The Religions Book

306

ASK YOURSELF:

“WHAT WOULD

JESUS DO?”

FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST

I

n reaction to the rationalism of

the Enlightenment that spread

from Europe to the American

colonies in the 18th century, a

Christian revival occurred in the

United States at the beginning of

the 19th century. Many breakaway

Christian groups were formed at this

time. They rejected the traditions

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURES

Joseph Smith, Jr.,

Brigham Young

WHEN AND WHERE

1830, US

BEFORE

1790–mid-19th century The

Second Great Awakening, a

Protestant revival movement

in the United States, leads

to the formation of several

Adventist churches, based

on belief in the imminent

Second Coming of Christ.

AFTER

Late 19th century In

the US, the Bible Student

Movement advocates a return

to the earliest teachings of

the Christian Church. This

movement will become

the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

1926 Following what is

claimed to be a new phase of

revelations from God, the Cao

Ðài religion is founded, with

Jesus as one of its saints.

After the ascension of

Jesus and the martyrdom

of the apostles...

...who take as their

model Jesus himself,

rather than the dogma

of any existing church.

...the original Church

turned away from

the Gospel in the

Great Apostasy.

In a series of revelations,

priesthood authority

was restored to Joseph

Smith, Jr. and his successors,

the Latter-day Saints...

Ask yourself: “What would Jesus do?”

of the established church and

incorporated charismatic elements of

the faith—“gifts of the spirit,” such as

prophecy and visions. There was also

a move to restore Christianity to the

principles of the New Testament.

It was against this background

that Joseph Smith, Jr. had the first

of a series of visions, in which God