I don't suppose I was much different than a lot of people that come in contact with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Joseph Smith Story was a bit much for me to handle in the beginning. It was not that I just wanted to know if the story told to me was really true, but that I NEEDED to know just who Joseph Smith was. This sent me on a 17 year quest to find out for myself. I felt exploring the people who were acquainted with him could give me the right information. I began to read everything I could find on the early members of the Church who worked with or for the Prophet. It was a very interesting journey. I knew that Joseph Smith came from very humble beginnings so that was easy. The majority of those who surrounded him were much the same. For the few that were better educated or from better means all
seemed to gravitate to the young mans honesty and good works. Brigham Young was a widower who sought the Prophet and sat at his feet and learned and developed into the man he finally became. The Snow family who were better educated help him and learned from him. Heber C. Kimball and his wife Vilate became friends and worked with him. I think the greatest story is that of Willard Richards. His work and dedication to the Prophet brought us the History of the Church. What did I learn about Joseph Smith that brought about the strong Testimony I have of him today? I learned that he had an open spirit. He was an earnest seeker after knowledge and the truth. His youth was sober and he had a good heart. A boy who worked along side his Dad and brothers making a life for the rest of the family. The work was hard the days long and the rewards very scanty. He took jobs away from home to help with finances. Things were so different than the way we live today. If you didn't grow it yourself, or work hard to obtain it, you did without. At best housing was cramped and lacked a great deal of comfort. Because of the size of the family, everyone needed to contribute in some way for the good of all. Parents were respected and there was little contention - not much time for it really. Joseph was not the oldest nor the youngest in the family. He was loved by his older brothers. Hyrum became his closest friend and helper from the time Jospeh received his Vision. In all my reading I believe I discovered how very real that Vision was. How could anyone of any age have endured all that Joseph Smith suffered in his life time if he had not really seen what he said he had? I remember how easily my feelings were hurt when I was that age. I would have stayed in my room rather than have let people treat me the way they treated him. Yet, because of the family circumstances, he had to be out and about everyday. There was no escaping the harsh words or the cutting expressions of people who were on every side. It was not only the boy, it was all of his family. I don't see how Joseph could have gone on allowing his family to be so treated if he had not seen what he said he had. There was no money in it and the family needed money. There was no fame in it, not that he was looking for that anyway. Only for the truth could they have beenwilling to go on year after year with the weight of the Vision he had seen bringing the same treatment where ever they went. Moving in those days was even more difficult than it is today. Not that they had much to move, but it had to be put into a wagon and driven over hot dusty roads in the summer and through mud and slush in the winter. The family or Joseph did that a number of times. The family suffered illness, death and hunger along the way. It was difficult at best. Even when Joseph was away working, the family was in the spot light. People stopped to ask about them and where Joseph was. Could any family have put up with such treatment year in and year out without having some kind of proof, or faith that Joseph had been
honest in what he said he saw? Remember it was years before he received the Plates and began to translate the Book of Mormon. Here again is a trial. No one was allowed to see the Plates. Yet
the family was hounded by scoundrels who wanted the "Gold" for the monitary value. Here was something of great wealth, and this humble family was guardians of these valuable artifacts and they could not even see them, only protect them and Joseph. If they had to be moved, they had to be secured so they could not be found or stolen. Think of the added pressure the entire family felt with this burden placed upon them. It was Joseph who had the Vision, it was he who had the plates, but the family bore the burden right along with him. What love they had for him, and what he must have suffered knowing that they were under such strain. Well, with all this, I learned that Joseph Smith WAS "Called" to be the Prophet of this, the Last Dispensation. That he paid the price for the work he was called to do. Not that Jesus ever said it, but Joseph learned: "I never said it would be easy, I said it would be worth it." Joseph did not grow in stature, he grew in spirit and knowledge. He gained wisdom and shared what he had gained with those who sought him. They found him working cutting fire wood. It was difficult for him to get work done. If he was in the yard someone was always stopping to talk with him. Emma said he could hardly do the work of the day without being stopped so many times by people coming over to talk and ask questions. He never allowed an opportunity go by. He had time for those who wanted to know. He rarely had a home of his home. Emma was a guest in some other womens home most of her married life. Because he was not able to farm like most men, his needs and his families needs were met mostly by someone elses labor. His prayers were his means of obtaining much of what was needed. He was prayed into the lives of many. Which ment that he traveled to answer those prayers. Teaching opportunities were many and took up a great deal of his time. While he was translating the Book of Mormon he needed help with the writing. A number of people came to his aid. Not all of that experience was comforting. When Martin Harris took the 116 pages to prove to his family that the work was real, it was an awful blow to have them lost. It was a lesson Joseph would not forget. He not only lost the work, Emma lost their first child. What a burden. The Plates were returned to Moroni and Joseph was not sure that he would ever get them back. How he suffered knowing that he had failed. Knowing that with all he had gone through and was going through he would complete the translation in less that 60 some days. They were not day after day, but spread out over a space of time, but the labor to do the work took that amount of time. A poorly educated farm boy translated an unknown language into a Book about people he had never heard of - from a land he had never
seen. People with experiences and historical events a time no one knew about in his life time. A Book that has been studied by scholars over the years, and found to be true to the time and
area in which the events took place. Joseph was told it would not be his job to prove the Book, but those who did not believe would prove it. This has been true. Years of Archeology Digs
and Scholars who have gone over the land and sea stories have found the Book to be accurate. Language scholars have found the discription Joseph left to match what has been learned since
the Book was translated. When I joined the Church in 1952 much of what is know today had not been discovered. Then I had to believe on faith, but no one today has to believe the Book of Mormon on faith alone. There is sufficient proof, through the labors of non-believers who have brought the Books events into light. The stories are true, the Book is true. Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God. He went through all the trials that was laid before him. He did the work that the LORD required of him. He bore a true testimony of all that he had learned, and what he had established. The Church was not an overnight wonder. It took a day by day struggle by the Prophet and by those who came to work with him to bring it into full flower. The work in New York, the struggles in Ohio, the disappointments of Missouri, the great accomplishments of Nauvoo and finally the great exodus and journey into the Great Salt Lake Valley that brought the Church and all that Joseph had laid the foundations for to its completeness. What started with but 6 members in a small log cabin is now the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No longer just a beginner in a new nation, but a World Church that is giving the Gospel to all those who will hear the truth, and that truth is setting them free. Temples are being built far and wide so that all may receive their blessings. Yes! Joseph is a Prophet of God, and if we were allowed to see him in his post mortal state, we would see him working with as much dedication where he is today as ever he did while he was here in mortality. Just as Jesus "was no ordinary man" neither was Joseph. He was given a job to do - it was not easy, it was needful, and he did it. When he had finished his work - he gave his life for his friends that they could go forward and continue what he was so willing to bring forth. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet. I know it because it is true. I have a sure knowledge of it!
Given this the 3rd day of January 2009 in the Name of Jesus Christ - Amen
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