Welcome to a New Year, as we begin our journey into the Doctrine & Covenants. To be honest, this is going to be a learning year for me, as my knowledge of early Church History is somewhat limited, but I am excited to learn.

This week, we begin our journey into the Restoration as recorded in the Doctrine & Covenants. The Restoration in the context of LDS Church history refers to the re-establishment of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth, including the priesthood authority, covenants, ordinances, and truths necessary for salvation. This process began with the First Vision of Joseph Smith in 1820 and includes key events such as the translation of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of priesthood authority through angelic visitations, and the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830.

Etymology of the Word “Restoration”

The term “restoration” derives from the Latin root “restaurare”, meaning “to rebuild, renew, or restore.” Breaking it down further:

Re-: A prefix meaning “again” or “back.”
Staurare: From Latin, meaning “to build, erect, or establish.”
-ation: A suffix denoting the action or process of something.

In this sense, “restoration” implies the action of bringing something back to its original state or condition.

Ancient Linguistic Perspectives

From an ancient linguistic perspective, particularly in Hebrew, the components of the word “restoration” reveal layered meaning. For example:

Resh (ר): The Hebrew letter “resh” is often associated with the head or beginning, indicating a return to origins.
Torah (תּוֹרָה): Refers to divine instruction or law.
-ation (Action): While not a Hebrew suffix, its implication of a dynamic and active process adds an added temporal dimension.

Thus, one could interpret “restoration” as “the process of returning to the beginning of the Law or divine instruction.” This concept aligns with LDS theology, which teaches that the Restoration is about restoring not only ancient truths but also the authority and practices established by God from the beginning of humanity.

Significance to Latter-day Saints

The Restoration is deeply significant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because it embodies the fulfillment of prophecy and the renewal of direct communication with God. Some key reasons why the concept of restoration resonates include:

Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecies: Ancient prophets, such as Isaiah and Peter, spoke of a “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21). We believe this refers to the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days.
Reconnection to Divine Law: The Restoration is seen as a return to the pure and unaltered principles of God's law, as taught in the scriptures and through Jesus Christ, along with the sacred covenants and ordinances needed for salvation.
Restoration of Authority: Through angelic visitations, the priesthood authority lost after the Apostolic Age was restored to Joseph Smith, enabling valid ordinances such as baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and temple ordinances.
Universal Relevance: The Restoration is not just a localized or denominational event but a cosmic renewal of divine truths meant to bless all humanity. It aligns with the idea of preparing the earth for the Second Coming of Christ.
Covenantal Return: Restoration calls humanity to return to their covenantal relationship with God, symbolized in the temple and other ordinances that were practiced in ancient Israel.

Symbolic and Spiritual Implications

The idea of “returning to the beginning of the Law” resonates deeply in LDS thought. For example:

The Book of Mormon: Restores knowledge of Christ’s teachings in their purity and connects modern disciples to ancient covenants.
Temples: Represent a return to Eden, a sacred space where humans commune with God and learn divine law.
Doctrine and Covenants: Provides modern revelation to guide believers in living God's law in contemporary times. In fact, if we were to translate Doctrine and Covenants into Hebrew, it would be “תּוֹרָה וּבְרִיתוֹת” (Torah U'Britot). This is a return to the ancient Torah that was given to Moses on Siani.

In essence, the Restoration is not merely about recovering lost truths but is an ongoing, living process of bringing individuals and the world closer to their divine origin, heritage, and destiny. This resonates with the Hebrew understanding of repentance and renewal, often seen as a cyclical return to God and His eternal law

Additional Resources:

In this week's material, several videos are available to get us started on the right foot:

The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

About the Doctrine and Covenants

The Great Apostasy

Overview of Church History