, I did not really like it nor did I think it was amazing.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides an excellent account of the establishment, growth and progress of the LDS Church since its inception in the last dispensation up through the administration of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

[Rodeweeks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this book was, for me, more boring than South African mining history. It got a bit better later on especially towards the end where the various presidents were discussed (in the meantime, after the end of the book, there has been two presidents of the church), but it remains obviously biased. However, the LDS church is one of the most interesting developments in Christian history. One of the things I found most interesting in the book was the development of the Doctrines and Covenants. Another is that the president of the church is seen as not only a prophet and apostle but also as the high priest and the office of president is seen as holy. My last thought was this - though I regularly read the Book of Mormon and are skeptical about the historicity (I prefer to look at it as mystical and symbolic), I always heard people say that the disciples of Jesus would not have let themselves been killed for a lie such as stealing the body of Jesus and pretending that He rose from the death. Could the same argument not be made about Prophet Joseph Smith and those who were martyred with him? Why would they be willing to go through the kind of hardships they did and be killed in the end for something that is false?

[Trajano Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acabei de ler o livro Nosso Legado, mais uma vez. Senti um doce espírito ao relembrar eventos importantes da história da Igreja. Porem, nos últimos capítulos, o testemunho dos profetas me tocou profundamente. Eu copiei aqui para lembrar desses ensinamentos durante este mês de junho que está para iniciar. Acrescentei a minha citação favorita do Presidente Benson.

"O Presidente Lorenzo Snow refletiu e orou para ser orientado a respeito de como livrar a Igreja das dívidas que a enfraqueciam. Ele recebera uma revelação. Ele sentiu-se inspirado."

"O Presidente Heber J. Grant acreditava firmemente na auto-suficiência, na dependência do Senhor e em seu próprio trabalho, não no do governo, e abençoou muitas pessoas necessitadas com o dinheiro que ganhou."

“O objetivo do Plano de Bem-Estar a longo prazo é o fortalecimento do caráter dos membros da Igreja, tanto de quem dá como de quem recebe, resgatando o que há de melhor em cada um e fazendo florescer e frutificar as riquezas latentes do espírito”. (Presidente J. Reuben Clark Jr.)

“Posso dizer a vocês, irmãos e irmãs, as pessoas mais felizes do mundo são aquelas que amam seu próximo como a si mesmas e mostram, por sua conduta na vida, o quanto apreciam as bênçãos de Deus “. (Presidente George Albert Smith)

“Não existe cura para os males do mundo a não ser o evangelho do Senhor Jesus Cristo. Nossa esperança de paz, de prosperidade espiritual e material, e de uma herança final no reino de Deus pode ser encontrada apenas no evangelho restaurado e é conseguida somente através dele. Não existe qualquer obra em que nos possamos engajar, que seja tão importante como pregar o evangelho e edificar a Igreja e o reino de Deus na Terra”. (Presidente Joseph Fielding Smith)

“Guardem os mandamentos de Deus. Neles está a salvação de indivíduos e nações nestes tempos conturbados” (Presidente Harold B. Lee)

“O Senhor opera de dentro para fora. O mundo opera de fora para dentro. O mundo procura tirar as pessoas da miséria das favelas. Cristo tira a miséria das pessoas e, então, elas mesmas se livram das favelas. O mundo procura moldar os homens modificando o ambiente em que eles vivem. Cristo modifica os homens, que então transformam seu ambiente. O mundo procura moldar o comportamento humano; Cristo, porém, consegue mudar a natureza humana. Sim, Cristo muda o homem, e os homens transformados podem mudar o mundo”. (Presdiente Ezra Taft Benson)

“Se tiverdes problemas em casa com filhos rebeldes, se sofrerdes reveses financeiros e tensão emocional que ameacem vosso lar e vossa felicidade, se tiverdes que encarar a perda de uma vida ou da saúde, que paz seja com vossa alma. Não seremos tentados acima da nossa capacidade de resistir. Nossas digressões e desapontamentos são o caminho estreito e apertado que conduz ao Senhor” (Presidente Howard W. Hunter)

"Damos nossa contribuição de diferentes maneiras no mundo inteiro, realizando fielmente a obra do Senhor." (Nosso Legado)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fine read about the history of the church from the beginning through about 1996, but it’s severely biased, obviously. Tries as hard as it can to skip over polygamy, the fact that African American church members couldn’t hold the priesthood, and that “ marriage is solely between a man and a woman.” Also paints Joseph Smith as a blameless martyr for all the times he had been imprisoned when in reality there were some very legit reasons to imprison him when he did a lot of very illegal things. I think the church would do well in today’s day and age to accept a more truthful and complete version of their history (all the good AND bad) and not try to focus on burying it all and instead just say they learned from their mistakes and move on.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the history of any religion, I find facisnating. Beliefs, churches, doctrines, gospels and more make up the foundation of many a person's life.

I found this book a great "introduction" for the History of Mormonism or better, The Church of Jesud Christ. It is packed with stories of faith and facts of some of the great persecutions and accomplishments by the Church.

The book has many works cited for further research, which is a bonus.

All in all a great introductory work about the history of the church, especially if you plan to dive deeper into the various topics presented.

[Stephen Greco · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick and easy read about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I would recommend that every member of the LDS faith read this book and anyone who is just curious about the LDS faith and our beliefs read this book. Very easy to understand. Quick read. Well worth the time.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read. I didn't realise this group of people had battled so much to establish their religion in the early years. I wonder why it hasn't made them more tolerant as a religious group. Not much to be said on polygamy either.
The LDS fascinates me and always has long before I met a good friend who is a Mormon.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the first year I have read this book through, and I'm so glad I did. For such a small book, it really is a very good history of the Church, with a good mixture of overview and detaill

[Jonathan Inman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful stories. Often, the vantage tries to stay unbiased, but not always. When some controversial topics came up, details were avoided though question naturally would rise.
But mostly, overall, it was very informative and inspiring.

[Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just fun to read and get a brief history of the church in chronological order.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a great companion book for this year's study of the Doctrine and Covenants in Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class.

[Wanyou Israel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the church history

[Trevor Wolfe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely nauseating.

[Susan Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great straightforward, basic, and quick read for learning the basic history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emphasizes the sense of sacrifice and devotion on the part of earlier Saints andd their leaders.

[David Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, concise book of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The book had a couple stories that I had known about in Church History. Fun stuff to read.

[Fábio Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly inspiring.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise. To the point. A good resource for anyone who wants to understand the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints.

[Cash Allred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as a missionary. Good overview but not nearly as good as Saints 1 and Saints 2.

[Roberto Galindo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super well condensed summary. Images looked photocopied, pretty low quality. Good sunday read, loved it.

[Rolshanne Stoever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um dos melhores livros que eu já tive o prazer de ler em toda a minha vida.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent summary of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Written in an easy to understand style.

[Daniel]

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