1/7/14
Restoration of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"~
Sister Shurtliff (Amber) gave the best lesson on the Restoration
(Disclaimer - I am ad-libbing here about her lesson -
it was much better than I am describing it).
For a wonderful and complete talk on the Restoration,
by Elder James E. Faust, go here:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/the-restoration-of-all-things?lang=eng
He lived on the earth. She explained how it constitutes the fullness
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! He taught about faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the priesthood, sacred ordinances, etc.
it was much better than I am describing it).
For a wonderful and complete talk on the Restoration,
by Elder James E. Faust, go here:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/the-restoration-of-all-things?lang=eng
Amber held up a tile with the words:
Sacrament, Prophets, Revelation, Priesthood Ordinances, Correct
Principles, Temple Ordinances, Gift of Tongues, Tithes and Offerings, etc.
They represented the organization of Christ's Church as it was when 
He lived on the earth. She explained how it constitutes the fullness
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! He taught about faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the priesthood, sacred ordinances, etc.
He gave His Apostles His authority, which is the priesthood of God. After Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, His Apostles went forth to preach His Gospel. The church grew but many people rejected the Apostles and His Disciples and there was great persecution for all the believing.
It wasn't long before all the Apostles, except John the Beloved,
died and the keys and authority of the holy priesthood were lost
with the deaths of the Church leaders. Without this authority,
no new revelation, doctrine or scripture could come.
Multitudes of Christians were tortured and many killed. Thousands of Christians were martyred and many apostatized. The church and the priesthood were taken from the earth for hundreds of years, this being the Great Apostasy. 
died and the keys and authority of the holy priesthood were lost
with the deaths of the Church leaders. Without this authority,
no new revelation, doctrine or scripture could come.
Multitudes of Christians were tortured and many killed. Thousands of Christians were martyred and many apostatized. The church and the priesthood were taken from the earth for hundreds of years, this being the Great Apostasy. 
At this point Amber gave Aingeal the tile and told her to
smash it on the ground. Aingeal complied and did it with Gusto!
Amber explained that this is what happened to the Church
when all the apostles were killed and the Priesthood was no
longer on the earth. The truths were lost and scattered.
There were many good people on the earth and they tried to establish Christ's church again by taking as many parts (tile pieces) of the church that they knew about. The problem was that none of the churches had all the "pieces"
(eternal doctrine, priesthood authority, the ordinances of salvation, etc.)
of Christ's original Church. In other words, they did not have the "fulness"
of the gospel, hence they could never have the complete Gospel.
smash it on the ground. Aingeal complied and did it with Gusto!
Amber explained that this is what happened to the Church
when all the apostles were killed and the Priesthood was no
longer on the earth. The truths were lost and scattered.
There were many good people on the earth and they tried to establish Christ's church again by taking as many parts (tile pieces) of the church that they knew about. The problem was that none of the churches had all the "pieces"
(eternal doctrine, priesthood authority, the ordinances of salvation, etc.)
of Christ's original Church. In other words, they did not have the "fulness"
of the gospel, hence they could never have the complete Gospel.
Amber then held up a tile that was identical to the one she had at the beginning
of her lesson. She explained that in 1819, when young Joseph Smith (age 14) was trying to decide which of all the reformed churches to join, he read from James, chapter 5 vs 1. Then he wrote of this experience,
"At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to "ask of God," concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture"
And venture he did! After reading this scripture he went to a grove of trees and knelt down and prayed to Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to him and he was told to join none of the churches.
https://www.lds.org/topics/joseph-smith/testimony?lang=eng
It was in our dispensation that the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was Restored. It included all the eternal doctrine, priesthood authority and ordinances of salvation that was taught when Christ was on the earth and established His church. And it was through Joseph Smith that it was brought back and restored to the earth.
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1.11-19?lang=eng#10
