Close your eyes and bring your attention to your body. Whatever position you are in right now, make sure your body feels relaxed and supported. Relax the muscles in your face, jaw, neck, and shoulders. Now your arms, hands, torso, legs, and feet. 

Take a few deep breaths. As you breathe in, imagine drawing peace, calm, humility, and openness into your body and mind. As you breathe out, imagine expelling tension, negativity, pride, and stress from your body and mind.

In this state of calm and receptiveness, take a moment to say a prayer that your mind will be guided to any revelation the Lord has for you today as you ponder. 

As your breathing returns to normal, turn your thoughts and attention to the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I share teachings about this topic, allow your thoughts and the Spirit to guide you. Don’t worry about focusing on every quote or question I share.

In April 2020, President Russell M. Nelson issued a proclamation to the world regarding the Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to mark the 200-year anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision.

He explained that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles decided to write a declaration to commemorate this anniversary, because they “felt impressed to create a monument not of granite or stone but of words … , not to be carved in ‘tables of stone’ but rather to be etched in the ‘fleshy tables’ of our hearts [2 Corinthians 3:3]” (“Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 90).

Six years before this proclamation was released, Deter F. Uchtdorf used the ninth Article of Faith to explain that although we sometimes “think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us . . . In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes ‘all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,’ and the ‘many great and important things’ that ‘He will yet reveal.’” (Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 59 (quoting Article of Faith 1:9).)

In order to better study and understand the Restoration Proclamation, consider thinking of a question to focus on as you listen to the words. Maybe you have a question of your own you’d like to ponder. If not, here are some ideas. You could ponder:

• What is my testimony of the Restoration? How have I come to gain that testimony?

• Why does the Restoration matter to me?

• Are these words etched in the “fleshy tables” of my heart?

• How is the Restoration ongoing today?

• How do I participate in the Restoration today?

• How has the gospel been restored in my life?

As I read the Restoration Proclamation, use the silence in between the paragraphs to ponder your chosen focus question, or to ponder any lines or words or concepts that stand out to you. Feel free to ignore me if I move on too quickly and you want to consider something a little longer. You can always listen again later and ponder anything you missed.

THE RESTORATION OF THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

A BICENTENNIAL PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD

We solemnly proclaim that God loves His children in every nation of the world. God the Father has given us the divine birth, the incomparable life, and the infinite atoning sacrifice of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. By the power of the Father, Jesus rose again and gained the victory over death. He is our Savior, our Exemplar, and our Redeemer.

Two hundred years ago, on a beautiful spring morning in 1820, young Joseph Smith, seeking to know which church to join, went into the woods to pray near his home in upstate New York, USA. He had questions regarding the salvation of his soul and trusted that God would direct him.

In humility, we declare that in answer to his prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and inaugurated the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) as foretold in the Bible. In this vision, he learned that following the death of the original Apostles, Christ’s New Testament Church was lost from the earth. Joseph would be instrumental in its return.

We affirm that under the direction of the Father and the Son, heavenly messengers came to instruct Joseph and re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ. The resurrected John the Baptist restored the authority to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins. Three of the original twelve Apostles—Peter, James, and John—restored the apostleship and keys of priesthood authority. Others came as well, including Elijah, who restored the authority to join families together forever in eternal relationships that transcend death.

We further witness that Joseph Smith was given the gift and power of God to translate an ancient record: the Book of Mormon—Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Pages of this sacred text include an account of the personal ministry of Jesus Christ among people in the Western Hemisphere soon after His Resurrection. It teaches of life’s purpose and explains the doctrine of Christ, which is central to that purpose. As a companion scripture to the Bible, the Book of Mormon testifies that all human beings are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven, that He has a divine plan for our lives, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, speaks today as well as in days of old.

We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored. This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection. Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority. He invites all of us to come unto Him and His Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, the ordinances of salvation, and to gain enduring joy.

Two hundred years have now elapsed since this Restoration was initiated by God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Millions throughout the world have embraced a knowledge of these prophesied events.

We gladly declare that the promised Restoration goes forward through continuing revelation. The earth will never again be the same, as God will “gather together in one all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).

With reverence and gratitude, we as His Apostles invite all to know—as we do—that the heavens are open. We affirm that God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters. We testify that those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This proclamation was read by President Russell M. Nelson as part of his message at the 190th Annual General Conference, April 5, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

(The Restoration Proclamation)

This proclamation states that the heavens are still open. How have you seen the heavens open in your life or the lives of those you love? How are you taking advantage of, or embracing, the heavens being open to you?

How can you, as the Twelve Apostles encouraged, “study the message of the Restoration and act in faith” to gain your own witness of it? Is gaining a witness important to you? Why or why not? 

Spend the last few minutes pondering these questions posed by Deiter F. Uchtdorf: “When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work? Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all our heart, might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly that of an observer?” (Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 59 (quoting Article of Faith 1:9).)

When you are ready, take a final deep breath and slowly turn your awareness back to your body. As you open your eyes and return to your surroundings, take a moment to jot down any thoughts, promptings, or questions that came to mind while you were pondering. And, if necessary, make a plan to act on those things.