Joseph Smith's First Prayer

June: The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet, Joseph Smith

After years of apostasy and mankind's longing for light and truth, our Heavenly Father extended his love again to us, and revealed his truth on the earth once more. This he did in the year 1820, when a 14-year old boy, who was on the search for truth himself, had the courage to ask God where truth was to be found. That 14-year old boy was Joseph Smith. This is his story, told in his own words....

I was born in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five, on the twenty-third day of December, in the town of Sharon, Windsor county, State of Vermont . . . My father, Joseph Smith, Sen., left the State of Vermont, and moved to Palmyra, Ontario (now Wayne) county, in the State of New York, when I was in my tenth year, or thereabouts. In about four years after my father’s arrival in Palmyra, he moved with his family into Manchester in the same county of Ontario—
His family consisting of eleven souls, namely, my father, Joseph Smith; my amother, Lucy Smith (whose name, previous to her marriage, was Mack, daughter of Solomon Mack); my brothers, Alvin (who died November 19th, 1823, in the 26th year of his age), Hyrum, myself, Samuel Harrison, William, Don Carlos; and my sisters, Sophronia, Catherine, and Lucy.

Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, “Lo, here!” and others, “Lo, there!” Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist.

For, notwithstanding the great alove which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions.

I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father’s family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia.

During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit...so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations,... it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was bright and who was wrong...

... In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be aright, which is it, and how shall I know it?

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 bwisdom 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.

At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in adarkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture...

...I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.

After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was aseized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick bdarkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
But, exerting all my powers to acall upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into bdespair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.


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!



My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right...

...I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all ccorrupt; that: “they ddraw near to me with their lips, but their ehearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me... When I came to myself again, I found myself alying on my back, looking up into heaven.
(Joseph Smith - History 1:3 - 20)

Because a 14-year old boy had to courage to trust God more than man, truth was revealed to the Earth once more. Because a 14-year old boy had the courage to ask God, a prophet was called and set apart to bring about the restoration of the Gospel. Through Joseph Smith, the Lord was able to establish the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth once again. I know this to be true. I know this because I have asked God myself whether or not this has happened, and I have received the answer that it is true. I know that any humble seeker of truth can know this for themselves, if they too ask of God.

(For more information, please click here.)

May: The Great Apostasy

After Christ had completed his earthly ministry and ascended to his Father in Heaven after his resurrection, the twelve Apostles were left to organize and govern the church. They had the power and authority given by Jesus Christ to act in his name (Click here for more information) However, as time passed, many wicked people began to persecute the church and killed many of the Apostles and early church members. With the death of the Apostles also came the taking away of the Power and Authority to perform the sacred ordinances in the church. Without God's chosen leaders, and with no other people left worthy to be called as Prophets and Apostles, the simple doctrines that Christ taught became corrupted. Worldly philosophies were introduced as Gospel. Many plain and precious truths that were found in the Bible were either altered or omitted completely. Without divine revelation from God, these false doctrines were unable to be corrected, and people began to rely on their own wisdom rather than to ask God for inspiration. This period of spiritual hunger and darkness has become known as the Great Apostasy.

While there were still many good people on the earth who were seeking for truth and spiritual light, they lacked the necessary authority to organize and re-establish God's church. But because our Heavenly Father loved us all, he waited for the right opportunity for a new prophet to be called, just as he had done in times of old, when his children have rebelled and disobeyed his commandments. Further discussion on how this came about will be given in the theme of next month's postings.

"By their fruits ye shall know them..."

The Saviour, in the sermon on the mount, warned the people that there would be many people who will claim to be prophets of God, but in fact are really false prophets:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves...
-Matthew 7:15

... Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- Matthew 7:22 - 23

However, the Saviour never said in his sermon that EVERY man who claims to be a prophet is a false prophet. He has given us a very important hint to help us be able to identify whether a man who claims to be a prophet really is of God or not:

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
- Matthew 7:16 - 20

We can recognize whether a person claiming to be a prophet is a true prophet of God by their "fruits" e.g. their actions, their behaviour towards their fellow men, and whether their teachings are in accordance with the Saviour's teachings.

Further discussion on this topic will be given in a later post....

The Story of Noah

Image taken from http://www.lds.org/hf/art/display/1,16842,4218-1-1-21,00.html

A classic example from the scriptures about the importance of following God's chosen prophets can be found in the story of Noah.

