<P> The church's core beliefs, circa 1842, are summarized in the "Articles of Faith", and its four primary principles are faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sin, and the laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost . </P> <P> In common with other Restorationist churches, the LDS Church teaches that a Great Apostasy occurred . It teaches that after the death of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles, the priesthood authority was lost and some important doctrinal teachings, including the text of the Bible, were changed from their original form, thus necessitating a restoration prior to the Second Coming . That restoration, according to church doctrine, began during the life of Joseph Smith . </P> <P> According to church theology, the restoration began through a series of visions and revelations, including Smith's First Vision in 1820, visits by various angelic messengers including Moroni from whom he received "the everlasting gospel", John the Baptist, Moses, Elijah, and the apostles Peter, James and John . Both Smith and Oliver Cowdery testified that these last messengers came to them while they were together and conferred upon them the priesthood authority with its various "keys", so that mankind again possessed the "fullness of the Gospel" with authority to administer in the ordinances thereof . The restoration also included the re-establishment of the Church of Christ on April 6, 1830 . The LDS Church teaches that it is the successor of this Church of Christ and that the current President of the Church is Smith's modern successor . </P> <Dl> <Dd> See also: Genetics and the Book of Mormon and Archaeology and the Book of Mormon </Dd> </Dl>

What is the belief of the latter day saints