No True Church Upon the Earth at the Time of the First Vision

Parent page: First Vision

Joseph Smith (1832): "there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ"

Joseph Smith:

my intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel excedingly for I discovered that they did not adorn instead of adorning their profession by a holy walk and Godly conversation....I found that mand mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatised from the true and liveing faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the new testament.....behold the world lieth in Sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned asside from the gospel and keep not my commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me^[1]

Notes

1. ↑ "History, circa Summer 1832," The Joseph Smith Papers.