A young boy with some questions

A young boy, living in New York, had been taught from his youth to value God's word and the Holy Bible. During his 14th year, his family moved to a new town where there became some "unusual excitement" between preachers and pastors as they argued concerning the differences between their religious beliefs. He was confused, and was unsure which he should join. Seeking an answer to this dilemma, he was reading from the Bible when he came across a verse in James.  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5).  The 14 year old, named Joseph, wanted to know, and now he knew how to find out.  And so, on a lovely spring morning, in the woods near his home in Manchester, New York, young Joseph knelt to pray and ask God, as the scripture counseled. In that quiet grove, something miraculous and wonderous happened. Joseph felt a light rest upon him and looked up and saw, clear as day, "two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description," standing above him in the air. One of the Personages called Joseph by name, then pointed to the other and said -- "This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him."

Struggling to compose himself, Joseph asked which of all the sects was right for him to join. 

He received an unexpected answer. 

He was answered that he must join none of them. 

Now, as the boy went on with his life after such an extraordinary event, he began to tell others of his vision. Most mocked and laughed at him and the leaders of the local churches were particularly bothered by his lofty claims.  Joseph was quite surprised at how much attention they paid to him, being so young, albeit negative attention and constant persecution.

Three years passed and as Joseph prayed for forgiveness and guidance, an angel appeared in his room.

He told Joseph of a book that was engraved upon, a book of gold plates, and that his assignment would be to translate these plates into English.  Now Joseph was a farm boy, not highly educated, and I imagine this was incredibly overwhelming. He must have felt inadequate, to say the least. After the angel left, Joseph pondered deeply on the things he had seen and heard.  The angel revisited twice more, repeating the message. The next day, Joseph went to the top of the Hill Cumorah, which he had seen in a vision, and pried open the big rock he found.

Inside the rock, he witnessed for the first time the Golden Plates of which the angel had spoken, exactly in the spot he had seen in his vision. The plates were to remain there, however, until a time to be determined by the Lord, which ended up being four years later.  Each year, Joseph would return to the location of the Golden Plates and would receive instruction from the angel, whose name was Moroni. Finally, he was bidden that he should remove them and soon after the translation of the plates began, through a spiritual gift given by the Lord. The words written on these plates are available to us, today! They have translated and published into a book called The Book of Mormon.  And this book is available to all, at no cost.  It contains the word of God and is a fascinating book of an ancient people who populated the Americas before and after Christ was born.  It tells of Christ's ministry to these people, much like the New Testament tells of His ministry in Jerusalem. Which brings me back to my question.  If the Israelites had living prophets, shouldn't we, too?  Are we lesser than the people of old and do not deserve a messenger of the Lord to help us live, learn, progress and achieve great lives? We are not lesser and we do deserve such a prophet.  The boy Joseph, through tireless prayer, pondering and study, was commanded of the Lord to be such a messenger.  He brought back to the Earth what had been lost when the last of the Apostles died.  He restored the Holy Priesthood, as administered by Jesus Christ himself.  And he organized the Kingdom of God on earth, as Jesus himself commanded him.  He did not make it up.  No man could organize such a great house of order save God himself.  He did not create the stories in the Book of Mormon.  They are true...they happened right here in the American continents and Joseph suffered much persecution, and even death, to reestablish these truths that we might receive them and inherit the great blessing of the Lord's gospel, restored.  The church he reestablished is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and it has a living prophet as it's leader, with Jesus Christ himself the head of the Church. This is my testimony and my deep belief.  How can I know?  I followed the same counsel Joseph found in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God". I have read the Book of Mormon many times and each time I finish it, I follow this counsel, as well as the exhortation given by Moroni himself, as he finished his final writings which constitute the final book in the Book of Mormon, to do the following: (Moroni 10:3-4)

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I have received confirmation that this book is true.  My intent is to share these truths with all that will listen and open their hearts, that the blessings of heaven may be poured out upon you as they have for me, by your faith in God.  If you feel like something is missing in your life.  If you feel like things just cannot go your way or that you feel that God intends something greater for you, I urge you to obtain a copy of the Book of Mormon and read it.  Then decide for yourself, by asking God, if it is true.  You may find what you have been looking for.  You may find that missing link.  If you do so with true intent and an open heart, I promise that you will.  For I know that the Savior wants all men to have His word and it is my responsibility as one who has been blessed with it, to pass it on and share it with others.

For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, click HERE and click on the Free Book Of Mormon icon at the bottom of the page.  You can also obtain a free copy of the King James version of the Holy Bible.  The two books are companions and each book is a complement to the other.  Feel free to explore the entire website as it may answer some of your questions.