the_excerpts!!!!

I’ve searched and searched…but I can’t seem to get the excerpt working…I’ve added the excerpt text as well as the post text in the wordpress control panel…I’ve replaced the_content with the_excerpts in the index.php…but when I view my site, now I can’t see what was originally in the “post” area…

Can someone point me in the right direction on how to use excerpts and have a link to click on “MORE” so the user can read the entire post area…I’ve looked all over, and the search feature isn’t really too intuitive on this site…

any help is GREATLY appreciated…