Perhaps an important place to start is the scriptures, specifically those scriptures that are uniquely Mormon. Below I've provided links to some of the most distinctive portions of the Pearl of Great Price, a book of Mormon scripture derived partly from what Joseph Smith said were (his own) translations of ancient Egyptian papyri, and partly from Smith's own reflections as the church's leader. I introduce each link with representative summaries and verses taken directly from the scripture.Click on the given link for the entirety of the text.

Critical sections from Pearl of Great Price:

The Articles of Faith

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. - Article 9

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1

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Joseph Smith History (autobio)

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Joseph Smith tells of his ancestry, family members, and their early abodes - An unusual excitement about religion prevails in western New York - he determines to seek wisdom as directed by James - The Father and the Son appear and Joseph is called to his prophetic ministry. Some preachers and other professors of religion reject account of First Vision - Persecution heaped upon Joseph Smith - He testifies of the reality of the vision. Moroni appears to Joseph Smith - Joseph's name is to be known for good and evil among all nations - Moroni tells him of the Book of Mormon and of the coming judgments of the Lord, and quotes many scriptures - The hiding place of the gold plates is revealed - Moroni continues to instruct the Prophet. Joseph Smith marries Emma Hale - He receives the gold plates from Moroni and translates some of the characters - Martin Harris shows characters and translation to Professor Anthon, who says: "I cannot read a sealed book." Oliver Cowdery serves as scribe in translating the Book of Mormon - Joseph and Oliver receive the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist - They are baptized, ordained and receive the spirit of prophecy.

While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. - vs. 11-12

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! - v. 17

Man may deceive his fellow-men, deception may follow deception, and the children of the wicked one may have power to seduce the foolish and untaught, till naught but fiction feeds the many, and the fruit of falsehood carries in its current the giddy to the grave. - Oliver Cowdery's addendum

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/contents

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Moses 7

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Enoch teaches, leads the people, moves mountains – The City of Zion is established – Enoch foresees the coming of the Son of Man, his atoning sacrifice, and the resurrection of the saints – He foresees the restoration, the gathering, the Second Coming, and the return of Zion.

And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. - v. 18

Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also. - v. 35

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7

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Abraham 3

Heading:

Abraham learns about the sun, moon, and stars by means of the Urim and Thummim - the Lord reveals to him the eternal nature of spirits - He learns of pre-earth life, foreordination, the creation, the choosing of a Redeemer, and the second estate of man.

Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with hm: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these my dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; - vs 22- 25

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/abr/3