His Only Begotten Son

    At around 1842 Joseph Smith received a request from a man named John Wentworth to send in an article that would describe the history of the church and a write up of the basic beliefs of this relatively new church so as a result we received what is called the 13 Articles of Faith. I know and believe that these articles are true and they represent the wonderful restoration of the fulness of truth here upon the earth. It truly is glorious. Over the next weeks or so I will be blogging specifically about each article of faith to help us all understand them. One of the things that is often times overlooked when it comes to Mormons is the very first and most fundamental of the 13 articles of Faith.
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
    One of the greatest truths that came forth as a result of the Restoration was this very knowledge. It is illustrated best by the first vision that Joseph Smith experience. He states,
    "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me... 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!"
    Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ did in fact appear to Joseph Smith as two distinct and seperate personages. I know this to be true because the Holy Ghost has testified of it to me.
    In Matthew 3:16-17, it is also very evident.
 "And Jesus, when he was ^abaptized, went up ^bstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the ^cSpirit of God descending like a ^ddove, and lighting upon him:

 And lo a ^avoice from heaven, saying, This is my ^bbeloved ^cSon, in whom I am well pleased."

   I do believe that God literally sent His Only Begotten Son into this world and that we can now listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, who is the Comforter who brings all truth to our remembrance.