Noah was called by God to preach repentance unto the people, because they were doing wicked things. He told Noah to warn the people, that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed by a flood.

The people wouldn't listen to Noah, and and made fun of him. They were content with the way they were living their lives, and continued to live in wickedness.

Finally, God instructed Noah to build an ark, and to gather his family and two of every kind of animal (male and female) onto it, in preparation for the flood. The people were still mocking Noah as he and his family were building the ark.

Eventually, the rains came, and it was too late for the people to repent. They drowned in the flood.

Today, the Lord might not warn us of such destructions if we do not repent, but we do punish ourselves when we choose not to follow a prophet of God. We miss out on blessings we would have received, had we had chosen to follow the prophet, and we begin to die spiritually, because we are not being obedient to God's commandments.

On the other hand, if we choose to be obedient and follow the prophet, we will be greatly blessed, and we will be safe from harm, just as Noah and his family were protected from the flood.

To read the full account of the story of Noah, turn to Genesis 5 - 9

Follow the Prophet (English)

FOLLOW THE PROPHET
Words and music: Duane E. Hiatt, b. 1937

Adam was a prophet,
first one that we know.
In a place alled Eden,
he helped things to grow.
Adam served the Lord
by following his ways.
We are his descendants
in the latter days.


CHORUS:
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
Don't go astray.
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
He knows the way.

Enoch was a prophet;
he taught what was good.
People in his city
did just what they should.
When they were so righteous
that there was no sin,
Heavenly Father took them
up to live with him.

(Chorus)

Noah was a prophet
called to preach the word,
Tried to call repentance,
but nobody heard.
They were busy sinning -
Noah preached in vain.
They wished they had listened
when they saw the rain.

(CHORUS)

Abraham the prophet
prayed to have a son,
So the Lord sent Isaac
as the chosen one.
Isaac begat Jacob, known as Israel;
Jacob's sons were twelve tribes,
so the Bible tells.

(CHORUS)

Moses was a prophet
sent to Israel.
He would lead them to the
promised land to dwell.
They were slow to follow,
or so it appears.
They were in the wilderness
for forty years.

(CHORUS)

Samuel was a prophet
chosen as a boy.
Hannah promised God
her son would serve with joy.
In the tabernacle, Samuel heard his name;
He was called by God and
answered, "Here I am!"

(CHORUS)

Jonah was a prophet,
tried to run away,
But he later learned
to listen and obey.
When we really try,
the Lord won't let us fail:
That's what Jonah learned
deep down inside the whale.

(CHORUS)

Daniel was a prophet.
He refused to sin;
So the king threw Daniel
in the lion's den.
Angels calmed the lions,
and the king soon saw
Danel's power was great,
for he obeyed God's law.

(CHORUS)

Now we have a world
where people are confused.
If you don't believe it,
go and watch the news.
We can get direction
all along our way,
If we heed the prophets -
follow what they say.

(CHORUS)

March Theme: How Heavenly Father lets his plan made known to his children...

Since the beginning of the world, our Heavenly Father has always made his plan of happiness known unto us.

He chooses special messengers and gives and them authority to reveal his plan to his children.

These men are called prophets, and their duty is to make sure Heavenly Father's will is made known:

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets"
- Amos 3:7

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."
-Hebrews 5:4



The prophets help us understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ better, and encourage us to follow and live the teachings of Jesus Christ. They often warn us of the consequences of sin and encourage us to repent:

"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye aspiritually been bborn of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty cchange in your hearts?

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?

Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?


I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?

I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins."
- The Book of Mormon prophet, Alma, teaches his people the importance of spiritually preparing ourselves to meet God and repenting of our sins, Alma 5:14 - 21



Their most important role is to stand as a witness for Jesus Christ and bear testimony that he lives:

"And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come aas though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.

And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."


-The Book of Mormon Prophet, Abinadi, bears his testimony of Christ before wicked men. He is later on put to death for his testimony. Mosiah 16:6 - 9 Taken from http://freebookofmormon.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/308-abinadi.jpg

Whenever we choose to follow the prophet's counsel and follow our Heavenly Father's plan for us, we will be blessed.

Whenever we choose to not heed the prophet's counsel, we miss out on the blessings we would have received, had we had chosen to follow the prophet.

When we follow the prophet, we are promised that the "strife of the world will not overwhelm us, and we can enjoy the assurance of being in harmony with God's will".
- Preach My Gospel, pp. 75