This book is a collection of the eyewitness testimonies of the men and women who participated in the birth of Mormonism. Using all of the known writings of Joseph Smith and those of his contemporaries (such as Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith, Emma Hale Smith, William Smith, Katherine Smith Salisbury, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and Joseph Knight), this work unfolds the dramatic story of the Restoration in the language of the witnesses themselves.Among the topics discussed are the boyhood and First Vision of Joseph Smith, the visitations of the angel Moroni, the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, and the events that accompanied the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in western New York. The author's insightful explanations, together with the actual writings, reports, and interviews of the people involved, make this book a unique and valuable tool for all members of the Church.